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Mobiles banned in 100-m radius of polling stations

Tuesday, 19 October 2010 09:58 administrator
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The Hindu  19.10.2010

Mobiles banned in 100-m radius of polling stations

Special Correspondent

Collector calls meet of party representatives
Counting of votes in the district will be held on October 31

Arrangements made to distribute postal ballots

Kozhikode: Use of mobile phones will not be allowed in 100 metres radius of polling stations on the day for elections to the local bodies, District Collector P.B. Salim, who is also the district election officer, announced at a meeting of representatives of political parties on Monday.

There would also be restrictions on candidates' election booths. These would not be allowed within 100 metres of the polling stations in urban areas.

In rural areas, the candidates' election stalls have to be beyond 200 metres of polling station.

The candidates have been advised not to have more than one table and two chairs in each of these stalls. The slips of papers that are distributed from these stalls by candidates or their agents should not have candidates' names or election symbols.

The District Collector reminded participants in the meeting that the counting of votes cast for the elections in Kozhikode district would be held only on October 31 though polling in all places except Velam division of the district panchayat would be over on October 23.

This is because Velam would go to polls only on October 30.

Polling officials appointed for the elections in Velam have been directed to collect election materials from the respective distribution points on October 29.

Arrangements are being made to distribute postal ballots for those assigned for election duty, including drivers of private vehicles that are hired for poll duty.

Those who plan to apply for postal ballots have been advised to fill the applications properly. The name and number of their ward and address with mobile and landline phone numbers have to be furnished.

The training programmes for polling officials is in full swing. Presiding officers and first polling officers for Kozhikode Corporation and Vadakara and Koyilandy municipalities have to report for their second training session on Tuesday.

All those who had attended the first such session, those issued appointment orders for election duty and those in list of reserves would have to report at the second training programme.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 19 October 2010 10:00
 

Civic bodies get tips on saving water, power

Tuesday, 19 October 2010 00:00 administrator
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The Times of India                      19.10.2010

Civic bodies get tips on saving water, power
KANPUR: The engineers of Jal Sansthan and Kanpur Nagar Nigam were trained on how to save water and electricity as part of a programme for water and sewerage utility providers held here on Tuesday.

The programme organised by World Wildlife Federation (WWF) in association with HSBC highlighted a series of no-cost, low-cost, medium-cost and high-cost initiatives that could be implemented to bring about efficiency in water supply and sewerage system of Kanpur.

WWF has worked on river restoration in the past and has also developed a programme for the river Ganga called `Living Ganga'. Energy conservation expert, Juvekar, while addressing the engineers and others, said that ICLEI, South Asia with support from WWF, India had conducted a detailed energy audit of the water and waste systems in the city of Kanpur. The study was conducted through detailed audit of pumping stations. It was found that there were several factors responsible for high cost and low output.

In a study paper, the energy conservation expert detailed them about the do's and don'ts for enhancing the efficiency of water supply in the city.

Anjana Pant, head, Environment, Living Ganga programme, WWF, India, presented an overview of the project and its vision to position Kanpur as model city in the Ganga Basin. An information booklet on measuring/analysing/improving water and energy co-management in Kanpur and a poster was released by Umakant Tripathi, additional municipal commissioner I of Kanpur Nagar in presence of Ratan Lal, general manager, Kanpur Jal Sansthan; B K Singh secretary, Kanpur Jal Sansthan; Dr Glyn Davies, programme director, WWF, UK; Dr Sejal Worah, programme director WWF, India, and others.

Tripathi said that Kanpur Nagar Nigam was committed to reducing water and energy footprint of the city on the Ganga river system. He expressed confidence that the initiatives would go a long way in scaling up sustainable water and energy management solutions and recommendations in Kanpur.

Ratan Lal, general manager, Jal Sansthan, assured the implementation of energy conservation tips and claimed that such training programmes are great platform for the engineers to learn about energy conservation and water energy co-management. He also said that training programme would surely help Jal Sansthan to reduce the electricity bills in water supply as well as sewerage system.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 20 October 2010 11:26
 

Procedure delays work on EWS quarters

Monday, 18 October 2010 09:49 administrator
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The Hindu  18.10.2010

Procedure delays work on EWS quarters

Staff Reporter

Construction only after BBMP Council approval

1,640 flats will come up in 14 acres of land

Bangalore: Though the High Court of Karnataka has directed the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to take up construction of the quarters for economically weaker sections (EWS) of society in Koramangala, there still is a hiccup. The construction will be taken up only after the BBMP Council discusses the issue and approves it.

Sources in the BBMP said that Commissioner Siddaiah and Mayor S.K. Nataraj were keen on discussing the project to bring in some clarity before the project is taken up. This translates to delay in taking up the project.

The High Court recently ruled in favour of Maverick Holdings and Investments in a petition filed by a Mumbai-based construction company, which had challenged the award of tender to Maverick.

The developer will be constructing 1,640 flats in 14 acres of land in Koramangala. The construction will be taken up under public-private partnership.

While the flats will come up on part of the land, the remaining will be used for commercial purposes.

The sources said that the discussion would mainly be on ensuring that the BBMP gets a good bargain in the public-private partnership.

“For example, Maharaja Complex in the Majestic area was also constructed in a similar manner. However, what was discussed in the council was different from what was executed.

“This has caused revenue loss to the BBMP. The civic authority has to ensure that this is not repeated and the interest of the BBMP is protected,” they said.

Meanwhile, Uday Garudachar, Managing Director of Maverick Holdings and Investments, said that he would take up construction only after the BBMP Council ratifies the High Court order and the Government Order.

“We are vested with the responsibility of providing habitable conditions to around 6,000 people. It is a big project. Some commercial property will also come up. We have the task of converting a non-performing asset (land) into a performing asset,” he said.

He also said that there can be no changes in the tender conditions.

“The tender is water-tight. However, we will be asking for some sops for a few ‘petty issues'. These are just operational problems and I am sure that the civic authority will stand by us,” he added.

The BBMP demolished the EWS quarters in 2003 after three buildings collapsed, killing seven persons. The other 39 blocks showed signs of “wear and tear”. The quarters had 1,512 flats in 42 blocks. The flats were allotted to beneficiaries belonging to economically weaker sections of society between 1987 and 1992.

Last Updated on Monday, 18 October 2010 09:51
 
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