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Corporation to seek state aid for south ROB reconstruction

Monday, 07 October 2013 07:39 administrator
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The New Indian Express           07.10.2013

Corporation to seek state aid for south ROB reconstruction

The busy Ernakulam South Rail ROB in Kochi| Express
The busy Ernakulam South Rail ROB in Kochi| Express

Though the final decision on the reconstruction of South Rail Overbridge (ROB) is yet to be taken, the huge cost for land acquisition and construction is likely to be a major hurdle for the key projects that will boost the infrastructure facilities of the city. At the meeting convened by Kochi Mayor Tony Chammany the other day, Managing Director, Kochi Metro Rail Ltd, Elias George said that a total of `100 crore is required for widening the South ROB. With the KMRL already completing the funding procedures for Kochi Metro and related projects, the state government will have to allot additional funds for the ROB reconstruction. The project is not included in the list of Kochi Metro Rail-related projects and now it will have to be included in the next next annual Budget. If the budget allocation is made, the project can commence by next year. But it will take nearly 18 months to complete if it is carried out by an agency like Delhi Metro Rail Corporation. With the DMRC making it clear that its first priority is to keep the Kochi Metro Rail deadline, whether they will undertake the project or not is a question. The DMRC will have to complete the work of the Edappally Flyover too,” experts said.

 They said it would become difficult to widen the bridge once the Metro rail line is built through its northern side. As per the alignment, the pillars of the Metro Rail will pass by the side of South RoB, unlike at the North bridge where they pass through the  centre. Besides, it will not be easy for the authorities to reconstruct the South ROB as the number of high-rises around it exceed that of Ernakulam North ROB.

 The Kochi Corporation will also have to seek financial support from the state for other major infrastructure projects such as the widening of Vyttila-Tripunithura Petta road for which procedures for land acquisition have begun. A total of Rs 120 crore is required for the widening of the Vyttila-Petta Road while another `30 crore is needed for its construction.

Another road that needs to be developed is the Thammanam-Pulleppady Road, the widening of which requires Rs 15 crore while Rs 390 crore is needed for land acquisition.

However, the Kochi Corporation authorities have decided to seek the help of the state government. Mayor Tony Chammany said that the suggestions and recommendations made at the meeting will be submitted before the government soon.

 

Municipal corporation to enhance revenue without tax hike

Friday, 04 October 2013 12:09 administrator
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The Times of India             04.10.2013

Municipal corporation to enhance revenue without tax hike

VARANASI: The Varanasi Municipal Corporation (VMC) house had decided to increase the revenue of the local body without introducing fresh tax or increasing the existing ones.

During the house meeting on Thursday, most of the corporators raised the issue of tax slab of houses and commercial and industrial properties. Proper assessment and efficient realization of taxes is required to enrich VMC treasury.

Mayor Ramgopal Mohale said that transparency should be maintained at every level by the officials while making an assessment of taxes and realization of these taxes should also be done in equally transparent way by tax supervisors and inspectors.

Answering to allegations of corrupt practices in the tax assessment, realization and lack of uniformity in the determination of house tax slabs, municipal commissioner Jagdeesh Prasad Chaurasiya said that inspectors responsible for the collection of the house and property taxes would be asked to certify the actual number of the taxable properties. In that way, VMC can get an actual account of the taxable properties.

According to the figures in the revised budget, the saving of the local body during the current financial year has been Rs 132.74 lakhs.

 

PMC files cases against 7 builders, society

Friday, 04 October 2013 12:06 administrator
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The Times of India             04.10.2013

PMC files cases against 7 builders, society

PUNE: The Pune Municipal Corporation's (PMC) health department has filed court cases against seven builders and a housing society for not clearing mosquito breeding sites on their premises despite several warnings.

The civic administration has been trying hard to curb mosquito-borne diseases like dengue which have infected over 400 people and claimed six lives so far, this year.

"We filed eight cases at the court of Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) on October 1 for facilitating mosquito breeding by not clearing stagnant water and thus endangering the health of people living nearby. Among them seven cases have been filed against builders and another case has been filed against a housing society. They were told to clear mosquito breeding sites but they did not pay any heed to our warning or subsequent notices following which we had to take the legal route," Vaishali Jadhav, assistant medical officer of health (AMoH) and head of the insect control department told TOI on Thursday.

The building construction site located in Sadashiv Peth had water in its basement an ideal setting for mosquito breeding. "Our insect control experts had found the dengue causing Aedes aegypti mosquito in the stagnant water. We issued a warning notice to the builder to clear the water within 24 hours on September 25, but he did not comply with it. We issued another notice on September 26, but there was no compliance. Hence, we filed the court case against him on October 1," Jadhav said.

Another builder of a construction site located in Mohammedwadi also ignored the health department's notice when the officials brought it to his notice that water had accumulated in the construction ducts, terraces and uncovered water tanks. "We first issued a warning notice to him on April 22. We issued two notices on June 6 and August 8, but he did not initiate any action. The case was filed against him on October 1," Jadhav said.

A construction site located on NIBM Road also had mosquito breeding sites on its premises. The builder did not heed the health official's warning notice and subsequent notices were served on August 29 and September 20. A court case has been filed against him on October 1.

Similarly, the construction sites located in Mohammedwadi, Handewadi, NIBM Road, and in Parvati were also found at fault for ignoring mosquito breeding. "All were given ample time to clear the accumulated water but they did not bother, hence court cases were filed against them. The mosquito Aedes aegypti, vector for dengue, was found on their premises," Jadhav said.

A housing society located on Malwadi Road in Hadapsar had accumulated water in the building's basement. "The office bearers did nothing even after we issued notices on September 9 and September 24. We had to file cases against the society in public interest," Jadhav said.Action Part of PMC's effort to curb mosquito-borne diseases like dengue which have infected over 400 people and claimed six lives so far this year

Breeding sites found in Sadashiv Peth, Mohammedwadi, NIBM Road, Handewadi, Parvati and Hadapsar 19 cases filed with JMFC court since July.

 
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