Latest news with #VijayawadaMunicipalCorporation
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Auto mutation of properties to come into force from August 1
Vijayawada: Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) commissioner HM Dhyanachandra said that 'auto mutation of properties', i.e., title change in the tax assessment records of the local body, will come into force starting from August 1 in VMC along with 16 other municipal corporations in the state. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The civic body chief said that the auto mutation of properties will occur during the time of registration of properties at the sub registrar office, duly collecting all tax dues and mutation charges before registration, thereby avoiding the scope of leakage in tax payment or mutation charges. According to an official statement issued by the VMC chief on Tuesday, the AP govt, as part of reforms in the 'business reforms action plan' under the ease of doing business (EoDB), in order to provide integrated services to citizens in a single window platform and bring easy access to citizens and to avoid the delay of moving around various offices, has brought out the 'Auto-Mutation of Properties in Urban Local Bodies'. The auto-mutation of properties is done through the integration of software modules of the registration and stamps department and the municipal administration department and will be implemented in 17 municipal corporations from August 1 in the state. The municipal commissioner said that auto mutation is the way forward towards digitalisation and moving away from long-standing procedures involving submission of documents, moving across offices, and delayed procedures. In this regard, he urged the citizens to mention their property tax assessment number in the registration document and utilise the system of auto-mutation of properties for change of title of their property at the time of registration at the registrar office only, without delay and inconvenience.
Hans India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Minister directs widening of outfall drains in Vijayawada
Vijayawada: Municipal administration and urban development minister P Narayana directed Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) officials to widen outfall drains to improve stormwater drainage in the city. On Saturday, the minister conducted a whirlwind inspection of areas including Gunadala Pulletikatta, Darsi Peta, Fakeer Gudem, and the Benz Circle flyover underpass, assessing the causes of stormwater stagnation in colonies and main roads. He also visited the VMC Satellite Station at Autonagar. Noting that some drains are only two feet wide —far too narrow to handle stormwater effectively — Narayana questioned how such drains could serve a city requiring 10-foot-wide channels. He announced that drain-widening projects, funded by VMC and CRDA, will begin in September 2025. VMC officials reported that illegal constructions, including compound walls and buildings, obstruct stormwater flow by encroaching on drain response, Narayana instructed VMC commissioner H M Dhyanachandra to identify all encroachments and take steps to widen the drains for proper rainwater flow. He also directed local representatives to engage sensitively and transparently with affected residents to avoid disputes, assuring that those displaced by the project would be allotted Tidco minister highlighted that during the 2014–2019 TDP government, a Rs. 500 crore stormwater drainage project was initiated, with 55 per cent of the work completed. He criticized the subsequent YSRCP government for neglecting the remaining 45 per cent, leading to the city's current drainage issues. Narayana vowed to resolve the stormwater problem by the 2026 rainy season. Regarding encroachments along the Budameru drain, the minister said a technical committee from the Irrigation Department has been formed to study the issue and submit a report. The committee will evaluate whether widening the Budameru drain or raising its embankments is necessary. VMC commissioner Dhyanachandra, in coordination with irrigation officials, will make a final decision based on the committee's recommendations. Accompanying the minister were VMC commissioner . Dhyanachandra, chief engineer Srinadh Reddy, public health department chief engineer Prabhakar, and other officials.
Time of India
23-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Plastic ban in Vijayawada falters as food sector escapes scrutiny
Vijayawada: The much-publicised ban on single-use plastics in Vijayawada appears only partially effective, as the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) continues to overlook a major source of pollution—the widespread use of thin recycled plastic sheets in eateries. While VMC teams actively raid retail outlets and street vendors, seizing banned plastic items, roadside food joints and budget eateries routinely use low-grade recycled sheets for serving and packaging meals—an issue largely ignored by enforcement teams. According to health experts, these plastic sheets — often less than 30 microns in thickness — pose serious health hazards. "They are made from recycled materials and are not food-grade. When hot food is packed in them, harmful chemicals can leach into the food, leading to microplastic ingestion and long-term health risks such as hormonal disruption and even carcinogenic effects," warned Dr V Bhagya Raji, a city-based physician. Despite these dangers, street vendors and budget eateries continue to use them openly. The reason? These plastic sheets are cheap and easily available in local markets. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo by Taboola by Taboola In contrast, eco-friendly alternatives like banana leaves or Vistari Aaku (dried leaf plates) are considered expensive and less convenient, especially for smaller food operators working on tight margins. Ironically, even while plastic bags and straws are being seized and fines imposed, there is no visible action against those serving food items in cheap plastic covers. Environmental activists have also pointed out the inconsistency in enforcement. "The VMC must either implement the ban in full spirit or acknowledge that enforcement is flawed. Selective targeting will only undermine public trust and environmental safety," said K Naveen Kumar, an activist at Save Nature Society. Health wing authorities at VMC said that they focused on identifying the cheaper eco-friendly alternatives for the plastic food packaging material and will start a special drive shortly to seize stocks of plastic bags and sheets.
Time of India
22-07-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Monsoon exposes lack of adequate preparedness by VMC
Vijayawada: The first major spell of the southwest monsoon that lashed Vijayawada on Sunday night has exposed the inability and lack of preparedness of the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) in handling the season. The nearly two-hour downpour turned almost all roads into mini swimming pools, as rainwater and overflow from drain canals inundated roads and low-lying areas with ankle- to knee-deep water. This raised serious questions about the effectiveness of the nearly 5 crore worth of desilting works carried out by the civic body across major, medium, and minor drain canals under the city's monsoon action plan. The city has approximately 1,183 kilometres of drain canals network, out of which 826.24 kilometres are minor drains, 275.42 kilometres are medium, and 82.54 kilometres are major drain canals. The civic body claimed that as part of its monsoon action plan, it completed desilting of all drain canals at a cost of 5 crore before the onset of the monsoon season. "More rainfall in a short time period is worsening the water inundation situation on the low-lying roads. On Sunday evening, the city experienced a cloudburst kind of phenomenon with a huge quantity of rainfall lashing the city in a short period. While Vijayawada drains are equipped to handle steady moderate rains, strong intensity rains in a short period lead to overflowing drains, requiring 30 to 60 minutes, depending upon the areas, after the rainfall recedes for drain canals to get cleared and accommodate the free flow of the rainwater," VMC superintendent engineer (works) P Satyanarayana told TOI. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo As per the district administration records, the district received a total of 420.8 mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours ending 8:30 am on Monday, with Vijayawada Rural mandal receiving the highest of 68.8 mm, followed by Vijayawada North and East Mandals at 51.2 mm and 51 mm, wherein all four urban Mandals in the city crossed 50 mm rainfall. "Despite carrying out desilting works, the floating garbage in drains and waste accumulated at drain culverts are turning out to be major obstacles and preventing the free flow of rainwater in drain canals, leading to their overflowing and causing water stagnation on roads," the VMC official added. The official explained that the waterlogging is more severe on Eluru Road as rainwater from hilly areas such as Gangireddula Dibba, Gunadala, and other areas gushes down with great force and speed downstream. "We have robust water motors and water suction motors which are being deployed quickly after the receding of the rainfall to clear and drain out stagnated water," the official added. "The civic body should make desilting of drain canals, medium and major drain canals, a regular exercise as plastic and other waste particles are dumped on a regular basis into these canals by irresponsible citizens, which choke the drains and spell out problems during rains," Jwytha, a resident of Krishna Lanka, said.
Time of India
21-07-2025
- Time of India
Hawker stalls cause traffic chaos at busy Vij junctions
Vijayawada: The growing menace of unauthorized hawker stalls at busy junctions in Vijayawada is causing severe traffic congestion and raising public safety concerns. With no designated vending zones and hundreds of makeshift stalls mushrooming across main roads, the situation has reached a tipping point, prompting the Andhra Pradesh high court to intervene. Currently, Vijayawada is home to 17,246 registered street vendors, as per official data from the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC). However, authorities have failed to implement the Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vendors Act, 2014, which mandates the creation of Red, Amber, and Green vending zones. In the absence of these zones, street vending has become free-for-all, with vendors occupying key roads and footpaths. The issue has escalated on Besant Road, where the number of hawkers has surged dramatically, prompting local shop owners to launch a campaign titled 'Save Besant Road'. A subsequent petition filed in the high court has led to directions to control illegal vending and stop issuing new ID cards until further arrangements are made. Similar traffic snarls are seen near the Collectorate on Museum Road, and at DRDA Junction near Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao Music College, where hawkers occupy both sides of the roads. Vital city arteries like Bandar Road and Eluru Road are choked during peak hours due to encroachments, with motorists voicing frustration over the inaction of traffic police and civic officials.
