Latest news with #GHMCAct
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Owners of vacant plots in the city to be served demand notices for vacant land tax
Registration of vacant plots within the Greater Hyderabad is going to be more expensive than its market price. The cash-strapped Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation is gearing up with the demand notices to be served to the vacant plot owners in the city, in the name of the Vacant Land Tax (VLT). Ignored so far despite having a sanction through the GHMC Act, 1955, the VLT has a high potential to generate revenue for the corporation, if levied on all the vacant plots. The GHMC is, however, looking at only new registrations as of now. According to the Act, any vacant land is taxable at 0.5% of its registered market value annually as fixed and revised by the government from time to time. The tax is levied by the urban civic authorities with the aim of discouraging speculative value attached to the land, and to encourage development of the same. However, the VLT has thus far been not enforced strictly by the civic authorities. The amendments to the GHMC Act in 2020, which made the sub-registrar responsible to generate Property Tax Identification Number at the time of registration or transfer of property, also made the official responsible for generating the Vacant Land Tax Number at the time of registration or transfer of vacant land property. After initial hiccups, the amendments were finally put to implementation from 2022, leading to generation of PTINs and VLTNs from the registration offices. While the initial tax was deducted and transferred by the Registrations department, the subsequent tax was to be paid by the assessees, which is not being paid. Since 2022, more than 50,000 vacant registrations have been effected within the city, from which an annual vacant land tax of close to ₹120 crore accrues to the GHMC. The arrears accumulating since 2022 on these lands stands at ₹220 crore, taking the total revenue aimed to ₹340 crore. An official under the condition of anonymity shared that SMS blasts are being sent to all the vacant land owners asking them to pay the tax. In the financial year 2024-25, the collections stood at close to ₹7 crore from 2029 assessees, while in the current year, so far, ₹1 crore has been collected from 381 assessees.
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation formulates SOP for illegal constructions
HYDERABAD: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has formulated a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for sealing unauthorised constructions and structures deviating from sanctioned plans, in line with the GHMC Act, 1955, and TG-bPASS Act, 2020. The SOP aims to ensure uniform action across all GHMC circles. Strict adherence has been mandated, and any lapses or negligence by officials may attract disciplinary action. Inspecting officers will be required to gather comprehensive details such as the stage of construction, nature of the work, specific deviations or violations, usage and information regarding the owner or occupier. A show cause notice must be issued to the owner or occupier, detailing the violations, grounds for demolition and instructing the immediate cessation of construction. Owners will be given 15 days to justify why the unauthorised or deviated construction should not be demolished, either in writing or by appearing in person with supporting documents. If construction continues despite the notice, the premises will be sealed. Occupied buildings must be vacated within three days to facilitate sealing. The site will be sealed with a red ribbon and official paper tag. Utility services will be disconnected, and police and sub-registrar offices informed. Only the designated GHMC authority may remove the seal.
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Even God can't set GHMC right, says Telangana HC judge in exasperation
HYDERABAD: With exasperation writ large, Justice B Vijayasen Reddy of the Telangana High Court on Monday came down heavily on municipal authorities for their repeated failure to curb unauthorised constructions, remarking caustically that 'even God cannot set them right'. Justice Reddy, hearing a petition against a demolition notice issued by the Deputy Commissioner of Chandanagar Circle under Section 462 of the GHMC Act, 1955, minced no words in exposing the hollowness of municipal enforcement mechanisms. The court observed that illegal multi-storey buildings mushroom under the very noses of municipal staff while they remain indifferent. 'Only after the illegal structures are complete do these officials suddenly wake up, rushing to demolish them in a mock display of duty,' the judge remarked, the exasperation unmistakable. Turning sharply towards the counsel for the municipal authorities, the court posed a blunt question: 'What exactly do the municipal officials do for months while such constructions come up? Do the area inspectors wear blindfolds?' Justice Reddy pointedly reminded that the GHMC Act under Section 461 empowers officials to seize such unauthorised constructions in the early stages itself. 'Why don't they act then?' he questioned.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
GHMC Commissioner issues detailed SoP for sealing of unauthorised premises
Commissioner of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has issued a watertight protocol for sealing the unauthorised structures identified in the city by GHMC officials. The standard operating procedure (SOP) issued by the GHMC Commissioner clarifies that only a higher authority than the sealing officer can unseal a property. For instance, if a Deputy Commissioner seals a building, only the Zonal Commissioner can reopen it. Similarly, if a Zonal Commissioner seals a property, only the GHMC Commissioner has the authority to remove the seal. The SOP, outlined in an official circular, specifies two scenarios under the TG-bPASS Act, 2020, in which properties may be sealed: one, if false information or misrepresentation is used to obtain building permission; and two, if construction is carried out without permission or in deviation of sanctioned plans. The circular also references the Supreme Court's December 2024 guidelines on demolishing unauthorised constructions, along with recent Telangana High Court directions mandating the sealing of additional floors if builders proceed with construction despite being served a show-cause notice. It further reinforces the GHMC Commissioner's authority to seal such premises under the GHMC Act, 1955. According to the SOP, copies of the show-cause notice must be sent to the District Collector, the Special Task Force chief, the Zonal Commissioner or the designated GHMC nodal officer, and must also be conspicuously pasted on the structure. If construction does not stop immediately after the notice is issued, the premises must be sealed without delay, the circular adds, outlining the step-by-step sealing protocol. The owner/occupier should be given three days after which the sealing process begins. A red coloured ribbon should be tied around the entire construction, with a paper tag carrying the signature of the officer executing the operation, and the 'Panchoos' (witnesses present at the location). The office seal with wax should be affixed at every knot where the ribbon ends are tied together. All entry and exit areas including staircases, elevators, elevator ducts and ramps should be sealed using the same procedure, if possible using plywood boards or any weather resistant boards. In case of lock & key feasibility, the lock should be covered in a cloth with thread, and sealed using office seal with wax, the circular mentioned. Detailed sealing report should be prepared giving the names of the police and civil personnel participating in the sealing process, to be signed by two 'Panchoos'. The report should be sent to the Commissioner and displayed on the digital portal. The whole procedure should be recorded through photography and videography. Electricity department and water board should be notified to disconnect the service connections to the sealed premises. Station House Officer and the Sub-registrar concerned should be intimated about the sealing, and also the municipal standing counsel if the property is in legal dispute.
The Hindu
11-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
GHMC seizes mall opened without Occupancy Certificate
Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation's officials, on Wednesday, inspected and sealed the premises of an upmarket shopping mall functioning from the premises of a building which has not been issued the Occupancy Certificate yet. Responding to the news article titled 'Hyderabad malls open sans occupancy certificate, GHMC looks away', published in The Hindu, Town Planning officials visited the premises and confirmed the violation, before issuing notices and sealing the premises. A statement from GHMC informed that notices had been served upon the occupier calling for explanation and submission of relevant documents. The building permission was obtained by one T. Vinay Kumar and others for construction of three cellars and ground plus five floors for the purpose of commercial establishments and a multiplex. An inspection has revealed that a commercial establishment named 'Mangalya Shopping Mall' was being run in the ground and first floors of the building without occupancy certificate, the note said. Since there was no response for the show cause notice, GHMC has taken action and sealed the ground and first floors of the building. Shutters were pulled down by the officials and notices were pasted informing that the building had been seized under the section 461(A) of GHMC Act, 1955. Section 461(A) empowers the GHMC Commissioner to take action against the unauthorised structures, including removal, discontinuance of construction, and also to seal the property. The Hindu, in its report published on Tuesday, focussed on violations pertaining to the occupancy certificates being condoned by the GHMC officials. According to building norms, occupancy certificate is mandatory for any structure built on a plot of 200 square metres or more, or with a height of seven metres or more (typically ground plus one floor). In order to enforce the OC, the GHMC mandates the builder to mortgage 10% of the built-up area with the corporation, by way of a notarised document. The mortgage is released only after issue of OC, and unless the OC is issued, the property cannot be occupied. The note by GHMC too cautioned the public that the structures for which building permissions are obtained, can be occupied only after obtaining occupancy certificate as per the building norms.
