BJP demands GHMC Bill withdrawal over lack of transparency, village impact

Hyderabad: BJP MLA Palvai Harish Babu on Friday demanded GHMC Bill withdrawal, saying the Municipal and GHMC Act Amendment Bill lacked transparency and went against public sentiment.

Speaking in the Telangana Assembly, Harish Babu said the government failed to share complete details of the Bill with opposition members. Therefore, he questioned the rationale behind expanding the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation limits to nearly 2,000 square kilometres.

The MLA said the proposed expansion raised serious governance and planning concerns. Moreover, he argued that the government had not explained how such a vast jurisdiction would be effectively managed.

He strongly opposed the merger of 51 gram panchayats into municipalities and their direct inclusion in GHMC. He warned that the move would erase village identity and disrupt traditional social structures.

GHMC Bill withdrawal demand over tax and district concerns

Harish Babu said GHMC Bill withdrawal was necessary to protect rural communities from steep increases in property and service taxes. He added that villagers would lose control over local administration under the proposed structure.

The BJP legislator alleged that the Bill threatened traditional occupations in the merged areas. In addition, he claimed the government had pushed the legislation with political motives.

He said the amendment diluted the administrative importance of Medchal and Ranga Reddy districts. Therefore, he argued that the restructuring weakened decentralised governance.

Reiterating his party’s stand, Harish Babu demanded immediate GHMC Bill withdrawal in the interest of fairness and transparency. He urged the government to consult stakeholders before introducing such sweeping municipal changes.