The Times of India              28.06.2013

Wanted Rs 3,763 crore for storm water drains

NAGPUR: If Tuesday's heavy downpour underlined anything, it was city's dire need of an efficient storm water drain network. But both Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) and Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) have been unable to do much by way of extending the existing network.

The city has a road network of over 4,626 running kilometres while storm water drains exist only along 960km roads, said NMC officials. Officials say the existing drains have a capacity to handle only 20% of precipitation pressure. No wonder even moderate rains leave many areas waterlogged. NMC needs Rs 3,763 crore to install drains to tackle heavy showers like Tuesdays. Fresh proposals for laying additional 300 to 400 km storm water drain network are pending with NMC.

An official claimed recently NMC had laid storm water drains but could not provide names of localities where it was done. Ideally, the storm water drain network should be equal to road network, he said while admitting the current infrastructure was totally insufficient.

"Last year, we decided that the existing network be connected nearby nullahs to enhance carrying capacity. But nothing has been done," said standing committee chairman Avinash Thakre. NMC has approached the state government for financial assistance to lay new drains.

Civic officials said a majority of internal roads did not have storm water drains. The worst example are fringe areas like Hudkeshwar, Pardi, Zingabai Takli, Teachers Colony, Nari, Nara, Tarkeshwar Nagar, Jagrut Nagar, Dhammadeep Nagar, Shanti Nagar etc that were under knee deep water by late Tuesday evening. "All this is because city planners earlier neglected the basic infrastructure. NIT should be blamed for not concentrating on unauthorized areas. They are only building roads, sewer lines and streetlights," said the officer.

He pointed out that asphalt roads leave no scope for the water to permeate, resulting in water getting clogged at certain spots. "Compared to other cities, however, Nagpur is safer as the city roads have proper slopes and water easily drains out," he added.

NIT chairman Pravin Darade admitted that most layouts lacked storm water drains. However, he pointed out that they did not come under NIT prior to 2010. NIT was appointed as town planning authority only a couple of years ago. "In new layouts, it is the responsibility of developers to provide drains or the NIT will not release the plot," clarified Darade.

According to architect Ashok Mokha, the city had expanded but not the infrastructure. "Unless it is taken care off, the situation will deteriorate," he said. Luckily city has many natural streams like Nag river, its tributaries and Pili River passing through the city that could be used to drain water quickly. It is high time the civic body should take care of this problem," he said.

What is storm water drain?

Storm water drains carry rainwater from streets, sidewalks, roofs, buildings and other areas to nearest natural stream. They are separate from sewer system that carries sewage to be treated. In Nagpur, NMC hardly ever cleans them what little network exists is also often choked.

* Road network 4,626 kilometres

* Stormwater drain network: 960km

* Money needed to build complete network: Rs 3,763 crore

The Indian Express               28.06.2013

PMC to pull down mobile phone towers near schools, hospitals

Under attack for failure to keep a check on increasing number of mobile towers in the city, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) administration on Thursday announced that it would start pulling them down. The PMC will pull down the towers close to schools and hospitals as a part of its drive to make the mobile companies fall in line on the regulations for setting up towers.

Raising the issue of mobile towers being illegally set up in large numbers, Congress corporator Sunanda Gadale alleged failure in the duty of the civic staff and urged them to keep a check on illegal towers.

In a written reply, the PMC property tax department informed that it was charging tax on 1,040 mobile towers which includes 711 legal and 329 illegal mobile towers. The civic administration further informed that it expected a revenue of Rs 53.29 crore from the property tax on mobile towers which includes Rs 30.87 crore of the pending dues with the mobile service providers.

Pointing out the restrictions in government policy for setting up mobile towers, Gadale asked whether the PMC was following proper regulations while giving permission for mobile towers.

Municipal Commissioner Mahesh Pathak said the civic administration would take up a drive to get rid of mobile towers close to schools and hospitals.

Congress corporator Avinash Bagawe challenged the civic administration data on number of mobile towers. He said mobile towers need power supply and 3,025 electrical meters were installed by MSEDCL for mobile towers. "The power utility informed that at least two connections are provided from one electric meter. Thus, there are at least 6,000 mobile towers in the city," said Bagawe.

Similarly, the police has the IP address of each mobile towers and the list is more than the figure being quoted by civic administration, he said adding the failure of civic administration to keep tabs is leading to loss of revenue.