Issues addressed only on paper

Hyderabad: In a sign of half-baked measures by the civic authorities who launched the 'My GHMC' mobile app with a lot of hype are failing to fully meet the objective. The app is not made fully functional, say people who lodged complaints on the app, with the hope it would get prompt response from the higher-ups.

This year till October 31, a total of 37,004 complaints were registered at the My GHMC app. Out of the total complaints, highest complaints were registered in September at 4,996.

A total of 34,220 complaints have been closed in the app. It would give an impression that the GHMC officials were on their toes to address and resolve various issues of the denizens. But, that is not the case, going by the state of grievances of people across the state capital city. As many as 628 complaints have been reopened, while 1,886 complaints are left pending, and 270 complaints are under progress.

However, locals in areas like Sainikpuri, ECIL, Housing board, Uppal, Nagole and many other areas are taking to social media as to intimate the officials about the issues that are not being rectified even after several complaints. They also allege that their complaints have been closed without even conducting any ground visit.

Lt Col P Kamesh, Secretary of Air Force Officers Co-operative Housing Society (AFOCHS), said, "Whenever we operate the GHMC app along with the photograph and the issue, the most frequent reply from GHMC is 'Please Share your exact location, your registered no is so and so and the concerned officer will inspect the area.'

After 2 days, they say that your problems have been resolved. Ironically, no one from GHMC comes to the ground or enters the area even after complaining. No action has been taken and the text is sent by the GHMC."

P Kamesh, Secretary of AFOCHS, said, "I have been complaining about the civic issues like the dogs menace in our area through the GHMC app. Either the issue is not addressed or the next day we get a text that the official concerned has been informed and the issue will be rectified.

After a couple of days, the issue gets closed, stating that the work is completed. But when I personally went and inspected the spot (near colony office), the dogs were still present in a group of 5."

When contacted Sai, Assistant Engineer, MY GHMC app, said, "There is no such issue from the technical side of the app. Once the complaint by the local is registered in the app, the officials concerned are notified. Once the official informs us about the complaints being rectified, we close the respective complaint."

Srikanth, a resident of Uppal said, "I have raised several complaints in the app. The only thing that happens is either the complaint is closed or there is no response by the officials."

LOFTY OBJECTIVES

1. My GHMC mobile app was introduced with an intention to allow people to report local problems with the GHMC
2. The app has features like paying taxes, applying for birth or death certificate, LRS (layout regularisation scheme) status and many more
3. However, it is mostly used to report civic problems like garbage issues, damaged roads, sewage flow and mosquito problems
4. People can also know about income tax payments and arrears and can pay the tax and download receipts