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Twin cities to become cleaner

Tuesday, 21 July 2009 04:23 administrator
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The Hindu 21.07.2009

Twin cities to become cleaner

Staff Correspondent


For cleaner surroundings: Hubli-Dharwad Mayor Viranna Savadi (left) and other councillors walking through Gandhiwad locality in Hubli on Monday after the launch of the special cleanliness drive.

Hubli: The Mayor of Hubli Dharwad, Viranna Savadi, launched the special cleanliness drive in the twin cities on Monday in the wake of increase in the number of cases of chikungunya and dengue.

The Mayor formally launched the drive first at Gandhiwad off Gadag Road and then at Bankapur Chowk. Apart from senior officials of the Health Department, councillors of various parties including Deepak Chinchore, Altaf Kittur, Rajanna Koravi and others were present on the occasion.

It might be recalled that after an elaborate discussion on the lack of cleanliness in the twin cities during a special general body meeting, Mr. Savadi had announced that a special cleanliness drive would be taken up in all the wards.

He had said that there were as many as 115 personnel in the Health Department in each of the 12 zones in the corporation and all of them would be deployed for the special cleanliness drive in each ward for three to four days.

Accordingly on Monday the staff of the Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) was divided into various batches and they took up cleaning in various localities .

On Monday, special cleanliness drive was carried out in Gardenpet, Desai Oni, Dora Galli, Mochi Galli, Cholinavar Oni, Shikkalagara Tanda, Walwekar Hakkala, Siddanapet and adjoining localities. Apart from clearing the drains and sweeping roads, fogging was extensively done to check the menace of mosquitoes. Pesticides were also sprayed at localities where it was found necessary.

Officials of the zone no. 11 of the corporation said that the cleanliness drive would be completed in all the wards of the zone by August 1.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 21 July 2009 04:44
 

PCMC may appoint armed guards at municipal properties

Monday, 20 July 2009 11:23 administrator
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Times of India 20.07.2009

PCMC may appoint armed guards at municipal properties

PUNE: The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) is considering recruiting 41 armed guards in order to protect octroi posts, property tax offices and other municipal properties.

Speaking to TOI on Saturday, Anilkumar Dalvi, security officer, PCMC said that the civic administration is considering the step and other measures to beef up security at the municipal offices and other properties.

"We have nine armed guards as security guards. Three of them are deployed at the water purification plants in Nigdi during the night shift, one each is deployed at the vehicle repair workshop in Pimpri and the PCMC main building and three are deployed at octroi posts," said Dalvi.

He added that the new armed guards will be mostly deployed to secure the cash at 21 octroi posts and 15 property tax

offices of PCMC. We plan to fill 34 vacant posts of security inspectors who will supervise the security arrangements at various civic properties."

Speaking about the measures to be taken to beef up security at the PCMC main office building, Dalvi said, "An iron staircase installed for pedestrians to enter the main building premises from the highway has been removed as thieves use it to enter the premises to steal the batteries of vehicles parked there. A security guard has been deployed behind Annasaheb Magar statue to check trespassing over the compound wall along the Mumbai-Pune highway. Two security guards each have been deployed near both the gates and the back portion near the common boundary with PMT Tools."

He added that the civic administration was monitoring the movement of visitors in the main office building round the clock. The number of security guards has been increased at the entrance to the main building. Visitors are asked to note down their names, address and other details in the register.

Dalvi said, "We have 343 security guards on the PCMC staff and another 315 hired from contractors. There are 654 civic properties which include water works, playgrounds, schools and other buildings which need to be secure."

Earlier, the PCMC had taken several steps to increase security at its various offices and the main administrative building. Metal and letter bomb detectors, close circuit television (CCTV) cameras and other measures were taken at the main administrative building in Pimpri. But security lapses still occur. A vehicle was stolen from the PCMC main office premises on January 28. Thefts have also occurred at the divisional property tax offices at Charholi in January and at Bhosari in March.

Thefts have been reported at the property tax offices in Bhosari and Charholi. An armed robbery took place at the octroi post in Moshi where a civic employee was injured in May this year.

 

PCMC draws up Rs 10-crore masterplan for small zoo

Monday, 20 July 2009 10:41 administrator
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Times of India 20.07.2009

PCMC draws up Rs 10-crore masterplan for small zoo

The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has prepared a Rs 10-crore masterplan for setting up a small zoo within the civic limits and on the premises of the Bahinabai Chaudhary zoo in Akurdi, and sent it for approval to the Central Zoo Authority of India (CZAI).

It may be noted that two years ago, the CZAI had given permission to the PCMC to redevelop the Bahinabai zoo into a small zoo on the reptile-amphibian and butterfly theme. Speaking to TOI on Thursday, Anil Khaire, director, Bahinabai Chaudhary zoo, said the CZAI had approved the small-zoo status and directed the civic body to prepare a masterplan for the same.

Khaire said, "A 12-member committee, under the chairmanship of Subhash Dumbre, additional commissioner, PCMC, was formed to prepare the masterplan. The committee consisted of executive engineer Ashok Dhage, chief garden superintendent Suresh Salunke, veterinary officer Satish Gore, retired scientist of Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) M S Pradhan and others. This committee has prepared a masterplan and submitted it for approval to the CZAI."

Speaking about the plan, Khaire said, "There will be sections for pheasants, aviary of aquatic birds and reptiles. There will be an interpretation centre, veterinary centre for medical facilities for the animals. Also, information resource centre, books, CDs, journals and internet facility will be available here."

Khaire said the zoo will house mostly reptiles from the western ghats and some endangered reptile species found across the country. "There will be 20 species of snakes, three to four species of frogs and 10 to 12 species of aquatic birds."

Explaining the reason for choosing the theme of reptile-amphibian and butterfly for the small zoo, Khaire said the resources available at the PCMC were suitable to develop a zoo only on such a theme. The zoo is part of a conservation and breeding programme on the local, national and international levels.

Explaining the significance of getting the small-zoo status for the PCMC-run zoo, Khaire said, "In September 1992, the Union government formed the CZAI. There were 500 zoos of various types in the country at that time. The CZAI reviewed conditions of these zoos, some of which were just menageries, and lacked planning, breeding facilities as well as trained staff. The Union government ordered closure of most of them after reviewing the facilities, allowing only 169 zoos to function across the country. One of the few zoos to be recognised by the CZAI is the PCMC's Bahinabai Chaudhary zoo."

Khaire said the PCMC had agreed to make changes in the existing zoo as per the guide-lines of the CZAI, hence they received the small-zoo status. He said the masterplan is expected to be approved by the CZAI in a month and the zoo will be developed in phases after the approval.

 
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