The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : `Shocked' Mayor lashes out at officials

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Monday, Oct 30, 2006
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

`Shocked' Mayor lashes out at officials

Staff Reporter

The officials have always been trying to pull the wool over our eyes and I am unable to do anything because of lack of powers, says Teegala

HYDERABAD: Mayor Teegala Krishna Reddy is usually unflustered but on Saturday he was in a very combative mood. Shocked and angry over what he called `official duplicity' in not informing the public representatives over the clearance of sports complexes by the Government, he expressed complete dissatisfaction with the MCH functioning.

"I and my fellow corporators are feeling totally ashamed over the state of affairs in the corporation. The officials have always been trying to pull the wool over our eyes and I am unable to do anything because of lack of powers," he rued talking to presspersons.

Contradictions

The Mayor was of the opinion that MCH Commissioner Sanjay Jaju and his fellow officers, Additional Commissioners were making contradictory statements on several policy issues. He wondered why the officials were dilly-dallying in opening the foot-over-bridges and the 70-odd colony parks despite the Chief Minister being disinclined to allot time.

"We got the `Clean and Green City' award for four consecutive years but in the last two years we have gone backward. The Commissioner has the temerity to say that awards in this category are not being given at all," he said. Mr. Reddy pointed out that the High Court had pulled up the civic body on 42 occasions in the last few months on various issues ranging from hawkers' policy, footpath encroachments, public conveniences, plastic waste, etc., but no lessons were being learnt.

Selective action

He charged officials with being selective in tackling building violations and wondered if they took place without the connivance of the Town Planning Department. The Mayor found fault with the Chief Minister announcing a package of Rs. 2,000 crores totally bypassing the Quli Qutb Shah Development Authority that has been denied funds for some time now.

He also expressed his helplessness in breaking the contractors' cartel. "It is the same ring which manages to get the contract," he said in defence when asked about even blacklisted companies getting extension of streetlights maintenance contracts for another year.

"I have cleared works costing Rs. 60 crore since taking over as Chairman of Standing Committee and I am ready to face any scrutiny," he said.

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