Vijayawada Municipal Corporation staff left high and dry

Vijayawada: Lack of fund allocation in the vote on account budget for the development of Vijayawada city, which is the political, trade and commercial centre of AP, has disappointed the public in the city.

The Telugu Desam-led government in the state presented vote on account budget on Tuesday, in which the government sanctioned Rs 7,919 crore to all municipalities and corporations in the 13 districts in the state.

The Vijayawada Municipal Corporation is reeling under Rs 400-crore debts and is in severe financial crisis.

The state government promised to give Rs 100 crore special funds every year and implementation of 010 GO for employees wages to all corporations.
The government will directly pay wages to VMC employees through 010 account which would help VMC to save Rs 100 crore but the special funds and implementation of 010 account was absent in the vote on account budget.

Walkers Association members Ch. Raju, P. Dwaraka said that Vijayawada has turnedinto “de facto” capital for the past four years and the TD government promised to develop Vijayawada city as the capital. “However, funds were never allotted in the state budget for the development of the city.”

VMC employee S. Janardhan said that municipal employees staged protests several times seeking implementati0n of 010 account and the TD reacted in the positive. “In this budget, the promise was not fulfilled.”

CPM state executive committee member Ch. Babu Rao reminded that the VMC was reeling under Rs 400 crore debts and criticised the TD government for not alloting any funds in the budget, to give relief to the local body.

“A meagre amount of Rs 4,200 crore  has been sanctioned for housing. The funds will not be sufficient to complete construction of 28,000 houses in the city. The funds might suffice for only 15,000 houses only.”

He criticised the TD government for neglecting the construction of Gunadala flyover. “Vijayawada is a hub to workers in the unorganised sector but the government had not sanctioned anything for their welfare. The budget did no good to Vijayawada.”

YSR Congress floor leader in VMC, B. Punayseela alleged that the TD government did not sanction funds to the city in the past four budgets and this time too, it showed an empty hand.

She slammed the  Mayor and corporators, belonging to the TD,  failing to get funds for the city from the state government led by their own party leaders. “The TD is biased against sanction of funds to VIjayawada.”

Meanwhile, Vijayawada city Mayor, belonging to the TD, Koneru Sridhar said that the TD government is committed to implement salaries through 010 account and that a GO would be issued soon. He said that vote on account budget is people-friendly and refuted the allegations of the opposition parties.