Govt not following natural justice while demolishing houses: Kishan

Declaring that the Congress government is trying to get name and fame through demolitions, the Union Minister of Coal and Mines, G. Kishan Reddy, said that the Congress government is demolishing buildings without following natural justice.
In a letter addressed to Chief Minister Revanth Reddy on Thursday, Kishan said that the Congress government chose demolitions to be in the news and that there is a need to prepare a clear policy for demolitions.
“We do not support encroachments and illegal construction, however, a government must act legally, fairly and in accordance with natural justice. This is especially so in the case of the poor and middle class. In most cases, the government is not following the principles of natural justice. There is a need to think sensitively about what is being demolished today. The government has provided roads, streetlights, drinking water facilities, drainage facilities, electricity connections and community halls in these areas. Finally, house numbers also have been allotted by the GHMC. Is this not true,” Kishan said.
However, suddenly the government said those buildings were constructed illegally, Kishan pointed out and added that the government is collecting taxes and providing services through the GHMC and the HMDA.
One authority is giving permissions and another authority is demolishing the same saying that they are illegal, he said and asked how far this is correct on the part of the government.
Many times in the past the Congress and BRS governments have regularised illegal buildings. The government should have a comprehensive plan. In a democracy, there should be honesty, transparency, social responsibility and constructive rules, he said.
“There are around 15,000 poor and middle-class families in the Musi catchment area. Before HYDRAA demolishes their homes they should be called for talks. Their houses should not be demolished and they must not be thrown on the road. As part of ‘Moosi River Beautification,’ we should hold talks with those who lose their homes,” he said.
The TG government has no right to demolish the houses of the poor which they have constructed using their lifetime earnings, Kishan said.