20 % of licensed gun owners yet to deposit arms

At least 20 per cent of licensed gunholders in Hyderabad commissionerate limits have not deposited their weapons with the police though they have been asked to do so in view of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections on November 23. Meanwhile, 700 history-sheeters were bound over (surrendering and reporting at a police station) out of the existing 1,000. Most of the history-sheeters are from the South Zone (Old City) in Hyderabad, according to police reports. At least 5,000 people have licensed guns under the Hyderabad Commissionerate limits. There are 1,000 history-sheeters in this zone. In the Cyberabad commissionerate on the other hand, there are 1,200 well-known citizens who have obtained gun licenses. And there are 300 history-sheeters. To ensure security during the GHMC elections, both Hyderabad and Cyberabad police asked licensed gun-holders to deposit their weapons and history-sheeters have been asked to report at police stations. Hyderabad City Police Commissioner B Prasada Rao told Expresso that as many as 80 per cent of licensed gun holders deposited their guns at police stations while 60 per cent of history-sheeters have reported at police stations. “We sent notices to all gun holders. A few are not in the city right now. At least 20 per cent of the gun holders are yet to deposit their firearms,” he said. A majority of licensed gun-holders in the Hyderabad Commissionerate are from the film fraternity, realtors, businessmen and some are the top brass belonging to the Information Technology sector. “As many as 700 history-sheeters were bound over (reporting at concerned police stations) and police operations to nab rest have begun. The history-sheeters are being counselled everyday to ensure a peaceful atmosphere during the GHMC elections,” Prasada Rao said. In the Cyberabad Commissionerate limits, at least 1,217 gun license holders have submitted their weapons. As many as 250 history- sheeters have reported at the police stations. “As of now, no case has been registered and we have not received even a single complaint from the public on violation of election code and conduct,” said Prasada Rao. A number of ‘shadow teams’ each comprising senior police officials assisted by head-constables have been formed to cover the movements of political leaders. By MOULI MAREEDU

Courting death on railway tracks

Can anyone crossing the railway tracks fail to take notice of an approaching train? While there is no convincing reason as to how it is possible, that a train, so huge in size, is approaching a person and he/she fails to take notice, statistics available with the Government Railway Police show that hundreds of people die every year while crossing railway tracks in the Twin Cities. As many as 237 people have died this year (from January to September) in the three circles — Secunderabad circle, Hyderabad circle and Kachiguda circle. GRP officials told Expresso that, perhaps, people crossing the tracks “feel” that they would be able to make it to the other end, even as a train is hurtling towards them. But then, they do not and end up getting hit by the train. S Rajasekhar Rao, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Railways, told Expresso that the problem is more in thickly populated areas close to the railway tracks.“People, perhaps, feel that they can cross the track but fail to make it. Busy with their hectic schedules, most of them are in a tearing hurry which results in the mishap,” he says adding that it is always advisable to let the train pass and then cross the track but not at unmanned level crossings. Of the 237 deaths this year, 84 people died while crossing the tracks from various places under the Kachiguda circle followed by 83 in Hyderabad circle while in Secunderabad circle, 70 people died. The officials have identified various spots under these circles as ‘death prone’. In the Secunderabad circle, there are three tracks from Secunderabad to Medchal, Aler and Miryalaguda. In the Kachiguda circle, it is from Kachiguda to Mahbubnagar upto Kurnool town and in the Hyderabad circle — the tracks from Hyderabad to Tandoor. “More deaths are registered from Kachiguda and Hyderabad circles. The reason is that the railway tracks of these two circles pass through congested localities,” said Rajasekhar Rao. Falaknuma in the Kachiguda circle and Necklace Road station near Raj Bhavan are identified as the most dangerous death spots. “We have been organising awareness camps to educate people against crossing the tracks. Due to this, the number of deaths has come down when compared to the last two years,” the DSP said. Another official however felt that there could be some psychological problems related to such deaths. “Logically, it is impossible to believe that someone cannot take notice of a train approaching them. But then, it is happening,” he said. BY MOULI MAREEDU

Venerable lodge in for royal flushing

When the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb conquered the Kingdom of Golconda in 1687, the Baradari building housed his administration and his son, Shah Alam’s engagement was held in the aesthetic building. Now, the heritage building, housing the Freemasons Lodge, situated in Goshamahal in Hyderabad is going to be a public urinal. Incidentally, it is the oldest building housing a Freemasons Lodge in the country. The city of Hyderabad famous for its monuments, which were built hundreds of years ago by the nawabs and Nizams, now, are being destroyed by the apathetic officials of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC). A 325-year-old heritage building, the Goshamahal Baradari Masonic building is a case in point. B Nataraj, secretary of the Goshamahal Baradari Masonic Building Committee (GBMBC) told ‘Expresso’ that the historical building Baradari Freemasons Lodge is soon to become a public toilet as the GHMC officials gave permission to a contractor to set up one under Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis. “A few months ago, GHMC officials tried to construct a public toilet and failed as the building committee opposed their move. After a long gap, the GHMC officials took up the move to build a public toilet attached to the boundary of the Baradari Masonic building. Our complaints to the officials fell on deaf ears,” he laments. The Goshamahal Baradari means ‘Secluded Palace for ladies’. Gosha is the veil worn by Muslim women and Baradari means a building with 12 doors. The historical building was built by Sultan Abu Hasan, the last Sultan of the Qutub Shahi dynasty, which ruled the kingdom of Golconda. D Ramachandram, one of the members of the building committee said that the Nizam constructed the present structure in memory of his beloved, Nanni Sanwali, an orphan, who died before they could be married. She requested that, as a memorial, he should build a public bath for ladies. When Nizam Osman Ali Khan was ruling Hyderabad, he donated the building to the Freemasons to set up their Lodge there. The Nizam himself was a Freemason. In 1933, the building was officially given to Freemasons and now it is being maintained by a committee formed by senior citizens. “Now the building is being used by the Freemasons to run the Masonic Study Circle, and the library is housed in one corner. A portion of the ground floor serves as a sewing centre for ladies. Another portion of the ground floor is has the medical centre, where two qualified and experienced doctors provide allopathic and homeopathic medicines free of cost,” said A Sridhar, president of the building committee. “The Baradari building had great significance during the rule of the Nizams. It is unfortunate that the GHMC officials plan to build toilets for the public at the building,” lamented 60- year-old Ahmed Ansari, resident of Goshamahal. mouli@expressbuzz.com By MOULI MAREEDU

Punjagutta is noisiest area in city

It’s official. The constantly busy Punjagutta junction is the noisiest area in the Twin Cities. If the residents of this area are plagued by anxiety or depression, then noise pollution could be one of the contributing factors. After Punjagutta, Abids, Paradise, Charimnar, areas near the Nehru Zoological Park and KBR Park in Jubilee Hills are high on the list of the most noise-polluted areas in Hyderabad. The causes are: steady honking, especially by drivers of heavy vehicles, traffic snarls. But then, there is another common cause that adds to noise pollution, unique and loud ring tones of mobile phones. According to Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) officials, the mentioned areas are polluted due to the movement of a large number of vehicles. Dr K V Ramani, Chief Environmental Scientist, APPCB told Expresso that with an increase in the number of private vehicles in the Twin Cities, the noise pollution also goes up every day. As per noise peak values for the year 2009 (on an average), Punjagutta is the most affected by noise pollution with 86.26 decibels followed by, Paradise 86, Charminar 85.96, Abids at 85.66, Zoo Park 73.30 and KBR Park with 74.73 decibels. They are mentioned as dangerous zones. Ramani says that as per normal standards, 65 decibels in commercial zones and 50-decibel level in sensitive zones are acceptable. “As the APPCB has instructed all industries to set up noise pollution controls, they have been following some rules and there are no complaints from the public,” she said. In sensitive areas (hospitals, courts, police stations, schools and colleges), the decibel level increases every day. “Police are responsible for tackling the problem in sensitive localities. Only when they request us, we go and conduct a research and submit a report to them. Otherwise, we have no right to take action in sensitive areas,” she explains. Ramani says that constant honking, use of generators and loudspeakers are responsible for soaring noise levels in the Twin Cities. The scientist points out that polyphonic ring tones of mobile phones can increase decibel levels. “Lack of awareness and information about the health hazards results in people suffering silently,” she says while pointing out that noise pollution also leads to psychiatric problems such as anxiety and depression. “To reduce noise pollution in the Twin Cities, the only solution is that the people should use the public transport system,” Nagi Reddy, Junior Scientific Officer, APPCB said. BY MOULI MAREEDU

Punjagutta is noisiest area in city

Punjagutta is noisiest area in city

Uppal residents have a lot to complain about

Uppal, a suburban locality in the city, is popularly known as the Industrial Development Area (IDA) as it has hundreds of major, medium and small industries. It is referred to as ‘mini-India’ since people from various States including West Bengal, Kolkata and Bihar have settled here. Residents are hoping that the construction of an underground drainage system, which was stopped abruptly, be completed now that polls are on the horizon. Pollution levels in all these colonies is forever increasing as a number of pharmaceutical companies are emitting waste material into the Musi. Komati Ravi, a local politician said that when the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) was in power, Rs 30 crore was sanctioned for construction of an underground drainage system. “Because of purely political reasons, the construction of the underground drainage system was halted though 90 per cent of the work has been completed. The open drainage system in Uppal leads to various health problems and communicable diseases which is spreading rapidly,” he said. Recently, two residents of Uppal died of swine flu. Besides wastage from industries, the locality also has a severe drinking water shortage. “Pollution of ground water due to improper construction of three main nalas — Ramanthapur, Nallacheruvu and Nacharam tanks — are causing environmental problems in this constituency. As many as 440 industries function from here and these three water tanks are polluted as several industries are dumping waste material into the tanks,” said M Ashok Reddy, a resident of Bharatnagar. He said that three slum areas, Veerappagadda, Bharatnagar and Chilakanagar, face severe shortage of drinking water. There are seven divisions in Uppal Legislative Constituency, which comes under the GHMC. Going by the public mood, it appears that candidates who are in the fray, will have a tough time convincing people to vote in their favour. Insufficient rations are another cause for complaint. “There are 42 ration shops in the Uppal Legislative constituency but they fail to supply adequate pulses, rice, sugar, dal and cooking oil to 2.5 lakh population,” points out K Vijay Kumar, a resident of Ganesh Nagar. “We want the government to sanction more ration shops to distribute adequate pulses and rice to us,” Vijaya Kumar says. Sixty-year-old K Gangadhara Rao, a resident of Habsiguda says that several roads in his locality have been encroached. “Several shops and houses which have been constructed here have been done so by encroaching roads or occupying open land illegally,” he says. With regard to the existing traffic problem, he says that the road from Nacharam to Chilkanagar was damaged about a year ago. “Motorists have a tough time on this 3 kilometre stretch. Despite several requests to municipal authorities, it was not repaired,” he complains. Another resident of Raghavendranagar, B V Narasimhulu complains about how the presence of several liquor shops in the locality render it unsafe for women. “A few liquor shops run till midnight in violation of rules,” he says. By MOULI MAREEDU