Water crisis dominates VMC meet

Tuesday, 30 June 2009 06:52 administrator
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Source : The Hindu Date : 30.06.2009

Water crisis dominates VMC meet

Staff Reporter

Ratna Bindu asks officials to address the issue immediately

 


‘Uniforms to be distributed in a phased manner’

Donars come forward to donate benches in all schools


- PHOTO: RAJU V.

Sparks fly: Corporators of various parties argue over the issue of drinking water scarcity during the general body meeting of the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation on Monday.

VIJAYAWADA: Drinking water crisis, bad condition of some of the corporation-run schools, delay in distribution of school uniforms, controversy over giving permission to erect mobile phone towers and distribution of house sites to employees of the VMC at Gunadala were some of the issues that dominated the general body meeting of the VMC on Monday.

The meeting continued on the second day as only a few issues on the agenda were discussed on the first day on Saturday.

The ruling Congress admitted that drinking water problem loomed large over the city, more particularly in divisions 51 to 59. Mayor M.V. Ratna Bindu asked the officials to take steps on war-footing to provide water to residents of Ajit Singh Nagar, Vambay Colony and other fringe and hilly areas. She and Vijayawada MP Lagadapati Rajagopal, who was present at the meeting for a brief period, said that drinking water problem had come to their notice.

“People from areas like Ajit Singh Nagar keep calling me every day complaining of drinking water shortage. You (officials) must address this at the earliest,” Ms. Ratna Bindu said.

Superintending Engineer P. Adiseshu said that the 11 MGD plant, which was under construction, would be operational in the next couple of days. It would solve the drinking water crisis in the city, as the areas that were getting the underground water being supplied by the Corporation would get Krishna water, he assured.

Schools

Responding to a discussion on VMC-run schools, Municipal Commissioner P. S. Pradyumna said that school uniforms for the children studying in these schools would be distributed in a phased manner. It would cost Rs. 75 lakh to supply uniforms to 25,000 students studying in these schools. Some donors had come forward to donate benches in all schools, and they were suggested to adopt top schools and develop them completely, he said.

Some corporators expressed the fear that the mobile phone towers were causing health problems to the local people and, hence, the companies concerned should not be permitted to erect the towers.

City Planner P. Timma Reddy said that a GO issued by the government on this issue had not defined the word “neighbour”, which was causing confusion. The High Court had given a stay in this regard, and any decision regarding erecting new towers could be taken only after the court pronounced its judgment.

House sites

Mr. Pradyumna, replying to queries on house sites to municipal employees, said that the sites would be registered if the members were willing to pay the present registration charges. This was mandatory according to the laid down rules, or alternatively the employees could represent Chief Minister seeking exemption.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 30 June 2009 06:55