VIJAYAWADA: Once again controversial Vijayawada Mayor Koneru Sreedhar was in news for wrong reasons. Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) M Arjuna Rao created a flutter by announcing his plan to go on a long leave resenting alleged remarks of the Mayor.
Sreedhar convened a meeting with departmental heads of VMC on Monday to discuss the proposals mentioned in the agenda, drafted by the officials, for the council meeting to be held on April 11. At the meeting, the Mayor expressed his anger over poor sanitation at various localities in the city and also alleged that the CMHO had nexus with his subordinates and resorting to corrupt practices.
Irked by the Mayor’s comments, Arjuna Rao decided to go on a long leave from Tuesday and immediately he handed over his official mobile and vehicle to the Corporation. Sources said that Municipal Commissioner J Nivas convinced the CMHO to change his mind and attend office. Following this, the CMHO attended duty on Tuesday morning as usual and inspected the progress of various works. The Monday’s incident became a very hot topic in the VMC circles. Employees were upset over the alleged harsh comments made by the Mayor and showed their protest by wearing black badges during working hours on Tuesday. “Since Vijayawada is designated as part of the State capital Amaravati, sanitation employees are making their best efforts to keep city spick and span. Sanitary inspectors especially those working in some posh localities where the movement of VIPs is very high are spending sleepless nights,” said a sanitary inspector on the condition of anonymity.
When contacted, Sreedhar denied pulling up the medical officer and said he had only drawn his attention to the dissatisfaction among citizens regarding poor sanitation and asked him to correct the lapses. The Mayor, a month ago, had faced a rebellion when several corporators from ruling TDP demanded his sacking. However, the CM had stepped in and quelled the trouble. Sreedhar was allowed to continue in view of fast approaching elections to the corporation.