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Telugu Ganga water to Chennai from Oct. 1

Saturday, 18 July 2009 06:43 administrator
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The Hindu 18.07.2009

Telugu Ganga water to Chennai from Oct. 1

Special Correspondent

The flow in the canal will be continued for 2 to 3 months

HYDERABAD: The Andhra Pradesh government has decided to release water to Chennai from Telugu Ganga canal this time from October 1 to supplement the supplies being made to residents of that city from other sources such as Poondi reservoir.

Replenishments

The flow in the canal will be continued for 2 to 3 months, depending on the availability of water in Kandaleru reservoir in Nellore district which gets replenishments from Somasila and finally from Srisailam.

Major Irrigation Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah signed the relevant file here on Friday. This is in spite of the continued protests by the Tamil Nadu government against Andhra Pradesh proposal to construct a mini project across the Palar river.

Also, the releases by Andhra Pradesh will be irrespective of any help from Karnataka and Maharashtra which have to supply 5 tmcft (thousand million cubic ft) each to Chennai through Telugu Ganga canal under an agreement signed for Chennai.

The agreement provided for an equal contribution (5 tmcft ) by Andhra Pradesh.

Adequate storage

At present, Kandaleru reservoir has an adequate storage of 23 tmcft against its full capacity of 68 tmcft.

The sill-level of the Telugu Ganga canal sluices at Kandaleru project is such that the project can make the supplies to Chennai even with 10 tmcft storage.

Distance

The Telugu Ganga canal originates from the backwaters of Srisailam reservoir and joins Kandaleru after travelling a distance of 255 km through three districts.

From Kandaleru, the Telugu Ganga canal again covers 153 km to join Poondi reservoir at Red Hills, the principal drinking water source of Chennai.

Last Updated on Saturday, 18 July 2009 06:51
 

Govt to launch housing scheme for slum dwellers, urban poor

Friday, 17 July 2009 12:25 administrator
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Business Standard 17.07.2009

Govt to launch housing scheme for slum dwellers, urban poor

Press Trust of India / New Delhi July 17, 2009, 15:11 IST
 

The government today said that it was planning to launch a new housing scheme for slum dwellers and urban poor.

"The government proposes to launch 'Rajiv Awas Yojana' in the country for slum dwellers and urban poor. The scheme would extend support to states willing to assign property rights to people living in slum areas," Housing and Poverty Alleviation Minister Kumari Selja informed the Lok Sabha.

"The government's effort would be to create slum free India through the scheme in next five years," she said in a written reply.

In 2009, the government has launched interest subsidy scheme for housing the urban poor. The scheme is aimed at providing subsidy up to 5 per cent on a loan of Rs 1 lakh availed by the poor.

Meanwhile, replying to another question, Selja said the government would revise building by-laws to make rain water harvesting mandatory in all buildings.

 

Garbage-free Patna within a year: Deputy CM

Friday, 17 July 2009 12:19 administrator
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The Times of India 17.07.2009
Garbage-free Patna within a year: Deputy CM
PATNA: Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi promised a garbage-free' Patna within a year. "You will start feeling the difference from November," he informed the state assembly on Thursday while replying to a three-hour debate on the urban development department's budgetary demand of over Rs 1754 crore for the financial year 2009-10. The demand was passed by a voice vote.

Modi said that the main problem in removing garbage in Patna was the lack of trucks and other instruments. "We have allotted Rs 16.24 crore for purchasing 64 trucks, 36 tractors, tippers, loaders and other instruments this year which would be visible very soon," he said. He announced that the Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) officials and employees would be seen in uniform from August 1.

Modi also announced launching of door-to-door garbage collection service that will be outsourced. He said that land has been acquired for dumping the garbage.

Announcing sweeping changes in urban laws, Modi declared that the government would announce a vendor policy soon in which the practice of municipal bodies giving contracts to collect taxes from vendors will be abandoned and vendors and street hawkers would give a token licence fee directly to municipal bodies.

The deputy CM said that zones would be earmarked for street vendors where they could do their business. Welfare schemes for rickshaw and cart-pullers would be announced soon, he said, adding that the government would construct 10000 small shops on vacant municipal land across the state and lease it out to medium and small-time traders.

Modi also announced amendments in Rent Control Act and building bylaws. He said that instead of going to municipal bodies to get maps of buildings approved, the government would appoint certified architects who will pass the maps after taking a fee of Rs 500. He, however, warned that architects would be penalized Rs 50000 and awarded jail term for a year if it is found they passed the maps illegally.

Modi said that to increase the revenue collection of municipal bodies, the government would allow citizens to make a self-assessment of their houses and pay holding taxes accordingly. "There will be incentives for paying holding tax in advance and penalty in case of late payment," he stressed.

Modi also announced changes in rules and regulations for cinema halls. "Earlier, the licence and its renewal had to be done in Patna. Now the respective district magistrates would be assigned the job," he said.

He also announced over Rs 40 crore for developing 212 ghats located on the banks of Ganga in the state, formation of a special purpose vehicle (SPV) for developing the Ganga river front and construction of a road along Saidpur Nala right up to Gaighat, which would serve as a parallel road to the congested Ashok Rajpath. He also announced building of a parallel road in the by-pass area.

Modi announced that the government would also bring a Town Planning Bill to stress on planned township development. He also announced over Rs 150 crore for development of parks, including 28 in Patna.
 
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