Urban News

Source : The Hindu Date : 26.06.2009

Landslip creates havoc in city

Special Correspondent

— Photo: R. Eswarraj

PRECARIOUS: The landslip on Arya Samaj Road in Mangalore on Thursday brought a few structures near Mangala Nursing Home to the verge of collapsing.

MANGALORE: A large house behind Mangala Nursing Home, belonging to Loretta Rebello, appears to be standing precariously atop a hill following a landslip on Arya Samaj Road here on Thursday. A part of the retaining wall of the nursing home too has collapsed into the premises of another house at the foothill.

The large house is about 50 ft above the surface of a plot which has been levelled for the construction of a building by Srushti Ventures. Its office in-charge Shwetang Shah told The Hindu that the company was constructing a 43-ft retaining wall to prevent landslip. Already about 30-ft wall had been raised when the landslip occurred, he said.

Retaining wall

Mihir Rebello, son of Mr. Loretta Rebello, said the landslip happened at 2.15 p.m. when a huge chunk of soil slipped, bringing down the retaining wall as well as pillars. Mr. Rebello said the builder had not reacted quickly in taking precautions and reduce the damage from further landslip. He told The Hindu at 4.30 p.m. that the builder could have covered the surface with tarpaulin to prevent further loosening of the soil owing to rainwater.

The slush created by the landslip has splashed all over the house of Grace D’Cruz, which is about 20 ft above the levelled site. Boulders from the retaining wall of the nursing home have been strewn near the bedroom of her house, while its windowpane has been broken. B. Balakrishna Gowda, town planning officer of Mangalore City Corporation, said that the builder had been asked to complete the work before the beginning of the monsoon but this had not been complied with. The builder would be asked to evacuate the people from the two houses before carrying on with the construction, he said.

Niranjanraj Urs, Mangalore East police inspector, who visited the spot, said that Mr. Rebello’s family had been advised not to live in the house.

He said he would send a report to the Deputy Commissioner stating that the house of Mr. Rebello might collapse any time. He said the police had not received any complaint from the residents of the house.

Source : The Hindu Date : 26.06.2009

EOI: GVMC gives more time for developing sites

Staff Reporter

VISAKHAPATNAM: A general body meeting of the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation on Thursday decided to give one more month’s time for fresh applicants for development of its 10 sites in public-private partnership. The Expression of Interest (EOI) called for last year received 168 applications.

Reiterating their opposition to the PPP, the TDP, CPI(M) and CPI staged a walkout. The council approved allotment of an alternative site to a food court proposed on the Beach Road.

Expressing concern over the poor financial condition of the corporation, the meeting ratified Commissioner B.Sridhar’s decision to reduce the 92 hired vehicles by 70.

Members deplored the payment of Rs.69.73 lakhs towards settlement of bills to contractor of Swarnabharathi Indoor Stadium. Mayor Pulusu Janardhana Rao ruled that the files would be verified by a committee of floor leaders under the chairmanship of Deputy Mayor K. Dorabbai for further action.

The meeting also resolved to send a fresh request within 10 days to the Bar Council seeking names for appointment of six municipal standing counsel as per the roaster. Members expressed ire at cost escalation for the Jawaharlal National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) works in spite of appointing consultants for preparing detailed project reports even as corporators faced flak for not taking up small works. Cell towers would be allowed to be erected on one-time payment of Rs.50,000 (on buildings) Rs.1 lakh from the ground-level. The Mayor announced that the corporation would set up a statue of revolutionary Bhagat Singh.

Anakapalle MP Sabbam Hari faulted official ‘irresponsibility’ for the sorry state of affairs in the corporation. He said officials from other departments were coming on deputation to bleed the corporation. While opposing appointing a number of consultants, he wanted the expenditure on hospitality and phones to be put before the council.

Mr. Hari, a former Mayor, actively participated in the deliberations giving suggestions to the Mayor on various issues. Earlier, MLAs Tainala Vijay Kumar, Dronamraju Srinivasa Rao, Malla Vijay Prasad, P. Rameshbabu, M. Srinivasa Rao, Ch. Venkatramaiah were warmly welcomed.