Following the orders of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on merger of surrounding villages with the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation, the civic body has begun preparing a proper base to carry out the procedure smoothly. The government targets to complete the merger in the next one and a half years before going for the municipal elections.
In all, 46 villages with over 4.8 lakh population will be merged with the VMC which will emerge as Greater Vijayawada Municipal Corporation with a population of over 18 lakh. The civic body, which has already done the required feasibility studies, is currently conducting surveys to assess tax prospects and the scope for providing basic amenities and other civic infrastructure. It is also gearing up to take sanitation of villages into its fold.
Meanwhile, it is proposed to divide the greater city into eight zones for administrative purposes and will be headed by zonal commissioners, according to Municipal Commissioner J. Nivas.
“Until now, the city which has over 13 lakh population is in one zone and the new zones will make administration much better,” Mr. Nivas said. The civic chief said that taxation in the villages will be less compared to that in the city as they come under rural areas. The privatisation of the sanitation of the city will make the contractor responsible for recruiting sufficient staff wherever required. For other wings, required staff will be recruited by the civic body.