VIJAYAWADA: At a time when the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) is ruthlessly hammering down hundreds of illegal constructions in its limits, the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) is dragging its feet to take stern action against such structures that have mushroomed on the hill slopes across the city.
Moreover, the VMC is satisfied with serving notices on owners of illegal structures and carrying out the demolition drives occasionally as they are swinging into action only after the untoward incidents come to light. The million dollar question is what the building permission and the town planning departments of the VMC were doing when these illegal structures sprouted on three major hill slopes, hilltops at Gunadala, Moghalrajpuram and One Town areas.
Putting lives on the lines in city
This could not happen without the knowledge of the local corporators, politicians and the civic administration. This is what exactly happened in the case of an illegal building which collapsed in Sitara Centre, Vidyadharapuram here on Monday morning, where two persons escaped with minor injuries. Ganta Raja Rajeswari, owner of the under construction building took up the construction work in 33 sq yards, sans prior permission from the town planning department.
At the other end, the State government has recently directed the VMC and revenue officials to conduct a comprehensive survey for regularisation of houses on the hill slopes across the city. This news spread fast among the violators who took up illegal constructions on the hill slopes. The worst thing is that the revenue officials turned a blind eye to the irregularities and they failed to crack whip on the violators till date.
Building plan violations rampant
Taxpayers Association general secretary MV Anjaneyulu said, “The illegal structures sprouted on the hill slopes with the support of local corporators, politicians and civic officials.
A town planning engineer on condition of anonymity told Express that a demolition drive would be launched soon.
“Considering the fact that illegal constructions pose a threat to human lives, we will carry out demolition drives,” he added.