HYDERABAD: The Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) will explore all options, including legal, to foil the Government's move to constitute Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation. The Majlis will coordinate with other parties planning to launch a mass movement against the proposal, said MIM floor leader in Assembly, Akbaruddin Owaisi.

He was speaking at the special meeting convened on Thursday at MCH to seek opinion on the GO 703 pertaining to merger of the surrounding municipalities and gram panchayats to form Greater Hyderabad.

Implications of move

Dwelling at length on the implications of the proposal, Mr. Akbaruddin said Greater Hyderabad could not be constituted in isolation. The boundaries of the Hyderabad district and the jurisdiction of the City Police Commissionerate and Hyderabad Water Supply and Sewerage Board would have to be redrawn and made co-terminus with the boundaries of MCH.

Legislative amendments would have to be made to the Andhra Pradesh Districts Formation Act, Hyderabad City Police Act, Hyderabad Metropolitan Supply and Sewerage Board Act and the HMC Act to incorporate new areas. All this would require the concurrence of the Government of India, Mr. Akbaruddin said.

If Greater Hyderabad materialised it would include hills, forest cover, agricultural fields and large open areas extending to hundreds of square kilometres. Moreover, Greater Hyderabad would require at least Rs. 1000 crore per annum to maintain the existing civic amenities and for payment of staff salaries. A whole range of taxes for the residents of the city and surrounding municipalities would go up. Registration charges and stamp duty fee would also rise.

Massive capital outlays

Referring to the financial aspect, the Majlis leader said the adjoining municipalities had a deficit of Rs. 50 crores. After merger the deficit would go up to Rs. 150 crores. "Does the Government have the finances to fund such massive revenue and capital outlays," he asked.

The former minister, N. Narsimha Reddy, said though the TRS was an ally of the Congress on this issue it differed. The merger of municipalities would harm the interest of Hyderabad and Telangana. MLAs G. Sayanna (TDP) and Kishan Reddy (BJP) also opposed the Greater Hyderabad move. Congress floor leader, Mohd Shariff, chose to differ. He said Greater Hyderabad would result in development of the existing municipalities and open up more job opportunities. It would also result in flow of more funds to the city.

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