The Hindu 10.11.2014
Govt. mulls setting up new department for sanitation
It’ll be like the one set up for the supply of drinking water: Urban Development Minister
The State government is thinking of constituting a
separate department for sanitation and solid waste management, according
to Vinay Kumar Sorake, Minister for Urban Development.
Speaking
to presspersons here on Sunday, Mr. Sorake said that the new department
would be on the lines of the one set up for the supply of drinking
water in urban areas. “We plan to post a senior IAS cadre officer as the
head of the department for the systematic disposal of solid waste. The
government’s final decision is awaited for the proposal to take shape,”
he said.
Mr. Sorake said that due to the shortage of
staff in urban local bodies, the department had proposed to recruit for
2,500 various posts and had forwarded a proposal to the Finance
Department. On getting the approval, the Karnataka Public Service
Commission (KPSC) had assured of completing the recruitment process
within two months.
“Meanwhile, the government has
permitted urban local bodies to appoint the required staff either on
contract or outsource it for three months. In addition, 1,000
pourakarmiks will also be appointed on equal pay for equal work,” he
said.
The Minister said that the government had
proposed Ballari or Hosapete to be developed as a smart city along with
eight other major cities in the State. He also informed that the State
governmenthad pointed out that the concept of a smart city as has been
proposed does not cover inclusive development and had asked to look into
the matter.
“We have also proposed that at least
three smart cities should come up around Bengaluru keeping in view the
population touching nearly a crore,” he added.
Mr.
Sorake said that he was not satisfied with the basic civic amenities
provided in Ballari and had instructed the Municipal Commissioner to
initiate steps to streamline them within two months.
‘A senior IAS cadre officer will head the proposed department for the disposal of solid waste’
Recruitment for 2,500 posts in urban local bodies to be taken up