Discussions held on housing, pension, drinking water issues during DISHA meeting in Visakhapatnam

Telugu Desam Party’s (TDP) Andhra Pradesh unit President Palla Srinivasa Rao urged the district administration to expedite corrective measures on long-pending housing, pension, and rehabilitation issues during the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) meeting held at the Collectorate on Saturday (May 30, 2026).

The meeting, chaired by Visakhapatnam MP M. Sribharat, served as a platform for a detailed review of developmental and welfare initiatives across the district. It was attended by the District Collector, senior officials from various departments, and public representatives. MLAs P. Vishnu Kumar Raju, P.G.V.R. Naidu, and others were also present.

During the meeting, Gajuwaka MLA Mr. Srinivasa Rao expressed concern over the continued non-occupation of several houses allotted under the TIDCO and Rajiv Gruhakalpa housing schemes.

He noted that despite allocations having been made nearly two decades ago in some cases, a significant number of beneficiaries had yet to take possession or begin residing in the units.

According to Mr. Rao, prolonged vacancy of these houses has led to unintended social consequences, with several premises allegedly becoming vulnerable to anti-social activities, including substance abuse and other unlawful practices. Such developments, he observed, were adversely affecting families residing in the surrounding neighbourhoods.

Emphasising the need for a comprehensive review, he urged the authorities to identify cases where beneficiaries had failed to utilise the allotted houses for an extended period and, where warranted, cancel such allotments and reassign the units to genuinely eligible poor families awaiting housing assistance.

The MLA also drew attention to delays in the sanctioning of pensions for newly eligible widows and persons with disabilities.

Highlighting the long-standing concerns of families displaced by the Gangavaram Port project, particularly those from Gangavaram and Dibbapalem villages, Mr. Srinivasa Rao called for the early release of pending livelihood assistance and other financial benefits due to them.

He urged officials to accelerate the disbursement process, including the ₹1 lakh subsistence assistance promised to eligible displaced families, and ensure that pending rehabilitation commitments were honoured without further delay.

MP M. Sribharat reiterated that under the Urban Challenge Fund, Visakhapatnam has been sanctioned projects worth ₹1,500 crore, including the development of an underground drainage system in the Madhurawada Zone, implementation of a 24x7 drinking water supply network, and strengthening of bulk and semi-bulk water supply systems across the city.

Later, speaking to the media, Mr. Sribharat said that special emphasis was laid during the DISHA meeting they also reviewed about coastal pollution mitigation measures, underground power distribution systems, drinking water projects, and the implementation of various Central Government schemes.