Urban News

  • Increase font size
  • Default font size
  • Decrease font size
General Administration

Kanpur Municipal Corporation demolishes Illegal structures over nullahs

Friday, 14 June 2013 12:16 administrator
Print PDF

The Times of India             14.06.2013

Kanpur Municipal Corporation demolishes Illegal structures over nullahs

KANPUR: A squad of Kanpur Municipal Corporation demolished 130 permanent structures constructed over a nullah from Karrahi crossing to I block in order to meet the deadline of de-silting of nullahs and drains in the city before the arrival of monsoon.

A few temporary structures which were removed by the owners and some were demolished. The squad broke 130 slabs and opened the nullah which was choked. Now other gang would dig and clean the nullah, said Atul Krishna Singh officer of zone 3.

The city has as many as 160 nullahs and several small drains. KMC had launched a drive to clean and de-silt all nullahs and drains between May 10 and June 15 to avoid waterlogging. Acccording to municipal corporation sources, around 50% target could be achieved so far

City has around 50 main nullahs and de-silting work had yet not started in many. Sisamanu Nullah, which carries sewage and waste and of 35 localities, could not be de-silted and cleaned so far. Residents of Sisamau locality expressed apprehension that heavy rainfall could result into waterlogging and a vast area would be affected. They had faced problems of waterlogging in the area two years back when the nullah could not be de-silted.

The condition of Rafaqa Nullah and C O D Nullah is same. COD Nullah, which flows through Yashodanagar, had been not desilted so far. Pre-monsoon showers which had nit the city last week had turned the several localities near it into islands.

Residents of Pardewanpurwa in Lal Bungalow locality are waiting for desilting of the nullah. They claimed nullah was full of silt and it overflows even in slight rainfall.

At Saketnagar, the nullah was desilted a week ago but its silt is still lying on the road. No efforts have been made by the squad to lift that. A resident of the area said a heavy rainfall would sent the silt once again in the nullah and it would overflow.

 

Kolkata Municipal Corporation to revoke New Market 'cool' charge

Friday, 14 June 2013 12:15 administrator
Print PDF

The Times of India             14.06.2013

Kolkata Municipal Corporation to revoke New Market 'cool' charge

KOLKATA: The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) is set to revoke and modify certain clauses clamped on shop-owners at the heritage New Market for revenue augmentation, most importantly the one that would have made them pay extra for installing air-conditioners.

TOI had, on May 4, reported how the controversial surcharge had traders fuming ('AC tax' leaves New Market traders fuming). Subsequently, on May 16, the traders had downed shutters for an entire day - the first time in living memory - to protest the surcharge, also reported in TOI.

The controversial circular from the KMC's markets department had stated that traders who had installed air-conditioners in their shops would have to pay a 50% surcharge on rent each month. This came as a blow to the traders who had been planning to upgrade amenities shoppers.

That apart, separate orders sent to the traders had landed them in a fix. For example, if a stall owner wanted to change the nature of his business, he needed to pay 50 months' rent to the civic body as penalty. Earlier, the markets department used to take 25 months' rent for such change of business. Also, if a trader wanted to transfer the rights of his stall to a legal heir, he needed to pay 250 months' rent to the civic body as a special transfer fee.

After the TOI report highlighting the traders' woes, the markets department bosses convened a meeting on June 10 and conveyed to the New Market traders that a new set of rules was being framed for them. According to the new rules, the civic body will charge 25% surcharge on installation of air-conditioners. Similarly, the markets department has decided to take 25 months' rent (in place of 50 months') for a change in the nature of the business. In cases of transfer of business, the KMC will reduce the fee from 250 months to 200 months' fees, a KMC official said.

Tarak Singh, the MMiC overseeing the markets department, said discussions were on with the traders to "modify the fees and charges".

Narayan Das, the owner of S Lalchand, the oldest garments shop, has lost 50% business this summer. "I wanted to renovate my shop set up in 1880. All I needed was a nod from the markets department to install an air-conditioner, but I gave up when the KMC asked to me pay a 50% surcharge on the rent," he said. He is, however, upbeat now. "Let us see what changes the civic body makes to give us some relief," he said.

Ajay Shaw, the owner of Royal Stores, a 113-year-old cosmetics shop, however, felt the traders would have benefitted in a major way had the civic brass exercised caution before formulating the charges. "First, the civic body is planning to levy whimsical charges. Next, it plans to withdraw those. We are caught in the middle," Shaw said. Ashok Gupta, the president of SS Hogg Market Traders' Association, said they welcomed the change but still demanded the withdrawal of all "irrational" fees.

 

VMC asks officials to check sewage flow into water bodies, drains

Friday, 14 June 2013 12:10 administrator
Print PDF

The Times of India             14.06.2013

VMC asks officials to check sewage flow into water bodies, drains

VADODARA: Alarmed by continuing release of sewage in storm water drains and ponds in the city, Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) has asked its engineering department to ensure that the practice is stopped immediately. In the past too, the department asked the engineers to take remedial steps as such release was a health hazard.

The drainage department and ward-level officials have for quite some time now been using storm water drains and ponds to release sewage water if drainage lines fail.

The sewage is pumped out of the lines and into the storm water drains that eventually end up in a pond or river Vishwamitri.

The civic body has of late taken an initiative towards reviving the Vishwamitri and ponds. Officials said release of drainage water in open storm water drains and ponds besides Vishwamitri lead to mosquito menace. The city has been facing mosquito menace and related health issues for the last few years.

VMC deputy municipal commissioner R K Sugoor has shot a letter to the executive engineers of all the four municipal zones to ensure that drainage water is not released into storm water drains or water bodies.

He stated that in recent visits too it had come to light that this was happening even when instructions were issued in the past.

Officials said VMC engineers had been sighting several technical issues that had made it difficult to divert the drainage water elsewhere. Sugoor said various possibilities are being examined to provide a solution to the problem.

 
More Articles...


Page 415 of 686