Hyderabad: A road in a colony at Attapur lay dug up for the last 10 days in wait of MLA Prakash Goud to find time to lay a foundation-stone there. There is another such foundation-stone ceremony pending at Patrika Nagar. Most MLAs and corporators insist that sanctioned civic works must begin only after they inaugurate them, but never make it to the site on time. Although there are directions from the GHMC to execute the work after the tenders are finalised, the elected representatives insist on laying of foundation stones in order to get their name etched in memories. Though the GHMC agrees to have a formal inauguration, it is tough to get all leaders arrive for the task.
A resident of Attapur, Mr Serish, tweeted to municipal affairs minister K. T. Rama Rao and GHMC Commissioner B. Janardhan Reddy, saying, “Citizens had to live through this hell for 10 days due to MLA Prakash Goud. Is this how we function sir?(sic)” The road was dug up in December. One resident told DC that “they didn’t repair till the MLA came and laid a foundation-stone”. Another tweeter using the handle @Shadez wrote about a similar issue and addressed it to the minister and commissioner, “Same situation in Patrika Nagar since October (sic)”.
An enquiry with the GHMC’s engineering department revealed that many roads, especially in the east (Uppal, LB Nagar, Nacharam ) and south (Attapur, Rajendra Nagar), where restoration work has been pending for the last six months. Reasons for this include machine failure, contractor going bankrupt, lack of labour, apart from VIPs not inaugurating it on time.
A senior engineer, seeking anonymity, said “Corporators are part of the project execution meeting conducted monthly at GHMC zonal office. The local leader is well aware of the project execution dates but insists on an official inauguration after the tender is approved. The constituency MLA is duly informed, but local leaders see it as an opportunity for mileage. For that matter, the local corporator, the MLA and even the mayor and deputy mayor are part of the protocol.”
When DC brought the matter to the notice of GHMC Commissioner B. Janardhan Reddy, he said the municipal minister K. T. Rama Rao holds a project review meeting every week, especially to speed up execution of works. Most projects are reviewed in the meeting and officials are asked to proceed without the inauguration.”
