Urban News

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

GHMC office to turn swanky

Tuesday, 18 February 2014 06:10 administrator
Print PDF

The Hindu               18.02.2014

GHMC office to turn swanky

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) head office will soon acquire a swanky corporate look complete with reception areas and meeting halls for visitors.

A brand new seven-storied complex is being proposed to be built adjacent to the existing building. It is likely to cost Rs. 11 crore. Both the structures will be connected with ramps. Somesh Kumar, who took over as Commissioner a few months ago, has drawn up an ambitious plan to add around 77,000 sft space to the existing office building complex.

This move is set to address haphazard vehicle parking in the head office. More than 11,000 sft will be set apart for the purpose. “The entire ground floor of the present building will be earmarked for parking. A floor in the new structure will be given to provide ample space for vehicles,” said Mr. Somesh Kumar.

The GHMC Standing Committee has approved the proposal, which has been forwarded to the government. Pending government approval, building designs and other issues are being sorted out. It has been decided to go for pre-fabricated construction technology so as to complete the work at the earliest. “This is a public office and a long-drawn construction work will cause inconvenience to all,” an official pointed out. The new office complex would match the contemporary corporate outlook with a public interface space on each floor. “A citizen visiting our office should get a warm and welcoming feel ,” he added.

 

Waste management gets a fillip

Tuesday, 18 February 2014 05:36 administrator
Print PDF

The Hindu               18.02.2014

Waste management gets a fillip

Special Correspondent

Kottayam municipal authorities, reeling under pressure over their failure to meet commitments on the waste management front, have received a fillip in the form of a green signal from the Central government for a Rs.18.95-crore project submitted earlier.

Speaking to reporters here on Monday, municipal chairman M.P. Santhosh Kumar said the project had been included in the Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns (UIDSSMT) being implemented by the Union Ministry of Urban Development. The project would have to be implemented within two years. While the Central government would chip in with 80 per cent of the expenses, the rest would have to be borne by the State government and the municipal council equally, he said.

The comprehensive project envisages waste management at source, decentralised waste management, infrastructure and logistics for movement of municipal waste and a major awareness campaign among the population.

The municipality could modernise the drainage system using Rs. 50 lakh earmarked for the purpose, he said. The project also provides for procurement of a JCB, a mini tipper, etc., for transportation of the waste. A compactor vehicle to compress municipal waste while on the move so that its quantum could be lowered was also included in the list, he added.

A special component of the project would be the scheme for Vadavathoor dumping yard, he said. The project has earmarked Rs.2.5 crore for the scientific processing of accumulated waste. The problem of leachet which aggravates during the monsoon could be addressed to some extent through the construction of a scientifically designed 900-metre-long drainage system.

The project envisages a major initiative in the area of waste processing at source. As per the scheme, 4,000 households will be provided biogas plants at a cost of Rs.7 crore.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 18 February 2014 06:10
 

City to host national meet on safe drinking water

Tuesday, 18 February 2014 05:32 administrator
Print PDF

The Hindu               18.02.2014

City to host national meet on safe drinking water

Special Correspondent

A national conference on safe drinking water, ‘Safe Water Kerala 2014’, will be organised here on February 25 by Kerala Water Authority, on behalf of the Water Resources Department of Kerala government.

The programme is being held in association with the Union Ministry of Drinking Water Supply and will coincide with the National Rural Water Awareness Week celebrations being observed from February 25 to March 1. The conference will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.

Announcing this at a press conference here on Monday, Minister for Water Resources, P.J. Joseph, said the focus of the conference will be on source sustainability and water quality aimed at ensuring access to safe water to households.

Though the State is blessed with rich water resources, it is facing challenges in maintaining desired water levels and protecting the sources from contamination and salt water intrusion, especially during the summer.

The minister said the State has 1,247 drinking water projects under the KWA. Construction activities for 308 projects are in progress. KWA has provided 14.5 lakh water connections in the State, apart from 2.04 lakh public water taps.

Pointing out that many of the drinking projects were started in the 1970-80 period, Mr.Joseph said there was a need to upgrade the purification technology among them.

 
More Articles...


Page 247 of 4907