GUNTUR: In a last-minute action prior to the Centre’s deadline for finalizing geographical boundaries, the Guntur Municipal Corporation (GMC) council has approved a resolution to merge 18 villages into the corporation.
The proposal has been sent to the district collector, who will submit a report to the government for final approval. Originally, only 11 villages were proposed for the merger, but an additional seven were included due to pressure from local legislators. However, the ambition to elevate the civic body to a city with over one million residents may take a couple of years, as the Centre has instructed all states to freeze borders of districts, cities, towns, and villages by December 31 ahead of the upcoming population Census.
Gram sabhas have already convened in 11 villages, where resolutions favoring the merger with Guntur city were passed. The proposals from the remaining seven villages, however, are yet to be approved. With only three days left to complete the process, securing approvals seems unlikely. “For 18 months, ruling party legislators and senior officials were silent on this matter, now they propose it at the last moment. It feels like a political maneuver before the upcoming civic body elections,” commented social activist P Bhavannarayana.
The municipal corporation elections are set for March-April, with village panchayat elections expected around February. This timeline renders the current body’s resolutions invalid, necessitating fresh resolutions post-local elections.
Cities with populations over one million are designated as million-plus cities. According to the 2011 Census, Guntur had a population of 743,000, which is now estimated to be around 940,000. Including the approximately 65,000 residents from the 18 proposed villages would exceed the one million mark. Some council members have raised concerns about administrative challenges stemming from the merger, pointing to an existing shortage of officials and staff, which could further strain the GMC. East MLA Naseer suggested considering alternative solutions.
