Hyderabad: GHMC Commissioner Dr. B. Janardhan Reddy on Monday said that there were 4,365 potholes on 9,000 KM stretch of roads in the limits of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation.
Replying to a query during the third Ordinary General Body meeting of GHMC, the Commissioner admitted that several roads in the city were in bad shape.
However, he blamed the recent heavy rains for the same. He said that the GHMC was taking measures to carryout repairs on war footing basis.
He said that the corporation was using the same road material which is being used by other municipalities across the country.
MLCs M.S. Prabhakar (TRS) and Amin Jaffery (MIM) slammed the GHMC officials for pathetic condition of city roads.
They said instead of blaming previous governments, the present government should explain what it has done during the last two years.
They advised that instead of filling the potholes, the GHMC should repair the entire stretch of roads which are in very bad shape.
In the meeting, chaired by Mayor Bonthu Rammoha, the GHMC took six major decisions.
They include construction of foot over bridge at Duram Cheruvu; construction of retaining walls for murki nalas at a cost of Rs. 9.70 crore; LED lighting at a cost of Rs. 406.86 crore; construction of double bed room houses at 32 locations in the city and development of 143 junctions.
TRS Corporator Vijaya Lakshmi alleged that many GHMC officials were involved in illegal constructions in the city, especially in posh areas like Banjara Hills.
MLC Prabhakar and TRS Corporator Vijaya Reddy alleged that Film Nagar Cultural Centre had constructed clubs, bars, showrooms and other structures without permission.
The GHMC Commissioner, in his reply, said that the corporation plans to propose setting up of a Vigilance Cell and a Tribunal to deal with the cases of illegal construction of buildings in the city.
He said that the GHMC was unable to properly check illegal construction due to shortage of staff. He said of 214 posts in Town Planning Department, only 171 were vacant. (INN)