The Hindu          19.07.2012

GVMC ready to take up new projects

Meeting has been convened on July 21 to discuss various issues

Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation’s financial condition is good and it is in a position to take up new projects. The proposals for new projects in public private participation (PPP), the merger of Bhimunipatnam and Anakapalle with GVMC, and bottlenecks in the ongoing projects under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) will come up at a review meeting convened by Minister for Infrastructure and Investments Ganta Srinivasa Rao on Saturday (July 21). Plans for making the city sustainable will also be discussed.

Municipal Commissioner B. Ramanjaneyulu said bringing parity in the issue of transferable development rights (TDRs), shifting of residents of Ramakrishnapuram paving the way for progress of Simhachalam corridor of Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) would also figure at the meeting.

He said the government had sought a report on the merger of Anakapalle and Bhimili as some representations were made on the issue. It would be discussed and political views would be taken on it. Later, a report would be sent to the government.

Besides, the project area of NTPC also needed to be brought under GVMC as the villages affected by it were under GVMC.

Financial condition

Mr. Ramanjaneyulu told reporters on Wednesday that the corporation had borrowed Rs.300 crore for footing its 30 per cent share in the first phase of JNNURM. It had been paying Rs.5 crore towards interest.

But it’s creditworthy and could raise its share required for the second phase of JNNURM, he said.

In comparison, some corporations were not in a position to pay salaries to their employees.

On the drinking water situation in the light of scanty rainfall this season, he said water supply would be ensured and people need not worry about it.

Even if water in the Yeleru reservoir fell to dead storage level, water would be pumped for which Rs.88 lakh towards power bills was kept ready. However, he cautioned against wastage of water.