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MCC wakes up, launches drive to prune old trees in city

Thursday, 09 January 2014 09:26 administrator
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Deccan Herald             09.01.2014

MCC wakes up, launches drive to prune old trees in city

File photo of tree fall in prominant localities, in Mysore, last year.

The Forest department and Mysore City Corporation (MCC) which had turned a blind eye towards pruning trees scientifically, has finally woken up to the complaints from several citizens. 

The Corporation has received around 150-200 such complaints, following which it has launched a massive drive across the city, where added focus would be given to cut trees that are beside arterial and residential area roads. A team from MCC will identify and mark the dried trees in all the three constituencies, which would be cut later.

The rains which lashed the city last year, not only exposed the poor infrastructure, but it took away a life, and caused permanent disability to a day wage labour, when huge tree branches fell on them. The incidents occurred in Ittigegudu and V V Mohalla, respectively. Though the issue was brought to the notice of the concerned officials, it had not bothered to take any measures.

Harish (37), resident of Paduvarahalli 2nd cross, a daily wage labour was involved in shifting his house when he was injured in his knee after a tree branch from a Gulmohar tree fell on him near Sri Chandramoulishwar temple. Harish has not received any monetary assistance so far, and is still bedridden.

Forest officials claimed that it was the duty of MCC to cut such trees in its jurisdiction, while the latter maintained that it could prune trees only inside parks. MCC however had to give in, and pay a compensation of Rs 10,000 to a rider, whose two-wheeler was damaged in a tree fall in Metagalli, recently. 
The city has thousand of trees which are several years old and need to be pruned every year, in order to avoid any hazards. A majority of the trees are Gulmohars, planted during the year of erstwhile kings of Mysore. Apart from property damage and loss of live, Chamundeshwari Electricty Supply Corporation (CESC) has incurred heavy losses (Rs 1 crore) due to tree falling.

 The two day heavy rains in the month of April, 2012, had brought down around 300 electric poles, and wires in the city. According to CESC officials, it took nearly three to four days to fix the damages, which had left the city without any power supply for 36 hours.
 

Nashik Municipal Corporation appoints firm to run signals on solar power

Thursday, 09 January 2014 07:13 administrator
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The Times of India                09.01.2014 

Nashik Municipal Corporation appoints firm to run signals on solar power

NASHIK: The Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) has appointed a private contractor for installing solar power systems on traffic signals across the city.

The work is expected to be complete in the next three months.

The cost of the project is estimated to be Rs 19 lakh. The contract also includes installation of countdown timers.

Signals across the city are maintained and repaired by the civic administration, which spends an average of Rs 27 lakh a year for the purpose.

There are 28 signals across the city, of which three are already operational on solar energy. At present, only six signals are fitted with countdown timers.

"All traffic signals across the city will go solar shortly. We recently concluded a tender process and have finalised a contractor for installation of solar power systems on signals. Of the total 28 signals, 25 now run on electricity. Converting signals to be run on solar energy will help smoothen signal functions, since there will be no power failure," an NMC official said. According to the official, these solar-powered signals will continue to run during the monsoons, with a substitute arrangement of supply from the Maharashtra Electricity Distribution Company Ltd ( MSEDCL).

"All signals are also to be fitted with countdown timers. Now, only six out of the 28 signals have an application of countdown timers. This will allow vehicle operators to start their vehicles a few seconds before the signals go green, help control pollution and save fuel," the official said.

 

Brindavan Park to get facelift

Thursday, 09 January 2014 05:42 administrator
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The Hindu                  09.01.2014

Brindavan Park to get facelift

M.V. Satyanarayana
M.V. Satyanarayana

Development of Brindavan Park in TPT Colony of Sitammadhara should be taken up immediately, Municipal Commissioner M. V. Satyanarayana said during his visit on Wednesday.

As per the wish of residents, repairs to the compound wall should be taken up and a fresh coat of paint given. A shelter for watchman should be provided at the entrance, walking track widened and leakage to water pipes rectified, he said.

Besides lighting, a canopy with plastic sheets for the dais should be taken up. He told Horticulture Assistant Director Damodara Rao to improve greenery at a cost of Rs.2.66 lakh. All the works should be completed by January 28.

UGD leakage in the park should be rectified and the toilets from the social welfare hostel should be linked to UGD, Mr. Satyanarayana told officials. He also reviewed sanitation at Balayya Sastry Layout.

At Bilal Colony atop a hillock at Sitammadhara, he told residents that steps would be taken to improve water supply. Zone Commissioner B. Srirama Murthy participated.

Directive to officials

Mr. Satyanarayana asked Engineering officials not to delay check measurements for works completed in view of the allegation of contractors that the delay was deliberate.

He asked all the executive engineers to give a declaration in two days that no check measurements were pending with them. Committees have been set up to make random check of works and payment of bills and action would be taken for any discrepancy found, he warned officials.

 
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