India Newspapers

MADA to finalise agency for master plan by March 28

Thursday, 02 March 2017 05:52 administrator

The Hindu 02.03.2017

MADA to finalise agency for master plan by March 28

Vice-Chairman says a five-member committee formed for selection

The Machilipatnam Area Development Authority (MADA) will finalise the selection of agency for preparing master plan by March-end. The tenders from the interested agencies have been invited and March 20 is the last date for submission.

“A five-member evaluation committee comprising experts has been set up to select the agency for preparing the master plan. The selection of the agency will be done by March 28,” MADA Vice-Chairman M. Venugopala Reddy told The Hindu . “International agencies are also being encouraged to submit their tenders as we are looking for quality and expertise, given the need of having a robust master plan for developing the area spreading 426.16 square kilometres,” he added.

The MADA master plan would likely to be on the lines of Amaravati master plan, focussing on developing tourism and township required to be developed for the port and industrial corridor projects. The master plan would be prepared for the entire area of 426 square kilometres, including above 30,000 acres of land that was proposed for Machilipatnam deep sea port and industrial corridor.

Port project

In February 2016, the State government constituted the MADA, bringing 28 revenue villages and 27 villages in Machilpatnam mandal, including Machilipatnam Municipality, under its jurisdiction with 2.41 lakh of population. Mr. Venugopala Reddy has confirmed that over 5,200 acres of land would be spared for the proposed deep sea port based on the detailed project report prepared before constituting the MADA. “We have targeted to hand over the land to the Department of Ports in the first phase instead of waiting until completion of gathering of 30,000 acres,” he added.

Municipality unprepared for plastic ban, say greens

Thursday, 02 March 2017 05:38 administrator

The Hindu 02.03.2017

Municipality unprepared for plastic ban, say greens

Thrikkakara Municipal Chairperson spells out measures

Environmental activists have questioned the practicability of the ban on plastic bags below 50 microns in the Thrikkakara municipal area.

“It is an attempt at getting rid of as much plastic as possible from the system,” said the chairperson of the municipality, K.K. Neenu, on Wednesday when others pointed out that the local authorities had banned plastic bags about ten years ago without much effect.

A trader in Thrikkakara said it would be possible to avoid plastic carry bags of below 50 microns. “Most of the packaged items, ranging from ready-to-wear clothes to food articles, come in plastic covers and containers of varying thickness,” said another trader in Thrikkakara. “So, it is a complex issue that needs to be addressed seriously,” he added.

It would be impossible to achieve success and the desired result without prior preparations, said an environmental activist. He said the municipal authority appeared to be unprepared for the ban because it had not done anything so far to find a replacement for plastic carry bags. “Unless such preparations are made and alternatives are provided, people will be forced to rely on plastic bags which come handy to them,” he said.

He also recalled that about a decade ago, the then Thrikkakara panchayat authorities had banned plastic bags. The authorities had also attempted to provide alternatives such as paper, jute and cloth bags. Even then the move had failed and plastic bags continued to be a major problem, hindering proper waste management, he said.

The chairman said the municipal authority was making arrangements to make paper bags at the ward level as an alternative to plastic carry bags. She said traders too had promised to switch over and were cooperating to make the ban a success.

A.R. Dayanandan of Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi in Kakkanad said the trade body had issued a circular to all traders and shop owners to follow the ban on plastic bags below the prescribed thickness. “The ‘Haritha Keralam’ (Green Kerala) mission launched by the State government envisages effective waste management. However, the municipal authority must be ready to use the powers vested in it to achieve the goal. It has the authority to punish those violating the ban,” said the environmental activist.

Logo design competition

Wednesday, 01 March 2017 11:54 administrator

The Hindu 01.03.2017

Logo design competition

Winning logo for Gurugram authority to get Rs. 1 lakh

In the run-up to the constitution of the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA), suggestions have been invited from citizens for its logo design. The winning design will receive a prize money of Rs. 1 lakh.

The logos can be submitted till March 4. Five short-listed designs will be announced on March 11 and the winner will be declared on April 1 by the Chief Executive Officer of GMDA .

Announcing this, GMDA Officer Special Duty V. Umashankar said he has written to schools and residents’ welfare associations asking them to hold logo design competitions and send two short-listed designs to the authorities via email.

‘Aspirational character’

Mr. Umashankar said, “The logo for the GMDA should reflect the aspirational character of Gurugram. The design may reflect the desire to stitch the citizens and institutions together for governance.”

Individuals can log on to the GMDA website to submit their logo designs.

The GMDA is being constituted to oversee the overall infrastructural development and raise the standards of governance and living in Gurugram in light of the rapid growth of the city — both commercially and population wise. This authority is expected to come into existence on April 1, 2017.

More Articles...