17 villages de-merged

Hyderabad: The local village-level administration is all set to be restored in 17 of the total of 35 gram panchayats that were merged with Greater Hyderabad a month ago. GHMC has set in motion the process to return the documents, account books and cheque books it had taken possession of, to the 17 gram panchayats, paving the way for restoration of village level administration. However, the fate of 18 more gram panchayats still hangs in the balance. The state government is yet to reply to a letter from GHMC that sought directions on what to do about the remaining gram panchayats. It may be mentioned that the High Court had recently suspended the G.O. that was issued for merger of 17 villages. The municipal administration department had issued three different GOs on August 31, September 3 and September 5, declaring merger of 35 gram panchayats. “We consulted the Ranga Reddy district collector and are giving back the documents to 17 gram panchayats, in compliance with the Court orders. We are waiting for a direction from the government on the remaining 18 gram panchayats,” GHMC Additional Commissioner Ronald Rose said. Though a meeting was recently convened by ministers of Panchayat Raj and Municipal Administration, at which they decided to demerge the villages, formal orders to this effect are yet to be issued. The file has been sent to the Chief Minister for a final decision.