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Speed up reforms for development works: Mayor to MCD officials

Monday, 29 November 2010 06:16 administrator
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The Pioneer  29.11.2010

Speed up reforms for development works: Mayor to MCD officials

PNS | Dehradun

Dehradun Mayor Vinod Chamoli has directed officials of the Municipal Corporation of Dehradun to speed up the implementation of reforms required for execution of urban development works with funds under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).

While presiding over a meeting held over the weekend to review the execution of works by various MCD divisions, the Mayor directed officials to implement the double entry system of accounting and facilitate the various services online as a part of e-governance with the start of the next year. However, observers state that the implementation of such measures introducing the use of double-entry system and e-enabling has also been ordered at least a year ago with limited effect.

It may be recalled that the execution of reforms ordered by the Mayor in the functioning of the MCD is vital for utilisation of the crores of rupees received from the Central Government under the JNNURM. Nearly a year ago, the Mayor with the consent of the MCD Board had ordered the implementation of reforms, including the use of double entry system of accounting and provision of various facilities on-line on the official MCD website. However, so far none of these measures have been implemented by the MCD.

In the recent past, the MCD leader of opposition, Congress councillor Ashok Verma had warned that the opposition would not allow the MCD Board meet slated to be held on December 15 to progress unless the work done on orders issued so far is discussed with board members. Over the weekend the Mayor presided over a meeting with divisional officials to review the work done so far on orders issued in the past. The Mayor directed that the use of double entry system of accounting should be started by January next year while other facilities like online provision for birth/death certificates and property tax should also be made available in the near future.

The facility for payment of building tax bills through banks and installation of closed circuit television cameras in the MCD office complex should also be facilitated in the near future, added the Mayor. However, councillors state that similar directions had also been issued by the Mayor about a year ago. However, so far no action has been taken by MCD officials in spite of the importance of the works ordered. It remains to be seen whether the latest instructions of the Mayor are followed effectively enough to satisfy the opposition so that the MCD Board meeting session is not prevented from progressing due to protest.

Last Updated on Monday, 29 November 2010 06:17
 

BDA fails to take up major schemes

Friday, 26 November 2010 05:47 administrator
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The Deccan Herald  26.11.2010

BDA fails to take up major schemes

Bangalore, Nov 25, DH News Service:

The bounce-back of the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) in 2004-05 was partly because of some development initiatives and partly because of sale of residential sites (Rs 1,512 crore), recovery of encroached land (Rs 598 crore), auction of commercial properties and premium corner sites (Rs 337 crore) and government grants and realisation of revenue from property tax and advertisements (Rs 15 crore).

At that time, after meeting expenditure, the BDA had a cash surplus of Rs 1,150 crore which had earned the authority an LAA+ credit rating (by the credit rating agency ICRA) without government guarantee. As surely as its coffers grew for six years (2000 to 2006), the BDA’s cash bubble has now burst: it has a meagre reserve of only Rs 500 crore.

Till recently a role model for other government agencies that lacked its drive for speedy implementation of projects, the BDA has failed to take up major infrastructure schemes like the two proposed layouts – the Rs 700-crore Peripheral Ring Road and the Rs 90-crore housing project for the economically weaker sections – and several grade separators in 2009-10.

Restoring lakes

Besides, it has been able to spend only Rs 15 crore on restoration and development of lakes, though the budgetary allocation was Rs 68 crore. A provision of Rs 387 crore was made for the development of its newly-formed layouts, but it could spend just Rs 142 crore. For reasons inexplicable, the budget document described the untilised money as the BDA’s “savings”.

According to government sources familiar with the BDA’s pathetic financial condition, the primary reason for its “sickness” is its inability to carve out and form new residential layouts over the last six years. The proposed Nadaprabhu Kempe Gowda and Shivarama Karantha layouts, which were estimated to have fetched the BDA Rs 1,486 crore, did not materialise. In contrast to the years between 2000 and 2004 when the Authority could distribute 66,000 sites, the BDA has not been able to distribute a single site to people in the last six years.

The economic slowdown also played spoilsport, preventing the BDA from raising money by site auctions. Against a Rs 485-crore revenue target it set through auctions, the Authority was able to garner only Rs 25 crore last fiscal.

Despite approaching bankruptcy, the BDA has set an ambitious revenue target of Rs 3,650.08 crore and chalked out an expenditure plan of Rs 3,643.64 crore for the current fiscal. It also expects Rs 2,433 crore in revenue from two layouts formations and land auction which, sources feared, might not materialise.

Back to bad old days

* BDA failed to form proposed two residential layouts
* Rs 700-cr Peripheral Ring Road project did not take off
* Rs 90-cr housing scheme for EWS did not materialise
* It spent just Rs 15 cr on restoration of lakes against Rs 68-cr allocation
* Spent only Rs 467 cr for Bangalore infrastructure, including several grade separators, against allocation of Rs 1,136.73 cr
* Failed to release Rs 77.50 cr to BBMP and BWSSB for road widening, water supply and sanitation projects
* Cash surplus shrinks

Last Updated on Friday, 26 November 2010 05:51
 

Mayor to focus on overall development

Thursday, 25 November 2010 10:01 administrator
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The New Indian Express  25.11.2010

Mayor to focus on overall development

The Mayor and the councillors of Pottakuzhy, Kaloor North and Panchalam are all set to improve the infrastructure in their respective divisions.

Priority for roads

Division no 64: Kathrikadavu

Councillor: Tony Chammany (UDF)

Bad roads and water-logging are major problems of Kathrikadavu, that has attained VIP status since its representative took charge as the Mayor of Kochi.

Mayor Tony Chammany, says that now that he is the Mayor, he has to think about not just his division but about the whole city.

He lists bad roads, waterlogging, shortage of drinking water, waste and mosquito menace as the major problems in the division that need to be given special attention.

He says, “My immediate priority is for the maintenance of roads. Tender has been issued for a large number of roads and work will start soon.”

He agrees that road tarring needs to be done in a better manner, however, for this “the current specifications for road tarring have to be changed.” He says, “This year the cleaning of canals and bigger drains will be done well before rains so that waterlogging is taken care of. Steps have already being taken to remedy the problems that ail the Brahmapuram plant so that waste management doesn’t get affected,” he said.

Road work, steps to reduce water-logging and streetlights are the priorities now. He says that once he is settled in his duties as the Mayor, he will guide and overlook all the work that is being done in his division.

End to potable water woes

Division no 72: Pottakuzhy

Councillor: C A Shakeer (LDF)

Problems like potholed roads, shortage of drinking water and water-logging trouble the residents of Pottakuzhy.

C A Shakeer, the new councillor of Pottakuzhy, says that the potholed roads need to be maintained.

As potable water shortage is severe in the division, this needs to be solved. “Some major projects to solve this problem are in the pipeline and I’ll be trying my best to get these implemented without much delay. Some other options to solve the shortage temporarily are also being explored.”

According to him, the development of Pottakuzhy-Mamangalam road needs to be carried out. Water-logging troubles in certain areas of the division also need to be solved. Perandoor Canal needs to be cleaned to make the water flow smooth.

“The Kaloor- Pottakuzhy road through the division also needs to be repaired and as this is a PWD road, I’ll be contacting the PWD regarding this.”

He says that the work started earlier for the dispensary and library needs to be completed.

Water-logging woes to be solved

Division no 70 - Kaloor North

Councillor - Pathukutty Ahsraf (UDF)

The development works at Kaloor North suffered a setback last term due to the untimely demise of its councillor, O K Viswambaran. Bad roads, water-logging troubles, potable water shortage and defunct streetlights trouble the division.

Pathukutty Ashraf, the new councillor, is familiar with the problems of the area as she had represented the division in 2000- 2005.

She says that potholed roads and waterlogging troubles need to be solved in the division.

Pathukutty Ashraf says both the main roads as well the bylanes need to be maintained here. Al the drains have to be cleaned and the depth of some drains must be increased.

Silt must be removed from both Perandoor Canal and Changadampokku thodu.

The silt and waste in the Perandoor Canal are causing hygiene problems in the division. According to her, people ought to be discouraged from throwing waste in drains.

Roads to be maintained

Division no 73: Pachalam

Councillor: Delina Pinhero (UDF)

Potholed roads, traffic congestion, water-logging and occasional watershortage trouble the residents of Pachalam. Acquisition plans for the proposed road developments in the area is creating a lot of worries.

Delina Pinhero, who represented the division during 2000-2005, is familiar with the problems that ail the division.

She says, “All the roads need to be maintained here. The streetlights are another problem and I have already got some maintained. Whatever road work has been already allotted will be carried out at the earliest. I have already got the estimate for road work for SRM Road and Chittoor Road ready and it will be submitted soon.”

“Water shortage in certain areas due to pipe leakage also needs to be solved. Drains need to be cleaned and maintained across the division. Some other measures also have to be adopted to solve the water-logging problems of the division. The street sides also need to be cleared of weeds and I have already approached the health department of the Corporation regarding this.”

In her opinion, the proposed coastal road is a good idea to solve the traffic troubles of the area.

“It won’t be easy to implement the project for a main road from Vallarpadom through the division as this requires acquisition work,” she said. She also has plans to develop the P J Antony ground area.

Last Updated on Thursday, 25 November 2010 10:05
 
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