The Times of India            11.02.2014

A2Z takes over solid waste management in Varanasi, says ops to begin soon

VARANASI: Amid the ongoing war between solid waste management (SWM) firm A2Z and its hired agency Accord Hydropower over finances, the former took over the charge of the SWM in the city on Saturday.

Omkarnath Chaturvedi, the authorized representative of A2Z, met municipal commissioner Umakant Tripathi and discussed the plan of action with him.

"We have taken over at the local office and at the garbage treatment plant from the officials of Accord Hydropower. Very soon, we will begin operations. We will be able to start the door-to-door collection of garbage and its transportation to the treatment plant across the city within this month. After the machines at the plant are oiled and greased, the processing of garbage will also begin within one month," said Chaturvedi, who will leave for the company's head office in Hyderabad after appointing a local in charge. Chaturvedi plans to seek more funds from the head office based on the assessment of the remaining work in the city.

"I had come here for the assessment of the remaining work and requirement in terms of money and other resources. For recruitment, including manpower for door-to-door collection and transportation, we might turn to some old employees apart from hiring new people," Chaturvedi said, adding that a meeting with Mayor Ramgopal Mohale was also slated for February 12 to discuss the plan in detail and seek his views.

Commenting to the financial irregularities by A2Z as alleged by Accord's administration, Chaturvedi said, "We are a limited company and all our records are open for inspection by the Sebi. As a matter of fact, there has been no question by Sebi on this account whatsoever".

The municipal commissioner said that is a good sign that despite the recent developments the A2Z has taken over the charge of SWM of the city without much lapse of time." They(A2Z) are waiting for the letter of consent from the office of Construction and Design Services(C&DS) which I hope they will get within two-three days. After that they will be all set to take the charge of the SWM and will start from the Bhelupur zone where Accord had started the door to door collection. Gradually they will start their operation in the entire city" said Tripathi.

Meanwhile the director of the Accord hydropower has taken the refuge of the judiciary over the matters of alleged financial irregularities by A2Z administration. According to the director, Accord, BN Tiwari, despite the order of the chief judicial magistrate, Lucknow, dated 5-2-2014 to the in-chrage of the Gomti Nagar, Lucknow police station to register a case and submit its examination report to the court, the latter has not done so. Following this Tiwari has written a letter to the DIG Lucknow range on Saturday intimating non complaince by the in-charge of the Gomti Nagar police station of the court's order.

The Hindu             11.02.2014

Mayor post wide open for limited contenders

Correspondent

Being reserved for the Scheduled Caste woman, the race for the post of Mayor of Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) has been tapered and limited to only four aspirants. Of the 59 wards of the city, only four wards -- 21, 39, 45 and 51 -- were reserved for this category and all these wards have returned BJD candidates which is going to form the council after winning 36 wards.

While Anita Behera has won from Ward No 21 defeating her nearest rival from BJP by a margin of 572 votes, Sulochana Sethy has won from ward No. 39 defeating an independent candidate by a margin of 447 votes. Similarly, from ward No 45 Meenakshi Behera has romped home defeating the Congress candidate by a margin of whopping 1365 votes and Mamata Behera has won from ward No. 51 defeating an independent candidate by a margin of 451 votes.

Looking at the margins of victories, Meenakshi has an upper hand and moreover she has crushed a Congress candidate by polling nearly 60 per cent of votes polled in her ward. Since Meenakshi and Sulochana have won from the wards that come under the Choudwar-Cuttack Assembly segment, the party supremo might chose either of them for Mayor, for the coveted post has never gone to anyone from this segment ever. Sulochana could be chosen for the prestigious post for she is the only graduate from among the four Scheduled Caste woman making it to the council this time.

On the other hand, the Barabati-Cuttack legislator Debashis Samantray might throw his weight behind Anita of ward No. 21 as she is the only contender from his segment for the post of Mayor. Samantray, as always enjoys a special equation with the Chief Minister and it is due to Samantray’s hard work, the party managed to win as many as 21 wards from the 31 coming under his assembly segment. However, Mamata of ward No 51 could be the dark horse to stake her claim for the post of Mayor for the simple reason that she belongs to Cuttack Sadar Assembly segment and never ever from this segment has anyone occupied the post of Mayor or Deputy Mayor.

While all the four contenders have left it to the judgment and wisdom of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik saying that they are willing to take up any responsibility the party gives, all eyes are now focussed on the decision of the party president which will be known on Thursday.