GVMC, VUDA rest as rescue teams toil in Vizag

VISAKHAPATNAM: While massive efforts are going on to clear the debris and restore various public utilities in Visakhapatnam that was devastated by the very severe cyclone Hudhud, the two main custodians of the once bustling Port City are conspicuous by their absence.

While the bulk of the relief and rehabilitation activities are being handled by the agencies like the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the fire and rescue teams, some non-governmental organisations and the general public, the government bodies responsible for maintenance and developmental activities in the city - the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) and the Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority (VUDA) - have made only a token presence so far.

With even routine activities like cleaning of the roads and clearing of garbage not being attended to by the staff of the two agencies, resentment is brewing among the general public at the irresponsible and apathetic attitude of the civic employees.

'One week after the cyclone, many by-lanes are still blocked with uprooted trees and other debris. Who is responsible for this?' a resident of Sitammadhara asks angrily, making no bones about his disappointment over the inaction by the civic staff.

While some see it as a miserable failure on the part of the GHMC and VUDA staff to rise to the occasion, some others opine that the lack of full-time heads for the two organisations is the main reason for the staff being largely rudderless.

'The GVMC and VUDA officials are just focussing on the areas where VIP movement is either expected or planned while taking up whatever little restoration or clearing work they had done,' a local political leader observed.

'If you observe properly, the main areas like the National Highway and some major junctions were the ones to be cleared first. The GVMC officials and their teams have largely confined themselves to just shifting the waste to the dumping yards,' the politico said substantiating his argument.

Even the chief minister expressed consent over poor maintenance of sanitation in the city, which is a clear indication that the local bodies have been irresponsible. Apart from these, their primary obligation to the city is also being neglected.

The impact of the absence of a full-time boss for VUDA is clearly visible at the tourist spots like Kailasagiri, VUDA Park and the Kursura Submarine Museum where nothing has been done since the cyclone has devastated them.

The road to Kailasagiri was cleared for the chief minister's inspection but the other areas like the train route and parks continue to be neglected.

An official at the Kursura Submarine Museum said that discussions were being held on the restoring activities. But the question is that the VUDA officials have no time to even clear the uprooted trees even at the tourist spots.

Meanwhile, the GVMC staff is taking up no other programme in the city except dumping. Even the sweeper teams are not found anywhere in the city at night.