HYDERABAD: Leader of the Opposition in the Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir has dubbed ‘Swachh Hyderabad’ campaign proposed to be taken by the state government from May 16 as a publicity stunt ahead of the GHMC elections.
Speaking to reporters here on Thursday, Shabbir Ali said, “Hyderabad was already a clean and green city and won many awards during the Congress regime from 2004-2014. While the Traveler magazine of the National Geographic ranked Hyderabad as the second ‘Must See Destination’ in the world, Hyderabad was declared The Best City to Live in India in the Mercer’s Quality of Living Report 2015,’’ Shabbir Ali pointed out. The Congress MLC said that Hyderabad lost its sheen after the TRS came to power.
Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao wants to spend Rs 1,000 crore to clean the garbage which got accumulated during his 10-month regime, he said, rather sarcastically.
Shabbir Ali said the state government, in the 2015-16 Budget has allocated just Rs 526 crore for the GHMC. “Rao should clarify from which account the government proposes to spend Rs 1,000 crore for ‘Swachh Hyderabad’ campaign,’’ he demanded.
Welcoming the decision to construct houses to the poor in the city, Shabbir Ali, however, ridiculed Rao’s direction to officials to acquire 2,000 acres of land to construct 2.10 lakh houses. “Is such large chunk of land available in the city?’’ he questioned and also added that it will require Rs 7,350 crore for construction of 2 lakh houses. But, the State government allocated just Rs 873 crore in 2015-16 Budget for the housing sector in entire Telangana,’’ he pointed out. The Congress MLC demanded that the state government convene special Assembly and Council sessions to discuss the proposals and make necessary allocations by amending the Budget.