It is quite likely that most Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) will miss the 100% Open Defecation Free (ODF) status deadline of the Independence Day set by the Government.
It is not just sheer enormity of the scheme of constructing sanitary infrastructure or changing the social mores which will cause the delays, but because a majority of municipal bodies do not have functional heads.
The State boasts of being highly urbanised with more than 50% population in such areas and considering the importance given by the Government to improve civic infrastructure to make them ready to receive the migrating people in the coming years, it is quite inconceivable that of the 74 municipalities and municipal corporations, other than the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), there are 48 vacancies.
And in another 21 urban areas, the municipal officials concerned are holding full additional charges. Even in Minister for Municipal Administration K.T. Rama Rao’s own constituency of Sircilla, Bhainsa, Nirmal and others, sanitary inspectors have been functioning in the commissioners post or office managers are acting as the commissioners in Narsampet, Metpalli, and Husnabad.
In towns closer to the city like Bandangpet and Pedda Amberpet, the commissioner’s posts are vacant as also at Mandamarri - to mention some. There are also instances of officials either working in posts above their cadre or below due to shortage of officers even as requests for sanction of more posts, transfers, postings and promotions of officers to be posted as municipal commissioners are pending with the Government.
Senior officials say regular municipal functions like cleanliness, sanitation, street lighting, water supply, tax collection and so on is being done to some extent because of outsourced staff and making use of the available staff in different wings.
“However, when we want to take up big civic works like the ODF on mission mode, the absence of a municipal commissioner is acutely felt,” they say.
The Government did make an effort to recruit officers for the Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department, but of the 1,000 vacancies, about 300 were inducted. “A thorough restructuring of the department is the need of the hour as the structures and personnel are incompatible with the works and challenges,” aver senior officials, seeking anonymity.
The powers that be are apparently aware of the situation as the Government has been stressing on municipal reforms and action plans towards upgrading the civic amenities in the municipalities and municipal corporations with regard to roads, drains, drinking water and so on. But, without a proper head and administrative structure, the action plans of ULBs could well remain a pipe dream.