Interview: From SHGs to sanitation, Commissioner Vinay Krishna Reddy explains plans to improve Malkajgiri Municipal Corporation

Hyderabad: The newly formed Malkajgiri Municipal Commissionerate has rolled out an aggressive five-point action plan prioritising sanitation, traffic decongestion, women’s self-help groups (SHGs), civic infrastructure and improved revenue mobilisation.

In an exclusive interview with the NewsMeter, Malkajgiri Municipal Commissioner T Vinay Krishna Reddy, IAS, explained the immediate challenges, targets and timelines aimed at delivering visible improvements across the corporation limits.

The Municipal Commissioner said the administration has already begun ground-level interventions and aims to deliver visible results within the ongoing 99-day action plan.

Here are excerpts from the interview:

NewsMeter: As this is a new commissionerate, what are your top five priorities for Malkajgiri?

Vinay Krishna Reddy: Sanitation is our first priority. Alongside that, we are focusing on traffic-related civic works, strengthening self-help groups in urban areas, improving roads and public infrastructure, and increasing property tax revenue to strengthen the corporation financially.

NM: What steps are you taking to improve sanitation?

Vinay Krishna Reddy: Nearly 1 lakh households are not currently covered under proper door-to-door waste collection.

In some areas, sanitation workers are not reaching households; in others, residents are not paying user charges. We are now linking all such households to sanitation services to ensure 100 per cent coverage.

We have also reassessed garbage vulnerable points and requested additional vehicles. Around 10 new vehicles have already been deployed, but we need 40–50 more to ensure daily lifting. Currently, garbage is being cleared on alternate days in some places, which causes visible dumping points.

A new control room has been set up to monitor sanitation workers and vehicle movement in real time.

NM: Traffic is usually handled by the police. What role will the corporation play?

Vinay Krishna Reddy: While traffic enforcement is under the police department, civic interventions can significantly ease congestion.

We are focusing on clearing obstructions blocking free left turns, removing footpath encroachments, constructing small underpasses at key junctions and supporting major flyover projects. Even small corrections at junctions can bring visible improvements in traffic flow.

NM: You mentioned strengthening women’s self-help groups. What is the plan?

Vinay Krishna Reddy: In rural areas, SHGs are very strong. But in urban areas, the coverage is comparatively low. We have launched an enrolment drive where resource persons visit 25–30 households daily to identify women who are not part of any SHG.

In the last 15–20 days alone, over 200 new SHGs have been formed. Once a group is formed, they open bank accounts, start savings, and after six months, become eligible for loans.

Older SHGs, those functioning for more than four years, are eligible for loans up to Rs 25 lakh, with interest support from the government. This improves economic activity and financial independence among women.

NM: What are the plans regarding roads and civic infrastructure?

Vinay Krishna Reddy: Potholes will be filled within the next 10–15 days. Severely damaged stretches will undergo re-carpeting within one to one-and-a-half months.

A BT (Bituminous) plant will be set up within the Malkajgiri Commissionerate limits to prioritise and expedite road development works.

We are also developing parks in vacant layouts and planning multi-sport facilities, like small football grounds and shuttle courts, so residents have accessible recreation spaces.

A vibrant Sports Arena has been developed under the Bairamalguda Flyover, LB Nagar Circle, creating a dynamic recreational space for youth and sports enthusiasts.

The arena is equipped for basketball, roller skating, cricket and volleyball, encouraging fitness, sportsmanship and community engagement.

Lake development works are underway in selected areas, and proposals for more lakes are being prepared.

NM: What is the biggest financial challenge for the corporation?

Vinay Krishna Reddy: Property tax is our major revenue source and a key challenge. Last year, we collected Rs 430 crore. This year, we have crossed nearly Rs 470 crore after the merger of nearby municipalities into Malkajgiri. Our target next year is Rs 540 crore.

We are identifying under-assessed and unassessed properties and bringing them into the tax network. We aim to increase revenue by around 20 per cent annually.

NM: Residents have complained about dumping yards and foul smells. What is being done?

Vinay Krishna Reddy: We are moving towards decentralisation. Instead of relying on a single dumping yard, additional waste processing sites are being developed so the burden is distributed and the impact on surrounding areas is reduced.

Currently, most of the city’s waste is being transported to the dumping yard at Jawahar Nagar. Following the trifurcation of the GHMC, the State government has proposed a decentralised waste management system by establishing separate dumping facilities within each municipal commissionerate.

The move aims to reduce the burden on a single landfill and ensure more efficient waste disposal.

NM: Mosquitoes and street dogs are major concerns. What steps are being taken?

Vinay Krishna Reddy: For mosquito control, we are focusing on anti-larval operations, monitoring lakes, drains and water bodies, house-to-house inspections and vehicle-mounted and handheld fogging.

Regarding street dogs, we currently have one Animal Birth Control centre. We plan to expand the number of centres to increase sterilisation and vaccination coverage, which will gradually reduce the stray population.

NM: How effective is the new WhatsApp grievance system?

Vinay Krishna Reddy: We introduced the WhatsApp system to improve accessibility. Though it was primarily meant for sanitation complaints, people are reporting all types of issues.

Sanitation complaints are being resolved on the same day. Other civic issues are addressed based on funding availability. We are also conducting weekly hearings, especially for complaints related to unauthorised constructions.

NM: What are the corporation’s plans to prepare for the monsoon season?

Vinay Krishna Reddy: Stormwater drain works identified under the 99-day action plan are being completed before the monsoon to prevent waterlogging. We are ensuring preparedness in vulnerable areas.

NM: What message would you like to give to the citizens of Malkajgiri?

Vinay Krishna Reddy: Sanitation and mosquito control will show visible improvements soon. At the same time, we are working on long-term structural reforms in infrastructure and revenue. Public cooperation is essential for achieving sustained civic improvement.

I will share a detailed written action plan soon, reinforcing the administration’s commitment to measurable and time-bound development in the newly formed Malkajgiri Commissionerate.