Authorities yet to take stock of encroachments under Nayapul

Afzalgunj: Even as the Hyderabad Traffic Police and Musi River Front Development Corporation Limited (MRDCL) are conducting awareness drivers against illegal dumping of construction and demolition waste into Musi river, the illegal encroachment and parking business thrive under Nayapul bridge.

According to locals, systematic encroachment on Musi river that have cropped up all along the river bank near Nayapul is being winked at by the concerned officials of Civic bodies. While the officials are regularly making visit and studying the possibility of beautification and rejuvenation, the action against the encroachments is yet to be initiated. "Though the Nayapul bridge provides bread and butter for many a hawkers and traders, the section below it has also become a place of earning money for those who have encroached upon spaces for parking all kinds of vehicles, from pushcarts to rickshaws, autos and even four-wheelers. While some have developed workshops and mechanic shops for vehicles and the river bank has also turned into a dumping ground for old unusable vehicles at some section. This not only blocks the water, but also poses risk of inundation to the nearby houses in spate during monsoon season," said Shaik Imtiaz Ali, a social activist

The section of Musi below the Nayapul bridge has not only become place for indiscriminate dumping, but also encroached upon for a different kind of business opportunity. These parking spaces underneath the bridge have changed hands several times owing to the influence and lucrative nature involving collection of parking fees illegally. "Leave aside the beautification of Musi river, first save it from extinction because it is already getting condensed with the widespread encroachments all around its passageway. I urge the GHMC authorities to turn their attention to the condition of the bridge and do the needful soon," the activist added.

It may be mentioned here that as part of MRDCL, several encroachments were marked for removal under Salarjung (Sivaji) bridge by the higher officials from GHMC and other departments who made visit to the site on May 28. But they are yet to visit the Nayapul bridge, which is close to bustling centre of Afzalgunj and has got more encroachments. The officials led by B Srinivas Reddy, Zonal Commissioner, South (GHMC) visited Salarjung bridge along with officials of MRDCL, GHMC and police officials marked encroachments for removing them.

Meanwhile on June 11, the Hyderabad Traffic Police organised awareness programme for the owners and drivers of the lorries and tippers with the co-ordination of the officials of MRDCL. In the awareness programme K Babu Rao, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic II) and K Ashok Reddy, Managing Director of MRDCL explained about the norms to be followed.