Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation to splurge public funds on luxury vehicles

Hyderabad: Despite severe financial crisis, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation is yet again set to waste public money, say critics. The corporation has decided to purchase five enforcement vehicles (Mahindra Bolero) at the cost of Rs 40 lakh. The corporation has decided to use sophisticated stickers in replication of the vehicles of Hyderabad city police and showcase these newly styled vehicles to impress their political bosses.

According to highly placed sources, during a review meeting on Saturday, it was disclosed that the GHMC officials had decided to use sophisticated stickers replicating patrolling vehicles and interceptors used by the city police.  The enforcement vehicles would have ‘GHMC enforcement’ stuck on the vehicles. 

The civic body officials has sought the help of consultants and asked them to send the designs by  evening. The corporation officials have decided to showcase the enforcement vehicles to municipal administration and urban development minister Mr K. T. Rama Rao immediately after finalising the designs.

Earlier in July 2017, the GHMC had already approved the proposal to purchase a Toyota Fortuner for the Mayor (Rs 30 lakh) , two Innova Crystas (Rs16.5 lakh per each vehicle) for the commissioner and deputy mayor and Innova GX 7 (Rs 15.50 lakh each) for the other officials. However, officials said that corporation will only use old vehicles for enforcement purposes.

The GHMC has decided to constitute independent Enforcement and Disaster (EDM) Cell to address various complaints and grievances related to demolition of unauthorised constructions, encroachment of footpaths, sealing of premises and to undertake relief work during disasters.

The cell would have multidisciplinary teams from engineering, town planning, health, sanitation, fire department, HMWS&SB, TSSPDCL and police. It is likely to come into effect within 10 days, and the corporation has written to the government to depute adequate number of police officials and staff.

Currently, town planning supervisors are overseeing both building permissions and enforcement issues. This, official sources say, has led to lack of focus on grievance redressal causing inconvenience to the public. In order to fix this, the corporation is now planning to have such EDM cells at the head office and zonal levels.

At the head office level, the cell will be headed by an additional commissioner or any other senior police officer specially appointed for the purpose. It will monitor complaints and grievances and guide zonal teams. It will handle important legal cases, demolitions and disaster management works in coordination with other departments.

Further, five zonal teams will be formed. Each of them will have a city planner, assistant city planner, executive engineer, deputy executive engineer, fire officer, AMC, AMOH or sanitary supervisor, legal officers, one circle inspector, two sub inspectors, at least 10 labourers and 20 home guards. The Zonal Enforcement cell will be headed by the Zonal Commissioner.

Circle level officers will verify whether permission has been given for the said construction.   In case of encroachment of roads, parks or other public places, Zonal Cell will take immediate action on their own without forwarding the complaints to Circle level officers. It will also act as a task force in taking up special demolition drives as per instructions of the zonal commissioners.

A special app will be developed by the IT section for the monitoring of complaints on unauthorised constructions and encroachments.