In a sharp critique within the Telangana Legislative Assembly, AIMIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi on Friday launched a scathing attack on the state government's approach to expanding the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) area. He labeled the process as arbitrary and unilateral, executed without proper debate or consultation with elected public representatives.
Accusations of Bypassing Democratic Process
Participating in the debate on amending the GHMC Act to extend its limits up to the Outer Ring Road (ORR), Owaisi detailed a sequence of events he deemed procedurally flawed. He revealed that the matter was introduced as a table agenda item in a GHMC council meeting, with the state cabinet granting its approval on the very same day. This swift action, according to the AIMIM leader, effectively sidelined the council's opportunity to provide views or suggestions.
"The entire exercise was carried out illegally, without following due procedure," Owaisi asserted. He condemned the government's subsequent issuance of an Ordinance and Government Orders (GOs) concerning ward delimitation, calling it an unhealthy practice in governance.
Flawed Ward Delimitation and Data Secrecy
A central pillar of Owaisi's argument focused on the contentious issue of ward delimitation. He pointed out a critical anomaly: the redrawing of ward boundaries is being based on 2011 census data, despite a new national census operation being underway and expected to conclude by 2027.
He further accused the GHMC of withholding crucial delimitation data from both the public and their elected representatives. With an average of 33,000 electors per ward, Owaisi questioned the logic behind determining reservations for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and other categories without access to updated population statistics. He demanded that the GHMC and Municipalities Act Amendment Bill be sent to a select committee for a thorough review.
Questioning the 'Brand Hyderabad' Expansion
Owaisi contextualised the expansion by noting that successive governments have grown the municipal area from the original 170 sq km of the MCH to the current GHMC's 2,053 sq km. He argued that mere geographical enlargement is not a solution to Hyderabad's deep-rooted civic problems.
"There has been no change in Brand Hyderabad over the past few decades," he stated, listing persistent issues like air pollution, waterlogging, traffic congestion, and infrastructure gaps, even mentioning unresolved concerns related to stray dogs and pigeons. He provided a comparative perspective, noting that Delhi spans about 1,300 sq km, Mumbai 479 sq km, Bengaluru 712 sq km, and Chennai 426 sq km, making the proposed GHMC area notably larger.
He also cited the long-stalled Charminar Pedestrian Project as an example of unfinished initiatives.
The criticism found support from Ibrahimpatnam MLA Malreddy Ranga Reddy, who also faulted the expansion process for lacking consultation with elected representatives or public opinion. He claimed the district was divided into zones and circles without any clear basis or criteria, echoing concerns over a non-transparent methodology.
