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Vadodara Municipal Corporation opposition raises key issue with urban development minister

Saturday, 16 February 2013 11:07 administrator
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The Times of India                  16.02.2013

Vadodara Municipal Corporation opposition raises key issue with urban development minister

VADODARA: The Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) opposition raised key demands from the state government. The opposition submitted a memorandum with these demands to state urban development minister Anandiben

Patel during her visit to the city on Thursday.

Patel was in the city to inaugurate the Vibrant VCCI industrial exhibition. Following this she had visited the VMC headquarters at Khanderao Market to hold discussions on development works.

A delegation of opposition Congress councillors of the VMC met her in the corridors of the headquarters at this time and submitted a memorandum. The memorandum raised several issues including that of grants from the state and bills for use of water from the Panam project.

The opposition stated that the octroi tax collection of the civic body had seen a rise of around 18 per cent when the tax was being collected. But the state government's grand has not matched this figure. They claimed that Rs 1,039 crore was paid less to the VMC as compared to what it could have earned if octroi was still in place. Another issue raised was that Vadodara was neglected in funding by the state government in comparison to Ahmedabad and Surat.

The Congress delegation also pointed out that the VMC had been issued bills amounting to Rs 712 crore for using Panam project water. This was at commercial rates and despite the fact that the civic body had contributed to the capital and maintenance cost of the project.

 
Last Updated on Saturday, 16 February 2013 11:12
 

BMC civic vigilance department facing staff crunch

Saturday, 16 February 2013 10:13 administrator
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The Times of India                     16.02.2013

BMC civic vigilance department facing staff crunch

MUMBAI: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's vigilance department, that is incharge of checking the quality of civic work being carried out by contractors is having a staff crunch. Due to the staff crunch only 25 per cent of these works have been inspected by the vigilance department leading to compromise in the quality of the works.

According to the civic sources, there is one chief engineer, four executive engineers, 30 assistant engineers and six sub engineers in the vigilance department as against the present requirement of total 51 engineers.

"We are falling short of officials as far as manpower is concerned, however considering the huge infrastructure boom in the city, the BMC should fill all the vacant spots," said a senior civic official. According to the officials figures, in last three years, the civic vigilance department has been able to inspect only 25 per cent of civic ward level works across the city.

"We have collected a total fine of Rs 122 crores from contractors for carrying out substandard works in last three years. Had the manpower been more, we would have worked more effectively," he said. The vigilance department also fines the contractors for shoddy job. These works includes roads, building construction, gutters, water supply and sewage projects and other ward level works carried under executive engineers. The material used for these works is checked during inspections.

 

Last Updated on Saturday, 16 February 2013 10:18
 

Preparations under way for local body elections in Bidar district

Saturday, 16 February 2013 09:54 administrator
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The Hindu                       16.02.2013

Preparations under way for local body elections in Bidar district

Special Correspondent

As many as 281 booths set up in 149 wards: Deputy Commissioner.

Preparations to ensure the smooth conduct of the urban local body elections in Bidar district are under way, said P.C. Jaffer, Deputy Commissioner and District Electoral Officer, said here on Friday.

In the district, elections will be held for two city municipal councils (Bidar and Basavakalyan), three town municipal councils (Humnabad, Bhalki and Chitguppa), and one town panchayat (Aurad).

As many as 281 booths have been set up in 149 wards. The polls will be held on March 7, and votes will be counted on March 11.

As per the timetable, nominations can be filed till February 23. They will be scrutinised on February 25, and the last date for withdrawal of nominations is February 27. Those interested in contesting for the city municipal councils have to pay a deposit of Rs. 1,000. For town municipal councils, the fee is Rs. 500, and for town panchayats, Rs. 250.

‘Sensitive booths’

“Eighty-five of the booths are considered hypersensitive. Some persons with criminal antecedents will be taken into custody before the elections,” said Superintendent of Police K. Tyagarajan.

Ujwal Ghosh, zilla panchayat Chief Executive Officer, and Sunil Panwar, Deputy Conservator of Forests, have been appointed supervising officials, along with 20 district officials, who have been appointed election officials.

In addition, 1,124 booth-level officials have also been appointed.

Distribution

Bidar has 149 booths in 35 wards for over 1.3 lakh voters. Basavakalyan has 47 booths in 31 wards, for 39,754 voters.

Humnabad has 24,904 voters in 23 wards with 25 booths.

Both Bhalki (with 21,782 voters) and Chitguppa (with 14,148 voters) have 23 booths each in 23 wards, while Aurad has 14 booths in 14 wards for 9,959 voters.

Enforcement

The code of conduct for elections has come into force in the jurisdiction of all urban local bodies, from Friday, according to Dr. Jaffer. The State Election Commission (SEC) has issued regulations regarding the smooth conduct of elections and the monitoring of candidates’ expenses.

All banners, posters and buntings may be put up only after the necessary permissions are obtained from officials on election duty. Their content should confirm to SEC rules.

Eight nodal officers, each with a team of five, have been appointed to monitor any violations of the code of conduct. All nodal officers will report to Mr. Ghosh, the Deputy Commissioner said.

Last Updated on Saturday, 16 February 2013 09:58
 
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