GHMC begins issuing building permissions

Hyderabad, Feb 21 (INN): GHMC Commissioner and Special Officer Somesh Kumar on Saturday informed that the issue of building permissions would be sanctioned from today as the building permissions were stopped temporarily due to the Strategic Road Development Plan (SRDP).

Under the SRDP Plan, the construction of skyways, major corridors, major roads, other roads, grade separators (Junctions) and some other projects were also affected.

If the projects are approved without the reference of SRDP it will be affected for implementation of the SRDP Project incurring more acquisition cost, delay in project implementation and court litigations in making Hyderabad a World Class City.

Somesh Kumar said that keeping in view of the importance of the project, the issue of building permissions and approvals was stopped for some days to have clarity to take up SRDP Project in a phased and proper manner.

After detailed discussions with the officials of the Town Planning Wing and also as per the orders of the State Government, the GHMC has decided to process all building permissions for approval and granting permissions as usual from today.

The proposal effected by SRDP Project would be examined in detail and action would be taken up accordingly with regard to other proposals the files will be processed and will be cleared as per rules in a stipulated time.

The Special Officer said that out of 98 applications pending for approval in Head Office and 18 proposals which are falling under SRDP, roads will be kept a side for examination and remaining 80 files will be cleared on priority. As many as 590 files are pending at Circle and Zonal Offices and they will be cleared within 15 days by taking up a special drive for the convenience of the citizens.

Somesh Kumar appealed to the citizens to pay their property tax immediately as the Government has already issued a GO duly waiving the penal interest for the current year.

The GHMC has taken up publicity campaign for the awareness for the general public to pay the property tax on priority and as per the records when compare to that last year the GHMC has collected Rs. 100 crores more this year.

The GHMC is very keen on the property tax owners and around sixty six thousand commercial establishments who are not paying the property tax since so many years and GHMC is planning to collect property tax as per the provisions of HMC act and to take up action for nonpayment of property tax as per the rules.

The GHMC has appointed 337 Nodal Officers 24 supervisors for collection purpose and elaborate arrangements are being made on Sunday for conducting of property tax parishkaram programme to clear the property tax cases on priority and the Commissioner has appealed to all the property tax payers to utilize this programme to clear their pending property tax issues on priority.

The Special Officer has also clarified that with regard to Floor Space Index (FSI) the government has not given any specific instructions. The government will take up this issue duly coordinating with HMDA and connected builders and will take a decision in this regard. He further stated that with regard to cleaning of Hussain Sagar, the government is holding discussions for the purpose.

Chief City Planner Devender Reddy, Additional Commissioner S Hari Krishna, Additional Commissioner and other senior officials have participated in the press meet held at Face to Face Hall, GHMC Head Office.