MA&UD Minister KTR Holds Interactive Session with GHMC Ward Level Officers

**Hyderabad, 10 June 2023:** Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD) Minister K.T. Rama Rao conducted an interactive session with Ward Level Officers of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) in Hyderabad on Saturday. The program was organized on the occasion of Telangana Good Governance Day, as part of the decennial celebrations of the formation of Telangana State.

During the session, the Minister announced the inauguration of 150 Ward Offices on 16 June 2023. Each ward office will consist of 10 staff members from various departments, with the Ward Administrative Officer (WAO) leading the team. The WAO will hold the rank of an Assistant Municipal Commissioner, and the offices will serve as centers for citizens to register their civic grievances. This pioneering initiative aims to bring the administration closer to the people.

Minister KTR provided a detailed overview of the main functions of the ward offices and the job responsibilities of each staff member. One of the key objectives of the offices is to ensure the proper maintenance of all civic infrastructure provided under ongoing schemes and development projects within each ward. The Minister also announced the release of a Citizens Charter, which will specify the time taken to address grievances and will be prominently displayed at the offices.

The staff members assigned to each ward office include the Ward Administrative Officer (WAO), Engineer, Town Planner, Entomologist, Sanitary Jawan, Community Organizer, Urban Biodiversity Supervisor, Assistant, Line Inspector, Computer Operator, and Receptionist.

Minister KTR explained that the WAO will coordinate with all government departments and escalate issues to additional or deputy commissioners when necessary. Ward engineers will oversee the maintenance of roads, drains, community halls, and other infrastructure within the ward. They will also address waterlogging issues, pothole filling, and minor road repairs. Ward town planners will monitor building construction, prevent encroachments on public property, and enforce building regulations. A Ward Entomologist will identify waterlogged areas and carry out anti-larval operations. The Ward Sanitary Jawan will supervise sanitation works within the ward, while the Ward Urban Biodiversity Supervisor will oversee all government green initiatives. The Ward Community Organizer will collaborate with Self Help Groups (SHG) and NGOs. A Ward Assistant from HMWSSB will handle complaints related to water supply, sewerage, billing, and other related matters. The Ward Line Inspector will address complaints regarding power supply.

In his address to the staff members, Minister KTR emphasized the importance of receiving grievances through various platforms, including in-person and social media. He stressed the need to document every suggestion and request made by citizens, and for staff members to promptly escalate issues they are unable to resolve.

The MA&UD Minister assured the staff members of full support until the people are satisfied with the system. He specifically urged the Zonal Commissioners to closely monitor the system during the initial two to three months.

Highlighting the uniqueness of the Ward Office system, Minister KTR expressed confidence in its success and anticipated that other cities in the country would adopt a similar approach in the future.

The interactive session was attended by Animal Husbandry Minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav, Employment and Labor Minister Malla Reddy, GHMC Mayor Gadwal Vijaya Lakshmi, MP Dr. G. Ranjith Reddy, MLC Ms. Prabhakar, Naveen Kumar Stephenson, Sunkari Raju, Mirja Rahimathbeg, MLA Muta Gopal, Ahmad Bin Abdullah, Kaleru Venkatesh, Jaffar Hussain, Kausar Mohiuddin, Mumtaz Ahmed Khan, Syed Ahmed Pasha Quad