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Community help vital in disaster management: DC

Tuesday, 17 August 2010 04:57 administrator
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The Hindu       17.08.2010

Community help vital in disaster management: DC

Staff Correspondent

‘Location-specific plans needed to tackle disasters'


Making a point:Kodagu Deputy Commissioner, K.H. Ashwatha Narayana Gowda, addressing the audience after inaugurating the Disaster Management training programme in Madikeri on Monday.

Madikeri: Kodagu Deputy Commissioner K.H. Ashwatha Narayana Gowda noted that participation of the people, along with government officials, was necessary in management of natural disasters.

He was inaugurating a three-day workshop at the District Training Institute here on Disaster Management organised by the Administrative Training Institute, Mysore, a press release said here on Monday. Those involved in the training were the presidents and vice-presidents of gram panchayats, secretaries, representatives of non-governmental organisations and heads of government high schools.

The 2008 Act

The Government had brought out the Disaster Management Act in 2008, and maps had been prepared to tackle calamities in every district, Mr. Gowda said. Adequate grants would be provided to the district administrations to manage disasters, he added.

Planning, attending to emergency calls without wasting time and coordination between departments with a proper communication network were the vital points that needed to be considered during management of natural crises, Mr. Gowda said.

The chief executive officer of the Kodagu Zilla Panchayat, A.B. Ibrahim, said natural disasters differed from place to place and hence location-specific plans would have to be made to tackle them. In many cases, solutions to the natural disasters could be found locally. Remaining prepared to tackle natural disasters was one of the methods to minimise damage, Mr. Ibrahim noted. Gram panchayats could make a list of possible causes of natural calamities to fight them effectively, he added.

Resource persons from the Administrative Training Institute, Mysore, Dharmaraj and Vishwanath, later apprised the members present of different ways to tackle natural calamities. The principal of the District Training Centre, Mahadevaiah, welcomed the gathering.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 17 August 2010 04:59
 

'Underground drains at 110 villages'

Monday, 16 August 2010 09:10 administrator
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The New Indian Express  26.08.2010

'Underground drains at 110 villages'

BANGALORE: The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has prepared a detailed project report (DPR) to lay underground drainage (UDG) lines in the 110 newlyadded villages of the city.

"The project has been submitted for the cabinet's approval and the government will have to decide on the funding pattern. Work will begin soon after these formalities are completed," said BWSSB chairman P B Ramamurthy.

According to the DPR, nearly 2,000 km of UGD lines, including lateral and trunk lines, would be laid at an estimated cost of `2,300 crore. The UGD lines laid in these villages would be connected to the nearest sewage valley through trunk sewers. The villages covered under the DPR are scattered around the city. New trunk lines have to be laid to connect them to the existing ones that lead to the sewage valleys.

These 110 villages are in addition to the newlyadded CMCs for which, the government got `1,300 crore sanctioned from the World Bank recently.

Presently, these villages are directing their sewage to the septic tanks on private lands. The number of such septic tanks have increased drastically in these villages, due to rapid urbanisation. Industrial activity is also increasing around the villages. These factors make laying of UGD lines a priority, to prevent groundwater from getting contaminated.

Replacing trunk sewers

The BWSSB is replacing trunk sewers in the core areas of the city too, as part of its environmental action plan. The work on replacing 36 km of trunk sewers under the first package of the plan is nearing completion. The board has invited tenders to replace 80 km of trunk sewers under the second package. The government has yet to approve the third package to replace 110 kmlong trunk sewers lines.

Last Updated on Monday, 16 August 2010 09:17
 

JDA to take possession of Gol Market land

Friday, 13 August 2010 11:21 administrator
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The Times of India  13.08.2010

JDA to take possession of Gol Market land

JAIPUR: The Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) will take possession of government land at the proposed Gol Market site at Jawahar Circle.

Jaipur development commissioner (JDC) Sudhansh Pant has instructed the officials to do fencing of the area and install JDA property boards over the land.

Due to proximity with the airport, the JDA has decided to develop the spare land available near the park as a landmark shopping destination for the city. A market was conceived at the location along with a theme park during earlier proposals to develop Jawahar Circle.

The project never took off even though the work on theme park has been completed. Last June, the JDA has proposed construction of Gol Market on the site similar to Delhi's Connaught Palace.

However, there has been less progress over the project due to land acquisition issues. Pant held a review of the project on Thursday. "During a review of the Gol Market and sector road projects, the JDC insisted that the construction work on the project should be initiated," said a JDA official.

The market was proposed to be a unique blend of modern and traditional design. A pedestrian walkway similar to that of CP was proposed to join the shops. An idea for separate zones for shops and offices is also being considered. The JDA officials have however assured that the natural beauty of the park will not be compromised for the purpose. Adequate arrangements of parking are also suggested at the location.

Another innovative effort to involve public private partnership for development of roads of 80 feet or more width will also be put on fast track. The urban development department has recently made provisions to include private partnership for road developments following which 25 bids were received by the JDA.

The authority has shortlisted 17 proposals for road development in 10 of the JDA sectors, now a detailed project report will be sought from these developers before approval of the projects. "The DPR is expected to be completed over the next three months. A final selection will be made on the basis of DPR," said a senior JDA official.

Last Updated on Friday, 13 August 2010 11:23
 
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