The administrative map of Hyderabad, the capital of Telangana, has changed. On Wednesday, February 11, the state government took a historic decision and bifurcated the Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC). Now instead of one corporation there will be three separate bodies. First is Mahatma Gandhi Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, second is New Cyberabad Municipal Corporation and third is Malkajgiri Municipal Corporation.
This step was taken when the old GHMC was dissolved just a day ago. The most sensational aspect is that whereas earlier 150 councilors were elected, now there will be elections for a total of 300 councilors for these three corporations which are to be held this year itself.
What instructions have been issued in the government order?
According to the government order, new responsibilities have been assigned to three senior IAS officers for administrative organization. RV Karnan has been made in-charge of the new residual GHMC, while G Srijana has been appointed commissioner of Cyberabad and T Vinay Krishna Reddy as commissioner of Malkajgiri Municipal Corporation. These three commissioners will have to report to Jayesh Ranjan, Special Chief Secretary, Metropolitan and Urban Development Department (HMDA).
This division has happened when the Congress government had announced the process of delimitation in December, which was strongly opposed by the leaders of BRS, BJP and AIMIM. Questions were being raised as to why such a hurry?
In fact, the main reason behind this is the census. GHMC officials say that the census has not been conducted since 2011 and now it was necessary to complete the process before the census to be held in 2026. Commissioner RV Karnan had clarified that the deadline to fix everything by December 31 has been set by the Government of India.
He said, ‘Due to COVID-19, the census could not be conducted in 2021, hence this immediate step had to be taken so that the 2026 census can be conducted smoothly.’ This division has been justified in view of the dense population in the core areas of the city and the scattered population in the outer areas, but the opposition is calling it a political move. As a result, now three different fronts will open in the electoral field of Hyderabad. Recently, RWAs and civic activists had also raised questions on this practice, but the government issued the order citing administrative efficiency and the census deadline.
