In Hyderabad, Drones Will Now Keep An Eye On Illegal Construction, And Alert The Authorities 

In order to identify constructions in Hyderabad that aren’t authorised, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) will be using drone images with the help of Telangana State Remote Sensing Applications Centre (TRAC). This exercise with the TRAC will repeat itself every three months.

The concern, however, is that the three-month gap in between can provide an opportunity for some who can finish the construction and occupy the buildings illegally.

Deccan Chronicle reports that National Remote Sensing Agency had refused to take up the job from GHMC and instead provided a one-year report of the structures. GHMC used this for their Building Regularisation Scheme. Over 1.39 lakh applications had been received by GHMC but the scheme was stayed by the High Court. The database was being handled by Centre for Good Governance.

Processing the satellite images can be a difficult task, hence the three-month gap, a GHMC source said. The catch, however, is that no occupied structures can be demolished easily, but the ones under-construction can be. As an alternative, the GHMC provides no ownership certificates to the occupied illegal buildings and instead charges property taxes with 100 per cent penalty.