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General Administration

BBMP helplines to redress voters' grievances

Tuesday, 26 March 2013 07:08 administrator
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The New Indian Express                       26.03.2013

BBMP helplines to redress voters' grievances

Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has launched helplines and control rooms to redress voters’ grievances.

A release from the BBMP said voters could approach these centres for election-related queries, including voter card and list, BBMP Commissioner Siddaiah said.

The list of voters in all the 28 assemblies is ready. However, addition, deletion and rectification of names are still open for voters. The public can submit forms 6, 7, 8 and 8A to the respective Assistant Electoral Registration officers.

Helpline Numbers

The following helpline numbers can be contacted for details: 22975500, 22975583, 22270142, 22270143 and 22270148.

Warning against poll banners

BBMP Commissioner Siddaiah, who is also the Bangalore Urban District Election Officer, has warned against putting up of hoardings and banners across the city illegally.

A press release from the BBMP said the election code of conduct had been in force since March 20 and putting up of banners and hoardings at public places was a violation of the election code of conduct.

The BBMP authorities would book cases under the Karnataka Open Places (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act if banners and hoardings were put up in the city, Siddaiah said.

He also said political parties should not utilise places of worship like temples, mosques and churches as platform for campaigns.

 

Fearing lapse of JNNURM funds, PMC pushes for Phase II projects

Tuesday, 26 March 2013 06:44 administrator
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The Indian Express                       26.03.2013

Fearing lapse of JNNURM funds, PMC pushes for Phase II projects

With funds allocated in the first phase of JNNURM likely to lapse, the Pune Municipal Corporation is pushing projects proposed in Phase II to begin so that they get the funds with immediate effect.

The Centre-deputed JNNURM team last week reviewed the projects being implemented by PMC under Phase-I. "The team visited the BRTS project site and Pashan lake, both being implemented under JNNURM," said Additional Municipal Commissioner Anup Kumar Yadav. He said the team expressed satisfaction over their implementation, while calling for fast completion of projects within the extended deadline.

The issue of funds, still pending with the Union government, was raised in the meeting, Yadav said. "Most of the money for the ongoing projects has been received by PMC and funds that could not take off is pending with the government. The JNNURM team informed the civic officers that the allocation would lapse if not used."

It was decided that the PMC should push for projects that were proposed in Phase II to avail funding from the Phase I allocation.

"We have re-worked three such projects proposed in Phase II and sent it to Union government for considering it to be included in Phase I allocation. This will ensure that the money sanctioned to PMC does not get lapse for not being used," he added.

Fortunately, the detailed project report (DPR) of three projects of Phase II were ready and they could be sent for inclusion in Phase I. Three are of the water department, which includes a tunnel from Parvati to Cantonment Water Works, expansion of the water purification plant at Vadgaon Budhruk and implementation of the ambitious project of metering water supply.

The PMC was allocated funds for slum rehabilitation projects in Warje, Nagar road and rehabilitation of hawkers but the projects could not be started due to failure of acquiring land for the projects.

Meanwhile, the PMC has prepared the City Development Plan (CDP) for the Phase-II of JNNURM as per the directions of government and in this endeavour had organised a number of workshops. The exercise continued for a year. Heads of all the departments of the PMC were asked to propose civic projects to upgrade infrastructure in the city keeping in mind the need for the next 40 years.

The civic administration took into consideration the expected population growth in the next 40 years while preparing the CDP. The exercise included discussion of problems faced during implementation of projects under Phase-I. "We also invited public suggestions for CDP and would be including them in the draft. Also, the suggestions of corporators will be added after discussion in the general body and then only would be sent to union government," Yadava said.

 

NDMC ready with ‘request for proposal’ for Taj Mansingh

Tuesday, 26 March 2013 06:25 administrator
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The Indian Express                       26.03.2013

NDMC ready with ‘request for proposal’ for Taj Mansingh

The future course of action on The Taj Mahal Hotel on Mansigh Road, popularly known as Taj Mansingh, is likely to be finalised soon with the New Delhi Municipal Council ready to call for 'request for proposal' (RFP) to decide the next operating company for the five-star facility.

The 33-year lease for the hotel, awarded by NDMC to Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHC) ended in October 2011. The civic agency then granted a one-year extension to IHC, buying itself time to chart out the next course of action.

The NDMC also engaged Ernst & Young as a consultant to advise on the modalities to be followed once the lease period is over. Listing out various options, E&Y said the most profitable choice for the NDMC would be to allow IHC to continue as the operator.

In the light of the advice, sources said the first right of refusal will be given to IHC.

A source said the RFP is scheduled to come up for discussion in the meeting of the Council on April 10.

"The tendering process for the hotel will begin as soon as the Council gives its approval to the proposal. We have drawn up detailed terms and conditions documents," the source said.

Earlier, while E&Y had suggested that IHC would be the most beneficial option for the civic agency, the legal advice from Additional Solicitor General Rakesh Kumar Khanna opposed extension to IHC and proposed auction of the property.

The Taj Mahal Hotel was started in 1976, when NDMC, with an objective of developing tourism in the capital before the Pacific Area Travel Association conference of 1978 and to boost its own revenues, decided to develop a five-star hotel as per the standards laid down by the Central government.

Being a municipal body, NDMC did not have the experience or the expertise in setting up and running a five-star hotel. IHC's offer to the NDMC of developing a hotel as a joint venture project was taken up and later approved by the civic agency.

 
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