‘Pay politicians for permits’: BRS alleges extortion racket in Secunderabad Cantonment
Hyderabad: Bharat Rastra Samithi (BRS) spokesperson Krishank accused Congress Cantonment MLA and Secunderabad Cantonment Board(SCB) members of colluding to extort money from residents. The allegation centres on a board policy that requires a 10% mortgaging clause in the built-up area for properties as small as 111 square metres, a threshold far lower than the 200 square metres applicable in the GHMC area.
Krishank Congress MLA Sri Ganesh and BJP Nominated Member Banuka Narmada colluded together to extort money from people who are applying to construct houses in Cantonment. Going further into details, the Cantonment Board has approved a Mortgaging Clause of 10% in built-up area for 111 sq metres, while in GHMC it is above 200 sq metres.
Krishank said that, unlike GHMC, which uses TSBPASS to issue house construction permissions without political interference, the Cantonment Board only approves building permissions after board resolutions.
Throwing light on the lack of elected Cantonment Board Krishank said, “The last election in Cantonment was in 2014-15. Since then, there have been no polls or an elected Board. The Board currently includes Brigadier, CEO, Malkajgiri MP Etala Rajender, a Congress MLA, and a BJP-nominated member. In the meeting, they proposed the mortgage clause. Etala Rajender was absent, but the Congress MLA strongly supported it”.
The BRS has demanded that the mortgaging clause be withheld until the Cantonment Board frames proper bylaws and a fully elected board is established, arguing that the current system inherently fosters corruption by forcing citizens to seek political favour for basic construction rights. "To build even 111 square metres, people should please the Congress MLA and the BJP-nominated member. This can help avoid approval hurdles. This leads to corruption. Why should politicians approve building permissions?" questioned Krishank, BRS Spokesperson. Further, BRS demands to hold off on this mortgaging clause until the Cantonment Board creates proper by-laws and has a fully elected board.