Multi-storied apartment complexes overlooking the bay, avenue plantations and garbage-free lanes catch one’s attention while entering Kirlampudi layout. The serene locale of the residential area looks organised with each of the buildings numbered and the lanes displaying direction boards, guiding visitors.
Topography
As one ventures further, a blend of old and new buildings appear on either side of the roads with patches of greenery. The colony has four main roads - north main, central main, south extension and Andhra University down road. It also consists of four cross roads and four narrow by-lanes.
The place appears to be well maintained with stickers displayed on the walls carrying the message ‘do not dump garbage’, litter bins on the electric poles and a range of avenue plants such as alistonia scholaris, gulmohar, peltophorum, fillicium and other varieties on either side of the roads. The area has two hostels and one school, Andhra University International Students Hostel and AU Ladies hostel and Shiv Shivani School.
Upkeep and maintenance
The Kirlampudi Residents’ Welfare Association (KRWA) plays a major role in the upkeep and maintenance of the colony. It has taken up many initiatives such as clearing garbage by engaging a private contractor, collecting the waste from each household and dumping them at the main garbage point, planting of saplings as part of the green drive initiative, naming the lanes, numbering the buildings and many others.
For the maintenance of the colony, the Association members collect a one-time fee of Rs.500 and a monthly fee of Rs.60 from each household. The Rotary Club of Visakhapatnam Central and GVMC contributed to promotion of greenery by planting over 20,000 saplings.
Resident talks
Speaking about the locale, Commodore Lancelot Gomes said, “My love for the place and the city made me stay here for the last 15 years. Be it the scenic beauty, the sea view or the serene atmosphere, the colony is unsurpassable.” Pointing out the civic amenities he said that there was lot of scope for improvement as far as cleanliness was concerned.
Perennial problems
The area has 60 apartments and 50 residential houses. Though it appears to be quite appealing, certain perennial problems bother the residents such as open drainage system, improper sanitation and poor conditions of the roads, illegal encroachments and lack of street lights in some of the main roads.
Anti-social activities like trafficking in women and drug abuse are common on South extension road, said secretary of the Association Uday Shirname. “This 150 metre-long main road has no streetlights and is almost deserted at night. Due to lack of streetlights, residents feel that it is quite unsafe to walk or even keep their windows open at night. Despite our repeated appeals to GVMC for erection of streetlights, no action has been taken so far in this regard,” he lamented.
Illegal encroachments
Another main problem is the existence of illegal encroachments, said joint secretary of KRWA Patanjali Sandilya. “Apart from being a traffic hazard, these illegal encroachments pose a threat to the girls at Shiv Shivani School junction. The boys gather in the evenings and indulge in eve-teasing,” he complained.
The width of the drainage, adjacent to the school, is uneven. This is aiding the breeding of mosquitoes and causing mosquito borne diseases to the schoolchildren and residents.
The KRWA members have addressed the issues of the colony to the former Commissioner of GVMC B. Ramanjaneyulu, who sanctioned funds for the repairs and maintenance of the drainage, roads and erection of streetlights. A nodal officer was also appointed to follow up with the members of the association.
GVMC’s take
The authorities of the GVMC and the members of the KRWA entered into an agreement in the third week of August, to take up repair and other works related to improving the amenities.
Explaining about the progress on the agreement, GVMC sources said, “The tender is in process. Once we receive the lowest bid, the works will be entrusted to the contractors. The bidding process may take 21 days and the work will start within two months.”
The municipal water is supplied for two hours a day and most of the residents utilise tankers for meeting their additional requirements, said one of the residents Binod Kumar. The serene locale of Kirlampudi layout impresses one with its beach view and posh appearance.
There are, however, certain problems like lack of street lights, open drains, encroachments and trafficking which require urgent attention.
