The Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) is stretched thin and is running short of officers causing several works to be either delayed or put in the cold storage. Several present and former officials were of the view that fresh recruitments had become rare and observed that the civic body’s problems began with the retirement of the erstwhile Hyderabad Urban Development Authority (HUDA) officials.
“There will be problems even in day-to-day administration if senior people retire. After all, without experienced hands, no organisation will be able to run smoothly,” said a former HUDA officer. According to sources, as of now in the planning department alone, there is a vacancy for a director, a chief planning officer and five planning officers. “The planning director will also retire soon. After he leaves there will be another gap,” a senior official told City Express on condition of anonymity.
“There are plenty of vacant posts. There has been no proper recruitment for several years. Right now, we are just making use of whatever manpower we have,” explained a HMDA official who also didn’t wish to be
named. Most of the officials complained of increased workload due to shortage of staff and lack of recruitment
to replace retired employees. When contacted, HMDA Secretary A Rajeshwar Reddy, however, said vacancies would be filled and claimed that the posts and names will also be ready soon. Another senior official felt that the other reason for the increasing number of vacant posts was the shortage of funds.
“A big chunk of HUDA funds was given to the GHMC. The amount was supposed to be returned but it didn’t happen,” he pointed out. In the last few years, he claimed, nearly `100 crore was taken away from HUDA by the government.
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