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Maharashtra: BMC to curb engineers' discretionary powers

Monday, 03 June 2013 00:00 administrator
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The Times of India                03.06.2013

Maharashtra: BMC to curb engineers' discretionary powers

MUMBAI: The BMC wants its engineers to submit declaration forms about the shelf life of projects before starting work. The move is aimed at curbing engineers' discretionary powers and making them more accountable for the projects they undertake.

"At the start of a project, engineers will have to declare its shelf life. While filling out the declaration form, they will be provided with a masterlist of items required for projects and they will have to choose items needed for their project from it," said a civic official. "Once the engineers select the items, they will have to prepare the project estimate accordingly. Public money will not be wasted on projects that are not meant to last long."

The BMC has also drawn up a checklist for each type of work -from laying of roads to construction of buildings and development of gardens-to avoid cost escalations in projects. Once an engineer enters the name of the project in the system, the checklist will pop up and s/he will have to ensure that all points are covered before preparing the project estimate.

"This practice will ensure that engineers do not seek funds later or revise costs saying they had forgotten to account for a particular item while preparing the project estimate," said another civic official. "This will also help junior engineers plan projects on their own without being dependent on their seniors."

Till now, the estimated cost of a project was worked out on the basis of 2009 market rates. The BMC has now revised the rates to match the current market prices.

Yet another highlight of the system is that the BMC has introduced a sheet where engineers will have to fill out the results of quality check tests done on products and material being used by the contractors.

The number of tests to be carried out by civic officials is dependent on hierarchy. While senior civic officials might only have to just undertake visual, junior engineers may need to do carry out sample testing also.

The declaration form is a new feature of the revised schedule of rates (SOR). The changes will be incorporated in the BMC's SAP (financial management) system in a month's time.

 

Lucknow Municipal Corporation to ban display of scanty clothes on mannequins

Friday, 31 May 2013 11:58 administrator
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The Times of India               31.05.2013

Lucknow Municipal Corporation to ban display of scanty clothes on mannequins

LUCKNOW: Following footsteps of Mumbai Municipal Corporation, LMC is considering to soon ban display of lingerie and scanty clothes on mannequins. It is mulling strict action against showroom owners who display such mannequins in public areas.

The proposal is under consideration and may soon be introduced in the next executive body meeting of Lucknow Municipal Corporation. In the past also, LMC had taken a stiff stand against those violating decency limits in promoting their business like for instance, the drive against cinema hall owners who used to display obscene posters in public areas.

The corporation faced a tough resistance form cinema hall owners during that time but it was able to check these activities by imposing heavy penalty and taking legal action against many offenders.

Officials said that indecent display of clothing line were an uncomfortable sight and shopkeepers must adhere to the provisions of indecent representation of women (prohibition) Act, 1986. An official also said that the centre was planning to incorporate amendments in Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act 1986 to address the issue of display of undergarments in shops.

Almost all corporators have promised to support the issue. On the other hand, shopkeepers are reportedly not too happy with the proposal as they feel it is an unwanted interference in their business practice. Angry shop owners claimed that if LMC has any intent to curb indecency, they should first ban hoardings, advertisements, magazines, TV and fashion shows where models flaunt skimpy clothes.

LMC made clear that any disrespect to woman is intolerable and they would even ask owners of shops selling women undergarments to deploy at least a woman employee, so that the customers are comfortable buying there. Another problem is that most of these shops don't even have a proper trial room for women.

 

Ranchi Municipal Corporation drive to weed out problems

Friday, 31 May 2013 11:35 administrator
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The Times of India               31.05.2013

Ranchi Municipal Corporation drive to weed out problems

RANCHI: The rapid spread of the highly allergic and poisonous parthenium weeds in the city has alarmed scientists and socio-cultural organizations.

Parthenium weeds are a threat not only to Ranchi but are breeding in 3.5 crore hectares of land in the country as well. Sanskar, a socio-cultural group in the city, along with Birsa Agricultural University (BAU) and Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC), will be launching a parthenium eradication drive on June 2 at Kanke dam.

The drive aims to educate common man about the illnesses it causes. To demonstrate how to stop its growth, these weeds will be burnt and herbicides will be sprayed on them. Deputy director BAU Pankaj Vatsal said, "These weeds cause diseases like asthma, bronchitis, allergy, irritation, eczema and other skin diseases. People visit Kanke dam morning for walks or just for outings and come into contact with these weeds which could affect their health."

They could pose a threat to health even when not in direct contact. "Cows and buffaloes eat these weeds and their milk gets contaminated. When human beings drink that milk, it causes illnesses. The chemicals released from the roots of these weeds are harmful for plants that grow near them."

The weed is found in Mexico, Cuba, North America and West Indies. It is assumed that parthenium came to India when wheat was imported from US. Vatsal said, "The production capacity of this plant is very high, which is 5,000 to 10,000 seeds per plant and as the seeds are light weight they easily float in air for a long distance. It grows more in an environment which has high level of carbon dioxide in it."

To convey the need for eradicating such deadly weeds many important persons will be present at the awareness programme. Member of Sanskar Ajay Bhartiya said, "The chief guest of the programme will be chairperson cum managing director of CMPDI A K Devnath. Deputy mayor of Ranchi Sanjiv Vijayavargiya and registrar of BAU Kishore Sinha will be the special guests.

 
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