Urban News

Indian Express 08.01.2010

PAU’s snub to MC: ‘Pot calling the kettle black’

For the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation, disconnecting sewerage connection of Punjab Agricultural University could well prove to be an expensive act for it has been learnt that the LMC owes PAU Rs 10 lakh.

Notable here is that LMC disconnected one of three sewerage connections of PAU recently on the plea that the institute owed LMC Rs 7 lakh.

Dr Gurkirpal Singh, estate officer-cum-chief engineer, PAU, when contacted, says, “We are ready to pay any kind of outstanding amount to LMC but for this, the LMC has to send us a proper bill. We have been demanding a bill from LMC which will then be processed by PAU’s audit department and payment will be made accordingly. How can we pay an amount for which we have no bill.”

Dr Singh adds, “We have been requesting for a bill in the past too. At the same time, LMC owes us Rs 10 lakhs and this amount is pending since 1990, when the LMC dug up some area in PAU for laying its main sewerage. If the LMC wants its dues cleared then it should learn to pay up also. We have been writing to them in the past about these outstanding amount but the LMC prefers to keep mum on this issue.”

Dr Singh says, “PAU does not need sewerage of water system from LMC as we have our own system. We clean our own water, which is then used in our fields. The amount that the LMC is talking about is for 52 single room flats which we used to give to the senior research fellows. We have asked for details of this amount also for in early ‘90s, sewerage and water charges had been waived off by the government and our bill was also a part of this waiver. Now, how come this bill is still outstanding? LMC needs to clear the air over the matter.”

Hindustan Times 07.01.2010

The recent pipe burst at Nana Chowk has prompted corporators to demand a policy to ensure coordination between the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) for planning and implementation of infrastructure projects.

On Monday, a water main at Nana Chowk burst due to negligence on part of a contractor hired by MSRDC to construct a skywalk. The pipe burst resulted in huge loss of water and supply was restricted to parts of south Mumbai for two days. The civic body has asked MSRDC to pay Rs 31 lakh for the damage and loss.

Demanding stringent action and a strict policy to avoid such incidents in future, the civic standing committee members adjourned the meeting for ten minutes.

“There has to be a policy in place to ensure that such cases are not repeated,” said NCP leader Niyaz Vanu.

Yogesh Sagar of BJP said, “If strict action is not taken then contractors will become carefree in future. Hence there should be a fine at the commercial rate for all the water they wasted.” Almost 6million liter of water was lost due to the pipe burst.

BJP leader Ashish Shelar argued that if a Ground Information System (GIS) was in place, the incident could have been avoided.

However, Additional Municipal Commissioner Anil Diggikar, argued: “We had provided them with information and maps about underground utilities and asked them not to treat it as an NOC. The work was conducted without permission. We will decide a plan of action to ensure co-ordination,” said

Meanwhile, Sena leader Sunil Prabhu alleged that the civic body was bowing its head in front of the state body.

Congresss corporator Sameer Desai said, “The issue should not be politicised and the civic body should check its performance and role instead of putting the entire blame on MSRDC. Those at fault should be fined but the quality of their (MSRDC) work cannot be questioned.”