Municipal chiefs told to be ready for ensuing civic polls

Medchal: District Collector M V Reddy on Wednesday directed the municipal commissioners to be ready for the ensuing civic elections to be held shortly.

Addressing a video conference from the collectorate with municipal commissioners, MPDOs. EOPRDs, panchayat secretaries on municipal elections and 'Haritha Haram' programme, Reddy sought details of the municipality-wise details by July 5 of claims, acceptance of objections, draft notification, final publication, identification of polling stations.

The DC directed that a gazetted officer and a non-gazetted assistant should be appointed for three wards each. He wanted the polling stations to be identified and a report on ballot box requirements be prepared. The staff needed for poll duty should be identified along with a review of conduct of polls municipality-wise.

Speaking on 'Haritha Haram', Reddy stated that it was very important along with the civic polls. He asked officials to make the programme successful. 'You should get ready for planting of saplings in view of the commencement of the monsoon season. The spots where icon/avenue plantations are to be taken up should be identified. Agreements for raising saplings should be signed with recognised and empanelled firms.

He directed officials to secure six ft saplings from Kadiyam Nursery for plantation, with metal tree guards. Money should be secured from donors for raising plants with a provision for boards listing the names donors/organisations. Reddy stated that plantations should be taken up in gram panchayats, roads on either side in municipalities, temples, mosques, churches for providing a green look. The saplings should be planted in villages and municipalities under the aegis/supervision of Haritha Haram committees, with active participation of members.

He suggested that the saplings from the grampanchayat nurseries to be handed over to each house should be given only to those who have already dug up pits, with stress on not wasting saplings raised after Herculian effots.

Steps should be taken for taking up plantations by farmers as part of MGNREGS programme. Daily reports on the status of sapling should be submitted. Those present at the video conference included DRO Madhukar Reddy, DPO Sudhakar Reddy, DRDO Koutilya, district-level officials.