CM Jagan will shift to Port City this year

VISAKHAPATNAM: Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) mayor Golagani Hari Venkata Kumari exuded confidence that Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy would govern Andhra Pradesh from Visakhapatnam in 2022.

Celebrating New Year Eve with media at the GVMC office on Friday, the mayor disclosed to Deccan Chronicle her reasoning as to why CM may start functioning from the Port City.

Hari Venkata Kumari said she had last met Chief Minister during the latter’s visit to Vizag for attending the marriage reception of Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu’s granddaughter at Madhurawada. “When I brought to his attention a set of issues related to development of Visakhapatnam during our informal chat, the CM replied that he will arrive in Vizag soon to rule. The CM asked us to be ready for working together for developing the Port City in all aspects. The CM's words could be a clear indication that the executive capital will shift to Visakhapatnam and the Chief Minister will start ruling the state from Vizag in this New Year,” the mayor explained.

On administrative aspects of the municipal corporation, she said their focus during the New Year will be to improve collection of revenue while providing quality life to citizens. The city has 5,40,283 taxpayers who contribute nearly ₹ 287.58 crore.

GVMC commissioner Lakshmisha, who too was present at the celebrations, said the corporation will conduct competitions among wards on cleanliness. A committee will be constituted to implement this novel concept as part of GVMC’s efforts to keep the city clean and green. This will help Visakhapatnam bag top awards and rewards in the national-level Swachh competitions.

“A maximum of ₹ 10 lakh will be awarded to the best ward. The executive body of the ward can use the amount for further development of their segment. The money will be mobilised from Corporate Social Responsibility amounts of corporate bodies,” the commissioner told this correspondent.