Date:25/11/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/11/25/stories/2004112505120300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Rs. 7-crore plan to develop Nellore town

By Our Staff Reporter

NELLORE, NOV. 24. The district Collector and Special Officer of Nellore Municipal Corporation, B. Rajsekhar, has said the town will be developed in a comprehensive manner under an integrated plan, by spending Rs. 7 crores.

Addressing a workshop on `Comprehensive Municipal Action Plan for Poverty Reduction' held here on Wednesday, in connection with schemes relating to Andhra Pradesh Urban Services Programme (APUSP), the official said Rs. 5 crores would be spent on improving basic infrastructure in slums, and Rs. 1 crore on development and modernisation of the corporation office.

Opinions sought

The official urged previous councillors and the public to come out with opinions and preferences to the administration. The town MLA, Anam Vivekananda Reddy, called for a non-political approach to the development of the town. He wanted an additional Rs. 20 crores for the overall development of the town.

No airport

The Rapur MLA, A. Ramanarayana Reddy, urged residents of 20, 21 and 22 wards not to believe rumours that an airport was coming up in the area. They only helped realtors make quick money by hiking the prices of the plots, he explained.

The Superintendent of Police, B. Sivadhar Reddy, said his department was bringing about radical changes in the traffic system for the improvement of the town.

The other wise smoothly conducted workshop was marred by a showdown at the fag end, when some Telugu Desam Party functionaries complained that they were denied an opportunity to air their views, despite being invited. By that time senior officials left the place and at one time there was a commotion, with the intervention of Congress functionaries, to counter the TDP protest. However the bedlam ended with the timely intervention of the police.