The State Government on Saturday sought suggestions and objections from Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation on the proposed merger of Anakapalle and Bheemunipatnam municipalities and 10 Gram Panchayats contiguous to GVMC.
In the order issued by Principal Secretary Adhar Sinha, the GVMC was asked to inform the views, objections or suggestions to the Government within 15 days of receiving the order.
If no views, objections or suggestions were received from GVMC within the stipulated period, it would be construed that the GVMC had no remarks to offer on Government’s proposal and further action would be taken basing on the material available with the Government.
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Along with Anakapalle and Bheemunipatnam municipalities, Gram Panchayats of K. Nagarapalem, Kapuluppada, Chepaluppada, Nidigattu, J.V. Agraharam,
Thadi, Salapuvanipalem, Rajupalem, Valluru and Koppaka, in Anakapalle, Parawada and Bheemunipatnam mandals which are located between the two municipalities and GVMC are proposed to be brought under GVMC. Commissioner of GVMC was asked to display a copy of this order on the notice board.
The merger was proposed in view of large-scale expansion of Visakhapatnam towards Gajuwaka on the west and Madhurawada on the east, the linear pattern expansion of urban spread and the severe strain it was causing to the physical infrastructure facilities and service and creating problem for effective management and administration of municipalities and local bodies.
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The Government proposed to expand the GVMC limits to provide better civic services; have better administrative mechanism; ensure better planning and focused development in and around Visakhapatnam; have more equitable devolution of finance and utilisation of resources and ensure uniform enforcement in Visakhapatnam and its suburbs, the order said.
Councils of municipalities of Anakapalle and Bheemunipatnam have passed resolutions during April last giving their consent for the merger. The 10 Gram Panchayats too have given their consent.
The merger was proposed under the first proviso to sub-section (1) of Section 3 of the Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation Act, 1979.