It is official now. The administrative status of Machilipatnam Municipality will remain as municipality instead of Municipal Corporation or Larger Urban Area as per the Government Order (GO) issued in December 2015.
The G.O. 268 issued by the Municipal Administration and Urban Development, has upgraded the Machilipatnam Municipality as Municipal Corporation under AP Municipal Corporation Act 1994.
The municipal councillors belonging to Telugu Desam Party have been divided into two groups, forcing the present Municipal Chairperson M. Baba Prasad to stop occupy the chair of the Mayor. As per the Go. 268, the chairperson will be designated as Mayor, given the administrative status of the corporation. In January, Mr. Baba Prasad was asked by the councillors to stop conducting the Municipal Council meet at the helm of Mayor. Since then he was feared to be known as Mayor and obeyed to lead the municipal affairs as the chairperson. Putting an end to the controversy, Machilipatnam MLA and Excise Minister K. Ravindra had announced to the newsmen that the government was planning to amend the G.O. 268 keeping the view of term of the elected counsellors.
Amending the G.O. No. 268, the State government has issued another G.O. No. 35 on February 12. According to the amendment, the Municipal Municipality will become Municipal Corporation with effect from the expiry of the present elected Council. Meanwhile, the Machilipatnam town planning authorities have already recommended a list of villagers to be merged in the Corporation.
Published - February 20, 2016 12:00 am IST
