The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : New GHMC chief braces for monsoon season

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Tuesday, Jun 21, 2011
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

New GHMC chief braces for monsoon season

Special Correspondent

M.T. Krishna Babu intends to keep the civic machinery ready for any emergency

Storm water drain improvement works have to pick up pace, says GHMC Commissioner
Greater transparency will reduce corruption and will lead to quality works, says M.T. Krishna Babu

— PHOTO: G. RAMAKRISHNA

HOT SEAT:Newly appointed GHMC Commissioner M.T. Krishna Babu assuming charge on Monday. Outgoing Commissioner Sameer Sharma is seen.

HYDERABAD: New Commissioner of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) M. T. Krishna Babu is bracing himself “for three to four months” of bumpy ride in the twin cities during the monsoon on account of possible inundations, bad roads etc. At the same time, he intends to keep the civic machinery ready for any emergency during the season.

“We will have to take immediate steps to identify areas where water stagnates for taking up temporary measures, evacuation and rehabilitation plan in case of flooding, control mosquito growth and communicable diseases,” he said in a brief interaction with presspersons after taking charge from Sameer Sharma on Monday.

Pointing out that the storm water drain improvement works have to pick up pace, he saw a need for a “decent” rehabilitation package to remove encroachments because of political interference and resistance from citizens.

An action plan would be prepared for the drains taking the help of public representatives. While continuing the “wonderful work” done by his predecessor, Mr. Sharma, in improving GHMC finances, he said he would lay emphasis on improving quality of works to avoid repeated maintenance and protection of heritage structures.

Grievance redressal mechanism of citizens has to be improved with effective tracking system and the call centre services have to be modernised. “Greater transparency would reduce corruption and lead to quality works,” he said.

Financial stability

As for Mr. Sharma himself, he takes pride in making GHMC stable financially “without increasing taxes but the tax base”. “Nothing can be done unless the Corporation has money and we managed to increase tax revenues to Rs.540 crore from Rs.370 crore. We are stable with an operational expenditure of Rs.400 crore,” he said.

More revenue was likely to come the civic body's way by collecting the enhanced property tax from the commercial properties with the 50 per cent cap removed along with entertainment and profession tax. Total Infrastructure Plan (TIP) to improve civic amenities in the suburbs, cementing 150 km. roads, annual maintenance contracts for roads, beginning of new house numbering in circles eight and nine, denotifying industrial areas to free land for poor housing, retail and office space.

Making ring drains around all lakes to let our sewer water with a beginning made in Durgam Cheruvu and Kapra, Off Site Real Time (OSRT) monitoring of various activities, green channel for clearing building plans, mutations, strengthening ward committees and area sabhas were among the works initiated.

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