The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Major tasks await new Cantonment CEO

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Monday, Jun 15, 2009
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Major tasks await new Cantonment CEO

Abhijit Dev Kumar

Collection of toll tax and Octroi continue to be an area of concern

Water supply, road widening and other civic problems need immediate attention
Proposal to revise the property tax after two decades is being resisted

HYDERABAD: At last the Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) seems to have woken up to desilting the storm water drains even if the monsoon threatens to break out any time. Citizens, meanwhile, are also eagerly waiting for the Board meeting to be conducted pretty soon considering that it has been close to six months since the last one was held.

Other than the pending works which have to be decided at the meeting, there are several other issues which the new Chief Executive Officer, C. Ravinder, has to confront with. Things have almost come to a standstill in the last few months on account of general elections and subsequent change of guard.

His predecessor V. Premchand did take up many major initiatives towards improving civic infrastructure in the area to bring it on par with the neighbouring municipal corporation if not make it better. However, due to various reasons including seeming reluctance from the Armed Forces especially road widening, many could not be taken to their logical end.

Collection of toll tax and Octroi continue to be an area of concern. While everyone is unanimous they have to be scrapped as people were being fleeced by contractors selected through auction, revenue of the SCB will go for a major toss if it’s done unless the State government pitches in as promised.

Staff pre-occupied

With tenders not coming for the current financial year due to this uncertainty, the SCB staff has been manning the eight entry and exit points to the Cantonment. The result is, few are found in office to either receive complaints/petitions or take up jobs like issuing property tax bills, water bills, etc.

A move to revise the property tax after two decades has been resisted stoutly and it will be interesting to watch how Mr. Ravindra tackles it. The pending payment issue with the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) for supply of more water is another issue since the area faces shortage due to lack of proper pipeline network.

Taking over water supply from welfare associations, development of parks, illegal occupation of public spaces, new building bylaws, sports ground, underground drainage network…the plate is full for the new CEO.

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