The Indian Express               19.06.2013

Civic body starts building frame to support Altaf Manzil

Over a week after a portion of the five-storeyed Altaf Manzil (officially called Aftab Manzil) in Mahim (West) collapsed, killing 10 persons and injuring seven, BMC is constructing a support frame for the remaining portion of the building so that residents can retrieve their belongings before the structure is demolished.

"Residents should be able to collect their belongings. There is no proper staircase or elevator now. We have begun construction on a frame that will support the building. With the help of Mumbai Fire Brigade and police, one or two persons will be able to access the building at a time to collect valuables," said assistant municipal commissioner Sharad Ughade of G-North Ward.

The contractor appointed by BMC at a cost of Rs 12.5 lakh to carry out the demolition of the remaining portion of the building is constructing the framework

"The residents should have access by Wednesday afternoon. The demolition of the remaining portion of the building will be undertaken by the weekend," said Ughade.

At present, the corporation is investigating whether poor construction material caused the collapse. Samples of debris have been sent for lab-testing to determine the quality of cement. Based on the findings, the civic body will probe residents' allegations that illegal alterations to a Maruti car showroom on the ground floor of the building led to the collapse. Structural engineer Shashank Mehendele has been roped in by BMC to conduct an inquiry.

The Statesman               19.06.2013

KMC to extend deadline for PIF submission

The last date for submission of forms is 30 June.

The civic authorities will conduct general revaluation (GR) on the basis of information provided by the property owners. The GR is done once in six years and it was kept in abeyance from September 2010 following instructions of the then railway minister Mamata Banerjee.

The civic body's revenue dropped which was, however, compensated after the state government allowed it to collect money through property tax waiver scheme.  

The KMC decided to do GR in 18 out of 144 wards in the city. These are wards 3, 4, 41 and 46 in north Kolkata. Wards 68, 86, 81 and 85 in south Kolkata.

In Jadavpur GR will be done in wards 101 and 107. The four wards where the GR will be done in Behala are 117, 124, 127 and 128. The two wards in Garden Reach are 138 and 139.

Senior civic officials said that on an average 10 property information forms per ward have been submitted to the KMC.  The forms have been sent to the property owners by post.

They can also download the forms from the KMC website.  Unless all the forms from property owners are received, the KMC cannot start conducting GR.

In these wards GR is likely to be completed by September. Once the GR is done, the KMC will send property tax bills to the owners and they have to pay arrears as in the past two years no GR was conducted in these wards.

The officials said with 12 days remaining in June, it is likely that the last date will have to be extended.  The KMC has proposed to launch awareness drives requesting property owners to send the forms at the earliest.