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Urban Planning

Dip in rentals hits HMDA revenue

Monday, 01 March 2010 04:24 administrator
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The Hindu 01.03.2010

Dip in rentals hits HMDA revenue

T.Lalith Singh

Many commercial spaces are vacant or will be vacated

HMDA may reassess the situation and offer new rates

HYDERABAD: Not only the property values but even the rental values have gone down in the city and suburbs in the recent times and the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) appears to be feeling the pinch.

Quite a few commercial spaces in the complexes owned by the HMDA are either vacant are going to be vacated by present occupants shortly and in the given scenario, it does not appear easy to get tenants and that too for rents that were fixed quite sometime ago.

Rentals, both for residential and commercial spaces, have dipped badly and many even in main Central Business Districts have been lying vacant for want of occupants. Most have taken the changed circumstances into stride and started cutting the expected rentals after keeping the premises idle for sometime and HMDA might also have to go the same way.

Shops and blocks vacant or shortly to be vacated in the HMDA properties include those at Swarnajayanthi Commercial Complex where rental is offered at Rs.20 to Rs.40 per sft, Maitrivanam Commercial Complex at Rs.21 per sft and Maitrivihar Commercial Complex where the rental quoted is between Rs.28 to Rs.32 per sft.

According to officials, some of those who had earlier declared their intention to vacate premises in these complexes were likely to stay behind and discussions were on. However, since the rental of given premises is fixed based on the prevailing market rates, reworking on amount could happen in view of the reduced values in most parts. Officials say that rates were fixed couple of years ago and concede on the values having gone down. Based on the situation, the same might have to be ‘reassessed’ and new rates offered, they say.

Last Updated on Monday, 01 March 2010 04:31
 

Plot shown as water body in DP to become residential zone

Tuesday, 23 February 2010 12:07 administrator
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Indian Express 23.02.2010

Plot shown as water body in DP to become residential zone

Express News Service Tags : congress, water body Posted: Tuesday , Feb 23, 2010 at 0613 hrs
Pune: The NCP-Congress alliance in the Pune Municipal Corporation on Monday approved a proposal to convert a 9,000 square feet plot — shown in the city development plan as a water body — in Karvenagar for residential purposes.

The proposal tabled by the city improvement committee said the plot in question, in reality, does not have a water body and hence residential plots could come up there. “Thus, it should be converted into a residential zone,” he said.

However, the Shiv Sena and BJP opposed the proposal alleging that the ruling alliance was bowing to pressure from the “builder lobby and converting the green zone for commercial purposes.” The civic administration clarified that the plot is shown as a water body in the DP and it needs to be confirmed whether the city improvement committee decision was in conformity with the actual situation.

Ruckus at general body meet over fund diversion proposal
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) general body on Monday witnessed a pandemonium during discussion on a proposal by BJP corporator Vikas Matkari seeking Rs 5 crore for constructing concrete roads in Shivajinagar, from funds earmarked for construction of flyovers. Matkari said the civic body has made a provision of Rs 75 crore for the purpose but was unlikely to use it in the current financial year. He said the Rs 5 crore meant for construction of road connecting Senapati Bapat Road and Paud Road is not going to take off soon, so the funds could be used for other purposes.

Meanwhile, 100 proposals were passed to divert at least Rs 30 crore from various development works in the civic budget for other works.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 23 February 2010 12:11
 

People get panicky as rain harvesting deadline nears

Tuesday, 23 February 2010 07:00 administrator
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Deccan Chronicle 23.02.2010

People get panicky as rain harvesting deadline nears

February 23rd, 2010
By DC Correspondent , DC Correspondent

Feb. 22: Phones at the rainwater harvesting (RWH) help desk have been ringing non-stop since the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board began issuing notices to people, reminding them about the May 27 deadline to make provision for RWH in their homes and warning that they could lose their water connections, if they fail to do so.

While 55,631 houses built on sites measuring 40X 60ft and more are expected to install RWH structures, so far only 8186 of them have gone in for it. The BWSSB began issuing notices to the others a fortnight ago telling them the nine month deadline since the government made rainwater harvestiing mandatory on August 27, is nearly up. So far of the 9099 households in the west of the city,which are supposed to install RWH, only 2048 houses have made arrangements for it, while in the north of the city of the 12,753 households required to go in for it, only 2100 have done so. The figures are equally dismal in other parts of the city, including the south where of the 14,100 households only 2469 have gone in for RWH and the east, where out of 7122 households, only 618 houses have adopted RWH.

Lack of awareness seems to be the major hurdle as the notices issued by the BWSSB appear to have come as a surprise to most. Many have told the water board they were not aware that they were required to make provision for RWH under the law.

“Despite several awareness programmes, most of those who call us express surprise at RWH having been made mandatory in the city and seek information on the cost and materials required, besides help with the plumbers,” says Navaneeth Kumar. R, project associate, RWH help desk.

The BWSSB is trying to respond to the calls for help by training 3000 plumbers and holding awareness camps in the city. It has already held such camps in 12 constituencies and plans to hold 24 popular lectures, 24 quizzes and debates on water issues, besides exhibitions on RWH at 65 BWSSB offices, according to its spokesperson.

BWSSB chairperson, P.B. Ramamurthy has written to 1,100 schools and 1,000 colleges to form rainwater clubs. Homes and buildings adopting RWH must register giving their RR numbers (water connection number), at their nearest BWSSB service stations, say officers.

 
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