Mayor highlights Hyderabad’s win in Swach Sarvekshan; presents Rs.8,347-cr GHMC budget

HYDERABAD: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has proposed a budget of Rs 8,437 crore for the financial year 2024-25.

GHMC Mayor Gadwal Vijaya Lakshmi presented the budget during the general body meeting at the GHMC headquarters on Tank Bund on Monday.

The budget breakdown shows that revenue income stands at Rs 5,938 crore, and revenue expenditure is allocated at Rs 3,458 crore. The budget has a revenue surplus of Rs 2,480 crore, with capital receipts reaching Rs 1,999 crore and capital expenditure set at Rs 4,479 crore. Notably, Rs 500 crore has been earmarked for housing initiatives.

The GHMC Mayor, while presenting the budget, highlighted Hyderabad's achievement of being ranked among the Top-10 cities in the country and its five awards in the Swachh Sarvekshan conducted by the Central Government, securing the 9th position in the Clean City category.

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The GHMC budget could not be passed today as the council meeting had to be adjourned to facilitate the MLAs, MLCs and the GHMC Commissioner to attend the all-party meeting held by Hyderabad In-Charge Minister Ponnam Prabhakar on Ramzan arrangements at the Secretariat. The Mayor adjourned the meeting till Tuesday, when the budget will be passed after discussion.

During the GHMC Council meeting, representatives from various political parties expressed dissatisfaction with officials, emphasizing the need for on-site monitoring rather than desk-based decision-making. Mayor Vijayalakshmi expressed concern over officials holding zonal meetings without informing her and warned of strict action against corruption.

Corporator Shravan of the BJP called for action against officials on long-term deputation in the corporation. GHMC Commissioner Ronald Ross informed the council that 312 officers were on deputation and 45 were retired officers.

This general body meeting, held after six months, was the first one after the formation of the Congress Government. Several BRS corporators, including Deputy Mayor Sri Latha and former Deputy Mayor Baba Fasiuddin, have recently joined the Congress party.

Corporators had a heated discussion regarding the absence of street lights in various localities, condemning officials' negligence. Congress MLA B Venkat highlighted the previous government's failure to install street lights, leading to accidents on poorly-lit highways.

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MIM MLC Rahmat Baig demanded uninterrupted power supply throughout Greater Hyderabad during the holy month of Ramzan and called for an increase in GHMC staff.

BRS MLC MS Prabhakar, MIM MLA Mir Zulfiqar Ali and other ex-officio members asked the GHMC to focus on improving the corporation's revenues by streamlining advertisements and other fees and charges.

The GHMC Mayor ordered an enquiry into the irregularities in the corporation's advertisement department. She asked the GHMC Commissioner to appoint an enquiry officer to take further action. She also announced that a committee would be formed to frame rules for the erection of political hoardings and flexes.