Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao made it clear on Wednesday that the state government would not back down from its plan of constructing a new Secretariat at the Bison Polo Ground in Secunderabad.
"That is the TRS vision for Hyderabad, there is no proposal to withdraw. I am making it very clear that the government, after satisfying all the conditions of the Supreme Court and Centre, will go ahead with its plan," KCR declared in the Legislative Assembly.
"We are a voted government, and we are here with the votes of the people of Telangana. As soon as the Centre approves it, we will build it, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate it," he added.
The Chief Minister was responding to criticism by the BJP that he was splurging money from the state's exchequer for his personal benefit.
They also contended that there was no need for a new Secretariat, as the existing one next to the Hussain Sagar lake, was perfectly safe and fine.
KCR has been considering the land in Gymkhana Ground and Bison Polo Grounds, for constructing a new Secretariat, Legislature and a cultural centre on the premises.
Critics have suggested that the Chief Minister is shifting the building, only to make it 'vastu-compliant'.
Further, protesters claim that the move would kill a crucial lung space in Secunderabad.
"It is not just our opinion. It is the people of Hyderabad who are saying this. Many among the public itself are protesting against the move. Renowned personalities have moved the High Court against the Secretariat. KCR is misleading the house, stating that people have not used the ground for sporting activities," Telangana BJP President Dr K Laxman said.
He was referring to a petition being heard by the Hyderabad High Court, moved by ex-DGP MV Bhaskara Rao, former cricketer Vivek Jaisimha, war veteran and squadron leader Anil Bhalla and chartered accountant Turlapati Bharadwaj.
“The government should instead have gone for a revamp of the existing Secretariat. Building a new Secretariat shouldn’t be the priority of the government, while scores of welfare hostels lack own buildings,” BJP leader Kishan Reddy was quoted as saying.
Responding to this, KCR said, “Hyderabad is an international city now, and should boast of having excellent facilities and structures, and the proposed secretariat complex is part of realizing that dream. Besides, the proposed complex, which would house all the departments under one roof, would also have the State Legislature and a huge cultural complex with ample parking space.”
"Regarding the Secretariat issue, when officials of the Defence Ministry protested, I went and met the Prime Minister. I asked him why he built structures in Gandhinagar when he had a Secretariat in Ahmedabad. He built a beautiful, ultra-modern complex in Ahmedabad," KCR said.