GHMC to Implement Severe Penalties for Illegal Constructions in Hyderabad

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) is stepping up efforts to tackle the growing problem of illegal constructions across the city. With illegal construction cases overwhelming the Telangana High Court and affecting the city’s landscape, GHMC is introducing stringent measures to combat this issue. One of the key strategies involves the development of an online portal to monitor violations, along with the imposition of heavy penalties on property owners involved in unauthorised building activities.

In recent years, illegal constructions have become a serious issue in Hyderabad, with over 2.5 lakh writ petitions filed in the Telangana High Court in the past five years alone. To address this, GHMC has decided to implement a series of proactive measures to prevent the proliferation of such activities. A major part of the solution will be the introduction of an online portal designed to track and monitor all complaints related to illegal constructions. This portal will follow cases from the initial notice stage through to the enforcement actions taken, including the issuing of speaking orders, property sealing, and the demolition of illegal structures. In addition to the online portal, GHMC has also announced that severe penalties will be levied against property owners found violating building regulations. These penalties could reach up to 400% of the original fee, a significant increase aimed at deterring illegal constructions. Furthermore, the GHMC plans to work with the stamps and registration department to include a notation of ‘unauthorised construction’ in the encumbrance certificate (EC), which is an official document certifying the legal status of a property. This measure is expected to act as a deterrent, making it clear to potential buyers that the property is involved in illegal activities.

GHMC officials, including Commissioner K Ilambarithi, highlighted that a large proportion of complaints received during the Prajavani programme, which is held every Monday to address public grievances, are related to illegal construction. As of this year, the civic body has demolished over 1,000 unauthorised structures, but many continue to escape the notice of authorities. Enforcement actions are often only taken after receiving complaints, which delays the process of curbing such violations. The guidelines and standard operating procedures (SOPs) being formulated by GHMC will help streamline actions against illegal constructions, and property owners who ignore the notices issued by the authorities will face criminal charges under Section 223 of the BNS Act. In addition to the hefty penalties, the inclusion of unauthorised construction details in the EC is expected to make potential property buyers more cautious and aware of any illegal activities related to the property they are considering.

One of the most common tactics used by property owners to circumvent regulations involves initially securing permits for G+1 or G+2 structures and then illegally constructing additional floors. There are also cases where residential properties are converted into commercial establishments, allowing owners to benefit from lower residential tax rates while violating zoning regulations. With the introduction of these new measures, GHMC hopes to create a more stringent framework to control illegal construction, protect the city’s urban planning, and ensure that property buyers are well-informed about the legal status of the properties they invest in. These steps aim to make Hyderabad’s real estate market more transparent and safer for residents and investors alike.