The Hindu 27.10.2010
Civic problems: indefinite fast launched
Staff Reporter
VISAKHAPATNAM: Members of DYFI, AIDWA and Visakha Poura Samkshema Sangham (VPSS) launched an indefinite fast near the GVMC on Tuesday demanding that the civic authorities resolve the problems faced by people in the city.
Inaugurating the camp, State President of Federation of Urban Poura Sanghalu (people’s associations) Y. Venkateswara Rao said in spite of the relay fast for four days from September 20, Municipal officials and the council led by the Congress did not respond.
The problems mainly relate to drinking water supply to slums and those living on hill slopes and improving sanitary and road conditions.Though the Chief Minister and his Cabinet colleagues speak about developing slums, problems faced by people remained unresolved.
On the other hand, people were being burdened in several ways after the government borrowed Rs.11,000 crores from the World Bank for development of urban areas.Mr. Rao said fixing meters to taps, doing away with public taps, increasing property and water taxes, levying user charges for collection of garbage were some of them. Roads in the city remained in a bad shape leading to accidents after they were dug for underground drainage.Welfare pensions and ration cards issued before elections were discontinued, he said.
Though the corporation boasts of constructing 15,300 houses under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, not even a single unit had been allocated so far, he alleged.
It had been four years since beneficiaries paid money towards Rajiv Gruhakalpa but construction was not completed. Wherever they were completed basic amenities were not provided.
The CPI(M) leader demanded that the GVMC officials should give an assurance within 24 hours that the problems would be solved.
VPSS city general secretary B. Ganga Rao said the fast was launched consequent to failure of talks with officials on Monday.The fast would be continued and if necessary, they would lay siege to the GVMC office.
R.K.S.V. Kumar (VPSS), A.V. Padmavati (AIDWA), G. Ramana (Praja Natya Mandali) and corporator Botta Eswaramma spoke. A total of 17 activists are on fast.
