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Law department to study Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation's garbage tender rate

Wednesday, 30 October 2013 09:53 administrator
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The Times of India            30.10.2013 

Law department to study Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation's garbage tender rate

NAVI MUMBAI: The state government's law department is scrutinising the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation's (NMMC) tender rate for disposing garbage. The civic body has stuck to the rate of Rs 1,503.75 per tonne as approved by the civic general body against the government recommendation of Rs 1,233 per tonne. The civic body sources said, "Our rates are more as we are following the equal pay for equal work policy, while the state government has worked out the rates as per minimum wages.''

The average daily generation of garbage is around 600 metric tonne (MT) that increases by some 60 MT daily during the festive season. "We are hopeful of a decision after Diwali,'' said a civic official. The state government intervened when Congress corporator Dashrath Bhagat objected to the NMMC rate of garbage disposal and alluded to corrupt practices.

City mayor Sagar Naik said, "Our rate has been vetted by all India institute of local bodies, a semi-government body that calculated the cost after factoring in diesel cost and other expenses. There is no corruption, as alleged. We are confident of our rates being accepted.''The institute, a semi-government body calculated the cost after factoring in increase in diesel cost and other expenses.

Meanwhile, the civic body has 110 vehicles at its disposal provided by local contractors for each of the wards and clearing garbage is often extended beyond evening hours. 

 

Surat Municipal Corporation demolishes five storey illegal structure for fifth time

Wednesday, 30 October 2013 09:51 administrator
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The Times of India            30.10.2013 

Surat Municipal Corporation demolishes five storey illegal structure for fifth time

SURAT: Officials of Karatgam zone of Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) demolished a five storey commercial structure constructed illegally in Visharam Nagar society opposite Akhandanand College on Ved road. This is the fifth time that the structure is demolished by officials willing to stand up to elements not prepared to follow the law.

According to officials of SMC, the owners of the structure obtained ground plus three floor of residential construction permission from civic authorities.

"However instead of constructing the building according to approved plans , owners constructed the whole building for commercial means and also illegally constructed fourth and fifth floor." Said an official from Katargam zone.

Officials demolished illegal construction of 3200 sq feet on fourth floor and removed nine columns prepared for construction of fifth floor.

The owners have made 15 shops on the ground floor and inserted shutters on each shops. SMC plans to seal these shops .

An SMC official said, " like past, this time too a local councilor tried to come in way to stop us from performing our duties. We are planning to lodge a complaint against him." 

 

Maharashtra must follow central, BMC cell guidelines on mobile towers: Milind Deora

Wednesday, 30 October 2013 09:46 administrator
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The Times of India            30.10.2013 

Maharashtra must follow central, BMC cell guidelines on mobile towers: Milind Deora

MUMBAI: Union minister of state for communications Milind Deora has written to the state, asking it to ensure that the new policy on mobile towers doesn't "completely bypass" the guidelines of the Centre and the BMC.

"I urge you to incorporate the department of telecommunications' (DoT) guidelines and the final draft policy of the BMC in the gazette notification of the urban development department," Deora has written to chief minister Prithviraj Chavan. On October 3, the urban development department issued a notification proposing a new mobile tower policy but unlike the BMC, it did not ask for exclusion of cell towers at schools, colleges and hospitals. It also did not mandate a written consent of 70% occupants of the building before a tower is installed there.

Opposed to the state ignoring suggestions from the Centre and local bodies, Deora said in the letter, "The DoT issued revised guidelines on August 1.... These guidelines were issued to all states based on detailed discussions with stakeholders, including citizens' groups of Mumbai. Based on the same guidelines, the BMC, in consultation with citizens' groups and corporators, issued the final draft policy on September 11. The BMC draft guidelines... covered the finer nuances for an urban city like Mumbai having high population density and high rise buildings."

He further pointed out: "Now I am made to understand that the state seems to be ignoring revised guidelines from the Centre and the civic body. This could send out wrong signals to Mumbaikars and citizens of Maharashtra." Deora also offered any technical advice from DoT if the state required. "There should also be an effective redressal mechanism in the revised guidelines," he said.

But allaying fears of negative effects of mobile radiation, a Cellular Operators Association of India said, "If towers are not allowed on schools, colleges, hospitals and other such buildings, it will adversely affect connectivity. It will lead to call drops and you will not be able to make calls properly." Maintaining that it was "safe" to have cell towers on such buildings, he said, "In some foreign countries, cell towers have been installed on schools and hospitals and there has been no health risk."

Anti-radiation activist Prakash Munshi and actress Juhi Chawla had recently met state officials, who apparently assured them that the suggestions from citizens' groups would be incorporated in the new state policy. "We were promised that the central and civic draft policies will not be overruled. Let us wait and watch," Munshi said.

 
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