Kaiku QQSUDA?

While GHMC, HMWS & SB, HMDA and other civic authorities have voice and, therefore, funds; the Quli Qutub Shah Urban Development Authority (QQSUDA), despite predating most of these bodies, has been a picture of neglect so much so that it does not have the wherewithal to execute developmental works approved in right earnest.

Former chief minister T Anjaiah started the QQSUDA in 1981 specifically for development of the Old City. It was located at Dar-ul-Shifa to oversee developmental works taken up initially at Malakpet, Charminar, Chandrayana Gutta, Yakutpura, Bahadurpura, Nampally, Karwan and Goshamahal.

The civic body started its operations with an initial budget of Rs 25 lakh in 1981-82. Today, of the Rs 9 crore annual budget, a sum of 4 cr per year goes towards staff salaries, maintenance and other administrative expenses. Naturally, the organisation is now on the verge of closure, as it is perennially cash-strapped and there is no funding support from the government either.

The Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (started in 2008, after merging municipalities with the then Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad), the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (2007) and the HMWS & SB (1989) are relatively better off in terms of revenues, observers say.

The QQSUDA has always been bedevilled by resources crunch, though it has never tried to shirk its responsibilities, according to some officials. For instance, the construction of the Dabeerpura flyover was undertaken by the QQSUDA. However, the civic body faced difficulties in paying bills to contractors. In February this year a decision was taken to effect a 25% increase in rents in respect of all its properties, which currently yield QQSUDA Rs 2 lakh per month. But the traders in possession of QQSUDA mulgis have opposed the move on the ground that there is not much of business to warrant paying the hike.

The ‘voiceless’ civic body is left with no option but to collect rents at old rates from those occupying the mulgis. Besides, the civic body has to tolerate traders who owe it rents totalling lakhs of rupees. The Quli Qutub Shah Stadium has somehow proved to be a major source of revenue for the QQSUDA, since it is often given in rent to various organisations conducting functions and sports events. “We are cash-strapped and cannot undertake any developmental works. We are running on a meagre budget of Rs 9 cr per annum, though as per rough estimates of planned and non-planned developmental works we require Rs 73 cr per year,” laments a senior official at the QQSUDA. Back in February 2011, when Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy visited the Old City as the part of “Rachaaanda” programme, he promised to increase the budget to Rs 20 cr and spoke of release an immediate grant of Rs 20cr.

Till date, not a rupee has been sanctioned and it appears that none of the planned works would see the light of the day.