Union Minister for Urban Development M Venkaiah Naidu has suggested the creation of a separate entity, with representation from the Central government, for the integrated development of Visakhapatnam promoting "Smart City" features.
Naidu made the suggestion during his discussions with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu.
He also spoke with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley over the phone and urged him to direct the concerned officials to speedily settle the insurance claims and reschedule the bank loans of all the cyclone-affected. Jaitley assured Venkaiah Naidu that the needful would be done.
Expressing concern over soil erosion in the beaches of Visakhapatnam, Venkaiah Naidu said that the issue would be taken up with the Union environment ministry for implementation of long-term remedies.
He also directed the municipal authority to undertake the necessary awareness-generation measures for preventing the littering of beaches, as part of the "Swachh Bharat Mission".
It may be mentioned that Venkaiah Naidu had
adopted Chepalupada village of the Visakhapatnam district for rehabilitation and development in the aftermath of recent Cyclone Hudhud that ravaged the north coastal districts of the state.
This village of fishermen and the surrounding hamlets were severely affected by the cyclone.
Venkaiah Naidu has decided to donate a month's salary, in addition to making a contribution of Rs 25 lakhs from his MPLADS funds, for the rebuilding of the village and adjoining hamlets.
Resources will also be mobilized from other sources like Trusts and NGOs for this purpose. The Nellore-based "SwarnaBharati Trust" has offered Rs 10 lakhs for the rehabilitation of this village.
Over the last two days, Venkaiah Naidu has extensively toured the cyclone-affected areas of north coastal Andhra Pradesh for an assessment of the ongoing rehabilitation efforts.
He convened a meeting of the representatives of over 20 Central government departments and agencies at Visakhapatnam, and reviewed the measures being taken for the restoration of different kinds of services to the public.
He also reviewed the progress on the rehabilitation front with the collectors of the Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts. (INN)