Sameer Sharma to be shunted out from GHMC

Hyderabad, April 12 (INN): Tourism Secretary Jayesh Ranjan in all likelihood will be the next Commissioner of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, replacing incumbent Sameer Sharma. A notification to this effect is likely to be issued by the state government after the elections to the Tamil Nadu Assembly are conducted, since Mr Ranjan is on election duty there.

The need to replace the GHMC Commissioner came about after the corporators lodged complaints against Dr Sameer Sharma with Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, stating that they are no longer willing to work with him, especially after he 'walked out' of a General Council meeting, refusing to answer their questions.

The dispute at that particular General Council meeting led to the GHMC officials resorting to a strike, called off a day later, protesting against the Corporators' behaviour. According to sources, the differences between the GHMC employees and the elected representatives arose after both the 'groups' were pushing forward their own agendas.

The Corporators had been insisting that Dr Sameer Sharma attend the Standing Committee meetings, which the official refused to do so. The Corporators had even approached the Ministry seeking a clarification on this demand, which incidentally ruled that Dr Sharma was not required to be present at the meetings.

Another factor which drove a wedge between the Corporators and the GHMC officials is said to be the enrolment of 150 teams of sweepers and their supervisors. Each team, consisting of 18 sweepers, is headed by one supervisor, a total of 2700 sweepers and 150 supervisors.

According to GHMC sources, approximately Rs 12,000 to Rs 18,000 was collected from each sweeper and Rs 25,000 to Rs 35,000 was collected from each supervisor for their re-enrolment. This entire amount, estimated to have been around Rs 4.5 crore, is said to have been shared by the GHMC officials. The GHMC officials are also said to have disregarded the Corporators' nominees on the teams.

Apart from this, various works were undertaken by the GHMC officials on nomination basis. According to source, each work ranged from Rs 50,000 to Rs 3 lakh and were assigned to the favourites of the GHMC officials, while the Corporators' nominees were gently nudged aside. Sources say that each nominee given the responsibility of carrying out the works generally pays about 25 to 30 per cent as commission.

The Corporators are said to be naturally angry with the GHMC employees for disregarding their interests and going ahead with their agenda. This is said to be the main point of discontent between the Corporators and the GHMC staff, who feel as if the elected representatives intrude into their base.

It may be remembered here that the antagonism between the elected representatives and the GHMC employees ultimately affects the development works in the entire area under the Corporation's limits.