VMC begins demolition drive

- 300 houses to be demolished in first phase
- Later 700 more houses will be removed along Krishna river From Bhavanipuram to Ibrahimpatnam

Vijayawada: In order to develop the bathing ghats from Bhavanipuram to Ibrahimpatnam to mark the Krishna Pushkaralu, the Vijayawada
Municipal Corporation (VMC) has started demolishing the houses and shops along the Karakatta near Punnami ghat in Bhavanipuram. In
the first phase, 300 houses will be demolished near the Punnami ghat.

Later, another 700 houses will be removed along the Krishna river from Punnami ghat to Ibrahimpatnam. The VMC has conducted a
survey in 26 and 27 divisions along the Krishna river and decided to demolish nearly 1,000 houses. The VMC staff are serving notices to
the residents and asking them to shift to Jakkampudi colony.

The VMC is working in co-ordination with the Chinese teams to develop the Pushkaram ghats to the stretch of 2.1 km. Permanent ghats
will be built along the Krishna. There is huge gap between the ghats in the city. Now, the gap will be filled and transformed into a single
ghat.

Lakhs of devotees will take part in the Krishna Pushkaralu to be held in August. The State government has sanctioned funds to both VMC
and the irrigation departments. Officials of the two departments are working together to provide amenities for the devotees. In order to
develop the ghats, the VMC is demolishing the houses.

The displaced families have to pay Rs 66,000 for each house in Jakkampudi. The VMC officials are asking the residents to shift to their
new houses in Jakkampudi colony as early as possible so that the work can be hastened. However, many residents are furious over the
decision of the VMC on demolishing of their houses. They had been living along the Karakatta for over three decades and paying taxes to
the VMC. Nearly 100 residents have alleged that they were not allotted houses in Jakkampudi colony and officials are turning deaf ear to
their pleas.

Earlier, the VMC staff conducted a survey along the Karakatta and prepared the list of families and allotted houses in Jakkampudi colony.
U V Ramaraju, the CPM leader in Bhavanipuram has alleged that the Government was not paying compensation to the displaced families.
He recalled that the Government paid compensation of Rs 53,000 per square yard to the families when houses were removed for
construction of flyover near the Durga temple. He said the same can be applied to the poor people, whose houses were demolished. He
said the poor people should be given at least six months for payment of Rs 66,000 to get house in Jakkampudi YSR Colony.

Meanwhile, local resident M Durgarao alleged that the VMC had not allotted house for him in Jakkampudi. Another resident M Sivamma
alleged that officials were ignoring her pleas for the allotment of house in Jakkampudi colony. They are expressing discontent over the
apathy of the VMC in allotment of houses to all displaced families. The VMC officials are saying that they would verify the names and do
justice to the eligible families.

Mukthyala, Vedadri ghats
Krishna District Collector Babu A on Wednesday instructed the officials to develop the Mukthyala and Vedadri bathing ghats in
Jaggaiahpet mandal of the district at a cost of Rs 5 crore. The Collector along with the officials of revenue, irrigation, endowments, R and
B, Panchayat Raj inspected the two historical ghats and enquired about the facilities.

He said Rs 3 crore will be sanctioned for the development of Muktyala ghat and Rs 2 crore for Vedadri ghat. He said a large number of
devotees might come from Guntur district for the Pushkaralu and instructed the officials to maintain good quality in the development
works. Sub-Collector G Srujana, Jaggaiahpet MLA Sriram Tataiah and others present.

Md Ameen