The Hindu              27.04.2013

New Municipal Commissioner assumes charge

K. Venkateswarlu assumed charge as the 15th Municipal Commissioner of Guntur on Friday ending days of uncertainty. Mr. Venkateswarlu, who was working project manager at HMDA, drove down to GMC office at 3 p.m. and took charge. Additional Commissioner P. Srinivasulu, who was holding charge as the Commissioner since the retirement of K. Sudhakar, handed over the charge.

The arrival of the new Commissioner was kept as a closely guarded secret and few officers had an idea about his coming. It is now believed that the new Commissioner was asked by the District Collector and special officer S. Suresh Kumar to reach on Friday since the latter would be leaving for a training programme on Saturday.

Mr. Venkateswarlu underlined his priorities and said that he would focus on improving the sanitation, drinking water supply and assured that he would be accessible to people. The posting of new Commissioner for Guntur has been mired in uncertainty with a senior minister and a first time MLA recommending officers of their choice. A GO was issued on April 17 posting K. Venkateswarlu as the new Municipal Commissioner putting an end to speculations.

Though it appeared that the Minister finally agreed to the latter’s choice, the appointment was put on hold for a brief period while as the District Collector and Special Officer S. Suresh Kumar asked Mr. Venkateswarlu to wait for some days.