Greater Hyderbad a 'ploy' for truncated Telangana: BJP

Hyderabad, May 7 (UNI) Bharatiya Janata Party today threatened to launch a legal battle against the alleged violation of the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act by the State Government for creating Greater Hyderabad, by merging surrounding Municipalities and Gram Panchayats with the urban agglomerate.

At the party contended that it was a ''ploy'' by the ruling Congress to pave way for truncated Telangana if bifurcation became inevitable.

Addressing a press conference here, BJP State President Bandaru Datattreya said the Act made it obligatory on the part of the State government to transfer powers and responsibilities to the local body concerned.

Taking strong objection to the creation of a new entity without adequate powers, he charged the Government with forming Greater Hyderabad only to create a still smaller Telangana state if the division of the state became unavoidable.

Mr Datattreya who earlier led a delegation of BJP leaders to the Secretariat and met Muncipal Administration Minister K Ranga Rao, said, ''We hope that Government will fulfill its commitment made earlier through the Government Order, Ms NO:704 dated July 20, 2005 and promote the expanded city as a model Local Authority in the country so as to make it an International city''.

But the Government Order(G.O. Ms.NO 261 dated April 16,2007) pertaining to Greater Hyderabad had not transferred the departments pertaining to water supply, roads, city transportation, health etc to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, he maintained adding that the new entity with same level of responsibility would not serve any purpose.

UNI