To avoid any unwanted incidents during the rains and safeguard human lives, the GHMC has taken an action plan to deal with old and dilapidated houses.

Dilapidated Properties in Hyderabad

Across Hyderabad, there are 286 dilapidated structures, indicating records available to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC). Another 250 buildings have been renovated, served by notifications from the civic body, its owners claimed. Records have also shown that GHMC has recorded 54 cases of wall collapse since October 9, 18 of them on October 14 alone.

Recognised Areas with Dilapidated Structures

Most of the dilapidated structures are identified by officials in Hyderabad at different areas include 

• Goshamahal circle
• Mallepally
• Begum Bazar
• Chintal Basti in Khairtabad circle
• Charminar circle
• Sultan Bazar
• Secunderabad

Several of them are used for industrial operations. In a quick scan of Secunderabad's Monda market, several of these ageing buildings were seen in housing textiles, jewellery, utensil stores on the ground floor and housing residents on the first floor. In the Begum Bazar, the situation was almost the same.

GHMC officials confirmed that timely action was being taken against dilapidated buildings. As of October 15 2020, 19 structures were demolished, people living in 14 old buildings were vacated and 35 people living near Musi were rehabilitated. In total, 154 dilapidated buildings and ten structures were demolished this year.

A town planning officer also cautioned people living near sloppy terrain, especially in Banjara Hills and Jubilee Hills to vacate to prevent any untoward incident, putting the responsibility of protecting their homes on their occupants.

By: Shailaja K