Visakhapatnam, a city in Andhra Pradesh, India, is preparing to host the G20 summit meetings on March 28 and 29, 2023. As part of the preparations, the Greater Visakha Municipal Corporation (GVMC) has covered up slum areas with green shade nets. The slum clusters are located parallel to the airport route in ASR Nagar in Thatichetlapalem of Vizag. However, former bureaucrat and activist EAS Sarma has criticized the move, stating that it is a gimmick to hide the slums from the eyes of foreign delegates. Sarma also pointed out that the GVMC has failed to implement slum welfare programs and has allocated funds for contractor-driven works instead. The pictures shared by Sarma show the pitiable condition of a slum cluster where a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) called Chenchus live in subhuman conditions. Sarma added that this attracts the penal provisions of the law to prevent atrocities on Scheduled Tribes. Meanwhile, media reports suggest that the GVMC has spent around Rs 150 crore for beautification works of the city ahead of the summit, which Sarma criticized as a euphemism for enriching contractors.
