Telangana MA&UD Minister KTR on Friday inaugurated the first GHMC ward office at Kacheguda, aiming to ensure swift civic service delivery.
Published Jun 16, 2023 | 8:47 PM ⚊ Updated Jun 16, 2023 | 8:48 PM
Minister KTR at the launch of ward office system on 16 June (left), and a new ward office. (Supplied)
Telangana IT and Municipal Administration & Urban Development Minister KT Rama Rao inaugurated the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) ward office system on Friday, 16 June.
The minister also inaugurated the first GHMC ward office at Kacheguda. Mayor Gadwal Vijayalakshmi launched the ward office at Banjara Hills, Himayath Nagar, Lingojiguda, and Ramanthapur.
The new ward office system is expected to address civic issues, including fixing potholes, covering catch pits, removal of silt, dead animals, repairing streetlights, and conducting anti-larval operations.
Aiming to streamline civic services and ensure faster access for Hyderabad residents, the GHMC on 13 June released a “Citizen’s Charter”, which includes 17 services, such as fixing potholes, clearing roadside garbage and sewerage overflows, etc., within 24 hours.
Happy to initiate a new urban administrative reform to facilitate decentralisation and people-centric governance
Starting today, GHMC will have 150 ward offices which will ensure most of the basic citizen services & complaints are addressed at the ward level
Led by an… pic.twitter.com/LfaPLEhNnF
— KTR (@KTRBRS) June 16, 2023
KTR claimed that the system is a first in India. The ward office system comprises a team of 10 officials from various departments — road maintenance, sanitation, entomology, greenery, town planning, electricity, water board, and a computer operator. These officials will supervise programmes at the ward level.
The GHMC on 13 June released a ‘Citizen’s Charter’, which includes 17 services. (Supplied)
An assistant municipal commissioner-level officer will head the ward office.
Additionally, more officials from the health and police departments will be attached to the ward office in the future.
“We will not only appoint officials but also make all necessary arrangements for them to carry out their duties,” KTR said.
The GHMC will also provide a “citizen charter” to the residents for addressing their issues.
GHMC Municipal Commissioner DS Lokesh Kumar, launching a training programme for the newly incorporated ward officers on 25 May, said, “People need not go to the head office, circle or zonal offices to get their grievances redressed. The nearby ward offices should be more than capable of addressing them.”
He had also instructed the ward-level staff to visit the wards in the morning. From 3 pm to 5 pm, they should be in the ward office.
Acknowledging a shortage of officials at the ward level, KTR said the ward office system “bridges this gap and enhances local governance.”
A new ward office in Hyderabad. (Twitter/@KTRBRS)
“We are opening ward offices in 150 divisions across the city in one day. This system will enable the GHMC administration to provide good governance and resolve public issues quickly,” he said.
“The introduction of ward offices is in response to the absence of specific bureaucracy at the ward level. There are corporators at the ward level, but due to the lack of a dedicated bureaucracy, we have implemented this ward office system,” KTR explained.
The minister appealed to officials go beyond politics and make the ward system a success. “Local public representatives will provide all support to the ward office, regardless of their party affiliation. If successful, this system can be implemented in cities across the country,” he said.
He urged GHMC officials to work diligently in addressing complaints through this new system and resolve complaints swiftly.
The BRS leader noted that that there might be initial challenges with the new system. “As the ward system is new, it may face some problems for a few days. However, we will resolve them promptly,” KTR said.
