The Hindu 19.07.2012
GVMC ready to take up new projects
Meeting has been convened on July 21 to discuss various issues
Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation’s financial
condition is good and it is in a position to take up new projects. The
proposals for new projects in public private participation (PPP), the
merger of Bhimunipatnam and Anakapalle with GVMC, and bottlenecks in the
ongoing projects under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission
(JNNURM) will come up at a review meeting convened by Minister for
Infrastructure and Investments Ganta Srinivasa Rao on Saturday (July
21). Plans for making the city sustainable will also be discussed.
Municipal
Commissioner B. Ramanjaneyulu said bringing parity in the issue of
transferable development rights (TDRs), shifting of residents of
Ramakrishnapuram paving the way for progress of Simhachalam corridor of
Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) would also figure at the meeting.
He
said the government had sought a report on the merger of Anakapalle and
Bhimili as some representations were made on the issue. It would be
discussed and political views would be taken on it. Later, a report
would be sent to the government.
Besides, the project area of NTPC also needed to be brought under GVMC as the villages affected by it were under GVMC.
Financial condition
Mr.
Ramanjaneyulu told reporters on Wednesday that the corporation had
borrowed Rs.300 crore for footing its 30 per cent share in the first
phase of JNNURM. It had been paying Rs.5 crore towards interest.
But it’s creditworthy and could raise its share required for the second phase of JNNURM, he said.
In comparison, some corporations were not in a position to pay salaries to their employees.
On
the drinking water situation in the light of scanty rainfall this
season, he said water supply would be ensured and people need not worry
about it.
Even if water in the Yeleru reservoir fell
to dead storage level, water would be pumped for which Rs.88 lakh
towards power bills was kept ready. However, he cautioned against
wastage of water.