Date:22/07/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/07/22/stories/2006072225850300.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Problems galore for residents of Bowenpally

Dennis Marcus Mathew

Contesting political parties fail to enthuse SCB voters of this area

The geographical map of ward one of Secunderabad Cantonment Board dominated by Bowenpally
23,649 votes after revision

25 polling stations and 10 candidates

TOUGH TASK: M. Amarender Reddy of the Congress, who is contesting from ward one and is facing opposition within his own party. — Photo: Satish H.

HYDERABAD: Nothing is what it seems to be in Bowenpally. For the record, Bowenpally comprises most of ward one of the Secunderabad Cantonment Board.

However, neither the initial moorings of the British in Secunderabad, which had Bhuvanapalli (as it was called then) on top of the list, nor the fact that this place is a gateway to the city with all its dhabas and quiet colonies, have helped residents lead an enviable life.

No stormwater drains

Even the old world charm bestowed by Kakatiya designs and marks of the British Raj, including the Queen's grand old monogram atop the Bowenpally police station, fail in making things better.

One among those several areas that were devastated in the August 2000 floods, owing to continuing absence of stormwater drains, Bowenpally still has stories galore of nightmarish roads, abject shortage of water and, yes, illegal high-rises that are dangerously close to the international airport's air funnel.

And these are the very reasons that could make reputations like those of Congress or Telugu Desam or BJP sound quite irrelevant to residents. For them, it is better living conditions that matter. Yet, the ropes and rules of the political game in this ward are quite intriguing.

Jampanna Pratap of the Congress wants to know whether his stint as vice-president of the SCB and later as lone nominated civilian member will help in garnering votes. He will also know how strong the opposition is from Telugu Desam's M. Madhukar or BJP's Vinod Kumar and, more important, from his own party in the form of M. Amarender Reddy.

If Mr. Pratap has claims of getting several civic works done and a promise of Rs.100 per water connection to slums, Mr. Amarender Reddy, Mr. Madhukar and Mr. Vinod Kumar obviously have areas which do not have these to point out and in turn promise succour.

There are 10 candidates in all for the 23,000-plus voters to select from. And with the undercurrents of caste politics set to silently flow through the 25 polling stations here, predictions are a dangerous game.