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HC gives Shimla civic body six months to rid town of stray dog menace

Thursday, 24 September 2009 10:28 administrator
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Indian Express 24.09.2009

HC gives Shimla civic body six months to rid town of stray dog menace

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has snubbed the Shimla Municipal Corporation for showing reluctance in handling the city’s stray dog problem. The court has given the municipal corporation six months’ time to find a solution to the problem and establish animal shelters for stray dogs.

A division bench, comprising acting Chief Justice R B Misra and Justice Rajiv Sharma, passed the order on a PIL initiated by the court’s own motion observing that the municipal corporation was duty bound to act in the case and get rid of the stray dog menace. “It is the statutory duty cast upon the corporation to provide animal kennels/shelters. The corporation can’t be permitted to remain remiss from discharging its statutory duties,” the bench said in a three-page order.

The court noted that the municipal corporation had written to the Principal Secretary (Urban Development) demanding Rs 2 crore for providing shelters to stray dogs. The corporation’s counsel Shrawan Dogra had pleaded that in view of the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2001, it was difficult for the corporation to catch and keep stray dogs in shelters.

Rejecting the contention the court said,“We have gone through the rules minutely. Rule 6 specifically obliges the local authority — municipal corporation — to establish sufficient number of pounds, kennels and shelters, which may be managed by animal welfare organisations. It has to provide other infrastructure as stipulated in the rule.” The court quoted the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme for stray dogs under which the corporation is supposed to provide land, building or ABC centres for the dogs, catching vans, free water and incinerators.

The bench did not concede the municipal corporation’s plea for amending its earlier order of July 16. It directed the state Government to look into the demand raised by the MC.

The court has appointed advocate Rajiv Jiwan as amicus curiae and has asked the HC registry to list the request of Neeraj Gupta, an advocate to appear on behalf of Animal Welfare Board, Chennai, on the next date of hearing.

Last Updated on Thursday, 24 September 2009 10:42
 

Jama Masjid facelift gets green signal from MCD

Thursday, 24 September 2009 06:08 administrator
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The Times of India 24.09.2009

Jama Masjid facelift gets green signal from MCD

TNN 24 September 2009, 05:37am IST

NEW DELHI: The redevelopment plan for Jama Masjid got clearance from MCD's standing committee on Wednesday. The entire area from the mosque to the Red Fort will be developed into a pedestrian zone with a lot of emphasis being laid on public spaces. A detailed project report will now be prepared by MCD and work on the project is expected to begin by end of this year.

Said deputy commissioner, city zone, Vijay Singh: "All public open spaces have been consolidated to generate a large congregation in the foreground of the masjid. A multi-level civic space has been proposed at various levels within the precinct. The existing boundaries and walls within the precinct will be done away with to make way for the public space.''

New road sections from Subhash Marg and peripheral roads will cater to the traffic around the area. The architect for the project, Pradeep Sachdeva, said: "Adequate provision for pedestrians and non-motorised vehicles will be made. A bay for tourist buses is proposed at Subhash Marg.'' No underground parking will be created in the area with options being explored at other places. Delhi Urban Art Commission (DUAC) has also asked MCD to ensure that the entrance to the bus bay is at least 75m from the intersection of two roads.

Said Singh: "The scattered commercial activity at Meena Bazar is proposed to be located at the north side, near Parade Ground. These 633 shops will be one-storey high.''

According to DUAC's directions, the market/shops around Dargah Sheikh Kalimullah should also be single-storey structures built at the level of the ground around Meena Bazar to avoid any obstruction of the visual field between Red Fort and Jama Masjid precinct.

The project aims to ensure unobstructed view of the masjid from all sides of the precinct while also establishing clear visual links to key sights such as the Red Fort. Signages will be put up and proper lighting and security will be provided in the area. A number of public amenities like toilet blocks will also be provided besides an interpretation centre for tourists.

MCD got a go-ahead for the project from DUAC in June this year after it was rejected four times. Much of the original plan, which boasted of underground parking and a heritage mall, has been done away with as both DUAC and Archaeological Survey of India insisted on minimum intervention in the sensitive zone to preserve its historical glory.
 

Most MCD projects yet to take off

Thursday, 24 September 2009 06:04 administrator
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The Times of India 24.09.2009

Most MCD projects yet to take off

TNN 24 September 2009, 05:37am IST

NEW DELHI: Tall claims made by Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) that all Commonwealth Games projects will be completed by March 2010 were exposed on Wednesday. A detailed report presented in the standing committee showed that work was yet to be awarded for most of its Games projects.

Out of its 23 roads projects including the ones that relate to streetscaping work is yet to be awarded for most.

As far as construction of 17 railway underbridges/overbridges go, the situation is similar. Work has started on only four railway underbridges (RUB) at Sarai Kale Khan, Sewa Nagar, Kishan Ganj and Vivek Vihar. The maximum work completed is at Sewa Nagar 42% while only 5% work has been done till date at Kishan Ganj. The work is yet to be awarded for most of the other 13 RUBs.

Said MCD commissioner K S Mehra: "We are confident of completing all our Commonwealth projects on time. Sometimes planning of a project takes time but executing it is faster. We require Rs 900 crore for completion of these projects and have received Rs 390 crore till date. The remaining amount will be paid to us soon.'' BJP councillor Vijender Gupta claimed that lack of adequate funds was causing delay in execution of projects.

MCD has to upgrade roads in front of various stadiums. For instance, Chyandu Lal Balmiki Marg near Thyagraj Stadium, Dilip Singh Marg near Sri Fort Complex and two stretches near Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium Bhishma Pitamah Marg and Mehar Chand Market Road. Work on improvement of major roads like Jawaharlal Nehru Marg from Ring Road to Thompson Marg (Rs 4.55 crore) and Mehruali-Gurgaon Road (Rs 6 crore) are in progress.

A month back MCD had claimed that it had completed 40% of the work for covering Sunehri and Kushak nullahs but the figures given on Wednesday were entirely different. According to the latest report, the corporation has completed 28.1% of work for covering Sunehri nullah and 1.5% work for covering the nullah near DPS R K Puram.

Meanwhile, decongestion of New and Old Delhi railway stations has reached the tendering stage. The cost of this project is Rs 5 crore. MCD has to still acquire mechanical sweepers and carry out beautification work. Also, no multi-level parking sites have come up in the city so far.

 
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