Secunderabad seeks separate municipal corporation
Secunderabad: Demands for a Secunderabad Municipal Corporation have gathered pace amid talk of restructuring the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC). Political parties and residents’ associations say a corporation must be created in the name of Secunderabad, citing its 220-year-old history and distinct identity.
Historic identity must be protected, say residents
Leaders of political parties, colony and basti associations, and traders’ bodies urged the government not to dilute Secunderabad’s historical identity, which dates back to the British era. They said administrative restructuring should not erase the city’s name.
Former minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav announced an agitation plan and said protests would intensify if a corporation is formed under any name other than Secunderabad. Congress leaders are preparing to meet Chief Minister Revanth Reddy on the issue, while Bharatiya Janata Party leaders have also pressed for a Secunderabad corporation.
Three-corporation plan triggers demand
There is widespread speculation that the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation will be split into three corporations, along with merged municipalities. Police commissionerate limits have already been drawn on similar lines, with names such as Hyderabad, Cyberabad and Malkajgiri. Officials are expected to mirror this framework for revenue, power utility (TGS PDCL), water board and commercial taxes, fuelling concerns that corporations may be named accordingly prompting the Secunderabad demand.
Earlier, Secunderabad existed as a zone and circle within the GHMC. While the zone continues after reorganisation, the circle was removed and the zone’s jurisdiction altered. Local leaders now want a Secunderabad division carved out by clubbing select circles from Malkajgiri, Khairatabad and Uppal zones.
BJP leader Marri Shashidhar Reddy questioned how many corporations the GHMC would be split into and called for public consultation, saying unilateral decisions were inappropriate.
Talasani accused the chief minister of attempting to erase Secunderabad’s name and warned of protests. He announced a meeting on January 11 at Lee Palace, Balanagar, and a rally on January 17. “If needed, we will organise bandhs and dharnas,” he said, daring the government to change Hyderabad’s name if it had the courage.
