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Urban Planning

HC backs residents’ rights over civic amenities in housing projects

Wednesday, 17 April 2013 05:13 administrator
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The Hindu                   17.04.2013

HC backs residents’ rights over civic amenities in housing projects

Here is good news for residents of group housing and private layouts. The sites earmarked for the civic amenities (CA) in your area will have to be developed by the developer who has to hand them over to the registered residents’ welfare association (RWA) for the upkeep. Not just that, the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) has to ensure that the CA sites are handed over to the RWAs for maintenance after being developed as per the approved plan.

Though the BDA has the right over the site after the developer relinquishes it, it cannot demand any lease or other charges from the developer or the RWA while handing over the CA site to the RWA for maintenance.

Two verdicts

The Karnataka High Court has given these findings in this regard in its two separate verdicts on the litigations, in which the BDA’s action of asking the developers and the RWAs to pay huge rents to lease CA sites in certain group housing projects and layout was questioned.

These projects were the Golden Blossom group housing project of Golden Gate Properties Ltd, and Sobha Althea and Azalea, Sobha Adamus and Amethyst, Sobha Chrysanthemum, and Sobha Ruby and Ruby Platinum group housing projects and Sobha Lotus layout project of Sobha Developers Ltd. in different parts of Bangalore.

The court said that the Revised Master Plan (RMP) 2015, which came into force in June 2007 for Bangalore city, states that the areas set apart as CA sites, open space and parks in residential projects will have to be relinquished in favour of the planning authority, i.e., the BDA.

The court pointed out that RMP makes it mandatory for the developer to create the civic amenities on the sites earmarked for that purpose and the BDA has the obligation to hand over civic amenities to the RWAs for maintenance.

Can’t charge

However, it said, the BDA cannot demand lease rent — either one time or annually — deposit or surcharge from the developers and the RWAs for seeking approval to develop the CA sites and their subsequent upkeep.

The provision to relinquish CA sites, open space and parks in favour of the BDA has been ensured in the RMP so that the sites are used for the intended purpose and are not disposed of for profit.

The court also said that the RWAs could also seek to maintain parks and open spaces in the neighbourhoods.

 

BMC launches project

Tuesday, 16 April 2013 00:00 administrator
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The New Indian express                16.04.2013

BMC launches project

A road and drainage project was inaugurated by Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Mayor AN Jena at Sriramnagar on Monday.

In 2011, BMC had taken steps for construction of internal roads and drainage network but could not complete it.

 Now, the corporation is gearing up to finish the job.

The latest project covers two-km road and one-km drainage in the Sriramnagar. Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation has sanctioned around Rs 90 lakh for the project.

“We will inaugurate similar projects  of construction of internal roads in different wards very soon. We have prioritised the construction and repair of road networks and will achieve the target,” said Jena.

 

OCWL's 'solution' for a solution that didn't solve problem

Monday, 15 April 2013 11:44 administrator
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The Times of India                    15.04.2013

OCWL's 'solution' for a solution that didn't solve problem

NAGPUR: In yet another case proving private water operator Orange City Water Limited's (OCWL) inefficiency in water works, engineers from the company have failed to locate a water pipeline for over 10 months. This has resulted in unaccountable loss of potable water and threat to a flyover's structure. Now, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), in association with OCWL, is planning another solution to correct the first 'solution' in the case.

TOI was the first to highlight massive water leakage under Sitabuldi flyover's retaining wall structure on June 30. After a series of stories, including opinion from structural engineers about chance of threat to flyover's structure, NMC planned a new water pipeline from Morris college T-point to Panchsheel square, to bypass the stretch of pipeline below the flyover.

Meanwhile, OCWL laid a pipe to let the leaking water flow into a storm water drain. The new pipeline was laid after a long delay, stretching to some distance beyond Jhansi Rani square. However, no work was undertaken to stop the actual leak, resulting in water loss continuing. The leaking water soon started to flow on the road at Variety Square again, creating chaos and drawing the attention of NMC and OCWL officials.

A visit to the site reveals a shocking picture with gallons of potable water still going waste below the flyover round the clock. Besides, OCWL is yet to connect the new pipeline with the leaking pipeline at Morris college T-point and Panchsheel square.

Asked about the status of work, NMC officiating executive engineer Azizur Reham told TOI OCWL could not identify the pipeline below the flyover to correct the problems. "Even NMC staffers have no idea about the pipelines as they are very old. We are planning is to connect new pipeline at Variety square to stop leakage, and work is expected to begin from Monday," he said.

The work is expected to take a long time and will end up abandoning the new pipeline worth lakhs laid beyond Variety square.
Last Updated on Monday, 15 April 2013 11:47
 
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