Delays, Tax Hikes, And Stalled Projects Dominate SCB Board Meeting

Hyderabad: Delays in civic approvals, rising financial pressure on residents, and stalled infrastructure projects dominated a Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) meeting held on Friday, with multiple unresolved issues flagged before board officials.

The meeting took place at the Cantonment Board office in Secunderabad and was chaired by SCB president Brigadier S. Rajeev. Issues related to building permissions, property tax, service charges, traffic bottlenecks, and pending development works were discussed during the meeting.

Speaking after the meeting, Secunderabad Cantonment MLA Sriganesh Narayanan said building permissions in the SCB must follow the same transparent process followed in municipal bodies. “Elected representatives should not be kept out of the permissions process,” he said.

Concerns were also raised over the increase in property tax especially in view of land acquisition for the elevated corridor and delayed civic works. Sriganesh questioned the lack of clarity on service charges due from the Centre, saying the SCB must assess and pursue pending dues.

Stalled infrastructure projects featured prominently in the discussions. The MLA pointed to the pending development of Ramannakunta lake, stating that funds had been sanctioned by the state government but work had not begun due to the absence of a no-objection certificate. Issues like traffic congestion in Begumpet and Rasoolpura and the reconstruction of shops demolished near Jubilee Bus Stand were also raised.

Elsewhere, the relay hunger strike demanding the merger of the civilian areas of the cantonment the GHMC entered its fourth day.