Hyderabad: With elections round the corner, the city administration has been swiftly clearing issues raised by citizens ranging from infrastructure (roads), garbage removal, tap connections to animal menace.
On an average, the GHMC receives 50 complaints everyday and these days, the grievances are being responded to quickly, much to amusement of citizens. Serilingampally TDP MLA Arekapudi Gandhi said, “Earlier corporation heads did not allow the lower officials to process projects proposed by opposition party MLAs as the opposition would get the credit if the works were executed."
"Even if the works are emergency ones we had to make rounds to the GHMC circle or zonal officials, and on most days officials escaped saying they had an inspection or a conference with the commissioner. Even small works, which can be carried out by circle officials, needed permission from the head office.”
“However, now the works are moving quickly and the ruling party is claiming credit. Officials are chasing contractors to complete the works.” Quthbullapur TD MLA K.P. Vivekanand Goud added, “In the last two months, IT minister K.T. Rama Rao has announced two-bedroom housing at nearly 12 localities without seeking the approval of the Central government’s Urban Development department. All double bedroom housing schemes fall under the Central government scheme and single bedrooms under the state government, but the government is announcing schemes without even identifying the beneficiaries.
“We have spoken to Union minister Venkaiah Naidu, who has clarified that over 10,000 houses have been approved, the central government is ready to give them but the state has not sought permission.”
In and around Hyderabad nearly about 30,000 houses of JNNNURM and Rajiv Gandhi scheme are lying vacant, they have not been allocated yet. The state government needs to spend Rs 1.6 crore on the infrastructure of these houses to have them ready for occupation.
Lakhs of new voters enrolled
Along with the residents’ welfare associations, the corporate entities in the new city, who are the worst hit in terms of infrastructure, have readied their own demands for the coming elections. Their foremost demand is of an educated leader. With hundreds of new colonies mushrooming in the new city and with increased migration, over 10 lakh new voters have been added to the electoral rolls in just five years.
The Serilingampally Assembly segment has also seen a huge influx of new voters, from 3.80 lakh in previous elections to more than 6 lakh. “The United Federation of RWAs, under one banner, has planned to conduct a Janata Darbar in January. All the aspiring candidates will be called and the RWA manifesto will be presented; the candidates will be asked to give their assurance on the works demanded by the residents,” said Mr C.N. Reddy, resident of SMR enclave – Miyapur.
