Urban Infrastructure 5

‘30 pc of space on the roads used for vehicle parking at present’

admin November 26, 2009

Deccan Herald 26.11.2009

‘30 pc of space on the roads used for vehicle parking at present’
‘10 multi-storeyed parking complexes to be developed’
Mangalore: Nov 25, DHNS:
Minister for Urban Development, Law and Parliamentary Affairs S Suresh Kumar said at least 10 multi-storeyed parking complexes will be developed in the City limits in the days to come.

Addressing a press conference after inspecting various developmental works in the City Corporation limits on Wednesday, he said parking has proved a serious problem in Mangalore since the space meant of parking has been misused by the commercial complexes. “About 30 per cent of space on the roads is being used for vehicle parking since the commercial complexes have not allotted necessary parking lots. One multi-level parking complex has already been approved for Hampankatta,” he said. Action against officials The minister said he would be getting a list of violators from the Deputy Commissioner soon, as per which action would be taken against the officials concerned. “Clear instructions had been given to the officials an year ago regarding the building rules; yet they have been violated again,” he noted. Suresh Kumar hinted that fines would be collected from the owners of the commercial complexes who have violated the regulations, which would in turn be used for developing new multi-level parking complexes. High-level meeting The minister said a top-level meeting would be held in Bangalore on November 30 or December 1 where solutions would be drawn to the problems related to the self assessment system (SAS) of taxation, transfer of development rights (TDR) and the woes of those having less than 5 cents land under the new master plan. He said the common cadre and recruitment (C&R) rules are before the Finance Department for approval, which will be out soon. Once the C&R rules are clear, transfer of staff from one city corporation to another will be made possible, he said. JNNURM for M’lore? Suresh Kumar said he had discussed with the Union Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy with an urged to include Mangalore in the Jawharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). “Presently, only Bangalore and Mysore have come under the scheme. Mangalore was excluded due to the rules regarding the population. Jaipal Reddy is expected to announce the names of more cities to be included in the scheme during the first anniversary of the JNNURM to be held in New Delhi on December 3. We hope that Mangalore will get a place,” he said. Urban devt policy The government has published the draft of the first ever Urban Development Policy of the State ten days ago which is available on www.urbanaffairs.in. A state-level workshop is being held at Mysore on December 6 where the heads and officials of the different City Corporations and City Municipal Councils will take part, he informed. The final draft of the policy will be tabled before the State Cabinet by January 15, he added. Civic workers Answering a query, the minister said though there are 17,500 paura karmikas in the State working on a daily-wage basis, the ones in Mangalore do not come under them. “Mangalore’s is a special case. A cabinet sub-committee led by PWD Minister C M Udasi is looking into the issue. An action will be taken on regularising their service on the basis of the committee’s recommendations,” he informed. Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Vishweshwara Hegade Kageri, District-in-Charge Minister J Krishna Palemar, Mayor M Shanker Bhat and others were present on the occasion.