The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) fined a construction firm Rs 10 lakh and filed a case against the company at the Banjara Hills police station for damage to public property, after the builders pumped water from their cellar, on to the road.
The Times of India reported that the GHMC also suspended the building licence and seized two pump sets, after they observed water being let out from the cellar of the under-construction residential and commercial complex.
The accused was identified as 'Legend Constructions', while the complainant was GHMC Mayor Bonthu Rammohan himself, who observed the water flowing on the newly-laid road.
"The water overflow was causing heavy damage to roads that were re-carpeted recently at a cost of Rs 8 lakh," GHMC officials told TOI.
The company was constructing a building with ground plus four floors, and two cellars, approved by the GHMC.
“On Sunday night at about 2:30 am, I was travelling at the junction where (Banjara Hills) Road No.3 and Road No.14 meet, and observed that three roads were inundated in three inches of water. Upon inspection, we discovered that the water was being pumped out from the multi-level cellar of the complex under construction,” The Hindu quoted Ram Mohan as saying.
“Water is to be let out into storm water drain and not on to the roads. We have recently discovered seven to eight such cases, and slapped fines amount to Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh. But this is the highest fine ever slapped for such offence,” the GHMC mayor added.
The dewatering from cellars on to the roads is damaging the roads and is also causing inconvenience to several commuters, the mayor said.