The Hindu     11.02.2016 

Civic body set to beautify town and improve amenities

Work on a fountain in progress at Yellandu Crossroads in Khammam- PHOTO: G.N.RAO

Khammam Municipal Corporation has readied ambitious plans to install over 400 LED streetlights in the corporation limits and construct a fountain at Yellendu crossroads for beautification of the town.

The new initiative forms a slew of measures initiated by the civic body to beautify the town and improve civic amenities.

The civic body has already initiated a wall painting project to give an aesthetic look to the walls and other public spaces along the main thoroughfares in the town.

The move comes close on the heels of the grand plans drawn up by the district administration to restore the historic Lakkaram Cheruvu, develop a tank bund and a flower garden on the fringes of the tank. A plan is on the anvil to install a total of 432 LED streetlights in the corporation limits, says Khammam Municipal Commissioner G. Venugopal Reddy.

LED lights will help provide better illumination and cut down power bills. Poles are being erected along the main roads in the town, he says, adding that the new LED lights will be installed within a month. Works on a fountain are underway at Yellendu crossroads near the Two Town police station as part of the town beautification plan.

Bridge inaugurated

Meanwhile, Minister for Roads and Buildings T Nageswara Rao inaugurated a new high-level bridge constructed at a cost of Rs 2.60 crore across the NSP left canal at Pallegudem on the Khammam-Mahabubabad main road in Khammam rural mandal on Tuesday evening.

The new bridge was constructed replacing the old bridge built during the 1970s following persistent demands from villagers of Khammam rural mandal and the adjoining areas of Warangal district.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Rao said the main junction on the Kodad-Kurvi road, which is part of the NH-365A, would be developed at an estimated cost of Rs 1 crore soon.

Around 10,000 house site pattas would be sanctioned to shelterless poor in Khammam municipal corporation limits, he said, adding that the two-bed room houses would be constructed expeditiously.

The Hindu       19.02.2015  

BBMP’s score is less than 40 per cent

The city is plagued by several infrastructural issues. Better roads, clear footpaths, storm water drains…these have remained a Utopian dream for citizens.

The financially-starved Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike, which is largely responsible for improving infrastructure and providing civic amenities, has failed in its obligatory duty, feel citizens.

Though the civic body’s budgets paint a rosy picture, implementation has been poor — just around 40 per cent.

The former Opposition Leader in BBMP council, M.K. Gunasekhar, pointed out that the average budget implementation has been poor, which was indicative of the poor resource mobilisation. He also lamented about the lack of transparency in preparation of budget.

As per the Karnataka Local Fund Authorities Fiscal Responsibilities Act, 2003 the views of citizens’ groups and non-governmental organisations must be sought ahead of the budget preparation. Several residents’ welfare associations in the city concurred.

D.S. Rajashekhar, president of the Citizens’ Action Forum, said long-term and short-term priorities should be set for the wards. This could later be incorporated in the budget, he said.

Vijayan Menon, president of Koramangala Residents’ Welfare Association, said this could happen only if ward committees were active.