Deccan Chronicle 03.12.2009

Accommodation crisis haunts GHMC officials

Hyderabad, Dec. 2: Finding space to accommodate the newly elected body of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation is proving to be a tough proposition.

The GHMC’s main office building at Tank Bund does not have the space to accommodate the mayor, deputy mayor, standing committee chairperson and floor leaders of political parties.

The chamber of the GHMC commissioner and special officer, Mr S.P. Singh, is being remodelled to accommodate the mayor. The election of the mayor and his deputy will be held on December 4. At least two GHMC additional commissioners and several other officials have to be shifted from their present location on the first floor to accommodate the deputy mayor and the standing committee chairperson and floor leaders. The additional commissioner (heritage) and district medical officer of GHMC are working from Buddha Bhavan in Secunderabad, two km from the corporation head office.

The swearing-in ceremony itself is going to be a congested affair. With difficulty, officials have made arrangements to accommodate about 250 people in the Jubilee Hall on December 4 for the swearing-in and election of the mayor. The corporators and ex-officio members number 215. Then there will be officials, media personnel and guests.

The Hyderabad collector, Mr Navin Mittal told this newspaper that due to paucity of space, entry into Jubilee Hall will be restricted.