Corporators demand their pound of flesh

HYDERABAD: Barely two months after being elected to power, corporators have started showing their ‘muscle’ power and have allegedly started demanding a ‘share’ in every contract awarded to contractors in their localities.
The corporators don’t seem to be sparing even ordinary residents building their own houses. “I was forced to pay Rs 40,000 to the local corporator who threatened to stop the construction of the commercial complex I am building near Jangammet,� J Muralidhar (name changed), a builder, said.
In some areas, the residents who are modifying or expanding their houses are being approached by the corporators’ henchmen demanding ‘mamools’.
Taking advantage of some deviations from the approved plans in some cases and the lack of MCH permits in some, corporators are making the people shell out money. People have only two options: “Pay up or be witness to demolition.�
Though the corporators have no role to play in the town planning wing and are supposed to confine themselves to the submission of development proposals to the authorities, several of them are reportedly cashing in on the ignorance of the public on the powers of elected representatives.
According to sources, a few corporators have even demanded a 10 per cent share from contractors who bag desiltation works in their areas.
“Since these corporators were elected, most of the contractors are being forced to pay ‘mamools’. The moment we start digging a ditch either to lay or repair a pipeline, the corporators’ henchmen approach us asking for their share,� a contractor who does works in Circle-I of the MCH said.