No seats, no toilets, many middlemen
Monday, 02 August 2010 10:16
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The New Indian Express 02.08.2010
No seats, no toilets, many middlemen
BANGALORE: Government offices are necessary evil. Necessary because they are indispensable, be it for paying bills or getting driving licence, and evil because one usually has a harrowing time getting his/her job done there. The New Indian Express takes a look at various government offices in Bangalore and how they fare on common man’s ratings.
The Indiranagar Shopping Complex, which houses offices such as the Road Transport Office (RTO), railway booking centre, BangaloreOne and Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom), is one of the busiest centres in the city.
Although it is a one-stop centre catering to the needs of the people residing in and around Indiranagar, basic amenities at this vast shopping complex disappoint.
Problems begin the moment you enter its premises. A group of middlemen hound you, offer their services — obviously not for free — to help people with their insurance or getting a driving licence.
Though the Indiranagar Police Station is just a stone’s throw away from the complex, the middlemen continue to work without any fear.
“I tried my best to get things done on my own but nothing moves here without the help of the middlemen,’’ said N Nagarajaiah who wanted to get a driving licence.
Kempe Gowda, sub-inspector, Indiranagar police station, said they have received several complaints in this regard. “We will take measures to end the middlemen menace,’’ he said.
It stinks
Adding to this problem, several shop owners and people also complain that the toilets here are not fit for use.
“Most of them are either locked or there is no proper water supply and the stench is unbearable. We are forced to use the public toilet situated on the other side of the complex,’’ said a shop owner.
People also complain that the lack of seating facility at the RTO has only resulted in people queuing up for hours.
“I will be more than happy if they can attend to my work without asking for a bribe. It will also be convenient, if they install some chairs or wooden benches for the elderly people who come here,’’ said N Mohankumar, from K R Puram who was standing in queue to get his driving licence.
An engineer from the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), who looks after the maintenance of the complex, said the complex would soon be demolished to make way for a multistoried building.
Last Updated on Monday, 02 August 2010 10:33
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Protect hilltops & slopes in city, says environment status report
Thursday, 29 July 2010 10:50
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Indian Express 29.07.2010
Protect hilltops & slopes in city, says environment status report
Express News Service Tags : bio diversity parks, real estate Posted: Thu Jul 29 2010, 02:05 hrs
Pune: GREEN BELT: TERI report comes fortnight after nod for four per cent development
The political parties might have reached a consensus to allow limited development of the city’s hilltops and slopes and not reserve these areas entirely for bio diversity parks (BDPs), but The Energy and Research Institute (TERI) has, in its environment status report (ESR), reiterated the need to protect them.
“There is no doubt that hilltops and slopes of the city need to be protected. The green belt should be strictly maintained as per boundaries laid down in the proposed development plan,” Anjali Parasnis, co-ordinator, TERI, told Newsline.
Earlier this month, political parties, barring the Congress, had reached a consensus on allowing four per cent development in 2,500 acres, enabling 40 lakh sq ft land for development activities, and as a direct fallout generate additional business of around Rs 2,000 crore for the realty sector.
The ESR, tabled in the general body of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) on Wednesday, listed protection of hills high among the major concerns for the city. “Over 40 per cent of the city population reside in slums and this is likely to touch 50 per cent soon, considering the growth of slums...” The report said it was high time the problems of encroachment on roads were taken up seriously.
Satish Khot of the National Society of Clean Cities (NSCC) said, “I am glad an expert organisation like TERI has expressed concern over development of hilltops and slopes. The political parties should think of the future generation .”
He said the civic body should provide houses for the economically weaker sections while discouraging them from encroaching on the green belt.
Mayor Mohansingh Rajpal, however, defended the decision to allow four per cent development on hilltops and slopes. “The proposal was also intended to protect them. If the land owner is allowed to carry out small constructions, then he can protect the remaining land.”
Rajpal said it was also necessary to think of poor farmers who own land on hilltops and slopes. NCP city unit chief Vandana Chavan said she was glad that the TERI had come out in support of conserving the hills. “I was unable to understand why some couldn’t agree that hills needed protection. We can now put forward the view of the professional organisation while fighting for the cause.”
Renowned urban development planner Christopher Benninger said, “The political parties should take the TERI opinion seriously. It is also the duty of the civic body to increase green cover on the hills.” The environment status report also expressed concern over the polluted Mutha river.
Last Updated on Thursday, 29 July 2010 10:53
Fire safety norms must for all commercial buildings: GHMC
Wednesday, 28 July 2010 09:31
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The Hindu 28.07.2010
Fire safety norms must for all commercial buildings: GHMC
TNN, Jul 28, 2010, 05.58am IST
HYDERABAD: As non-high rise buildings, especially commercial buildings, are also turning death traps in the event of fire mishaps, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has decided to make these comply with fire safety norms for giving occupancy certificate.
Until now, the GHMC and Fire and Emergency Services department had been insisting that fire-fighting equipment be in place only in high rise buildings, i.e., commercial buildings above 15 metres and residential buildings above 18 metres height.
As per the National Building Code (NBC) 2005 even non-high rise buildings should provide certain fire-fighting equipment on their premises. But both the GHMC and Fire Services have been concentrating only on high rises. No Objection Certificates (NOC) by fire services and the Airports Authority of India are mandatory for high rises.
It has become extremely difficult for the civic body to make high rise builders install fire-fighting equipment in their buildings.
As per the new practice by the corporation, which was started recently, fire prevention installations like water tanks, sprinkler systems and other requirements in non-high rise buildings are being incorporated in the sanctioned plan apart from other conditions while releasing permission letters.
"The officers of GHMC Fire Prevention Wing (FPW) will inspect buildings after their completion for giving occupancy certificates. Occupancy certificates are required to release mortgaged portion of the building," GHMC additional director FPW C Lakshmi Prasad told TOI.
Even if a building complies with all norms of building rules and violates fire-fighting equipment, OC would be denied to them, the additional director said.
As per norms, residential buildings up to stilt+five floors (below 18 metres) should have an overhead tank with a capacity of 25,000 litres, a booster pump with a capacity of 900 litres/minute, hose reel, manual alarm and fire extinguishers. If any building has a cellar with more than 200 square metres, the builder has to provide a sprinkler system in the building.
If the building is a commercial one and less than 15 metres height, they too have to provide equipment as per norms. The width of staircase should be at least 1.5 metres in commercial and 1.2 metres for residential buildings.
"If width of the staircase is more, evacuation in the event of any fire accident is smooth and there will be no chance of any stampede," Lakshmi Prasad said.
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