A local politician is calling for a change in how Hyderabad deals with unauthorized construction. Danam Nagender, a Congress MLA representing Khairatabad, thinks the city should first focus on removing these structures in the Old City area. He shared his views with the media on Thursday, January 23, in Hyderabad.
Nagender’s comments come as the city has been demolishing what it calls “encroachments” in other parts of Hyderabad. However, he argued that the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) is being unfair by targeting areas like Khairatabad and Chintal Basti. In those neighborhoods, the city’s “Operation Rope” is removing obstructions, often meaning the small businesses of street vendors.
The MLA believes that the GHMC should apply the rules equally across the city. For that to happen, he thinks that starting with the Old City would be a good step. By focusing on the Old City first, Nagender says the city would be setting a better example for how it handles unauthorized construction.
Nagender voiced his concerns about the impact of demolitions on small business owners. He said it’s not fair for the GHMC to tear down the businesses of street vendors in Khairatabad and Chintal Basti. He stressed that addressing these unauthorized structures is important throughout Hyderabad, but no area should be unfairly targeted. The debate over how to balance urban development with the needs of residents and small businesses continues.
If Kumari Aunty’s stall was allowed, same should be applicable for other vendors in city – Congress MLA Danam Nagender
— Media5Zone News (@media5zone) January 23, 2025
If you want to start demolitions, you start from old city and then come to us
This is not good and will bring bad name to government pic.twitter.com/YVfYbndfSf