Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada   

VMC seeks hike in Pushkaram funds

By Our Staff Reporter

VIJAYAWADA, MAY 1. The Vijayawada Municipal Corporation's budget for development works will cross the Rs. 90-crore mark in 2004-05 as against the Rs. 18 crores spent last year, according to the Municipal Commissioner, V. Usharani.

Fresh proposals had been sent to the Government for the Krishna Pushkarams. The Government had in principle sanctioned Rs. 18 crores. Proposals for additional works costing Rs.27 crores had been sent to the Government for administrative sanction. Funds had been sought from the Government to provide basic amenities for pilgrims who were expected to converge on the city on a large scale and also works of permanent nature like laying of internal roads and developing greenery and illumination, she pointed out.

An action plan had been prepared to complete ongoing works on major roads, which were being widened, by May 31. The widening of BRP and Prakasam Roads had been completed. The widening of ITI, NRP, C.K. Reddy and Ambedkar Roads was nearing completion. The widening of Brahmin Street was 60 per cent complete. While work was progressing briskly on A.S. Rama Rao and Gunadala Roads, a lot of work had to be done on G.S. Raju Road.

The flyover near Kaleswararao market would be completed in time for the Pushkarams and 100-feet road would be laid at an estimated Rs. 4 crores after the railway authorities begin removing the Satyanarayanapuram track in May-June. Work on the eight and 10 MGD water treatment plants was already in progress. Additional motors had been installed in the eight MGD plant and it would soon work to its full capacity, the Commissioner said. The expenditure incurred to supply drinking water is a major drain on the city's resources, Ms. Usha Rani said.

The VMC was spending 13 paise per litre of water. So, special measures were being taken for optimum use of treated water. Untreated water would be provided to Sulabh complexes with the help of tankers. VMC is supplying, on an average, 140 litres a day to each of the 10 lakh citizens, she said, adding that this was comparable to international standards. Once the new eight MGD plant becomes fully functional, the per capita supply would increase to 170 litres a day. A proposal to provide water to certain commercial areas round the clock was also under consideration. This task would be entrusted to a consultant firm, French Water Club, Ms. Usharani said.

The VMC was also trying to increase the consumer base to reduce the burden of tax. While there were 1.25 lakh tax assessees in the city, there were only 45,000 tap connections. It was introducing a slab system for apartments to plug leakage of revenue due to corruption.

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