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Civic chief, Engineering official in soup over tree felling

Monday, 22 September 2014 06:45 administrator
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The Hindu         22.09.2014  

Civic chief, Engineering official in soup over tree felling

In a significant judgment that would boost the morale of environmentalists, the High Court has ordered action against Nandikotkur Municipal Commissioner and the Deputy Executive Engineer for allowing felling of 374 babul trees from the bank of a municipal water tank.

Local Advocate Ch John Barnabas petitioned the court, alleging wilful misappropriation of timber wealth of public institution and damage to environment. Upon hearing the counsel for the petitioner and the respondents, the court ordered the Municipal Commissioner and the Deputy Executive Engineer to pay penalty of Rs. 15,000 and Rs. 10,000 respectively.

The petitioner alleged that the municipal officials planned to widen and deepen the tank bed located 10 km away from the town by removing bushes. Also, the officials allowed felling of 374 babul trees, aged five to 30 years, under the guise of bush clearance, which were sold illegally in market.

After the issue sparked a row, the municipal officials recovered a portion of the timber and stocked those on the municipal premises, saying that the stock would be put to auction.

The court accepted the version of the petitioner that the trees were felled under the guise of bush clearance even though there was an opportunity to protect them. The municipal authorities contended that bush clearance was needed to widen the tank and increase its capacity to ensure water supply to growing population of the town. The court felt that the municipal officials should have followed the proper procedure while clearing bushes, notify if any trees required felling and taken permission from the appropriate authority for it.

The High Court imposes fine and orders actions against the officials

The officials allowed felling of 374 babul trees under the pretext of bush clearance


 

No fire NOC to Mayo project

Wednesday, 17 September 2014 06:01 administrator
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The Times of India       17.09.2014

No fire NOC to Mayo project

 

NAGPUR: It may sound strange that the construction work of modernization project of Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital (IGGMCH), also known as Mayo Hospital, has been started without obtaining no-objection certificate and sanction of building plan from the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) fire and emergency services and town planning departments respectively. However, the PWD has claimed to have started the process to get the two approvals.

The state Public Works Department started construction of the 250-bedded new hospital project along with boys and girls hostel within the premises of Mayo Hospital.

Sources in NMC and NIT told TOI no NOC was obtained from NMC's fire department before starting construction of the project. "Fire department's NOC followed by compliance and fitness certificate every year is a must for any hospital. This ensures proper and effective fire prevention and safety measures at the hospital," the sources said.

Sources said PWD took no approval for building plans too. "Fire NOC issue would have come forward in case application had been submitted for approval. The norms say that even state PWD has to ensure construction according to city's development control regulations (DCR). NMC does not issue building permit if the plan is not according to the city's DCR," the sources said.

PWD chief engineer A Sagne told TOI construction of the project was taken up on priority due to public interest litigation with the high court. "Already NMC has been requested for building plan permission. NMC asked us in orally to submit computerized drawings which we were to give them on receipt from chief architect. But now we doing on our own. Opinion of NMC fire consultant was taken for fire department's permission. We are preparing the proposal according to consultant's suggestion," he said.

 

JMC resumes drive, seals 3 units in Civil Lines

Wednesday, 17 September 2014 05:58 administrator
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The Times of India       17.09.2014 

JMC resumes drive, seals 3 units in Civil Lines

 

JAIPUR: The Jaipur Municipal Corporation's (JMC) vigilance wing once again carried out a massive drive and sealed three commercial units in Civil Lines zone on Tuesday. The drive was against the defaulters who have not paid the advertisement fees for hoardings.

Action was taken against a gym and spa centre, Big Bazaar shopping market and an office situated in Shine Towers. According to the officials, nearly Rs 20 lakh were recovered from the defaulters.

Reportedly, the team had to face mild protest from the gym owners, however, the drive was carried out with local police assistance. The corporation recovered approximately Rs 1.5 lakh from the gym owner. "Similarly, we recovered around Rs 15.5 lakh from Shine Towers and Rs 3 lakh from Big Bazaar," said a JMC official.

Since past few days, JMC has become strict in dealing with commercial establishments which have been evading taxes. "We have carried out a successful drive against commercial units which did not pay advertisement fees for hoardings and recovered approximately Rs 15 crore. The money recovered can be used for development of infrastructure in the city," said a senior official.

According to JMC officials, tax evasion to the tune of Rs 800 crore by the residents has added to JMC's problems, which is already reeling under financial crunch. The corporation has to collect UD and house tax from nearly 5.22 lakh residents.

The official further said that, "Maximum defaulters fall in the Civil Lines zone. From 31,709 tax evaders, JMC has to recover Rs 223 crore as UD tax and Rs 39.36 crore as house tax. And from Jaipur Vidyut Vitaran Nigam Limited, which is a Rajasthan government body, JMC has to recover Rs 131 crore."

JMC has passed a budget of Rs 1,128 crore for the financial year 2014-15. The recovery will help the corporation in carrying out the development work successfully. In the budget, Rs 456 crore has been proposed for development work in the city and a major thrust this year is on the construction of roads, for which Rs 150 crore has been allocated. For repairing of roads and drainage, an amount of Rs 100 crore has been sanctioned.

In 2013-14, JMC was able to achieve only 54% of the estimated target. "Recovering taxes is the only possible way to generate revenue," added the official. 

 
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