MCH chief, Water Board MD caught in verbal crossfire

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, DEC. 14. Shortage of funds and the pressure to carry on with the plans of the Government resulted in an argument between the chiefs of the two civic bodies during the weekly City Coordination Committee meeting here on Thursday.

It all began when the Managing Director of HMWSSB, Mr. M.G. Gopal, rejected outright the suggestion of the MCH Commissioner, Dr. P.K. Mohanty, for re-laying the sewer and water pipelines at Ameerpet, citing lack of funds. Dr. Mohanty wanted the Metrowater Board to take up the work now since the demolition work was already going on the Ameerpet-Greenlands road. He felt the widened roads could be carpeted after all the works were completed so that there could be no further digging. But Mr. Gopal stated that the work could not be taken up now as the Board did not have sufficient funds.

He said several works had to be stalled as contractors have stopped the works due to non-clearance of their bills. But Dr. Mohanty's argument was that the residents of Ameerpet had given the land for road-widening and it was fair to fulfil some of their demands like proper water and sewer lines. Interestingly, the Minister for Roads and Buildings, Mr. K. Vijayarama Rao, was caught in the crossfire listening to the versions of both the officers.

However, when Mr. Vijayarama Rao came up with a suggestion of MCH granting a loan of Rs. 25 lakhs to the HMWSSB and which was agreed by the MCH Commissioner, Mr. Gopal insisted on a written assurance. According to him, many such earlier promises did not materialise. This forced Dr. Mohanty to direct one of the Additional Commissioners to pay the loan amount immediately.

Earlier, the Coordination Committee inspected road-widening works at Ameerpet and Greenlands. The Minister asked all the private parties laying cable to fill the trenches forthwith.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Southern States
Previous : Ramulu new city police chief
Next     : City to have new model toilets soon