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Corpn. to rethink Jio tower proposal

Thursday, 20 April 2017 06:57 administrator

The Hindu 20.04.2017

Corpn. to rethink Jio tower proposal

The Corporation Council has decided to rethink the proposal of Reliance Jio Infocom Limited and Indus Towers Limited for setting up high-mast lights, WiFi and 4G facility in various centres in the city.

The finance standing committee of the corporation had decided to permit the two companies to set up high-mast multi-purpose towers at road junctions, playgrounds and parks within the corporation jurisdiction by levying a rent of Rs. 5,000 per tower per month.

However, when the decision was put before the council for approval, the opposition raised objections. Congress councillor P.M. Niyas suggested that the corporation should invite an expression of interest in the case and that Rs. 5,000 per tower was very low for such a facility. Hence the council sent it back to the standing committee for further proceedings.

Earlier, the corporation cancelled the scheduled foundation stone-laying function of the water treatment plant under Kudumbasree’s ‘Theertham’ project on TB centre premises on Francis Road. Many residents associations in the region had complained to the corporation that such a facility would lead to severe water scarcity in the region, already hit by drought. They opposed the plan to dig a well in the plot to extract groundwater, to be purified and bottled to be sold under the aegis of the Kudumbasree.

E-waste collection centres in each ward

Saturday, 15 April 2017 00:00 administrator

The New Indian Express 15.04.2017

E-waste collection centres in each ward

BENGALURU: The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) will soon issue guidelines to manufacturers of electronic products to set up e-waste collection centres in wards or zones across the state. Residents dropping off electronic products will get a nominal amount.

Last year, a study conducted by Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India said Bengaluru is sitting on an ‘e-waste bomb’.

KSPCB issued a circular to government offices asking them to comply with the E-Waste Management Rules, 2016, wherein bulk consumers have to maintain records of e-waste generated by them and to dispose the same to authorised collection centres.

Moving forward, KSPCB will issue guidelines to manufacturers to set up e-waste centres where individuals, organisation and others can drop old electronic goods.

Lakshman, KSPCB chairman, said the board will issue guidelines to all manufacturers and recylers of e-waste from next month. “We are writing letters to these centres asking them to shut if they do not have their own recyling units attached.

This means these units can’t trade e-waste to other agencies, but have to make a facility to dispose and reuse if any. These centres will pay money to customers who come to deposit e-waste,” said Lakshman.

As KSPCB does not have authenticated data of e-waste generated in the state, as per the direction of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), KSPCB will conduct a survey on e-waste generated. This survey is expected to help estimate the number of e-waste collection centres required in the state.

KSPCB will be fixing a rate for empanelled vendors to pick up medical waste from hospitals and nursing homes. “It will be `4.5 per bed per month,” Lakshman said.

All set for GPS tracking of water tankers

Friday, 14 April 2017 00:00 administrator

The Hindu 14.04.2017

All set for GPS tracking of water tankers

Going hi-tech:An official showing the tracking of water tankers through the Global Positioning System being introduced by the GVMC in Visakhapatnam. (Right) GPS device fitted in a tanker.C.V. SubrahmanyamC.V.Subrahmanyam

GVMC says it will ensure timely delivery of water at the designated points

To ensure prompt supply of water by tankers and to cut down on any unnecessary cost, the GVMC is introducing the Global Positioning System (GPS) on them.

Mandatory

Installing GPS has been made mandatory from April 1 for all the tankers making it part of the tender document.

While 60 tankers make 460 trips daily to the areas that require supply in the year, in summer the number of trips is increased by 170 using another 30 tankers.

So far GPS has been fixed on 32 of the 60 tankers, it was learnt. GVMC intends to fix them to all tankers by April 17.

The ones for which the GPS has already been fixed will be made operational by then.

While Rs. 4 crore is spent on the supply by tankers in the year, for the tankers in summer Rs. 84.7 lakh is spent.

While the basic purpose of introducing GPS is to track vehicles, it is the number of trips made that is important and to prevent any false claims being made, say sources in GVMC.

Besides, when a tanker starts its trip, is idle or moving and the timely delivery of water at the designated points and when the trip ends also can be ensured by monitoring through GPS.

Supply by tankers is more in Zones I, V and VI with the merged 32 panchayats and Gajuwaka area falling under it.

Wards One to six that include Madhurawada and Endada and more than 50 per cent of wards 55, 56 and 57 in Gajuwaka and in Vepagunta and Pendurti areas of Zone VI are covered by tankers.

Initially there was some resistance but it was insisted that the contractor should install the GPS device.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is also insisting on introducing GPS on all water tankers all over the State.

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