No Going Back On Building New Secretariat: KCR

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao categorically reiterated that the state government would go ahead with its proposal to construct a new Secretariat complex at Bison Polo Grounds in Secunderabad, and that there was no question of going back on this decision come what may.

Intervening during Question Hour in the Telangana Assembly on Wednesday, the Chief Minister also said that when he had discussed the state government's plans to construct a new Secretariat, even Prime Minister Narendra Modi had hailed the proposal and congratulated him.

The construction of the new Secretariat would be taken up once the Union government accorded permission as sought by the state, and the PM himself would be requested to lay foundation stone, he added.

Stoutly refuting the claims being made by the Chief Minister about PM Modi's support and protesting the adamant attitude of the CM, the BJP members staged a walkout.

An emotionally charged Chief Minister explained the reasons behind the state government's decision to go in for a new Secretariat complex. Of the 29 states having Secretariats in the country, the worst was in Telangana, he said.

"Our Secretariat was constructed by the earlier regimes in a haphazard manner without any plans or permissions, and without conforming to rules and regulations. The Chief Minister's block is in a horrible condition. There are no fire safety measures in any building or block. In the event of any mishap, it would be a Herculean task for fire engines to reach the spot on time. Then, the HoD offices are scattered everywhere. When review meetings are held, it is very difficult for an officer to get any file if he has left it behind in his office. There is no place for the officials to even have lunch, and they need to be taken to a nearby hotel. A Secretariat reflects the image and prestige of the state, and the less said the better about our Secretariat," he lamented.

Telangana needed a Secretariat that not only reflected but enhance the image, culture and tradition of the state, he said.

Keeping all these aspects in mind and with an endeavour to have a prestigious, historic and memorable structure, the government was planning to go in for the new Secretariat on Bison Polo Grounds, the CM said.

The government was also taking up construction of a modern Assembly, HoD offices and a cultural centre in the same 72-acre land (including the Gymkhana Grounds), he said.

KCR pooh-poohed the claim of the BJP members that the construction of a new Secretariat at the Bison Polo Grounds would not only take away the limited lung space available in Secunderabad, but would also affect many sports activities. There were 19 playgrounds and stadia in the twin cities, but none of them was being put to full use, he claimed. The Gachibowli stadium was now being used for marriage functions, he said.

For any sports activities or playgrounds, 200 acres of land was available in nearby Hakimpet, KCR said.

Speaking about the Cantonment area, the Chief Minister said that of the 54 cantonment areas in the country, the Secunderabad cantonment was unique and had a history of its own. He explained that during then Nizam's regime under the British rule in the country, the Secunderabad cantonment was set up in order to have a military presence. The lands in the Secunderabad cantonment had not been transferred to the defence establishment, and even today those lands stood in the name of Telangana, he claimed.

Referring to the BJP members questioning the government on need for going in for a new Secretariat when one was already there and that too at time when attention needed to be focused on building hostels for BCs, minorities and others, the Chief Minister that the once the new Secretariat complex came into being, the present premises would be put to use for those purposes.

"We will go ahead with the proposal at any cost and there is no question of rethinking in this regard. If need be, we will take the issue to not only the Supreme Court but also to the people's court," he vowed.