Source : The Hindu Date : 25.06.2009
GVMC general body meet today
Staff Reporter
Meeting being held after a long gap
The Congress enjoys the support of independents
VISAKHAPATNAM: The general body meeting of the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation is scheduled for Thursday, after a gap of nearly six months. The Congress that has a majority in the council will obviously be facing the meeting with a newfound confidence that comes from the victory in the general elections. The Congress enjoys the support of independents that gives it the required numbers.
When the Congress managed to retain its hold in the 2007 elections after it became Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation, the TDP members underlined the prop of the independents and pinned their hopes on the TDP returning to power to turn the tables. That, however, turned out to be wishful thinking. Besides, the State government has brought in a rule raising the period for bringing a ‘no confidence’ motion from three to four years apparently to prevent destabilisation.
However, the Mayor faced strong opposition within Congress when a section of corporators pressed for his replacement early last year. The move took a backseat with the district in-charge Minister Kanna Lakshminarayana ruling out any change and effecting a patch-up.
Pleasure trip
With the general body meeting approaching, Mr. Janardhana Rao had recently arranged a pleasure trip -- a river cruise on the Godavari -- to party corporators.
Among the issues that are likely to dominate the meeting is the development of nine municipal sites in public private partnership that has been hanging fire for some time. The cash-strapped corporation needs to find money to fund several of its plans, particularly under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, and sees the development of these sites as one option. The allotment of an alternative site to the food court, proposed on the Beach Road, may also come up in the meeting. An earlier site allotted had been cancelled following protests from Congressmen and taking up construction of a memorial for the late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi as the foundation was laid long back.
