Date:04/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/04/stories/2009010458280300.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

GHMC gets ‘thank you’ call Face-to-Face

HYDERABAD: There was no shortage of the usual complaints about the snail-paced civic works in twin cities. However, on Saturday, the face-to-face programme of GHMC also received a ‘thank you’ call from a resident and lots of New Year wishes from public, who hoped that the New Year would deliver good tidings on the developmental front.

A regular caller from Raja Rajeshwari Colony in Hayathnagar called up GHMC during face-to-face to thank Minister for BC Welfare M. Mukesh Goud for sanctioning Rs. 85 lakh to take up pipe-laying works. “We hope that the project starts sooner than later,” he said.

The Minister was expecting a call from Raja Rajeshwari Colony, as he already had a prepared note about the water pipeline project ready. “I was expecting your call. We will start the pipe-laying works in another few days. Rest assured, your work will be done very soon,” Mr. Goud said.

Several callers from Moghalpura area called up to highlight the slow pace of road widening work and demolition of illegal constructions. “A few owners have managed to get stay orders from Court and hence widening and other works have slowed down. We hope to complete the works in a month or two,” assured GHMC Special Officer S.P. Singh.

Another caller from Golconda area complained about rampant mosquito breeding in the local water bodies. “Fogging or spraying oil is not being done regularly by GHMC entomologists. Children and women here are falling sick regularly,” he complained.

Callers from parts of old city requested authorities to make arrangements like setting up street lights, repairing roads and water pipelines during Moharram. “We have set aside Rs. 1.8 crore exclusively for taking up such works. We have identified several civic works and efforts are on to complete these works early,” Mr. Singh assured.

Residents from Vattepally, Krishnanagar, Yousufguda and from Udaynagar Basti, Banjara Hills complained about not getting drinking water supply properly. Authorities assured them of quick response in few days.