GVMC council passes 32 resolutions amid uproar

Visakhapatnam: The GVMC general council meeting here on Friday witnessed noisy scenes as the opposition members staged a sit-in dharna near the Mayor’s podium, seeking a probe into the works executed by GVMC in connection with the G20 conference here last month.

The meeting was presided over by mayor GHV Kumari. The meeting also discussed 32 resolutions listed and passed them. They had earlier been approved by the standing committee. This was the first council meeting for newly appointed commissioner Saikanth Varma.

TD corporators staged a sit-in dharna before the chair demanding an inquiry into the money spent for the beautification works vis-a-vis the G20 summit. They alleged corruption in the works.

The council passed a resolution to sanction ₹ 5.3 crore annually for repair of the GVMC vehicles. The corporation has more than 250 vehicles and it plans to set up a separate garage for repairs.

Left corporators alleged that tenders were floated without conducting a market survey and that the ruling party leaders were given the work on the garage project.

The council  did not pass a resolution on creation of a hawkers zone.

The members demanded a committee consisting of people's associations and experts to investigate the alleged irregularities and corruption in the G-20 beautification works.

The members also sought urgent steps to bring down the growing pollution in the city. Former minister and Bheemili MLA Muttamsetty Srinivasa Rao urged officials to plant saplings every second Saturday. He said the plantation drive should be taken up on a large scale in all 98 wards. He also sought steps for protecting 700 vacant places in Visakhapatnam from encroachments.

The mayor asked the commissioner to look into the suggestions made by Srinivasa Rao.