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BBMP to outsource work on documenting road history

Friday, 26 December 2014 10:14 administrator
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The Hindu          26.12.2014 

BBMP to outsource work on documenting road history

Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is now set to outsource the job of updating data about road history.

For three years now, BBMP has been trying to prepare ‘road history’ a document that will bring in accountability and transparency. However, it is yet to make any real headway in completing the job, which is based on geographical information system (GIS).

BBMP Commissioner M. Lakshminarayana conceded that there is a delay in completing road history, which could become a mother document, based on which all works could be sanctioned. Though roads have been mapped, the details such as when a particular road was last asphalted, number of electricity poles, telephone lines, OFCs, manholes etc are yet to be updated.

“This job will be outsourced,” said Mr. Lakshminarayana.

He said that earlier, BBMP’s engineers had to physically verify and then update road history, which was time-consuming. “Now, there will be a format based on which road history will have to be updated,” he said and added that the civic body had already linked payment of bills to road history. “Henceforth, all work-related bills will be generated online and will be cleared only after the details about the road are updated. This will eliminate duplication of work and double billing.”

Kadu Malleswara councillor Manjunath Raju said road history is 95 per cent complete for the seven wards in Malleswaram Assembly constituency. “We have taken it further and mapped manholes of BWSSB as well.”

He said the GIS-based system could be used by other civic agencies, including Bescom, to map their utilities. “This will prevent misuse of public funds,” he added.

‘Henceforth, all work-related bills will be generated online and will be cleared only after the details about the road are updated’

 

NMC gets 134 objections to tree felling

Wednesday, 24 December 2014 10:19 administrator
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The Times of India        24.12.2014   

NMC gets 134 objections to tree felling

 

NASHIK: The civic body has received objections from 134 citizens towards felling of trees in the city limits for road widening work ahead of next year's Kumbh Mela.

The Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) had invited objections and suggestions from the citizens for cutting trees through a committee formed and headed by the chief conservator of forests (CCF) following a Bombay high court order.

As many as 2,400 trees are likely to face the axe because of road widening across the city. Based on a public interest litigation on illegal hacking of trees filed by environment activists, the court had asked the civic body to seek its permission to cut even a single tree in the city limits.

The NMC had sought permission to cut 2,400 trees for Kumbh-related works. The HC had asked the chief conservator of forests (territorial) Nashik Circle to chair a committee and conduct a survey of the trees, as the NMC did not have a proper tree committee.

On November 25, the court rejected the report prepared by the chief conservator of forests. It said two experts will have to be paid Rs 25,000 each by the NMC and all other expenses for the survey of the trees.

The court said all this have to be done by January 27 and cutting of trees in areas under the NMC's jurisdiction would be forbidden.

"The NMC had sought objections and suggestions from the citizens regarding hacking of trees through the media. The objections and suggestions were submitted to the chief conservator of forests. We have received 134 of those and the hearing will take place on December 27 and 28 at the civic body in the presence of the committee formed by the chief conservator of forests," an NMC official said.

 

NMC anti-encroachment squad stops short of main culprits

Wednesday, 24 December 2014 10:18 administrator
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The Times of India       24.12.2014   

NMC anti-encroachment squad stops short of main culprits

 

NAGPUR: The anti-encroachment drive of Nagpur Municipal Corporation on North Ambazari road on Tuesday has come under scanner for its tokenism after the squad seized a few soft toys and four push carts but stopped short of removing the bulk of encroachments on footpaths at the busy Rani Jhansi Square.

On Tuesday, an anti-encroachment squad led by NMC official Arun Pipurde reached the University Library Square. It first targeted a roadside vendor selling soft toys at the square and seized some of his ware. Later, they headed towards Rani Jhansi Square. On way, they seized four empty push carts but they stopped short of vendors doing brisk business outside Matru Seva Sangh. They remained untouched by the squad.

The drive that started at 2.30 pm was an eyewash. The vendors who ran away from the spot when the squad started its work were back on the street within no time. Pankaj (name changed), one of the street vendors selling garments on the streets for the past 12 years, said, "The authorities seized kiosks of a few vendors. But we are back running our business again."

Pandurang Ghatole, a student, who travels daily on the road, said: "Accidents are on the rise here as the vendors block the pavement and autos are parked on the side of the street leading to traffic jams. Buses stop in the middle of the street and we become prone to accidents and injuries." Suresh Kunwane, a pedestrian who uses the road daily, said, "Pedestrians face a lot of difficulty because of these vendors but nothing can be done."

Though there is a traffic constable at the square almost all the time, city buses stop anywhere including in the middle of the street putting busy traffic on hold. The cops never act them either. There are a lot of pedestrians on the street everyday because of the bus stop and small accidents occur everyday, road-users said

Dilip Jamgade, executive engineer (NMC) and in-charge of anti-encroachment squad, refused to comment stating he was not present during the drive. Pipurde said: "It is not possible to take action against all illegal vendors in two-three hours, we seized a few push carts of vendors who were disturbing the commuters. We seized six-seven stalls from Sitabuldi area as well."

(Reporting by Nikunj Ohri)

 
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