In a representation made to the Mayor, Singireddy said that there were many problems in the GHMC including damaged roads, desiltation of nalas, maintenance of streetlights, stray dogs menace, sanitation, spreading of viral and contagious diseases, development of burial grounds, traffic problems, delay in executing corporators’ budget and issue of birth and death certificates through Citizens’ Service Centres. Further, many resolutions of the Standing Committee and the General Body of the GHMC are yet to be implemented, he said.

“As per the provisions of the amended Act, meetings of the General Body should be conducted at least once in three months. The last general body meeting was held on September 23. Therefore, another meeting should be conducted in December first week,” Singireddy demanded.

- INN

The Mayor and Commissioner directed the Deputy Commissioner, Circle No.5 to personally coordinate with the APSRTC officials and to see that the garbage, debris and waste material should not be thrown in to the nala as there is lot of waste is being dumped and further directed the AMOH, Circle No.5 to arrange necessary dust bins near the bus depot and also at the nala to curb such menace, while on inspection at Gowliguda bus depot near Imlibun nala.

The team inspected the nalas at Gowliguda, Imlibun, Yakutpura, Moinbagh, Chandrayangutta, Pool Bagh and Falaknuma. The Mayor and Commissioner directed the Chief Engineer to erect chain link mesh around the nalas. They have also interacted with the contractors and enquired about the men and machinery where they are dumping the removed the silt and directed the contractors to deploy more labour and to expedite the works on war foot basis. They have also directed the Engineering officials to complete the desilting of works before onset of the monsoon by 31st May 2013.

They also inspected one of the toilets at Yakutpura which is in a shabby condition without any worker and proper doors. They have directed the Deputy Commissioner, Circle No.4 to look in to the matter and arrange a worker for its proper maintenance. Later on the team has inspected a culvert at Hafeez Baba Nagar near Sunny Gardens where the culvert work in slow progress for which the Commissioner directed the concerned Corporator to complete on priority basis.

The Commissioner also opined that inundation, water stagnation points to be noted and proper care to be taken for free flow of water during heavy down pours without causing inconvenience to the residents and passersby.

Corporators Abdul Qavi Ansari (Chandrayangutta), Mirza Mustafa Baig (Riyasath Nagar), Samad Ahmed Abbad (Uppuguda), Shaik Shakeel Ahmed (Dabeerpura), Dr. Mohd. Yousuf Naqshbandhi (Lalitha Bagh), Chief Engineer K Suresh Kumar, Zonal Commissioner (South Zone) N Ravi Kiran, and other senior officials from Engineering, Town Planning and Health wings participated in the inspection. INN

Addressing a press conference here, Bangari Prakash said that he demanded that immediate steps be taken to recover Rs 742 Property Tax dues from the government buildings and also pointed out GHMC Mayor Mohammad Majid Hussain’s residence was under-assessed by the GHMC officials. However, his remarks were twisted and made to appear as if he demanded a hike in property tax.

Demanding that the video recording of meeting proceedings should be played in the presence of media and NGOs, Bangari Prakash challenged the Mayor to prove his allegation he demanded hike in Property Tax. “If proved wrong, then I will quit politics and if Majid Hussain is wrong then he should quit from the Mayor and corporator’s post,” he challenged.

The BJP leader said that the MIM had a secret understanding with the TDP and Congress parties to cover up three major issues of land given to former Mayor Teegala Krishna Reddy, Annapurna Studio lands and multi-crore land near Shaikpet Nala. He alleged that Majid Hussain behaved like a MIM leader and not as a Mayor while bringing disrepute to his post. INN

Addressing the GHMC council’s special meeting, Majid Hussain said that the budget was poised to reflect the plans and priorities of GHMC for the ensuing year. “Many projects, schemes, programmes and policies are being implemented by the GHMC for improvement and upgradation of civic amenities in the GHMC area. Greater Hyderabad Development Programme and Slum-Free Hyderabad Project are two prestigious programmes/schemes being taken up in the 2012-13 financial year,” he said.

Old City Development Package, Charminar Pedestrianisation Project and Musi Revitlisation Project and other projects under JNNURM would be continued as spill-over works, the Mayor said. With Central Government funds under the 13th Finance Commission, plans are drawn up for infrastructure development for solid waste management, he said.

“Without increasing the tax rates at all, Property Tax collections are expected to go up substantially to Rs 750 crore next year, with 100 per cent verification of properties, that is by bringing all the un-assessed properties into the tax net and by unearthing under-assessment and change of use by property owners and through recovery of property tax dues from the defaulting property-owners,” the Mayor said.

Majid Hussain informed that the property tax from the State Government properties and service charges on central government properties were poised to up substantially through proper assessment and collection. The State Government has also been requested to make budgetary provision for GHMC in the State budget in respect of property tax on the State Government’s properties in GHMC area, he said.

During the year 2013-14, an amount of Rs 770 crore is expected from the Assigned Revenues. Of this Rs 300 crore will come towards Profession Tax, Rs 60 from Motor Vehicle Tax compensation, Rs 360 crore Surcharge on Stamp Duty and Rs 42 crore from Entertainment Tax. The GHMC also aims to collect Rs 60 crore by way of D&O Trade License Fee by Public Health Department.

The collections from fees and user charges including advertisement from the Town Planning Department are estimated at Rs 797.75 crore mainly from building permit fees, building development charges, betterment charges, open space contribution, etc.,

Of the total budget revenue expenditure of Rs 1,529 crore, as much as Rs 752 crore are earmarked towards establishment expenses, Rs 657 crore towards operation and maintenance, Rs 51 crore towards Administrative expenses.

Under plan grants, the GHMC will get Rs 962.58 crore which would include Rs 195 crore under JNNURM, Rs 150 crore under MMTS Phase-II, Rs 375 crore under HMRP, Rs 135.81 crore from 13th Finance Commissioner grants and Rs 100 crore under Rajiv Awas Yojna.

The GHMC will spend Rs 246.42 crore under Greater Hyderabad Development Plan for the construction of flyovers, widening of roads and development of junctions.

Majid Hussain informed that an amount of Rs 2,271 crore has been allocated under capital expenditure including Rs 471.85 crore towards Land and Land improvement, Rs 100 core for Buildings, Bridges, Flyovers and Subways, Rs 87.60 crore for Roads and Pavements, Rs 431.20 crore for Storm Water Drains, Rs 180 crore for Water Supply, Rs 50 crore for Sewerage, Rs 44 crore for street lighting and Rs 664.65 crore for housing.

The GHMC has also allocated Rs 190 crore for MMTS Phase-II, Rs 577.50 crore for road-related infrastructure, Rs 15.50 crore for Sports promotion, Rs 60.85 crore for Green Hyderabad and Rs 985 crore for poverty alleviation programmes.

- INN

The ambassador of Saudi Arabia Dr Saud Mohammed Ali Sati who held discussion with Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Thursday, was joined for lunch by leaders of various political parties, the elite and intelligentsia of minorities at the residence of former minister Mohammad Ali Shabbir at Jubilee Hills.

Deputy Chief Minister Damodar Rajanarasimha, PCC president Botsa Satyanarayana, Cabinet Ministers – Dr J Geetha Reddy, Sudhardhan Reddy, M Mukesh Goud and D Nagender, former Speaker KR Suresh Reddy, MLC Hafiz Peer Shabbir, DGP V Dinesh Reddy, DG (Intelligence) Mahinder Reddy, Police Commissioner Anurag Sharma, Chief Information Commissioner Jannat Hussain, RTC MD AK Khan and several other politicians and bureaucrats were in attendance.

However, the presence of GHMC Mayor Mohammad Majid Hussain and leaders of United Muslim Action Committee including Moulana Abdul Raheem Qureshi, Raheemuddin Ansari and others who are at loggerheads with the Congress Government was the element of surprise. Despite the strained relationship with the Congress, Majid Hussain’s presence has rekindled some hope of an early patch-up between the two parties.

The luncheon with the Saudi Ambassador has given hope besides sending a strong signal that Congress is extending its hand for friendship with the minorities.

Leaders of other political parties – TDP MLC Ibrahim Bin Abdullah Masqati and Mahmood Ali of TRS – also attended the luncheon in their individual capacities. Editors of Urdu newspapers including Syed Viqaruddin (Rahnuma-e-Deccan), Khan Lateef Khan (Munsif) and Amer Ali Khan (Siasat) were also present.

The gathering of leaders, intelligentsia and activists has brought glitter and hope as many feel that this was one of its kind in the recent past. However, the rupture between the Congress and MIM on the arrest of Akbaruddin and Asaduddin Owaisi seems to be still afresh.

It remains to be seen if the huge gathering of the elite could herald a new beginning in the relations of Congress and minorities. The presence of MIM and Congress on the same plank sends so positive signals, but will it translate to tilt the political equation is something we have to wait and see. INN

Addressing a press conference here, the Mayor said that it was incorrect on the part of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Employees Union to threaten stir over the agreement with Ramky for garbage disposal. He said that the union had challenged the Ramky’s agreementin the High Court which directed the GHMC to maintain status quo. He said it was in view of the court orders that he visited Jawahar Nagar Dump yard to review works.

The Mayor said that if the employees did not lift the garbage, then it would cause inconvenience to 85 lakh people living in the GHMC limits. He offered to hold talks with the GHME union.

Speaking about Saturday’s ordinary meeting of GHMC, Majid Hussain said that the meeting had to be adjourned following non-cooperation of members. He informed that GHCM’s special meeting would be held on February 6 to pass the corporation’s budget. Later, the ordinary meeting will be held.

Majid Hussain also refuted allegations that he was not convening the GHMC meeting to prevent BJP corporator C Uday Kumar from taking oath. He said the addition of one corporator in the BJP’s list would not affect anyone. He said he proposed to hold the GHMC’s meeting four times in the last seven months. The meeting was cancelled twice due to the COP-11 while once it was cancelled due to the special session of the Legislative Assembly on SC, ST Sub-Plan. INN