The Indian Express             22.08.2013

North civic body collects Rs 8 lakh fine from parking contractors for violations

So far, the corporation has collected Rs 8.1 lakh as penalty from these contractors. However, no one has been booked for unauthorised parking. The penalty was imposed after the commissioner received many complaints against contractors through councillors and also from the public.

According to the revised parking policy, any parking contractor penalised for five violations will be blacklisted and barred from getting the contract again.

The corporation has also decided to make hand-held parking ticket machines compulsory.

The civic body has listed out three minor violations - non-wearing of uniform by parking attendants, which attract a fine of Rs 2,000; non-maintenance of complaint register, which carries a fine of Rs 5,000; and parking vehicles without issuing a slip,which has a fine of Rs 10,000 or 25 per cent of the monthly licence fee (MLF).

The major violations are overcharging — a first time violation attracts a penalty of 25 per cent of MLF; non-use of hand-held devices, which carries a fine of 50 per cent of MLF; encroaching space over and above parking space, which has a penalty of 75 percent of MLF; and non-display of notice board, which carries a fine of one month licence fee.

"This has been done after we received many complaints that contractors were overcharging and outsourcing their tendered sites. Directions from the commissioner went to all deputy commissioners to prepare a report about the parking policy violations in their respective zones. They were then directed to take necessary action," Yogendra Mann, Director (Press Information), North corporation, said.

The Indian Express             22.08.2013

South body to outsource school playgrounds

According to the proposal, the Corporation will outsource playgrounds to sports academies who will not only develop and maintain the grounds for a particular sport, but also provide free-of-cost training to municipal school students after school hours.

The corporation has invited an expression of interest from leading sports academies in this regard.

Many sports bodies such as Bhaichung Bhutia Football School, Delhi Lawn Tennis Association, Delhi Wushu Association, Delhi Judo Council, Delhi Karate Association and Delhi Taekwondo Association have already expressed interest to work with the civic body.

"Most of our schools have huge playgrounds, which remain underutilised. With the help of sports academies we will be able to use these playgrounds to the benefit of students. We will be able to train them in a sport of their interest," Satish Upadhyay, Education committee chairman, South corporation, said.

The sports bodies will be able to run their academies and provide paid training to children from the neighbourhood. This will help them recover operational costs," Upadhyay said.

"We have already begun the process of mapping playgrounds to determine suitability of grounds for different sports. Once the terms and conditions are finalised, we will sign a memorandum of understanding with the bodies," he said.

The Corporation is looking at engaging the academies for a tenure of five years to begin with.

"We are planning to outsource playgrounds in 50-odd schools in the first phase and expand the number later on. We are also looking at implementing the scheme in the next three months,"Sushil Singh, Director, Primary Education, MCD, said.

The corporation has 438 primary schools in its four zones — South, West, Central and Najafgarh. Over two lakh students are enrolled in these schools.

"Land is a premium commodity in the city. We will provide the academies open spaces and they will provide us their expertise. Its a win-win situation," Upadhyay said.

Raising the bar

THE PLAN