Hyderabad: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) conducted its latest Prajavani public grievance hearing at its headquarters on February 3, 2023, where Commissioner K Ilambarithi took direct input from local residents. This event marked another effort to address the pressing concerns of the citizens, with the Commissioner stressing the urgency of resolving the registered grievances.
During this session, the GHMC received 44 complaints directly, predominantly concerning different public services. Each department within the GHMC was tasked with reviewing these grievances. Specifically, 22 complaints were directed to the town planning department, four each reached the tax and finance departments, and the engineering (maintenance) department received three. The sanitation, veterinary, and housing departments also logged three complaints each, along with one from land administration, among others.
Throughout the GHMC's six zones, the response was overwhelming, with 86 applications submitted overall. The Kukatpally zone led the pack with 45 complaints, followed by the Serilingampally zone with 20, Secunderabad with 10, Charminar with six, LB Nagar with four, and Khairatabad with one. This distribution underscored the diverse range of issues affecting residents across different localities.
Commissioner Ilambarithi emphasized his commitment to tackling these grievances swiftly. "There will be no tolerance for delays in resolving these issues," he remarked during the hearing. His instructions to officials were clear: prioritize the concerns raised by the public and maintain transparency by providing written timelines for issue resolution.
Four requests made via the Prajavani phone-in programme were forwarded to the departments concerned, prompting immediate attention. The Commissioner reinforced the GHMC's dedication to being responsive, reitering, "Officials must prioritise addressing the concerns of the city's residents.” This proactive stance, he hopes, will encourage greater engagement from the community and help troubleshoot infrastructural challenges faced by many.
The session saw participation from various departmental officials, including the Additional Commissioners, Chief Veterinary Officer, and several other senior officials, all of whom were present to take note of grievances and determine actionable steps moving forward. This collaborative effort highlighted the GHMC's strategy of involving multiple stakeholders to resolve issues more effectively.
Adding to the GHMC's outreach, Mayor Gadwal Vijayalakshmi also paid a visit to the Hafizpet ward on the same day. During her tour, she inspected various localities, focusing on sanitation issues, improving stormwater drainage systems, and addressing long-standing problems relevant to the community.
Responding to local concerns, the Mayor stated, "A concentrated effort will be made to identify and resolve problems across different wards.” Her visit was marked by assessing conditions on the ground and the implementation of corrective measures for community welfare. Notably, she issued directives to clean up RTC colonies and devise proposals for road widening, enhanced drainage solutions, and improved park facilities.
The collective engagements of the GHMC during these sessions reaffirm the corporation’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement. By encouraging residents to come forward with their grievances and providing structured channels for resolution, the GHMC exemplifies its goal of enhancing public service delivery.
Through the Prajavani initiative and other outreach programs, the authorities aim to create not only responses to complaints but also sustainable solutions to the challenges faced by citizens of Hyderabad. The initiative portrays the GHMC's dedication to ensuring citizens feel heard and valued within the community.
With the emphasis on timeliness and thorough resolution of complaints, both the Commissioner and the Mayor are hopeful these efforts will yield tangible improvements to the public infrastructure and overall quality of life for the residents of Hyderabad. The dialogue initiated through Prajavani provides the groundwork for continued engagement, reflection, and rectification of issues affecting citizens at all levels.