MLA's nod must for taking up civic works: GHMC staff

Shalibanda: There were days when MAUD Minister K Taraka Rama Rao and Principal Secretary Arvind Kumar and higher officials of GHMC and HMWSSB used to respond immediately to civic issues highlighted on twitter. However, the responses, even to tweets, which were considered to nudge the official machinery are slowly dying down.

In one of the instances, after officials failed to respond to their pleas to repair drainage overflow for over a month, the local leaders posted the issue on twitter handles of the Minister and even Principal Secretary expecting a quick response. But to his dismay, TDP's Greater Hyderabad Minority vice president, Mohammed Ahmed, who of late became active on Twitter, failed to get any response even after days after tweeting the issue of drain overflow.

Officials cite need of MLA's nod for works

For over a month, the drain overflow has been posing health hazard to residents of Qazipura in Shalibanda division. The entire stretch near Kilpatrik High School is filled with sewage water and when complaint was lodged at GHMC engineering wing, they said that works would be done only after the area MLA gave permission for the work.

The drain overflow has become severe due to recent rains causing inconvenience to residents and commuters who take this route. Almost 40 days have passed, and several complaints were made to GHMC and HMWSSB authorities, but they remain unheard.

The Division-9 Executive Engineer (EE) said, "Only after local MLA gives his approval the works could be taken up. Why MLA's permission was needed for every work. Are the GHMC officers public servants or servants of public representative?" wondered, Ahmed. Both departments GHMC and HMWSSB were passing the buck, he added.

Devout have tough time reaching nearby mosque

With no response to tweets, Mohammed Ahmed also filed an online complaint. Even this could not stir the official machinery to respond to the civic issues. He ridiculed the claims of the government that the issues would be resolved within 48 hours.

Mohammed Ibrahim, a resident, said that there was no place to walk on road as the entire stretch was filled with dirty water. "Many of the locals were getting irritated because of the persistent foul smell that covered the locality."

"While going for prayers we have to pass through the drain water as there is no place to walk on road and sometimes, even the masjid entrance remains under the drain water", said Mohammed Afzal, a senior citizen.