Hyderabad, January 30: Minister for Heavy Industries J Geetha Reddy on Saturday said that there was no dearth of funds to develop the Old City and make it a popular tourism destination.
Describing the Old City as the ‘heart’ of Hyderabad, Ms Geetha Reddy told media persons during her tour as part of the Racha Banda, that the government would give priority to its development.
The Minister also revealed that Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy would tour the Old City on February 2.
She said that the Congress government has already taken up works to improve the infrastructure of the Old City, by allotting Rs 2,080 crore for underground drainage system, Rs 400 crore for construction of nalas, Rs 34 crore for the beautification of the River Musi.
Ms Geetha Reddy added that Rs 35 crore will be spent in 2011 for the Charminar Pedestrianisation Project. The total estimated cost of the project is Rs 200 crore.
The Minister also reminded that while the Telugu Desam Party had released Rs 36 crore for welfare of Minorities, the Congress government had has earmarked Rs 235 crore for the same purpose.
Projecting the Congress as champions of Minorities, Ms Geetha Reddy reminded the gathering, consisting of a majority of Muslims at Mallad-ki-Taleem near Fathe Darwaza, that the major achievement of the government was to introduce the four per cent reservation for Minorities during its rule, despite many obstacles.
She also spoke to the residents of Kala Paththar and distributed about 5000 ration and pension forms.
Mayor Banda Karthika Reddy and Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen MLAs Syed Ahmed Pasha Quadri and Moazzam Khan, Hyderabad Collector Natarajan Gulzar besides Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation officials were present during the Racha Banda programme.
INN