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Local bodies to get Rs 1,652 cr for infrastructure

Wednesday, 24 September 2014 07:14 administrator
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The Times of India       24.09.2014    

Local bodies to get Rs 1,652 cr for infrastructure

GANDHINAGAR: Chief minister Anandiben Patel will distribute on Wednesday cheques worth Rs 1,652 crore to municipal corporations and nagarpalikas for infrastructure projects. The CM will distribute the cheques at a programme 'Gujarat-ni Shaan-Dhbakta Sahero' at Mahatma Mandir.

Of the grant-assistance of Rs 1,652 crore, Rs 936 crore would be given to five municipal corporations, 132 nagarpalikas and seven Urban Development Authorities (UDAs). While Rs 2.51 crore will be given to three nagarpalikas for constructing 'Seva Sadan', Rs 47.22 crore will be given to 18 nagarpalikas for water supply and sewerage projects under 'Nirmal Gujarat Abhiyaan', Rs 60 crore to five municipal corporations and 119 nagarpalikas for constructing 10,632 toilets. Cheques of Rs 350 crore will be given to seven municipal corporations, 25 nagarpalikas and six UDAs for houses for the poor.

 

 

 

 

GHMC wings at loggerheads as fire mishaps rise in Hyderabad

Wednesday, 24 September 2014 07:07 administrator
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The Hindu        24.09.2014  

GHMC wings at loggerheads as fire mishaps rise in Hyderabad

 

HYDERABAD: While the two constituent bodies of the GHMC - the town planning department and the fire prevention wing are at loggerheads, statistics show that fire accidents are on the rise with 11 fire mishaps reported since March.

An eatery was gutted in fire in Punjagutta recently, but that does not seem to be enough to act as a wakeup call for the GHMC. "Whenever there is a fire, we hear a lot of hue and cry, but it dies down soon after. The town planning department of the GHMC is issuing trade licences without bothering about the mandatory fire NOCs," said P Venkatramana, additional director, fire prevention wing of the GHMC.

When it comes to fire safety in commercial establishments, authorities seem to be least bothered about possible mishaps. Statistics show that Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) issued only 150 no-objection certificates (NOCs), while thousands of shops were given trade licences since 2010.

The fire prevention wing carries out inspections to validate building plans and checks fire prevention norms like escape staircases and water supply among others. But the trade licence department and the town planning wing do not seem to care much about fire safety norms. "I had asked the commissioner Somesh Kumar to integrate services of the town planning department with the fire prevention wing. So, whenever a builder approaches the planning department, we can inspect the said building and give a NOC. But, this plan is still lying in limbo," he added.

The civic department officials had thought of having an online process for all departments and a single window system for obtaining trade licences, fire NOCs etc. This project was given to the Centre for Good Governance (CGG) for execution. However, officials say that there has been no progress on this front.

"The GHMC seems to be not keen in implementation of government policies to tackle fire disasters. Only a bare minimum of the city's buildings adhere to the fire prevention rules but GHMC officials not bothered to make this rule mandatory for all the high-rise," quipped another official privately.

The fire department had asked the GHMC commissioner to recruit at least two officers for each of the 18 circles in the city. Currently, the fire prevention wing of the GHMC is manned by only five officials.

 

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation suspends nine engineers for their role in e-tendering scam

Wednesday, 24 September 2014 06:50 administrator
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The Times of India       24.09.2014  

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation suspends nine engineers for their role in e-tendering scam

 

MUMBAI: Municipal commissioner Sitaram Kunte on Tuesday admitted that 23 civic engineers were involved in the e-tendering scam of which nine have been suspended.

At Tuesday's general body meeting, Kunte also said that 40 contractors who were involved in the scam will be blacklisted.

Of the 17,000 e-tenders in the last two years, 412 proposals, worth a total Rs 22.34 crore, were opened within 24 hours. While 122 proposals are of works less than Rs 3 lakh, the rest are of works ranging from Rs 3 lakh up to Rs 20 lakh. But Kunte clarified that of the total 412 proposals, 229 works, which were worth a total Rs 13.07 crore, were rejected by the authorities, and 183 were completed. The lowest bid was Rs 6.41crore.

Sources said two engineers each from from P (South) and R (North), one each from F (South) and G (North) and three from K (West) have been suspended.

Corporators have demanded a third-party audit in the matter. NCP group leader Dhananjay Pisal said they were not opposed to e-tendering, but the process need to be corruption-free. "The company needs to be asked why the software had a system wherein it could be blocked. A third-party audit in this matter is very essential."

MNS leader in the BMC Sandeep Deshpande said that it is surprising that the higher-ups of the officials involved in the scam are conducting an inquiry. He demanded a third-party audit either by the anti-corruption bureau or the economic offences wing.

Other corporators demanded that Kunte, who had introduced the e-tendering system in 2012 to bring in transparency, should be held responsible "for making the city a guinea pig".

Corporator Yakub Memon complained that most of the contractors coming through the e-tendering process were not interested in delivering quality work, but only in getting the work order. Opposition leader Devendra Amberkar said it is important that rules are followed and tenders should not be invited after midnight. According to data, a tender was opened at 3.35am and closed at 8.59am on the same day in R North ward and another tender was opened at 3.25am and closed at 8.59am in R South ward.

A complete report on the matter is expected to be ready by October, said Kunte.

 
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