Greater Vijayawada plan evokes mixed response

Vijayawada: Though villagers of Vijayawada rural and Gannavaram mandal welcomed the decision of the state government to merge with the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) majority of villagers in Penamaluru and Kankipadu mandals opposed the move. The officials on Friday conducted a survey to elicit public opinion on the merger proposal in the limits of Kanuru village.

According to officials, Jakkampudi, Ambapuram, Ramavarapupadu, Patapadu, P Nainavaram, Kotturu Tadepalli, Penamaluru, Uppurulu, Punadipadu villagers accepted the merger proposal. The government has proposed to merge 32 villages in Vijayawada Rural, Gannavaram, Penamaluru and Kankipadu in Krishna district in the corporation. 

The villages should pass a resolution by accepting the proposal to merge with the corporation. As part of it, officials of panchayat raj and municipal corporation conducted a special meeting with the local people's representatives and the villagers. But the officials received mixed response from villagers and representatives. The officials said as many as 11 villages in Gannavaram mandal in Nuzvid division accepted the government’s decision unanimously. But the villagers in Penamuluru mandal opposed the plans of government by raising many doubts. 

Especially, the village sarpanches questioned the officials as to how the villages would get benefit from the decision of merger in the municipal corporation. They pointed out that the corporation’s financial position is bad and how could they join hands with the municipal corporation. They also said the corporation owed debt to the tune of Rs 450 crore and that burden would be transferred on panchayats. They pointed out the corporation is not able to pay bills to contractors for the past several years.

However, the officials tried to convince them by explaining plans of government. Some villagers said that now they have every right to take a decision on village development, including laying of roads. But once the villages are merged with corporation, they must totally depend on the officials instead of local people's representatives, they pointed out. 

Speaking to The Hans India, Vijayawada divisional panchayat officer Chandramohan said the remaining panchayats should inform the government whether to pass a resolution by accepting merger with the corporation or rejecting it till next week. He also said the government will take a decision after reviewing the opinions of villagers. 

By Patibandla Srinivas