Assembly passes 5 Bills, gives nod to reorganisation of GHMC

The Telangana Legislative Assembly, on Friday, passed five Bills with a voice vote after a brief discussion on the merger of 27 urban local bodies within and outside the Outer Ring Road, increase of GHMC wards from 150 to 300, establishment of two private universities and imposing road safety tax on new vehicles.

Minister for Legislative Affairs, IT and Industries D. Sridhar Babu, on behalf of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy holding the portfolio of Municipal Administration, explained that the three Bills to amend the Telangana Municipalities Act and the GHMC Act were for the merger of 27 ULBs in and abutting the ORR and for the increase of GHMC wards/divisions from 150 to 300.

The merger of 27 ULBs with GHMC would help in proper resource mobilisation, improve the organisational efficiency and planning, prevent unplanned urban development, help comprehensive land use and better citizen convenience/services and enable infrastructure development for sustainable development. He told the House that a decision on the number of civic bodies to be formed after splitting the GHMC would be taken by consulting the elected representatives of the areas.

Responding to the doubts raised and suggestions made by members, including Malreddy Ranga Reddy, Akbaruddin Owaisi, T. Rammohan Reddy and others, the minister stated that the Bills were introduced to replace the ordinances. The matter was discussed by GHMC council too and there were no local bodies’ representatives in office in the areas being merged following expiry of their term.

Congress member Mr. Ranga Reddy suggested the government to have a re-look (reorganise) into the wards, circles and zones in the areas that have been merged from Rangareddy district as per the wishes of the people there and rectify mistakes, or else it would be difficult for them (legislators) to move around. He asked the government to keep the Rangareddy district intact and name one of the new ULBs to be divided from GHMC as Rangareddy to address the emotions of people.

On the issue of requirement of staff for 300 divisions raised by Mr. Owaisi, the minister said it would be assessed scientifically and necessary staff would be deployed. On the implementation of the building regularisation scheme, he said that it had some legal issues and the government was tackling them. Increase of GHMC divisions to 300 would help decentralisation of administration further, he noted.