Unauthorised constructions rampant in Kurnool city

Kurnool: In recent times, apartment culture is spreading its tentacles far and wide within the limits of the Kurnool Municipal Corporation. Multi-storied buildings could be seen constructed indiscriminately in the purview of corporation limits.

Even, half a cent of land was not spared to construct a mini-storied building. To construct apartments, there are certain norms to be followed by the builders. Several permissions need to be taken from the Town Planning department including fire safety certificate and leaving space for parking of vehicles. But for builders, these formalities or norms are not applicable, and it is the money that matters.

In case of a common man, he has to run from pillar to post seeking permission for the construction of an independent house from the Town Planning department. Lots of formalities have to be fulfilled besides bribing the officials.

In the old city, except independent houses, no apartments were seen earlier. But now, most of the independent houses were seen converted into a mini-multi-storied building. There are no restrictions for the extent of land to construct a mini-apartment.

It was very surprising to note that double-storied buildings were constructed on an extent of half a cent of land in old city. Another five-storied building was constructed in two-and-a-half cents of land on the main road between Shakuntala Kalyana Mandapam and Nandyal check-post violating rules.

These are just two examples and several constructions could be seen at almost all places in the corporation limits. The State government has issued GO No 168 to the Town Planning Department which clearly stated that an applicant has to obtain permission for construction of house, either it may be half-a-cent or 30 cents. A resident of Satyanarayana Colony, A Prasad, said that everything was possible if the bribes were offered to the town planning officials.

CPM leader K Prabhakar Reddy speaking to The Hans India here on Tuesday said that now-a-days, the apartment culture has drastically increased. The builders are not following the norms of the Corporation. They are taking permission to construct up to 2 floors and
extending to 4 floors.

There are several norms to construct the number of stories in an extent of 12 cents and 30 cents, but these are not applicable to the builders, he stated. He alleged that the Town planning department officials are aware of these unauthorised constructions but dare not to take action as they are being bribed.

He said the department has to act sternly to streamline the illegal constructions. The Hans India tried to seek clarification from Assistant City Planner (ACP) Sastry Shabnam, he was not available over phone as his mobile was switched off.

By V Narendra Kumar