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Structural stability policy mooted for old buildings

Tuesday, 09 July 2013 04:20 administrator

The Hindu 09.07.2013

Structural stability policy mooted for old buildings

M. L. Melly Maitreyi

In the wake of the collapse of City Light Hotel on Monday, the government mooted a proposal for a suitable ‘Comprehensive Building Structural Stability Policy’ to regulate such buildings.

Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy directed the officials to formulate the policy to regulate vulnerable buildings in consultation with experts and structural engineers to ensure safety of not only inmates of the buildings in question but also people in the neighbourhood.

Monday’s incident brought into sharp focus the lack of application of scientific mechanism for evaluation of structural stability of old buildings. “The collapsed several decades-old hotel building is not apparently included in the list of buildings notified for demolition based on its visual appearance. Therefore a suggestion also came up to constitute an expert committee to thoroughly examine the lacunae in the evaluation of old buildings in the city,” an official said.

GHMC Commissioner T. Krishna Babu informed the Chief Minister that 307 buildings were identified as old and structurally and visually weak by the JNTU as the third party checking agency.

Due care not taken

A senior official explained that many of the old buildings in the city were constructed with load bearing walls unlike pillar based construction that became a norm much later. When new buildings were constructed in the vicinity of the old buildings, due care was not being taken to maintain a safe distance from them. “The old buildings have no deep foundation and when the soil around them is disturbed, the foundation becomes vulnerable and their load bearing walls weaken,” he said.

It is rather common to see constructions deviating from the approved building plans or modifications to existing buildings without approval. The field staff are lax in putting such constructions on notice or turn a blind eye, a senior official observed. “Even in cases where notices have been served for demolitions, they are contested by the owners in the court of law alleging vested interest by the builders and succeed in obtaining stay orders. The GHMC officers mostly don’t take pains to get the stay order vacated,” said sources.

An independent evaluation committee, structural fitness committee outside of government for a fair assessment without any compromise should be considered without any delay, they point out.

It was also proposed that a census be taken of all old buildings and houses particularly those standing on the load bearing walls for evaluating their structural strength.

Chief Minister directs officials to formulate policy to regulate vulnerable buildings in consultation with experts and structural engineers.

A biodegradable bag to end the reign of plastic

Friday, 05 July 2013 08:38 administrator

Hindustan Times 05.07.2013

A biodegradable bag to end the reign of plastic

Imagine a plastic bag which will vanish completely if you keep it out in the open for some months and will not even harm the environment. It would be akin to a dream of staunch environmentalists which a Delhi resident is set to turn into reality.

Arun Sinha, along with US-based Global Exchange Technologies Inc, is getting GXT ECOgrade Photodegradable Bags — recyclable, non-toxic and degrades by exposure to sunlight — for the vast market looking for a viable option ever since the government has been trying to enforce the ban on plastic.

"This is the right solution to the plastic bag pollution challenge as it breaks down in 40 days, becoming the only viable solution to litter. It completely degrades into a non-toxic residue in less than 240 days. Made from 46 per cent natural materials, these bags emit 35% less greenhouse gas in resin production and 15% less greenhouse gas in bag manufacture," Sinha, 59, said.

A resident of south Delhi's Alaknanda, this St Stephen's College graduate, through his NGO, Society to Create Awareness towards Life & Environment (SCALE), has been on the warpath against plastic for the past 11 years.

"We got into this project because it will benefit the country. The ECOgrade bags - which is ASTM D5272 and D5208 Test Certified in the US and CIPT, Chennai and has passed both the US and Canadian heavy metal test according to BPI standards — is the only degradable product which is compatible to the recycling chain. The gamechanger, however, is that it costs around the same as a plastic bag," the activist said adding that once largescale production is started, these bags will be cheaper than plastic ones.

"That is the reason Arun invited us to India. In Delhi, we have already started manufacturing in a factory in Bawana," said Manas Chatterjee, president and CEO of Global Exchange Technologies Inc. They plan to meet chief minister Sheila Dikshit to give her an overview of the ECOgrade bags.

In 2009, the Delhi government banned use of plastic bags on the directive of the Delhi High Court. Last year, the government also banned its manufacturing. Manufacturers moved the high court against the ban. The Delhi pollution control committee is awaiting a court verdict. The government hopes the ban will return, at least on the use of plastic bags.

"We support the ban but a viable alternative should be there; something which is neither expensive, nor harmful. The ban on plastic bags can cost over 1,00,000 jobs. Around 400 units will be closed. This will bring in a tremendous amount of social stress. We will create job opportunities in Delhi and the NCR and provide support of over R1000 crore in economic activity and tax revenue," Sinha added.

Stall to sell subsidised chicken opens at KMC HQ

Thursday, 27 June 2013 10:06 administrator

The Statesman 27.06.2013

Stall to sell subsidised chicken opens at KMC HQ

KOLKATA, 26 JUNE: The Kolkata Municipal Corporation today allotted space to Livestock Development Corporation Ltd to sell chicken at subsidised rate at its headquarters on S N Banerjee Road.

Each 500 gm packet of dressed chicken is sold at Rs 75. First-day sales at the KMC headquarters, however, was not impressive. The decision to allot space to Livestock Development Corporation Ltd at KMC and its 20 markets was taken after chicken prices shot up to Rs 170-Rs 180 in markets in the state. Livestock Development Corporation has set up stalls in KMC's eight markets where chicken will be sold at Rs 150 per kg. The stalls have come up at Kankurgachi VIP market, Ultadanga, College Street market, New Alipore, Purna Parna Bithika in Behala, Haltu, Gariahat and Regent Park.

The KMC, in collaboration with West Bengal Poultry Federation, will set up another 12 stalls in KMC markets for selling chicken at subsidised rate.

The decision to set up stalls in KMC markets was taken to stop illegal slaughter of chicken on pavements, said Mr Tarak Singh, member, mayor-in-council (markets).

Earlier, the state government allowed space to the Livestock Development Corporation at Writers' Buildings and New Secretariat building to sell chicken at subsidised rate.

State's plan size fixed at Rs 47,000 crore

Thursday, 27 June 2013 09:54 administrator

Deccan Herald 27.06.2013

State's plan size fixed at Rs 47,000 crore

The Planning Commission on Wednesday approved a whopping Rs 47,000-crore plan size for Karnataka for the year 2013-14, up by 11.8 per cent from the previous fiscal.

Planning Commission Deputy chairperson Montek Singh Ahluwalia, who held a meeting with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, said the State would also get Rs 50 crore as a one-time additional assistance from the Centre.

“In addition to that, up to Rs 10,000 crore, through the normal Central assistance programme, will go to Karnataka to help engage development,” Ahluwalia told mediapersons after the meeting.

Ahluwalia said the State’s growth rate had slowed down recently, and was lower than the national average.

“The new government should work out a strategy to take maximum advantage when the economy is on a recovery path. Special attention is needed to give necessary impetus to education and health sectors,” he said.

Rise in revenue receipts

Claiming that several initiatives are being taken to alleviate the problems of the poor and marginalised people by his government, Siddaramaiah said the State expected to enhance revenue receipts from Rs 53,493 crore in 2012-13 to Rs 62,780 in 2013-14.

He said the State was committed to providing adequate outlays for sectors that contributed significantly to improving human development indices, especially education, health, women and child development, social welfare, housing, water supply and sanitation, and rural development.

He said the Centre should help the State government in strengthening infrastructure for post-harvest facilities, restore custom duty on raw silk to 30 per cent and should help in marketing of surplus milk.

Vacancies in ULBs will be filled, says Minister

Thursday, 27 June 2013 04:42 administrator

The Hindu 27.06.2013

Vacancies in ULBs will be filled, says Minister

Staff Correspondent

Siddaramaiah has the given green signal for recruitment

Efforts are being made to fill vacancies in urban local bodies (ULBs), Minister for Urban Development Vinay Kumar Sorake has said.

“Shortage of staff in almost all ULBs is a common problem. I spoke to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and he has given the green signal for recruitment. While doing so, he suggested that outsourcing be minimised. I will get the matter cleared from the Finance Department before beginning recruitment,” he told presspersons after reviewing the progress of welfare programmes here on Wednesday.

Mr. Sorake said he would discuss the issue with officials of his department and find the best way to increase staff strength in a phased manner, such as authorising inter-corporation transfers to overcome the staff shortage. Steps will be taken to streamline administration in the ULBs, he added.

Upgrading

There was a proposal to upgrade the Tumkur, Bijapur and Shimoga city municipal councils to city corporations. However, a writ had been filed in court stating that these cities did not meet the population criterion. “Based on population, the government will soon take a decision to upgrade all three ULBs and also upgrade other ULBs,” he said.

The government is waiting for the Karnataka High Court’s ruling before announcing the reservation for the posts of Mayor and Deputy Mayor, he added. Anil Lad, MLA, was present.

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