Jubilee Hills by-poll sop: GHMC wastes public money by digging good roads in Siddarth Nagar

Residents of Siddharth Nagar in Jubilee Hills are angry after a good road was dug up ahead of a by-election, disrupting traffic and utilities. Water supply has also worsened as tankers avoid damaged roads. GHMC officials plan to verify the works

Hyderabad: Myriad are the ways to win votes, but overenthusiasm in the bid could often end up causing distress to the electorate. That’s what appears to be happening in Siddharth Nagar of Jubilee Hills Assembly constituency, which is heading for a bye-election.

In Siddharth Nagar, a road in good condition near the JJ Hospital is being ravaged on the pretext of a new road. Exasperated at a decent enough road being excavated, the local residents attempted to stop the activity and even made vain pleas with the JCB driver.

The residents are furious and accuse the government of spending huge money to dig up the road and lay a new one for sake of gaining votes. They lament that utilities such as water lines and underground cables were damaged during the excavation, disrupting basic amenities.

A stationery shop owner, Pradeep, said they confronted the contractor only to be told that the GHMC authorities sanctioned the laying of a new cement road and were asked to dig up the road. Venu, a general kirana shop owner, stated, “Our business is completely affected due to roads being dug up. We do not know how many months it will take to complete it.” When contacted, GHMC engineering wing officials said they will have the facts verified about the road work.

Water shortage worsens:

Meanwhile, residents in several apartments in Jubilee Hills assembly constituency are experiencing water shortages due to the suspension of water tanker supply amidst road works for the constituency’s facelift.

The HMWSSB usually supplied potable water to residential apartments on alternate days through various filling stations based on bookings. In addition to domestic tankers, some apartments book commercial tankers depending on the number of flats.

Though the HMWSSB was ready to deliver the tankers, the drivers were reluctant to bring water as the roads were dug up, according to residents in Kalyan Nagar and Yousufguda. A residential welfare association of Siddarth Nagar member vice president, J Ramesh, said, “We are booking at least three to four commercial tankers in a week, but for the past 10 days, no tanker supply has been received.”