The Hindu          06.11.2014 

Garbage: notices to 15,000 bulk generators

The BBMP is committed to ensuring that garbage is not sent to Mandur from December 1.

Around 15,000 bulk generators, including hotels, apartments and business establishments who have failed to process the waste they generate, have been identified and the BBMP has issued notices to them, stated Mayor N. Shanthakumari.

With the deadline to stop dumping garbage at Mandur landfills drawing close, she urged citizens to segregate waste at source. After chairing a meeting with senior BBMP officials on Thursday, she told reporters that zonal commissioners had been directed to ensure that garbage is segregated in all wards and that is not mixed by contractors.

The BBMP is gearing up to float tenders for 98 wards. The Chief Minister had directed the BBMP to float ward-wise tenders. “If we start the tender process now, it may take around four months to be finalised,” she said.

New units

The BBMP is committed to ensuring that garbage is not sent to Mandur from December 1. Already, the quantum of waste has reduced from 1,600 tonnes per day to around 650 tonnes. Garbage is now being sent to KCDC in Kudlu, Bingipura and Doddaballapura. New waste processing units at Doddaballapura, Lingadeeranahalli, Doddabidarakallu, Seegehalli, Subbarayanapalya and Kannahalli would be ready in two months.

The Hindu         05.11.2014   

Municipal corporation yet to clear bill for Civic Centre

Over three years after moving into its new headquarters, the North Delhi Municipal Corporation is yet to clear bills for constructing the sprawling Civic Centre complex.

Civic Centre on Minto Road is owned and run by the North Corporation and houses the offices of the South Delhi Municipal Corporation as well as the Income Tax Department. Offices of the erstwhile Municipal Corporation of Delhi started moving to the new building in November 2010 from the historic Town Hall in Chandni Chowk. In 2011, when all offices had moved to the complex, an additional Rs.24.36 crore as charges for facility management was added to the project’s cost.

The initial cost of the project was supposed to be Rs.410.56 crore as approved by the MCD in 2005. Later, the Standing Committee approved a revised cost of Rs.643.45 crore. But, expenditure went up to Rs.686.88 crore as certain costs, including for an auditorium, an extended basement and shifting of an electric sub-station, were added to the plan later.

Now, the Engineering Department of the North Corporation is seeking permission to pay contractors the remaining amount of Rs.43.43 crore.

The proposal is listed under “urgent business” before the Standing Committee, which will meet on Wednesday. An additional Rs.67 crore as escalation in costs has also been mentioned in the proposal. Standing Committee chairman Mohan Bhardwaj said: “As far as we are concerned, we have cleared all the dues. We don’t know how the contractors are claiming escalation in the cost.”

However, Corporation officials said the civic body did owe contractors for construction, furniture, facility management and consultants for architecture and project management.