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Rs. 25,250-cr. annual plan for Chhattisgarh granted

Thursday, 01 August 2013 04:14 administrator

The Hindu 01.08.2013

Rs. 25,250-cr. annual plan for Chhattisgarh granted

Girija Shivakumar

The Planning Commission has granted a Plan size of Rs. 25,250 crore for Chhattisgarh. The decision came after Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh met on Wednesday in New Delhi.

The outlay includes Central assistance to the State Plan of about Rs. 2,574 crore. In addition, an amount of nearly Rs. 6,000 crore is likely to flow from the Centre to Chhattisgarh through various Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS). More specifically, plan funding from the Central government to Chhattisgarh, from all sources, is expected to be over Rs. 8,574 crore during 2013-14.

Mr. Ahluwalia praised the State for following the policy of inclusive development with focus on private participation in infrastructure development. Appreciating improvement in the human development index, he pointed out that health indicators have shown substantial improvement but deterioration in child sex ratio was a matter of concern.

Mr. Singh reiterated Chhattisgarh’s need for greater flexibility in implementing the CSS as each State was different and had diverse requirements. He highlighted the fact that Chhattisgarh was a tribal State, sparsely populated and therefore requiring “flexibility in funding and much more relaxed norms.”

Recently, the Planning Commission restructured the CSS to provide greater flexibility to State governments for proper implementation. Ten per cent of the outlay of the schemes was to be kept as flexi-funds.

“Due to the strict embargo on environmental clearances, several projects get stuck. They need greater flexibility especially due to the large forest area in Chhattisgarh,” said Sayeda Hameed, Member, Planning Commission.

Mr. Singh asserted that during 12th Plan period the State would be following a policy of faster and more inclusive growth with a 10 per cent growth target. To improve business regulatory environment, the State investment promotion board had been constituted. This would facilitate early sanction of projects. A single window clearance system had been put in place and a monitoring committee set up to coordinate and review progress of statutory clearances.

Additionally, the need for concerted efforts required to improve the literacy rate and eliminate gender and social gap in school enrolment by the end of Twelfth Five Year Plan was discussed in detail. According to Census (2011) data, the gender gap in literacy in Chhattisgarh was nearly 21 per cent.

It was suggested that convergence with Integrated Child Development Scheme should be encouraged to address the problems of malnutrition.

VUDA main park to display jail history

Saturday, 27 July 2013 07:32 administrator

Deccan Chronicle 27.07.2013

VUDA main park to display jail history

Visakhapatnam: Vuda vice-chairman Dr N. Yuvaraj directed officials to gather all information about the old central jail to display it in the YSR Vuda Central Park coming up on its premises.

He was reviewing the progress of park works with the engineering and forest officials here on Thursday. The vice-chairman underlined the need to preserve the history of the old jail as it has a history of more than 100 years.

The information regarding the jail, he said, could evoke curiosity among the visitors and general public. The important happenings in the jail, if put on display, will become another attraction in the park, Yuvaraj said.

He told officials to gather photographs, history and information on great personalities jailed in the central prison and keep them on display at Vuda office till the park takes shape and then shift it to the park.

Yuvaraj directed engineers to focus on completion of works for which tenders have already been finalised as per the schedule. Further, he instructed them to finalise the proposals and plans for works yet to be taken up.

He asked forest officials to take up plantation activity and develop greenery on the premises to make the place eco-rich.

Plantation along the jogging and cycling tracks, pathways and other identified locations has to be taken up immediately as the rainy season is still on, he said.

He also directed them to plan for green cover wherever civil works are not proposed in the park.

Laudable move: GHMC’s ‘Aasra’ for senior citizens

Tuesday, 16 July 2013 07:50 administrator

The Hindu 16.07.2013

Laudable move: GHMC’s ‘Aasra’ for senior citizens

Staff Reporter

The Confederation of Voluntary Organisations (COVA) has begun a campaign in parts of the twin cities to educate the citizens about obtaining various identity cards issued by government departments. Details of the card and its entitlements will be published in these columns in the forthcoming days.

The series will begin with the ‘Aasra’ cards issued to senior citizens above 60 years by the GHMC.

These cardholders are entitled for free entry and wheel chair facility in the GHMC parks and concessions in select corporate hospitals.

Also the card entitles preference to senior citizens in public places, APSRTC buses and GHMC service centres.

This apart, it helps one in availing medical and day care facility, shelter homes, physical aids, counselling and old age pension. One can apply for the card by filling in an application form available on ‘www.ghmc.gov.in’ and submitting it along with two photographs, proof of age and residence either in person or through post to Project Director, Aasra Card, first floor, NTPC building near Hari Hara Kala Bhavan, Secunderabad. For assistance one can call GHMC helpline 155304 or COVA on 040-24572984.

Chief Minister may consider proposal to bifurcate BBMP

Friday, 12 July 2013 10:01 administrator

Deccan Herald 12.07.2013

Chief Minister may consider proposal to bifurcate BBMP

The bifurcation of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is on the anvil. Following “pressure” from the Congress MLAs and MLCs from the City, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is said to have assured the legislators that proposal would definitely be considered.

Sources in the Congress said Siddaramaiah had a discussion with the Congress legislators from the City on the bifurcation of the BBMP during a lunch he hosted for them at his residence here on Wednesday.

According to a Congress leader, the decision on bifurcation of the BBMP may be taken six to eight months ahead of the expiry of the Palike council’s current term. The council’s term is scheduled to end in March 2015.

It is said that due to the vast and unwieldy jurisdiction of the BBMP, several civic problems were not being addressed. The MLAs opined that even the schemes which were announced for the City were not reaching beneficiaries due to the BBMP’s 800 sqkm jurisdiction.

During the discussions, it was said that, for instance, the Assembly constituency of Byatarayanapura was spread across nearly 20 kilometres and, lacked proper development.

The MLAs and MLCs impressed upon Siddaramaiah that a city like New Delhi, which is almost the same size of the present day Bangalore, has three municipal corporations for its functioning.

Loud thinking

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Home Minister and MLA from Sarvajnanagar in the City K J George said the bifurcation of BBMP was only a ‘loud thinking’ and nothing concrete has emerged so far. “The MLAs and MLCs from the City met the chief minister and we had a general discussion,” he added.

However, Minister of State for Agriculture and MLA from Byatarayanapura, Krishna Byregowda said that the chief minister has called for a second round of talks on the split proposal.

“We (MLAs and MLCs) spoke to him on the issue and he has agreed to meet us at a later date to discuss the matter again,” he said.

The proposal to create BBMP was passed during the coalition regime of the JD(S) and the BJP in 2007.

Accordingly, the jurisdiction of the then Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) from 200 sqkm was increased to 800 sqkm by including seven city municipal councils, one town municipal council and 110 villages. Subsequently, the BMP was renamed BBMP.

Incidentally, the idea to reduce the jurisdiction of the BBMP was discussed even during the final days of the previous BJP government.

BMC's draft policy may help regularise illegal mobile towers

Wednesday, 10 July 2013 11:29 administrator

The Indian Express 10.07.2013

BMC's draft policy may help regularise illegal mobile towers

The new proposed cellphone tower policy of BMC, once approved and implemented by the state government's urban development (UD) department, will pave the way for regularisation of the nearly 1,860 illegal towers.

The draft policy, prepared over the last nine months taking into consideration suggestions from citizen groups and cellular operators, was submitted to the UD department in the first week of July. Municipal Commissioner Sitaram Kunte said, "We have drafted the proposal in line with the department of telecommunication (DoT) guidelines and in future, BMC guidelines will be streamlined with those of the DoT."

BMC has agreed to one of the most important demands of citizens that the towers should not be installed atop schools, colleges, hospitals, orphanages, child rehabilitation centres and old age homes. However, it has added a caveat that the final policy would be compatible with DoT guidelines.

Following protests by citizens, DoT in May removed a clause in its draft guidelines which said installation of towers may be permitted for all locations irrespective of land use. DoT's final guidelines are awaited.

To another crucial suggestion that mobile tower antennae should not be allowed on any adjoining building within three metre from schools, colleges, etc, BMC policy says, "The condition can be dropped. The modified condition that the provision of antennae or mobile towers shall be compatible with the guidelines issued by DoT from time to time."

According to a survey conducted in 2011 by BMC, over 1,830 of the total 3,705 cellphone towers were illegal. Even as BMC contemplated action against service providers, they approached Bombay High Court and obtained a stay. BMC plans to put up the list of authorised towers on its website.

BMC has said the new policy, once approved by the state, will be implemented with retrospective effect. So towers in the city — legal and illegal — will have to meet all conditions in the policy.

A critical aspect that citizens' groups would watch for in the final DoT guidelines is its recommendation on mobile towers atop schools, colleges, hospitals, old age homes and orphanages. DoT has said its final guidelines would be advisory in nature and that state governments/ civic bodies can modify them as per local demographics.

Several citizens termed thedraft as an eyewash. "These guidelines do not make sense before the final DoT guidelines are released. Crucial suggestions are likely to be sidelined in case the DoT does not implement them," said Prakash Munshi, a south Mumbai resident.

"The guidelines must be based on technology; we do not want to freeze them," said a senior civic official, adding that "if this means that the DoT guidelines will allow for towers on schools, etc, then the BMC guidelines will be modified".

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