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KMC decides to regularize rates of wood, pandas at Bhairo Ghat

Thursday, 07 November 2013 11:32 administrator
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The Times of India          07.11.2013

KMC decides to regularize rates of wood, pandas at Bhairo Ghat

KANPUR: Taking the complaints of exorbitant charges for last rites at Bhairo Ghat, the Kanpur Municipal Corporation has decided to regularize the rates of wood and pandas.

During a review meeting, municipal commissioner DK Singh constituted a committee headed by Rajeev Shukla to fix the cost of wood used in pyre and charges of panda for executing last rituals. All fixed rates should be displayed on a board which would be erected at Bhairo Ghat, he directed.

The commissioner also directed that facility of electric crematory should always be available. After being informed that some NGOs were willing to adopt electric crematory way Singh directed to call them on November 8 to discuss the issue.

Blacklisted: Municipal commissioner blacklisted one Mayank Construction Company for not taking any interest in the allotted construction work. The company had been allocated the work of laying footpath in ward number 80. A sum of Rs 2.13 lakhs had also been given in advance on February 26, 2013 but the company had not started repairing and laying of footpath till the time.

The matter was brought to the knowledge of commissioner during the review meeting. Singh ordered to confiscate the security money and blacklist the company.

Shelter homes: The municipal commissioner has fixed the responsibility of homes to zonal engineers. They would work as in-charge while a sanitary inspector and supervisor would be responsible for the maintenance of home. Chief engineer and zonal engineer zone -1 apprised the municipal commissioner that as many as 28 shelter homes were being run in the city. Singh also directed to erect display board near shelter homes and reappoint the employees who were posted there earlier.

Removal of hoardings: During the meeting the municipal commissioner said a team would be constituted to launch a campaign against illegal hoardings and banners in the city. Singh said a three-day time will be given to owners to remove the hoardings and banners.

Suspended: Municipal commissioner, during spot inspection at Tulsi Vihar under ward 24, found sanitary workers absent and lack of cleanliness. Sanitary supervisor Bal Krishna was called and suspended later by the commissioner.

 

Civic body calls for privatization of compost plant

Thursday, 07 November 2013 11:20 administrator
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The Times of India          07.11.2013

Civic body calls for privatization of compost plant

NASHIK: The Nashik Municipal Corporation ( NMC) is preparing an expression of interest for private agencies to manage its compost plant at Vilholi. The plant has been under the scanner for its idle machinery, for which, a probe was also initiated.

In October, the standing committee decided to dump the probe report and privatize the compost plant. Standing committee chairman Ramesh Dhongade had said the machinery costing crores of rupees was lying idle due to lack of manpower and negligence of the civic administration, which is why, the compost plant should be privatised. He said the decision would be taken after discussing it with the mayor and the group leaders.

"We have a better facility as compared to the other cities for waste management that is functioning at a satisfactory level. Obviously, there is room for improvement. We are now looking at reducing the cost of management and increasing the facilities, to make refuse-derived fuel (RDF) available and to see if the already existing dump can be processed and if we can get some power from it," said municipal commissioner Sanjay Khandare to TOI. He said that all the machines have been repaired. "Some of the machinery like those used to make RDF could not be used due to lack of manpower. The other machinery has been repaired though," he said.

The list of machinery lying idle given by Dhongade included four dumpers (two operational and two defunct), 12 tractors (all lying idle due to lack of drivers), eight poclain machines (four operational and four defunct), two bulldozers (one operational and the other defunct), two bobcat utility vehicles (both defunct), four earth movers (one operational and three defunct), five mini trucks (all operational), two tempos (both defunct), one road roller (operational) and three generators (all operational), all costing around Rs 80-90 crore. He said the privatisation of the plant was necessary.

About reviving the NMC's initial experiment of making bricks after processing the compost, Khandare said the plan would have to be revived with the help of experts.

"I am now preparing a document which will be an expression of interest calling parties for managing the compost plant. This will first be presented before the general body for approval. Tenders will be floated after that," said Khandare.

According to sources, the probe report says that the machinery was lying idle because of inadequate manpower. The administration said there were only 69 staff members, including drivers and operators at the compost plant, while there was a requirement of 85 more operators and drivers. The panel that conducted the probe had advised the civic administration to recruit the needed manpower, but a decision to this effect is yet to be taken.

When Dhongade, CIDCO division chairman Arvin Shelve and other MNS corporators paid a sudden visit to the compost plant in June, they had found vehicles and machinery lying idle. Dhongade pointed out that a new earthmover, which was operational only for a month, was neither returned to the company, nor repaired, though it came with a one year warranty; two new trucks, which ran just 20 km and 465 km respectively, were also defunct.

 

Buildings in corporation to get new TC numbers after 25 years

Thursday, 07 November 2013 11:08 administrator
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The Times of India          07.11.2013

Buildings in corporation to get new TC numbers after 25 years

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The corporation numbers (TC numbers) of all residential and commercial buildings in the city will be changed as part of the upcoming property tax revision. The process will be undertaken by the revenue wing of the corporation after a gap of 25 years.

Till 1988, the civic body used to revise the TC numbers every five years as part of the revision in property tax. However, the numbers were not revised after 1993, when the property tax was revised for the last time. With the change in TC numbers, some of the buildings for which tax was not levied will also come under the ambit of property tax.

The revision of numbers will have major implications on religious buildings which were mentioned in the special local fund audit report filed in 2011-12. "Over the past few years many buildings had come up around those originally meant for religious purpose. With the assignment of new TC numbers, these buildings will be enlisted in the tax list which would considerably enhance the revenue of the corporation" said a revenue official.

The numbering is being introduced after revenue wards were converted into electoral wards following the process of delimitation. The city corporation has already finalized the draft copy of the road map prior to the revision of property tax in all the 100 wards.

As part of the process, the wards have been numbered and the numbering would start in the format 1/ including all the buildings in a single ward. The civic body is facing a staff crunch to undertake the elaborate process. The revenue wing has now only 60 bill-collectors for the purpose.

"We are planning to recruit more people on daily wage basis prior to the process. Since all the hundred wards need to be covered, it will take at least two months," said V S Padmakumar, chairman, works standing committee. A specially designed mini-plastic tablets will be used for tagging the numbers on each building.

At present, the tax is levied based on annual rental value prepared by revenue wing officials. Under the new system, it will switch to self-assessment by the property owner in which total plinth area will replace annual rental value.

With the road maps being ready, tax will be revised based on the width of roads that lead to each building. The entire corporation area has been divided into three zones; primary zone, secondary zone and tertiary zone as part of revising the tax. There will be deductions and increase depending on which zone the building falls in.

While there will be no deduction or increase in basic property tax for buildings coming under primary zone, there will 10% deduction in basic property tax in secondary zone. As for the tertiary zone, the deduction will be 20%.

 
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