The Hindu 08.11.2009

Deputy Mayor flays GVMC functioning

Staff Reporter

VISAKHAPATNAM: A sharp attack on the laxity in the functioning of the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation by Deputy Mayor K. Dorabbai marked the general body meeting on Saturday. He wanted to know whether the council was the final authority on policy issues or the Standing Committee (of which Mayor Pulusu Janardhana Rao is Chairman) with particular reference to leasing out land at Kapuluppada to a private company for converting municipal waste into compost for three years. The council was being ignored, he alleged.

A host of other issues Mr. Dorabbai raised included the delay in implementing global positioning system (GPS) to arrest revenue leakages and increase it by 300 to 400 per cent, the council resolution terminating the tenure of municipal standing counsels not being implemented, the ‘irresponsibility’ in the information technology wing to effect wrongful transfer of property and renewal of the lease of a petrol outlet at Chavulmadum and matsyadarshini aquarium. He wanted all the questions to be answered in writing by officials. He faulted MAUD officials for issuing “useless” GOs on extension of lease. While taxes should be increased before that leakages should be plugged and ‘thieves’ should be caught.

‘Mayor misled’

Even as he regretted that he was forced to question the Mayor, he charged officials with misleading the Mayor. The way the corporation machinery functioned gave room for corruption charges against him and the Mayor. This led to CPI(M)’s Botta Eswaramma accusing the two of doing a cover-up to hide the failures during the current tenure of the council.

Mr. Dorabbai wanted the corporation to introduce biometric system to check absence of sanitation workers. Also the resolution opposing tax exemption to Gangavaram port should be pursued. Instead of shifting sewage treatment plants to Narava they should be taken up at Gopalapatnam and in the port site saving about Rs.40-50 crores to the port.

The steel plant should spend 70 per cent of its CSR funds here. Besides, a quick decision should be taken on providing houses to those affected by BRTS for quick implementation of the project.

Mr. Dorabbai who shot off a letter to the Commissioner stated that he was pained that he was not invited to programmes and the Commissioner gave a detailed reply to the issues raised by him in writing.

The Business Line 07.11.2009

New insurance scheme for HIV-affected

Our Bureau

Visakhapatnam, Nov 6 Population Services International (PSI), an NGO, in association with Star Health and Allied Insurance Company and the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC), launched a group insurance policy for 200 HIV-affected persons here on Friday.

Ms D. Purandeswari, Union Minister of State for Human Resources Development and Lok Sabha member from Visakhapatnam, said it was a laudable initiative to help the HIV-affected people and other insurance companies should come out with such products.

GVMC is contributing 50 per cent of the premium amount. Mr B. Sreedhar, Municipal Commissioner of GVMC, said it was necessary to provide health cover to the HIV-affected and to fight the stigma associated with the disease. He called for greater co-operation between the Government agencies and the NGOs in curbing the spread of the disease and also to provide better life to the HIV-affected.

Star initiative

Mr C.P. Udayachandran, Assistant Vice-President of Star Health and Allied Insurance Company, said that so far, 2,500 HIV-affected persons had been covered under the scheme in Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. He said it was only a beginning and there was scope for improving the product to serve the HIV-affected better. The company would strive in that direction, he added.

The Visakhapatnam Mayor, Mr P. Janardhana Rao, and the Programme Director of PSI, Mr Atul Kapoor, also spoke about the necessity for public-private partnership in combating the disease and helping the affected people.