The state govt has put on hold its project of draining Hussainsagar for this year
Hussainsagar Lake
HYDERABAD: The state government has put on hold its project of draining Hussainsagar for this year fearing that the BJP-TD alliance would make it an emotional issue during the Ganesh immersions. Leaving no chance for the Opposition to take on the TRS ahead of the GHMC elections scheduled in December, the government is now focusing on the city’s development instead of the dewatering project.
Technically, with just a month left for the monsoons, the dewatering cannot be completed on time. Earlier, the BJP had opposed the construction of a new lake for immersion of Ganesh idols. As on May 1, the water level in the lake has decreased by 3 feet. Though the repairs of sluices and deepening of weirs began in early April, the unseasonal rains replenished the drained water. The repair of four sluices taken up by the state Irrigation wing will take another month (May end), said officials, while the lake can’t be drained during the monsoons.
Objecting to the dewatering programme, BJP Greater Hyderabad president B. Venkat Reddy said, “There is no need to dewater the tank, Ganesh immersion is not polluting the lake as the HMDA immediately fishes out the idols. Why should Indira Park be disturbed for creating Vinayak Sagar? The TS government has no plans or budget in place yet, why do we need skyscrapers at the present secretariat? Residents are furious over the methods used in collection of property tax, the government will face the wrath during the GHMC elections.”
However, confident of more than 100 seats, TRS city president Mr Mynampally Hanumantha Rao, said, “Not just Hussainsagar, the government is restoring 30 lakes in the city, the FTL levels have already been fixed. Greater Hyderabad will be on par with Dallas, Texas and vacant lands are being identified to set up housing for the poor to make it a slum-free city. TRS will win over 100 seats in the municipal elections; the next mayor would be from the TRS party.”
While the TRS, MIM, BJP, TD and the Congress are eyeing the GHMC elections following the High Court’s directive to hold elections by December 15, the TS Chief Minister has already announced a series of city development initiatives including recarpeting of roads, improving streetlights, drinking water supply, skywalks and now TS Kalabharathi at NTR stadium.
( Source : dc )
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