Hyderabad: Basic amenities prove elusive for years

One of the strongholds of the MIM party, the Pathergatti Municipal division (32) which encompasses the historic Charminar and its neighbourhood is spread over two sq km area with inhabitants of around some 60,000 voters.

Consisting of major areas like Charminar, Gulzar Houz, Pathergatti, Madina Building, Mir Alam Mandi, Darulshifa, Alijah Kotla, Shahran and slums like Maula ka Chilla, Aman Nagar 'A' block. Around 40 percent of the division comprises commercial establishments. Historically the division is dominated by Muslims and has a mixed population of other communities. For at least two decades, the AIMIM has been winning the corporation elections. In 2016, Syed Sohail Quadri won with 16,458 votes as against the nearest rival from TRS, Mirza Baqer Ali who received 3,307 votes.

Major issues

The major issues troubling the residents and business establishments are lack of major developmental works in localities and several areas craving for basic amenities and developments. The division has a history of civic issues like bad roads, contaminated water supply, severe sewage overflow, lack of UPHCs, parks or playgrounds, most importantly poor sanitation. The residents of slums like Rahmat Nagar and Aman Nagar 'A' block, have been demanding basic facilities and the nala overflow floods Rahmat Nagar every monsoon. "Flooding during rains has been a constant issue in slums of Pathergatti, given the outdated drainage system. "During elections the corporator promised for development of nala in Rahmat Nagar, Mir Alam Mandi (one of the biggest markets in Old City), but four years have passed, and no new or major development has been observed" said Mohammed Rahman, a resident of Darulshifa.

The localities are running without proper government health care mechanism. Recently, a Basti Dawakhana was opened, however, earlier people chose to visit private clinics or health centres in other wards as the only UPHC in Pathergatti was running in an over 50-year-old dilapidated structure," said Mohammed Sajid, a resident of Panjesha.

"The division has several government schools, but the maintenance of structures remains neglected and are in a dilapidated state. There was an historic blind school named 'Government School for Blind' in Darulshifa but even that has been razed two years back for constructing a new school," said Hussain Abedi.

Several inner roads and by-lanes in many localities are damaged due to drain overflow for the past several years. The commercial areas like Gulzar Houz, Pathergatti, Shahran, Madina Building etc. have no proper roads. "Even after many complaints to the GHMC we are facing neglect. Due to lack of sanitation the colonies have become breeding grounds for mosquitoes," said Mohammed Jawed, a resident of Shahran.