A compensation of ₹ 1.3 lakh per square yard is being offered to the owners of properties in Banjara Hills that will be affected during the proposed implementation of the Strategic Road Development Plan (SRDP).
At a public hearing on Thursday, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) officials invited the owners of the 58 properties located near KBR main gate that will be acquired to make way for the skyway.
While the compensation for Banjara Hills and Jubilee Hills properties was fixed at ₹ 1.3 lakh, those in Film Nagar will get a little less at ₹ 90,000 per square yard.
At the meeting attended by local Corporator, residents and activists, heated arguments with the officials took place on the issue of alignment. While some objected to the compensation amount, a few felt that the project was unnecessary in the first place.
Initially, the GHMC had decided to acquire 58 properties at KBR Junction, Indo-American Cancer Hospital, Jubilee Hills Check Post, Road No. 45, Film Nagar and Maharaja Agrasen Junction. But, with the latest assessment, this number has come down to 34.
The members of Hyderabad Rising, who have been opposing the project, questioned the legality of holding the hearing.
“There is a stay on the project around KBR Park area as per the orders of the National Green Tribunal,” said Shilpa Sivakumaran of Hyderabad Rising.
“Since the NGT is expected to give the orders soon, how can the Government hold the hearing or go ahead with the acquisition?”, she asked.
She also said that though a Social Impact Assessment study had been done, there is no sign of an Environment Impact Study on the project.
The GHMC officials will hold public hearings in the coming days as per the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Rules -2014 after which a committee will be constituted to take a decision on the process of acquisition.
