AP bags 50% of national awards for performance in service delivery and urban development

Hyderabad|India|December'2010: Chief Minister N.Kiran Kumar Reddy congratulated the officials of Municipal Administration & Urban Development and the GHMC, Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada and Kadapa Municipal Corporations for winning JNNURM Best Performance Awards in various categories.

The Minister for Municipal Administration & Urban Development, Mr.Maheedhar Reddy and officials of the department called on the Chief Minister and showed him the Awards bagged by the department.

The Chief Minister advised them to concentrate on slum improvement in urban areas by providing the required infrastructure like storm water drains, drinking water supply and sanitation etc. Besides, he wanted the department to speed up the works of providing 24 hours x 7 days water supply is made available in all the Municipalities. Mr. Reddy asked the officials to concentrate on employment generation by promoting more SHGs in urban areas also.

At the 5th National Annual Conference of JnJURM hosted by the Ministry of Urban Development and Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, Government of India on 3rd December, 2010, Andhra Pradesh bagged the highest number of awards for performance in urban development, service delivery, governance reforms and pro-poor focus in implementation of projects and reforms.

The selected panel for the awards comprised eminent, independent national urban experts, academicians, and practitioners. While Andhra Pradesh received four awards last year for performance in 2008-09, the State has improved its tally to seven this year for performance in 2009-10.

Andhra Pradesh has bagged 50% of the awards, i.e., seven out of fourteen eligible awards, for best performance in various categories of urban and pro-poor development. Pertinently, the State and Cities received the 1st prize in all categories of awards for performance in 2009-10.

The Union Minister for Urban Development, Sri S.Jaipal Reddy, and Hon'ble Minister for Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, Ms.Selja distributed the coveted awards at the conference.

Award One: Andhra Pradesh received the 1st prize awarded to States, i.e., Best State for implementation of pro-poor governance and service delivery reforms including earmarking of pre-determined budget for the poor, reserving developed land for EWS and LIG category housing and provision of garland of services / facilities including security of tenure for the poor. The award, which also carries a cash prize of Rs.5.00 lakh was bestowed upon Dr.Vijay Kumar, Secretary, Municipal Administration and Urban Development, and Sri K.Bhoopal Reddy, Managing Director, Andhra Pradesh Urban Finance and Infrastructure Development Corporation.

Award Two: Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation received the Best City award for improvement in Solid Waste Management. The Hon'ble Mayor Smt.B.Karthika Chandra Reddy and Dr.Sameer Sharma, Commissioner, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation received the award and cash prize.

Awards Three and Four: Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation received two prestigious prizes, viz., 'Best BSUP City' for delivery of Basic Services for the Urban Poor from the Ministry of Housing and implementation of Reforms from the Ministry of Urban Development. The Best BSUP City Award was shared with Surat Municipal Corporation. TheMayor Sri P.Janardhan Rao and Sri V.N.Vishnu, Commissioner, Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation, received the awards and cash prizes.

Award Five: Vijayawada Municipal Corporation received the coveted Best City award for overall urban development and progress in service delivery from the Ministry of Urban Development. Sri Piyush Kumar, Special Officer, VMC and District Magistrate & Collector, Krishna District and Sri G.Ravi Babu, Coimmissioner, Vijayawada Municipal Corporation received the award.

Awards Six and Seven: From among the Small and Medium Towns, Kadapa Municipal Corporation received the highest number of awards, i.e., two awards for implementation of the Integrated Housing and Slum Development Project (IHSDP) and Joint Award (along with Nanded in Maharashtra) for Best City in Community Mobilisation. Sri D.John Samson, Commissioner, Kadapa Municipal Corporation received the awards.