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The Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) has commenced Kumbh mela related works

Saturday, 15 February 2014 11:01 administrator
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The Times of India            15.02.2014

The Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) has commenced Kumbh mela related works

NASHIK: The Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) has commenced 20 of the total 96 Kumbh mela related works amounting to Rs 448.83 crore, while 12 works worth Rs 91.01 crore are in the tendering stage. The tender process for 17 other works amounting to Rs 152.94 crore are expected by March end.

With just a few months left for the Kumbh mela scheduled in 2015, the civic administration of NMC has speeded up the kumbh-related works. The state government has also released the kumbh funds amounting to Rs. 218 crore for the NMC, which is expected to be received within next few days.

A civic official told TOI: "Of the Rs 1,052.61 crore Kumbh plan of the NMC, works worth nearly Rs 700 crore are in progress. The tender process for works worth Rs 152.94 crore are to be commenced in a month. The state government has released funds amounting to Rs 218 crore and we are expecting it within a week."

Works orders for 20 Kumbh-related works, totally worth Rs 448.83 crore, have been given to the contractors and they are in process of execution - these comprise 16 road-related works worth Rs 430.31 crore, a bridge on Godavari worth Rs 6.13 crore and three drainage works worth Rs 12.39 crore, sources said.

Apart from this, 12 works worth Rs 91.01 crore are in the tendering process. Of which, seven works worth Rs 66.45 crore are from water supply department, three for construction of bridges worth Rs 15.59 crore and two works worth Rs 8.97 crore are of sewage treatment management.

By March end, tenders will be floated for another 17 works amounting to Rs 152.94 crore. Of which, four works worth Rs 82.70 crore are of Sadhugram, road work worth Rs 30 crore, temporary parking with toilet facility worth Rs 10 crore, two works worth Rs 7.52 crore from the water supply department, one drainage work worth Rs 6.79 crore, work pertaining to medical services worth Rs 1.5 crore, two works worth Rs 2.1 crore from the electricity department, and five works worth Rs 12.33 crore are from the fire brigade.

In October last year, the apex committee of the state government on Kumbh mela had approved the Kumbh plan of Rs 2,378.71 crore for the district, including Rs 1,052.61 crore for the NMC.

The NMC's plans include Rs 82.7 crore (four works) for Sadhugram, Rs. 462.5 crore (21 works) for roads, Rs 24 crore (four works) for construction of bridges, Rs 55 crore (four works) for temporary parking and toilets, Rs 96.23-crore (16 works) for water supply management, Rs 29.25 crore (six works) for sewage treatment management, Rs 31.58-crore (seven works) for medical services, Rs 20 crore (three works) for sanitary and health related services, Rs 27.35 crore (nine works) for electricity management, Rs 24-crore (22 works) for fire brigade and Rs 200-crore for land acquisition.

 

SDMC to run Rs. 10-a-meal canteens

Saturday, 15 February 2014 06:22 administrator
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The Hindu               15.02.2014

SDMC to run Rs. 10-a-meal canteens

Damini Nath

Janata Rasois to be modelled on Amma Canteens

: A Rs. 10 note could soon buy you an entire meal in South Delhi, if the civic body’s promise to start community kitchens comes true.

A recent visit to Chennai left South Delhi Municipal Corporation House Leader Subhash Arya so impressed with the ‘Amma Canteens’ in that city that he proposed setting up ‘Janata Rasois’ in his area of operation.

“I saw the canteens serving food at such reasonable rates in Chennai that I thought we should start the same in South Delhi,” Mr. Arya said in reference to the canteens started by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa.

A canteen each will be set up in the four zones of the SDMC, Mr. Arya said on Friday while announcing the civic body’s Budget for 2014-2015. The project has been allocated Rs. 5 crore in the Budget and the civic body has applied for ration from the Delhi Government.

Officers of the SDMC are working out the details of the plan and the canteens could be operational as soon as April 1, said Mr. Arya. The canteens, like their South Indian inspiration, will be run by women.

“The canteens will be run on a no-profit no-loss model. The corporation will pay the salaries of the women who will work there,” Mr. Arya explained.

As far as the menu at these canteens is concerned, simplicity will be the key. “We intend to give pulses, rice and a vegetable dish for Rs. 8 and because making rotis takes more effort, Rs. 10 for pulses, roti and vegetables,” said Mr. Arya.

The Opposition Congress in the House, however, was not impressed with the announcement. “They [BJP members] keep making promises. I would be happy if a poor person gets food for cheap, but these are mere announcements. They look good on paper,” said Leader of Opposition in the SDMC Farhad Suri.

Raising concerns about the hygiene levels at these canteens, Mr. Suri said mid-day meals served in municipal schools have often been found to be contaminated.

“The corporation is obliged to fulfil its primary functions of providing sanitation and primary education. There were no new announcements on this front in the Budget,” he complained.

The project has been allocated Rs. 5 crore in the civic body’s Budget for 2014-2015.

 

BJD Forms CMC Council, Anita Behera Elected as New Mayor

Friday, 14 February 2014 10:37 administrator
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The New Indian Express              14.02.2014

BJD Forms CMC Council, Anita Behera Elected as New Mayor

Bhubaneswar Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena greeting new Cuttack Mayor Anita Behera, in Cuttack on Thursday Express Photo
Bhubaneswar Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena greeting new Cuttack Mayor Anita Behera, in Cuttack on Thursday Express Photo

Anita Behera was elected Mayor of Cuttack as BJD on Thursday formed its council in the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) after the victory in February 6 polls.

Picked from among four hopefuls by party supremo Naveen Patnaik, Anita was elected unopposed. The Corporator from Ward 21 has become the second woman Mayor of Cuttack after Nibedita Pradhan who held the post from 2003 to 2008.

The debutante Corporator and first time politician, however, did not appear to be overwhelmed by her elevation to the top post. Immediately after announcement of her election, Anita got down to set her priorities.

“Improving sanitation, repair and renovation of roads as well as combating the mosquito menace would be top on agenda. We will strive to provide an efficient, responsive and transparent civic administration,” she said.

Drainage and sanitation are the most pressing problems in the city. Emphasis would be on improving sanitation by not only ensuring effective work plans but also making officials and agencies accountable for their proper and timely execution. Roads will be repaired and renovated at the earliest, she said while outlining her immediate agenda.

Anita, who has Plus-II qualification, made it to the top post on the basis of the Mayor being reserved for SC Woman this year. She was chosen among four eligible Corporators including Sulochana Sethi from Ward 39, Meenakshi Behera from Ward 45 and Mamata Behera from Ward 51. She had won from Ward 21 beating her nearest BJP rival by 572 votes.

She is the lone eligible candidate from Cuttack-Barabati Assembly constituency and her selection is seen as a reward for the performance of BJD in the segment. The BJD won 21 of the 31 Wards under Cuttack-Barabati constituency represented by MLA Debasish Samantray.

The election was conducted by Director of Municipal Administration Sanjib Mishra.

The BJD retained CMC winning 36 of the 59 Wards while Congress and BJP won nine and four Wards respectively. As many as 10 Independents have been elected, most of whom are BJD rebels.

 
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