For the first time in the history of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), the proposed draft budget of `3,850 crore for the financial year 2014-15 will directly be tabled in the GHMC General Body meeting to be held on February 24.

Interestingly, the proposed draft budget has not been discussed or approved by the GHMC Standing Committee.

As per the laid down procedure of the GHMC Act, the draft budget prepared by corporation officials should be deliberated and discussed thoroughly by the Standing Committee members. After incorporating suggestions or objections from the Committee, if any, it has to be approved in the subsequent meeting and the approved draft budget then has to be placed before the General Body for its approval.

Though the GHMC officials submitted draft budget proposals to the standing committee in November last year, and Mayor M Majid Hussain convened two special standing committee meetings to discuss the draft budget proposals two months ago, they had to be postponed as the Congress members skipped the meetings.

The eight Congress members in the Standing Committee objected to the special meeting stating that the draft budget would be approved when a member of their party holds the mayor’s position instead to the incumbent from Majilis Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM).

As part of the post-election understanding in 2009, the Congress and MIM were to hold the mayor’s post for two years each and the Congress in the fifth year. While one party holds the mayoral post, the other holds the deputy mayor’s.

Thus, this year a Congress candidate has to become mayor. However, the political unrest prevailing over the bifurcation of the state stalled the procedure.  As a result of the stalemate between the two parties, approval for the budget was delayed. GHMC commissioner Somesh Kumar then wrote to the state government seeking clarification on the issue.

Meanwhile, a few days ago, Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MAUD) officials sent a clarification that GHMC commissioner under Section 677 of the GHMC Act can convene a council meeting to discuss important issues, if the Standing Committee failed to do so.

Based on this ground, the commissioner has convened a special meeting to discuss the draft budget at 10:30 am on February 24. Mayor will chair the special meeting.   

The GHMC has proposed draft budget of about `3,850 crore for the financial year 2014-15, a increase of `50 crore compared to current financial year (2013-14).The GHMC officials also submitted proposals to the Standing Committee for revision of budget estimates

Lakhs of women gathered here for the Attukal pongala festival on Sunday.

Just like after any public gathering, the city was left all messy and stinky due to big chunk of waste by the afternoon and then the Corporation entered the scene.

The City Corporation employees clad in blue and khakhi removed all the garbage by late night as they promised.

The cleaning process started soon after the ritual concluded by Sunday afternoon in the 20-wards which were declared as the festival zone.

Considering the huge amount of garbage generated during the festival days, the Corporation had employed 2,470 employees, including 1,750 temporary and 720 permanent staff for cleaning work.

The organic and plastic waste generated were taken away to pre-identified spots in 43 tipper lorries.

“It was impossible for us to remove the garbage during the daytime as there was heavy rush.

“The cleaning process will be completed by late night.

“The waste will be taken to various locations and buried in waste pits,” said Mayor K Chandrika here on Sunday evening.

However, the Mayor refused to reveal about where the garbage will be disposed.

The Corporation authorities had earlier announced that voluntary organisations which offer food to the devotees during the festival should process the garbage they generate by themselves.

They had also directed that plastic disposable cups, plastic and thermocol plates should not be used.

However, many organisations and small tea stalls and shops in the city failed to follow this and plastic cups, plates and banned polythene bags below 30 microns remained scattered on the city roads and temple premises adding to the trouble of the cleaning staff.