Where funds vanish magically

It seems that the funds allocated to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) in the Quthubullapur Constituency are vanishing magically; save the renovation of the Chemical Nala at Jeedemetla, no new works have been initiated

The Quthubullapur Constituency residents have not seen any new developments in the last five years. It seems that the funds allocated to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) in the Quthubullapur Constituency are vanishing magically; save the renovation of the Chemical Nala at Jeedemetla, no new works have been initiated.

Quthubullapur constituency has a total population of nearly eight lakh, which covers the major part of slums in the city. About 70 per cent of the population resides in slums of Jagadgirigutta, Shapur Nagar, Gajularamaram and Chinthal divisions. According to the Quthubullapur Residential Welfare Association (RWA) members, the GHMC funds for setup of rainwater harvesting pits, library, construction of gym and for development of roads were not utilised properly in the any of the seven divisions.

A youth organisation member from Jagadgirigutta, Arjun said that after GHMC started construction of community hall and providing financial assistance for gym in other areas, they have filed representation to the Corporator seeking the facility but, the funds were used for “other purposes”.

Despite several representations filed to the GHMC by RWAs and community civic workers, residents lamented that Corporators in their constituency have always kept a deaf ear to their requests. A resident from Quthbullapur, V Madhu Babu, who is an advocate by profession, said that Corporators did not initiate any new work though they have received sufficient funds.

“The Corporators do not respond to public issues and due to this lack of efforts many unfair activities in the area have increased,” he informed.

Bus depot issue unattended
The residents in Jagadgirigutta had requested for the construction of the bus depot in 2012, which is still pending. A senior GHMC official informed that the issue is already with the Chief Minister. “There is no sufficient land in the division and the bus depot requires nearby land of Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA),” said the official.

Roads used as dumping yard
The grievances on health and sanitation in Shapur Nagar and Chintal are in huge numbers. Devamma basthi, the colony which is located beside the HMT Link Road is one of the worst affected.

A church member who resides near the basthi, Timothy said that the basthi land has become a dumping yard for all neighbouring areas. “GHMC sanitation workers throw away the garbage on the Link Road and also burn huge amount of excess garbage, which has become a threat for the locals,” he said.

The ex-Corporators reluctantly responded saying, “It’s a dumping site and the situation is common from many years. No one has any problem with the dumping,” they said.

Increasing accidents
The bad roads grievances on the HMT Road passing by the Suraram and Jeedimetala divisions are high-risk zones for accidents. Locals when interacted mutually responded that in 2015 nearly 50 accidents occurred on the 1 km stretch of this road alone. A Pan Shop owner on the stretch, Meghana said that the GHMC workers regularly fill potholes with gravel but, the situation returns to the its spoiled condition after just a couple of days.

Jeedimetla ex-Corporator, Konna Manikyam said that he had made many efforts to keep the road in good standards but, failed. “Due to lack of funds availability, I failed to take up the project for a new road,” he said. He said that the stretch requires the Corporation’s attention and needs a permanent action.