Clear encroachments on space earmarked for 80-ft road in Khammam town: HC to collector | Hyderabad News

Hyderabad: Telangana high court on Monday directed the Khammam collector to clear unauthorised structures built on land demarcated for an 80-feet road in Khammam town and submit a report to the court.Wondering how the authorities concerned turned a blind eye for almost four decades as structures were erected unauthorisedly on the land demarcated for the road, Justice Anil Kumar Jukanti remarked, “Courts cannot remain blind like the authorities.” He directed officials to seek police support if any law and order issues arise while removing such structures located on the main road from Tirumalayapalem to Paleru in Khammam town. The case was posted to Oct 26 for further hearing.The judge also opined that it was shocking how the 80-feet road, according to the master plan, was reduced to 40 feet, and that pattas and electricity connections were issued for such encroachments.The court observed that if encroachments on roads were permitted, there might be no limit to illegal occupation of roads in new cities, existing ones, towns and villages, while pointing out that roads have disappeared even as authorities merely watched these encroachments.The court further cautioned that if roads, state highways, national highways, rivers, lakes and ponds were all encroached upon and occupied, they would never be cleared. It noted that in Nayapul and Begum Bazar in the city, roadside businesses had created a situation where even walking had become difficult.Meanwhile, the residents also approached the court seeking to be impleaded in the petition. Their counsel, Samala Ravender, contended that the contempt petition was moved in 2013, eight years after the actual order of the writ petition. Citing precedent Supreme Court rulings, Ravender argued that even while evicting residents from a public road, due process of law has to be followed, and eviction should be done only after an alternate land was provided to the affected parties, and urged the court to dismiss the contempt petition.