Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma is understood to have given his assent to the ordinance seeking the inclusion of Section 374 (B) in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) Act 1955.
Published Oct 02, 2024 | 7:06 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 02, 2024 | 7:06 PM
HYDRAA officials inspecting a nallah in Tirumalagiri. (X)
The Revanth Reddy government has made an alternate plan to not let its Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) go non-functional even if the Telangana High Court strikes down or stays the operation of the Government Order (GO) 99 issued on 19 July under which it was created.
Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma is understood to have given his assent to the ordinance seeking an amendment to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) Act 1955 by the inclusion of Section 374 (B) in it.
After the inclusion, the government could use any agency, including HYDRAA under the provisions of this new section, to do the job that the agency has been doing, Raj Bhavan sources told South First.
“The amendment is not just for HYDRAA but any agency that the government might want to use for protection of its assets,” the source said.
The new section facilitates the state government to transfer any agency the powers including inspection of encroachments, issuing notices and removal of unauthorised structures from public land.
It will also facilitate the government to invest in any specified agency including HYDRAA the powers under the Telangana Municipalities Act 2019, the Telangana State Building Permission Approval and Self-Certification System (TS-bPASS) Act, 2020.
The amendment also provides for powers under the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) Act 2008, Telangana Irrigation Act, Telangana Land Encroachment Act, 1905, Telangana Water, Land and Trees Act, 2002, and Telangana Land Revenue Act.
The Governor is understood to have obtained several clarifications from the state government before giving his assent to the amendment to the GHMC Act. The ordinance is expected to be introduced in the Assembly in its next session.
The new amendment to the Act is expected to provide flexibility to the government when it comes to shifting the people living on the banks of the river to take up the Musi Riverfront Project.
The HYDRAA had already made it clear that it was not into the evacuation or demolition of houses of those who are living on the banks of the Musi as there is a separate corporation to take care of the work.
The state government is keen to have legal immunity to its actions from the Telangana High Court as a petition is pending before it urging for staying of the operation of GO 99.
When the petition came up for hearing on Tuesday, 1 October, the high court sought a counter from the state government and adjourned the case to 15 October. The court said it could not issue any interim orders without hearing the government. The court was hearing arguments on a petition filed by one D Lakshmi of Nanakramguda.
The state government has realised that it has been skating on thin ice after the high court censured the actions of HYDRAA Commissioner AV Ranganath for the undue haste in which the buildings are being pulled down in Hyderabad.
It wanted to know the legal sanctity of the HYDRAA. When Ranganath, who took part in a hearing virtually said he had sent his men and equipment to Aminpur in Sangareddy district for the demolition of buildings at the request of the tahsildar concerned, the court shot back at him asking if he would pull down Charminar if the tahsildar concerned asks him to send his demolition equipment.
The court asked HYDRAA not to pull down houses on weekends which has been proscribed by courts in the past.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil)
