Guntur - City of Ponds
Guntur city is located in the State of Andhra Pradesh and is the headquarters of Guntur District. It is an important commercial center in a state predominantly involved in tobacco trade and other agro-based trade such as chili, cotton and oil seeds. The population is 470,000 (1991 census). Various etymological explanations have been provided for the name 'GUNTUR'. The most popular belief is that the original village was situated in a Gunta (Pond) and hence the name GUNTUR. An alternate explanation is that the village was on a Kunta (a local unit for measuring land) hence it was called Kunta Uru (meaning village in a local language) or GUNTUR.
Corporation Status
In the year 1865, the Madras Presidency introduced the Madras Town Improvements Act, to improve the towns with a population of more than 5,000. The population of Guntur was then more than 5,000 and the town improvement program was implemented. In 1866 Guntur Municipality was established and the first elected body was constituted in the year 1881.
Urban Innovations
Corporation Status
In the year 1865, the Madras Presidency introduced the Madras Town Improvements Act, to improve the towns with a population of more than 5,000. The population of Guntur was then more than 5,000 and the town improvement program was implemented. In 1866 Guntur Municipality was established and the first elected body was constituted in the year 1881.
Urban Innovations
- Establish a round-the-clock public grievance cell
- Computerize birth and death records
- Specify the timeline for redressing various civic problems by formulating a Citizens' Charter
- Increase transparency by making area specific details of property tax available
- Improve waste collection by displaying the time of clearance on dustbins
