Deputy mayor to spend Rs 20 lakh on office despite GHMC fund crunch

Presently, the corporation is reeling under severe financial crisis and finding it difficult to pay salaries to its staff.
Deputy mayor Baba Fasiuddin’s chamber being refurbished at GHMC head office in Hyderabad on Monday | Express photo
Deputy mayor Baba Fasiuddin’s chamber being refurbished at GHMC head office in Hyderabad on Monday | Express photo

 HYDERABAD: While the cash-strapped Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) is in no position to take up any new projects owing to lack of funds, deputy mayor Baba Fasiuddin is focussed on giving a facelift to his official chamber.


Following the footsteps of mayor Bonthu Rammohan, who a few months ago undertook a complete transformation of his official chamber by splurging upto Rs 30 lakh, Baba Fasiuddin has already initiated various works to renovate his chamber. 


It is learnt that upto Rs 20 lakh of public money is being utilised for upgrading his office, which involves Rs 5-10 lakh of interior designing.


Ironically, as per the GHMC Act, the deputy mayor has no powers to sanction any new civic works and is to be treated like any other GHMC corporator. Similarly, the mayor too, except for chairing the council meetings, standing committee meetings and sanctioning emergency works of upto `50,000 during calamities, has no major powers.


Presently, the corporation is reeling under severe financial crisis and finding it difficult to pay salaries to its staff. Besides, the corporation is finding it tough to take up new developmental works in the city due to paucity of funds. Except pending works, no new projects are being implemented.


Past deputy mayors Subash Chanderji (BJP), Golconda Raj Kumar (Congress) and Jaffer Hussain Meraj (Nampally MIM MLA) have functioned from the same chamber without taking up any major renovations or modifications when in office.


At the moment, the existing interiors, glass doors frames, ceiling in his chambers have been removed and will be fitted with new furniture and interior fittings.


GHMC officials said that deputy mayor is like any other normal corporator. He or she is mainly elected to fill the gap or vacuum when the office of the mayor is vacant. If the mayor leaves the city for more than 15 days or is incapacitated, his/her functions would be devolved on the deputy mayor until the mayor returns to the city or recovers from his incapacity as the case may be. He has no powers to sanction any work.

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