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Priority for urban infrastructure: Montek

Wednesday, 04 November 2009 04:45 administrator
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The Hindu 04.11.2009

Priority for urban infrastructure: Montek

Staff Correspondent

‘Only 30 per cent of the population lives in urban areas’


A MILESTONE: Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia inaugurating the Knowledge Centre of T.A. Pai Management Institute in Manipal on Tuesday.

Manipal: Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia said on Tuesday that the country should give priority to infrastructure development.

Mr. Ahluwalia was inaugurating the Knowledge Centre at the T.A. Pai Management Institute (TAPMI) here.

He said that huge investment was required in power sector, roads and urban infrastructure. India had the lowest urbanisation. Only 30 per cent of India’s population lived in urban areas. Provision of urban infrastructure posed a challenge. The State governments and the urban local bodies had to raise funds for urban infrastructure.

Less than 20 per cent of GDP came from agriculture, but 50 per cent of the population was dependent on it. But agriculture could grow at only 4 per cent. It was not a good sign that too many people were depending on agriculture.

There was a possibility of 100 per cent increase in agricultural productivity if right inputs were provided. Agricultural transformation would not take place unless it was financed.

Because of the National Rural Employment Guarantee (NREG) Scheme, there had been an increase in the number of bank accounts. Financial inclusion was essential in the country. Indian economy could not grow at 9 per cent, if it was not integrated globally. “We cannot have protective walls,” he said.

The country required foreign investment. The financial sector should learn to cope with the opening up of the economy. At present, the economy had been only partly opened up. There was tension between financial innovation that led to risk and financial innovation which led to efficiency.

The western world had not used financial innovation properly. India was following a balanced approach. “We need to keep our minds and options open,” he said.

India could not be transformed into a rapidly growing economy unless the financial sector took the lead. There was no opposition on the issue of financial regulation.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 04 November 2009 04:47
 

Consultant for GHMC’s new complex

Thursday, 01 October 2009 01:18 administrator
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The Hindu 01.10.2009

Consultant for GHMC’s new complex

 

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: Mumbai based Premnath & Associates has been chosen prime consultant for taking up the Rs. 50 crore new GHMC’s office-cum-council hall complex to come up over an acre area on the lower Tank Bund Road.

Senior officials said that the agency was short-listed last week from among the four agencies (Stup Consultants (Mumbai), DKC Associates (New Delhi) and DESP Developers (New Delhi) which responded to a tender offer floated by the Municipal Corporation few months ago.

The chosen agency will not only help finalise the tender process for selecting a private contractor for taking up the prestigious project but will also oversee the construction work. Besides, Premnath & Associates will be submitting prospective architectural plan for the proposed 15-storied complex .

The prospective contractor’s building plan will have to be based on the design made by the agency and also stick to the ‘green building’ concept. The agency will be paid Rs. 1.5 crore for their services.

Last Updated on Thursday, 01 October 2009 01:22
 

Sector 17 to get multi-level parking lot soon

Wednesday, 30 September 2009 11:31 administrator
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Indian Express 30.09.2009

Sector 17 to get multi-level parking lot soon

MC approves proposal; the parking, to be built in front of Gurdev Studio, will be able to accommodate 1,200 cars

The Municipal Corporation will construct a multi-level parking in Sector 17. The decision was approved during the House Meet held today. A proposal for constructing four new multi-level parking lots — three in Sector 17 and one in Industrial Area — was brought to the House for approval. The House decided that instead of Public-Private Partnership model, the civic body should undertake the construction work.

The parking lot ,to be built in front of Gurdev Studio, would have the capacity for 1,200 cars. The House also approved an agenda for strengthening of V-4 road in Sector 50.

An agenda was brought to the House pertaining to the construction of a temporary parking along V-4 road between SGGS College and St John School. Councillor Chander Mukhi Sharma questioned whether the land on which parking was proposed belonged to the Municipal Corporation. When the officials replied in negative the proposal was rejected. The issue of installation of power generation unit with sewage gas as fuel was taken up for discussion. It had been proposed that electricity be generated from the gas produced at the plant.

Sidelights
With councillors complaining about delay in execution of work, it was decided that a special meeting of the House would be called on October 8 to discuss the status of the work in various wards.

Councillor Anu Chatrath pointed out that overgrown eucalyptus trees could prove dangerous for houses and schools in its vicinity.

Councillor Brig K S Chandpuri (Retd) demanded that parks should be identified where children were not allowed to play. He said playing of children in parks disturbed senior citizens. Municipal Commissioner Dr Roshan Sunkaria, however, pointed out that children should be encouraged to play and no ban can be imposed on them.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 30 September 2009 11:38
 

Civic body to decide on maintenance proposals for road sweeping machines

Tuesday, 29 September 2009 10:00 administrator
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Indian Express 29.09.2009

Civic body to decide on maintenance proposals for road sweeping machines

With the warranty period of the three mechanised road sweeping machines bought from Italy last year already over, the decision of what to do with these ‘white elephants’ once again stares at the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh.

At its House meet to be held on Tuesday, the civic body will discuss the two proposals put forward for the maintenance of these machines. While the annual maintenance contract estimates an expenditure of around Rs 15 lakh, the comprehensive maintenance contract quotes a figure of Rs 36.99 lakh (without stating a time limit!). To top it all, there are 34 items which have not been included in either of the proposals and will have to be separately purchased by the civic body. These include the side-brooms for the machines. Each costs around Rs 19,000 and five brooms are used every month.

Earlier, a committee was constituted to examine the contracts, which voted in favour of the comprehensive maintenance contract. A final decision, however, will be taken after the proposals are discussed in the House.

The machines were purchased at an expenditure of Rs 3 crore.

Interestingly, prior to the purchase, several civic body officials including former Medical Officer of Health Dr G C Bansal and the then Joint Commissioner H S Kandhola went to Italy to inspect the machines. The trip was sponsored by the company.

Chairman of the Sanitation Committee Chander Mukhi Sharma says: “What did the officials assess when they visited Italy? This year we are looking at an expenditure of Rs 36 lakh. Will it keep increasing every year? Also, there are more than 30 items that are not included in the contracts.”

Councillor Dr A P Sanwaria, who was the chairman of the Sanitation Committee when the machines were purchased, said the councillors were kept out of the loop when the trip was planned. “We were presented a rosy picture but no one bothered to inform us about the recurring costs. The machines were supposed to be capable of working 16 hours a day, this does not seem to be happening,” he says.

The warranty period of the machines ended on April 24 this year.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 29 September 2009 10:03
 

The 11.6-km elevated expressway, the country’s longest, from Mehdipatnam to Arangarh in Hyderabad

Tuesday, 29 September 2009 02:14 administrator
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The Business Line 29.09.2009


Ready for takeoff: The 11.6-km elevated expressway, the country’s longest, from Mehdipatnam to Arangarh in Hyderabad, is expected to shorten the travel time from the Hyderabad International Airport at Shamshabad to the city. The Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority officials hope to meet the October 2 deadline for the Rs 439-crore project, dedicated to the memory of the late Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy. — Picture by Mohammed Yousuf

Last Updated on Tuesday, 29 September 2009 02:17
 
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