Visakhapatnam: The
state government on Tuesday issued a GO merging Bheemunipatnam and
Anakapalle municipalities and 10 gram panchayats in Parawada into
Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC).

Another two G Os were also issued abolishing both the municipalities, as per the AP Municipalities Act of 1965.

The
GO MS No. 375 of Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA
& UD) said  the rapid development and growth around GVMC viz.,
mostly in Anakapalle and Bheemunipatnam municipalities and adjoining
gram panchayats, are posing severe strain on the physical infrastructure
facilities and service and creating problems regarding effective
management, administration, in view of multiplicity of municipalities
and local bodies.

Hence, considering all the above, and with a
view to provide better civic services, have better administrative
mechanism, ensure better planning and focused development in and around
Visakhapatnam, have more equitable devolution of finance and
utilisation of resources, ensure uniform enforcement in Visakhapatnam
and its suburbs, the government has decided to expand the limits of GVMC
by merging Anakapalle, Bheemunipatnam and 10 gram panchayats.

The
Anakapalle and Bheemunipatnam municipalities have passed resolutions on
April 10 and 16, 2012 respectively, agreeing to the merger proposal
with the GVMC.

The merger was done under the first provision of
sub-section (1) of Section 3 of the Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation
Act, 1979.

Simultaneously, G O Nos 373, 374 were also issued
abolishing both Anakapalle and Bheemunipatnam municipalities
respectively to facilitate the merger.

The proposal to merge
Bheemili and Anakapalle municipalities evoked mixed reaction in the
ruling Congress while the TD and Left parties opposed it strongly
earlier.

When the merger proposal was initially mooted in 2009, it
was opposed by many political leaders as they feared the move  would
only burden people with extra taxes and other charges.