Two municipalities merged in GVMC

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, July 30, 2013: The state government on Tuesday issued a GO merging Bheemunipatnam and Anakapalle municipalities and 10 gram panchayats in Parawada into Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC).

Another two G Os were also issued abolishing both the municipalities, as per the AP Municipalities Act of 1965.

The GO MS No. 375 of Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA & UD) said  the rapid development and growth around GVMC viz., mostly in Anakapalle and Bheemunipatnam municipalities and adjoining gram panchayats, are posing severe strain on the physical infrastructure facilities and service and creating problems regarding effective management, administration, in view of multiplicity of municipalities and local bodies.

Hence, considering all the above, and with a view 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, ensure uniform enforcement in Visakhapatnam and its suburbs, the government has decided to expand the limits of GVMC by merging Anakapalle, Bheemunipatnam and 10 gram panchayats.

The Anakapalle and Bheemunipatnam municipalities have passed resolutions on April 10 and 16, 2012 respectively, agreeing to the merger proposal with the GVMC.

The merger was done under the first provision of sub-section (1) of Section 3 of the Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation Act, 1979.

Simultaneously, G O Nos 373, 374 were also issued abolishing both Anakapalle and Bheemunipatnam municipalities respectively to facilitate the merger.

The proposal to merge Bheemili and Anakapalle municipalities evoked mixed reaction in the ruling Congress while the TD and Left parties opposed it strongly earlier.

When the merger proposal was initially mooted in 2009, it was opposed by many political leaders as they feared the move  would only burden people with extra taxes and other charges.