Let’s pitch in to keep the City of Pearls shining

The saying ‘All good things must come to an end’ appears to be proving true in the case of Hyderabad. The capital of a resource-rich state has become the hub for the dark side of human nature.
The economy is in doldrums; the government in paralysis; and the judiciary — the last hope for the public — has fallen prey to corruption: dark clouds of despair cover our skies.
The latest wave of Telangana agitation — that began in 2009 yet inconclusive in realising its objective — has resulted in scaring away investors from the state. The beating that the infrastructure took and the crores spent in maintaining law and order have added to the State’s woes.
Last year’s 45-day general strike (Sakala Janula Samme) caused losses of thousands of crores, disrupted academic calendar and dampened the spirit of the people. Maintenance of infrastructure is not rocket science but basic planning with common sense.
Considering the chaos the City is going through since the start of the monsoons, one realises little headway has been made there. While civic agencies contend all is well, water-logged roads and traffic gridlocks that last for hours tell a different story.
Under attack on different fronts, the Kiran Kumar Reddy government has been spending all its energy on the bypolls to demonstrate to the powers that be in Delhi that the CM is on top of the affairs of the state. He definitely is on top, but has little ground under his feet. If there is anything that is in plenty in the State it is scams.
There is not a single sphere of administration that is free from corruption at the highest levels and in massive scale. The recent multi-crore cash-for-bail incident has thrown light on how legal ‘technicalities’ emerge that allow the rich and connected to stay out of jail.
The otherwise lengthy court proceedings, that condemn people as under-trials for periods several times the maximum possible sentence, are tweaked to suit the convenience of these VIPs.
Not only is our tax money looted, but we end up financing financing the looters’ ‘special class’ facilities in jail also! With a minister in jail and several others on the verge of joining him, one can’t help but remember a headline this paper carried a few months back — ‘Next Cabinet meeting in Chanchalguda’.
The agency that ensures the safety of lives and property of the public, the police, is in total disarray. With the DGP’s appointment set aside by the Central Administrative Tribunal and another top official on the run, the idea of going to the cops sounds like a joke.
However, one can’t blame all the woes of Hyderabad on men in khadar, khaki, and black and white. The blatant violation of every rule, disregard for fellow denizens that one sees in every sphere of life is the cement that holds the bricks laid by the big boys.
When caste and community loyalties, and irrational sentiments handout massive victories to parties that are neck-deep in corruption and disruptive activities, one can’t just blame the system. We are responsible in creating the monsters that exploit, humiliate and terrorise us. The first step to solving a problem is admitting that one exists.
Whether it is for a day or a five-year term, the government must carry out its primary duty — governance. The CM must quell crippling dissidence and take his colleagues on board to ensure that the numerous welfare schemes reach the beneficiaries.
The State capital, which is set to hold an international conclave on biodiversity in a few months, is in need of a facelift. The work of civic agencies should be coordinated better to avoid hassles to public and wastage of money. The denizens too should pitch in by following rules and procedures so that the City of Pearls doesn’t lose its sheen.
(This article was published as the editorial column in Postnoon on June 20, 2012)