GVMC urges RWAs to support civic services, urban development

Visakhapatnam: Resident welfare associations (RWAs) play an important role in improving civic services, said GVMC commissioner Ketan Garg. He urged RWAs to actively cooperate with the civic body and take part in local governance initiatives. The commissioner chaired a review meeting attended by additional commissioner P Nallanayya, Andhra Pradesh Federation of Resident Welfare Associations president Uday Shirname, associate president Dr KSR Murthy, RWA representatives from Pendurthi, Gajuwaka, Aganampudi, and the West and North zones, and the respective zonal commissioners. During the meeting, Garg asked the associations to raise civic grievances and local issues with GVMC so they could be addressed quickly.Shirname said RWAs in Visakhapatnam have appointed zonal coordinators and are working with GVMC to solve public issues. Dr Murthy suggested that monthly review meetings between zonal commissioners and RWAs would help resolve colony-level problems faster and improve service delivery.
Representatives of several RWAs requested the commissioner's help with repairing roads and drains, developing parks and burial grounds, fixing streetlights and drinking water issues, laying new roads and pipelines, and controlling stray cattle. They also asked for protection of government lands from encroachments, basic amenities in parks, and faster completion of pending development works.Responding to these requests, Garg said GVMC is prioritising sanitation, drinking water, street lighting, and other basic civic services as part of its efforts to strengthen urban infrastructure. He said that several parks are already being maintained by RWAs and encouraged other associations to take up park maintenance through agreements with GVMC. He also said that, to tackle parking problems, GVMC plans to bring the cellar spaces into use under Operation Lungs 3.0 for parking. Efforts are also being stepped up to prevent encroachments on parks and vacant government lands.