Prove charges on me: Corporator Balaswamy

Vijayawada: The encroachment of vacant land near the Arundale Municipal Complex (AMC) by a corporator has become a controversy and the issue has been taken to the notice of Vijayawada Central MLA Bonda Uma Maheswara Rao. While the corporator, Mr. Balaswamy, is exerting pressure on the VMC to auction the small portions of the corridor of the AMC Complex, abutting the toilet complex, the vendors and shop owners have objected the move.

The land abutting the AMC has been encroached by the corporator and a few pan shops have been allowed to operate unauthorisedly there. However, the VMC is not raising the issue but wants to auction the corridors of the AMC premises, which is being planned on Oct. 13, 2017. The Central MLA has reportedly objected this move and asked the vendors to approach the VMC commissioner seeking justice. Meanwhile, the corporator wants the authorities to question the Amaravati Digital Electronic Dealers Welfare Association (ADEDWA) about the encroachment of two shops in the AMC complex by the association. He has challenged the association to prove the allegations that he has been extorting money from the vendors.

“I want the VMC to auction all the vacant shops and vacant spaces in AMC,” he said and added that he was ready to resign from his post, in case the association proves the allegation. On the MLA’s advice, the shop owners of the AMC and the leaders of the ADEDWA have met VMC commissioner Nivas and told him about the encroachment of land by the corporator. The pan kiosks, which are reportedly under the illegal possession of the corporator, have not been opened for the last two days small time vendors, who have been running their business in the public place, on daily basis. However, Corporator had denied these allegations and asked the VMC authorities to go for auctioning the small vendor tables and shops also in the public place, which would generate revenues for the VMC.

In fact, table vendors were reportedly threatened by the men of Corporator that they need to pay Rs.2,000 per month to the Corporator as Monthly Mamuls, which the Corpporator Mr.Balaswamy denied. “This is baseless allegation. I have been asking to auction the shops and that is the reason why they are leveling such allegations to tarnish my image,” Mr. Bala Swamy has told this correspondent. However, the pan dabbas which are reportedly under the illegal pocession of the Corporator were not opened for the last two days.