Local MLA Gangula Kamalakar has drawn up plans to give the town a facelift, launching Project KCR (Karimnagar City Renovation) that seeks to extensively involve denizens in development.
The legislator told reporters on Sunday that the project was designed on the lines of a similar programme conceived in Chicago County in 1938.
A 12-member panel comprising himself, Karimnagar MP B. Vinod Kumar, Mayor S. Ravinder Singh, Deputy Mayor G. Ramesh, Municipal Commissioner Ramesh and local representatives, including a doctor, an advocate, a media person, a social worker, senior citizens and others would involve themselves in various developmental programmes in the town.
The first of its initiatives would be the plantation and protection of saplings in the town, in coordination with municipal and forest officials. Later, they would launch a special drive against the removal of all encroachments on the footpaths.
Mr. Kamalakar said a bank account in the name of the Municipal Commissioner would be opened to accept donations, while appealing to the people to contribute to the development of the town. Already MLC T. Santosh Kumar and Sri Venkateshwar Granites partner Ravinder Rao had contributed Rs.1 lakh each for the beautification of the town.
Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao had promised an allocation of Rs.40 crore for the development of the town, he said. Black-topping of all main roads and beautification of the town with footpaths and islands would be taken up. The MLA also promised to relocate roadside fruit vendors to behind the RTC bus station complex.
Mayor S. Ravinder Singh said they had decided to launch a special sanitation drive by collecting garbage from houses, shops and hotels, etc. They were also planning to impose fines on those who dump garbage on the roads. Deputy Mayor G. Srinivas and corporators were also present.
