In his inimitable CEO style, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said: “There is a new vision to make Visakhapatnam a new city,” here on Thursday. The Chief Minister has been camping in the city since Monday to oversee the relief and restoration work.
Though restoration work has been on a brisk pace, Mr. Chandrababu Naidu said: “I am not happy with what is happening. I expect more from officers and employees.”
He made Managing Director of Visakha Dairy S.V. Ramana and Diwakar of Heritage Foods commit that total milk supply would be restored immediately.
He also asked them to supply milk in puf-lined vehicles to all the wards in city and to certain areas in the districts, at Rs.10 per litre less than the normal price, for the next two days.
Taking a firm assurance from the GVMC officials, he informed the media that drinking water would reach every household at least for one hour from Friday.
Coming to power, he said, “I shall not leave the city unless and until power is restored to 80 per cent of the consumers.
It is a Herculean task, as about 40,000 poles have fallen, including some high-tension poles.
But we have leased about 15 emergency response systems (ERS) from other states to supply power at least on a temporary basis,” he said.
Power is being restored in a phased manner and has been restored in VSP and KBR.
Earlier, he met Chairman and Managing Director of HPCL Nishi Vasudeva and sought assurance for supply of fuel and LPG.
From Wednesday, the fuel crisis had reduced considerably.
Mr. Chandrababu Naidu also said that he had spoken to the Chief Minister of West Bengal and 2,500 MT of potatoes would reach Visakhapatnam by Friday in 250 trucks.
Talking of his new vision, he said, “While the restoration work will be on, work for developing the city into a Smart City would begin. In the rebuilding process, we have plans to lay underground cables and water pipelines.
And I will seek the advice of the best consultant in the world to chalk out a proper plan for this city.”
