Ahead of air show, VMC spends Rs 80 lakh for beautification

At that time, the ghats were developed and tiles were laid, and a large number of plants were also placed on the river banks.

VIJAYAWADA: The Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) has spent a large sum of money for levelling land for visitors to the air show, in the name of river view beautification.

According to Vijayawada Municipal Corporation officials, the corporation has shelled out `80 lakh for beautification alongside the river bank near Punnami ghat.The State government and the VMC together have spent over Rs 800 crore for the Krishna Pushkarams, which took place in August 2016. At that time, the ghats were developed and tiles were laid, and a large number of plants were also placed on the river banks.

Later, the corporation also took steps for maintenance of the ghats and greenery by allocating a fixed amount towards maintenance. In the present scenario, VMC has spent around Rs 80 lakh to develop riverfront for the three-day air show, which will have five shows of 15 minutes duration each.

Though the government and the Ministry of Civil Aviation have spent a huge sum for the show, spending Rs 80 lakh towards the development of the developed riverfront is drawing critics’ attention.

“It is just for filling the pockets of officials,” Navaneetham Sambasiva Rao of the Amaravati Abhivrudhi Sangam, alleged. Municipal Commissioner Veerapandian, however, said the amount, spent on beautification, would also cater to future events. “It was used for land levelling works and development works. The works are not temporary, but also to serve future programmes and events,” he added.

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