GHMC told to open escrow account for HMWS&SB

The Chief Minister, K Rosaiah, on Monday asked the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (Ghmc) to open an escrow account and credit 25% of the Property Tax collected to Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply & Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) account. The Chief Minister today held a review meeting on the Hyderabad Metro Water Supply and Ghmc issues with ministers and officials at Secretariat.
 
It may be recalled here that a decision was taken to give 25% of the property tax collected by the Ghmc to the HMWS&SB. A G.O. has already been issued (G.O.Ms. No.461 dated 10-07-2009) directing Ghmc to transfer 25% of the property tax collected to the Water Board with effect from April 1, 2009 on a monthly basis. With today’s decision, the Hyderabad Water Board gets the amount straightaway.
The Hyderabad Water Works spends about Rs.42 crores per month including Rs.18 crores for power bills,      Rs.10 crores towards establishment charges, Rs. 8 crores towards debt repayment and Rs. 6 crores towards maintenance cost including chemicals whereas the total receipts from water cess is Rs. 25 crores on an average.
 
The Chief Minister also directed the HMWS&SB to see that water supply is maintained to the people without any interruptions. He also told the officials to constantly monitor the quality of water and also leakages and water pressure etc. The Chief Minister also reviewed the parking facilities below the new P V Narasimha Rao elevated Expressway and directed the officials to ensure smooth flow of traffic along the route.
 
Mr Rosaiah also reviewed the damages caused to the roads inn the Ghmc limits in view of the recent rains and assured that funds will be sanctioned from the disaster management to the Ghmc in this regard. However he wanted the Ghmc to take up the work and complete it on a war footing.
 
Minister for Municipal Administration, Anam Ramnarayan Reddy, Minister for Backward Classes Welfare, Mukesh Goud, Commissioner, Ghmc, S.P.Singh, MD, HMWS&SB, Krishna Babu, Principal Secretary, Finance, G Sudhir and other officials attended the meeting.