TS eyes Rs 20,000 cr loan for Hyderabad's development

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao today said the state government will work towards getting Rs 15,000 crore to Rs 20,000 crore loan to Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) for the integrated development of the city to make it 'global city'. Reviewing the situation emerged out of incessant rains for the past three days in the state, Rao said he is happy with the rains as most of the reservoirs of medium irrigation projects received water in full and overflowing. "The city (GHMC) needs integrated development. We (the state government) will try to get Rs 15,000 crore to Rs 20,000 crore for that purpose. We will stand guarantee for that (loan). Hyderabad cannot become global city just like that. It takes at least 5-6 years," Rao told reporters. He also warned that the government would sternly deal with illegal constructions and demolish them. Blaming opposition Congress and Telugu Desam party for the present crisis, Rao alleged that those parties, when in power, allowed illegal constructions on drainages. He the government would soon prepare a report on the loss or damage caused due to rains, to Centre and seek financial help. According to him, Hyderabad city received rainfall of 462 mm so far against the average of 84 mm. "The city received 448 per cent higher rainfall. It is the highest after 1908. The length of the roads in the city is 9,000 km. We received reports that only ten per cent of it got damaged due to continuous rains. Once these rains stops, we will allot Rs 300 to Rs 400 crore to GHMC for taking up roads," KCR said. He said there were no casualties in the city due to the rains and also advised media not to create panic among people with "exaggerated and excessive" reporting of rains.