Manikonda residents raise concerns over drainage work irregularities
Manikonda: Residents of Manikonda have voiced serious allegations regarding irregularities in recent drainage line work carried out by a private organisation. Concerns have been raised about repeated road collapses in Laxmi Nagar and the questionable authorisation of the private company to undertake municipal work.
Speaking with the Hyderabad Mail, Shaik Arif, General Secretary of the Citizens Council, expressed his dissatisfaction with how the drainage project was handled.
He said, “The repeated collapse of Laxmi Nagar Colony’s busiest road, which was excavated for drainage work by a private organisation named Team4 Life Space (Elite) LLP, raises serious concerns about municipal oversight.”
Arif accused the private company of proceeding with road excavation and drainage line installation without proper municipal authorisation, thereby violating HMDA rules, which mandate the installation of a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) for high-rise projects.
Arif further criticised the decision to outsource road patchwork to the same private company. “Why was a private real estate company allowed to handle municipal works, including patchwork and road repairs? If the road collapsed again after the patchwork, why were municipal engineers not involved in supervising the quality of the repairs?” he questioned.
The issue first surfaced on June 30, 2024, through the Twitter handle @ApnaManikonda, which highlighted the road’s collapse. In response, the Municipal Commissioner claimed that the road cutting and patchwork had been rectified. However, the road collapsed a third time, prompting further scrutiny of the work’s quality.
Arif also criticised the involvement of Team4 Life Space (Elite) LLP in municipal tasks, suggesting that potential conflicts of interest might be at play. “There’s a clear lack of transparency. The involvement of this private entity in municipal work raises questions about possible quid pro quo arrangements and bypassed regulations,” he said.
Despite repeated complaints, Arif highlighted the lack of action from municipal authorities, including the District Collector and CDMA Telangana.
Concerns over lack of transparency and accountability
Manikonda Municipal Councillor Alasyam Naveen Kumar expressed his concerns with the Hyderabad Mail. “No formal resolution was passed by the municipal council for the drainage line installation. Allowing a private company to conduct these works without a council resolution undermines transparency and legitimacy,” he stated.
Kumar revealed that attempts to address the issue in council meetings and through RTI applications have yielded no updates. In April 2024, a complaint was also lodged with the Election Commission of India regarding violations of the Model Code of Conduct.
The Mana Manikonda admin also took to ‘X,’ formerly known as Twitter, and questioned the Manikonda Municipal Corporation, “Since you are officially admitting, I have a simple question. Who is Team4 Life Spaces (Elite) LLP to dig our roads? Did you choose them in a tender? How did you allow a real estate company to dig new roads for the whole colony, and on what basis did you outsource this work?”
Since you are officially admitting, I have a simple question who is Team4 Life Spaces (Elite) LLP Projects to dig our roads? Did you choose them in Tender??
How did you let a Real estate company to dig new roads of whole colony and on what basis you outsource this work… https://t.co/IPGsL7mKNb
— Mana❤️Manikonda 🇮🇳 (@ManaManikonda) September 8, 2024
Residents are urging the Manikonda Municipal authorities, the District Collector, and CDMA Telangana to investigate these irregularities and hold those responsible accountable.
Road in Lakshmi Nagar has sunk for the second time. Who benefits from these substandard roads? The lack of oversight by award councillors led to the road sinking twice in just two months. Intervention from @CVAnandIPS (DGP, Vigilance & Enforcement) is crucial for public safety pic.twitter.com/NOOX9AICcX
— Apna😍Manikonda🤩 (@ManikondaM88292) September 7, 2024
7/1 The photographs of completed work were enclosed @ManikondaM88292 @CVAnandIPS pic.twitter.com/uYekON2YMj
— MC Manikonda (@ManikondaMc) September 7, 2024
It means everyone can cut and lay their own road and @ManikondaMc has no role? If we are not wrong, on earlier occasion your engineering wing was supervised the restoration work of the most busiest road?
— THE CITIZENS COUNCIL (@THECCMANIKONDA) September 9, 2024
