Decentralisation of zones after elections

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has decided to postpone the decentralisation of zones temporarily. Corporation officials opined that decentralisation would not be effective without sufficient staff and infrastructure.

The civic body had decided to increase the number of circles from 30 to 50 and zones from 6 to 10 for better administration.

According to a GHMC official, the Corporation has been operating from the same circle offices even after the circles were increased from 24 to 30. The purpose of decentralisation has been self defeated.

Corporation officials have been carrying out administration from the same offices which has been creating more trouble to the citizens. Citing this, the Corporation has temporarily postponed decentralisation. A senior GHMC official said that the Corporation had asked the government to sanction 98 crore and recruit 1,200 staff prior to enhancement of number of circles and zones. He said that prior to decentralisation, to maintain uniform population in all the zones, some more municipalities and gram panchayats will be merged within Outer Ring Road.

"This exercise would take at least a year since it involves a major recruitment process. Even though the draft proposal for 50 circles and 10 zones were prepared, the Corporation has decided to take up decentralisation only after next general elections,” he said.