Express News Service By

HYDERABAD: In a step that could pave the way for a major revamp of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA), the government is toying with the idea of keeping all decisions taken by it in the last four months in abeyance.

Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao is also considering the option of limiting HMDA’s powers and making it just another ‘enforcement agency’ for implementing government policies. For this, the government may amend the HMDA Act.

In other words, if the government goes ahead with its plans, the HMDA will in effect be relieved of its job — whatever permissions it gives may be given by the government itself.

These options have been placed on the table for the CM’s consideration in the wake of serious corruption charges levelled against the HMDA. “It has come to the CM’s notice that HMDA officials are extorting mamools running into lakhs and crores,” government sources said.

KCR reportedly observed, during a conversation with the principal secretary of the Municipal Administration and Urban Development department, that the government was getting a bad name because of HMDA. A few months back, the then HMDA commissioner Neerabh Kumar Prasad was shunted out after graft charges against him were brought to the CM’s notice.

“The government was praised when Kumar was shown the door,” sources close to the CM said, adding KCR was concerned over the daily media reports on the corruption in HMDA. The CM is exasperated that it has become a gigantic task for a file to move in the HMDA. Even MLAs and MPs of the ruling party weren’t spared, he is said to have commented.