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After HC rap for waterlogging, NDMC orders 3 inspections a week

Monday, 19 August 2013 07:47 administrator
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The Indian Express          19.08.2013

After HC rap for waterlogging, NDMC orders 3 inspections a week

Following a Delhi High Court directive that pulled up the New Delhi Municipal Council over flooding in Central Delhi, especially in houses of judges and ministers, NDMC Chairman Jalaj Srivastava directed top officials to ensure that there is no waterlogging in those areas.

Newly appointed chairman Srivastava has made an arrangement under which all the seven officials will go for field inspections. Realising the gravity of the matter, Srivastava is working to ensure that VIPs do not complain about waterlogging in the NDMC's jurisdiction.

The NDMC area has been divided into 14 circles and each official will take care of two circles. The inspections would cover issues such as electricity, water and roads.

The circular issued to these officials makes it mandatory for officials to go on at least three inspections a week.

"During inspections in their respective circles, these officials are to interact with the residents of the area. One inspection can be done early morning, at the time of garbage clearance. The official will be accompanied by the field-level officer to instruct the employees working in the unit," NDMC chairman Srivastava said.

Srivastava will oversee the inspections. "At least one inspection in a fortnight shall be done in presence of the chairman," the circular states. The officials will give feedback report to the chairman every Friday.

Officials who are in charge of the tasks are NDMC Secretary Vikas Anand, Director (Enforcement of Building Regulations) O P Mishra, Director (General Administration) Geetika Sharma, Director (Vigilance) Akhtarul Hanif, Chief Auditor Varsha Tiwari, Director (Personnel) Sonika Singh and Director (Enforcement) A K Mishra.

The Delhi High Court has directed all agencies to clean stormwater drains after holding civic bodies responsible for the waterlogged roads in the city.

 

Municipal ward visits made compulsory every Thursday

Monday, 19 August 2013 04:40 administrator
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The Hindu               19.08.2013

Municipal ward visits made compulsory every Thursday

Staff Reporter

Buoyed over the successful conduct of Gram Sandarshana (village visit) programme, Collector M. Veerabrahmaiah has announced the conduct of Municipal Ward Sandarshana (municipal ward visit) on all Thursdays in municipalities and corporations in Karimnagar district.

At a meeting with the municipal commissioners here on Sunday, the Collector instructed the municipal officials to conduct “ward sandarshana” on all Thursdays by covering at least two wards in each visit. He said that they would also appoint special officers for the successful conduct of ward visit programmes to solve the residents’ problems. The municipal team along with the respective ward teams will visit the respective municipal wards and conduct the programme from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Medical camp

During the early hours, the municipal team will take up sanitation, street lights, drinking water supply works etc. from 7 a.m. onwards, the authorities will conduct a medical camp at the Urban health centre. From 9 a.m. to 9.30 a.m., students and womenfolk will take out a rally to create awareness on sanitation, health and other welfare programmes. Later, the team will inspect the PDS, schools, anganwadi centres, hostels etc.

From 12.30 p.m. to 1.30 p.m., the authorities will conduct a meeting and collect petitions from the residents for issuing ration cards, aadhar cards, pension etc. Later, the officials will conduct an internal meeting and chalk out programmes for the development of wards. The Collector asked the authorities to invite the local MP, MLA, MLCs for the ward visit programme. Joint Collector H. Arun Kumar, Karimnagar municipal commissioner Ramesh, DM&HO Aleem, CPO Subbarao, district employment officer Ravinder and others were also present.

 

GHMC says don’t charge for plastic bags

Saturday, 17 August 2013 11:02 administrator
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Deccan Chronicle               17.08.2013

GHMC says don’t charge for plastic bags

 
Hyderabad: Special teams from the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation on Friday raided high-profile showrooms located in GVK One Mall at Banjara Hills as part of the civic body’s drive to discourage use and sale of plastic carry bags and promote the eco-friendly cloth and jute bags.
 
The teams led by GHMC assistant medical officer of health Dr T. Damodar raided five showrooms including Shoppers Stop, Neeru’s, Mother’s Care, Mebaz and Kalaniketan in GVK One mall at Banjara Hills.
 
The raids were conducted following complaints that the showrooms were openly charging money for plastic carry bags. Though the GHMC had asked the traders to charge money for plastic carry bags when the ban on below 40 micron carry bags was announced, the orders were withdrawn two months ago and traders were told to actually shun use and sale of plastic carry bags and sell cloth bags instead. 
 
In case the cloth bags stock is exhausted, the traders have to give above 40 microns plastic bags free of cost to customers, he said. As many as 3,500 plastic carry bags of various sizes were seized from the five showrooms. 
 
“On non-payment of penalty by Mother’s Care management, we sealed it. The remaining four showrooms were let off with a warning after they paid penalties ranging from `25,000 to `50,000 each,” Dr Damodar said.
 
The GHMC officials said that two months back a meeting was conducted with representatives of malls and high-profile showrooms. 
 
In the meeting, the managements were clearly told not to sell plastic carry bags and also offer cloth and jute bags besides providing some discount to those coming with their own cloth and jute bags. 
 
“Despite being given sufficient time, the showroom managements failed to fall in line and discourage use of plastic bags. We are going to continue the raids in all shops and establishments in the city,” Damodar said.
 
Almost every store in the city sells plastic bags for as much as Rs 7 and more, depending upon the size and quality. 
 
“We are not aware when the GHMC withdrew its orders that made it mandatory for all stores to charge for plastic carry bags,” said the manager of a popular store on Prenderghast Road. The ban on sale of plastic bags thinner than 40 microns came into effect on July 1, 2011.
 
Sources said that GHMC officials had conducted a meeting with managements, owners and representatives of a handful of showrooms, stores and malls in May and June and had told them to stop charging money for the bags. But it was not communicated to commercial establishments.
 
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