The Hindu 16.09.2009

Tension as municipal officials, staff clash with vedike activists in Shimoga city

Special Correspondent

SHIMOGA: There was tension in Park Extension area here on Tuesday following the alleged dumping of solid waste in front of a private hospital.

According to sources, activists of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (Praveen Shetty faction) reportedly misbehaved with Commissioner of City Municipal Council P. Jayanna, environment engineer Manu Kumar and other staff of the municipality. The officials too retaliated against the vedike activists resulting in heated arguments between the two groups.

Cases have been registered at the Jayanagar Police Station against 10 vedike activists for trying to assault the municipal officials and staff and abusing them.

The new Vaatsalya Hospital in the area is said to have drawn two water supply pipelines without the permission of the local authorities.

Also, the hospital had not taken permission to dig up the road to install power cables.

When the CMC officials questioned the hospital management, the latter replied that it was the duty of the contractors to take permission from the authorities concerned.

Later, the CMC staff reportedly dumped solid waste in front of the hospital causing foul smell.

When asked, the CMC staff replied that the tipper carrying the waste had a flat tyre and the waste had been dumped in front of the hospital temporarily.

On hearing the news, CMC Commissioner Jayanna rushed to the spot and made arrangements to clear the waste from there.

Then suddenly, the vedike activists bounced upon the CMC Commissioner and the environment engineer and took the two to task.

When the news of the vedike activists attacking the CMC Commissioner and the engineer spread, CMC workers arrived at the spot and started raising slogans against the vedike.

The vedike activists gheraoed Mr. Jayanna, Mr. Manu Kumar and municipal president N.J. Rajashekhar. When tempers rose, the police intervened and brought it under control.

Councillor S.K. Mariyappa arrived at the spot and pacified the vedike activists and municipal workers.

The Indian Express 14.09.2009

Vadodara civic body makes rainwater harvesting mandatory for new constructions

In view of the depleting groundwater level, the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) has yet again attempted to make the citizens aware of the benefits of rainwater harvesting.

To this effect, the VMC has issued a notification whereby any upcoming construction within its limits will need to have percolating wells for rainwater harvesting.

Even those constructing new buildings by demolishing old structures in the Walled City areas will have to follow the rules.

According to officials of the Town Planning Department, the notification is actually being re-issued to simplify the building construction permission process.

Deputy Municipal Commissioner C M Makwana said: “The intention is to improve on the depleting groundwater level.

The guidelines were in existence. We have just made it mandatory with the new notification.

If the builders — who are planning to come up with new schemes — follow the system, it will help in improving the groundwater level.”

According to the notification, those who have diverted rainwater to drainage connection will have to get the certificate from the respective ward offices stating that the drainage connection for rainwater has been closed.

They have to procure this for getting the plinth check certificate.

Similarly, at the time of construction of the commercial building, the builder will have to mention about the arrangement for rainwater harvesting.

The same will be verified at the time of issuing the completion certificate.

As per the new rule, each multi-storeyed building will have to have one percolating well for each unit (residence or office). The location of the percolating well will have to be in a way that maximum water is accumulated in the well.

Similarly, in the tenement type of schemes there will have to be 4.50 metres of common margin between two building units, with 0.90 metre balcony projection at the slab level.

The level of basement will have to be mentioned in the plan and the surveyor will verify the same at the time of checking the plinth.

Each commercial complex and multi-storeyed building will have to show provisions for rainwater harvesting and the same will be cross-checked at the time of issuing the building completion certificates.