The Hindu              01.11.2013

BBMP will be busy this Deepavali

The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is getting ready to tackle accidents, emergencies as well as the extra waste generated during Deepavali.

BBMP Commissioner M. Lakshminarayan told presspersons here on Thursday that the civic body would deploy extra men and material to clear garbage, including waste from firecrackers and pujas. BBMP officials would be on duty over the holidays to monitor garbage clearance.

Mr. Lakshminarayan appealed to traders and vendors not to litter the road. He also urged citizens not to burst crackers in congested areas and near hospitals.

The BBMP has directed Vasan Eye Hospital and Dr. Agarwal’s Eye Hospital to be on stand-by in case of any emergency. Columbia Asia and Cauvery multispeciality hospital have been involved for providing first aid. Minto Eye Hospital, Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital, Victoria Hospital, K.C. General Hospital, Jayanagar Government General Hospital and Yelahanka Government General Hospital can treat complicated injuries. The BBMP’s control rooms will also be equipped to handle emergencies, he said.

Mayor B.S. Sathyanarayana and Deputy Mayor Indira appealed to citizens not to burst too many crackers. The Mayor urged people to sweep up cracker waste and pile it up on the side of the road, making it easier for pourakarmikas to clear it.

Arrangements in place to tackle extra garbage and health emergencies.

The Times of India          31.10.2013

Nashik Municipal Corporation curtails Diwali bonus

NASHIK: Municipal commissioner Sanjay Khandare on Wednesday announced Rs 11,111 as Diwali ex-gratia for Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) employees, rejecting the elected representatives' proposal of Rs 13,111 as the amount on the ground of financial constraints.

Mayor Yatin Wagh had revised the ex-gratia amount to Rs 13,111 from his initial announcement of Rs 11,111 on October 23 after the opposition party leaders demanded the revision and stormed out of a meeting. Wagh later sent the proposal to the municipal commissioner. But after a meeting with the officials of the accounts department, the commissioner cut down the bo nus.

"The municipal commissioner took this decision keeping in mind the financial condition of the civic body. The amount would be deposited in the bank accounts of the employees within a couple of days. We have already started depositing the amount," an official said. Municipal Employees Sena chairperson Shivaji Sahane said a resolution was passed at the general body meeting on September 19 that Rs 13,111 would be awarded as ex-gratia amount and now the administration has deducted the amount by Rs 2,000. The mayor pledged to take up the issue with the commissioner on Thursday.