Civic problems one too many in MMC

Hyderabad: The Malkajgiri Municipal Corporation (MMC) was created early this year after the existing civic body the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) was split into three entities (the third being Cyberabad Municipal Corporation) as a reorganization measure aimed at bolstering administration. Starting off with an allocation of Rs 500 crore, MMC oversees areas like Malkajgiri, Uppal and LB Nagar that come under its jurisdiction.

Incidentally, like all civic bodies, the corporation’s priorities include sanitation, drain expansion and removal of illegal encroachments, while its major revenue generation sources are collection of property tax and giving building and layout permissions.

Despite many benefits that it enjoys, Malkajgiri Municipal Corporation faces innumerable challenges overcoming which will be a herculean task.

1. Haphazard garbage disposal:Lack of civic sense is a major issue confronting MMC, especially in Alwal, Bowenpally, Uppal and LB Nagar. Out of 9.3 lakh households, garbage is not collected from 2.3 lakh poverty-ridden houses, which give a damn to careful disposal habits. Efforts are underway to reduce fees from the poor and deployment of former army officers for supervision. Around 30,000 households have already been covered. . Adding to their woes, there is a shortage of workers for secondary collection. Towards cleaning of main roads, efforts are underway to procure additional lifting machines and forming teams with JCBs, tractors, and workers.

2. Mosquito menace: Mosquito menace is rampant in Kapra, Nacharam, and Uppal. Anti-larvae operations are ongoing, and Gambusia fish have been released in lakes to control breeding. As there is a dearth of staff, additional outsourcing employees from nine merged municipalities are supporting entomology teams. Approximately, 57 EV fogging machines costing Rs10.05 crore have been ordered.

3. Roads, encroachment and traffic woes:Uppal Junction and LB Nagar are the main areas facing road and traffic issues. As part of the 99-day action plan, an encroachment removal drive has been initiated, and the Town Planning Department is focusing on major roads. Free left turns are currently being obstructed by electric poles and other factors; these will be removed, and corner roads will be developed to ensure smooth movement. For road maintenance, a separate BT plant will be set up for MMC, and all potholes will be cleared within a month.

4. Lakes:As of now, there are 180 lakes in MMC, of which 144 are in the merged areas, while the remaining 36 are in the erstwhile GHMC region. Protection and maintenance of the lakes is a shared responsibility of the two. A key priority is the removal of encroachments to restore and safeguard lake boundaries. Efforts are underway to clearly demarcate to prevent further intrusion. In addition, sewerage diversion works are being carried out to stop the inflow of polluted water into the lakes, thereby improving water quality. Bund development activities are on to strengthen the lake perimeters and enhance their ecological and aesthetic value. Furthermore, Self-Help Groups are being urged to participate in lake-related economic activities.

5. Public toilets:Inadequate number of public toilets is the bane of the region. As part of the 99-day action plan, there is a proposal to construct new toilets in the PPP mode. Currently, there are 138 public toilets, of which 66 operate on a pay-and-use model and 72 are bio-toilets. However, only 102 of them are functional. Meanwhile, there is no proposal to construct new public toilets.