The Hindu  12.10.2010

Traffic, waste management key issues in Thripunithura

Staff Reporter

KOCHI: Speakers from political parties at a discussion organised by Tripunithura Rajanagari Union of Residents Associations (TRURA) here on Sunday, suggested focusing on the Central City project to provide a solution to the traffic problems of the municipality.

Participating in the discussion C. N. Sundaran, representing the Left Democratic Front, said that the new Municipal Council would undoubtedly take up the project to the implementation stage. The project involves construction of a new bus terminal near the railway station and integrating the rail and road transport facilities in Thripunithura.

R. Venugopal, representing the UDF, said that when the project was conceived, the land cost was only Rs. 500 a cent, now it would be over Rs. 5 lakh.

While Mr. Sundaran talked about a three-pronged approach in developing the city specifying Central and State intervention in certain projects, he said corruption-free good governance would solve many problems in the town.

Mr. Venugopal listed a number of unfinished projects in the town mainly because of lack of vision in the governing council.

Speaking on the occasion, BJP leader K. V. Sabu, divided the problems of the town into three levels. The primary needs included solving the problem of traffic congestion, water availability, waste management and hygiene. Infrastructure development and social projects need to be followed in association with Public Works Department. He also called for providing heritage status for Thripunithura.

The discussion was inaugurated by K. G. Paulose, former Vice-Chancellor, Kalamandalam.

V. P. Prasad, chairman, TRURA, presided. V. K. Pappu, former Pro-Vice Chancellor, Cochin and Calicut University, moderated the discussion.

Earlier, Paul Manjooran, technical director, TRURA, presenting the Association's outlook on developmental issues said that integration of the rail and road transport should be made a reality which would solve the traffic congestion in the city to some extent.

He also called for waste segregation at source.Earlier, V. C. Jayendran, convener of TRURA, welcomed the gathering. 

P. Sasidharan, chairman, central zone, TRURA, proposed a vote of thanks.

The Times of India                 11.10.2010

Citizens spread awareness about saving Pune hills

PUNE: It was an early Sunday for more than 300 citizens as they gathered at Vetal tekdi behind Law College road to spread awareness on the Save Pune Hills' campaign.

The campaign led by the Green Pune Movement saw participation from various non-governmental organisations, green activists, industrialists and school children.

"The GPM is a people powered movement working to improve the environment. In December 2005, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) approved an excellent Development Plan (DP) for the 23 merged villages which included a bio-diversity park on the hills of Pune. But, the government of Maharashtra has till date not sanctioned this the green DP. It is believed that the state government is now seriously considering scrapping the park, and allowing for four per cent construction on our hills. The hills will be destroyed," said Bhanu Mulay, of GreenPanch, an NGO fighting against the construction on hills.

The campaign saw participation from industrialist Arun Firodiya, who said, "When we actually walk to the hills we know the beauty of nature. Construction here will spoil this beauty. If we don't wake up now, when would we?" Eminent environmentalist Madhav Gadgil, who is supporting the cause, wrote a message on the same. His message was read out on the occasion.

Gadgil said in his message: We have declared that we wish to maintain 33 per cent of our land under forest cover. In hill areas this should be as high as 60 per cent. What perverse logic is it then that we must not insist on planting trees, but raising buildings on the barren hills of Pune, and that too against the clearly expressed wishes of citizens of Pune?

He further said, "Overcrowding in cities leads to exacerbating problems like traffic congestion and disposal of sewage and solid waste. The move to waste enormous amounts of energy in lifting water up the hills and in promoting more and more uphill traffic is incompatible with the attempts to reduce the city's greenhouse gas emissions."

Gadgil added, "Pune citizens must pursue with spirit their demand that there should be no construction on the hills, but that they should instead be the site of a bio-diversity park." The GPM is part of the 350.org -- an international grassroots campaign that aims to mobilise a global climate movement.

A peace pledge' written by filmmaker Srirang Godbole was taken by the participants at the Vetal tekdi wherein the gathered vowed to restrict construction on hills. Urban planner Anita Benninger-Gokhale, MLA Vandana Chavan, Satish Khot of National Society for Green Cities among others were present.