KT Rama Rao said the Centre is obstructing development in the Secunderabad Cantonment Board

Continuing his attack against the union government, Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister KT Rama Rao said the Centre was in fact obstructing development in the Secunderabad Cantonment Board.

“While the State government wants to lay new roads, develop nalas, give pattas and provide 20,000 litres of free drinking water a month to every household, it is unfortunate that the union government is closing roads, obstructing us from giving pattas to economically weaker sections and not allocating the land for construction of skyways and road widening,” he said.

Speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony of Strategic Nala Development Programme (SNDP) works in the Assembly segments of Sanath Nagar, Secunderabad Cantonment and Kukatpally on Saturday, Rama Rao said the State government had been making multiple requests for the last eight years to the union government, raising different developmental issues of the SCB each time, but so far, there was no action from the Centre at all.

I once again request the union government to support the State government in executing developmental works in SCB. If



they cannot extend support, they should at least refrain from creating hurdles due to political malice so that people living in the SCB areas do not suffer,” he said.

Recalling that the State government was ready to give land in lieu of Defence land that had to be acquired for various developmental projects and also grant pattas to the poor, Rao said the Centre was yet to respond to the offer. However, irrespective of whether the union government supported or not, the State government would continue to fight for the wellbeing of people living in the SCB limits.

Development and harmony: Earlier, the Minister said development and harmony went hand in hand in Hyderabad, unlike some places in the country where there was unnecessary conflict among people. “Under the leadership of Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, roads have been developed, drinking water supply has been boosted and scores of works have been taken up. 

In Hyderabad, people live in harmony and brotherhood,” he said, after laying the foundation stone for SNDP works worth Rs 61 crore and for a multipurpose function hall in Pattigadda near Begumpet.