The Times of India             24.09.2013

‘No illegal banners for Ganeshotsav in 5 wards’

MUMBAI: According to the municipal corporation, there was not a single illegal hoardings in five of the 24 city wards during Ganeshotsav.

According to data released by the BMC, as no action was initiated against any political party or Ganpati mandal in A ward (CST to Cuffe Parade), C ward (Bhuleshwar), D ward (Malabar Hill, Tardeo), G-South ward (Worli, Prabhadevi) and N ward (Ghatkopar) hence, there were no unauthorized hoardings in these areas.

The data has caught citizens by surprise as D ward houses several old Ganpati mandals. "Nana Chowk, Girgaum and Tardeo, which fall in D ward, were filled with political hoardings. How can the municipal corporation's data show that there was no illegal hoarding in these areas," asked Rajesh Tiwari, a resident of Nana Chowk.

Till date, the BMC has filed 352 police complaints against political parties and even Ganpati mandals under the Prevention of Defacement of Property Act and sections 328(a) and 471 of the MMC Act in its on-going drive against illegal banners and hoardings during the festival.

The highest number of complaints have been filled against the Shiv Sena (43), followed by Congress (42). The MNS and the NCP ranked third with 15 FIRs against them. The Aam Aadmi Party saw one FIR against it.

During the Ganesh festival, civic officials had removed more than 450 banners and posters that were placed beyond the permissible 100-metre radius of a pandal.

The Indian Express             24.09.2013

MC House meet approves estimates for 19 tubewells

The General House of the Municipal Corporation approved the estimates for installation of 19 tubewells in different parts of the city. The tubewells are being installed in order to tide over the problem of water shortage that is expected during the next summers. A total of 9 million gallons daily (mgd) of water would be diverted to Panchkula and Chandimandir from next year. This share was till now being used by Chandigarh.

Installation of 45 tubewells were earlier approved. In the first phase estimates for 1 were approved. These would be installed in Sectors 39, 32, 37, Industrial Area, Phase I and Manimajra. Chandigarh receives a total of 87 mgd water of which 67 is from Kajauli Water Works and the remaining from tubewells. Of the 67 mgd, 9 mgd is to be diverted to Haryana. The House also approved the change in machinery at the Sector 26 water works. Some of the machinery was installed in 1966 and had not been changed since then.

Community Centres

It was decided that for the next three months, for the community centres in villages and colonies the yearly membership fee would be reduced from Rs 1,000 to Rs 500 and for senior citizens from Rs 500 to Rs 250. This was done after councillors complained that the community centres were not getting enough members.

Commissioner VP Singh contended that the charges were nominal and were required to ensure maintenance of the community centres.

The decision of the Finance and Contract Committee to allow free booking of community centres to senior citizen associations twice a month for holding meetings was upheld by the House. Councillor Arun Sood demanded that charges for booking community centres be reduced. He said that full charges should be taken for the day of function, while these should be reduced when tents were installed a day before and after. However, the proposal was rejected.

Sidelights

The meeting witnessed tussles between the councillors over several issues. Councillor Sat Prakash Aggarwal raised objection to councillor Arun Sood criticism towards UT Administrator.

The agenda for renovation of dispensary in Sector 8 was deferred after councillor Surinder Bahga raised objections to it saying the officials followed their own whims in preparing estimates. It was decided that estimates would be prepared according to the rate schedule of 2012.

Arguments were witnessed outside the House. The Mayor's recent visit to Manimajra sparked heated arguments. Congress councillor Darshan Garg also had arguments with the Mayor over allowing some of his guests to have lunch that was organised by the MC on the day of meeting.