Protests cost GHMC a whopping Rs 43 lakh

Hyderabad, February 6 : The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation has lost about Rs 43 lakh due to the protests by political parties leading to adjournment of council’s meeting on two occasions this month.

According to rough estimates, the GHMC spends about Rs 12,000 per minute to conduct its council’s meeting. Although the GHMC meeting lasted for about 18 minutes on February 2 and a little over five minutes on Wednesday, the losses have been estimated at about Rs 43,20,000 if all the resources engaged for three hours each for both the meetings are taken into consideration. The money spent on security arrangements is not included in these estimated losses.

While the corporators get sitting allowance to attend the GHMC meet, the Zonal Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners of all 18 circles, Executive Engineers, Medical Officers, Heads of Department and all senior officials make themselves available at the GHMC’s headquarters for the meeting. The expenditure on their travel and food is taken care by the GHMC.

On February 2, the GHMC meeting lasted for about 18 minutes with MIM, Congress, TDP and BJP corporators resorting to slogan shouting on various issues. Similarly, Wednesday’s session was adjourned after passing a condolence motion over the demise of former minister Sarojini Pula Reddy.

Analysts describe such losses as a criminal waste of public money by the GHMC corporators. INN