Berhampur Municipal Corporation faces State neglect

At a time when the state government is supposed to take steps for the formation of Greater Berhampur by bringing Chatrapur, Gopalpur and Hinjilicut under the BMC limits, it is doing the exact opposite. Let alone formation of Greater Berhampur, the State Govt has not even included the revenue villages which are genuinely part of the larger city of Berhampur. 

BERHAMPUR: Even after two-and-half years of formation, the Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BMC) is yet to have the complete proposed area under it. Berhampur was declared as the third municipal corporation of Orissa on January 1, 2009, after a long standing demand for this. Area of the BMC was also proposed to be increased. As per the proposal, 23 villages of 14 panchayats on suburb of the city are to be included in the BMC. 

It has been decided that merger of these villages with the BMC will lead to a planned growth of the major urban centre of south Orissa. It is an irony that till date no steps have been initiated to merge these villages with the BMC. Recently, notification has been issued regarding reservation of seats for coming panchayat polls in 2012. These 14 panchayats which are proposed to be part of the BMC are also in the list, which indicates that till now no steps have been initiated for their merger with the BMC. They still are part of different revenue blocks around the city.

When contacted, sarpanches of these panchayats, which are proposed to be merged with the BMC, say during the past two-and-half years they have not received any communiqué regarding the process. Sarpanch of Lathi, Rankanidhi Panda, say till now they have not received any official information from State government to discuss the proposal of merger with the BMC in their panchayat body meetings. Similar is the reply of sarpanch of Anantei, Pradeep Bisoi, and sarpanch of Nimakhandi-Lochapada, Sukanti Sahu.

It may be noted that elections for the BMC are due in 2013. By that time, the 23 villages which are proposed to be merged with the BMC, may not have become part of it as they are supposed to elect their own panchayat bodies in 2012.
Source: The Hindu