URBAN NEWS
Date: May 09, 2012; Volume: 2/65 (year/issue number)
Compiled by: Urban Management Centre-ICMA South Asia- supporting professional urban management and local government association networks
Dial toll-free number, air your civic woes, Ahmedabad
After its fouryear experiment with SMSbased complaint redressal system introduced in new west zone, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) is now planning a similar system for the entire city. The new west zone office had received a little above 24,000 complaints in the last four years, claim AMC officials. The new system to be introduced across the city will have a citizens’ charter that will fix deadlines for officers attending to citizens’ complaints and will vary with the type of complaints lodged with the electronic system. A simple call on a toll-free number regarding any civic problem in your area will make the engineers and officers concerned in your AMC zonal office responsible. The system will inform the officers concerned and their higherups via SMSes and emails if the complaint is not addressed in time. Complainants will be given a registration number that will help them track the status of the complaints online and even on SMS. The area municipal councillor will also get access to watching the number of complaints filed in his or her ward office.Times of India, May 09, 2012
AMC to strengthen complaint redressal
Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) conducted a meeting on Tuesday to analyse loopholes in the existing complaint redressal system and address them. The meet which was conducted by the municipal commissioner was attended by all deputy municipal commissioners along with vertical heads of various departments like health, tax, engineering, parks and garden and other departments. The civic body will address complaints of citizens through a proper channelised redressal system as AMC plans to strengthen the entire process. "Basically, the meet focused on analysing how complaints are being addressed currently and how people are informed," stated a deputy municipal commissioner. The whole idea is to make the system people friendly and citizen-centric and come up with a new comprehensive public redressal system, he added.DNA, May 09, 2012
JNNURM projects under cloud, Ahmedabad
In what may come as a setback for AMC, the union ministry of urban development has sent a report highlighting shortcomings in the JNNURM projects implemented in Ahmedabad city. Union minister Kamal Nath, in his letter of April 25, 2012, has informed the state government to take “immediate actions” based on the inquiry report. A team of urban ministry officials was in the city recently to inquire into the allegations fielded by the opposition Congress in the AMC. The union ministry has also asked CAG to inquire into the implementation of JNNURM projects across Gujarat cities.Times of India, May 09, 2012
Minister asks CAG to audit AMC funds
Union Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath has asked Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) to audit the accounts of AMC to find out alleged misuse of funds. AMC Opposition leader Badruddin Shaikh on Tuesday said against the allocation of Rs 5,100 crore to AMC, Rs 3,200 crore was sanctioned so far and Rs 2,200 crore was “misused”. The order comes on the basis of findings and recommendations made by a five-member panel of Urban Development Ministry officials led by B P Sridevi who had visited JNNURM project sites.Indian Express, May 09, 2012
CAG to audit AMC’s JnNURM projects
Cong alleges corruption in projects like Bhadra revitalisation, BRTS and laying of storm water lines
Probably for the first time in the history of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), the supreme audit institution of India, is likely to carry out the audit of civic body's various projects under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM). Leader of opposition in AMC Badruddin Shaikh had written a letter to the Union urban development minister Kamal Nath regarding the alleged corruption by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in JnNURM projects by AMC. In his reply, Nath said, “I've had an inquiry conducted into the issues raised by you (Badruddin Shaikh) with regard to JnNURM projects under the ministry of urban development. The shortcomings, which the inquiry report has highlighted in the implementation of projects, have been communicated to the state government for immediate action. The ministry has requested CAG to conduct an audit into the issues raised by you.”DNA, May 09, 2012
AMC’s ‘junction’ project to ease traffic flow at 31 intersections
In order to streamline traffic movement, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) is all set to develop as many as 31 busy intersections across the city by building an overbridge or an underbridge. The fate of these 31 junctions depend on the survey that is being undertaken since the last three months by New Delhi-based Central Road Research Institute (CRRI). The institute associated with Indian Road Congress (IRC) is expected to present its report at the AMC later this month. Indian Express, May 09, 2012
In ‘drought-hit’ Dangs, tribals buying drinking water
With a drought-like situation in the Dangs, the locals have to purchase 500 litres of drinking water at the cost of Rs 250 since last few weeks. While many of the check dams have dried up and no other sources for supply of water has been developed, the residents had made representations to the Dangs district collector a few days ago. There are around 311 villages in the Dangs district with population of over 2.50 lakh. Sources in the Dang district collector office said there are around 2,000 check dams, bore wells, water reservoirs in different villages of the Dangs and majority of the dams have dried up due to poor rainfall. The Dangs was once known for good rains, but this year the tribals here are facing water scarcity. The residents of Ahwa, which is the capital of the Dangs districts, get water from Bhisiya dam, which has also dried up. Indian Express, May 09, 2012
Women protest against the grave water scarcity problem in Dang, Ahwa
Divya Bhaskar, May 08, 2012
Vadodara faces water shortage due to leakage repairing work in Rayka and Dodka vel feeder line
Divya Bhaskar, May 09, 2012
Water distribution every 10 days- citizens complain poor service delivery inspite of hefty water tax, Botad
Gujarat Samachar, May 09, 2012
Bhuj municipality to start online tax pay system soon
Sandesh, May 09, 2012
Nat’l Book Fair generated four tonnes of waste daily!, Ahmedabad
Unprecedented number of footfalls seen as major reason for all the garbage
After the successful run of Ahmedabad National Book Fair at Sabarmati riverfront, the civic body has a major clean-up task at hand now that the festivities are over. The seven days of the book fair generated four tonnes of solid waste on a daily basis. The unprecedented number of footfalls is being seen as a major reason for all the garbage. Over the past one week, more than 20,000 visitors thronged the venue daily. This figure inflated to 33,000 on the weekend. The food court at the fair as well as pamphlets and handouts given out by marketers contributed to close to three tonnes of waste produced during the weekdays and the four tonnes of it during the weekend. Interestingly, this AMC-organised event has produced more waste than any other programme ever organised by the municipal body.DNA, May 08, 2012
Hazardous industrial waste causing ground water pollution, Padra
Divya Bhaskar, May 08, 2012
Nobody’s garden- AMC ignores old garden, set to build new one
When it comes to being ambitious, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) leads by example. Even if it means forgetting a few projects during the course of time. On Tuesday, it is all set to lay foundation for a sprawling new garden in Gota. AMC has invited State Revenue Minister Anandiben Patel to do the honours. According to sources, the garden will be built in two phases — at a cost of Rs 40 lakh — from the grants of senior BJP leader and MP from Gandhinagar L K Advani. However, just a kilometre away from this new garden, near Sola Gam, is another ‘garden’ with a ‘lake’. Called Dadiyani Talavadi, Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA) had handed over the garden — earlier part of its ambitious Nirmal Gujarat project — to AMC in 2006. All AUDA could do before handing over to the AMC was provide a stormwater pipeline. Since then the project has been swept under the carpet. Now, both AMC and AUDA are busy playing the blame game. Ahmedabad Mirror, May 07, 2012
Ahmedabad civic body to restore water supply from Mahi, Shedhi canals
A day after AMC Opposition leader Badruddin Shaikh wrote to the municipal commissioner to make up for water supply deficit of 120 million litres daily (MLD) which used to come from Raska water pumping station, the latter has ensured to resume the supply. Water flow will be resumed with the help of supply from Vanakbori weir, said an AMC release on Sunday. The supply via Mahi and Shedhi canals was stopped on May 1 to facilitate repairs and maintenance of the Raska water pumping station. Now, the supply will come through Vanakbori weir via Mahi and Shedhi canals with immediate effect. Supply from Raska forms 18 per cent of the city's requirement of 1,120 MLD. Indian Express, May 07, 2012
Trees have their hearts planted in soil, Ahmedabad
200 trees on Gujarat college road stretch, and 80 in paldi are may be felled
So many trees have been felled in Ahmedabad in the name of development that one cannot be blamed for thinking that the trees could have been saved by transplanting them to another place. But it seems it is not possible to transplant every tree. Even in the case of those which can be transplanted, the cost of shifting them with their long, thick roots intact is so high as to be prohibitive. To transplant a tree, it has to be dug out of the ground along with its roots, and replanted at another location.DNA, May 07, 2012
Health hazard looms over 1800 families in city, Ahmedabad
Also, around 900 residential units are under construction within a 500 m radius of hazardous landfill sites
A total of 1,803 families are living under constant threat of ill-health. They are living in residential colonies located within a 500 metre radius of hazardous landfill sites in the city. Not only have the development authorities issued building usage permission to these colonies, they have issued construction permission to seven more projects to build 900 residential units. Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA) and Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) have issued building usage permission to 17 residential projects around hazardous landfill sites in Vastral and Odhav. Surprisingly, one of the residential schemes of AUDA for economic weaker section (EWS) has also been constructed within a radius of 500 m from a landfill site. As per the rules stipulated by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), a landfill site shall be at least 500 metres from a notified habitated area. An area of 500 metres around a landfill boundary should be declared a non-development buffer zone after the landfill location is finalised.DNA, May 07, 2012
Ambaji will make organic manure from solid waste
Divya Bhaskar, May 07, 2012
AMC to spend Rs. 100cr on housing society roads, lights
In view of the assembly election scheduled later this year, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has announced plans to resurface housing societies’ internal roads and to install streetlights and drinking-water pipelines on the public-private-partnership model. AMC officials said that the project is a part of the Swarmin Jayanti Chief Minister Urban Development Fund. Under the project, the government will pay 70% of the funds, while the remaining 30% will be shared by AMC and a society in the ratio of 10%:20%.Times of India, May 06, 2012
AMC to build roads, street lights for pvt societies
With an eye on the upcoming assembly election, the state government has decided to provide roads and street light facilities to private residential societies under public-private partnership (PPP) model. Under this model, 70% of the cost will be borne by the state government, 10% by Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) and remaining 20% by the residential societies. The state government has already cleared a proposal to this effect and has allotted Rs100 crore to the civic body. All residential housing societies, housing board colonies and other residential areas will be covered under this scheme, provided they pay property tax regularly. Under this scheme, the civic body will build asphalt roads or carry out stone paving or build concrete road; erect street lights and lay down water pipelines.DNA, May 06, 2012
AMC to spend Rs. 100 crore to provide civic amenities to private societies
Divya Bhaskar, May 06, 2012
VMC women councillors to visit Dehradun
It seems Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) councillors are finding conferences at hill stations a lucrative option this summer. After male councillors attending a capacity building programme in Shimla, their female counterparts will be going to Dehradun for a similar programme organized by All India Institute of Local Self Government.Times of India, May 06, 2012
VMC hasn’t yet answered to GPCB’s notice for littering in Sursagar Lake
Divya Bhaskar, May 06, 2012
Cleanliness campaign started in Gandevi, complaints received regarding absence of labourers to collect waste
Divya Bhaskar, May 05, 2012
Historic Dudhmati River of Dahod turned intogarbage canal owing to negligence of civic authorities
Divya Bhaskar, May 05, 2012
Underground drainage line laid in Gandhidham at the cost of Rs. 9.50 lakh
Kutch Mitra, May 05, 2012
Modi to replicate twin city model across state
Chief Minister Narendra Modi today said the twin city model - Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar — of urban development would be replicated in other cities of the state. “The government will replicate twin city model of urban development for cities like Halol-Vadodara, Madhapar-Bhuj and Surendranagar-Vadhavan,” Modi said at a programme of Gandhinagar Urban Development Authority (GUDA). He said the government was mulling over a revenue model to make the cities cleaner and it was also suggested to the Prime Minister for implementation in 5,000 towns of India on the public-private partnership model.Under this model, polluted water would be treated first and then supplied to the farmers. The solid waste will also be converted into organic fertiliser and will be given to farmers, the CM said. Indian Express, May 04, 2012
Invite global tenders for solid waste management: Cong
Opposition in AMC alleges that the civic body has vested interests in companies shortlisted for treatment of solid waste
Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) on Thursday shortlisted three companies for treatment of solid waste generated in the city. These companies will also cap and harvest landfill site at Pirana. This decision was taken in AMC’s standing committee meeting on basis of evaluation report submitted by Deloitte Touch Tohmastu India Pvt Ltd. Opposition Congress, however, was quick to allege that ruling party BJP is working hand-in-glove with the shortlisted companies. They also demanded global tenders to be floated for treatment of solid waste generated in the city.DNA, May 04, 2012
Pingut canal in dire need for repair, Bharuch
Members of canal assembly complain to CM regarding wastage of water from lot many breaches
Divya Bhaskar, May 04, 2012
Littering, open and choked drainages to increasemonsoon trouble for Vapi
Municipality hasn’t prepared pre-monsoon action plan
Divya Bhaskar, May 04, 2012
Sudarshan Lake formsa dirty picture- Royal town’s lake filled with filth and creeper, Balasinor
Divya Bhaskar, May 04, 2012
Jamnagar city’s limits to expand from 34 square km to 128 square km
Divya Bhaskar, May 04, 2012
5000 residents of Kansa NA area fearing water crisis
Divya Bhaskar, May 04, 2012
New water tank of16 lakh gallon capacity to be built at the cost of 7 crore in Vasna ward, Ahmedabad
Divya Bhaskar, May 04, 2012
Municipal opposition leader blames AMC for favoring some companies for waste processing
Divya Bhaskar, May 04, 2012
Sanitation workers in Bhuj pollute environment by burning waste
Kutch Mitra, May 04, 2012
Gandhidham’s main water line to be replaced by new at the cost of more than four crore
Kutch Mitra, May 04, 2012
Opposition walks out on the issue of 100 percent increase in water tax by municipality, Sihor
Gujarat Samachar, May 04, 2012
K’taka to replicate city’s BRTS model
Cept designs transport system for Hubli-Dharwad
The city is lending a helping hand to Hubli-Dharwad, the second-largest urban spread in Karnataka after Bangalore. The Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology (Cept) University has shown the way to the aggregation, which is suffering because of overloaded public transport service, by designing a BRTS for the twin city. A Rs 450-crore project has been proposed, including Bus Rapid Transport System (BRTS) between Hubli and Dharwad. Cept University has been roped in as a consultant for the project which covers a stretch of 22.2 km.Times of India, May 03, 2012