Hyderabad, January 28: The Chief Minister Mr N Kiran Kumar Reddy today asked the officials to make all preparations for the Municipal elections likely to be held soon. The Chief Minister also asked the officials to finalise the staffing pattern of the newly constituted Municipalities within 3 days. The Chief Minister today held a detailed review meeting on the progress of the Urban Infrastructure developmental activities with Minister and officials at Secretariat.
Minister for Municipal Administration, M Maheedhar Reddy, Principal Secretaries, MA&UD, B. Sam Bob and Dr. Vijayakumar, Principal Secretary, Finance, V Bhasker, Secretary, Finance, Premchandra Reddy, Enginer-in-Chief, Public Health, Dr P Panduranga Rao, MD, HMWS&SB, Adhar Sinha and other officials attended the meeting. The Chief Minister directed that all pending JNNURM works relating to underground drainage, storm water drains and drinking water schemes should be completed by the end of March, 2012. Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy also directed the Finance Department to lift the freezing of Municipal funds in a phased manner. Projects are in progress to provide safe drinking water in all the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in the State and for disposal of waste water in a scientific manner to provide hygienic conditions.
Out of the 158 ULBs, daily water is being provided to 103, alternate day supply to 47, once in three days to 5 and once in 4 days to 3 ULBs. As far as drinking water supply to GHMC areas are concerned, water levels as on 17-01-2012 compared to levels last year on the same date (within brackets) are Osmansagar-1777.90 ft (1790), Himayatsagar-1750.600 ft(1763), Singur-1715.343ft (1717.046), Manjira-1643.900 ft(1649.900) & Krishna water (Akkampally)-242.200 ft (241.500). Presently the HMWSSB is drawing water from these sources and the present levels are sufficient to draw water up to June 2012 at the existing drawal rate of 340 MG per day. However the quality of water in Osmansagar and Himayatsagar reservoirs will be watched closely for the coming period. The Water Board is presently drawing water to their full installed capacity at 340 MGD from all the five sources. The officials informed that there was 27% deficit rainfall in the GHMC areas. The Chief Minister directed the HMWSSB to hasten the Godavari and Krishna water to City schemes and complete it at the earliest. In addition to the piped water supply about 27 MGD of ground water also is being drawn by the consumers in the water supply service areas of HMWSSB. Under the XIII Finance Commission grants, Rs.1254.60 crs. will be released on furnishing Utilisation Certificates for last released and performance grants of Rs.664.25 crs on fulfilment of 9 specified conditions.
The 9 conditions stipulated by the 13th Finance Commission can be considered as reforms to improve financial status as well as governance of ULBs. The performance grants are from 2011-12. Works for 124 ULBs for 2010-11 is Rs.178.66 crs, works for 124 ULBs for 2011-12 is Rs.278.03 crs and total sanctions are Rs.456.69 crs and so far releases made to the 124 ULBs are Rs.289.65 crs and sanctions under process is Rs.408.33 crs for 161 ULBs. Andhra Pradesh is the first among the States that have been recommended by the Ministry of Urban Development for the XIII Commission Grants.
Putting an end to speculations, chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy said that the government was planning to hold the much-delayed municipal elections in May, the dates for which are to be announced in some time.
Dropping enough hints about the government’s intention to go ahead with the elections in May, the CM asked officials to gear up for municipal polls and instructed them to complete all pending JNNURM projects relating to underground drainage, storm-water drains and drinking water schemes by end March.
The CM held a meeting to review the progress of urban infrastructure projects and asked officials to finalise the staffing pattern for newly-constituted municipalities within three days. Minister M Maheedhar Reddy, who attended the meeting, told media that officials had been asked to prepare for polls in May.
The CM directed the water board to speed up work to bring water from the Godavari and the Krishna to Hyderabad.
–Agencies–