Our Bureau
Hyderabad
April 16
The Andhra Pradesh Government on Monday notified the creation of a Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) that seeks to cover 625 sq km and a population of 67 lakh.
This comes through the merger of 12 municipalities in and around the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, and scrapping up of some municipalities to pave the way for the creation of Greater Hyderabad.
The Minister in-Charge for Hyderabad and the State Power Minister, Mr Mohammed Ali Shabbir, said that the Government had no plans to impose new taxes and the creation of Greater Hyderabad was aimed at a balanced development of erstwhile municipalities simultaneously. The existing differential tax rates would continue.
Greater Hyderabad would be headed by a senior IAS officer of the rank of Special Commissioner and the aim of this new arrangement is to ensure better inter-departmental and inter-agency coordination in providing civic amenities and minimising functional fragmentation with a single regulatory authority.
The Minister said that the State had prepared plans for developing many important projects, which entail an investment of Rs 28,000 crore around the twin cities and surrounding areas.
Several of these projects would be taken up through funding from the Central Government as well as international aid agencies.
The Japanese Bank for International Cooperation has evinced interest in funding the underground water sewerage system.
Among the major projects now planned for implementation include the Rs 8,400-crore Hyderabad metro rail project, Rs 5,000-crore Outer Ring Road (ORR), Rs 2,000-crore underground sewerage system and a Rs 2,000-crore special package for the development of the old city. These compliment a long list of other projects being taken up in the city to ensure all-round development.
Funding
The Minister said Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation would receive about 35 per cent funding from the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban renewal Mission (JNNURM), the State would contribute about 15 per cent and the corporation would mobilise about 50 per cent through its resources.
