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Urban Infrastructure

Call to improve infrastructure

Wednesday, 24 November 2010 08:59 administrator
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The Hindu  24.11.2010

Call to improve infrastructure

Staff Reporter

District Collector addresses seminar on development
‘Long-term perspective needed for development'

‘Private-public participation should be taken up'

KOCHI: Stress should be laid on improving infrastructure as modern India is based in cities and not villages, said M. Beena, District Collector.

She was speaking after inaugurating a national seminar on ‘Urban infrastructure financing: option and policies in emerging Indian scenario' at the Bharat Mata College here on Tuesday.

The main issue facing development is not paucity of funds, but absence of a long-term perspective.

Proper studies are required and the successful development models in other countries could be emulated.

More discussions are required on the development angle of decentralisation and how it could be used for improving basic infrastructure, Dr. Beena said.

In his presidential address, Thomas Chakkiath, Auxiliary Bishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese, said that infrastructure development should be taken up using private-public participation. The three-day UGC-sponsored national seminar is being organised by the Department of Commerce and Research Centre in association with the Roads and Bridges Development Corporation of Kerala (RBDCK).

Lalyamma Jose, principal of Bharat Mata College, and Joy Joseph, head of Department of Commerce, spoke at the inaugural session of the seminar.

In the introductory session that followed Vasudev Suresh, Principal Executive Officer, HIRECO and former CMD of HUDCO, Delhi; B.V. Sangvikar, head of Department of Management Sciences, University of Pune; Simon Thattil, Professor, Department of Commerce, University of Kerala; and D. Dhanuraj, chairman, Centre for Public Policy Research, spoke.

T.K. Jose, managing director of RBDCK, delivered the keynote address at the first technical session that followed. V.K. Vijayakumar, investment strategist of Geojit PNB Paribas, presided over the session.

Elected representatives of Kochi Corporation, Kalamassery and Thrikkakara municipalities and Kizhakkambalam panchayat interacted with the experts in the last session of the day.

The seminar will end on Thursday.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 24 November 2010 09:01
 

Guesthouses to face sealing

Tuesday, 23 November 2010 12:40 administrator
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Hindustan Times  23.11.2010

Guesthouses to face sealing

Scores of unregistered guesthouses in Paharganj - Delhi's tourist hub - face an uncertain fate, with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi issuing notices to them warning them against sealing and informing them that necessary action will be taken shortly. The civic body had, on November 18, issued notices to 60 guesthouses in the busy central Delhi locality, warning them that sealing action will be carried out against them if they failed to get themselves registered by Monday.

"We are waiting for their replies to our notices... we will initiate the necessary action on a case-to-case basis," said a senior Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) official.

There are a total of 400 guesthouses in Paharganj, of which 150 do not have licences from the MCD, officials said.

The notice was sent out to 60 guesthouses by the assistant engineer of the building department, Sadar Paharganj zone.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Hotel Mahasangh said that it would be meeting deputy commissioner, Sadar Zone, Renu Jagdev on Tuesday to discuss several issues that have been ignored in the notice.

The guesthouse owners claimed they did not register themselves as commercial properties because they come under 'Special Area', outlined in the yet-to-be-implemented Delhi Masterplan 2021, that includes the Sadar Paharganj zone.

"The status quo has to be maintained till the Masterplan is approved by the Supreme Court," said Arun Gupta, general secretary, Delhi Hotel Mahasangh.

Even as owners of guest houses in Paharganj refused to speak to the media, members of the Mahasangh say these guesthouses have been functional for many years and the MCD was following a 'pick and choose' policy to harass owners.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 23 November 2010 12:41
 

Better infrastructure for Ravipuram

Monday, 22 November 2010 11:58 administrator
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The New Indian Express  22.11.2010

Better infrastructure for Ravipuram

Road work a priority

Division no 61: Ravipuram

Councillor: Soumini Jain (UDF)

Ravipuram lies next to Panampilly Nagar. Many parts of the division suffer water-logging. Potholed roads are another concern here. A JNNURM-funded `1.5-crore work has reduced water-logging in the Atlantis area. Other JNNURM work to reduce water-logging in the area are in the pipeline.  Encroachment has been rampant in the area for decades.  The encroachment of canals in the area over the years is also a reason for the heavy water-logging in the area.  

Soumini Jain, the newly elected councillor, says, “The condition of the roads is similar to that of the roads around the city - potholed. Most of the roads need to be maintained or re-tarred. That’s definitely the priority and the work will start as soon as possible. Water-logging haunts most of the eastern side of the division. A big drainage work by JNNURM,  already allotted, is moving slowly because of some technical difficulties. The improvement of basic facilities at the slum areas is also an important task.”  

According to her, “I am already pursuing the various problems of the people. There were some health concerns in some colonies in the division because of the spread of infectious diseases. I informed the health inspector about this and he visited the place and made sure that it is under control.”

Drains to be cleaned

Division no 62: Ernakulam South

Councillor: Bhadra Satheesh (UDF)

Ernakulam South is a division which faces water-logging troubles. The areas near South Railway Station is plagued by heavy water-logging throughout the rainy season. Some main roads of the area like Chittoor Road is in a bad state, riddled with potholes.  The division has attained VIP status now with its new representative, Bhadra Satheesh, taking charge as the Deputy Mayor of Kochi. Dismissing any concern about the additional responsibility proving to be a hindrance to her role as councillor, Bhadra Satish says, “People of the division committee will help and it won’t be difficult to carry out both my responsibilities well if everyone cooperates.”

According to her, “Some of the roads are in an extremely bad condition and they need to be maintained. Some of the road work for which the contract was given during the last Council has already started.

The metal work has already started and the tarring will be done after the rain.

Drains need to be cleaned thoroughly as this will reduce water-logging. Drains also need to be flushed with saline to avoid the spread of mosquitoes. Some big JNNURM-funded projects to solve water-logging in the area are in the pipeline”.  She is looking into the few complaints received about potable water shortage in some areas, she said.

Last Updated on Monday, 22 November 2010 12:01
 
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