(Image source from: Sakshi.com)
GHMC to get 7 new Corporations and 30 new Municipalities:- If the plans of the state government proceed, Greater Hyderabad will soon undergo significant expansion. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has instructed the Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MAUD) department to explore the potential merger of seven peripheral municipal corporations and 30 municipalities with the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC). The proposed new entity, if approved, will be known as the Hyderabad Greater City Corporation. The municipal corporations that may be included in the merger are Nizampet, Boduppal, Meerpet-Jillelguda, Bandlaguda Jagir, Badangpet, Peerzadiguda, and Jawaharnagar. Additionally, around 30 municipalities established in July 2019 may also be incorporated into Greater Hyderabad.
To ensure efficient administration and improved citizen services, the newly formed corporation will be divided into East, West, North, and South zones. In order to avoid any legal complications, the chief minister has instructed the immediate appointment of special officers after the completion of the elected bodies' tenure in the existing corporations and municipalities. This strategy aims to facilitate a seamless merger process. Previously, concerns were raised regarding the unequal distribution of funds among the various corporations and municipalities, in addition to the GHMC. The Ministry of Defence has given the green light to construct elevated corridors on the Hyderabad-Nagpur National Highway and the Karimnagar Rajiv Highway, which will pass through Defence lands in Hyderabad. This decision will open up new transportation routes to northern Telangana, promoting development in the region.
To ensure balanced development, it is important to consider the population disparities among different divisions. While some divisions have a population of over one lakh, others have only around 30,000 residents. Allocating funds uniformly could lead to uneven development. In light of this, the chief minister has requested the MAUD to reassess fund allocation based on the city's expansion and prioritize critical infrastructure like roads and drainage in the outskirts. To address the issue, it is suggested that the divisions under the newly formed corporation should be restructured based on population. This means creating divisions with roughly equal populations and clearly defined boundaries. A similar merger of three municipal corporations took place in Delhi about two years ago, and Revanth has inquired about the process followed during that merger.
(Video Source: 10TV News Telugu)
