Even after two and half years of his government, completing more than half of the term, following many other ruling parties of the country, Telangana Municipal Administration Minister K Tarakarama Rao blames the previous regimes for the prevailing drinking water problem in the `global city’ Hyderabad, especially in the Old City.

Replying to a question in the State Legislative Assembly during Question Hour today, he said however, the State Government was taking corrective steps to improve the water supply position. He admitted that drinking water was one among three major issues for his party’s grand success in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) polls by winning 100 of 150 seats. Other major issues are power and law and order.

He assured that the drinking water needs of the city would be met on priority basis. He said he was ready to convene the meeting of city legislators on the issue and the government was also ready to take up short discussion.

Refuting MIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi’s accusation that the Old City is being neglected, the minister said that as against the revenue of Rs. 93 crore, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB)spends Rs. 115 crore in the Old City. However, he admitted that the government was unable to assess the details of water needs in the Old City. He also listed out various works which were sanctioned for the Old City.

He further said that while previous Congress Government had spent only Rs. 377 crore on HMWSSB from 2009 to 2014, during the last two years, TRS Government had spent Rs. 261 crore and sanctioned 7,624 works worth Rs. 448 crore.