Increasing Migration to towns and cities in the state is turning out to be one of the governments biggest challenges as it is adding to the already high Population in urban slums.Andhra Pradeshhas the highest number of urbanslumsin the country after Maharashtra.
According to a recent study report byNiti Aayog, about 16 per cent of the urban population in the state lives in slums, close on the heels of Maharashtras 18 per cent.
Interestingly, AP created the highest number of urban civic bodies in an attempt to draw more funds from the Centre for improvement of . However, the creation of new urban civic bodies without proper planning has led to an expansion of urban slums, said experts.
Unplannedurbanisationin the state has already resulted in a number of problems. AP has about 17 municipal corporations, nearly 80 municipalities and 30 nagar panchayats. But full-time planning officers with required qualifications are available only in a few cities. Officials such as town planning supervisors and building inspectors often have little knowledge of the processes of town planning.
The State Government had appointed a large number of planning secretaries in ward secretariats across the state two years ago. Although, a good number of engineering graduates have entered the field, they are from the civil engineering stream and not graduates from planning schools.