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MC receives clearances for new schools, dispensaries

Saturday, 18 August 2012 10:23 administrator
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The Indian Express   18.08.2012

MC receives clearances for new schools, dispensaries

The Municipal Corporation has received the requisite clearances for the construction of new schools and dispensaries.

While the departments of Primary Health and Primary Education were transferred to the civic body, the construction of no new buildings had been started as the projects were stalled due to the lack of clearances from different departments. With the clearances in place, the process of initiating work on these projects can be started soon.

The sites of four primary schools were awaiting clearances. Of these, clearances have been received for the Government Primary School, Dhanas and the Government Primary School, Mauli Jagran, along with the approval from the Finance Secretary. The architectural drawings for the schools will now be made.

At the site of the Government Primary School, Sector 63, a cement plant of the Chandigarh Housing Board is present. A request will be required to be sent to CHB for its removal after which the drawings will be made.

For the primary school at Sector 49, the drawings will be issued within a couple of days. The structural advice received from the MC’s Chief Engineer has been incorporated in the drawings and these will be issued soon. For the construction of a building, clearances are required from a number of departments, including the electricity department, public health wing and telecom companies, among others. This is to ensure that the site is clear of wires or any other obstructions.

Meanwhile, in case of dispensaries, two buildings will be constructed in the first phase and two others in the second. Drawings are under preparation for civil dispensaries in Sectors 49 and 50 and sites have been cleared. The drawings for a dispensary in Sector 52 have been supplied for structural advice. Another site was proposed in Sector 48. However, it is now being proposed that instead of a dispensary, a polyclinic should be constructed here. The scope of the dispensaries will be given by the Director, Health Services.

Mayor Raj Bala Malik said that the Architecture Department will be supplying the drawings, after which the construction will be started. “A meeting was held with the UT Chief Architect. The requisite clearances that would enable the starting of the construction of the schools and dispensaries have been received,” she said.

Swimming pool to be built in Sector 39

The UT Architecture Department has also given permission for the transfer of a piece of land in Sector 39 to the Municipal Corporation for the construction of a swimming pool. Councillor Mukesh Bassi during the meeting on Friday sought permission for the renovation or extension of community centres in Sectors 18 and 19. The entrance of the community centre in Sector 19 will be changed. He also asked for permission to put up lights along the pathway in the green belt on the dividing road of Sector 18-19 for which in-principle approval has been given.

Last Updated on Saturday, 18 August 2012 10:25
 

GCDA urged to help transform Kochi into a metropolis

Saturday, 18 August 2012 05:02 administrator
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The Hindu   18.08.2012

GCDA urged to help transform Kochi into a metropolis

Staff Reporter

It was opined that archaic Kerala Building Rules should be revised

The Greater Cochin Development Authority could play a significant role in the transformation of the city to a metropolis.

Summing up the deliberations held during the last two days at Vision 2030, the development seminar organised by the GCDA, S. Krishnakumar, former Union Minister and first chairman of the Authority, said that it was easy for the Authority to mobilise resources for this.

The Authority has the options of Public-Private Partnership (PPP), land bank development or Transfer of Developmental Rights (TDR). The archaic Kerala Building Rules should be revised to suit the modern requirements.

While environmental concerns regarding developmental issues need to be considered, the extremist stands in the name of environment conservation should be discouraged, he said, adding that the public will wholeheartedly support any attempt that is transparent and corruption-free.

Valedictory session

Inaugurating the valedictory session, V.K. Ebrahim Kunju, Minister for Public Works, said that shortage of land was the major stumbling block faced by the Public Works Department in taking up works, especially development of roads.

This could be solved if the GCDA was willing to hand over land, as the PWD often found that most of the cost involved in road development went to land acquisition, he said. The seminar also highlighted the need for the GCDA to gear up for different development-oriented components listed in the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, which could be taken up in association with the Corporation.

Preparing in advance could save time in implementation of projects once they are approved, it was observed.

Also, the GCDA and the Corporation should have a clear idea about the components either of the bodies are handling.

Even though nearly four per cent of the national population is in the State, it could not secure even one percent of the plan fund because of the absence in proper planning and preparation.

V.D. Satheesan, MLA, presided over the seminar. Anoop Jacob, Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, was present.

Welcoming the guests at the valedictory session, N. Venugopal, chairman of GCDA, said that the State government would be asked to constitute a permanent advisory board for planning and implementation of the project.

The Authority will take up projects like setting up laser show as part of the Marine Drive extension scheme, cable car and permanent exhibition centres at Marine Drive and the premises of Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium, Kaloor, on priority basis.

Dominic Presentation, MLA; Tony Chammany, Mayor; and V. Gopalakrishna Pillai, Senior Town Planner and coordinator of Vision 2030, were also present.

  • It is easy for the GCDA to mobilise the resources, says former Union Minister
  • The authority has the options of PPP, land bank development or transfer of developmental rights
Last Updated on Saturday, 18 August 2012 05:03
 

Stray dog sterilization programme halts midway

Friday, 17 August 2012 10:18 administrator
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The Times of India   17.08.2012

Stray dog sterilization programme halts midway

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Even after stray dogs chased a youth to death in city, the corporation is not in mood to honour a directive passed by the ombudsman for local self government institutions to provide 15 dogs for sterilization and rabies vaccination, once in every three days, to the Kovalam-based charitable dog shelter, Animal Rescue Kerala (ARK).

The corporation entered into an MoU with ARK on March 26 to bring dogs to the shelter but only 30 dogs were brought here till April, forcing the founder of the ARK, UK citizen Avis Lyons, to file a petition before the ombudsman, Justice MN Krishnan. In June, Justice Krishnan observed that the doctor appointed by the ARK for the programme has been sitting idle for most of May and that the corporation was not honouring its part of the commitment. "Following the ombudsman's intervention, the corporation brought a few dogs but have not been showing due diligence in taking them back, even after they have undergone the procedure. Dogs are expected to leave the ARK five days after being brought there," said Lyons. The corporation's representative had attributed its failure to the lack of substitute vehicle for dogcatchers. "The ombudsman asked the corportation to buy an additional vehicle to put the project back on track but that is yet to happen," said corporation health officer Dr Sreekumar.

The ombudsman had stipulated that the dogcatchers maintain a record of the location of the dogs, its gender, tag details and colour of the animal for identification. Lyons alleged that the dogcatchers do not drop the strays off from where they are picked up. She also complained that the corporation does not take the dogs back on time after vaccination and sterilization, leaving some animals behind at the ARK for months at end.

"The dogcatchers never take back the animals on time. Last time they came here without the register on the drop-off location for the dogs. If you drop the dogs off at a place that they are not familiar with, they will not find food and will be attacked by other dogs. This adds to their stress and in turn these dogs may attack humans. The dogcatchers and the corporation must be sensitized about the programme," she said.


Last Updated on Friday, 17 August 2012 10:20
 
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