Various civil society organisations have set the agenda for the candidates contesting in the general elections from Ongole and vowed to vote for the candidates who would fulfilled their demands.
Ongole Town Development Committee Chairman Marella Subba Rao says major civic issues have been left unattended by the people’s representatives since long.
“It is unfortunate that the city that generates 124 tonne of garbage daily does not even have a permanent dumping yard for safe disposal of the garbage,” he said. Committee Secretary Baktha Singh Raju underlines the need for round-the-clock water supply and changing of corroded pipelines to prevent contamination of drinking water, and development of parks.
DemandsA green-field airport at Koppolu, development of Ramayapatnam and Motupalli sea ports, inland waterways by reviving the Buckingham canal, construction of commercial market complex at the Old Market centre, a permanent auditorium, construction of summer storage tanks on the city outskirts were included in the 20-point charter of demands that were put forth before the candidates contesting from the Ongole Lok Sabha and Assembly segments. The other demands included a bank exclusively for women, more all-women police stations and pay-and-use toilets for women.
Meanwhile, Shantivanam President K. Sudhakar has put up a hoarding on the Rangarayuduchervu bund urging the voters to reject the persons who switched over parties on the poll eve. “Only hoppers will get the benefit and not the people who look to their leaders for development of the city,” its Secretary Manchikanti says.
