900 houses in 7 yrs, 751 more in 1 yr: rainwater harvesting picks up
Monday, 07 June 2010 10:14
administrator
Indian Express 07.06.2010
900 houses in 7 yrs, 751 more in 1 yr: rainwater harvesting picks up
Stuti Shukla Tags : water supply Posted: Mon Jun 07 2010, 01:31 hrs Mumbai: The severe water supply shortage over the past one year has served as a wake-up call: the number of buildings with rainwater harvesting facilities has shot up as never before. Of the 1,651 buildings that have set up such a facility since October 2002, when the BMC made it compulsory for new buildings, 751 did so last year.
The 2002 order was for houses on plots 1,000 square metres or larger, and till 2007 only 185 buildings followed it. In June 2007, a government notification tightened the limit to 300 square metres, and the total climbed to 444 till May 2008 and then to 900 till May 2009. The current total includes seven in the island city, 483 in the eastern suburbs and 1,161 in the western suburbs.
The catch is that despite the rise, the buildings represent a fraction of the total built in each of these periods. Last year, 1,528 buildings were given completion certificates (CC) despite the civic body’s announcement that none would be issued to buildings without rainwater harvesting. Sources said many builders show rainwater harvesting plants in their plans but these often remain on paper; the BMC has no unit to monitor thisA senior official of the BMC’s development plan department said despite the recent move against issuing occupation certificates to buildings without rainwater harvesting, builders and owners still flout the rule. “Even after showing the RWH plant on paper and actually installing it, in many cases they do not ensure that the plant works. We don’t have any real monitoring system to ensure the plant is functional,” said the official.
Yet the spurt of green buildings has made BMC officials hopeful. Suprabha Marathe, head of the rainwater harvesting cell, said the number of enquiries too has shot up in the past one year.
“The 15 per cent supply cut has made people realise the need to save water. Since most rainwater runs off and gets wasted, harvesting is the best way to conserve water and use it for non-potable purposes,” Marathe said.
Harvesting in crisis
Number of buildings with rainwater harvesting facilities
185 from 2002-07
259 in 2007-08
456 in 2008-09
751 in 2009-10
1,651 total
Last Updated on Monday, 07 June 2010 10:16
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Civic body gets 20-acre plot for dumping silt
Friday, 04 June 2010 10:01
administrator
Indian Express 04.06.2010
Civic body gets 20-acre plot for dumping silt
Express News Service Tags : silt dumping ground, mumbai Posted: Fri Jun 04 2010, 00:33 hrs Mumbai: The state government has allocated a 20-acre plot in suburban Mumbai to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation for dumping silt collected from nullahs. Over the past two weeks, the civic body has been seeking land from the government to speed up the nullah-cleaning process.
With the allocation of land in Malad, the BMC officials have promised to complete the nullah cleaning work by June 5.
Meanwhile, the state government has identified 25 buildings in extremely dangerous condition and has issued the order to vacate them. “A survey was conducted and 25 buildings have been identified as most dangerous. The residents have been served notices to vacate the premises now. They are also being given permission to rebuild,” said Minister of Relief and Rehabilitation Narayan Rane.
The much-awaited doppler weather radar will be installed at Colaba by the month-end, Rane assured. The doppler radar was sought after the 26/7 deluge and has been delayed in the past when Navy objected to Chinese technicians entering Navy area, where the radar was to be installed. A Indian made radar is now being installed.
As a part of monsoon preparedness plan, nine units of the Indian Navy have been put on alert for tackling flood situation in Mumbai—three in Malad, three in Ghatkopar, one each in Worli, Mankhurd and Vajrabahu. Three units of the NDRF will be posted in Mumbai from June to September.
Seven regional command centres will have seven boats, 42 life jackets, 42 inflatable jackets, 30 ring buoys to move help people in flood-affected areas. Besides, flood assistance groups have been set up at Bandra, BKC, Kurla, Chembur, Marol and Borivali.
BMC has been given instructions to “blacklist” the contractor of roads which have developed potholes despite of being built this year.
ready for monsoon
* Doppler weather radar to be installed at Colaba by month-end
* 9 units of the Indian Navy put on alert for tackling flood-like situation
* 7regional command centres with 7 boats, 42 life jackets, 42 inflatable jackets and 30 ring buoys
* Flood assistance groups at Bandra, BKC, Kurla, Chembur, Marol and Borivali
Last Updated on Friday, 04 June 2010 10:05
Manimajra motor market revamp project yet to take off
Friday, 04 June 2010 09:51
administrator
Indian Express 04.06.2010
Manimajra motor market revamp project yet to take off
Express News Service Tags : corporation, projects Posted: Fri Jun 04 2010, 00:34 hrs Chandigarh: The motor market in Manimajra is still awaiting renovation even two years after the proposal was passed by the Municipal Corporation. From provisions of parking lots to raised platforms, a detailed proposal had been prepared but no progress can seen on the ground level. Lack of adequate parking space and haphazardly parked vehicles greet visitors.
The civic body had prepared a budget of Rs 5.37 crore for the area’s upgradation. Roadside mechanics were to be given licences, raised platforms were to be built to facilitate repair of vehicles. A washing platform, aprons for workers and the provision of servicing of vehicles were to be provided.
B S Makol, president of the Motor Market Association, says that while elaborate plans were made, no action can be seen on the site. “The shopowners are functioning in pitiable conditions. The number of mechanics has increased over the years. There is barely any parking space for our own vehicles. Despite being one of Asia's biggest motor markets, it is completely neglected,” he says
Shopowners say trucks frequent the area and having paver blocks instead of concrete flooring would last longer. At some places, the flooring has sunk in and is barely visible.
Former mayor Pardeep Chhabra ,during whose tenure the project was initiated, says that while they had approved a budget for the work, it has not taken off. He adds, “The proposals were mooted with the aim of providing facilities for the mechanics at the market. However, there is no change in their condition. The civic body needs to take action at the earliest.”
Last Updated on Friday, 04 June 2010 09:54
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