The Hindu 27.06.2010
Meet on master plan to be held shortly
The district administration will be organising a public consultation on the proposed amendments to the master plan for the Mangalore local planning area shortly, Deputy Commissioner V. Ponnuraj said here on Friday.
The forenoon part of the meeting would be a technical session while the afternoon session would focus on general aspects. The date of the meeting would be announced shortly, he said.
The Government issued a Gazette notification in this regard on June 1. People could file objections or suggestions within 30 days.
The Government approved the master plan prepared by the Mangalore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) on September 10.
Mr. Ponnuraj, who shared his experiences in the U.S. during his recent visit there, dwelt on various aspects of urban planning, solid waste management and the way roads and footpaths are laid and maintained in that country.
He said that the Institute for Local Governance, under the auspices of the University of North Carolina, was providing training to the newly elected councillors in different aspects of city planning and management.
The solid waste management system in the U.S. was worth emulating. People in the U.S. segregated solid waste before dropping it in the containers kept at select places. Such containers would have separate compartments for toxic waste, glass, paper, and the like.
Mr. Ponnuraj said that counties in that country had to follow zonal regulations and building bylaws prescribed by the local self-government, in addition to the ones prescribed for urban areas.
Those willing to construct buildings in counties would have to obtain certain clearances from the nearest city corporations or urban local bodies, which inspect the site eight times. Main advantage of this was that when cities get expanded on the outskirts, aspects relating to width of roads, drainage system, construction of buildings, parking area and those pertaining to civic amenities could be given due consideration.
“Planning happens much before a county becomes a city,” he said.
