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22 city libraries to demand civic grants

Wednesday, 19 March 2014 07:30 administrator
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The Times of India        19.03.2014

22 city libraries to demand civic grants

 

NAVI MUMBAI: Government- certified libraries in the city will soon make a formal demand to the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) to provide them with grants. These 22 libraries, registered with the charity commission, were awarded government certificates at a function conducted by the Directorate of Libraries in Nerul on March 13

The libraries feel that that it is high time that the NMMC contributes towards their services of promoting reading. Comparisons are also being drawn with the financial aid extended by the Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation. "If smaller corporations like Vasai-Virar can manage to provide an aid of Rs 1 lakh to government-certified libraries in its jurisdiction, then why can't NMMC initiate a similar action? Libraries play a prominent role in inculcating reading habits among citizens," said president of Prof Manikrao Kirtane Vachanalay Subhash Kulkarni.

The preliminary plan includes bringing city libraries under a single fold and make the NMMC aware about its responsibilities. According to librarians, the civic body's responsibility towards public welfare doesn't end with providing roads, water and electricity. Tax payers also deserve to be provided with well- equipped libraries.

Librarians recalled that around a decade ago, the civic body had shown interest in this regard by granting Rs 5,000 for a year. "The financial assistance didn't last. In fact, it was discontinued the following year," added Kulkarni. Government provides grants to libraries as per their grade, ranging from Rs 48,000 to Rs 2.8 lakh. "There is a huge expenditure incurred in running a library and adding to the challenge is the dwindling interest among the younger generation in reading. Books don't come any cheaper and increasing the library fees won't attract more memberships. So it is a difficult situation," said Vijay Kedare, secretary of Vashi-based Town Library.

When the matter was brought to notice of an official from the estate department, he said, "Such a demand needs to be presented to the commissioner and mayor and finally approved by the general body," he said. 

 

NMC cuts over 400 connections

Wednesday, 19 March 2014 07:27 administrator
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The Times of India        19.03.2014

NMC cuts over 400 connections

NASHIK: The Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) has disconnected 409 more connections of water tax defaulters across the city in the last seven days.

With the fresh disconnections, the civic body has snapped a total of 1,093 water connections in the last three weeks. This is part of the NMC administration's action against water tax defaulters.

A total of 380 water connections have been cut in the Cidco division of the municipal corporation alone. In the other areas, 306 connections have been disconnected in Panchavati, 143 in Nashik Road, 125 in Satpur, 118 in Nashik East and 21 water connections have been snapped in the Nashik West division.

An NMC official said, "We have intensified our drive against the water tax defaulter. So far, we have snapped water connections of around 1,093 water tax defaulters in the last few days. We will continue our drive of disconnecting water connections of water tax defaulters. We have set the water tax collection target of Rs 53.82 crore for the current fiscal year 2013-14. Till date (by March 18) in the current fiscal, we have collected water tax amounting to Rs 29.85 crore."

He also said, "Our objective is to achieve the water tax collection target set for the current fiscal year by March end. But, we could collect only 55% of the total water tax collection."

There are a total 1.74 lakh water connections across the NMC's six divisions - 54,657 water connections in the Cidco division, 32,112 in Panchavati, 27,257 in Nashik Road, 26,408 in Nashik East, 24,026 in Satpur and 9,697 water connections in Nashik West division of NMC.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 19 March 2014 07:29
 

NMC starts Kumbh work worth Rs 530cr

Wednesday, 19 March 2014 07:10 administrator
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The Times of India       19.03.2014

NMC starts Kumbh work worth Rs 530cr

 

NASHIK: With less than 15 months left for the Kumbh Mela to commence in 2015, the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) has taken up work worth Rs 529.55 crore related to the religious gala.

Various other Kumbh-related works worth Rs. 151.37 crore are in the tender process, to be completed after the Lok Sabha elections are over.

"Of the civic body's Rs 1,052.61-crore Kumbh plan, works worth Rs 680.92 crore are already in progress. Work orders for 29 Kumbh projects worth Rs 529.55 crore have been issued to concerned contractors, who have commenced these. These 29 projects include work of 17 roads amounting to Rs 432.49 crore, three works of bridges over the Godavari river amounting to Rs 16.97 crore, five works of water supply worth Rs 65.01 crore and four works of sewage treatment management amounting to Rs 15.08 crore," an NMC official told TOI on Tuesday.

"Apart from the Rs. 529.55-crore Kumbh works already under execution, 15 works worth Rs 151.37 crore are in the tender process, now to be completed after the end of the Code of Conduct due to the Lok Sabha elections. These include four works of the Sadhugram worth Rs 78.70 crore, two work of roads amounting to Rs 19.61 crore, a construction of a bridge at a cost of Rs 5.99 crore, two works of toilets and parking spaces amounting to Rs 20.08 crore, four works of water supply worth Rs 24.41 crore, one work from the medical department worth Rs 1.5 crore and one work from the electricity department amounting to Rs 1.08 crore," the civic official said.

The apex committee of the state government, led by the chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, had approved the Kumbh plan of Rs 2,378.71 crore for the district, including Rs 1,052.61 crore for the municipal corporation, in October 2013. So far, the NMC has received funds to the tune of Rs 218.17 crore from the Maharashtra government for the Kumbh Mela.

As per the NMC's Kumb plan, there are a total of 96 Kumbh-related works to be taken up by various departments of the civic body. The NMC's Rs 1,052.61-crore Kumbh plan includes Rs 82.7 crore (four works) for Sadhugram, Rs 462.5 crore (21 works) for roads, Rs 24 crore (four works) for construction of bridges, Rs 55 crore (four works) for temporary parking and toilets, Rs 96.23 crore (16 works) for water supply management, Rs 29.25 crore (six works) for sewage treatment management, Rs 31.58 crore (seven works) for medical services, Rs 20 crore (three works) for sanitary and health related services, Rs 27.35 crore (nine works) for electricity management, Rs 24 crore (22 works) for the fire brigade and Rs 200 crore for land acquisition.

In the backdrop of these plans, activists and citizens drew attention to the city's green cover being threatened and the abysmal pollution of the Godavari river. "The Kumbh is held in Nashik only because of the holy river Godavari. Today, the river is polluted and water of the river is not fit for drinking. Following the Bombay High Court's directives, the NMC administration has even put up boards on riverbank stating that the river's water is not fit for consumption. Instead of doing up roads and spending a fortune on beautification work, the NMC should focus on making the river pollution-free," said Rajesh Pandit of the Godavari Gatarikaran Virodhi Manch.

Citizens like Gorakh Pagar spoke of indiscriminate tree-felling in the city to make way for "infrastructure development". "Protecting the environment is a priority, even while undertaking such infrastructural work. Tree plantation, garden development and water park projects are a necessity today.

The NMC is spending crores of rupees for the Kumbh on various infrastructural and other works. With Nashik's growing population, the civic administration should chalk out a long-term plan, instead of only focusing on events like the Kumbh," Pagar said.

 
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