Bheemunipatnam municipality that has been merged with GVMC may now be out of its purview.
Consequent to the High Court judgment that set aside merger of five fishermen villages and directing the government to hold elections to them, Bheemunipatnam is not contiguous with GVMC and on that ground it may now be excluded from the corporation.
Locals of K. Nagarampalem, Kapuluppada, Chepaluppada, Nidigattu and J.V. Agraharam approached the court stating that notices were not issued to them and contested the GO that effected the merger of the villages with GVMC. The court had set aside the merger in September last.
Views soughtThe Panchayat Raj Department sought the views of Municipal Administration & Urban Development on the need for merger with GVMC in view of the opposition from local people.
The MA&UD Department also expressed willingness to exclude the five villages.
Following the submissions in the court, it recently ruled that election process be completed by April 15 to the five panchayats.
That leaves GVMC with five villages towards Anakapalle and Anakapalle municipality in the corporation as the newly included areas.
With the issue of elections to the five panchayats is in the court at the time of issuing notification for municipal elections, GVMC was not included in the schedule.
Now a view is gaining ground in the MA&UD Department that without contiguity there is no point in continuing Bheemunipatnam in GVMC, say sources.
Even at the time of merger opposition was expressed by some, including the then Union Minister D. Purandeswari that the character of Bheemunipatnam, said to be the oldest municipality in the State, be maintained. It has a population of 55,000.
DelimitationIf a final decision is taken at the State-level and communicated to the corporation, it may then go ahead with delimitation of wards in the remaining areas to pave way for reservation to various categories and then election.
