Hyd needs spl administrative status - Certain Integral Issues Need Further Deliberation,Says Kodandaram

 

A metropolitan or regional council for Hyderabad with a clearly defined mandate and adequate representation from every section of society was a critical suggestion put forth by the Centre for Policy Research (CPR) on Saturday, while discussing a way forward for Hyderabad - the bone of contention in the ongoing battle for separate Telangana. Speaking at a roundtable on the subject, chairman of Delhi based think tank K C Sivaramakrishnan highlighted CPRs recommendation on awarding special administrative status to Hyderabad and maintained that its important considering the massive growth witnessed by the capital city even in areas outside of the GHMC limits. Presenting the key findings of a five-metro region (Kolkata, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, and Hyderabad) study conducted by CPR, he said that while the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority Act was comprehensive it did not help the authority to emerge as a metropolitan level entity for strategy, planning and development management. Considering the fact that several state departments and other entities continue working with varying interests and agendas, Sivarama krishnan said, there was need for some kind of a body, which will require maybe an extra amount of participatory processes than what you usually see to ensure enhanced economic growth and development of the region. Because these are global cities,we presume there will be uninterrupted growth in its economy. But it looks like they are also vulnerable to the various problems of global economy. So who is going to deal with this Who is going to worry about future jobs, future development, he said, stressing the need for such a model based on inter-governance- between the local,state and central administration. And it is not beyond the Constitution to create such bodies, the former Union urban development secretary said. He noted that the HMDA Act was a useful starting point and if serious debates were held, Hyderabad could show the way for the rest of the metro regions. CPRs proposal found support in Four Soft chairman Srikanth Palem who also called for a strong political resolution to save Hyderabad that had already taken a beating on the investment front, owing to the current state of uncertainty. Those like Prof M Kodandaram, convener of the Telangana Political Joint Action Committee (T-JAC ),meanwhile, felt that there were some integral issues that needed further deliberation. For instance, he said, the process of defining the boundaries of the metropolitan region was a crucial factor. Will these boundaries be arbitrarily decided Who will decide what the boundaries would be Will they keep in mind the interests of only a few people or will the larger interest of society be considered were some of the questions he posed adding how these concerns were rooted in the fact that Hyderabads development strategy of late had revolved around real estate and those in this business. As a result, many communities feel marginalized. They feel that their interests never figure in any of these decisions, Kodandaram said. CPRs recommendation about the involvement of the CM in the proposed metropolitan council also raised apprehensions among some of the panelists who felt that it would not help improve administrative issues. It should ideally have a governing body of its own headed by the mayor, suggested C Ramachandraiah from CESS while also stressing on direct elections for the mayors post. But whether Telangana happens or not, such discussions with regard to metropolitan region council as an alternative, should be carried on concurrently, opined eminent urban specialist Partha Mukhopadhyay pointing out how no first step has yet been taken to preserve equity,participation or event economic growth.There is need for a governance structure that is balanced, Mukhopadhyay said Centre for Policy Research chairman KC Sivaramakrishnan (first left),TJAC convener Kodandaram (fourth from left) and others during the roundtable conference on special administrative status for Hyderabad,in the city on Saturday                            (Source-TOI)