Urban News

  • Increase font size
  • Default font size
  • Decrease font size
General Administration

Water resource department to seek plan details after Nashik Municipal Corporation clears Goda Park project

Tuesday, 15 October 2013 11:41 administrator
Print PDF

The Times of India          15.10.2013

Water resource department to seek plan details after Nashik Municipal Corporation clears Goda Park project

NASHIK: The water resource department (WRD) has decided to wait for the official announcement by the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) on the development of Goda Park on the banks of river Godavari, before asking for the details of the same from the corporation.

The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray had recently announced that a private party would develop the project, which is going to be showcased as one of the achievements of the MNS-ruled civic body.

"It is true that no body had sought any permission from us or intimated us about whatever development had taken place at Goda Park so far. However, in case of further development of the park, we are awaiting the resolution being adapted by the general body of the NMC," a senior official from the Command Area Development Authority (CADA), Nashik, said. The officer said that it was difficult to seek information from the civic body at this stage as the project was only in planning mode and was being discussed only politically. After the plans are finalised, it will be kept on the table of the house for discussion and a clear picture will come out. Once that is done, we will forward the project details to the state government, he added.

The construction of Goda Park, the pet project of Raj Thackeray, had been controversial since the beginning. Sections of the park, boasting of walkway on the banks of the river Godavari, dotted with plantations, and recreation centres, fell in the blue zone, which is very frequently flooded and the rest is in the red zone, altogether where development is not allowed at all.

The irrigation officials have no details of the part of the project that has already been constructed, neither did it receive any communication about the future project, a presentation of which was given by Thackeray on October 5.

"Since the respective bodies are to maintain the sanctity of the no-development zones around the banks of the river, it is expected that NMC would be abiding by the same. However, so far it is understood that the park did not have any structures - largely - except walkway. But the construction being planned seems to raise some structures and that is why the irrigation department is concerned," another official from the department said.

 

Surat Municipal Corporation steps up plan to restore 18th century Gopitalav stepwell

Tuesday, 15 October 2013 11:31 administrator
Print PDF

The Times of India          15.10.2013

Surat Municipal Corporation steps up plan to restore 18th century Gopitalav stepwell

SURAT: The stepwell built at Gopi Talav in Gopipura area of Surat city in the 18{+t}{+h} century is a significant heritage structure, but it does not figure in the list of important monuments with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). However, Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has on its own begun the task of restoring and conserving this quadrangular stepwell (vav) made of Dhrangadhra sand stones, the only of its kind in south Gujarat.

The stepwell, having 25 steps, is a 35 square metre structure and 15 metre deep whereas Gopi Talav is 12 metre deep with a 212 metre diameter.

Mohan Meghani, a well-known historian, said, "This Gopipura vav was built by Mir Alamsha Binkhan in 1718. He was a friend of Haider Kun Khan, who was Surat governor from 1715 to 1718. Haider started building the fort across Surat city known as Alampanah Fort. Alamsha took some of the stones meant for the fort and had the step well built outside Navsari Bazar at Gopipura lake. This is the only stepwell in this region that has steps to go down from all four sides."

Viresh Nanavati, assistant engineer, SMC, in-charge of the project, said, "We have used heavy machinery to clean the silt and remove other waste from the stepwell. Masonry work is on. Artisans are shaping the stones in exact size for replacing the badly damaged ones." The work is expected to be completed by 2013.

Jatin Shah, city engineer, said, "The intention is also to bring alive the water bodies in the centre of the city. The underground water level in the area will go up when the Gopi Talav and the wav are resurrected."

SMC has asked the Irrigation Department to provide water to these water bodies through a water pipeline from the canal.

SMC will get the work of restoration and conservation certified once it is completed either from ASI or Department of Archaeology, government of Gujarat, sources said.

 

Cracked building to be demolished, families of nearby chawls shifted too

Tuesday, 15 October 2013 11:29 administrator
Print PDF

The Times of India          15.10.2013

Cracked building to be demolished, families of nearby chawls shifted too

THANE: The Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) has decided to demolish Suryadarshan building at Nitin junction that has developed cracks. However, TMC is yet to decide when.

As many as 84 families from Suryadarshan and Tejadeep buildings have been moved to rental houses belonging to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) for the time being.

Around 450 residents are now living on fifth, seventh and eighth floors in rooms measuring 160 sq m.

The civic body has also shifted 16 families from nearby Vaity and Tanaji chawls as a precautionary measure. Civic sources said that there was no question of demolishing Tejadeep building as there was no problem with it. The building was vacated as a safety measure. The main concern of the families that have shifted to the MMRDA houses at Vartak Nagar was to get their belongings from Suryadarshan. On Sunday afternoon, the TMC allowed the families to take away their belongings, while being escorted by the Regional Disaster Management Cell between 3pm and 4pm.

A housewife, Sangita Adsule, from Suryadarshan, said that her children were having their exams and their books and uniforms were left behind in their apartment. "I have managed to send them to school somehow, but I hope they do well in the exams. They haven't been able to study at all."

A civic source said that CCTVs have been installed on the spot where cracks have developed. Readings are being taken on hourly basis to note down the tilt. Though it has been decided that the demolition will take place, the TMC is yet to decide when it can be undertaken. 

 
More Articles...


Page 248 of 686