Urban News

  • Increase font size
  • Default font size
  • Decrease font size
Urban Planning

Green bug yet to bite Chennai buildings

Wednesday, 16 December 2009 10:51 administrator
Print PDF

The New Indian Express 16.12.2009

Green bug yet to bite Chennai buildings

V Gangadharan


CHENNAI: At present, less than one per cent of Chennai’s buildings are green. While a few large corporate offices as well as the upcoming assembly complex have been built on environmentfriendly lines, the trend is yet to catch on mainly because of a perception that constructing green buildings is very expensive.

However, with the Energy Conservation Building Code set to become mandatory in the near future, the city may see an increase in the construction of green buildings soon.

Madhu Kumar Boppana, manager at Vestas India, a renewable energy company, said that while green buildings did cost 15 to 20 per cent more than normal buildings, the benefits they provided make them attractive in the long run.

“We use 100 per cent natural lighting in the day enabling us to cut down on power costs,’’ he said. The building’s sewage water is recycled and used to water lawns. Most of the power requirement is supported through wind energy, clean and sustainable source.

An official with the Bureau of Energy Efficiency said the additional cost in setting up a green building could easily be recovered in five years. “We are training several consultants and architects and this will help eradicate the cost misconception,’’ he said.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 16 December 2009 10:53
 

Revision of building rules to be studied

Friday, 11 December 2009 01:14 administrator
Print PDF

The Hindu 11.12.2009

Revision of building rules to be studied

Staff Reporter

Corporation to recommend areas for flyovers

Photo: K. Ananthan

Chairman of the Confederation of Indian Industry, Coimbatore Zone, Ravi Sam (left) hands over a wish-list for Coimbatore city to Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin (third left) on Thursday. –

COIMBATORE: The Town and Country Planning Department will study the demand for establishing a Coimbatore Development Authority similar to Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority and revision of building rules and the Coimbatore Master Plan, Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said here on Thursday.

At an interactive meeting organised by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) he said that the Municipal Administration Department would study the demand to bring Kurichi, Kuniamuthur, Kalapatty and Koundampalayam under the Corporation limits. The Coimbatore Corporation would examine and make recommendations regarding the industry’s demand for construction of flyovers in some areas of the city.

Housing

He said that under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, efforts would be expedited to provide permanent housing facility and make the city slum-free. The corporation and the District Administration should jointly remove encroachments on water bodies, roads and Government land.

The Deputy Chief Minister said he was aware of the industries’ demand to approve expansion projects of red category industries that were established within five km from water bodies before 1998 and wanted to expand operations now with effluent treatment facilities (zero discharge). A befitting and good decision would be taken by the Government soon.

Belgium company Hansen Drives was investing Rs. 1,500 crore in Coimbatore to manufacture gear boxes and the Deputy Chief Minister would inaugurate it on January 23.

According to the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy, till June 2009, Coimbatore had attracted Rs. 27,879 core investment from 274 mega projects.

Electronics

In the recent years, Coimbatore district had developed in electronics sector. It had five Electronic Special Economic Zones. During 2008-2009, IT exports from here was about Rs. 360 crore.

The TIDEL Park here was coming up at Rs. 370 crore and it would give employment to 12,000 peoople.

Infrastructure improvement would help in industrial growth. The Karur Coimbatore National Highway development work for 114 km was on at Rs. 178 crore and works were over for 60 km at Rs. 94 crore. The rest would be completed soon.

A consultant had been appointed to study the technical and financial feasibility to lay a western bypass road through the Public Private Partnership mode. The National Highway Authority of India had taken up work to convert 82 km of road from Chengapalli Coimbatore to Tamil Nadu Kerala border into four-lane and six-lane road. The Coimatore -Mettupalayam National Highway 67 widening was taken up by NHAI, he said.

Rajeev Ranjan, Principal Secretary – Industries Department, said an industries portal would be launched soon. Tamil Nadu was one of the leading industrialised States.

Clusters

About 60 clusters had been identified in the State for cluster development. C.K. Ranganathan, Chairman of the CII Tamil Nadu State said the industries had sought supply of power to High Tension industries during peak hours (6 p.m. to 10 p.m.) by purchasing from other States and this was expected to be implemented soon.

Ravi Sam, Chairman of the Coimbatore Zone of the CII, said the city wanted better infrastructure so that it developed into a leading tier two city.

Last Updated on Friday, 11 December 2009 01:17
 

CDMA flouting service rules

Thursday, 03 December 2009 11:20 administrator
Print PDF

The New Indian Express 03.12.2009

CDMA flouting service rules

C Shivakumar

CHENNAI: The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) is allegedly flouting the State government’s service rules while making appointments to various posts in the organisation, including that of deputy planner.

As per records available with Express, CMDA has violated the rules despite the State government orders and the high court’s direction to the contrary. The observations of an audit report — Annual Accounts of CMDA — highlighted the defects in the appointment and promotion of the then deputy planner R R Kubendran (currently chief planner). The report says that Kubendran, who holds ME (Urban Engineering) degree, did not have the requisite qualification in line with the approved CMDA service regulations, 1980.

As per the norms, the deputy planner should have a master’s degree in town planning or be an associate member in the Institute of Town Planning, India (ITPI). The report said, “any amendment regarding appointment may be effected by the authority only with the previous approval of the government.” Though the authority prescribed ME (Urban Engineering) as one of the qualifications for the post of deputy planner by way of amendment, this qualification was taken away by the government constituted panel while formulating the draft regulation.

“At present ME (Urban Engineering) is not prescribed as a qualification, either in the approved service regulation or in the draft service regulations pending approval with the government,” the report states.

“In the event of refusal by government for the approval of the said amendment, ratification of government would need to be obtained for having promoted to the post of deputy planner based on the amendment approved by the authority,” the report adds.

According to a HC order, “so long as the word ‘prior approval of the government’ is found in Section 124 (1) of the Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act, the CMDA making its own amendment and not getting approval from the government does not make any regulation valid.” Despite the audit observation, government order and court direction, the individual was promoted to the post of deputy planner without masters in town planning, the ITPI points out. This is not the only occasion when the CMDA flouted norms.

The issue has resulted in court battles as well as non-government organisations taking up cudgels against the CMDA. Many outfits like Citizens Care Foundation and Forum for Practising Qualified Post Graduate Town Planners in Tamil Nadu have also sent representations to Chief Minister seeking disciplinary action against the administrative officer in CMDA.

Last Updated on Thursday, 03 December 2009 11:23
 
More Articles...


Page 87 of 101