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Piped supply of cooking gas from next year

Wednesday, 25 November 2009 05:02 administrator
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The Hindu 25.11.2009

Piped supply of cooking gas from next year

Staff Reporter

BGL is conducting a survey for the purpose, says Collector

 

Kakinada Municipal Commissioner asked to coordinate the study tour

Necessary safety measures will be put in place

Kakinada: Four towns in East Godavari district - Kakinada, Samalkot, Peddapuram and Pithapuram, will get cooking gas through pipelines from Bhagyanagar Gas Limited (BGL), a joint venture of HPCL and Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL), from the year 2010. The Government has three months ago appointed BGL as the agency for distributing gas at prices cheaper than LPG cylinder charges. In addition to piped gas, BGL will be catering to the requirements of industrial and automobile sectors in a phased manner for which necessary infrastructure is about to be created, said Collector Gopalakrishna Dwivedi.

Speaking at the public hearing on the Kakinada City Gas Distribution (KCGD) project at the Zilla Parishad conference hall on Tuesday, Mr. Dwivedi said BGL is conducting a survey for the purpose and it was likely to supply gas starting next year. BGL has been apprised of its obligation to comply with the relevant procedures contained in municipal laws, pollution control and fire safety norms.

The company was also asked to give a demonstration to acquaint the people with piped gas and to furnish them details like the amount of security deposit to be paid for domestic or commercial connections.

Recommendations

Mr. Dwivedi said it was decided to send a team comprising four officials and an equal number of people’s representatives would tour to Delhi or Mumbai or some cities in Gujarat where piped gas distribution first began in the country.

They would make recommendations on how to execute the project in these parts of Andhra Pradesh. Kakinada Municipal Commissioner G.S.N. Murthy has been ordered to coordinate the study tour.

Kakinada City MLA Dwarampudi Chandrasekhara Reddy sought to know the share of profits BGL would give to the civic bodies and the mechanism of compensating for the loss to be caused by digging of roads for laying pipelines. The company has to make out a contingency plan.

KCGD project manager RBS Tomar said pipelines measuring a total of 75 km would be laid in Kakinada and the other three towns. The project was planned to benefit a population of about six lakh in 220 square kilometers.

Necessary safety measures were to be put in place. Joint Collector K. Sasidhar, Zilla Parishad chairman Ch. Venugopala Krishna, Kakinada Mayor K. Saroja and others participated.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 25 November 2009 05:04
 

BMC wants to fine for water wastage

Tuesday, 24 November 2009 10:44 administrator
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Hindustan Times 24.11.2009

BMC wants to fine for water wastage

The civic body has passed a proposal demanding penalisation of those who waste drinking water.

With the city facing its worst-ever crisis this year, the civic body have woken up to the wastage of water, and suggested stiff penalties for offenders.

Vinod Shekhar, Congress corporator from Colaba, has moved a notice of motion in the civic house demanding a provision to penalise those who are found wasting potable water.

Wastage could mean anything from using portable water for watering one'scc garden, for construction purposes, washing cars to keeping the water taps running.

“The proposal will have to be now cleared by the state government and necessary amendments in the law will have to be made,” said Shekhar.

However, civic officials said that such a thing would not work in Mumbai, as there is no mechanism, which separates potable and non-potable water in the city. “How is one going to quantify wastage and how will you define what is wastage?”added the source on the request of anonymity.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 24 November 2009 10:50
 

Kochi on a heritage trail

Tuesday, 24 November 2009 09:49 administrator
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The New Indian Express 24.11.2009

Kochi on a heritage trail

Shibu B S


KOCHI: It’s a breather for Kochi’s heritage sites.

In a bid to conserve the historic monuments in the city, the Centre for Heritage, Environment and Development (C-HED) of the Kochi Corporation is coming up with a new project to prepare a heritage map.

The city is one among the 35 heritage cities notified by the Unesco. Sadly, there has not been much effort from the authorities to protect the remains of the city’s glorious past. Right from the Chinese nets dotting the backwaters to Broadway, these relics need immediate attention and there have been repeated requests from all quarters for a comprehensive package to preserve these heritage icons.

The new heritage map project proposes to undertake a detailed survey, listing and documentation of the heritage of Kochi including natural resources and features, cultural environment and built heritage, cultural traditions and institutions.

Deputy Mayor C K Manisankar said that the Corporation had already sanctioned the project. They expect CHED to complete the first phase of the project within six months.

“The prime objective of the project is to identify and prepare a detailed list of buildings, structures and precincts of historic, architectural, aesthetic, cultural and environmental significance.

The map will help in the conservation of these monuments,” Manisankar said.

On-site listing and documentation of outstanding heritage spots in the city and inviting or organising public hearings for suggestions, additions, observations and objections are part of the work.

Detailing the technical side of the project, Rajan Chedambath, director, C-HED, said that the heritage map would follow certain categories and would be updated from time to time as per the new requirements.

“The heritage map will be categorised on the basis of heritage areas and settlements, structures and complexes, institutions, art and craft and more,” Rajan said.

The first phase will be completed at an estimate cost of Rs 20 lakh, he said. The process also includes the collection and documentation of all historical maps related to Kochi from all available sources including foreign museums, archives and institutions.

The list of monuments already identified by C-HED include the Jewish Synagogue, Thoppumpady bridge, Fort Kochi Corporation zonal office, Jew Street and the backwaters of the city.

C-HED will directly carry out the survey work and the preparation of the heritage map.

“The first phase of the work will be completed within six months,” Rajan said.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 24 November 2009 10:01
 
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