The Hindu Business Line : Mega housing project in Vizag gets clearance

THE Rs 139-crore housing project proposed by the Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority (VUDA) at Madhurawada village on the outskirts of Visakhapatnam was given the green signal at a public hearing here on Tuesday evening.

It may be noted that the All-India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) had moved the Andhra Pradesh High Court raising certain objections against the project, given byVUDA to a Singapore company (Jurong), on environmental grounds. The court then directed the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board to hold a public hearing on the project.

The project envisages construction of 2,000 housing units on a 40-acre land at Madhurawada.

Several clarifications were sought by NGOs and representatives of different organisations at the public hearing conducted by the Revenue Divisional Officer, Mr Subhash Chandra Bose.

Answering questions on availability of water in the area, and the possible depletion of groundwater due to the mega project, Prof. R.V Rama Rao, the VUDA consultant, said there was no room for such apprehensions as surface water only would be used during the construction of the project. The Godavari waters would be provided to the housing units and there would be no pressure on groundwater in the area. The housing units would require 1.8 million litres a day and the Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation would supply the water drawn from the Godavari.

Two sewage treatment plants would be set up to treat 1.5 MLD (million litres a day) and the treated water would be used to raise trees on a 14-acre piece of land. The project would in no way affect the Buddhist monuments in the vicinity at Bavikonda and Thotlakonda and the project had been taken up in conformity with all existing stipulations, Prof. Rama Rao said.

Mr D. Muralidhara Reddy, VUDA Secretary, said the private company would not be allowed to fix the cost of housing units at its will and VUDA would have its say.

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