Towns and Cities

Mayor gets useful tips on new technologies in Copenhagen

Wednesday, 16 December 2009 01:28 administrator

The Hindu 16.12.2009

Mayor gets useful tips on new technologies in Copenhagen

Deepa H Ramakrishnan

— Photo: AP/ Peter Dejong

Green ride: Chennai Mayor M.Subramanian (right) and Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard leave the Town Hall Square for a bicycle ride in Copenhagen after a session at the UN Climate Change conference on Tuesday.

CHENNAI: Mayor M.Subramanian, currently attending the United Nations Climate Change conference in Copenhagen, may come back with a bagful of ideas for possible implementation in the city.

Speaking to The Hindu over telephone on Tuesday, he said that the different sessions are not only very interesting, but also gave useful insights into new technologies.

“I visited several project sites, including one where bio-gas produced from sewage is being used to run 200 buses there. We also had a chance to visit some filling stations. I have made note of the details of the technology. Perhaps, in future, we could consider something like that for Chennai,” he said.

Mr. Subramanian spoke about a project in Malmo, where 5,000 apartments in a complex were using seawater running through pipes to heat and cool their residences. “They do not use heaters or air conditioners. Instead of conventional power, they use power generated from a windmill.”

He also participated in a bicycle rally for about 35 minutes around Copenhagen with city Mayors from other countries.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 16 December 2009 01:37

Coming soon: Stamp on historical Ripon Building

Tuesday, 15 December 2009 10:09 administrator

The New Indian Express 15.12.2009

Coming soon: Stamp on historical Ripon Building

G Saravanan

CHENNAI: Exactly 100 years after its foundation was laid (December 12, 1909), the Ripon Building, the seat of the oldest civic body in the country, is all set to reach another landmark: getting its image on a postal stamp.

According to Chennai Corporation sources, the mandatory procedure for putting the historical structure on a postage stamp was initiated recently with a formal letter to the Chief Post Master General.

A few months ago, a senior official of the postal department had indirectly asked the Chennai Corporation to explore the possibility of bringing out a stamp on heritage structures, such as Ripon Building.

Senior civic body official sent a detailed letter a few days ago to initiate the stamp procedure. The entire process would be over in another three to five months, a senior Chennai Corporation official told Express.

Ripon Building would join a select league of historical buildings in the city that figure on stamps, such as the Central Railway Station and St Paul’s Church (Choolai).

Ripon Building, fondly called as local ‘White House’ by Chennaiites due to its colour, is located near the Central station. Commissioned in 1913, it was built by a builder named Loganatha Mudaliar. It took four years to build the Indo-Saracenic vision in white.

Earl of Minto, the then Viceroy and Governor General of India, laid the foundation on December 12, 1909.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 15 December 2009 10:13

Contractors pay ‘bribe’ for bills

Friday, 11 December 2009 03:28 administrator

Deccan Chronicle 11.12.2009

Contractors pay ‘bribe’ for bills

December 11th, 2009

By Our Correspondent

Tags: bribe, chennai corporation, corruption rampant

Dec. 10: Contractors associated with the Chennai corporation engaged in construction of stormwater drains, parks and roads in city limits have recently started facing new road blocks while getting their bills passed with some and clerks and mangers in the corporation zonal offices demanding favours from them.

“Clerks at the Nungambakkam zonal office expect money for just making an entry about the bill and passing it to the next clerk. Usually only field officials expect that the contractors should grease their palms. But this is a new and unhealthy trend,” say contractors.

“Already bureaucratic hurdles and procedures haunt us; if this situation continues, no one will come forward to take up corporation projects,” another contractor said requesting anonymity.

A few months ago, when a similar complaint alleging that a few councillors of zone 8 prevented the contractors from taking part in the tender process was taken up with mayor M. Subramanian, he immediately summoned the zonal chairman and the local councillors and enquired about the issue. Since then there is no problem from the elected representatives in that zone. Now it is zone 7 corporation staff disrupting the bill sanctioning process and tender procedures, contractors said.

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