The Hindu 17.09.2013
Mayor wants State to scrap merger order
Mayor Mohammad Majid Hussain on Monday wanted the State government to immediately take back the orders on merger of 35 gram panchayats with the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC).
Speaking to the presspersons after the GHMC Council meeting here, the Mayor said, the municipal corporation was struggling with its meagre means to take care of present jurisdiction and adding more areas was only going to create problems.
“The orders were issued in a hasty manner without giving any clarity on a host of issues including budget and the roles of different departments. In fact, we at the GHMC do not understand our role itself in these merged areas.”
On the GHMC officials taking over the merged areas and holding meetings with officials from there, Mr. Majid Hussain said neither he nor any of the elected representatives were consulted before the move.
Today the Council rejected the merger and asked the Commissioner not to take up development works there with GHMC budget.
“If they still go ahead, then it will be perceived as contempt of the Council,” he quipped.
The Mayor contended that the merger move would not only end up as an injustice to the area and population of civic body but also those in newly merged ones.
“Frankly speaking, given our financial constraints and manpower shortage, we are unable to do justice to present jurisdiction. There is no way we can stretch our limited means,” he added.
