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Goa House adjourned twice over mayoral poll postponement

Thursday, 21 March 2013 05:34 administrator
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The Hindu        21.03.2013 

Goa House adjourned twice over mayoral poll postponement

‘Government’s decision shows lack of respect for democracy’

Ruckus:Members of the Opposition rushing to the well of the Goa Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, protesting against the decision to postpone the Panaji mayoral elections.
Ruckus:Members of the Opposition rushing to the well of the Goa Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, protesting against the decision to postpone the Panaji mayoral elections.

The Goa Legislative Assembly was adjourned twice during Question Hour on Wednesday, after Opposition MLAs rushed to the well of the House, protesting against the decision to postpone the Panaji mayoral elections, scheduled for Wednesday.

As soon as the Question Hour began, Leader of the Opposition Pratapsingh Rane was on his feet, describing the government’s move as “undemocratic”. The election process, once started, could not be postponed unilaterally, he said.

When Speaker Rajendra Arlekar did not allow the Opposition to raise the issue, Congress members and Vijay Sardesai, Independent, rushed to the well. They shouted slogans against the “unconstitutional” move and argued with the Speaker, who adjourned the House twice.

Except for Mauvin Godinho of the Congress who represents Dabolim in the House, the other party members boycotted the proceedings for a brief period when the House reconvened.

Opposition MLAs and councillors also called on Governor Bharat Vir Wanchoo to lodge their protest.

Explanation

During the break, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar told presspersons that the Directorate of Municipal Administration had received complaints from citizens saying there were no reservations in the City Corporation of Panaji (CCP) for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. So, the government had decided to examine the issue and amend the CCP Act if needed, and hence it was decided to postpone the election.

Frontrunner

Surendra Furtado was tipped to be Mayor, with the support of the Congress.

The election was scheduled for Wednesday as per an understanding last year, when BJP councillor Vaidehi Naik was elected Mayor on March 20 , 2012, with the support of Mr. Furtado and his councillor wife.

Mr. Furtado accused Mr. Parrikar of going back on his assurance. “He considers me a threat in the next Assembly election from Panaji,” he said (Mr. Parrikar was elected from Panaji Assembly constituency). “If Mr. Parrikar feels the posts of Mayor and Deputy Mayor should be reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, then the same criteria should be applied while electing an MLA,” the councillor said.

The postponement demonstrated a lack of respect for democracy, said activist Aires Rodrigues and Nationalist Congress Party spokesperson Trajano D’Mello.

 

Garbage dumping prevents children from using playground

Tuesday, 19 March 2013 09:59 administrator
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The Times of India                          19.03.2013

Garbage dumping prevents children from using playground

NAGPUR: Don't be mistaken, it is not a garbage dumping ground, but a portion of probably the only open public utility land in Gittikhadan area. This 1.25 acre land reserved for a children's playground and park at Barde Nagar is a victim of alleged attempt by a real estate developer to grab it, coupled with apathy of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC).

According to residents, the land has become grazing ground for cattle while sanitary workers appointed by the builder have been bumping waste here since last six months. Team TOI visited the park only to find heaps of garbage scattered all around, thus inconveniencing the children. Instead, they preferred to play cricket on the road.

Ramkrishna Rao, a resident, said, "Though the NMC waste collection van comes to the locality every day, builder Vinod Dawre prevents them from collecting the garbage. Instead, he had appointed a couple of sanitary workers who after collecting waste from residents dump it at the playground. This is the main reason why the playground is littered with filth. No official has taken any action despite complaints."

Another resident Binoy Shankar pointed out that children in the locality have no option but to play amid unhygienic surroundings. "The space has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes and flies," he said, adding the worst sufferers are nearby residents who say this is the only PU land in this area.

Residents claimed that they have often raised this issue with the Mangalwari zone office. Barde Nagar Sahnivas Nagrik Kruti Sanstha (housing society action committee) also lodged a complaint with the zonal office, but so far no action has been taken.

Finally, the residents approached corporator Bhushan Shingne who visited the place and assured no garbage would be dumped on the playground. "I will also develop the place in the coming financial year. The civic authority is taking several measures to maintain playgrounds and parks in the city," he said.

Refuting the allegations, builder Vinod Dawre blamed the NMC for the mess. He claimed that the NMC sanitary workers visit the locality only once in a week. "To ensure regular disposal of garbage, I had deployed two labourers who collect waste from the locality but due to no other open space nearby they dump it on the PU land." He also alleged that the civic authority had not taken any measure to develop the playground.
Last Updated on Tuesday, 19 March 2013 10:02
 

NMC gets stick for increasing mobile tower rent exorbitantly

Tuesday, 19 March 2013 09:56 administrator
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The Times of India                          19.03.2013

NMC gets stick for increasing mobile tower rent exorbitantly

NAGPUR: 'Greed is a vice' goes the adage, and the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) was reminded about it by the court.

Around 1,000 mobile towers are installed across the city. The NMC would earlier charge 1.10 lakh a year for one tower from the mobile service providers as ground rent and other taxes. Finding it to be a lucrative way to earn revenue, the civic administration revised the annual rent to 3 lakh.

The decision came as a rude shock for the service providers. "They (mobile phone companies) tried to negotiate with the civic body to lower the rent. But when it turned out to be an exercise in futility, they approached the court," said NMC standing committee chairman and senior BJP corporator Avinash Thakre.

"The court reprimanded the civic body and subsequently the price was brought down to 25,000 per annum," he informed.

Now, the state government has issued new rates for B-grade civic bodies like the NMC to charge only 25,000 per year from mobile service providers towards ground rent for towers.

Criticizing NMC outdoor advertising policy, Thakre said the civic officials should have been content with 1.10 lakh per tower as it was helping the NMC in generating revenue to the tune of 1.10 crore. But the greed to earn more has proved costly for the NMC, he said, adding that now NMC will get only 25 lakh.

Thakre pointed out that the NMC's outdoor advertising policy is not also feasible to attract takers (traders).

Town planning department's sectional engineer (NMC) Pandurang Shinde, however, justified the NMC's move to increase the ground rent. He said the civic body needs revenue for providing basic infrastructure, so the revision is justified.

According to him, the state government has not finalized the rent. "In fact, the government had invited suggestions and objections to its draft policy on mobile tower rents. The NMC had raised objection to charging such minimal rent," Shinde said.
Last Updated on Tuesday, 19 March 2013 09:59
 
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