Q. Most Vizagites are so accustomed to notices outside apartments and buildings saying 'Visitors do not bring your vehicles in' or some other rude words to that effect, that they hardly pay attention to them anymore and do not question their legality.

However, with parking problems in Vizag mounting, GVMC has recently thrown the book at apartment builders and residents by drawing their attention to a rule in the building code stating that every building is supposed to provide for Visitor Parking - something that most of us were not even aware of. This has, expectedly, met with resistance from builders and cheers from visitors A case can be made for both parties but, a rule is a rule and so cannot be legally challenged. How do feel about enforcement of this rule?

Q. The State Government of Andhra Pradesh has decided to push forward with its ambitious plan to convert Municipal Corporations of Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam into Greater Corporations on the lines of Greater Mumbai by integrating the adjoining municipalities and gram panchayats with the main City Corporation.

With the merger of Gajuwaka municipality and another 30 odd gram panchayats with Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation, Greater Visakha jurisdiction extends to an enormous geographical area of over 500 Sq/km with a population roughly around 20 lakhs (2 millions). Though Greater Visakha has several advantages in the metropolitan perspective, due to its enormity of size and scale, the complexities of problems and challenges will be formidable:

Q. BSNL has announced that Vizag, among other cities, will soon be free from telephone poles and wires that present an ugly mesh over the city skyline, as they will be laying the telephone cables underground. As it is, the roads of Vizag are in a sorry state as they are being dug-up for laying Under Ground Drainage (UGD) connections - even areas with a high tourist-density have not been spared. Laying of underground telephone cables will now lead to another round of digging. However, there is no denying the long-term benefits of the same. Do you feel that the inconvenience we will have to put up with:

Q. With an influx of people into Vizag, growth of industries and increasing purchasing power, vehicular and pedestrian traffic in Vizag has been growing leading to severely congested roads which are not able to handle anything more than the `normal' amount of traffic- the recent pre-election campaigns when traffic came to a standstill several times at Aseelmetta, Jagadamba, Poorna Market and other important junctions in the city, is a good example. The Municipal Corporation is currently considering the construction of underground parking lots as joint ventures with private parties (who would collect the parking fee), which would come up in a year's time. Do you feel this would:

Q. VMC is soon going to be relieved of its responsibility of keeping the city beaches clean, with APTDC (Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation) waiting to take over. Do you think:

Q. VMC will soon arrange for garbage to be collected from individual homes at a nominal fee, doing away with the disposal problem. How much would you be willing to pay for the service?

Q. VMC is mooting a ban on selling meat at open stalls. Instead, meat (of all kinds) would be sold at licensed meat stalls with glass swing doors to avert food contamination.

Q. Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation has given the option of individual tap connections for Rs. 5000/- for up to five individual tax assessees living in the same premises/ property and Rs. 25,000/- as a semi-bulk connection for any premises with more than five individual tax assessees. As a Vizagite, you would describe the move as:

Q. No more queues at public taps, no more road tankers at home...come next summer, and, thanks to the Visakha Industrial Water Supply Scheme, the waters of the Godavari shall quench the thirst of Vizag. The minimum price of water will be Rs 10 per kilolitre, probably a high price as compared to other cities, but with the scheme itself costing a whopping Rs. 170 crore, that's the price Vizagites have to pay to prevent their taps from running dry. Do you feel more assured with water guaranteed for every household, even as the water meter ticks away?

Total Votes Polled : 328 Yes, unlimited water supply is a luxury that comes at a price 220 No, it's too high a price to pay 80 I'm not sure, I've got mixed feelings 28

Yes, unlimited water supply is a luxury that comes at a price 67.0% No, it's too high a price to pay 24.3% I'm not sure, I've got mixed feelings 8.53%

Q. In order to check the uncontrolled drilling of borewells and prevent commercial exploitation of groundwater, which is leading to a fall in the water-table level, VMC has ordered a mandatory registration of borewells and the obtaining of sanctions for new wells. Do you feel that this is a step in the right direction?

Total Votes Polled : 173 Yes 139 No 31 Can't Say 3

Yes 80.3% No 17.9% Can't Say 1.73%

Q. VMC is about to float tenders for the construction of two flyovers to ease traffic congestion around Asilmetta junction. Do you believe that there will be so much traffic in the future to justify so huge an expenditure?

Total Votes Polled : 293 Yes 254 No 36 Can't Say 3

Yes 86.6% No 12.2% Can't Say 1.02%

Q. The Mayors of seven cities of A.P. met recently to discuss devolution of power to the local administration through implementation of the 74th constitutional amendment. Do you agree that the administrative and financial powers of the Mayor (the elected representative of the people) should be enchanced for effective governance and to deal with natural calamities ?

Total Votes Polled : 50 Long Overdue 32 Status quo 11 Can't Say 7

Long Overdue 64% Status quo 22% Can't Say 14%

Q. Are you of the opinion that the ongoing efforts of VMC for a 'Clean n Green' Vizag will be more effective if they collect fines from those found littering ?

Total Votes Polled : 139 Yes 125 No 14

Yes 89.8% No 10.1%

Q. IT - enabled projects such as Saukaryam in Visakhapatnam aim to increase convenience and transparency and reduce corruption. Such projects also have an effect on the so called 'Digital Divide'. Do you feel these projects bridge the divide by bringing technology to the masses or increase the divide between the haves and have nots further ?

Total Votes Polled : 70 Bridge the divide 56 Increase the divide 10 Neither 4

Bridge the divide 80% Increase the divide 14.2% Neither 5.71%

Q. Except for the NH5 and a few others, most of the roads in Vizag are in a sorry state thanks to the digging for underground sewage pipes by the MCV and a little help from Tata & Reliance for laying cables. However, VMC has started relaying roads. Do you notice an improvement ?

Total Votes Polled : 84 Yes 34 No 41 Can't Say 9

Yes 40.4% No 48.8% Can't Say 10.7%

Q. Effective governance is possible only when the corporation is adequately funded. To this end, VMC has Proposed an increase in Property Taxes. Do you feel this is justified ?

Total Votes Polled : 192 Yes 51 No 136 Can't Say 5

Yes 26.5% No 70.8% Can't Say 2.60%

Q. Privatization of street lighting and garbage removal has resulted in vastly improved service.

Total Votes Polled : 101 Agree 76 Don't Agree 21 Can't Say 4

 

Agree

75.2%

Don't Agree

20.7%

Can't Say

3.96%