The Hindu 07.04.2010
Focus on water, drainage, traffic: Minister
Staff Reporter
| Stakeholders' workshop for preparing City Development Plan held |
— Photo: T. Vijaya Kumar 
ASCI Assistant professor Murali Mohan speaking on City Development Plan at a workshop held in Guntur on Tuesday.
GUNTUR: Amid expectations that Guntur will be included in the second phase of Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), the stakeholders' orientation workshop was organised on Tuesday for preparing a City Development Plan (CDP). Entire programme has evoked positive response from the public.
The workshop was conducted by the Guntur Municipal Corporation with assistance from Administrative Staff College of India. Major Industries Minister Kanna Lakhminarayana said that CDP should finalise the road map for a comprehensive development of the city and asked the officials to focus on improving the amenities in slums, drinking water and drainage facilities everywhere.
Inaugurating the workshop, District Collector B. Ramajaneyulu said that cities were fast emerging engines of growth and symbols of modernity. He called for merger of neighbouring panchayats to reap the full benefits of the JNNURM. Mayor R. Mohana Sai Krishna and Municipal Commissioner K. Ilambarthi said that the CDP was an important document in getting funds under the JNNURM.
Assistant professor, ASCI, Murali Mohan explained through a power present presentation the importance, the method of preparation of CDP and the current situation on the efficiency of services with inputs from data and discussions with focus groups.
Professor Mohan said that CDP was a medium for long-term blueprint for overall development of the city covering economic growth, social development, infrastructure development, poverty alleviation etc.
After eliciting the opinion of stakeholders, a final CDP document would be made. ASCI advisor Ravindra Prasad, senior research associate Indupriya and research associate Tilak were present.
Municipal Tax payers association Parandhamayya suggested that entire water supply wing be brought under environmental engineering department and the existing sewerage section be merged. He said that while forming policies on solid waste management, it should be noted that only 75 grams per head was generated as 45 per cent of 250 grams was going as inert waste.
P.S. Anand, secretary, licensed engineers association, said that harvesting of surface water should be given a top priority. A retired professor, Rathiah explained the benefits of rainwater harvesting. T.V Krishna Murthy, retired A.D, Horticulture said that plantation should be made compulsory.
Deputy Transport Commissioner C. Ramesh suggested introduction of mass rapid transport system to solve the problem of high-density traffic, while BSNL officials said that GMC should intimate before digging of roads. Avagahana secretary Konda Siva Rami Reddy spoke.
