The Hindu 31.07.2013
GOs issued on merger of two civic bodies, 10 panchayats
The State government on Tuesday issued four GOs merging Anakapalle and Bheemunipatnam municipalities and 10 gram panchayats with Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation and abolishing the two municipalities and de-notifying gram panchayats.
The G.O.Ms. No. 374 issued by the Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department, stated that the rapid pace of development in and around the city, the two municipalities and the panchayats was creating a severe strain on physical infrastructure facilities, service and creating problems of effective management.
The merger has been proposed to provide better civic services, administrative mechanism, ensure better planning and focussed development in and around Visakhapatnam, have more equitable devolution of finance and utilisation of resources, ensure uniform enforcement in the city and its suburbs, the GO said. GVMC and the municipalities have passed resolutions consenting to the merger and the District Collector furnished the resolutions of the gram panchayats.
The GO said the objections raised in a PIL were heard by the Principal Secretary, MA and UD and were disposed of. Objections and suggestions were also sent by the GVMC Commissioner.
The panchayats included are K. Nagarapalem, Kapuluppada, Chepaluppada, Nidigattu, J V Agraharam, Thadi, Salapuvanipalem, Rajupalem, Valluru and Koppaka.
GOMs Nos. 373 and 374 were issued abolishing Anakapalle and Bheemunipatnam municipalities and GOMs.No 369 de-notifying the panchayats. As soon as the GO was issued, GVMC dispatched 12 special teams to the municipalities and the panchayats to take over the records and files and details of properties, revenue and liabilities, Municipal Commissioner M.V. Satyanarayana said in a statement. Boards of GVMC will also be displayed. After the entire process was completed, a report will be sent to the government.
