75 cr in budget to provide basic amenities in Vijayawada

Vijayawada: The state government has proposed Rs 75 crore for Vijayawada Municipal Corporation in the budget. Minister for Finance Yanamala Ramakrishnudu announced that the fund release was meant for providing basic amenities in the corporation. The Left parties lambasted the government for the nominal allocation when several important issues were not solved.

The leaders asked as to how the government announced Rs 800 crore for smart cities in the budget. Actually, the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation is waiting for government’s support for the last several years. The employees have been demanding that the government pay salaries directly from the government account. The state government did not consider the request of the local body.

The municipal corporation is facing challenges to pay salaries to the employees and bills to the contractors. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu inspected various locations in the city recently and instructed the officials to complete the development works in view of increasing significance for its proximity to Amaravati capital city.

Especially, the plan for canals beautification and road expansion works were stalled in midway due to lack of funds. The district administration has sent proposals for fund release from the state government. But the state government did not allocate any funds except Rs 75 crore.

CPI city secretary and former corporator Donepudi Shankar said the government should release more funds for the city development. The city needs expansion of roads and improvement of drinking water facilities, he said. On the other hand, the government has proposed Rs 7,741 crore for municipal and urban development. The city may get funds from the department, said one senior official.