Mudfort Basti under threat of demolition

HYDERABAD:  Around 450 poor families living at the Mudfort Basti in the Secunderabad Cantonment area might become homeless, after being asked to vacate the land.The Mudfort Basti houses people who generally work as labourers at construction sites in the city. The area which is home to a population of 1,900, came up after some families migrated from surrounding districts of Hyderabad around 15 years back, set up huts and settled down. However, with the Cantonment Board deciding to demolish illegal constructions in the area recently, these poor labourers are left with nowhere to go.“We immigrated and started living here around 20 years ago. We did not know whose land it was. Our families were issued ration cards in 2000 and we get food grains from fair price shops. We were even given voter ID cards. However, in June the SCB sent us a notice to vacate the land as we are illegally occupying land. Where are we supposed to go?” asked Tadula Ramachandramma (75), a resident of Mudfort Basti. She added that though they have been living there for two decades, they do not have access to drinking water, power supply, sanitation facilities or schools for their children. Jumpanna Pratap, former vice-president and Mudfort Basti ward member, however, says these people settled here only five to seven years back. “They cannot stay here as the land is under the Cantonment Board. The Board can give land and construct homes only if the Centre gives them permission,” he added. S Balakrishna, chief executive officer, SCB said, “As per the Cantonment Act 2006, no individual can own a land and construct a house without the board’s permission. But some migrant labourers and other families who settled down in the Cantonment area have to vacate the land as their settlement is illegal.” AV Dhrama Reddy, defence estate officer said, “They have o vacate the land. Otherwise, the SCB will be forced to demolish them.”“We fear that if we demand homes and other facilities from the government, they will ask us to vacate. We have nowhere else to go,” said L Uttaraih, a resident. He added that they had given representations to political leaders and government officials but to no avail.