Hyderabad: No development works in decades at Rahamathnagar Division

Rahamathnagar ward no 102 is a slum area where hundreds of daily wage labourers and minorities reside. Many promises were made for the residents in every election like extension of roads, proper sanitation facility, replacement of old pipelines and developing the major Rahamathnagar crossroads, but none of the promises have been fulfilled leaving the residents in utmost disappointment.

"We are scared that our area might turn into a permanent slum without any basic facilities," says Rajveer Kalsa, a resident of Rahamathnagar. One of the oldest slums of Greater Hyderabad has never seen major developments, and even the roads were laid sometime 10 years ago.

Drain overflow is making our lives miserable, we can't come out and enjoy fresh air in the evenings, we are unable to go for a walk, we can't even open our doors because of the foul smell emanating from the overflowing drains, say residents of the Rahamathnagar area.

"Overflowing drain is the major issue which has been nagging since decades. Several plaints have been lodged and even submitted a memorandum to the constituency MLA, Maganti Gopinath, but no action has been initiated and we are truly disappointed for the negligence," said P Bhagya Lakshmi, Shopkeeper.

"We are living here for many years and complained at least hundreds of times about this drain overflows, we are very concerned about our children's health, we request leaders and officials to take up this issue at the utmost priority and solve this overflowing drains," said P Sudheer, a resident of the area.

Recalling a representation made in January to MLA Maganti Gopinath regarding the issues in the area, a resident says that, "We have mentioned all our issues including the major problems like drain overflow and sewage pipelines in a letter submitted to Maganti, but no issue has been taken up and we are still living in pathetic conditions."

Candidates in fray

The incumbent corporator Shafi failed to get a ticket from any party to present his nomination for the unreserved category in the upcoming GHMC elections as no party found him doing noteworthy work in his five-year rule. Young leader C N Reddy got the opportunity to contest under TRS party as he has a good influence among youngsters and could give tough competition to the Congress candidate, Bhavani Shanker. K Venkatesh from BJP, Suleman from MIM and others are also in the poll battle.