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Court seeks details of illegal structures at Boats Club

Tuesday, 04 June 2013 05:36 administrator
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The Hindu                04.06.2013

Court seeks details of illegal structures at Boats Club

Legal Correspondent

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Kalyan Jyoti Sengupta and Justice N.V. Ramana on Monday asked the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) to inform the court whether or not any illegal constructions had been built on the premises of Hyderabad Boats Club.The Bench was dealing with a writ petition filed by Vidya Sagar Reddy, who said the authorities concerned had not demolished the illegal guest rooms, a banquet hall, kitchen and an air-conditioned lounge built on government land on the banks of Hussainsagar. He said that such constructions were not permitted as per law. Construction activity prohibitedThe A.P. Pollution Control Board told the court that the order of the Supreme Court prohibited such construction activity.

The club contended that the land was given on lease by the government. The Bench adjourned the case by a week to facilitate GHMC file its report.

 

City corporators get wake-up call, start repair work

Monday, 03 June 2013 11:58 administrator
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The Times of India                 03.06.2013

City corporators get wake-up call, start repair work

VARANASI: Varanasi Municipal Corporation officials got a wake-up call, as they realized the work started by them is about to reach its deadline. Repair works of link roads, street lights, stone slabs in lanes, had to be completed before June 15 (before the arrival of monsoon) from a fund of Rs 984.88 lakh sanctioned in February, but VMC slept on it for three months to utilise this fund for works which are in urgent need of attention.

According to municipal commissioner, RP Singh, the work was delayed due to non seriousness of the construction department. "When I asked for a report from the department, it was found that the tenders and agreements for repairing street lights and roads have been done. There are some 187 roads, link roads, which have to be repaired. The work will start in one week's time", he informed. However, it is still not clear whether the work will be completed before the monsoon arrives.

The work is to be carried out as per the priorities and demands set by corporators of different wards. With 90 wards in the city, an amount of Rs five to Rs six lakh has been estimated for the work in each ward.

Earlier in April, chief engineer, VMC, SK Ambedkar said that the tenders were floated in March, but due to some reasons the work got delayed and the date was set to May first week. However, the work could not be started and it left the denizens in limbo.

It may be noted that due to constant digging of roads for laying down of pipelines under different projects, a big proportion of inner roads of the city are suffering from big ditches, unleveled surfaces and muddy conditions. Similar is the situation at serpentine lanes and link roads.

 

Mayor seeks separate policy on mannequin display

Monday, 03 June 2013 11:23 administrator
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The Indian Express                 03.06.2013

Mayor seeks separate policy on mannequin display

After finding that the current civic policy for checks on advertisements does not have mannequins in its ambit, Mumbai mayor and Shiv Sena corporator Sunil Prabhu has planned to approach the Chief Minister to ask for a separate policy.

According to the BMC's guidelines, "Advertisement means and includes any device or representation in any manner such as announcement or direction by word, letter, model sign by means of posters, hoardings, boards, banners, temporary arches, illuminated signs, name boards, direction boards, balloons etc".

"With more shopkeepers and advertisers using mannequins, there needs to be separate guidelines on the manner in which mannequins can be allowed as displays. This should include clothing, attire, position and other details on how mannequins should be displayed so as not to be considered obscene," said Prabhu.

An official from the license department which is in-charge of inspecting advertisements, displays and keeping a check on surrogate advertisements, said, "At present, there is a ban on advertisements for liquor, cigarette, gutkha and other such items. BMC guidelines do not provide for any specific rules on obscene advertisements. Typically, the police department takes action on advertisements considered obscene."

The 227 corporators in BMC recently passed a proposal to ban the display of bikini-clad mannequins at lingerie shops. The proposal, which is yet to receive a final nod from the municipal commissioner, was initially mooted by BJP corporator from Ghatkopar, Ritu Tawade.

Viren Shah, president, Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Association (FRTWA) said, "Elected representatives should concentrate on educating people on sex crimes and changing the mindset of people." He added that the lingerie industry in the city is worth Rs 12,000 crore, with about 500 exclusive stores of undergarments and an additional 20,000 that sell these products. "How can BMC stop them from displaying and marketing their products? Which other way can they sell these products?" asked Shah. 

 
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