The first-of-its-kind intensive household survey, undertaken by the three-month-old Telangana government, saw enthusiastic participation in all 10 districts of the state on Tuesday.
Barring a few areas in the Greater Hyderabad region, the survey enumerators completed their task in the stipulated time. The survey began at 7 am across the state with enumerators going door-to-door to gather information.
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhara Rao, his son and IT Minister K Taraka Ramarao and members of his family took part in the survey at their official residence in Begumpet.
Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) Commissioner Somesh Kumar and Central Zone Commissioner Satyanarayana registered the chief minister’s responses in the prescribed format.
Camp office sources said that Rao gave details of his bank account and property at Eravalli in Medak district and Nandinagar here.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who ensured that the AP Assembly and Secretariat functioned normally on Tuesday, also participated as he is a resident of GHMC.
However, when officials visited Naidu’s residence in Jubilee Hills, he and his family members were not at home. Thus, the enumerators gathered details from his secretary.
The enumerators collected data from Governor E S L Narasimhan at Raj Bhavan, Chief Secretary Rajeev Sharma, DGP Anurag Sharma and Congress leader Chiranjeevi.
Janasena chief and actor Pawan Kalyan, and even former TRS MP from Medak Vijayashanti, who was at the forefront of the Telangana agitation, refused to participate.
Actor Jr NTR not only got enumerated, but also included his newborn son Abhiram’s name in the family list.
Around four lakh government employees covered nearly one crore households.
There were complaints from areas dominated by Seemandhra settlers, such as Kukatpalli, Miyapur, SR Nagar, Vanasthalipuram, Serilingampalli, Amirpet and Green Park that the enumerators did not reach their localities and the GHMC helpline was out of order.
The GHMC commissioner announced that the process of enumeration will continue on Wednesday.
Terming the survey a grand success, TRS general secretary K Keshav Rao said it has proved that people have no reservations about its real intention.
“There is no question on nativity in the questionnaire. Anyone can settle anywhere in a free, democratic country. There were unfounded fears,” he added.
Satisfied with the success of the survey, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhara Rao said the initial reports indicated that the actual population of Hyderabad could be above 1.25 crore, while that of Telangana was more than four crore, contrary to the available data.
“I am happy Naidu and Jr NTR participated in the survey. People have participated with enthusiasm. I assure the people of Telangana that a golden era will begin after this. I will eradicate corruption with the data I have,” he said, further explaining, “Within a fortnight, I will have the data on my table so I can take informed decisions. Opposition parties should realise that people are not ready to believe in their propaganda.”
Hyderabad wore a deserted look as the survey resulted in an exodus from the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secundarabad to districts. Shops, petrol bunks, hotels, cinema halls, business establishments, companies, factories and educational institutions remained shut. Vehicles, including buses, stayed off the roads.
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