Urban News

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

30,000 households to get UGD connections

Thursday, 23 November 2017 07:15 administrator
Print PDF

The Hindu       23.11.2017 

30,000 households to get UGD connections

An aerial view of the sewage treatment plant near Appu Ghar in Visakahapatnam.K.R. DeepakK_R_DEEPAK  

Technical, financial bids approved for Rs. 30-crore project under AMRUT

GVMC is now taking up linking 30,000 more households under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT).

The project to provide 30,000 UGD connections under AMRUT, partly funded by the Union government, will be taken up at an estimated cost of Rs. 30 crore. The technical and financial bids have been approved and the award of work now awaits the nod of the State-level committee.

Presently of the estimated 4.5 lakh households, about 1 lakh are covered under underground drainage network with the three STPs functioning- the 38 MLD capacity STP in One Town, the 25 MLD STP at Appu Ghar and the 13 MLD Mudasarlova STP. However, their total capacity is not being utilised.

All the new connections will be linked to the 108 MLD Narava Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) constructed under the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission, sources say. “The Narava STP is presently under trial run and linking the 30,000 UGD connections will make it functional,” Municipal Commissioner M. Hari Narayanan told The Hindu .

The UGD connections have been proposed under the AMRUT, partly sponsored by the Union government, for 2016-17. Manholes, UGD network and STP were completed under the earlier Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) scheme spending about Rs. 250 crore. The central part of the city was brought under UGD coverage in the JNNURM.

Several parts of the city including Gajuwaka, Malkapuram, Madhurawada and Pendurti are yet to be brought under UGD network. Under AMRUT, proposals worth Rs. 154 crore have been made for the first year and sanctioned. Apart from providing household connections, water supply distribution providing tap connections is proposed for the first year. GVMC has to foot 47 % of the cost proposed for the project as its population is above 10 lakh. The Union government provides 33.33 per cent and 20 % by the State government.

 

BMC allows terrace access to all building lifts

Tuesday, 21 November 2017 00:00 administrator
Print PDF

The Times of India      21.11.2017  

BMC allows terrace access to all building lifts

MUMBAI: In a first, the BMC has approved a provision to allow lifts to travel right till the common terrace areas of all buildings, in an attempt to improve accessibility for the elderly and differently abled.

According to the BMC's development control regulations (DCR), the lift is an alternate means of vertical access in addition to a staircase. The civic body's building proposal (BP) department had initiated a proposal for allowing lifts till the terrace areas of buildings earlier this month.

The proposal states that the provision is needed for optimal use of terraces as an additional recreational area. Currently, the common terrace of any building can only be accessed by a staircase as there was no clear-cut provision regarding accessibility of common terraces above the top-most floor by lift. While the DCR 1991 did not have such a provision, the draft DCR 2034, which is currently undergoing revisions, has provided for making common terraces available by staircases as well as lifts. It also states that common terraces could be used for an additional recreational green area over and above the mandatory layout open space requirement.

Civic officials said the need for such a provision arose because of increasing demand from newer projects in the past few years. "However, in case of existing buildings, prior certification regarding a building's structural stability must be submitted. The society must also ensure security of premises once a lift is allowed to travel right till the terrace," said an official, adding that external lifts till the terrace area will be permitted too.

Municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta said while lifts will be allowed to reach the terrace, no construction will be allowed on it.

"A lot of people these days have taken an interest in rooftop gardens. We are allowing this provision to enable them to reach there easily."

Activist Neenu Kewlani, who uses a wheelchair, called it a wonderful decision.
 

South corporation makes entry points toll-free for three days

Tuesday, 14 November 2017 00:00 administrator
Print PDF

The Times of India       14.11.2017

South corporation makes entry points toll-free for three days

NEW DELHI: South Delhi Municipal Corporation, which is the nodal head for collection of toll tax across the city, has decided to make the entry points free from toll tax for three days. Mayor Kamaljeet Sehrawat said the decision has been taken keeping the congestion at entry points in mind.

The order will be implemented from Tuesday. However, Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) had ordered to enforce ban on the entry of heavy vehicles except emergency service vehicles until further order as an emergency measure.

"We were informed by the police that a string of vehicles are queueing up at the entry points adding more to the rising level of pollution," added Sehrawat.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had ordered in 2015 to impose Environment Compensation Charge (ECC) on light and heavy vehicles to curb pollution. However, making it free is only going to increase the number vehicles entering through 124 entry points in Delhi, sources said.

Latest Comment

SDMChas not only acted contrary to orders of Court but the move will cause financial loss in revenue and will add to pollution in the city.RM

The ECC imposed by NGT on light vehicles is Rs 1,400 and for heavy commercial vehicles, it is Rs 2,800.

Experts, however, have blasted the move, saying the corporation is actually going against the court's decision and adding to the pollution by allowing more trucks inside. "This is opposing the court order by not collecting ECC which is supposed to be a deterrent for truck owners from entering. How can the corporation take a decision like that? Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is underway and we are in an emergency situation right now which says entry of trucks should be banned, but this is not just allowing them inside but also encouraging their entry," said Anumita Roy Chowdhury of CSE.
 
More Articles...


Page 32 of 4907