Visakhapatnam: Oppn corporators deplore lack of development in wards

Visakhapatnam: Opposition party leaders demanded to provide basic amenities to the people at the council meeting held at Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation here on Tuesday. They pointed out that the decisions taken in the earlier council meeting gathered dust. With no progress made from the previous council meeting, they questioned Mayor G Hari Venkata Kumari about why they continue to organise the council meetings.

The Opposition parties, including TDP, JSP and Left, alleged that the corporation was taking anti-people decisions and neglecting the development in the wards.

Speaking on the occasion, former minister M Srinivasa Rao stressed on the development of slum areas and appealed to the authorities to focus on the same.

He further requested the officials to form a committee to resolve technical issues related to the Housing Board Colony in Madhurawada and take steps to merge it with the GVMC.

TDP floor leader Peela Srinivasa Rao demanded explanation for the allotment of Rs 20 crore for road sweeping and beach cleaning machines, their operation and maintenance, the authorities concerned did not respond. Following which, the TDP corporators surrounded the podium during the council meeting and staged a protest. They raised objection over the resolutions adopted at the council meeting without consulting or discussing the same at the meeting.

Meanwhile, West constituency MLA PGVR Naidu (Gana Babu) said development works of port and railways were hindered due to various reasons and he appealed to the corporation officials to coordinate with the port and railway authorities for smooth functioning of works. He suggested that a committee should be formed to get common funds from the Central government institutions.

Deputy Mayor Jiyyani Sridhar stressed that sports venues should be made accessible to common man as they have become unaffordable for them as private players were operating them. Further, he brought the issue of shortage of surveyors in the city to the notice of officials and appealed to them to look into the same.

Speaking on the occasion, 48th ward corporator G Kavitha brought the issues of her ward to the fore and appealed to the Mayor and the GVMC Commissioner C M Saikanth Varma to resolve the issue of retaining walls in the hill areas as they pose a risk to the locals.