The Times of India           21.10.2013 

Thane municipal corporation decides to keep vital proposals on hold

THANE: The Thane municipal corporation (TMC) did not present several important proposals envisaged in public interest during the general body (GB) meeting on Saturday.

Among those that were held back include, an ambitious programme to concretize roads in Thane, a comprehensive traffic study to ascertain optimum road utilization, health cards for residents of hundreds of dilapidated structures, and a proposal to install sensors in the rickety structures. The proposals are vital in the context of the spate of building collapses in city and fast deteriorating conditions of major thoroughfares and artilleries.

The TMC officials said the proposals were held back to carry out last-minute modifications. The proposal to concretize all roads is worth over Rs 1,000 crore.

"We needed to rework the financial structure of this proposal and so it was imperative to withhold it for now," said chief engineer KD Lala.

The proposal to install sensors in new and old structures is to compel developers in giving out details on 12 parameters to residents so that the structural health of the buildings can be worked out accordingly. The initiative to issue health cards to tenants of dangerous buildings was announced by the state government recently.

"Most of the sensors would be imported and also indicate to the corporation if the condition of the buildings is sound or not," added Lala.