HYDERABAD: The Congress manifesto for GHMC elections-2020 is promising to make efforts to regularise “free of cost” the unauthorised plots and buildings under LRS and BRS schemes and scrap Dharani portal.
If voted to power in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, the Congress will provide free transport facility in RTC buses, metro rail and MMTS trains to women, students, specially-challenged and senior citizens, free power to below 100 units per month slab consumers, fee regulation in private and corporate schools with the help of parents associations, 100 per cent waiver of property tax, MV tax and electricity bills for the Covid-19 lockdown period and the paid amount to be adjusted in future bills.
Christened as “people’s manifesto for GHMC elections-2020” with the slogan “We did it, we can do it again,” it was released on Tuesday by AICC in charge of Telangana Manickam Tagore, TPCC president N Uttam Kumar Reddy along with party’s manifesto committee chairman Marri Shashidhar Reddy and convenor Dasoju Sravan.
The Congress promised to extend free Covid-19 treatment under Arogyasri, increase Basthi Dawakhanas to 450 with working hours up to 9pm, Rs 50,000 financial assistance to every flood-affected family, Rs 5 lakh and Rs 2.5 lakh to fully and partially damaged houses, ex-gratia of Rs 25 lakh to the family members of those who died due to floods.
Property tax relief to be extended up to Rs 50,000 tax category, no property tax on houses built in 80 square yards and below, double bedroom houses in slums to be made tax free, waiver of property tax to ex-servicemen, war widows, disabled soldiers.
A complete waiver of property tax, electricity bills to shops of barbers, washermen, carpenters and goldsmiths, free permissions to set up shops.
Asked where would the budget come from to implement these promises, Sravan said Greater Hyderabad generates Rs 1 lakh crore revenue per annum but does not get its rightful share from TRS government.
Congress, if voted to power in GHMC, will implement its promises by increasing the revenue share for development of Hyderabad and exert pressure on state and central governments to release funds.