Secunderabad Cantonment orders encroachment removal in seven days
HYDERABAD: Secunderabad Cantonment officials have issued a final public notice directing the removal of encroachments from government land within seven days. The board said a special drive would be taken up after the deadline to clear all illegal structures.
Seven-day deadline before special drive
The notice covers encroachments on roads, footpaths, drains, parks and other government properties. Officials said the board would clear the structures on its own if they are not removed voluntarily and recover the costs from the encroachers. They added that action would be initiated under the Cantonments Act, 2006 after the deadline.
Over 1,000 cases pending under PPE Act
Officials said notices are issued under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971 to those occupying government land. Hundreds of such notices have been pending for years as several occupants sought relief in courts.
About 400 colonies fall within the Secunderabad Cantonment limits, and close to 90% of them have encroachments on parks, roads and service lines. Unofficial estimates indicate that more than 1,000 PPE notices remain unresolved.
Elevated corridor survey revealed fresh violations
During land identification for the elevated corridor project, defence and cantonment plots were found under private occupation. Officials were surprised that several encroachers even moved court seeking compensation. Some had built structures on park land and availed bank loans against them. The board has now decided not to ignore encroachments on government land.
Demolitions near JBS highlighted scale of problem
A park site near Jubilee Bus Station was occupied and converted into food courts, which were later sublet. The Cantonment Board recently renovated the park at a cost of about ₹1 crore and installed a statue of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Ahead of the statue’s inauguration by defence minister Rajnath Singh, the encroachments were cleared.
Hydra action triggered more complaints
After residents complained to the Hyderabad Road Development Authority (Hydra) about Patny nala encroachments, Hydra commissioner Ranganath inspected the site and initiated demolitions. More complaints followed, prompting joint reviews with Cantonment officials. Special plans were prepared to clear encroachments along the Patny, Picket and Hasmathpet nalas.
The drive was delayed during the monsoon but is now set to resume. Officials said the public notice was issued to reduce resistance from encroachers and encourage voluntary removal.
A recent demolition at a park site was also cited as part of the renewed effort to clear government land.
