The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation jurisdiction will increase further with the inclusion of 15 erstwhile gram panchayats of Ranga Reddy district into GHMC with immediate effect. The GHMC now covers an area of 625 sqkm and the addition of 15 gram panchayats will add another 125 sqkm, taking the total area under its jurisdiction to 750 sqkm.
Government order
The Municipal Administration and Urban Development issued the GO 407 here on Saturday bringing the following 15 gram panchayats which are contiguous within the limits of GHMC: Satamrai, Kotwalguda (Shamshabad mandal), Narsingi, Vattinagulapalli, Neknamur, Puppalguda, Khanapur, Bandlaguda Jagir, Kismatpur, Himayatsagar, Peeramcheruvu and Hydershakot (Rajendranagar mandal), Nizampet (Quthubullapur mandal), Kalwancha, Kuntlur (Hayathnagar mandal) and Kothapeta (Saroornagar mandal).
Merger orders
The Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department issued merger orders after the Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Department issued de-notification orders for the above 15 gram panchayats, paving their inclusion into the GHMC limits.
Challenges of growth
According to sources, this is not a sudden decision as the government proposed to include 25 gram panchayats located in Ranga Reddy into the limits of GHMC as they are contiguous part of the corporation and issued an order in March, 2013 and invited objections and suggestions. The merger was proposed to meet the challenges thrown up by the fast-paced development of Hyderabad and to provide better infrastructure, amenities and administration.
PILs filed
Subsequently public interest litigation (PILs) were filed against merger of Gandipet, Manchirevula, Manikonda, Kokapet, Jilleguda, Meerpet, Balapur (part), Jawaharnagar and Dammaiguda and the High Court directed the government to take the views of petitioners before taking a final decision.
After the government rejected the objections, the court disposed of all the petitions except those related to Manikonda Jagir and Balapur (part).
Though Pahadishareef in Saroornagar mandal was also proposed for merger with the GHMC, it was excluded as it is not contiguous to the present inclusions, the sources added.
