Sanitation, water supply in doldrums

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posted on 12 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

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VISAKHAPATNAM: The village administration has gone haywire after the expiry of the term of sarpanches as there few to monitor drin..

VISAKHAPATNAM: The village administration has gone haywire after the expiry of the term of sarpanches as there few to monitor drinking water supply, sanitation and provision of basic amenities to people in Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts.
Even after the government appointed mandal revenue officers and mandal development officers and many mandal officers as special officers of gram panchayats after the expiry of sarpanches' term on August 22, a few special officers are monitoring the village administration while a majority of them are content with their routine duties.Despite a strong protest from the sarpanches, the government appointed special officers to panchayats for the first time as no state in the country has ever appointed special officers to gram panchayats, says former sarpanch of Chodavarm in Visakhapatnam district Gunuru Mallu Naidu.

Of the 944 panchayats in Visakhapatnam district, 932 have the term of their sarpanches expired. The government has appointed 164 special officers to monitor the 932 panchayats. Vizianagaram district has 925 panchayats and the term of all the sarpanches expired. The government has appointed 222 special officers to administer the 925 panchayats. Srikakulam district has 1,101 panchayats and the term of 1,093 sarpanches expired. The government has just appointed 196 special officers to administer these 1,093 panchayats. A majority of people in villages complain the special officers are yet to visit their panchayats. After taking charge, they have become busy with their regular duties and are giving least priority to the problems the panchayats are beset with.