In what turned out to be a showdown between the TRS and the opposition BJP over the proposed construction of new Secretariat complex on Bison Polo ground, Chief Minister K.Chandrasekhar Rao has categorically said in the Legislative Assembly that the government will go ahead with the construction of new Secretariat by meeting the conditions of Supreme Court and the Defence Ministry.
Raising the issue during Question Hour, BJP members K.Laxman and G.Kishan Reddy said the government was acting against the concerns of people. This evoked a lengthy and firm response from the Chief Minister. Turning down Opposition’s demand to withdraw the proposal and instead develop and modernise the existing Secretariat , Mr. Rao said, “ We will not withdraw our proposal. We will invite Prime Minister to lay the foundation for the new Secretariat that will be relevant for the next 100 years. We are ready to settle this in people’s court” . The BJP members expressed their solidarity with people opposing the construction on defence lands and staged a walkout.
Earlier, the issue turned into a heated debate with the Chief Minister listing out reasons for a new integrated secretariat complex, HODs complex, legislature building and Telangana Kala Bhavan, in the vicinity of one another. The existing Secretariat including Chief Minister’s block was constructed in a shoddy manner without any permission from the GHMC and without adhering to parking and fire safety norms.
Telangana State with an international city like Hyderabad should have Secretariat, legislature and cultural centre befitting its image. The proposed integrated complex would increase productivity and enhance coordination between government, ministers and HoDs and would be accessible to people of other districts, he said.
The BJP members said a new Secretariat was not a priority and instead the government should improve the plight of several government schools and hostels functioning from rented buildings. The Chief Minister should not stand on prestige and respect the views of people to protect open grounds and lung space and should not embark on wasteful expenditure for Vasthu reasons.
Mr Laxman said the Defence Ministry agreed only in principle to give Bison Polo ground and other defence lands subject to fulfilment of several conditions and the Supreme Court had given orders against any construction activity on sports grounds. Dismissive of criticism, the Chief Minister said it would not cost more than ₹500 crore to construct all proposed buildings and as an elected government, they had their vision and would implement it.