Wanaparthy fort may be hub for new district in Telangana

Hyderabad: With district officials searching for buildings to house offices after the new districts are announced, the government has tentatively agreed to locate the collectorate of the proposed Wanaparthy district at the Wanaparthy Fort.

Roads and buildings officials are preparing estimates for repair and renovation of the fort, which is located on 20 acres with a number of halls and rooms. R&B assistant engineer Muralidhar recently visited the heritage building and took photographs of several halls and rooms to prepare the estimates. The work is to be carried out without disturbing any structure.

An official source said that the fort may house the collectorate only temporarily. “The mahal is being used as a polytechnic college from 1956. In 1978, the property was gifted to the government on the condition that the college would be housed there permanently. As per the agreement, the structure may not be utilised as a permanent collectorate,” the official said.

Nizamabad district officials have recommended that the government house the collectorate of the proposed Kamareddy district at the Minority Bhavan in Kamareddy.

In Karimnagar district, officials have submitted proposals to use temporary buildings for the headquarters of the proposed Jagtial and Sircilla districts.
Recently, a meeting chaired by minister Etela Rajender with people’s representatives and revenue officials almost finalised the proposed buildings.

Ranga Reddy officials have mooted housing the proposed Vikarabad district headquarters at the 60-acre TB Hospital at Anantagiri hills. At Bhuvanagiri, district officials have picked the municipal office for the collectorate.

Cops all set to cancel some posts
Police officials are planning to cancel some posts after the 14 proposed districts are formed, due to lack of manpower. The police will require an IPS official to post as SP, an additional SP and an officer on special duty for each of the proposed districts.

An official source said that the police was short of manpower after bifurcation. “Initially, the government filled the vacant posts by promoting officers. It is a big task to depute efficient officials to newly proposed districts as additional SPs and OSDs,” he said.

The official said that the department had proposed to cancel the posts of additional SP (admin) and OSDs in the new districts till staff was recruited. Director-general of police Anurag Sharma recently directed SPs come up with an action plan to set up new circles and police stations.