Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation swindles Rs 30 lakh parking fees

Hyderabad: Urban biodiversity department officials in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation swindled about Rs 30 lakh as they did not deposit the revenue generated from parking fees. Since October 2016, they swindled Rs 28 lakh entry fees from Imliban, Chacha Nehru and Jalagam Vengal Rao (JVR) parks.

According to a GHMC official, in October 2016, tenders were finalised for Imliban, Chacha Nehru and Jalagam Vengal Rao (JVR) parks and the contract to collect the entry fees was handed over to three private agencies. The private agencies bagged Imliban Park for Rs 12 lakh for 12 months, Chacha Nehru Park for Rs 8 lakh for 12 months and JVR park for Rs 8 lakh for 12 months. The private agencies had to repay the amount in three installments in six months. A year has passed. Neither the agency or officials have deposited the money.

About this, V. Damodhar, director of urban bio-diversity, said that it was a mere clerical error. The private agencies have paid their first instalment. He said that the corporation will take criminal action against private contractors and departmental action against officials for indulging in irregularities. Mr Damodhar said that the corporation will not allow the private agencies in future to indulge in such irregularities.

He said that the corporation has not invited the tender after October this year and the civic body has been looking after the maintenance of three parks. GHMC would invite the tenders and finalise them by February.