HYDERABAD: Even as the GHMC failed to officially nominate members to ward committes, it must be noted that when it comes to the nomination process there have been allegations of party workers or henchmen of local elected leaders being nominated.
The Forum for Good Governance (FGG) has been alleging that a majority of members who are nominated to ward committees of GHMC are either party workers or relatives of corporators, MLAs or MPs. The FGG has demanded that the state government disclose the names of the nominees.
FGG secretary M Padmanabha Reddy said disclosure of information by GHMC is not being done. Because of this, citizens are unaware of what is going on in the corporation. Lack of transparency is the main cause for rampant corruption in GHMC leading to poor civic amenities, he stated.
The FGG wants the state government to amend the Municipal Act so that nomination can be done through State Election Commission (SEC) instead of through the corporation which succumbs to pressure from elected representatives.
The Municipal Act 7 says
that ward committees are for greater participation of civil societies at ward level in decision-making, transparency and accountability in working of urban governance. In reality, however, very few members from civil societies are nominated. Corporator and MLAs advocate for their party workers and relatives, he stated.