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BDA to raze illegal structures in implosion method soon

Thursday, 30 January 2014 10:22 administrator
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The Pioneer               30.01.2014

BDA to raze illegal structures in implosion method soon

The Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) is going to use implosion method soon to demolish the illegal structures in the city. The method will be used for the first time in the city which will speed up the demolition work, BDA official sources said.

Indore-based explosion expert SB Sarwate has demonstrated his techniques before the BDA officials and assured that their demolition method would bring no harm to authorised parts nearby. Sarwate has already used the method to demolish over 200 buildings in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat and Rajasthan by using detonator, sources said.

Recently, BDA vice-chairman Vishal Dev had written a letter to Twin City Police Commissioner Dr R P Sharma seeking permission for using explosives to demolish the structure. The Police Commissioner had given some conditions after viewing the presentations and videos of Sarwate’s demolition method.

After getting permission from the police, the BDA will go for another safety and explosive related permissions from concerned authorities to use the method, the BDA sources said.

Notably, the BDA has received orders to raze over 5,600 illegal structures including more than 1,000 major units in the city. “If it uses old methods, it will take years to complete the process,” said a BDA official.

 

‘Follow code of conduct strictly in CMC polls’

Thursday, 30 January 2014 10:10 administrator
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The Pioneer               30.01.2014

‘Follow code of conduct strictly in CMC polls’

Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) Election Officer Laxmidhar Mohanty on Tuesday said no party or candidate should indulge in any activity which may aggravate existing differences or create mutual hatred or cause tension between different castes and communities, religious or linguistic.

Addressing the candidates, including Independents, he told them to adhere to the model code of conduct sincerely, and any deviations from it would invite stringent action.

“The parties and candidates shall refrain from criticism of all aspects of private life, not connected with the public activities of the leaders or workers of other parties,” Mohanty told them, adding that criticism of other parties or their workers based on unverified allegations or distortion must be avoided.

He said pasting of posters, banners, festoons or making welcome arches and writing slogans on Government buildings and boundary walls are strictly prohibited and these could be pasted on private house after taking advance permissions from the owners.

No candidate would be allowed more than two campaign vehicles to move around the wards and the political parties are allowed to have only two campaign vehicles for the entire city.

Campaign vehicles are not allowed to use loudspeakers on them between 8 pm and 7am next morning and the campaign should end 48 hours before the end of voting on February 6, Mohanty said.

He also asked the candidates not exceed their poll expenditures beyond the specific limits and the poll expenditure details should be submitted with the poll (financial) observers in appropriate format on the due date.

 

Palike reduces betterment charges

Thursday, 30 January 2014 09:48 administrator
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Deccan Herald                30.01.2014

Palike reduces betterment charges

The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Council on Wednesday reduced betterment charges from Rs 250 to Rs 200 per sq mtr in 100 core wards of the City and from Rs 350 to Rs 250 per sq mtr in the remaining 98 wards, irrespective of the dimension of the plot. The decision was taken on corporators’ request. 

On January 28, the Palike had fixed the betterment charge at Rs 350 per sq mtr for plots measuring up to 1,000 sq mtr and Rs 300 per sq mtr for plots measuring more than 1,000 sq mtr. The civic body had decided to collect betterment charge as part of a plan to regularise revenue sites converted for non-agricultural purpose and issue them ‘A’ Khatas. 

The corporators welcomed the reduced rates and said the decision would ease the burden on citizens. Commissioner M Lakshminarayana said that an affidavit would be submitted to the court within a week about the revised rates. 

He clarified that the Palike would handle only the legally converted lands and authorised buildings. “This move is similar to the Akrama Sakrama scheme. Unauthorised buildings and illegally converted plots will not be eligible for ‘A’ Khatas. Those will be dealt under the Akrama Sakrama scheme.” 

Corporators of the ruling party pointed out that even the Kharab (waste) lands were being issued Khatas. Those should instead be handed over to the BBMP, they demanded. Since 2003, many houses built in non-approved layouts are enjoying the amenities without paying any betterment charges, they added. 

Lakshminarayana clarified: “All the converted sites, and houses which have not flouted any building bylaws, including vacant and open sites, will come under the purview of betterment charges.” 

‘Hire 4K workers’ 

Congress corporators staged a dharna during the Council meeting, demanding the immediate recruitment of 4,000 sanitation workers. 

“The Palike has not bothered to recruit sanitation workers, despite a government order,” said Congress corporator, T Mallesh. “In addition, the services of 18,000 contract sanitation workers are to be regularised.” Mayor B S Satyanarayana and Lakshminarayana assured the corporators that a meeting workers would be held on Friday.
 
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