Vizag discussions

[s.yogendra]

This thread can be use to post and discuss the problems and issues and developments happening in general aspects of citizens in Vizag

[s.yogendra]

SWEDISH, CDIA REPRESENTATIVES DISCUSS COLLABORATION WITH GVMC

Officials of the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) on Tuesday held discussions with representatives of the Embassy of Sweden and Cities Development Initiative Asia (CDIA), Chennai. Programme Manager from the Embassy of Sweden, New Delhi, Aarti Davis and Senior Programme Specialist from CDIA Balakrishnan Elangovan apprised Municipal Commissioner B. Ramanjaneyulu of the proposals in the areas of ‘waste to energy' and ‘pre-feasibility studies on revised City Development Plan, water distribution and integrated slum development.' The two explained details of the plan of action in the areas of support being extended by them through an integrated approach, and also in terms of long- term collaboration with GVMC. The Commissioner assured them that all possible support would be extended, in terms of land, labour and machinery, for realising the benefits of the solid waste management (SWM) project, such as generation of energy and compost for internal usage through a reasonable pay back system. Mr. Ramanjaneyulu stressed the immediate need for generating energy with Swedish technology and financial partnerships from domestic and Swedish partners. Water supply and distribution, with specific emphasis on improving revenue, and Swedish technology on revenue collection using latest information technology systems to avoid loopholes in the existing system also came up for discussion. Replying to the proposals put forth by the Swedish representative regarding the visit of the Swedish delegation to GVMC during September, 2011, he requested her to make arrangements for visits to the Waste to Energy Plants in Delhi and Sweden, to understand the process and technology, for replication in GVMC. A team comprising political members and officials of GVMC would participate in the visit before the Swedish delegation came here. The embassy official and CDIA have tentatively accepted the proposal and assured him of a response shortly. Additional Commissioners P. Poornachandra Rao and S. Krishna Murthy, Chief Engineer B. Jayarami Reddy, Chief Medical Officer D. Abbulu, Chief City Planner D. Venkataratnam and Superintendent Engineers of Water Supply and Projects, C.G.K. Raju and Surya Jyothi, Financial Advisor Y. Mangapathi Rao and Examiner of Accounts G. Satyanarayana attended the interactive session coordinated by HRD Consultant A.Rajendra Krishna.

Source

[s.yogendra]

VSP sales grew by 87% during 1st Quarter

Vizag: Visakhapatnam Steel Plant sold about 5.66 lakh tons of steel products during the 1 st Quarter ending Juneí11, recording a growth of 62%. With the higher component sale of Value Added Steel, VSP's turn over increased to a high of Rs.2583 crores, a growth of 87%. Sales to projects of national importance also increased to a level of around 1.5 lakh tons which is also higher by 26% with respect to corresponding period of last year.

Thrust got intensified for rural marketing and during the Q1 VSP registered 31 new Rural Dealers. Production of finished products particularly of Steel Bars was increased to 2.20 lakh tons, represents a growth of 6% compared to last year, the best for any quarter since inception.

Improvement in some of the techno-economic parameters also achieved which include record Convertor Lining Life of 5135 Heats in Steel Melt Shop (best since inception), shows a growth of 2% over corresponding period of last year.

New Oxygen Plant under expansion started producing both Oxygen and Argon. Water Supply Unit for new SMS, new turbo blower and several others got commissioned. Test and trail runs of main units including Basic Oxygen Furnace shop, Continuous Casters and Wire Rod Mill are also progressing well.

Source

[s.yogendra]

VUDA plans housing for LIG, MIG

Housing for low- and middle-income classes is top on the agenda of VUDA, Vice-Chairman Kona Sasidhar has said.

Indicating mid-course correction, he said it proposed to take up projects at Achyutapuram, Gajuwaka and Kapuluppada and with the district administration promising to look into allotment of bulk lands, the authority was thinking of a township for these sections.

He was speaking on Monday at his first major media interaction after taking over at the helm of the VUDA. Low-cost housing with schools, hospitals and other amenities were required for a balanced development, he said.

To augment its revenue, the VUDA also had plans to take up two towers in sites adjacent to its office to house IT incubation centres besides other facilities. While the VUDA has ongoing projects worth Rs.270 crore, it does not get any budgetary support from the government.

An integrated master plan of the Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region (VMR) comprising four districts from Srikakulam to East Godavari would be ready in two years, he said.

The permission of the Central Government had been obtained and expression of interest (EoI) would be invited soon.

The earlier master plan for VUDA was finalised in 2006 after which its jurisdiction was increased encompassing more than 5,573 sq km. The plan would integrate the independent master plan for Visakahpatnam and wherever other towns had it and that of PCPIR.

While admitting that some lapses had occurred in the past, he said the GVMC and VUDA had to work in closer coordination for a planned growth and to prevent unplanned development in violation of the master plan.
CRZ norms

On CRZ norms, he said the Collector had written to the authorities to effect a conversion wherever more than 50 per cent development (of habitations) had occurred.

On the Harita housing project on which work had come to a halt after the demand for increasing the price by the executing agency, the Vice-Chairman said regardless of its profit and loss, the VUDA would protect customers' interests.

A final notice had been given. The VUDA was ready to take up the hill-top road once the Endowments Department gave its clearance.

©Hindu

[s.yogendra]

Rough ride for motorists

With the rain on Tuesday the Daba Gardens road in Visakhapatnam turned out to be a nighmare for road-users, particularly two-wheeler riders with its potholes and unpaved surface

For months together roads in the city had been in a bad shape owing to various works going on. With rain for a day on Tuesday, they became worse.

The arterial Dabagardens road is testing the patience of road-users. The left side of the road from Ambedkar Statue to VJF Press Club is uneven without being paved and pot-holed. The stretch from the incomplete flyover junction to Ambedkar statue from behind LIC Office is no better. The potholes have turned deeper with the rain pounding them.

Road-users, mainly pedestrians and two-wheeler riders, are in for big trouble while negotiating the road in rain. With parking taking up part of the road, manoeuvrability has become difficult often forcing vehicle-riders literally into the pits.

The Under Ground Drainage wing of the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) made trenches for UGD work about six months ago. It has to restore the road after its work.

Officials of the Public Works wing of the GVMC say if instructions are given to them to restore the road in case the UGD department cannot take it up for some reason, they will do it.

The front wheel of a ready mix concrete lorry got struck in the mud dug up on the road where the work on construction of the subway work was going on at Asilametta. The roads all around Asilametta turned slushy and slippery due to the rain.

The incessant rain on Tuesday was said to be due to upper air circulation over North West Bay of Bengal. The chief amounts of rainfall received (in cm) during the last 24 hours ending 8.30 a.m. on Tuesday are: Elamanchili – 10, Bhimavaram – 6, Srungavarpukota – 5, Amalapuram – 4, Krishnapatnam, Tekkali, Visakhapatnam city and airport – 3 cm each.

©Hindu

[s.yogendra]

GVMC moves to ban plastic bags

A resolution would be introduced on banning plastic bags below 40 microns of thickness at the corporation general body meeting on July 11 for approval and 15 days after that the ban would be enforced.

©Hindu

[s.yogendra]

GVMC to get Nagara Ratna award

The award is given every year for best rated performance

Leading the way among the 65 mission cities of Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), the Human Resource Development Centre in GVMC has worked extensively for capacity building right from officials to workers and all the stake-holders.

Though it's an optional reform in the JNNURM, Visakhapatnam is the only urban local body to have taken up HRD. The HRD Centre, formed in 2008, when Mukesh Kumar Meena was the Municipal Commissioner, has since provided in-house training on technical aspects, engineering and solid waste management, among other things. The external training is being taken up by university professors and consultants and with support from ASCI, All India Institute of Local Self-Governance, Mumbai, ESCI, Dr MCR HRD Institute, Hyderabad, Indian Institute of Public Administration and Regional Centre for Urban and Environmental Studies, Hyderabad.

Study tours

According to HRD Consultant A. Rajendra Krishna, a former Senior Manager of APSTC, the centre has so far conducted 120 training programmes and 49 workshops training 6,904 persons. Besides, 138 employees in various cadres and council members have been sponsored to 103 external programmes. It coordinates the study tours of corporators and officials to various mission cities. It prepared employee feedback and performance appraisal reports for those who attended the training. The HRD training and development impact reflected in the overall performance of the corporation and improving working skills as gauged through surveys of resident welfare associations. More importantly, it helped in improving the presentation skills of officials. So far, GVMC has won JNNURM awards for best city for internal earmarking of BSUP and Best BSUP city (both in 2008-09) and Best city award for implementation of urban reforms and infrastructure and best city for BSUP implementation (both in 2009-10).

On Friday, Mayor Pulusu Janardhana Rao and Municipal Commissioner B. Ramanjaneyulu will receive the Nagar Ratna award of the All-India Institute of Self-Government, under the Ministry of HRD, from President Pratibha Patil at Mumbai. The award is given every year for best rated performance in areas like SWM, revenue collection and financial performance. “The entry has been sent in the HRD applications format and how best we improved them,” says Mr. Rajendra Krishna. “As a measure of recognition of our work after a presentation at ASCI, National Institute of Urban Affairs has come out with a HRD toolkit and it recommended it for replication in all the mission cities,” he says. The HRD wing also coordinates with various international organisations such as the Swedish Embassy, CDIA, SIDA etc extending support to GVMC.

©Hindu

[s.yogendra]

GVMC assures slum free city in 5 years

July 27: The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) has embarked on an ambitious project to free the city from slums in another five years by constructing houses under Rajiv Awas Yojana (RAY) and distribute it among the slum-dwellers. It may be recalled that plans were prepared for 117 slum development projects in 741 slums in the city.

The GVMC commissioner, Mr B. Ramanjaneyulu, held a review meet on RAY and sought a detailed project from the officials by August 15 on developing two pilot projects under which 196 houses (G plus 3) would be constructed. He said a Chennai-based private agency conducting a survey on slums has been removed and asked the officials to organise a meeting with the local corporator on Saturday for construction of housing scheme in Suryatejanagar.

He said zone-wise, the slums should be either notified or denotified. He told the officials to prepare plans for constructing one lakh houses during the next five years under Rajiv Awas Yojana. “There should be no slum in the GVMC limits after five years,” the commissioner told the officials. Identification of beneficiaries should begin from now onwards and bank accounts should be opened in their names. The officials should see that the beneficiaries deposited an amount of Rs 500 every month.

Ten times of the amount deposited by the people would be given by the banks as loan. Those paying Rs 25,000 at the lintel level would be eligible for lottery and they would be entitled to direct the construction as per their needs, he said. He said he would discuss with the collector to acquire 1500 acre through land-pooling. The GVMC is also ready to construct houses for the poor if Vuda was handed over 20 per cent area of the Vuda layouts.

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chann...ty-5-years-449

[jpratikra]

Trial runs have begun at the new Passport Service Kendra (PSK) at Muralinagar in the city. The fully air-conditioned PSK, scheduled to begin functioning from the first week of August, will literally give a breather to passport applicants, who have been sweating it out at the old Passport Office at Railway New Colony in the absence of ACs.

The swanky new office, located right beside the National Highway at Murali Nagar, has 18 counters as against three at the existing office at New Colony. The PSK will be manned by around 40 employees of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) who would take care of the front office work. There will also be six verifying officers and three granting officers and an Assistant Passport Officer at the PSK. The Passport Officer, other officials and staff will function from the new Regional Passport Office located at Marripalem VUDA Colony.

“There will be three zones -- acceptance, verification and granting -- and an applicant can walk out of the office within 25 minutes on completion of work at the three zones. Online sending of police clearance certificate is expected to considerably reduce delays in the issue of passports,” Passport Officer V.S.D.L. Surendra said during a visit to the PSK on Thursday.

Verification
Passport seekers have to scan copies of their certificates and file their details online at any Internet centre or from their home. An Application Reference Number (ARN) would be generated and the date on which they have to report at the PSK would also be given. The applicants have to report at the PSK along with the requisite original certificates for verification, payment of fee and other formalities. After scrutiny of the original certificates at the PSK, the details would be sent online to the police. The police would verify the credentials of the applicants at their home address and send the ‘police clearance certificate' online to the PSK. The PSK would send the final details to the Regional Passport Office for issue of the passport. The passports would be sent to the applicants to the address given by them in their application.

“Once the new system gets stabilized and the huge backlog is cleared, new passports are expected to be issued in about 15 days,” said Mr. Surendra.

[jpratikra]

The world's largest floating library M.V. Logos Hope anchored at the Visakha Container Terminal, located opposite the Old Town Hall on the Beach Road, on Saturday. It will remain open to the public till August 11.

The ship will be open for visitors from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays and Mondays and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. from Tuesday to Saturday. The entrance ticket is priced at Rs.50 but it is free for children under 16, but they should be accompanied by an adult. The expo has over 5,000 collections which include: books on science, sports, hobbies, cookery and dictionaries.

The ship also has a cafeteria which serves ice creams, coffee, pastries and cool drinks.

[jpratikra]

http://epaper.sakshi.com/apnews/Visa...boxid=28356794

[s.yogendra]

Commissioner scraps RWA sanitation system

The commissioner of the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation, Mr B. Ramanjaneyulu, on Tuesday scrapped the sanitation system under Residential Welfare Association (RWA) and decided to appoint contractors for all the 72 wards. There were 5,200 sanitary workers run by the 600 residential welfare associations launched five years ago.

The commissioner of the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation, Mr B. Ramanjaneyulu, on Tuesday scrapped the sanitation system under Residential Welfare Association (RWA) and decided to appoint contractors for all the 72 wards. There were 5,200 sanitary workers run by the 600 residential welfare associations launched five years ago. Initially, there were paid Rs.1,500 each and recently their monthly wages were increased to Rs.4,500 which was inclusive of Provident Fund and ESI. Each worker was getting Rs.3,800 after deduction of PF and ESI. But the associations were paying them only Rs.3,200 and most of them were employed in corporators’ homes as domestic helps. There were allegations that the associations were drawing money under benami names. Two third of the work force was working in nights while the remaining during day. Due to lack of supervision, the day workers were working less than two hours. Keeping this in view, the commissioner introduced pinpoint sanitation system under which each worker would be allotted an area of 500 square metres. If the garbage was found in the area, it would be responsibility of the worker concerned. The system came into being from August 1.There were protests from the workers after the commissioner announced scrapping of RWA system. The commissioner spoke to them and convinced that they would be redeployed by the contractors to be appointed for each of 72 wards.He told the zonal commissioners that the contract system should not go into the hands of syndicates and announced that criminal cases would be filed if any person obstructed the sanitation work in the

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chann...ion-system-937

[s.yogendra]

Passport Seva Kendra opens in Vizag

Six more to open in the State; project in association with TCS
Visakhapatnam, Aug. 5:

A Passport Seva Kendra, the first in the State and the 13th in the country, was inaugurated here on Friday. Six more such kendras would be opened in the State and the total number in the country would go up to 77.

Mr Muktesh Kumar Pardeshi, the Joint Secretary and the Chief Passport Officer in the Ministry of External Affairs, who inaugurated it, said the e-governance project was being implemented in the country in association with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) to pave the way for hassle-free and transparent issue of passports, eliminating middlemen and touts. Procedures had been simplified even for a common man to get a passport easily.

He said there were at present 37 passport offices in the country, including the one at Visakhapatnam, but they were not able to cope with the work pressure in view of the ever-increasing number of passport applicants.

Therefore, in the public-private partnership mode, the Ministry of External Affairs had introduced the PSK project in association with TCS. The first PSK was set up in Bangalore, in 2010, and the remaining would be opened in phases.

Mr K. Srikar Reddy, Regional Passport Officer, Hyderabad, said six more such PSKs would be opened in the State in a few months' time. Three of them would be located in Hyderabad and the rest at Vijayawada, Nizamabad and Tirupati. Mr Surendra, Passport Officer at Vizag, said the local passport office had been rendering excellent service to the public, in spite of staff shortage and the setting up of the PSK would greatly ease the pressure.

The local office was covering five coastal districts - Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, East and West Godavari districts. The rest of the State comes under the jurisdiction of the Hyderabad passport office.
Features introduced

Mr Rajesh Dogra, head of the passport wing, TCS, said the Passport Seva Kendras in the country had so far processed over seven lakh passport applications. On the aggregate, each PSK was processing 4,000-4,500 passport applications every day.

Biometric features and digital signatures had been introduced. There was also a fully functional call centre and the passport applicants can obtain answers in five languages, including Telugu, to their queries on the status of the application. He thanked the Ministry of External Affairs for its co-operation in the implementation of the project.
Police verification

Mr J.V. Poornachandra Rao, Commissioner of Police, Vizag, promised that the police verification procedures would also be expedited and made hassle-free to make it easier for the passport seekers. Mr Chandra Prakash, Post Master-General, Vizag region, promised that the passports would be delivered quickly. Mr Rupesh K, head of the local PSK of TCS, also spoke. Mr K. Sasidhar, Vice-Chairman of the Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority, also participated in the function.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/...cle2328237.ece

[s.yogendra]

Vizag lags in road schemes: Tulasi

Appreciating the district administration’s efforts in afforestation programmes, the chairman of 20-point economic implementation programme, Dr N. Tulasi Reddy, said the administration fell far behind in Prime Minister Sadak Rozgar Yojana.

Appreciating the district administration’s efforts in afforestation programmes, the chairman of 20-point economic implementation programme, Dr N. Tulasi Reddy, said the administration fell far behind in Prime Minister Sadak Rozgar Yojana.

After reviewing the implementation of various schemes, Dr Reddy told reporters that the district has occupied sixth position in the state during 2010-11 as the performance parameters of anganwadi workers, power supply to agriculture pumpsets, but the Sadak Yojana took a back seat.

At the national level, the state stood first during 1992-93 and also in the last financial year along with Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh. He said periodical assessment to understand on how the government has been functioning vis-Ã -vis the 20-point programme launched by Indira Gandhi 36 years ago.

Dr Reddy said he had suggested the officials involved in the 20-point programme to monitor the progress as per the annual targets and to always prefer field inspection without depending upon wild calculations. Stating that there was no dearth of funds, he said the programmes are being sponsored by the Centre and the funds released as per the annual targets.

Regarding shortage of supply of medicines in the Agency areas where the tribals have been suffering from various diseases, the joint collector, Mr Girija Sankar, said there was no short supply of medicines. There was shortage of medical professionals but the administration recently appointed 24 doctors for Agency areas, he added.

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chann...mes-tulasi-396

[Gudavalli]

Source: DC

Sri Satya Sai Seva Organi-sation launched a digital village at Buttayagudem in West Godavari district on Monday. Mr S.G. Chalam, state president, Sri Satya Sai Seva Organisations, Andhra Pradesh, inaugurated the digital village from Visakhapatnam. Prof. Kamaraju Anil Kumar, a renowned speaker and close associate of Satya Sai Baba inaugurated the project from Buttayagudem village. Significant feature of the digital village concept is the provision of specialised e-medical care to the villagers through interaction with various specialist doctors from Vizag studio.


The entire system operates through video conferencing through high-speed internet connection at Vizag and villages. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Chalam said it was yet another step towards gra-ma seva by using the latest technology. He said that plans were on to extend th-is facility to some more villages in Andhra Pradesh. Prof. Anil Kumar lauded the untiring efforts of everyone who made this project a reality in a record shortest possible time.

[Gudavalli]

Source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/...ry-and-economy

Visakhapatnam, Oct. 19:
Intel India is conducting a campaign across the country, especially in Andhra Pradesh, to spread awareness about personal computers and the various applications, as the PC market is expanding rapidly in the State and the country, according to Mr R. Ravichandran, Director (Sales), South Asia.
At a press meet here on Wednesday, he said the PC business was stagnating in the established markets of the west but there was immense scope in the emerging markets such as India, China, and Brazil. “It is estimated that close to 3.2 billion people are without PCs in the emerging markets and it is a huge market. Unlike in the past, when prices were very high, affordability is no longer a barrier in markets such as India. PCs are now available at a price of roughly Rs 20,000 and there are 115 million households in the country with an annual income of Rs 2.5 lakh per annum. There are now more than 100 million Internet users in the country, as the connectivity has improved vastly. We are bullish on the Indian market,” he said.
Digital divide

He said it was also important to bridge the digital divide and take personal computers to the rural markets. “We are conducting computer and Internet melas to give the public first-hand experience in the tier-two towns and cities. In Andhra Pradesh, we have conducted 30 computer melas during the past one year or so in towns such as Kakinada, Rajahmundry, Visakhapatnam, Guntur, Nellore and Tirupati. We are educating the public on the advantages of technology use and adoption and also about broadband connectivity,” he said.
Mr Ravichandran said Intel had also shown technological solutions to 5,000 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Andhra Pradesh in association with the Federation of AP Chambers of Commerce and Industry. “Andhra Pradesh has, in recent times, made rapid strides in setting up self-help groups of women. We have trained and provided computers to 5,000 SHGs in the State and it is making a lot of difference,” he said.
He said Intel had also imparted training to 3.5 lakh teachers in the State and “it is estimated that there are four million households in the urban areas of the State without PCs. We are confident of making inroads into the market.”

[Gudavalli]

Source: http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/246932

Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), Oct.23 (ANI): Irrespective of the competition posed by the Chinese electric lights, the traditional clay lamp makers of Visakhapatnam ,Andhra Pradesh, are doing brisk business ahead of Diwali.
On the occasion of Diwali, people decorate their [COLOR=blue ! important][COLOR=blue ! important]homes[/COLOR][/COLOR] with lights, flowers, and earthen lamps.



However in Visakhapatnam there seems to be more awareness towards the protection of environment and they look forward to light their homes with earthen diyas (lamps).
This time potters from Rajasthan flocked to the southern city as the demand for the Rajasthani earthen lamps is on the rise.
"For the last three months we were making it (clay items) in Rajasthan and we are here for the past one month," said Asha, a road side vendor.
Moreover, many corporate schools in the city had trained [COLOR=blue ! important][COLOR=blue ! important]students[/COLOR][/COLOR] in making 'diyas' by appointing a potter in their school premises and later distributed the diyas.
"The motto behind this is eco-friendship which is based totally on environment. Nowadays you can hardly see any of us buy the man made diyas (lamps) and we are going and buying these plastic diyas which are harmful and totally against the environment," said Santhi, a schoolteacher.
It was a delight for the children to [COLOR=blue ! important][COLOR=blue ! important]watch[/COLOR][/COLOR] the potter turn the wheel to make the 'diyas' (earthen lamps).
Across the state dozens of diyas designed in the moulds of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi had become immensely popular. Here the Rajasthani families gave a new dimension to clay and turned them into a decorative and artistic pieces.
The potters displayed exemplary artistic skills as they made innovative pieces from clay like a hand holding the lamp, a woman carrying diyas, or an elephant with a bulk of diyas on its back.
The terracotta pots from Rajasthan have a contemporary look. As the festival nears, the families sit throughout the day adding embellishments to the serried rows of terracotta diyas in myriad shapes.
It is customary for the Hindus in north and western India to buy new clothes, household items, sweets, decorative lights and firecrackers on this occasion.
Diwali, which falls on October 26 this year, is celebrated with great fervour and gaiety all over India as it marks the return of Hindu god Lord Ram to Ayodhya in northern India after he defeated Ravana, the powerful king of Lanka.
Legend says millions of lamps were lit when Lord Ram returned after 14 years of exile in forests and after he defeated Ravana.
Diwali is also celebrated in honour of Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity. It is believed that Lakshmi, signifying prosperity, comes into those homes that are clean and well-lit.(ANI)

[yalla_vamsi]

GVMC plan to fight pollution

The GVMC is planning to use Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) produced from the solid waste in the city to reduce vehicular pollution caused by carbon monoxide emissions.

After a study by Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, and IIT, Delhi, it has been found that Visakhapatnam is environmentally sustainable along with three other cities for implementation of various measures to reduce pollution. About 60 per cent of the 1,000 tons of garbage could be converted into CNG. By its general body resolution, the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation has decided to hand over the SWM management to Ramki Enviro Engineers. Visakhapatnam is among the four cities selected all over the country and the only from South India for aid by UNDP for reducing carbon monoxide emissions. The other three cities are: Ludhiana, Patna, and Nagpur.

Municipal Commissioner B. Ramanjaneyulu told reporters on Monday that the GVMC would insist that the CNG produced from garbage and fertilizer etc. should be sold to the civic body. However, no decision has yet been taken on the technology and machinery to be used.

Besides, a strategy to fight the pollution caused by the Visakhapatnam Port is also being worked out. Some of those staying very close to the port will be shifted to other places so as to develop green belt.


HINDU

[S Chigurupati]

Source: Times of India

VISAKHAPATNAM: To expand green cover in the port city, the civic authorities are planning to plant more than 50 lakh saplings at a cost of Rs 5 crore in the next five years.

Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) and Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority (Vuda) would jointly take up this drive and distribute saplings to citizens. Vizag was listed among the top pollution generating cities in the country by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and a moratorium on new industries was imposed one-and-a-half years ago with an aim to bring down the rising pollution levels.

The authorities would supply four saplings to each house in the greater city limits. For effective implementation, GVMC would set up street committees in all the 72 wards. The council would meet on November 9 for this. Sources said the council would also evolve policies to take the campaign among the residents. Each street committee would consist of senior citizens, youth and representatives of voluntary organizations led by the local corporator.

The committee would take care of planting, sanitation, streetlights and others. "The corporation would deal with financial matters," GVMC commissioner B Ramanjaneyulu said. He said creating awareness among the people and encouraging them to plant saplings would be one of the first campaigns to be taken up by GVMC.

[s.yogendra]

Meet soon on Vizag airport

The Visakhapatnam MP and the minister of State for Human Resource Development, Ms D. Purandeswari, is likely to conduct a special meet in the second week of December with 100 VIPs, including CEOs of various industries and companies across the city, to take suggestions and feedback from them to develop Vizag airport.

read more: http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chann...ag-airport-575