Narsipatnam still a ‘panchayat’

Visakhapatnam: Narsipatnam has witnessed little development though it was upgraded into a municipality from a major panchayat by the N Kiran Kumar Reddy government of the erstwhile united Andhra Pradesh way back in 2012. The basic infrastructure in the municipality has virtually remained as it was four years ago when it was a major panchayat.

In the civic elections held in 2014, Chintakayala Anitha was elected Municipal Chairperson. People of the town hoped that Narsipatnam would achieve rapid development as she is a close relative of Panchayat Raj Minister Ch Ayyannapatrudu. But the municipality has failed to take up infrastructure development works in the town as per people’s expectations. People are facing severe hardships due to lack of proper roads, drinking water supply and drainage system. The garbage heaps on the outskirts of the town highlight the fact that the municipality is least bothered about maintenance of proper hygiene. The sanitation in the town gets worse if it rains. People need to wade through flooded roads in many localities. Stink emanates from choked drains and culverts. The pig menace is also high in several localities. The poor hygiene in the town is attributed to lack of adequate number of sanitary workers.

According to a councillor, the strength of sanitation workers has not been increased though Narsipatnam was upgraded into a municipality. The municipal authorities are maintaining sanitation with the help of 90 outsourced workers though the number is highly inadequate. The civic amenities in the colonies located on the outskirts of the town are meagre.

Narrating their civic woes to The Hans India, Sekhar of 10th ward, said: ``Most of the roads in the town are in a bad shape. The stink emanating from the uncleared culverts is unbearable. Despite several complaints to the municipal authorities about poor sanitation, no steps have been taken to improve hygiene in the town.’’

Another resident Padma said, “The town still resembles a major panchayat with poor infrastructure though it became a municipality long ago. Urgent measures need to be taken to improve basic amenities in the municipality.’’

Admitting shortage of sanitation workers, Municipal Commissioner Surendra said, “The civic body is acquiring machinery and other equipment to maintain proper hygiene in the town. Steps have also been initiated to improve basic infrastructure in the municipality.’’

P Sreeram Reddy