Urban News

  • Increase font size
  • Default font size
  • Decrease font size
India Newspapers

Rs 6.5cr WB aid for sewage treatment in Vijaywada

Print PDF

The Times of India       18.03.2016  

Rs 6.5cr WB aid for sewage treatment in Vijaywada

Vijayawada: As part of a plan to develop Vijayawada into a self-sustainable city, the World Bank will sanction Rs 6.5 crore ($1 million) to install energy production equipment at four sewage treatment plants (STPs). Methane will be extracted from the STPs which will be processed into power, making the plants self- sustainable.

Vijayawada municipal commissioner G Veerapandian on Tuesday said the World Bank had decided to provide the grant in at recently- concluded 'Global Platform for Sustainable Cities' meeting in Singapore. He added that Vijayawada and Guntur are among the five cities selected in the India for sustainable development.

 

 

Centre bans plastic bags below 50 microns

Print PDF

The Times of India      18.03.2016 

Centre bans plastic bags below 50 microns

Manufacturers of plastic bags will have to make certain payments to states for its post-use disposal, said Union environment minister Prakash JavadekarManufacturers of plastic bags will have to make certain payments to states for its post-use disposal, said Uni... Read More
NEW DELHI: The Centre on Friday notified new plastic waste management rules for the country, replacing the earlier ones made five years ago. The new rules, which are more stringent than the previous rules, will be implemented across the country within 6 months.

Under the new rules, carrying certain dos and don'ts for manufacturers, distributors, municipal bodies and panchayats, the government banned the manufacturing of plastic bags of below 50 microns as thinner bags currently pose a major threat to environment due to its non-disposability.

Manufacturers of plastic bags will have to make certain payments to states for its post-use disposal. The money, collected by the states from the manufacturers, will be given to local civic bodies and panchayats for taking multiple measures to dispose off plastic bags properly.

"Rural areas have also been brought in the ambit of these rules since plastic has reached to villages. Responsibility for implementation of the rules is given to Gram Panchayats", said environment minister Prakash Javadekar while sharing details of the new rules.

He said, "Responsibility of waste generator is being introduced for the first time. Accordingly, individual and bulk generators like offices, commercial establishments and industries are to segregate the plastic waste at source, handover segregated waste and pay user fee as per bye-laws of the local bodies".

Under the new law, persons or organizations, including even the political parties, have been made responsible for management of waste generated from the events - political rallies, marriage function, religious gathering or public meetings - organised by them.

Manufacturing and use of non-recyclable multi-layered plastic will also be phased out in two years under the new rules.

Javadekar said, "The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has been mandated to formulate guidelines for thermoset plastic (the plastic difficult to recycle). In earlier rules, there was no specific provision of such type of plastic".

Top Comment

banning plastic bags will not work, people will continue to manufacture and use it illegally. Also we are encouraging the use of paper bags which would lead to cutting of trees. we need to provide a... Read MoreRanjan Kumar


Under the new rules, plastic carry bags will be available only with shopkeepers/street vendors, pre-registered with local bodies, on payment of certain registration fee.

Javadekar said, "The amount collected as registration fee by the local bodies is to be used for waste management".
 

VUDA cancels agreement on commercial complex

Print PDF

The Hindu       18.03.2016   

VUDA cancels agreement on commercial complex

Vaibhav Sky Scapes entered into lease on February 16, 2008. The construction was to be completed in 18 months

VUDA has cancelled all agreements for development of a commercial complex in 6,540 square yards of vacant land and 550 sq yards of underground area for cellar parking.

Orders cancelling the agreement were issued by Vice-Chairman T. Baburao Naidu on Thursday, it was reliably learnt.

PPP mode

Vaibhav Sky Scapes entered into lease agreement with VUDA under PPP mode for the commercial complex on the land adjacent to VUDA building on February 16, 2008.

The lease agreement is for 33 years on lease rent at Rs.70.9 lakh at 5 per cent increase per annum with annual development premium at Rs.1.06 crore per year at 5 pesr cent increase per annum and refundable project development fee at Rs.2 lakh per year.

As per the agreement, the construction of the project was to be completed in 18 months.

Environmental clearance

VUDA issued orders of approval for the building plan and one of the conditions is obtaining approval from the State-level Environment Impact Assessment Authority. The environmental clearance valid for five years was obtained in September 2011 and revised supplement agreement for lease agreement and development and management agreement was entered into.

With the environmental agreement set to expire on September 14, 2016, completion of the project by then was highly improbable, the VUDA Vice-Chairman is learnt to have observed in his order.

After a meeting with Additional Vice-Chairman of VUDA in February, Vaibhav Sky Scapes informed VUDA that it had identified a new investor, financial due diligence was completed and a detailed plan of action would be submitted to VUDA, it was learnt.

With eight years elapsing and the environmental clearance set to lapse in September, 2016, VUDA can’t venture to wait any further, Mr. Baburao Naidu said also citing lease rent outstanding and the expiry of the bank guarantee and issued orders cancelling all agreements entered into with the firm.

Vaibhav Sky Scapes entered into lease agreement with VUDA under PPP mode for the commercial complex on the land adjacent to VUDA building on February 16, 2008

 


Page 136 of 4907