Guntur emerging as a clean and green city

The city of Guntur is in for a face-lift. Roads are getting a makeover with the Guntur Municipal Corporation (GMC) undertaking road repairs and expansion works. Modern designers are being roped in to redefine the city by developing parks, street lighting, installation of water fountains and of course greening of the city.

Presently, a World Bank aided drinking water project worth Rs 350 crore is under execution, replacing age old water pipes, construction of over-head tanks and giving a boost to its infrastructure. Construction of filtration plants, reservoirs and distribution lines forms part of the grand project, which will ensure 24-hours drinking water supply all seven days of the week.

Water meters will be installed in every house to prevent wastage of precious water resources. The citizens will have to pay for water based on their usage just like one pays power bills. This project will be completed by 2016 April and will be a timely project as the city will soon be besieged by hundreds of state government employees and their families who would be relocating to areas in Guntur and Vijayawada.

The city's infrastructure needs to be boosted as it is congested with people migrating to the districts of Guntur and Vijayawada and ever increasing vehicles filling the roads and making pillion riding difficult.

GMC commissioner C Anuradha told The Hans India that the GMC is being geared up to give a new fillip to the expanding city and its infrastructure. Development of parks and age old tanks is top on priority to boost tourism. Solar projects will be executed at all the identified tanks and tank bunds to give the city a solar touch.

A massive tree plantation programme is being planned with the cooperation of forest and horticulture departments. Tree plantation will be made mandatory for building plans approval to increase green cover streets, lanes and bylanes will be given a green look besides developing new parks.

Also wealth from waste will be generated by exploiting the 750 tonnes of garbage that the seven municipalities generate in the district. A power plant will be set up at Naidupeta to convert the city's waste into energy. Slums will be improved with better amenities and housing apart from development of infrastructure in merged villages to form a greater Guntur.

Anuradha revealed that under 'Swachh Bharath' programme every house in Guntur including slums will have individual latrines by the end of the year. The municipal Commissioner appealed to the people to extend their cooperation in converting the city into a clean, green and healthy area.

By Ravi P Benjamin