FGG flags building convention centres near Hyderabad's Gandipet in violation of GO 111; municipality claims no records, forum urges CM Revanth Reddy to act
HYDERABAD: In apparently a breach of govt order (GO) 111 prohibiting construction around catchment area of Gandipet lake, many convention centres are being built in the area. The issue has been flagged by the Forum for Good Governance (FGG), which said that the Narsingi Municipality has been giving evasive replies to Right to Information (RTI) application seeking information on permission status for these convention centres.
"Records do not exist" was the cryptic response by the municipality on whether Neo Convention, Aarya Convention and K Convention applied for or received permission for construction, the FGG said.
In its written reply, the Narsingi Municipality stated: "It is to inform that as per the available records, the said constructions were completed way back in the then gram panchayaths and the building permission details are not handed over to Narsingi Municipality during the merging."
FGG flags violations
In a letter addressed to chief minister A Revanth Reddy, the FGG raised serious objections to the construction of these facilities within 500 metres of the Gandipet lake in violation of GO 111.
The letter signed by FGG president M Padmanabha Reddy pointed out that while some of the convention centres were already operational for over a year, others were still under construction. The forum also included maps and photographs of the sites located in Zanwada village of Shankarpally mandal.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Free P2,000 GCash eGift
UnionBank Credit Card
Apply Now
Undo
"The gram panchayat of Zanwada has said that nobody approached them and no permission to any construction of convention centres was given," the letter to the CM read.
FGG also questioned the absence of house numbers or property tax records for the buildings.
"If they were constructed long back, there should have been proper house numbers and regular property tax should have been collected," the letter stated.
CM intervention sought
FGG urged the CM to initiate a detailed inquiry into the matter, identify officials who allowed the construction to proceed without due process and demolish all illegal structures near the lake. The forum stressed the need to protect Gandipet lake ecosystem and uphold the norms set out in GO 111.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
25 minutes ago
- Time of India
The art of no deal: How Trump and Putin will measure 'success' in Alaska talks; what's at stake
Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin US President Donald Trump will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Saturday for a summit that could shape both the course of the war in Ukraine and the fate of European security. For Trump, the face-to-face offers a stage to demonstrate his image as a skilled negotiator and peacemaker, a role he has long claimed he could play to quickly end the conflict. For Putin, it is a rare chance to push for a deal that locks in Russia's war gains, keeps Ukraine out of Nato, and eventually draws Kyiv back into Moscow's sphere of influence. The meeting carries high risks for Trump. Hosting Putin on US soil gives the Russian leader the recognition he has sought since being shunned over the 2022 invasion. By leaving out Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Trump also deals a heavy blow to the West's policy of 'nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine' and invites the possibility that he could agree to a deal that Ukraine does not want. So, how will both leaders measure success from the summit? Different goals for Trump and Putin Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin will measure success at their summit in Alaska very differently, even as both leaders are looking toward a possible second meeting. The public expectation may be that both leaders are there to strike a breakthrough deal. But the reality is more complex, and for both leaders, "success" may not necessarily involve signing any formal agreement. The US president sees any form of ceasefire in Ukraine as a key objective of the talks. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 11 Foods That Help In Healing Knee Pain Naturally Undo For Putin, simply meeting Trump on American soil without making territorial concessions on the war is already a gain. These are the contrasting stakes as both leaders head to Anchorage for their first summit since 2018 in Helsinki. This gap in objectives shows both the opportunities and risks for Trump. It also explains why the meeting is seen as a first step, with both sides already discussing the possibility of a second summit. However, Putin has little reason to stop the fighting as Russia's military continues to advance in Ukraine, but he also cannot risk alienating a president with whom he has maintained a long relationship. Putin's 2022 invasion of Ukraine started Europe's largest war in 80 years and turned him into an international pariah. The summit gives him a chance to challenge the isolation imposed by the US and its G7 allies over his actions. The venue itself — Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, a US military base — gives Putin a symbolic advantage, as it is on American soil. The meeting also marks a departure from former US president Joe Biden's approach of "nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine," a policy that ensured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was part of any major talks. While Trump spoke to Zelenskyy earlier this week, the one-on-one with Putin reflects his belief that he — and not Ukraine — is central to ending the conflict. "Russia wants to continue to pursue its objectives, which are to dramatically weaken Ukraine and essentially undermine its independence and sovereignty," Richard Haass, a former senior State Department official, said in an interview, as quoted by Bloomberg. "So Russia sees negotiations not as an alternative to that, but as a means toward that end." Lowered expectations The White House has sought to play down expectations for the meeting. Trump has called it a "feel-out meeting," and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described it as "a listening exercise for the president." Trump is already looking to a possible second summit involving Zelenskyy and European leaders, which he expects would be "more productive than the first." The Kremlin has invited Trump to visit Russia next. This is a change from Trump's earlier claim on the campaign trail that he could end the war within a day of taking office. In May, US secretary of state Marco Rubio said it was "abundantly clear" that a breakthrough was only possible with the involvement of Trump and Putin. One possible outcome could be an agreement to halt the fighting temporarily or partially, such as stopping Russian air strikes. Trump could also back Putin's proposal to take Ukrainian territory already under Russian control. It is also possible that no agreement will be reached, similar to Trump's 2019 talks with North Korea's Kim Jong Un, which ended without a deal. For Putin, the meeting is an opportunity to exploit divisions between the US and Europe and seek relief from sanctions that have slowed Russia's economy. Who else is attending? Trump will be joined by vice president JD Vance, secretary of state Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Vance has played an important role in shaping the US stance and in talks with Russia. Putin will be accompanied by foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, along with Russia's defense and finance ministers, suggesting a focus on possible economic cooperation — an area Trump is interested in. The two leaders are expected to meet alone before joining their delegations for lunch. A joint press conference will follow. This raises the possibility of a repeat of the 2018 Helsinki news conference, where Trump sided with Putin over US intelligence assessments on Russian interference in the 2016 election — a situation Trump will aim to avoid. Ahead of the summit, Trump told European leaders that he would not negotiate new borders for Ukraine and would push for direct talks between Putin and Zelenskyy. He also indicated support for security guarantees for Ukraine.
Time of India
29 minutes ago
- Time of India
Nagaland Governor La Ganesan dies at 80
Nagaland Governor La Ganesan died on Friday while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Chennai , a Raj Bhavan official said. Independence Day 2025 Modi signals new push for tech independence with local chips Before Trump, British used tariffs to kill Indian textile Bank of Azad Hind: When Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose gave India its own currency He was 80. Ganesan was undergoing treatment at the ICU of the hospital for the past few days and he died on Friday night, the Kohima Raj Bhavan PRO said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like You Won't Believe What These Celebrities Studied in College Learn More On August 8, Ganesan had collapsed at his home in Chennai and sustained a head injury, sources said. He was immediately rushed to the hospital, where doctors admitted him to the ICU to undergo intensive monitoring and treatment. Live Events Ganesan was appointed the 21st governor of Nagaland on February 12, 2023 and he assumed office on February 20 that year.
Time of India
34 minutes ago
- Time of India
Federal Special Education grants face uncertainty amid Trump administration review
(AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) Despite repeated assurances from the Trump administration regarding the preservation of special education funding, advocacy groups are sounding alarms nationwide. Concerns are mounting that hundreds of millions of dollars in in-progress federal grants aimed at strengthening services for children with disabilities could be cut in the coming weeks, according to US media sources. The potential reductions center on Part D of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which funds competitive grants supporting academic research, parent resources, technology development, and the professional training of special educators. Unlike the formula-driven Part B funds, which directly support classroom services, Part D underwrites the infrastructure that enables high-quality special education nationwide. Advocacy groups raise red flags Last week, the Council for Exceptional Children and the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities warned their members that the US Department of Education may soon terminate 'hundreds' of Part D grants. Letters from these organizations, reviewed by Education Week, indicate that the department may have used AI scans to flag grant applications containing references to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), an area targeted by the Trump administration in K-12 and higher education programs. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 15 Most Beautiful Female Athletes in the World Click Here Undo Madi Biedermann, deputy assistant secretary for communications at the Department of Education, confirmed that 'non-competitive continuation award reviews for IDEA-D programmes are ongoing', but declined to specify which grants are at risk, whether AI is being used in the review, or when a final decision would be communicated, as reported by Education Week. Potential consequences: Programs and services in limbo The stakes are high. Cuts to IDEA Part D funding could affect: State education agencies and technical assistance centers, which help districts navigate complex special education requirements. Academic research, including hundreds of doctoral students whose projects rely on these grants. Teacher training initiatives, potentially deepening existing shortages of qualified special educators. Parent and child support programs, threatening critical services for families nationwide. Advocacy and congressional response Many organizations are actively lobbying Congress to prevent disruptions. Over 100 state-level groups supporting parents of children with disabilities have drafted a letter urging lawmakers to maintain current funding levels, emphasizing that program eliminations would undermine congressional intent and jeopardize essential services. Historically, Part D grants have included requirements for equity-focused initiatives, aligning with prior federal mandates. A 2024 special education personnel development grant, for instance, explicitly sought proposals supporting educational equity for children with disabilities. Glenna Gallo, former assistant secretary for special education and rehabilitative services (2023–2025), underscored the potential consequences: 'We have had decades of educator shortages, and if they do away with this funding, that is going to take us back to not having people trained to provide support to children with disabilities' as reported by Education Week. Signs of funding disruption Evidence suggests that grant recipients are already feeling the effects: Organizations in the mid-cycle of five-year IDEA Part D grants have not received expected funding for the new fiscal year, starting Oct. 1. Some recipients, including national technical assistance centers and Community Parent Resource Centers, received notice of a one-month extension of their grant year, but without additional funding or assurance of future support. If congressional appropriations are not fully distributed by Sept. 30, the funds could expire and return to the Treasury, creating additional operational uncertainty. Trump administration signals changes While Part B (over $15 billion annually) and Part C funding streams remain unaffected, the administration has flagged a potential shift of Part D funds into Part B, arguing that this would 'return education to the states'. Critics contend that without a dedicated Part D stream, states may struggle to maintain research, training, and parent-support programs. Previous federal budgets and bipartisan congressional actions show consistent support for IDEA, with recent votes advancing a 2026 federal budget that preserves funding for all special education programs and rejects Trump's proposed cuts and consolidations. An uncertain path ahead As the Education Department reviews Part D grants, recipients and advocacy groups face a tense waiting period. The outcome could reshape the landscape of special education services, with potential disruptions to research, teacher training, and parental support initiatives. In a field already grappling with shortages and growing student needs, the stakes could not be higher. Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
