Shortage of manpower has crippled the activities in the Vijayawada Guntur Tenali Mangalagiri Urban Development Authority (VGTMUDA). The administration has virtually derailed as there is no full time vice chairman and Board.
Hundreds of files are pending clearance in the UDA office. Except the files related to day-to-day affairs, no other file is being cleared. As the higher ups are not evincing interest in clearing the files pertaining to building plans etc, sources say, nearly 300 files are pending in planning wing alone. Not less than 1,000 Layout Regulation Scheme (LRS) applications are also pending.
The applicants are seen making rounds in the corridors of the UDA seeking status of their applications. But, to their dismay hardly there is no official to give clarification or answer their queries. The plight of builders and realtors is no different.
“The people have opinion, good or bad, that the things will be done smoothly if we grease palms of staff. But, the money doesn’t work there. The employees were clueless as to what was happening in the UDA,” commented a builder, who did not want to be quoted.
Further, he said, leave alone building plans, there is no end to plight of LRS applicants. There is no mechanism to track your file. The system has collapsed as there is no Board or chairman, he said.
As per the norms, officials say, the Vice-Chairman has to approve the building plans if extent of area exceeded 200 metres. But, the in-charge VC, sources say, is evincing no interest in clearing the files related to building plans. The officials, in private, say they stopped sending files to the VC.
Though the VC is supposed to spend a day in week at the UDA office, practically it is not being implemented, officials say.
