The Hindu 24.09.2010
Bhimili civic body to celebrate 150 years of its existence
Ramesh Susarla
| Celebrations being held ahead of schedule |
The civic body will turn 150 on February 9
Chief Minister invited to do the honours on the occasion
— Photo: C. V. Subrahmanyam 
Getting ready:A pylon being constructed in front of Bheemunipatnam municipal office.
VISAKAPATNAM: Bheemunipatnam Municipality, the first one in South India, which will complete 150 years of its existence on February 9 next year, is taking extra interest in celebrating the anniversary ahead of schedule on Sunday.
A week-long ‘Special Sanitation Drive’ could not improve the conditions in the small municipality, which takes pride in being the first one in the State with a large number of heritage sites to showcase, but has engaged entire sanitation staff to cleanse its beaches of all the garbage in the post-Ganesh idols immersion season.
The municipality that governs the affairs or Tagarapuvalasa and Bhimili towns find it difficult to even maintain some of the main roads in proper condition and garbage lifting is very irregular at marketplaces, but in its eagerness to complete the 150 years celebrations before the council’s term comes to a close shortly, it has invited the Chief Minister K. Rosaiah to do the honours.
Not all colonies have sufficient piped water supply, majority of the roads are pot-holed and narrow, drive along these lanes is a Herculean task with tens of autorickshaws making it difficult for the pedestrians and other riders to negotiate in the traffic. Worst to happen is a massive signage put up by the District Tourism Promotion Board in front of Flag Staff Cemetery, which reads “Dutch Cemetery” that actually exists a few k.m. away at Kummarapalem.
A lone man S. Samuel Roberts, a retired employee of Chittivalasa Jute mill, has written to the State Government and got a positive response on Wednesday. Expressing his anguish at the utter neglect of the town by State Government and its rich treasure of heritage sites, he told The Hindu that not many knew Bhimili history and what he had compiled as pastime was now getting printed as official souvenir for the occasion.
Municipal chairperson G. Chinna Kumari Lakshmi feels it was an honour for her to hold the celebrations during her term and takes pride in developing the municipality with several schemes despite severe financial constraints.
