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Slum Development / Housing

Plan to make State slum-free by 2014

Friday, 24 July 2009 09:35 administrator
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The New Indian Express 24.07.2009

Plan to make State slum-free by 2014

HYDERABAD: In a bid to make the State free of slums by the end of 2014, the State Government is doing a vigorous exercise to devise a comprehensive plan to make the goal a reality.

The plan would be out in August, Secretary to Municipal Administration and Urban Development Ministry, Pushpa Subrahmanyam said.

Data is being collected from all the municipalities in the State and inputs for the plan would be finalised soon, she said.

``President Pratibha Patil in her address to the Lok Sabha said that the UPA Government would take up a programme called - Slum-Free India by 2014.

The Central Government has been working on this programme and the details would be announced soon,’’ the MA&UD secretary informed.

Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy also announced three months back that he want to see a slum-free State by 2014. The Central Government’s announcement came in handy for him and the State Government is now waiting for the modalities of the Slum-Free India programme, she said.

According to MA&UD officials there are about 7,700 slums in the 124 municipalities of the State. About two crore people are living in them with no basic facilities.Most of the slums lack drinking water, roads, sanitation and more than ten people live in about a 50-square yard `house’.

The Central Government has already been implementing an urban poor housing programme under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission and another scheme Rajiv Awas Yojana is also on the anvil, the officials said.

 

40 pc of ULBs’ revenue to be spent on slums

Friday, 24 July 2009 09:25 administrator
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The New Indian Express 24.07.2009

40 pc of ULBs’ revenue to be spent on slums

HYDERABAD: In order to ensure that all municipalities in the State spend 40 percent of their net funds on development of slums, the State Government issued certain guidelines today and asked the civic bodies for strict compliance.

The government has already issued orders seeking maintenance of a separate account, `UPA Account’, for these funds which should be used to provide basic amenities, create income-generating opportunities and improve the overall living standards of the urban poor.

Explaining the procedure to estimate the amount of funds to be earmarked for the UPA Account, the government asked the urban local bodies (ULBs) to prepare an estimate of their own revenues to be realised through tax resources, non-tax resources, assigned revenues, non-plan grants, etc for the subsequent financial year.

They have to prepare an estimate of the amount required for maintenance of all civic services including outsourcing of services, office and contingent expenditure and deduct this from total own resources and arrive at the own resources. The pay and allowances and pensions of municipal employees are, however, not included in this calculation.

After ascertaining the amount available for undertaking developmental activities 40 percent of it should be kept in the UPA Account.

These funds should be used for water supply, drainage and sewage, construction of community toilets, solid waste management, roads, streetlighting, parks, community and livelihood centres and to meet cost escalation, if any, in housing and infrastructure schemes and other sanctioned and ongoing projects meant for slums.

In case where UPA funds are not utilised in a particular year, they shall be carried forward to the subsequent year.

The commissioners of all ULBs, except GHMC, shall submit a quarterly progress report to Commissioner and Director of Municipal Administration who forwards it to the government.

Last Updated on Friday, 24 July 2009 09:34
 

Housing Board to auction spaces in Kochi Revenue Tower

Monday, 20 July 2009 04:32 administrator
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The Business Line 20.07.2009

Housing Board to auction spaces in Kochi Revenue Tower

Board to take up more projects on PPP basis.

 

Auction will be held between July 22 and August 3. Individuals/institutions offering higher deposits at the auction will be allotted shops on contract basis.

Our Bureau

Kochi, July 19 The Kerala State Housing Board has initiated steps to auction spaces in the 14-storeyed Revenue Tower at Marine Drive in the heart of the city to commercial establishments, banks, governmental and private offices.

Built at a cost of Rs 28 crore, the centrally air-conditioned tower with a total area of 16,143 sq metres and spread over one acre land has received all licences, including the City Corporation’s occupancy certificate, the Housing Board Chairman, Mr P. Rehumathulla, has said.

The Revenue Tower offers modern facilities and various conveniences comparable to modern shopping malls in metro cities.

Facilities

In a commercial locality such as Marine Drive, where parking is a major problem, the Revenue Tower has facilities for parking over 60 cars and much more two wheelers at any given time. It has five lifts including two capsule lifts besides three escalators and a freight lift that allows free movement of visitors and consumers to all the 14 floors which is a matter of great convenience.

It has facilities for at least 126 commercial establishments in its first four floors in the ground while the water proof basement is convenient for electronic goods and rooms in the next two floors are earmarked for jewellery shops, cosmetics and ladies stores, lifestyle products and ready made garments.

The full 1,000 sq. metre area in the third floor is aesthetically designed for food court to make available variety of eatables under one roof. Facing the enchanting Kochi backwaters, it has vast open space of about 650 sq metre attached to the food court for setting up dining area which will offer a new experience to the visitors.

The floors from 5 to 13 are meant for setting up of offices. Both sides of the top 14th floor is also ideal for setting up neon board and LCD projectors because of its unique visibility advantage from far away locations and major advertising agencies and Hoarding companies are being notified of these facilities, he said.

The auction/tender forms for allotting space for offices and commercial establishments, especially jewellery, textile and hotel groups, will be available at the Housing Board’s Ernakulam office and auction will be held between July 22 and August 3. Individuals/institutions offering higher deposits at the auction will be allotted shops on contract basis, he added.

The Housing Board will also come up with a major project at its 17 acres of land at the Marine Drive in the city. The project would be taken up on Public-Private Partnership (PPP) basis, the Housing Commissioner and Board Secretary, Mr Noyal Thomas, said.

Last Updated on Monday, 20 July 2009 05:01
 
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