Narayana Promises Petrol Bunks in all 123 Civic Bodies Through Deal with OMCs

Vijayawada: Municipal Administration Minister P Narayana has promised petrol bunks in all 123 municipal bodies in the state through the signing of a pact with the oil marketing companies.

The minister was inaugurating a petrol bunk set up at a cost of Rs.1.96 crore by the Rajamahendravaram municipal corporation (RMC) with support from Indian Oil in Rajamahendravaram.

He called for a plan of action to set up petrol bunks in all municipal bodies, by drawing inspiration from RMC. “RMC used to spend Rs.25.54 lakh per month on fuels for its vehicles. With the setting up of the petrol bunk now, it would help save some money.

Expectations are that the new petrol bunk would have a turnover of `three lakh per day.

The minister slammed the previous YSR Congress government for its “failure” to release Rs.3,200 crore to the municipal bodies, as the amount had been collected in the form of taxes.

The present government, he said, has already released the first instalment of the 15th Finance Commission funds to the civic bodies and would release the second instalment shortly.

The minister also took part in a meeting on the preparations for the Godavari Pushkaralu, 2027 in Rajamahendravaram. The meeting was attended by East Godavari Collector Prasanthi, other officials and local public representatives.

Narayana reviewed the progress of the works related to drinking water, drainage system etc.

He said the RMC made a plea for Rs.1,587.80 crore while Kovvur division sought Rs.280.90 crore for development works in connection with the Godavari Pushkaralu. The proposals would be discussed in the presence of chief minister Chandrababu Naidu.

The minister proposed a waste-to-wealth project, by generating power from municipal waste. The plant would be set up in between Rajamahendravaram and Kakinada.

He promised to set up a similar project between Kadapa and Anantapur. “We would call tenders for setting up a waste to energy plant between Nellore and Gudur in 15 days,” he said.

Waste to energy projects, he said, are running successfully in Guntur, Mangalagiri and Visakhapatnam.

The minister said nearly 7,000 tonnes of waste was being collected from the state’s civic bodies every day.