The proposal of merging 22 gram panchayats of Ranga Reddy district with the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) is not likely to happen in the near future. Elections are being held in these panchayats as per High Court orders.
According to officials, once the elections are over and an elected body is in place in these villages, it would be very difficult for the government to merge these villages. Elections to these 22 villages will be held after the completion of panchayat elections.
With already the cases of 15 villages, which were to be merged with GHMC in 2008, pending before courts, there is less possibility that the government would go for merger of these villages immediately. Once elected bodies are in place, these gram panchayats would have to adopt resolutions in favour of merger. If the panchayat rejects the proposal, then the government has to issue a notification in favour of merger and invite suggestions and objections. Even after all that, the sarpanches may go to court against the government’s decision.
According to sources since general elections are due next year, the decision on the merger might be taken by the new government.
As per the original proposal 38 villages of Ranga Reddy district were supposed to be made part of the GHMC, but the GHMC general council accepted only 22 villages for merger.