Acute shortage of sand has become an obstruction for completion of the city’s beautification works taken up for the forthcoming Conference of Parties (CoP-11) on biodiversity, said Municipal Administration Minister M. Mahidhar Reddy here.
“Sudden showers coupled with scarcity of sand are causing problems in completing the works before the commencement of the international conference next month. We are constantly monitoring and asking contractors to finish the works at the earliest,” he said.
Interacting with mediapersons after an inspection of the ongoing works, the Minister exuded confidence that the city would be spruced up in time to host the international event.
Quality control
He said a third party quality control mechanism had been evolved to check the quality of works and stern action would be taken against the contractors for sub-standard works. Re-carpeting of roads, junction improvement, setting up central lighting system, and construction of pavements and cycle tracks, among others, were taken up at a cost of Rs. 450 crore.
Mr. Reddy maintained that there was no dearth of funds as both the Central and State Governments agreed to ensure necessary assistance. “We are confident that Hyderabad will become a hub for several international events after the biodiversity conference. The World Telugu Conference followed by World Allergy Congress will be held in the city within a few months,” Mr. Reddy explained.
Plants saplings
The Minister, along with GHMC Commissioner M.T. Krishna Babu, inspected the Road-over-Bridge (RoB) at Lakdi-ka-pul and road widening works at Madhapur and Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC), the venue of the conference. He planted saplings at traffic islands constructed on the main road near Ayyappa Society, Madhapur. At Lakdi-ka-pul RoB, the Minister expressed displeasure over sub-standard quality material being used for completing the pending works.
