The Hindu            23.10.2013

‘Green’ initiative draws municipal corporation’s ire

The Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) has issued notice to the Karnatak Vidyavardhak Sangha (KVS) for allegedly damaging a footpath near its premises here.

HDMC zonal officer V. Shridhar said the notice was issued to the KVS general secretary on Monday for digging up the footpath to plant saplings without taking permission from the corporation.

The interlocking tiles were damaged at three places to plant saplings. He said the saplings could have been planted after removing an old tree on the footpath, without damaging the tiles. They also dug up the footpath at two more locations. Mr. Shridhar said KVS has been given three days to reply to the notice. Action would be initiated based on the reply.

On Sunday, the KVS, in association with the Hubli-Dharwad Nagarika Parisara Samiti, had planted saplings on the footpath adjacent to the KVS premises.

Samiti president Shankar Kumbi was involved in the planting , and a press release was issued. The footpath had been built after several demands from the public.

KVS general secretary Shankar Halagatti was unavailable for comment. When contacted, Mr. Kumbi failed to provide an explanation.

The Hindu            23.10.2013

MLA tells officials to go ahead with demolition of houses

Staff Correspondent

G.H. Tippareddy, MLA, has instructed officials to demolish six houses constructed on Lokayukta road. He has also assured the residents of these houses that they will be given houses under the Vajpayee Housing scheme.

He was speaking to presspersons after visiting the area and listening to the grievances of the beneficiaries.

Following complaints, the court had ordered demolition of the six houses by October.

Mr. Tippareddy said the City Municipal Council had received more than 10,000 applications for Ashraya houses.

“The authorities have been instructed to verify all the applications and remove bogus ones, after which a list of 4,000 actual beneficiaries can be finalised,” he said.

The beneficiaries of the Ashraya schemes are not permitted to sell or rent out the houses provided to them and stringent action will be initiated against those doing it.

The task force would provide an assistance of Rs. 25 lakh to ensure proper supply of drinking water to the city and rural areas of the taluk. Steps would be taken to repair the existing pipeline. “The slum clearance board in the district had given approval for drilling seven new borewells of which five have been completed,” he said.

He called upon residents to construct toilets in their houses making use of financial assistance provided to beneficiaries. City Municipal Council Commissioner Ravindra Mallapur was present.