Hyderabad: Old City infra in limbo owing to funds crunch
Development body got a mere Rs 5 crore this year.
HYDERABAD: With literally no budget for taking up any works, the engineers at the Quli Qutb Shah Urban Development Authority (QQSUDA) are idling their time away at their offices.
The QQSUDA, formed in 1981, was given the task of development of the Old City through the creation of infrastructure. Its jurisdiction covers Hyderabad parliamentary constituency and other nearby new extensions.
“There is no budget this year and we are not taking any works. So far, no major works have been started. A handful of small works were begun with the funds allotted by the local public representatives from the MLA’s development fund and MPLAD funds,” said an official of the engineering wing.
The organisation had jurisdiction over 11 assembly constituencies — Charminar, Bahadurpura,Goshamahal,Yakutpura, Chandrayangutta, Malakpet, Karwan, Nampally, Jubilee Hills and parts of Maheshwaram and L B Nagar. QQSUDA received a budget of Rs 5.15 crore in the current financial year.
Road works of Rs 27 lakh were completed this year. “Contractors are lobbying and getting budgets from MLAs and MPs and executing works being given on nomination basis,” said the official.
A chief engineer, an executive engineer and six assistant engineers are part of the engineering wing.
L. Kishan, secretary, QQSUDA admitted that there is a dearth of funds. “Other bodies like GHMC and HMWS & SB are executing the civic works.
Therefore, the QQSUDA is not taking up the works. Other tasks related to the management of parks, a stadium and other facilities are being taken care of,” he explained.
About 76 employees, including 20 office subordinates. are working at the QQSUDA and most of the budget goes to their salaries, say officials.
In its prime days, QQSUDA took up many big projects like, construction of a causeway over Musi at Chaderghat, the Dabeerpura flyover, Quli Qutb Shah Stadium near High Court, a wrestling stadium and many community halls across the older parts of the city. Let’s hope it revives that lost dynamism !