Officials told to expedite identification of polling stations

Visakhapatnam: Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation Commissioner Ketan Garg directed officials that no laxity will be tolerated in sanitation management and that continuous field-level monitoring should be undertaken to ensure better sanitation services to the public. He instructed officials to expedite the identification of polling stations and provision of necessary basic amenities in view of the upcoming local body elections.

As part of his field inspection conducted on Thursday, the Commissioner, along with north zone zonal commissioner B. Ramu, visited various areas in wards 45 and 48, including Shadikhana, NGOs Colony, Kendriya Vidyalaya and Sonia Gandhi Colony. The Commissioner reviewed door-to-door waste collection, cleanliness of roads and drains, streetlighting, drinking water supply and other civic amenities. He interacted with local residents and enquired about sanitation and drinking water supply.

Later, the Commissioner inspected the attendance register of sanitation workers and found that one permanent sanitation worker and four outsourcing personnel were absent from duties for a prolonged period. He directed zonal commissioners to identify outsourcing sanitation personnel who have remained absent from duties for long periods and initiate action to remove them from service as per rules.

He told the officials to take steps to provide opportunities to eligible persons who have already applied for sanitation work against such vacancies. During the field visit, the Commissioner noticed tree branches piled up along roadsides at several locations and enquired why they had not been removed. The Commissioner directed the zonal commissioner to coordinate with APEPDCL officials and ensure immediate and regular removal of the branches and other waste.

The Commissioner reviewed the identification of polling stations and availability of basic amenities in connection with the upcoming local body elections. He examined plan copies of the proposed polling stations at Shadikhana, Kendriya Vidyalaya, the Government High School in NGOs Colony, Elementary School, Bharatiya Vignana Kendram and other locations.

He directed ward planning secretaries to identify additional polling stations wherever required and ensure that polling stations are located within the respective wards.

Later, local washermen from Sonia Gandhi Colony brought to the Commissioner’s notice that their area was receiving inadequate drinking water supply. Responding to their grievance, the Commissioner directed the Water supply engineering officials to expedite the ongoing 24×7 water supply pipeline works in the area and ensure that residents do not face any shortage of drinking water.

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The Hans India