Urban News

The Hindu 29.08.2009

Sanitation: municipal corporation firm on privatisation in some wards

Staff Reporter

BERHAMPUR: The Berhampur Municipal Corporation is not inclined to go back on its move to privatise the maintenance of sanitation in some wards of the city.

The opposition of sanitary workers to the privatisation move was a major discussion at the council meeting of the corporation held on Friday.

The corporators, the Chairperson of the corporation and the Commissioner were unanimous in their decision to privatise sanitation works in five wards of the city.

Discussions were also held with representatives of the municipal sanitary workers’ union of the city. Chairperson of the municipality S.S. Dash informed them that the privatisation process would be deferred for the time being. But the municipal authorities made it clear that it did not mean that the corporation was rolling back its privatisation and outsourcing proposal of sanitary work.

To pacify the sanitary workers, the municipal authorities also announced a hike in the wages of temporary employees. The proposal of hike was approved by the council.

The temporary workers’ union of the municipality was demanding regularisation of their jobs and hike in their pay.

As per the revision, the 169 semi-skilled temporary employees would now be paid Rs. 103 per day and the 80 skilled temporary employees would be paid Rs. 116 per day. It may be noted that a large number of these temporary employees had been serving the municipality for 18 years.

During the council meeting it was also announced that within the next few weeks the corporation would come up with eSeva counter for the citizens. It would be an all-purpose counter. The citizens would be able to pay all types of cess to the municipality at the single window centre. The counter would also provide all data needed by the citizens.

The Hindu 29.08.2009

Focus on conserving urban heritage

Urvashi Sarkar

NEW DELHI: In a bid to provide a platform for Indian and international experts to share their experiences in urban planning, the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) will hold a seminar on “Heritage and urban renewal” at Jodhpur in Rajasthan from September 2 to 5.

It will aim at continuing from where the Hyderabad conference on “Heritage conservation and urban development” organised by INTACH left off in 2005. That conference had recommended strategies for conservation of urban heritage at the national, State and local levels. Addressing a press conference here on Friday, INTACH Chairman S. K. Misra said: “While the Hyderabad conference was confined to interaction among Indian representatives, the upcoming meet will be attended by representatives from Spain, Turkey, Australia, other countries and also the World Bank. This is an opportunity to interact, build contacts and learn how people are going about urban renewal and heritage conservation in their countries. Also, it will create awareness with regard to heritage among local municipal corporations and development authorities.”

A monumental challenge

Mr. Misra said while the Archaeological Survey of India protects 5,000 monuments nation-wide, there are several other monuments that also need protection. Thus funds should also be granted to other agencies for the upkeep of heritage structures. “There is also a need for a heritage awareness programme involving the youth,” he added. INTACH member-secretary Yogendra Narain said case studies of different cities would be presented at the seminar. Various measures such as setting up of heritage committees in different cities, demolition laws and methods of heritage conservation will be discussed. “We expect to arrive at certain conclusions from the conference which will influence legislation with regard to urban planning. The last Finance Commission granted Rs.6.5 crore for protection of heritage sites. We are trying to persuade the current Finance Commission to expand the grant,” he said. INTACH (Delhi chapter) convenor Prof. A. G. K. Menon said: “The JNNURM has generated a great deal of money for development of infrastructure such as roads. While there is nothing wrong with spending on development, the money should be sensitively spent.”