Urban News

The Hindu      22.12.2010

Pay for dumping construction material on road

Bangalore: Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Commissioner Siddaiah has directed officials to collect ground rent from residents who are using roads and footpaths in the city to store their building construction material.

According to a press release here on Tuesday, the BBMP collects ground rent for a period of six months from building owners using roads or footpaths. However, it has been noticed that the construction material is stored for more than six months and the officials fail to collect the fee again.

Mr. Siddaiah has directed the assistant executive engineers and executive engineers to keep tabs on building constructions in their jurisdictions and ensure that the ground rent is collected and construction is done as per the approved building plan.

Warned

He warned of action against officials who fail to collect ground rent diligently.

The Commissioner has also directed engineers to levy fine on building owners who dig up roads to make provision for civic amenities either without permission or with permission but exceeding the permissible limit.

Property tax

The target for property tax collection from Bommanahalli zone is Rs. 195 crore, and so far Rs. 80 crore has been collected. Those who have declared less in the property tax assessments will be served notices in the first week of January.

Mr. Siddaiah has directed the engineering and revenue departments of the BBMP to work together and ensure that revenue from all sources is collected.

Of the 59 parks in the Bommanahalli zone, 17 have rainwater harvesting system. The Commissioner has given a deadline of March 31, 2011 to implement the system in all parks, besides setting up compost pits.

Trade licence

The BBMP's trade licence issuance drive, which began on October 11, will continue till January 31, a press release said.

The Hindu      22.12.2010

Panel takes serious note of damage to roads

KAKINADA: The road safety committee which met here on Tuesday passed a resolution unanimously to levy fine on those who were resorting to damage the roads and highways in the district. The meeting chaired by district Collector M. Ravi Chandra said there were potholes on many roads, due to which accidents were taking place often.

“A few businessmen who set up shops on the roadside occupied some portion of the roads and damaged them making the lives of road users vulnerable,” Mr. Ravi Chandra said.

He said officials of the electricity department and municipalities were already instructed to stop electricity and drinking water supplies to such shops. Notices would be issued to the encroachers and action would be initiated against the erring traders, he said.

Steps were initiated to register cases under the provisions of Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, he said.

The meeting observed that some highways passing through rural pockets were turned into dumping yards, as people made it a practice to dump their wastes on them.

Issues including movement of tractors on the highways, absence of caution boards, drunken driving, absence of wearing helmet and seatbelt while driving were discussed at length in the meeting.

Deputy Transport Commissioner M. Praveen Rao, project director of National Highway Authority of India M.V. Nirmala and other officials were present.