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• Hyderabad is in for a huge budget allocation for infrastructure creation. Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy is planning to apportion a substantial amount for this in the coming budget.District incharge Minister, J. Geeta Reddy, dropped hints to this effect at the District Review Committee meeting here on Saturday. She said the Chief Minister was also keen on execution of both the Godavari and Krishna Phase III drinking water projects for Hyderabad. These projects would get good allocations in the coming budget, she said. The marathon DRC meeting saw a number of issues raised. There was both serious and hilarious discussion on traffic, dog menace, road widening, water tariff and housing. Majlis legislator, Akbaruddin Owaisi, spoke at length on various issues.

• He registered his party's protest against the hike in power and water charges and wanted the government to withdraw it.He expressed anguish at the increase in water tariff for even slum dwellers. Small kirana shops and pan kiosks were brought under commercial rate.All this without improving the quality and the quantity of water supplied.He felt the government ought to give subsidy in power tariff to the Water Board as the latter had no money. Similarly, the GHMC should be given a share in Motor Vehicle tax and Octroi collection.The traffic scenario was getting worse by the day. It was imperative to increase the public mode of transport and think of staggered timings for schools and IT companies to decongest the roads.

• Referring to the Bandlaguda housing issue, Mr. Akbaruddin said even eight months after the murderous attack on him, government had not laid the foundation stone for the weaker section housing colony. Hyderabad Collector, Gulzar Natrajan, said the stay on 36 acres of land at Bandlaguda would be vacated soon. Already seven bits of land here was transferred to GHMC and efforts were being made to ensure that no encroachments takes place. GHMC commissioner, Krishna Babu, said the housing project at Uppuguda was not progressing as the contractor was not being allowed to work. Police was requested to allot a picket.Water Board managing director, Adhar Sinha, said there was no cause for worry on the water front. Water from Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar would be drawn by gravity till May. Afterwards pumping would be taken up. If necessary Krishna water would be supplied to areas served by these reservoirs.The water position in Singur and Manjeera was also comfortable while the City was getting 11 tmc from Krishna river.Mr. Sinha admitted that the ground water table was going down and bore wells drying up in several areas.

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