How was GHMC ward delimitation decided? Congress MLAs and BRS leaders meet mayor, seek clarity

Hyderabad: Congress MLAs and corporators from the city on Monday met GHMC Mayor Gadwal Vijayalakshmi and Commissioner RV Karnan to raise objections over the ongoing reorganisation and redrawing of GHMC division boundaries.

They alleged a lack of clarity and transparency in the delimitation process.

Congress leaders flag issues with division reorganisation

Congress MLAs Danam Nagender, Arekapudi Gandhi and Prakash, along with MLC Balmoori Venkat and party corporators and ex officio members, held separate meetings with the Mayor and the Commissioner to discuss concerns related to the reorganisation of GHMC divisions.

The delegation submitted representations highlighting errors and inconsistencies in the newly notified division boundaries and conveyed complaints received from corporators and residents in their respective areas.

Special General Body meeting on Tuesday

Responding to the concerns, Mayor Gadwal Vijayalakshmi said that members would be given an opportunity to place their opinions, suggestions, objections and complaints during a specially convened General Body meeting scheduled for Tuesday.

She assured the legislators and corporators that all inputs shared during the meeting would be formally forwarded to the State government for consideration.

What are the criteria and methodology being used for delimitation?

Speaking to the media later, Congress MLAs said they had marked the disputed boundaries on maps and submitted a detailed memorandum to the GHMC authorities. They demanded that officials explain the criteria and methodology adopted for the division reorganisation.

What is GHMC being redrawn?

The State government had recently issued orders for the reorganisation of GHMC divisions, increasing their number from 150 to 300. A gazette notification announcing the new boundaries was published a few days ago.

Compared to the earlier GHMC structure, the number of divisions in the Old City areas has increased significantly, triggering objections and complaints from several quarters.

BRS delegation alleges ‘unscientific’ exercise

Meanwhile, a delegation of BRS leaders led by former minister and Sanathnagar MLA Talasani Srinivas Yadav also met RV Karnan at the GHMC headquarters on Monday and submitted a separate representation.

The delegation included MLCs D Sravan Dasoju and Surabhi Vani Devi, MLAs Malla Reddy, Muta Gopal, Kaleru Venkatesh and Marri Rajashekhar Reddy, along with corporators and party leaders.

‘Delimitation done without consultation’

Addressing the media after the meeting, Talasani Srinivas Yadav alleged that GHMC divisions had been reorganised ‘arbitrarily’ in the name of delimitation, without following a clear or scientific methodology.

He questioned the rationale behind merging municipalities and corporations within the Outer Ring Road limits into GHMC and doubling the number of divisions from 150 to 300 without consulting political parties, elected representatives or the public.

“There is no transparency even in the marking of division boundaries. Decisions were taken sitting in offices, ignoring ground realities,” he alleged.

‘Rs 2 crore funds per division given to minister instead of corporators’

The BRS leader also raised concerns over the lack of adequate officers and manpower for the existing 150 divisions and questioned how the administration planned to manage another 150 new divisions under the current circumstances.

He criticised the government’s announcement of Rs 2 crore funds per division, alleging that the funds were being handed over to in-charge ministers instead of corporators, and termed it unfair.

Talasani further alleged selective removal of flexi banners belonging only to opposition parties and demanded uniform action against all unauthorised flexis across the city. He warned that the issue would be strongly raised in the GHMC Council meeting scheduled for Tuesday.