Oppn stages walks out, YSR vows Rs 26,000 cr for Pearl City

Hyderabad, July 20 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today gave an assurance in the State Assembly to develop Hyderabad into a world class city by spending over Rs 26,000 crore on infrastructure even as the main Opposition, TDP and BJP staged a walkout and other parties protested the alleged neglect of the city's development.

Intervening during Question Hour, the Chief Minister detailed the various infrastructure projects being taken up in the city,including the Outer Ring Road project (Rs 4,600 crore), International Airport (Rs 17,000 crore), Musi River beautification (Rs 500 crore) and drinking water and sewerage schemes (Rs 300 crore).

Amid thumping of desks by ruling party members, Dr Reddy, who made a special mention about the special package for the development of the congested old city, said ''whether they (Opposition) like it or not, we will develop the city whose population is expected to grow to 120 lakh from the present 65 lakh.'' The previous TDP regime did not care for the development of old city during its nine-year rule, he alleged.

Mr Ready made it clear there was no proposal to hike taxes even as All India Majilis-E-Itihadul Muslimeen Floor Leader Akbaruddin Owaisi claimed the tax rates had gone up three to four times in the city after formation of ''Greater Hyderabad.'' Before leading his party members out, TDP Legislature Party Deputy leader T Devender Goud alleged the development of various civic bodies merged with the newly-created entity of 'Greater Hyderabad'' was affected with officials acting according to their whims and fancies in the release of funds.

BJP Legislature Party leader G Kishan Reddy, before staging a walkout, alleged traffic snarls had become a permanent feature in the city and lamented MLAs belonging to the city had not been taken into confidence on its development.

The TRS, CPI(M) and AIMIM also registered their protests for lack of transparency in allocation of funds for the civic bodies merged with the Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad.

Earlier, replying to Mr K Venkata Rao and other TDP members, Municipal Administration Minister K Ranga Rao said the government was striving to develop the city by mobilising funds from the Centre and external funding agencies.

UNI