While the constitution of HYDRAA has been hailed by many as a progressive step towards lake protection, soon it ran into trouble due to the several demolition drives it had taken up in a short span of time.
| Photo Credit: NAGARA GOPAL
The enormous focus Hyderabad has received from the Congress government since it got onto the saddle in December last year, is proof of the inexorable pull of the urban-centric development in the present day and time irrespective of the party in power.
Like its predecessor Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), Congress party led by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy too has lavished its attention on the city, notwithstanding its zero tally from the city in the Legislative Assembly.
That Mr. Revanth Reddy has kept the Municipal Administration & Urban Development portfolio to himself speaks a great deal about the priority given to the sector. It became more apparent with the constitution of Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) as an independent enforcement authority for protection of lakes and government lands within Outer Ring Road, and appointment of an IPS officer A. V. Ranganath as its Commissioner.
While the constitution of HYDRAA has been hailed by many as a progressive step towards lake protection, soon it ran into trouble due to the several demolition drives it had taken up in a short span of time.
After Mr. Ranganath was designated as the chair of the Special Lake Protection Committee of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and other urban local bodies within the Outer Ring Road, his focus has partly shifted to fixing of full tank levels for lakes.
Musi Riverfront Development is another area of focus which has raked up quite some controversy, with both the Opposition parties BRS and BJP jumping into the fray along with the displaced families to discredit the government. While the work still goes on for the project, tenders being finalised and consultants being chosen, eviction of residents has been temporarily halted.
“The government has entered into the deep waters of lake encroachments and Musi evictions without first gauging the situation. They should have first announced a policy before taking up the demolitions in both cases, and opened a platform for negotiations with the genuinely affected. This thoughtless action has brought a bad name to the government, though the intention was good,” analysed an official, under the condition of anonymity.
Mr. Revanth Reddy, however, has a few feathers in his cap on the urban front, which went unnoticed and unacknowledged.
Despite the financial crisis the present government is in, it has not so far explored the option of the auction of government lands, which has been the immediate go-to for all financially beleaguered previous governments.
A handsome allocation of ₹3065 crore has been made for Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation in the State Budget, ending the 10-year drought period for the local body and enabling it to service the previous debts without hassle.
Tthe State government has taken full responsibility to fund the future infrastructural improvements in the city, under the H-CITI (Hyderabad City Innovative and Transformative Infrastructure) project.
Under H-CITI, proposals worth ₹8996 crore have been readied for development of road infrastructure, and storm water drains have been taken up with ₹596.2 crore.
A cost effective solution for the chronic inundation points has been designed and is being implemented in the form of rainwater holding structures, the efficacy of which is yet to be tested. Flyovers and underpasses have been planned around the KBR Park with ₹826 crore, in order to solve the chronic traffic issues in the area.
Two more road infrastructure projects include the elevated corridor on the Rajiv Rahadari with an outlay of ₹2232 crore, and double decker elevated corridor on Hyderabad-Nagpur National Highway at an estimated cost of ₹1580 crore.
Published – December 06, 2024 08:38 pm IST
