HYDERABAD: With notification for Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) getting the final touches, the Government is planning for a comprehensive overhaul of administrative machinery, besides finalising geographical boundaries.

A meeting of senior officials is to be held early next week to discuss the issues and also about the necessary changes in the Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (HMC) Act of 1955.

The formal notification is just the beginning and finer details have to be worked out for a proper administrative mechanism and staff, official sources say.

"As many municipalities are being amalgamated into the MCH, it is imperative to amend the Act and change service rules. There will be a rejig of staff strength and municipal divisions based on the 2001 population census," an official says.

The present 100 divisions of the corporation could be expanded up to 150 having more or less uniform populations.

The GHMC population, including corporation and municipalities areas, could be over 65 lakhs based on the latest census reports.

Staff strength is an important issue considering that the regulatory personnel in key departments like planning, health and sanitation face a shortage within the MCH itself.

It is common knowledge that municipalities have been unable to handle the tremendous growth due to inadequate staff.

"Can't take chances"

"We cannot afford to delay strengthening important departments if there has to be some order to the growth for providing quality services and amenities to such a large population spanning over an area of 600 sq.km," maintains an official.

Some sections, however, have apprehensions about being tagged with other municipal staff, as their comfort zones are likely to get disturbed as corporation staff are liable to be transferred anywhere under GHMC limits.

Going round!

For instance, a majority of Town Planning staff belong to the MCH while the rest, including Chief City Planner and Additional Chief City Planner, are from the Directorate of Town Planning. Which means the `original' staff have been only moving around the seven circles for years!

The department's current strength is 80-odd when the sanctioned strength is at least 60 more cleared 30 years ago. Last year, the Government cleared this backlog but it is still stuck in the bureaucratic maze.

The GHMC needs more staff, affirm officials.

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