Perform or quit, CM tells civic chiefs

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, APRIL 8. The Chief Minister, Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu, today warned that he would publicly haul up non-performing chiefs of municipal bodies by resuming his surprise visits to towns and cities from next week.

Addressing TDP Mayors, Deputy Mayors and Municipal Chairpersons on the concluding day of the two-day awareness programme, ahead of an official conference of all civic chiefs here on Monday, he said those who felt they were unequal to the task of improving their municipalities, must step down.

Mr. Naidu said he would not hesitate to disclose to people reports of half-yearly surveys which he had commissioned to assess their performance along with information he had gathered during his coming visit. It was to forewarn them about his future plans that he had summoned them to Hyderabad, he added.

Mr. Naidu reminded the TDP municipal chairpersons and councillors about the oath they had taken at election meetings last year to sincerely serve people. He had advised them then to withdraw from the contest if they could not meet his demand for inspecting the civic conditions at 6 a.m. every day.

The TDP has 53 municipal chairpersons, two mayors and four deputy mayors, of whom five were absent. Reviewing the attendance, Mr. Naidu sought an on-the-spot explanation from the chiefs who were absent on the first day and said all absentees would be asked to submit written explanations. Giving an account of the party's financial position, he asked the civic chiefs to contribute 10 per cent of their basic pay to the district party unit.

Mr. Naidu said he would respond tomorrow to the demands of TDP civic chiefs for more powers vis-a- vis the Municipal Commissioner but promised that more funds would be given to municipalities whose performance was good. He would also announce the performance ratings of all municipalities.

The Chief Minister said a Rs. 750-crore scheme funded by Britain's DFID was being implemented in 32 Class I Municipalities to change their existing systems. He said municipalities would be given targets and graded once every quarter on the basis of various indicators on the same lines as the performance appraisal being done of various Government departments.

Emphasising the need for commitment and honesty on the part of civic chiefs, he said municipalities had earned a bad name so much so that the very expression connoted lack of hygiene. This situation must be changed by taking bold decisions such as road- widening in Hyderabad which was viewed cynically even by his own partymen who feared that the TDP would alienate the voters.

Same was the case with power reforms which scared TDP followers to the extent that they refused to issue statements in its support. But, he had resolved to face the situation squarely and refused to yield to the Opposition's unjust demands, he said.

The Minister for Municipal Administration, Mr. N. Md. Farook, presided over the meeting, while Mr. Vijay Kumar, Chairman, A. P. Chamber of Municipal Chairpersons, and others spoke.

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Section  : Southern States
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