Startling facts have been unearthed during the CBI raids on officials, builders and elected ward members of Secunderabads Contonement Board (SCB)indicating a clear nexus between them and the builders. There are nearly 1.50 lakh large and small buildings in the 40-square kilometre area of the Cantonment and 80 per cent of these are unauthorised. Enquiries revealed that of the 80 per cent unauthorised buildings, over 10,000 were constructed without SCB's permission and the rest violated building rules or deviated from the sanctioned building plans. In fact, buildings have also been constructed in the open spaces in the 260 colony layouts that were to be left for parks.

A survey was conducted four years back in the Cantonment to identify the illegal buildings. The then chief executive officer, Mr Prem Chand, had got the survey conducted, which had put the unauthorised constructions figure at 80 per cent. The survey report, however, was conveniently filed away. Officials maintained that if they were to take up demolitions of the unauthorised structures, they would have to pull down over one lakh buildings, which was next to impossible. As per the Cantonment Act, only ground-plus two buildings are permitted to be constructed within Cantonment limits but the area is dotted with many four and five storey buildings.

It has been alleged that the SCB officials are bribed by the owners and builders, following which the officials confine their action to only issuing notices. Except for demolishing a few buildings of owners who fail to pay up, other notices of demolitions remain only on paper. Sources said that there were a few "middlemen" working for a couple of elected ward members who went to sites of illegal buildings and squeezed money from the owner. After taking money from the builders, they would then approach SCB officials and take money from them threatening them that they would alert the CBI.

The CBI armed with evidence, is likely to arrest Secunderabad Cantonment Board chief executive officer C Ravindra and five engineering officials soon. The CBI has registered criminal cases against Ravindra and five assistant engineers for allegedly conspiring with builders and allowing unauthorised constructions in the Cantonment area.