Media kept away from metropolis world meet

Hyderabad: Tax payers of participant cities in the much-awaited XI Metropolis World Congress, which had begun on a quite note on Monday at Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC) here, were left with no information on the proceedings of the sessions on day one. The situation arose due to a midnight decision taken at the highest level to keep the entire proceedings out of bounds of media.

Nearly, 300 odd media personnel who had congregated at the HICC were left in the dark not knowing whom to contact for information. There was none to guide the media personnel and not a piece of paper giving details of the participating delegates, and proceedings till afternoon. Though it was promised to provide a live feed at a separately earmarked media room, nothing turned out to be reality. Even the Information and Public Relations Department, which was roped in at the eleventh hour, had to struggle issuing media passes and trying to cope up in providing information, which they themselves were not aware of.

The whole mess was created as a private agency which was hired earlier to handle the media and public relations was shown the door.

Sources in the Information and Public Relations claim that the decision was reportedly taken citing certain security issues. However, it was not convincing to the media personnel gathered at the venue.

On Monday, the delegates had reportedly participated in five sessions, which included Voice of Children, Housing for All, Urban India and Metropolis Hyderabad Urban Hackathon.

It was followed by Metropolis Regional Secretaries’ meeting at the venue in HICC.