The Hindu 05.01.2010
VMC Commissioner assumes charge
Staff Reporter
Officials and staff greet Ravi Babu
Focus to be on tax collection
VIJAYAWADA: Even as the city witnessed a total bandh on Monday, the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) throbbed with much activity as G. Ravi Babu assumed charge as Municipal Commissioner. He took charge from in-charge Municipal Commissioner and Chief Engineer N. Durga Prasad. The officials and the staff made a beeline to greet the new Commissioner. Mr. Ravi Babu sought their cooperation in developing the city on a par with metro cities like Hyderabad. “As the people expect a lot from the Corporation, we need to rededicate ourselves and extend quality services to the people,” he said.
Speaking to reporters, Mr. Ravi Babu said he would lay emphasis on collection of taxes in view of the financial problem being faced by the Corporation. There was a need to focus on undervalued assessments and the properties that had not been assessed at all. The advertisement tax collection would be one of the important areas of focus, he said.
Stating that large numbers of developmental works were taken up under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) programme, Mr. Ravi Babu rued lack of required staff for completing these works. If the recruitment was not possible, the Corporation would ask the Government to depute staff from other departments or outsource the works.
