Urban News

The Hindu - Delhi 11.08.2009

DDA budget for 2009-10 passed

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: Emphasis has been laid on speedy completion of infrastructure and development projects relating to the Commonwealth Games-2010 in the Delhi Development Authority Budget 2009-10 that was passed here on Monday.

The budget estimates for 2009-2010 and also the revised budget estimates for 2008-2009 were presented and approved at the meeting chaired by Delhi’s Lieutenant-Governor Tejendra Khanna.

The budget envisages increased expenditure on new development works, especially pertaining to houses for the economically weaker sections; in situ development of slum clusters; up-gradation and maintenance of existing sports complexes and greens; and also payment to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation.

Permission was also granted for holding a light-and-sound show near Quali Khan Tomb jointly by the India Tourism Development Corporation and the DDA. Another highlight of the budget is the declaration of Nehru Place as a “No Hawking Zone”.

“The receipts for 2009-2010 have been projected at Rs.6,570.58 crore compared with anticipated receipts of Rs.3,625.18 crore in the revised budget estimate for 2008-2009. A sum of Rs.2,824.13 crore from disposal of residential, industrial, institutional, commercial plots and group housing and Rs.891.09 crore from disposal of houses and shops is anticipated during 2009-10,” said a DDA release.

A provision of Rs.100 crore has been made for 2009-10 for meeting the requirement on account of land acquisition and payment of enhanced compensation to the Delhi Administration.

To meet the increasing demand for residential, industrial, commercial and institutional land, DDA has undertaken development works at various places including Rohini, Dwarka and Jasola. For this, a provision of Rs.1,183.16 crore has been made for 2009-10.

A sum of Rs.2,824.13 crore is anticipated to be received towards disposal of residential land, industrial, commercial and institutional plots. The disposal of plots is planned mainly in Rohini, Dwarka, Jasola, Green Park and Paschim Puri.

The Authority expects receipt of Rs.891.09 crore from disposal of houses and shops under different categories in this fiscal. It has also made a provision of Rs.935.07 crore for construction of houses and shops during the year.

The Hindu - Kerala 11.08.2009

Area-specific rules for waste disposal in Thrissur soon

Staff Reporter

— PHOTO: K. K. Najeeb

DELIBERATIONS: An emergency meeting of the Thrissur Corporation Council on Monday discussing the waste disposal problem.

Thrissur: An emergency meeting of the City Corporation council on Monday decided to formulate area-specific rules for effective solid waste management.

The meeting, convened to discuss practical solutions to waste disposal, called for time-bound execution of recommendations put forward at a recent all-party meeting presided over by the Local Administration Minister Paloli Mohammed Kutty.

Mayor R. Bindu said that the Corporation was open to any creative suggestions to solve the environmental and health problems in Lalur.

“The Corporation is planning a three-week awareness campaign among students starting from August 15.

An alternative waste management culture should begin with children,” he said.

Opposition councillors, led by I. P. Paul, urged the Corporation to appoint an expert committee to study the existing methods of waste management.

“Scientific studies should be done to asses the efficacy of engineered land filling for disposing non-degradable waste. The existing biodegradable waste processing machines are non-functional. Those machines should be repaired,” Mr. Paul pointed out.

Congress councillors alleged that a nexus between Corporation officials and contractors was derailing the garbage disposal drive at Lalur.

They said the Corporation lacked clarity of vision about waste disposal.

BJP councillor N. Prasad called for stringent action against those dumping hazardous waste at street corners.

“Many flats directly discharge waste water from toilets to the canals. A heavy fine should be imposed on such anti-social elements,” he demanded.

Chairman of the Standing Committee on Health Josy Chandy called for popularising degradable plastics.

The council decided to find suitable land for setting up additional dump yards.

An all-party meeting, attended by Local Administration Minister Paloli Mohammed Kutty and Revenue Minister K. P. Rajendran last week here called for short-term and long-term solutions to garbage disposal.

Weekly monitoring

The meeting suggested weekly monitoring of waste disposal at Lalur and change of rules so that new waste management strategies could be devised