State asked to bear VMC’s share in AMRUT scheme

The total cost of laying drinking water pipelines and giving connections to households was pegged at Rs.73.5 crore. The Central and State Governments are to share the cost in 33-1/3: 20 ratio.

April 05, 2016 12:00 am | Updated 12:00 am IST - VIJAYAWADA:

MLC Buddha Venkanna discussing a point with TDP corporators in the Municipal Council meeting in Vijayawada on Monday. -PHOTO: V. RAJU

MLC Buddha Venkanna discussing a point with TDP corporators in the Municipal Council meeting in Vijayawada on Monday. -PHOTO: V. RAJU

The Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) has, in its general body meeting held on Monday, resolved to request the State Government to bear its (VMC)’s share (approximately Rs.35 crore) of the cost of augmenting drinking water infrastructure under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) scheme, by citing paucity of funds.

The AMRUT State Directorate and A.P Urban Finance and Infrastructure Development Corporation (APUFIDC) had approved the AMRUT scheme for Vijayawada with drinking water supply as the thrust area.

The total cost of laying drinking water pipelines and giving connections to households was pegged at Rs.73.5 crore. The Central and State Governments are to share the cost in 33-1/3: 20 ratio and the balance (46-2/3) is to be borne by the VMC.

19 milestones reached

Responding to fears that the ‘reforms’ that have to be implemented by the VMC, to get the project going, would burden the people in one or the other, Mayor K. Sridhar said that it was not a problem as the VMC had already achieved considerable progress with regard to the 19 milestones to be reached by it in compliance with the AMRUT Mission Statement.

Besides, the reforms had negligible financial implications. However, he promised that the matter would be pursued with the State Government for avoiding any burden at a time when the VMC was facing funds crunch.

Widening of 15 roads

The Council has also approved the improvement and widening of 15 roads to accommodate the vehicular traffic being diverted due to the construction of Kanakadurga flyover. The widening and improvements were estimated to cost Rs.18.66 crore and it is to be spent by the Transport and Roads and Buildings Departments.

The Council has given the nod for urgently taking up 11 works that are required to facilitate laying of foundations for Kanakadurga flyover, at a total cost of Rs.23 crore. Some waterlines and other structures have to be removed or shifted and necessary infrastructure created in specified areas along the course of the flyover.

Toilets at 10 locations

The VMC has further cleared the decks for construction of modern community toilets with 100 seats at 10 locations on the lines of Namma toilets that became popular in Tamil Nadu.

The total project cost is Rs.94 lakh, of which Rs.65 lakh is to be borne by the State and the balance by the VMC. Tenders would now be invited for them through e-procurement route.

The other important resolutions passed are for renovation of Tummalapalli Kshetrayya Kalakshetram at a cost of Rs.4 crore, taking land from Rajiv Gandhi Park to facilitate the construction of a new building for the VMC and sprucing up the VMC guest house in tune with the ‘capital standards’.

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