GHMC plans all-expenses paid Sabarmati study tour before Corporators’ term ends

With their five-year tenure nearing completion, GHMC corporators are set to undertake an all-expenses-paid study tour to Sabarmati in Ahmedabad. The trip, planned in two phases, excludes BRS corporators but includes members from Congress, BJP and AIMIM.

Hyderabad: With just a few weeks left for completion of their tenure, the GHMC corporators are set to embark on an all-expenses paid study tour of Sabarmati in Ahmedabad.

The GHMC council members will be completing their five-year tenure in about a month, with their tour planned in two phases, with the first batch of corporators scheduled to take off on January 6 and the second batch expected to start their tour after the Sankranthi festival.

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Except BRS corporators, the Congress and BJP corporators are taking part in the tour. The GHMC is said to be spending Rs 80,000 to Rs 1 lakh, including flight tickets and accommodation, for each corporator, for developing Bapu Ghat here in the city on the lines of Sabarmati in Ahmedabad.

“The standing committee passed the resolution for the tour and intimation was given only to Congress, BJP and AIMIM corporators. The BRS corporators refused to join the tour,” said Sitaphalmandi BRS corporator, S Hema.

The GHMC conducted a study tour for corporators to Indore in 2024, which was ranked the top city in India for cleanliness. In October 2022, another study tour to Kerala covered Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Munnar, Thekkady and Alleppey to study sanitation.

Resident Welfare Associations of Greater Hyderabad criticised the study tour and described it as nothing but a paid holiday trip.

“Previous study tour reports have been kept in abeyance and the council gears up for the third tour. During the monsoon half of Hyderabad was inundated and instead of finding solutions here, they are going on a holiday tour,” said a RWA representative.