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29 towns across dist seek municipal council status

Thursday, 30 January 2014 10:56 administrator
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The Times of India              30.01.2014 

29 towns across dist seek municipal council status

KOLHAPUR: As many as 29 gram panchayats in the district, including some prominent villages, have sent a proposal to the state government to achieve the status of municipal council. The self-governing bodies have sent the proposal, which has been moved from the Kolhapur district municipal council department, to receive funds and avail of benefits of the schemes meant for urbanization.

"For towns with such kind of status, funds are flowing through global banks and Union government-sponsored programmes and projects for urbanization which includes developing better amenities, infrastructure and modern facilities for the residents. All these 29 towns have already crossed the basic requirement of population size set at 10,000. The proposal is based on the 2001 census. Besides, in the last 13 years, the actual population has grown further," said Deepak Patil, Kolhapur district project officer.

Speaking to TOI, he said, "There is one municipal corporation (in Kolhapur) and nine municipal councils. Once the state government approves the proposal, these 29 gram panchayats will get the status of municipal council also. Thereafter, the total number of municipal councils in the district would be 38."

According to the economic survey report released last, the share of urbanization in the state is 45%.

The proposal sent to the state government, a copy of which is with TOI, states that Ichalkaranji and Wadgaon (Hatkanangale tehsil), Kagal and Murgud (Kagal tehsil), Malkapur (Shahuwadi tehsil), Jaysinghpur and Kurundwad (Shirol tehsil), Panhala and Gadhinglaj towns have the status of municipal council. Interestingly, Ichalkaranji being a major textile hub in the country has a population of more than one lakh falls under category 'A' among the municipal councils. Other municipal councils fall under category 'B' for having population between 40,000 and one lakh.

"Other places such as Gaganbawda, Hatkanangale, Chandgad, Radhanagari and Shahuwadi where major tehsil offices are located still have the gram panchayat status, even though these towns qualify for municipal council status," Patil said.

He said the process is being delayed due to pressure over the administration and the requirement for tremendous documentation. "Another reason for slow progress is the reluctance of local leaders and governing bodies to adapt to the change in status. Along with more funds and the liberty to utilize it, the maintenance cost of the establishment goes up. The tax structure has to be revamped. Higher taxes are introduced for revenue generation, though it is meant for better amenities," he added.

 

HC asks NMC to send 5 DPRs to Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority

Thursday, 30 January 2014 10:54 administrator
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The Times of India              30.01.2014 

HC asks NMC to send 5 DPRs to Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority

NAGPUR: Taking serious cognisance of the apathy of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) officials, the Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed it to submit revised Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) of five projects under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) to Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) before February 15. In turn, MMRDA was asked to forward these DPRs after proper scrutiny to the centre within next three days.

A division bench comprising justice Bhushan Gavai and justice Atul Chandurkar while fixing next date of hearing as March 7 asked NMC commissioner to file a detailed affidavit on the progress in this regard.

The court orders came while hearing a PIL by Mohan Karemore and others through their counsels Shrirang Bhandarkar and Shrikant Khandalkar, charging the civic bodies with failing in their duty of creating proper and adequate parking infrastructure. The petition quoted a master plan prepared by L&T Ramboll, where the city's transportation needs in future were studied.

The report estimated around 16 lakh two-wheelers and 2.77 lakh four-wheelers would ply on city roads by 2031, and existing and even proposed infrastructure was insufficient to handle such massive numbers. The PIL prayed for restriction on sale of vehicle, unless there is massive development of road network.

Additionally, it demanded better parking facilities, improvement in traffic and road management, and open spaces to end parking woes and traffic congestion. NMC, NIT, state government, MSRTC, and PDKV were made respondents.

Earlier, the judges cited old order of December 16, where they noted that five DPRs were never dispatched to the centre as per report submitted by the union secretary. It also said that JNNURM can now operate till March 31 this year, and new projects could also be sanctioned.

NMC, however, said that to revise DPRs and to bring it on Scheduled of Rates (SOR), a competent consultant has been appointed. Senior counsel Avinash Gordey drew the court's attention towards congestion at Ganeshpeth Bus Station. He also wants the court to peruse some photographs to point out the situation prevailing at that place. He contended that this problem also needs to be addressed immediately in general public interest.

"We find that five DPRs mentioned above cover that aspect. However, NMC as also the state government has to find a suitable solution to the same," the judges said.

 

NMC plans pay-and-park in Dharampeth

Thursday, 30 January 2014 10:53 administrator
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The Times of India              30.01.2014 

NMC plans pay-and-park in Dharampeth

NAGPUR: Undeterred by failures in the past, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has started the process to introduce pay-and-park on the roads to ease traffic congestion and provide proper parking, especially in market areas. The proposal has been prepared to introduce pay and park system in Dharampeth on West High Court (WHC) Road between Law College square and Shankar Nagar Square.

The NMC traffic department has prepared the proposal and tabled before municipal commissioner Shyam Wardhane for approval. After getting a nod, the expression of interest will be called from bidders followed by introducing the system for the first time on this busy stretch.

Corporator Parinay Fuke had requested for pay and park on this stretch. Earlier proposals of pay and park on a few roads in the city met with failure following strong opposition from corporators. Proposals of Link Road in Sadar and Sitabuldi main market road were thrown into dustbins even after work orders were issued to private agencies for operation and maintenance of pay and park.

Traffic engineer Nasir Khan told TOI the WHC road between Law College square and Shankar Nagar square is among 86 roads suggested for pay-and-park by the traffic police department in 2010. "NMC took efforts to launch the system on 54 roads in 2010 and then on four roads in 2012 but could not succeed. Pay-and-park is in effect only on one stretch, between Lokmat Square and Panchsheel Square," he said.

Fuke said pay-and-park only solution to provide proper parking on WHC road in Dharampeth. "Parking is haphazard on this stretch. A few buildings have no parking space although it is mandatory. NIT's parking place in the complex adjacent to Gokulpeth market is getting no response. Pay and park will also ensure safety of vehicles," he said.

 
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