Urban News

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

Press for more JNNURM funds: civic activist to MLAs

Wednesday, 18 November 2009 11:30 administrator
Print PDF

Indian Express 18.11.2009

Press for more JNNURM funds: civic activist to MLAs

A day after seven, out of the eleven MLAs from Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, vocalised their different political agenda, civic activist Vivek Velankar has demanded that the MLAs should first press and acquire Rs 190 crore as state’s share for the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) funds, as it was still pending with the state.

On Monday, the MLAs Girish Bapat (Kasba Peth), Vinayak Nimhan (Shivajinagar), Vilas Lande (Bhosari), Chandrakant Mokate (Kothrud), Madhuri Misal (Parvati), Mahadev Babar (Hadapsar) and Bapu Pathare (Wadgaon Sheri) participated in a meet the press programme, organised by the Pune Union of Working Journalists,. All the present MLAs expressed that the civic body should increase their participation on development issues. While congratulating these MLAs over the unity, Velankar demanded that the MLAs should get the due amount from the state government.

Velankar said, “Under the tag of JNNURM, PMC was sanctioned Rs 2,500 crore. In the last two years, PMC has spent around Rs 1,000 crore. The state government owes Rs 190 crore to PMC. PMC had also applied to the state for its approval to get a loan of Rs 176 crore, which it finally approved on Monday.”

 

Last Updated on Wednesday, 18 November 2009 11:32
 

Monitor BBMP projects real-time

Wednesday, 18 November 2009 06:13 administrator
Print PDF

Deccan Herald 18.11.2009

Monitor BBMP projects real-time
Bangalore: Nov 17, DH News Service

Palike’s unique interactive portal and grievance redressal system a click away
  

Frustrated at your inability to report inferior quality public works to the higher-ups? Launching its e-governance project and a unique interactive portal (www.spandana.kar.nic.in), the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) on Tuesday, empowered citizens to monitor 9,000 of the 15,000 ongoing Palike projects real-time and report shoddy work complete with pictures!

To bring more transparency through e-governance, the Palike has launched the website in addition to its existing website (www.bbmp.gov.in). That this portal is not updated is another matter. (See box).

Major initiative

The BBMP Administrator Shivakumar and Commissioner Bharat Lal Meena told mediapersons that e-governance was a major initiative meant to enhance the quality of service. What’s more attractive for the Aam Admi of the City is BBMP’s grievance redressal system, which is just an SMS away or a click of the mouse away.

“You can log on to our public grievance addressal portal or send SMS to us at 94818 44444 or you can dial 2266 0000 to contact our control room. If possible, we will address your problem within 24 hours. After your problem is solved, you will get a confirmation from the same medium through which you had complained,” explained Shivakumar.

The e-governance also has a real time monitoring of 9,000 works out of 15,000 works, which are going on in various parts of the City. If someone feels that the work is delayed or quality of work is substandard or false reports about the progress of the work is uploaded on BBMP’s website, public could then upload a photograph of the work with detailed description of the status of work.

BBMP’s e-governance also promises unparalleled transparency in its functioning, healthy competition among the contrators paperless work through information technology and saving of public money to the tune of at least Rs 350 crore annually as per current estimate.

Speaking about the assistance of former State Director General of Police Srikumar in developing e-governance system, Shivakumar said, “He would have toiled for four years to introduce the e-governance in the Palike, but I and Bharat Lal Meena have come just a few months back and introduced it.”

  
  
 

Mayor seeks study on feasibility of setting up fire academy in city

Tuesday, 17 November 2009 11:35 administrator
Print PDF

Indian Express 17.11.2009

Mayor seeks study on feasibility of setting up fire academy in city

Mayor Kamlesh has asked for a report to be prepared about the feasibility of setting up a fire academy in the city. She has been pressing officials to consider the proposal ever since her trip to Gujarat where councillors saw a similar academy.

In a report submitted about the trip, this was one of the proposals mooted by the councillors.

The fire academy would facilitate training of fresh recruits and refresher courses would also be offered for serving officials.

While the report has been rejected by UT Administrator General S F Rodrigues (Retd) and sent back to the Municipal Commissioner seeking his comments, the Mayor has asked officials to consider the proposal.

Kamlesh says the civic body has the requisite fire fighting equipment as well as other facilities for training. “The Corporation has all the upgraded equipment that is needed for setting up the academy. All we need is a trainer. It would be unfortunate if just for the lack of will to execute the proposal a great opportunity is missed,” said the mayor.

She added: “In the future, there will be a number of opportunities in the field of disaster management. Fire fighting would also be a part of it. It is necessary to train youngsters in the field. Also it is essential that residents be prepared to handle emergencies. This can prevent grave tragedies from occurring.”

A need for upgrading training was felt after a fire in the Sector-22 market claimed four lives. Also, after a fire in the mayor’s office, she had said the staff did not know how to operate the fire fighting equipment and asked for training to be provided to them.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 17 November 2009 11:37
 
More Articles...


Page 162 of 205