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Hyderabad: Municipal administration and urban development minister K.T. Rama Rao on Wednesday surprised many by giving full credit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for suggesting effective ways of mobilising funds for the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation.
While addressing the gathering after unveiling the annual report of the Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD) portfolio, the minister who until recently made scathing attacks against the Prime Minister and ridiculed the latter’s "Gujarat Model", revealed that the state government took a cue from Ahmedabad civic body and raised municipal bonds. "While the country is predominantly rural-oriented, the urban areas are economic engines. We have been borrowing to improve basic civic infrastructure. It is investing for the future. On the suggestion of the Prime Minister, we mobilised funds through municipal bonds on the lines of Ahmedabad," he said.
The minister recently drew attention with his Delhi trip after boycotting several crucial meetings, including those of Niti Aayog. While he claimed that he met Union ministers of defence and urban development, pressing for solutions to the issues pending with the Centre for a long time, the principal Opposition Congress accused him of rushing to the BJP central leadership to buy peace and avoid the arrest of BRS MLC Kavitha. In a Khammam meeting, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged that BRS is a B team of BJP.
Rama Rao, however, lamented that the Centre did not hand over defence land, as small as one acre, which would have facilitated better transport for commuters, even as five ministers changed so far. On the merger of Secunderabad Cantonment Board, the Centre is yet to make a decision, he pointed out.
The minister said the state government spent a total of Rs 1,21,294 crore during 2014-23 from the MA&UD department for infrastructure and capital investment in Hyderabad and other urban areas of Telangana. The report mentions all the flagship projects of the government in urban areas, the Sustainable Development Goals, major milestones, awards, accolades, achievements, and a summary of the major programmes sector-wise.
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