E-Governance

E-governance: PMC to make departments accountable

Thursday, 07 November 2013 07:28 administrator

The Indian Express 07.11.2013

E-governance: PMC to make departments accountable

With its decision to rope in a new firm for the e-governance initiative, the PMC is all set to get the legal, urban community, central stores, disaster management cell, anti-encroachment and health departments to adopt a computer-based system for their day-to-day working and

ensure transparency and accountability.

As a mandatory reform for the civic bodies reaping the benefits of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), the PMC had to implement the e-governance project to improve the delivery of its civic services.

A credit rating agency, Fitch Ratings, in 2011 had expressed the need for PMC to improve its services. The PMC's implementation of mandatory reforms under JNNURM were rated very good, particularly in e-governance, property tax coverage and services to the urban poor. However, the e-governance project later faced problems.

The PMC, in a bid to revive the e-governance project, has decided to bring in many departments in its ambit and make the civic work transparent.

"The civic body not only wants to resolve its problems in e-governance, but extend its efforts to bring in more departments under the project," said Rahul Jagtap, in-charge of the computer department of PMC.

There are several civic departments that have no computer-based systems in place and still follow the old system of maintaining registers, he said adding, "The new e-governance project will bring in the legal department that handles all kinds of legal matters of the civic body and urban community department that implements schemes for public and central stores department."

There will be a system for disaster management cell, anti-encroachment department and health department that issues various licenses and implements health schemes. Also, a system to maintain records of civic staff will be a part of the e-governance project.

"The PMC bought the software for various departments, but the agreement with the firms that provide the software has expired. Thus, the civic administration is facing problem in continuing the use of the software as there is no source code available to incorporate change in software, as per the change in PMC rules. The software is also outdated," said municipal commissioner Mahesh Pathak, in a proposal tabled before the standing committee to appoint Probity Soft solutions to implement the project for the PMC, as it successfully implemented it in neighbouring Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC).

Standing committee chairperson Vishal Tambe said the committee had sought more details of the e-governance project for the PMC.

"The civic administration has tabled the proposal to inform that a firm is appointed to revive the e-governance project. We have some doubts and need clarification on it before allowing the civic administration to go ahead with it. The issue will be discussed at the next meeting," he said.

24x7 helpline in the pipeline

Wednesday, 06 November 2013 11:09 administrator

The New Indian Express 06.11.2013

The next time you face a water shortage at home, you can simply SMS the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) for help. In its attempt to improve customer services, the Authority is working on a 24x7 helpline number to which customers can send text messages seeking delivery of water through tankers, officials said.

“At present, people seeking water supply through tankers have to come to our office and register and make the payment before water can be supplied,” said KWA Chief Engineer Sreekumaran Nair. “With the coming of the new system, people can text to the helpline number 8547638181 and they can make the payment either by cash when the water is delivered or it will be added to their bill.”

This service is at present in the works and will be soon made available to the consumers in Thiruvananthapuram city.

New Office at Peroorkada

As part of implementing the new procedures for water connection, which seeks to “overcome delay in giving new water connections to aspiring persons” by reducing file movement delays and the influence of middlemen, a new water supply section office is being opened at Peroorkada on Wednesday. Coming under the Kowdiar sub-division, the people residing in the area may approach the Assistant Engineer at the new office for new connections.

New water tanker lorries will also be flagged off at the inauguration by Water Resources Minister P J Joseph.

PMC to set up shops, CCTVs in unused subway on JM Road

Wednesday, 06 November 2013 10:28 administrator

The Indian Express 06.11.2013

PMC to set up shops, CCTVs in unused subway on JM Road

With the subway near Modern High School on J M Road remaining unused for years due to security concerns, the PMC plans to start 10 shops there to ensure public presence and hence security for subway users.

The subway was constructed to provide easy road crossing for citizens, mostly children, with the Modern high school and college on one side of the road. Citizens find it difficult to cross the multiple-lane road, which sees a non-stop flow of speeding vehicles.

However, soon after it was opened for public in 2009, the subway — which has has three entry and exit points — received poor response. With poor lighting, it soon turned into a hotspot for miscreants. Residents also started dumping garbage here.

"There have been a lot of efforts to ensure citizens use the subway, who keep away due to safety issues. A murder attempt was reported in the subway a few months ago," said Uday Lokhande, Deputy Engineer, PMC's traffic department.

Boards to spread awareness were put up at the entry points and the lighting system was improved but nothing drew users. "Finally, it was decided that shops will be opened in the subway so that shopkeepers are present most of the time and attract shoppers, thereby keeping the subway buzzing," Lokhande said, adding that CCTVs will also be installed in the subway.

Resident Padmakar Chavan said there was a need for subway near the school but safety concerns stopped citizens from using it. "We take a risk by crossing the busy road instead of taking the subway," he said.

"I had thought the subway will be very useful for me as I get down at the bus stop and have to cross the busy road to reach college. But the subway is full of miscreants and I rather take a risk and cross the road than using the unsafe subway," said Suresh Dhumal, a student of Modern college, who comes from Aundh.

But now PMC hopes its efforts will provide citizens the confidence to use the subway.

Pune Municipal Corporation okays cyber audit for better IT security

Monday, 04 November 2013 11:00 administrator

The Times of India 04.11.2013

Pune Municipal Corporation okays cyber audit for better IT security

PUNE: To make the computer network system of Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) more secure, the civic body has approved a proposal for cyber audit, which would find out the security loopholes and help enhance cyber monitoring.

The standing committee on Tuesday gave a go ahead to the cyber audit of its entire network to make its IT systems safe and hack proof.

"It is necessary to have a secured computer network for the civic administration. Citizen can do safer e-transactions once the changes suggested in the audit are implemented," said Vishal Tambe, chairman of the standing committee.

A civic official from the IT department said, "This is the first time such a comprehensive audit will be carried out. The network system, internet network and system applications will be assessed. The aim of the project is to protect and enhance data security. The project also aims to guide the civic administration to make the computer system hack proof."

The official added that the auditors will study 120 locations from where the computer systems operate. The 40 server rooms will also be scanned in the process. "Key establishments, including ward offices, hospitals and important PMC offices will be assessed. International experts accredited to carry out such operations will work on the project," he said.

PMC also plans to have a cyber security audit system to curb misuse and avoid inaccuracies in its online services. The civic administration had tabled a proposal before the standing committee, seeking approval to allocate the work order worth Rs 67.41 lakh to a private IT agency.

Water bill payments to go online by next year

Friday, 01 November 2013 08:43 administrator

The Times of India 01.11.2013

Water bill payments to go online by next year

NOIDA: Noida Authority has begun work for online payments of water bills. The facility is expected to be made available to consumers by early next year. As of now, consumers can make payments at just two banks and at their designated branches. Due to this, consumers have to stand in long queues at billing counters at these banks.

Officials said the decision to introduce online payment for water bills is being introduced after the success seen in electricity bill payments. In a recent survey conducted by Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL), Noida ranked among the top cities in the state for maximum online power bill payments.

Residents had also been complaining to Noida Authority over difficulties they have to face in make payments. Problems also cropped up in the past over lack of records with consumers against payments made for water consumption.

"The online system will help consumers make payments conveniently and also ensure that records are updated on a real-time basis and available at the click of a button," said an official.

More Articles...