GHMC polls: Congress vows water, piped gas

Hyderabad: Claiming credit for all the development of Hyderabad, the main  Opposition Congress on Sunday came out with its election manifesto that promises to implement 28 new schemes under various sectors.

It, among other things, promised to provide free drinking water and piped  cooking gas to every household in city. The manifesto promised to prohibit use of word ‘settler’, equal opportunity to all without discrimination and a separate budget for minorities in the GHMC.

Releasing the party’s GHMC manifesto at Gandhi Bhavan, TPCC president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, along with the Leader of Opposition in the Council Shabbir Ali, said the Congress alone could take the credit for developing the historic Hyderabad City since 1956. Its governments were responsible for bringing “several developmental schemes besides effecting improvements in the city’s water supply and public transport systems.”

The TPCC chief said the 19-month-old TRS government did not initiate even a single new project for betterment of the city, and it instead wasted precious time by making tall promises.

TRS leaders somehow wanted to win the GHMC polls by making false promises and holding aloft ideas of “un-implementable” schemes.

The Congress governments and Hyderabad city development were synonymous with each other, he said, adding the TRS was only interested in dividing people on the basis of caste, creed and region.

Highlights of the Congress Manifesto are: Safe, protected and free water supply to each household; free drinking water supply system at select points across the GHMC area for the homeless, migrant labour and construction workers; piped cooking gas to every household; modernisation of the sewerage system with world-class technology; and a pollution-free Hussainsagar lake and River Musi.

The other promises: Pothole-free main roads to ensure free traffic  
flow; foot over-bridges equipped with escalators; multi-layered  
parking lots; junctions and traffic signal improvements; sensitization  
of vehicle drivers, students and others on traffic and road etiquette;  
and regulation of permissions to malls, multiplexes and educational  
institutions so as to ensure that traffic is not congested.

The manifesto also promises to ensure auto-rickshaws and taxis charge  
only as per meter-reading. Other promises include improving the share  
of public transport by increasing the fleet of buses, introducing more  
of dedicated bus corridors, bus bays and terminals, and extension of  
Metro Rail network covering areas like Patancheru, Hayatnagar,  
Shamshabad, Ghatkesar and Shamirpet.

Also, the existing power cable and transmission system will be  
replaced by underground cables. Hassle-free and 24-hour uninterrupted  
power supply would be ensured.

A subsidized roof-top solar system would be provided to the extent 100 per cent subsidy for slum dwellers and 50 per cent for the middle class. Two-bedroom houses for all eligible families for a dignified living are promised as also new building permissions within 72 hours of application submission.

The manifesto also promises free primary health centres, and free  
education for the needy by opening schools in each division with all  
free facilities. A separate cell will be created to address the issues  
of students seeking studies abroad.

Other promises are as follows: Creation of a Hyderabad Haat similar to  
Delhi Haat to promote culture and art; Ravindra Bharathi model of  
theatres in each of the 18 GHMC circles; and development of  
Madina-Charminar Road with Travelatora-moving side walkway.

Another promise is to take measures to tackle stray animals menace  
around GHMC and setting up of a pet animal clinic to take care of  
animals.

Small zoological parks shall be set up, one in each circle, to promote environment and recreation.

The manifesto also promises to promote eco-friendly materials to replace plastic bags, and implementation of court orders as regards display of flexis and posters.