PIL exposes corruption in civic body, 71 buildings lack occupancy certificates

Nellore City News

Posted by AI on 2025-09-04 22:11:52 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-09-05 01:37:06

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Officials in Nellore allegedly bypassed laws by issuing mortgage deeds for apartments without occupancy certificates, putting residents at risk. The AP Building Rules 2017 were ignored, resulting in significant financial losses. The scandal emerged from a PIL filed by TDP spokesperson Anam Venkataramana Reddy, revealing illegal activities by officials and builders.

The Andhra Pradesh Municipal Corporations Act 1955 prohibits issuing mortgage deeds if a building has deviations that cannot be compounded. Despite this, officials are accused of collaborating with builders and promoters to issue deeds without collecting penalties and other revenues required by the AP Building Rules 2017. Authorities failed to act on a 2017 GO aimed at collecting revenue from errant builders, enabling corruption and financial losses for the city.

The PIL lists 72 buildings affected by this malpractice, and authorities have been asked to issue notices and penalties and consider criminal charges against landowners and builders.

The high court will soon hear this case, and authorities have been preparing a plan of action to address the issue. So, how did we get here? Can ordinary people trust any civic officials or regulations? In the context of ongoing encroachments and misuse of housing authority, these questions are more urgent than ever.

Go!