AMC yet to get state nod for water project
Tuesday, 03 September 2013 12:15
administrator
The Times of India 03.09.2013 AMC yet to get state nod for water project
AURANGABAD: Although the Aurangabad City Water Utility Company Limited (ACWUL), a special purpose vehicle (SVP) set up for execution of the Rs 790-crore water distribution project under PPP model, has completed all its formalities and offered to start the project, the AMC is still awaiting state nod. City engineer in the AMC, Sakharam Panzade, on Monday said that the government is yet to clear the water bylaws and permission for the project.
As per the Bombay Provincial Municipal Corporations Act, permission of the state is mandatory for any PPP model project.
"We have been seeking permission since the last two-and-half years. The civic body is also waiting for approval of the water bylaws. Both the permissions are crucial for early execution of the project," he said.
Panzade said the ACWUL had made arrangements for financial loan for the project. "In its letter to the civic body, the special purpose vehicle had said that its loan proposal worth Rs 575 crore had been approved and it is fully prepared to executive the project," he said.
A senior official of ACWUL, on condition of anonymity, said that the AMC should now take the lead and allow the SVP to execute the project. He added that the project is likely to start within 30 to 45 days.
When asked whether the project would see further extension, he said the company can not afford to delay it any more. "We wish the AMC completes all formalities," he said.
Municipal commissioner Harshdeep Kamble claimed that the project might start in the near future but he refused to give an exact date. He assured that a clear picture would emerge within a week.
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Civic panel likely to decide on wage hike tomorrow
Tuesday, 03 September 2013 12:12
administrator
The Times of India 03.09.2013 Civic panel likely to decide on wage hike tomorrow
AURANGABAD: The civic standing committee is likely to take a decision on the long-pending proposal of wage hike of its class IV and class III employees at a meeting on Wednesday. The administration has proposed that the hike, as per the recommendations of Kaka Kalelkar Commission, should be effective from January 2013.
Citing the poor financial condition of the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), the administration has said that hiking the salary with effect from October 2012 would not be economically feasible. The AMC will incur an additional expenditure of Rs 2,71,440 per month to accommodate the hike, the proposal says.
As per the proposal, the daily wages of class IV employees would be increased from Rs 295 to Rs 340. In case of class III, the hike will be from Rs 365 per day to Rs 430 per day. About 156 class IV and 66 class III employees are offering their services to the AMC on daily wage basis for 15 years.
Meanwhile social activist and founder-president of Kamgar Shakti Sanghatna, Gautam Kharat, said marginal hike in the wages of the employees would not solve the issues. "They are working with the AMC for more than 15 years and most of them have almost crossed 50 years of age. They should be absorbed on permanent roll as no other employment options are left for them," he said.
If it is not viable, Kharat added, wages for the contractual employees should be at par with their counterparts on permanent roll.
Deputy municipal commissioner Suresh Petgaonkar, however, said that as per the Supreme Court's verdict, the employees could not be absorbed on permanent roll. "Every year we have to take approval of the general body to renew the contracts of these employees," he said.
Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon shows the door to two tainted sanitation agencies
Tuesday, 03 September 2013 12:02
administrator
The Times of India 03.09.2013 Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon shows the door to two tainted sanitation agencies
GURGAON: After months of sustained pressure from the residents and numerous complaints, the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon on Monday blacklisted two tainted sanitation agencies. Now, the agencies will never be able to participate in any bidding process in entire Haryana.
MCG commissioner P C Meena blacklisted Balaji Security Services and Perfect Manpower Solutions Pvt Ltd Gurgaon after cancelling their tenders. While Balaji Security Service was handling sanitation work for zones 1, 3 and 4 in addition to villages and outer colonies, Perfect Manpower Solution was awarded the sanitation contract for zone 2. According to a source, the owner of the two agencies is same. The new contract has been given to Sulabh International and another private firm, say officials.
The MCG authorities say that despite giving several opportunities the two agencies failed to improve their performance. "As per the tender conditions the contractors were required to deploy 2,136 sweepers with all necessary equipment for cleanliness and garbage transportation vehicles including tractors. But when the work done by them in the past two months was reviewed, it was found that both the firms neither fulfilled the condition of deploying adequate manpower as per tender conditions nor provided sufficient equipment to clean the city," said Meena.
"It was clearly mentioned in the contract that the firms were to use bio-metric machines for daily attendance of the sweepers, which they did not do. The agencies have not only violated the tender and work-order conditions but also performed poorly during the past two months. This resulted in a number of complaints received from the residents and councillors. Even after several notices issued to the firms, they did not improve the sanitation work and ignored the directions given by us. Despite a final show-cause notice issued to them on July 30, no improvement in their work was noticed," Meena said.
Last year, the Municipal Corporation of Faridabad had also de-listed Balaji Security Service for non-performance.
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