The Hindu 12.02.2010
VMC gearing up for ‘Greater’ tag
Special Correspondent
| Submits 12,000-cr. worth proposals under JNNURM |
Proposals will help provide amenities in new areas that may come under Greater Vijayawada
Emphasis on restoration of roads where UGD works have been completed: Commissioner
VIJAYAWADA: Keeping in view the possibility of the city becoming Greater Vijayawada in the near future, the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation has recently submitted proposals worth Rs.12,000 crore to the Centre for release of funds for different works under the second phase of Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).
“These proposals will take care of the growing needs of the city and will also help us extend basic facilities in respect of drinking water, underground drainage, sanitation and so on in the new areas that may come under the Greater Vijayawada,” said Municipal Commissioner G. Ravi Babu on Thursday.
The Commissioner said at a press conference that the Rs.12,000-crore proposals were in addition to the City Development Plan prepared for Rs.7,300 crores when JNNURM was launched.
Outlining his priorities and preferences, Mr. Ravi Babu said that emphasis was being placed on restoration of roads where underground drainage works had been completed. There were certain guidelines even for temporary restoration of roads and the contractors were supposed to adhere to them.
He admitted that some of the detailed project reports relating to underground drainage prepared in the past did not include the clause that mandates the contractor to restore the road after completion of UGD, but care would be taken to include the clause in the new project reports.
Housing units
The Commissioner said that an earnest effort was being made to complete the construction of 10,000 houses at Jakkampudi, which were now in different stages, by May.
Even as he indicated that developing more green spaces and constructing a spacious state-of-the-art auditorium as an alternative to Tummalapallivari Kshetrayya Kalakshetram were some of his dream projects,
Mr. Ravi Babu admitted that land was a major constraint for any project. “An NRI has emailed me saying he is ready to give Rs.5 crore for a new auditorium, but we will have to find a suitable place,” he said.
The Commissioner said while talks were going on with the farmers on the city outskirts at Nunna for getting them agree to have the scientific landfill there, a letter had also been written to the Guntur district collector to provide open spaces at Tadepalli or Mangalagiri for the purpose. Land was being scouted also for the construction of a new building for the VMC at the centre of the city, keeping the Greater Vijayawada factor in mind.
Mr. Ravi Babu said five lakh saplings would be planted during the monsoon this year for expanding the city’s green cover.
If farmers interested in raising nurseries on their fields on the outskirts came forward, the VMC would provide the saplings and vermicompost free of cost.
On the public health front, health cards with a unique number would be distributed in all slums.
By conducting micro medical camps, the health profile of each family would be computerised and medicines given free of cost.
