GHMC Short-Staffed: Singireddy

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Floor Leader in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) Singireddy Srinivas Reddy on Friday alleged that Mayor Banda Karthika Reddy was focusing on unauthorized constructions for personal gains, despite being well aware of the fact that the corporation was short-staffed.

Talking to media persons in his chamber at the GHMC head office, Srinivas Reddy said that the Mayor had on Thursday directed the Town Planning wing, the Additional Commissioner (Regulatory Planning) of GHMC, the CCP and the ACPs of 18 circles to act tough on unauthorized constructions, and had warned them that their performance would be linked to their salaries.

The TDP leader stated that the Mayor was conveniently neglecting the development of the city on all other fronts and was only focused on the illegal constructions since this was a 'money-spinner' for her.

Srinivas Reddy demanded to know why the Mayor had directed the officials to obtain the phone numbers and addresses of all the people who were constructing buildings illegally. He said that he suspected if behind-the-scene deals would be struck with these people.

The TDP leader said this warning would essentially mean that the GHMC staff would have to focus only on the unauthorized constructions, rather than the collection of property tax.

He pointed out that the GHMC faced a severe shortage of staff with about only 249 bill collectors appointed to cover about 12 lakh assesses. At least one bill collector should be appointed for every 3,000 assesses, said Srinivas Reddy.

Likewise, the GHMC needs at least 127 tax inspectors, but only 60 have been appointed, the TDP leader pointed out.

He revealed that the town planning department requires 50 assistant city planners (ACPs), but only 12 ACPs are available at present, and that only 2 TPOs are functioning when 50 are required. He also said that there was a shortage of draught-men and surveyors.

The TDP leader said that the posts of junior engineers were lying vacant too, and that the GHMC was not doing anything to fill up the vacancies. This is the situation despite the Congress ruling at the Centre and the state, and having a majority in the standing committee, Srinivas Reddy pointed out.

Instead of taking up developmental works which have taken a back seat due to the pen-down strike and the election code, and improving the functioning of GHMC itself, the Mayor is only concerned about the illegal constructions taking place in the city limits, the TDP leader charged.

Karthika Reddy had on Thursday said that the GHMC would act firmly on the deviations and the illegal constructions in the city and demolitions would be taken up very shortly.

She had further said that it is the duty of the field staff to report the illegal constructions to the higher officials, but that this was not happening.

Courtesy: INN