TG Reshapes Municipal System; Real Agenda Behind Split Questioned
Even during the united state and after the bifurcation, the Municipal and Urban Development Department in Telangana has remained as a single entity. However, the Revanth Reddy government has now taken a strange decision. Though officially it is stated that the decision was made to improve administrative efficiency, political and official circles are abuzz with speculation that there is a different agenda behind it. With the division of the municipal department into two, officials are stating that a state of confusion has arisen in the department. Until now, the department existed as one, but it has now been divided into two: Metropolitan Area and Urban Development Department, and the Municipal Administration Department. Under the Metropolitan Area and Urban Development Department, entities like HMDA, GHMC, and all municipal corporations and municipalities within the Outer Ring Road (ORR), along with town and country planning, will fall.
In addition to these, the Hyderabad Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board, Musi Riverfront Development Corporation, Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited, Hyderabad Growth Corridor Limited, Future City Development Authority, HYDRA, RERA, and its appellate authority will also come under this department, according to official sources. Meanwhile, under the Municipal Administration Department will fall all the municipalities and municipal corporations located outside the ORR, along with the Public Health Engineering and other related divisions. Political and official sources say that this unprecedented move of splitting the municipal department has a well-thought-out plan behind it. It is well known that the highest revenue for Telangana comes from the city of Hyderabad.
On the other hand, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has initiated highly prestigious projects like the Fourth City and the Musi Revitalization Project. Currently, Revanth Reddy holds important portfolios like Education, Municipal, Home, and Labour Departments. It is known that three new ministers were inducted into the Revanth Reddy cabinet on Sunday. However, even if the remaining vacancies are filled in the future, official sources say that the reason for splitting the department into two, in an unprecedented manner, was to keep the crucial Metropolitan Area and Urban Development Department with Revanth Reddy while allocating the Municipal Department to other ministers. However, in the Congress party, everything has to happen with the approval of the high command. Whether the high command will allow Revanth Reddy to retain this key department, which brings in major revenue, remains to be seen in the coming days.
