The Hindu          27.12.2011

GVMC to assert right over open spaces

GVMC will assert its right over open sites in the city in an effort to accommodate hawkers' zones.

It is estimated that GVMC has 741 open sites running into 641 acres whose value runs into hundreds of crores of rupees. “It is estimated that about 10 per cent of the open sites are under encroachment,” says Municipal Commissioner B. Ramanjaneyulu.

Once the layout was approved by VUDA showing open space, it belonged to GVMC and VUDA had no right over it, he told reporters here on Monday. GVMC should have the title deed.

Survey

Even if the sites were used for the purpose they were meant, say like setting up educational institutions, GVMC would have a member on the committee to safeguard it, he says.

If a building had already been constructed on the open space, it would be seized, he said.

The City Planning Department has already taken up enumeration of sites by making field verification.

A survey of constructions in Zone I revealed that there were about 40 to 50 unauthorised constructions. The Commissioner said a similar survey be taken up in all zones.

He ordered that the assistant city planner concerned by shifted to the GVMC main office and a charge memo issued to the town planning assistant.

After the removal of bottlenecks at NAD Kotha Road following the instructions of Mr. Ramanjaneyulu and providing ‘free left' for vehicles, the focus shifted to addressing the problems of pedestrians.

The Commissioner spoke to Visakhapatnam Steel Plant CMD A.P. Choudhary and urged him to set up a foot over-bridge under corporate social responsibility and the latter agreed.

The Steel Plant has earlier agreed to provide to FOBs to the corporation and it did not materialise as the contractor reportedly stopped work midway.