‘We don’t have the money to develop alternative roads’

Water is a serious issue and there are many factors, including old pipelines and ongoing metro and other civic works, which are to be blamed. Water availability itself is not an issue, but the pressure, distribution and regulation issues are, and we trying to address them- Sujatha GuptaCEO, Secunderabad Cantonment Board

December 22, 2014 12:52 am | Updated November 16, 2021 07:11 pm IST - HYDERABAD:

Sujatha Gupta

Sujatha Gupta

Secunderabad Cantonment Board is besieged with its upcoming ward elections. Its Chief Executive Officer Sujatha Gupta in an interview to ROHIT P.S. , discusses polls and other important issues.

Is it certain that electronic voting machines (EVMs) will be used? What about the proposed ceiling candidate expenditure?

We are going for electronic voting this election. EVMs will have to be drawn from Ranga Reddy district. Confidence levels are not high with ballot papers. As EVM testing is done in public, it would also bring down litigation post elections. Regarding the ceiling [on expenditure], the president of the board, who heads the election machinery, has agreed to consider the proposal. We do not intend to pose restrictions, but simply aim to even the playing field. We will try and introduce ceiling this time.

Photo identity cards were to be introduced for the coming elections. Will that happen?

The proposal is still there. Voter enrolment forms do not provide space for photo. We have to amend rules governing enrolment as we are keen on issuing photo identity cards.

In the absence of such identity cards, a lot of people, youngsters and in particular first-time voters, are not aware that they have to register separately to vote in cantonment board polls.

We are aware that not all residents may have enrolled as voters as there is a notion that enrolling for Assembly [polls] entitles voting in cantonment polls.

What adds to the confusion is that I am the enrolling authority for both Assembly and cantonment elections! It may take a year, but we will be able to initiate the process after elections are over.

The Army is imposing blockades. Given the board’s role in maintaining roads, how far have efforts to provide alternatives come along?

Though board’s role is limited as most affected areas fall under the GHMC, there are implications for us. We are not financially strong to develop alternatives through the cantonment. Any such effort should involve all municipal agencies. We are aware there is an urgency associated with developing alternatives. Whenever the subject comes up for discussion, we have cooperated with the required support. As soon an action plan is developed, we would seek funds from the Ministry of Defence to contribute, should the situation demand.

Is tax payer compliance satisfactory? What is the extent of encroachment in SCB?

Last year’s tax collection grew to Rs.29 crore from the earlier Rs.4 crore. I have seen an improvement in voluntary compliance, though we have gone after reluctant taxpayers.

Thanks to our efforts, we paid Rs.14 crore to the HMWSSB without financially breaking down. As far as encroachments go, a survey is on to determine the extent of encroachments. But there are multiple ways to find out encroachments or deviations.

For instance, digitised sanction plans accessible with a click, can show deviations. We want people to come clean of their own accord and to consult us when they deviate.

Water is a problem in many colonies of the SCB. Are there plans to improve the situation and prevent a crisis in summer?

Water is a serious issue and there are many factors, including old pipelines and ongoing metro and other civic works, which are to be blamed. Water availability itself is not an issue, but the pressure, distribution and regulation issues are, and we trying to address them. Overexploitation and wastage should be addressed by the people. We cannot seize or regulate all illegal pumps, and we want colony associations to penalise such violations. One recent breakthrough was getting the Mahendra Hills-Karkhana line to address water issues in areas which always suffered water problems.

Is it certain that electronic voting machines (EVMs) will be used? What about the proposed ceiling candidate expenditure?

We are going for electronic voting this election. Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will have to be drawn from Ranga Reddy district. Confidence levels are not high with ballot papers. As EVM testing is done in public, it would also bring down litigation post elections.

Regarding the ceiling [on expenditure], the president of the board, who heads the election machinery, has agreed to consider the proposal. We do not intend to pose restrictions, but simply aim to even the playing field. We will try and introduce ceiling this time.

Photo identity cards were to be introduced for the coming elections. Will that happen?

The proposal is still there. Voter enrolment forms do not provide space for photo. We have to amend rules governing enrolment as we are keen on issuing photo identity cards.

In the absence of such identity cards, a lot of people, youngsters and in particular first-time voters, are not aware that they have to register separately to vote in cantonment board polls.

We are aware that not all residents may have enrolled as voters as there is a notion that enrolling for Assembly [polls] entitles voting in cantonment polls.

What adds to the confusion is that I am the enrolling authority for both Assembly and cantonment elections! It may take a year, but we will be able to initiate the process after elections are over.

The Army is imposing blockades. Given the board’s role in maintaining roads, how far have efforts to provide alternatives come along?

Though board’s role is limited as most affected areas fall under the GHMC, there are implications for us. We are not financially strong to develop alternatives through the cantonment.

Any such effort should involve all municipal agencies. We are aware there is an urgency associated with developing alternatives. Whenever the subject comes up for discussion, we have cooperated with the required support.

As soon an action plan is developed, we would seek funds from the Ministry of Defence to contribute, should the situation demand.

Is tax payer compliance satisfactory? What is the extent of encroachment in SCB?

Last year’s tax collection grew to Rs.29 crore from the earlier Rs.4 crore. I have seen an improvement in voluntary compliance, though we have gone after reluctant taxpayers.

Thanks to our efforts, we paid Rs.14 crore to the HMWSSB without financially breaking down. As far as encroachments go, a survey is on to determine the extent of encroachments. But there are multiple ways to find out encroachments or deviations.

For instance, digitised sanction plans accessible with a click, can show deviations. We want people to come clean of their own accord and to consult us when they deviate.

Water is a problem in many colonies of the SCB. Are there plans to improve the situation and prevent a crisis in summer?

Water is a serious issue and there are many factors, including old pipelines and ongoing metro and other civic works, which are to be blamed.

Water availability itself is not an issue, but the pressure, distribution and regulation issues are, and we trying to address them. Overexploitation and wastage should be addressed by the people. We cannot seize or regulate all illegal pumps, and we want colony associations to penalise such violations. One recent breakthrough was getting the Mahendra Hills-Karkhana line to address water issues in areas which always suffered water problems.

Water is a serious issue and there are many factors, including old pipelines and ongoing metro and other civic works, which are to be blamed. Water availability itself is not an issue, but the pressure, distribution and regulation issues are, and we trying to address them

- Sujatha Gupta

CEO, Secunderabad Cantonment Board

hyderabaddesk@thehindu.co.in

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