The Times of India           07.12.2010

MCD house collapse report stuck

NEW DELHI: Three weeks have passed since the Lalita Park building collapse, but the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is yet to submit its internal report on the incident.

This, despite claims by the MCD's political brass that they had directed officials to submit the report by Monday. Ironically, no further date has been given by the civic agency on when the report would finally be ready.

Till date, no action has been taken against any official for the collapse on November 15, which claimed 70 lives. The MCD internal report was initially scheduled to be submitted within four days of the incident by the chief vigilance officer. The dates, however, kept getting extended. Last week, standing committee chairman Yogender Chandolia had claimed that he had directed the MCD commissioner to submit the report by Monday.

A week later, Chandolia changed his stance. "Since the Delhi government has also initiated a judicial enquiry into the matter, we feel that submission of our report may influence the outcome of the judicial report. To sort out these issues, I will be meeting the commissioner on Tuesday. We have been told that vigilance is facing certain difficulties in compiling the report. But the reason is unclear, " said Chandolia. MCD commissioner K S Mehra had earlier claimed that since this was a complex issue, the vigilance was facing problems in conducting its inquiry and would require more time to submit its report. According to officials, the main problem is that files pertaining to the building which had collapsed are missing.

Press and information director Deep Mathur, meanwhile, gave a different reason for the delay. He claimed that the MCD was awaiting the Central Building Research Institute (CBRI) report. "We need the findings of the CBRI before submitting our final report. All these reports will then be handed over to the judicial authorities probing the matter which is supposed to submit its report within three months," said Mathur.

The CBRI had collected samples from the site few weeks ago and was supposed to give its findings. MCD had sent vacation notices to 38 buildings in the area and the CBRI was also supposed to give its report on whether they could be repaired. In case, they are declared dangerous, MCD would then demolish these buildings, according to officials.

With cracks developing in several buildings in the last month, it is now becoming a matter of concern. MCD claims that it is carrying out a survey to identify dangerous buildings but does not have the manpower for such extensive surveys.

The Times of India  03.12.2010

VARANASI: The Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) on Thursday consented to provide loan to the Varanasi Development Authority for its ambitious project of creating institutional hub in trans-Ganga area.

It is worth mentioning here that the VDA has decided to create an institutional hub in trans-Ganga area. The VDA has selected the land of three villages, viz Katesar, Kodopur and Domari, for this project. After the strips of sandbed and green zone, this project will take place on a stretch of 300 hectare land. Under this project, the land will be allotted only for running educational and other institutions.

According to VDA vice-chairman RP Goswami, this project has been divided in two phases. In the initial phase, 120 hectare land of Katesar and Kodopur villages will be acquired while in the second phase the land of Domari village will be acquired. To begin the process of land acquisition for the first phase of the project, the VDA has already deposited Rs 11 crore with the land acquisition department while a total of Rs 54 crore is required to complete this process.

"The first phase of the project will cost Rs 115 crore," said Goswami and added that amount was required for completing the process of land acquisition as well as development of the area before allotment of land to the institutions. To arrange for the fund, the VDA had contacted the HUDCO. On getting the proposal, the HUDCO had sent a team of its officials who stayed in the city on Wednesday and Thursday. The team of HUDCO officials visited the site of the proposed project.

After becoming convinced about the viability of the project, the HUDCO team expressed interest in providing a loan to the VDA, disclosed Goswami. He said that the HUDCO team had assured to complete the formalities of sanctioning the loan by December end. He said after getting the loan amount from the HUDCO, it would be forwarded to the state exchequer after which the process of land acquisition would be intensified. He said it was expected that the process of land acquisition and taking possession on acquired land would be completed in four-five months after which the project would come on the floor.

As per the norms of the government, 10-15 per cent land would be reserved for the weaker sections of the society. The bridges on the Ganga would connect the institutional hub with the city.

The VDA is expecting that the income generated from this project will not only pave the way for an early completion of the second phase of this project but the project will also generate the margin money for seeking loan for other major projects.