Detailson high-rises sought by NGOs

By S A Ishaqui

Hyderabad, April 16 : A petition was filed in the AP High Court on Wednesday seeking a direction that the government furnish details of high-rise and multistoried residential and commercial complexes in the urban areas includingHyderabad, Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam.

Forum For A Better Hyderabad and Prajaspandana, non governmental organisations filed the petition alleging that the builders with the helpof the staff of municipal corporations and municipalities have been constructing residential and commercial structures in excess of the sanctioned plan.The petitioner submitted to the court that the impact of such violations upon the environment were adding to the pollution, temperature was increasing besides safety and quality of life of citizens was at risk across the state.The petitioner further informed that the illegal construction activity was on the rise with even parking spaces being utilised for construction forcing the citizens to use roads to park their vehicles resulting in main thoroughfares in the lanes and bye lanes being choked with traffic jams.

The petitioner told the court that the regulatory mechanism under the various corporations and municipalities refused to take action against the violators of law.The petitioner urged the court to issue directions to the government to inform thecourt on action initiated against the violators of sanctioned plan. Thepetitioneralso urged the court to set aside the Building Penalisation Scheme(ordinance 15of 2007) in the state.