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Urban Planning

Water resources department subsidy for rainwater harvesting

Monday, 06 August 2012 10:06 administrator
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The Times of India   06.08.2012

Water resources department subsidy for rainwater harvesting

PANAJI: While the water resources department (WRD) has initiated subsidy schemes for rainwater harvesting, storing and usage in Goa, the locations for these will be identified in a phased manner. The above initiatives are expected to augment the availability of ground water which can be judiciously used for various purposes.

According to details furnished by the water resources department, various methods of water harvesting have been implemented in Goa. These include open bandharas structures, check dams, percolation stand or recharge pits, roof top rainwater harvesting and other site specific measures.

Rain water harvesting and recharging ground water projects have been executed at Verna and Kundaim industrial estates. For example, at Verna industrial estate, three locations consisting of stilling basis with infiltration shallow bore holes, two check dams and one recharge pit have been constructed. Two check dams are constructed at Kundaim industrial estate.

Many industries have constructed rain water harvesting structures to conserve water during monsoons. Recharging through existing service borewells, stilling basins and infiltration bore wells, ground water recharge shaft are some of the recharge structures executed by industries through their own funds.

In a bid to implement rainwater harvesting on a larger scale in Goa, the government has also issued a notification of government policy on roof top rainwater harvesting. Rainwater harvesting for ground water recharging is being considered on site specific needs. The schemes of construction of percolation tanks for prolonged recharge beyond monsoon will be identified and implemented as per techno-economic considerations.

Importantly, the government has also made rainwater harvesting mandatory for new residential complexes including apartments on a plot of 2000 sq m and above, commercial complex on plot of 1,500 sq m and above and industrial units on areas of 10,000 sq m and above. Rainwater harvesting and recharging ground water is made mandatory for the new industries and industries going for expansion by the government.

Last Updated on Monday, 06 August 2012 10:08
 

PCMC seeks 4 FSI to regularise unauthorised constructions

Saturday, 04 August 2012 11:38 administrator
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The Times of India   04.08.2012

PCMC seeks 4 FSI to regularise unauthorised constructions

PUNE: The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation has decided to send a proposal to the state government, asking for four FSI (floor space index) so that unauthorized constructions in the twin township can be regularized.

Municipal commissioner Shrikar Pardeshi said, "The existing rules allow a maximum of two FSI. The proposal seeking four FSI will be sent to the state government within a week."

Pardeshi was reacting to a letter sent to him by independent MLA Laxman Jagtap. Jagtap has said that the illegal buildings should be regularized either by increasing the FSI to four or by charging administrative charges or by imposing fines. He has cited the state government's scheme of granting four FSI to new constructions and for slum rehabilitation schemes in Mumbai.

In another letter, which is also signed by MLAs Vilas Lande and Anna Bansode, Jagtap has mentioned that there was a provision in section 143 of the Maharashtra Regional Town Planning Act, 1966, for levying administrative charges to regularize illegal constructions. The urban development department had issued an order on November 10, 1997, to regularize unauthorized constructions in rural areas of the district by charging administrative charges.

Jagtap has pointed out that the state government had allowed the Pimpri-Chinchwad New Township Development Authority to regularize encroachments in housing schemes in sector number 21 by making changes in Development Control rules under section 37(1) of the Act. Constructions of up to 1.5 FSI were regularized by charging fine and allowing construction in 50% of margin space. The same rule can be applied in Pimpri-Chinchwad, he said.

Pardeshi said, "The civic administration will prepare three proposals. According to the first one, unauthorized constructions can be regularized by paying fine. The second proposal will allow regularizing illegal structures after getting approval from the state government. And the third will be about structures which cannot be regularized.

Last Updated on Saturday, 04 August 2012 11:40
 

After rainwater harvesting, BBMP now moots compulsory windmills

Saturday, 04 August 2012 06:04 administrator
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The Hindu    04.08.2012

After rainwater harvesting, BBMP now moots compulsory windmills

Staff Reporter

It will be beneficial if all high-rises start generating energy from wind: Mayor

In the air:The city needs all-out efforts at renewable energy, says the Mayor.— File Photo: K.V. SRINIVASAN
In the air:The city needs all-out efforts at renewable energy, says the Mayor.— File Photo: K.V. SRINIVASAN

 

The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is mooting making installation of windmills mandatory, just like rainwater harvesting, for certain categories of properties, initially.

“Looking at the power crisis, it will be beneficial if all high-rises start generating energy from wind. If investing in solar and wind energy and rain harvesting are made mandatory, a lot can be achieved,” said Mayor D. Venkatesh Murthy during a discussion with the members of the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) here on Friday.

‘No coordination’

The Mayor conceded there was lack of coordination among various civic agencies, including the BBMP, Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) and the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom).He pegged this as the reason for the state the city finds itself in.

Business licences

Responding to a long-pending demand of the business community, the Mayor announced doing away with the annual system of renewing trade licences, which will henceforth be called business certificates and will be valid for three or five years.

When a FKCCI member raised the issue, Mr. Murthy said business certificates would be issued online similar to the system proposed for khata, and birth and death certificates.“Instead of trade licences, we have called them business certificates. They can be renewed every three years or five years instead of [annually],” he said, while stating that it is not possible to abolish them as it entailed a law amendment. Among the other projects in the pipeline are construction of 500 toilets across the city and multi-level parking facilities, especially near Namma Metro stations.

Ruing BBMP’s lack of real power, he said it had to approach the State government for everything. Also, the Mayor’s yearlong tenure is inadequate for any real achievement.Mr. Murthy spoke about areas that are yet to be converted into revenue layouts, due to which they still come under the agriculture zone. “In the name of development, it has become unauthorised Bangalore,” he commented.

Last Updated on Saturday, 04 August 2012 06:06
 
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