Urban News

  • Increase font size
  • Default font size
  • Decrease font size
Urban Development

Urban development dept has maximum RTI grievances

Thursday, 02 August 2012 08:01 administrator
Print PDF

The Times of India   02.08.2012

Urban development dept has maximum RTI grievances

GANDHINAGAR: Gujarat Information Commission (GIC) in its first year of implementing the Right To Information Act (RTI) received the most appeals and complaints about urban development and housing department.

In its first ever report on RTI tabled during a one-day session of the state assembly on July 19, GIC said 36,122 complaints and appeals were received regarding urban development and housing during the year 2006-07.

The energy and petrochemicals department was next with 6,268 unsatisfied applicants.There were, however, no complaints and appeals for panchayats, rural housing and rural development.

An analysis carried out by GIC points out that against a six month period of 2005-06, after the implementation of the RTI, there was a nine-fold increase in applications the very next year. The numbers had gone up from a mere 8,433 to 76,957.

The GIC has observed, "In context of this Act, citizens had high expectations and different types of imaginations.Instead of considering this act as a helping tool, citizens saw this as a sharp edged weapon. Their imaginations, expectations and excitement were therefore, found to have reflected in a large proportion this year (2006-07)."

An analysis of statistics from GIC has led to infer that departments and authorities undertaking programmes for the benefit and daily needs of the public, receive the most applications. Referring to the high number of appeals and complaints pertaining to the urban development and housing, the GIC further said that majority of the applicants were satisfied with information furnished as the numbers of subsequent appeals and complaints came down tremendously to 363 and 143 respectively.

GIC has also observed, "When the Act came into force in October 2005, officers of the public authorities were not well versed with provisions and ancillary duties. As a result, at different levels, a great deal of ambiguity, concern and to some extent, misunderstandings prevailed. On the other hand, excitement and a feeling of right prevailed among the citizens towards the Act."

Last Updated on Thursday, 02 August 2012 08:03
 

Chennai Coporation awaits funds for phase 2 of mega city project

Thursday, 02 August 2012 08:00 administrator
Print PDF

The Times of India   02.08.2012

Chennai Coporation awaits funds for phase 2 of mega city project

CHENNAI: The Chennai Coporation, which is inching forward with the first phase of road-laying as part of the mega city development mission, is keeping its fingers crossed on the second phase of the project. Corporation officials say unless they get the funds within a couple of months, the second phase works cannot be completed before the monsoon next year.

In March, the state government had announced 500 crore for the second phase of the project, scheduled to be taken in the current financial year. Five months later, corporation is awaiting a government order sanctioning the funds. The funds given by the municipal administration and water supply department will be shared by Chennai Corporation and Metrowater, which function as the nodal agencies for implementing the project.

"Any large project will require a few tenders to be floated more than once. Each re-tender will take a month, so if we could finalise the contractors before December, it would be ideal," said a senior corporation official. "Since we are following the grid road system, we need to identify a road and then plan storm water drains, ducts, streetlights and pavements. Just the studies will take a whole one month."

Unless work begins in January, it will not be completed by June-end, say officials. Any contractor requires six months to complete a package worth 10 crore. The civic body is now racing against time to complete parts of the first phase of the mega city development project before the rains begin.

"Out of 360 roads, we intend to finish around 60 roads before September end, and finish at least other important parts like ducting and storm water drains of the remaining roads," said another corporation official. The funds for phase one was sanctioned in April, but the final lot of tenders are being issued even now.

Chennai Corporation is likely to receive a larger share of the funds this year, sources said. "Metrowater has told the state government that it does not require so much funding, so the civic body has a chance of receiving anywhere between 375 and 400 crore," said a source in the corporation.
Last Updated on Thursday, 02 August 2012 08:01
 

Corporators want development fund to be reintroduced

Wednesday, 01 August 2012 10:20 administrator
Print PDF

The Indian Express  01.08.2012

Corporators want development fund to be reintroduced

More than a year after the BMC did away with development fund for corporators — wherein all 227 corporators got Rs 1 crore each every year — citing fund crunch, the standing committee is expected to consider a proposal to introduce it again.

The proposal, expected to be tabled at the standing committee meeting on Wednesday, however, seeks to slash the corpus size of the development fund to Rs 50 lakh. The money is expected to be used for ward level works such as constructing toilets, pavements and improving solid waste management. Although corporators currently receive a councillor fund of Rs 60 lakh each, there are various limitations and conditions to use it. The size of councillor fund was hiked from Rs 35 lakh to Rs 60 lakh after corporators cried hoarse over BMC commissioner’s decision to scrap the Rs 1-crore development fund.

Former municipal commissioner Subodh Kumar had done away with the development fund citing financial crunch. “He had been of the view that these funds are utilised for trivial things, such as political functions and other non-development based work,” said a senior BMC official, who did not wish to be named.

Kumar said: “I had scrapped it in 2011. In fact, I had not approved it in the following year also. My views on this issue are clear, aren’t they?”

Corporators, however, are hopeful the proposal will be passed without much debate. “While the councillor fund can only be used for a project amounting to Rs 5 lakh or less in any ward, there is no such limitation in case of the development fund. As all corporators are newly elected, they need funds to fulfil promises made in respective wards. It is unlikely that anyone will reject it,” said Rahul Shewale, Shiv Sena corporator and standing committee chairman.

Unlike the councillor fund, the development fund can be used for construction of luxury amenities. “Councillor fund is a pittance. During elections we had made several commitments, we will need more funds to fulfil them,” said Dilip Patel, BJP corporator.The proposal will be sent to the BMC general body meeting once the standing committee clears it.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 01 August 2012 10:25
 
More Articles...


Page 61 of 205