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A boost for MCD stray dog sterilisation drive

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The Hindu 13.07.2009

A boost for MCD stray dog sterilisation drive

Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar

NEW DELHI: Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh’s announcement over the weekend that nearly 80 lakh stray dogs across the country would be sterilised in the next 10 years has come as a shot in the arm for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi that had undertaken a programme in this regard in 2003 and sterilised 72,620 dogs till June 2007.

While the MCD has been working with the assistance of nine NGOs, the drive has been only partially successful thus far. For lack of an adequate infrastructure, it failed to keep pace with the increase in the population of stray dogs and in January this year the MCD was compelled to rope in an NGO, Wildlife SOS, to conduct a survey of the stray dogs in the city and assess whether sterilisation of dogs has actually worked.

But following the renewed interest in the field now, the MCD is hopeful that the problem would be dealt with effectively. A senior MCD official on Saturday said he was hopeful tat with greater Central assistance the issue would now be settled effectively.

Referring to Mr. Ramesh’s statement that the plan to sterilise the stray dogs would be circulated to all municipal bodies in the next fortnight and they would then be required to set themselves a time-frame to implement it, an MCD spokesperson said the Corporation was the first in the country to undertake such a drive.

The Society for Stray Canine Birth Control (SSCBC) was formed by the MCD Commissioner in December 2002 to sterilise stray dogs before the Commonwealth Games. Thereafter nine NGOs began working with MCD under this project.

According to the World Health Organisation, about 20,000 people die of rabies every year in India, while in the NCR the number of deaths due to rabies have come down from 217 in 2003 to 188 in 2006.

 

 

CMCA promises a better city, a better citizenry

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The Hindu 13.07.2009

CMCA promises a better city, a better citizenry

Special Correspondent
The movement has received a boost in the district with greater school participation
— Photo: M.A. Sriram

Enthusiastic: Children lighting a lamp signalling the start of CMCA’s work, in Mysore on Friday.

MYSORE: The Children’s Movement for Civic Awareness (CMCA), a joint venture of the Public Affairs Centre (PAC), Bangalore, and the Mysore City Corporation (MCC), detailed its action plan for 2009-10 here on Friday. The movement has received a wide response ever since it began.

‘Powerful messengers’

What began as an initiative involving students from 40 schools last year, will now witness participation of 60 schools during the current academic year. At the core of the CMCA movement is a strong belief that children are powerful messengers of change and hence such innovative programmes will help ensure better management of civic affairs. The movement began in Bangalore where the PAC joined hands with Swabhimana to promote civic consciousness among citizens, through children.

Awareness

The concept was introduced in Mysore in 2008-09. Children participated in programmes relating to environmental awareness, tree plantation, survey on solid waste management, traffic rule awareness, health and hygiene and global warming among others.

A significant feature of the CMCA movement in Mysore was its role in spearheading a campaign for a more eco-friendly Ganesha festival, during which the idols of the deity are painted with chemical colours, which affect the ground water when immersed. The activists of the movement pleaded for installation of eco-friendly idols that were devoid of chemical paints. They also sought the use of clay idols as an alternative.

If the feedback from participating educational institutions is any indication, the movement should help groom children into citizens with a high sense of social responsibility.

 

 

BBMP yet to begin City development

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Source : Deccan Herald Date : 08.07.2009

BBMP yet to begin City development

 

Sandeep Moudgal,DH News Service,Bangalore:

Infrastructure definitely got a big boost - at least on paper - with the Union Budget indicating the availability of a whopping Rs 1,00,000 crore for speeding up infrastructure projects across the country.
 

Yet, the progress of the development works in Bangalore doesn’t show any sign of urgency.

Here’s why: Since April 2009, the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) has completed only 15 per cent of the ‘small works’ allotted to it as part of its task of developing 12 of the City’s 28 Assembly constituencies.

On the other hand, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), responsible for the small and medium works for the remaining 16 constituencies, is yet to call for
tenders!

“The tender process was delayed due to the recently concluded Parliamentary elections,” said a Palike official.

It is learnt that the newly appointed BBMP Commissioner, Bharat Lal Meena has now directed the officials to call for tenders and disburse works within two months.

According to the State Budget allocations, the Palike has Rs 6 crore earmarked for each ward. The works include maintenance of roads, footpath, street lights, parks, storm drains and other immediate issues that need to be addressed.

The budgetary allocation made to the BBMP for these works is Rs 300 crore. “With most of the areas already developed, the allocations are justified for the maintenance to be carried,” said the Palike official.

No consolidated list

However, the Palike does not have a consolidated list of small works to be carried out in the 16 constituencies in Bangalore.

The Bangalore Development Authority was allotted Rs 626 crore in the State Budget to assist the Palike in maintaining the City.

While most constituencies allocated to it for development are relatively less developed -which explains the higher budgetary allocation, the work progress is slow.

1,554 works

In all, the Bangalore Development Authority is entrusted with 1,554 works. “Since the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) is yet to complete certain works, we are unable to progress with nearly 398 works in these constituencies,” explained a Bangalore Development Authorityofficial.

A total of 985 allotted works worth Rs 418.31 crore have already begun, accounting for the 15 per cent progress till date. “We will be able to complete the works by end of July,” said a confident Bangalore Development Authority official.

 


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