Eye on GHMC polls, TRS sets focus on welfare schemes

Hyderabad: Having announced relaxation form the lockdown in almost all the sectors, the state government now seems to be focussing on the possibility of conducting municipal elections for Greater Hyderabad, Warangal and Khammam Municipal Corporations.

According to sources, the ruling TRS has instructed party leaders, including ministers and MLAs, to focus more on the implementation of welfare schemes like double bedroom houses. Sources said that the elections might be held either towards the end of the year or early 2021.

The party leaders have been directed to see that the schemes to improve infrastructure and civic amenities should be given priority. The TRS which had virtually swept the GHMC polls last time is again trying for a similar performance. In the last elections, the ruling party succeeded in winning 99 wards out of 150. The speeding up of works on various flyovers, bridges, roads on priority basis is also said to be a step in the direction of winning over the hearts of 50 lakh voters. The government is also planning to handover one lakh houses to the beneficiaries by October this year," a senior official said.

At a marathon meeting with the municipal officials, Minister for MAUD K T Rama Rao directed the officials to complete the housing scheme on a war-footing basis. All party leaders have been asked to closely monitor the works. The Opposition being in disarray, the government feels that it would be a near cakewalk for it if it can deliver the assurances like the double bedroom houses to the poor and show significant improvement in civic amenities.

However, sources said government's image depends a lot on the way it would handle the problems arising out of rains, once monsoon hits the state. Though it is six years since the TRS came to power people say that even under the GHMC limits there has not been much of improvement in the situation.

Already some areas under the GHMC limits, including certain parts of Banjara Hills and Srinagar colony, are witnessing power shutdown up to one hour even if there is a drizzle. The municipal authorities will have to grapple with problems of water logging and flooding of colonies once heavy rains set in. Due to the lockdown, desilting of nalas also took a back seat.