Hyderabad: The Telangana Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (TGSPDCL) is taking major action against illegal buildings. They have issued notices to about 60 engineers for giving power connections to structures lacking necessary occupancy certificates (OCs) from the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC). These engineers either failed to verify the authenticity of the certificates or overlooked forged ones.
Times of India reports that this move is among the most rigorous internal audits recently. TGSPDCL is now scrutinizing new connection requests more thoroughly. During checks, officials discovered that 400 to 500 buildings lacked the essential civic permits, leading to application rejections.
Criminal charges have been filed against 10 individuals and companies for presenting fake OCs to get power connections.
The highest number of engineers receiving notices hail from the Cybercity circle, including positions like assistant and divisional engineers. Rapid construction in Kondapur, Ibrahimbagh, Narsingi, Nallagandla, Tara Nagar, Hafeezpet, Rajendranagar, Gachibowli, and Medchal has been noted.
Verification efforts also revealed violations in areas affected by Government Order 111, where building and industrial activities are banned near Himayat Sagar and Osman Sagar reservoirs. Despite these restrictions, local engineers allegedly assisted in supplying electricity to unauthorized structures.
Many engineers claimed ignorance about the fraudulent certificates, as builders misused valid approvals from one project to cover unauthorized constructions. Officials mentioned rampant unauthorized floor additions in several western city neighborhoods due to high rental demand.
TGSPDCL seeks access to the MyGHMC app to verify permissions and OCs digitally before granting electricity connections.
This crackdown has left some flat owners in difficult situations, as they suffer due to their builder’s unauthorized actions.
