The Hindu 10.11.2014
‘Civic body has given city a base to take great strides’
I proudly say Hyderabad is ahead of the curve and is doing much better than other cities: Mayor
Suave and sophisticated, Mohammed Majid Hussain has lent
a certain dignity to the chair of Hyderabad’s first citizen. As the
Mayor, he has taken along elected representatives and officials of the
Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) to register good revenue
growth for the civic body and has ushered in plans to improve amenities
in the city. “Hyderabad is poised for great strides with the base that
we have successfully provided in the last three years,” Mohammed Majid
Hussain tells
T. Lalith Singh
.
What have been the achievements of the civic body in the last three years?
We
have provided financial stability to the civic body which helps it in
planning projects (small and big) for the city in a better way. From a
mere Rs. 300 crore three years back, the property tax collections have
risen beyond Rs. 1,000 crore. In all aspects, we have placed the GHMC in
a position where it can focus on development and provide better
amenities for the citizens.
When I took the reins,
fund crunch used to be an obstacle in conceiving and implementing
policies or projects. But the civic body could overcome it in my term
and that gives me immense satisfaction.
Is the civic body able to live up to the aspirations of the citizens?
Look,
citizens get what the GHMC provides. The civic body is definitely able
to provide better amenities to the citizens now. In fact, I can proudly
say that we are doing much better than most others in the country.
Despite few glitches, our roads and sanitation system are far ahead of
other cities.
But city roads get clogged during rains and garbage is not really handled well?
Yes,
I concede the need for improvement in these issues. Hyderabadis have
every right to demand better roads and sanitation. I assure that roads
are going to be improved further with comprehensive road development
work taken up at a cost of Rs. 700 crore. Also, plans are in right
direction for garbage collection and disposal and the results can be
seen in the coming days.
There are complaints regarding water bodies and greenery being neglected in the city?
Complaints
will be there and I take every complaint seriously. But let me put this
on record that the city has registered more action with regard to
conserving lakes and increasing green cover during my tenure. Hyderabad
has been known for its water bodies and green cover and there won’t be
any compromise in improving these. Our efforts have yielded results in
protection of 78 lakes and the bio-diversity index has gone up.
As the Mayor, how has been your rapport with corporators and officials?
(Laughs
aloud) I must be the only Mayor whose resignation was rejected
unanimously. That shows how good my rapport has been with all. I share a
good relation with all and have taken them along in my pursuit of
developing the city.
How do you look back at your tenure as Mayor?
I
feel happy and satisfied at having delivered the goods. My term had the
city playing host to global events such as CoP-11 and World Metropolis
Congress. I am satisfied that I could implement the policies of my party
(MIM). And, we also sought to bring more cheer for the citizens with
last week’s decision to waive off property tax for those paying the tax
up to Rs. 4,000. It will be a big relief for the poor, lower middle and
middle class sections.
