Urban News

  • Increase font size
  • Default font size
  • Decrease font size
Urban Planning

Huge drop in applications for building plans

Tuesday, 28 July 2009 04:39 administrator
Print PDF

The Hindu 28.07.2009

Huge drop in applications for building plans

Staff Reporter

VIJAYAWADA: The cause or factors could be anything – recession, revised building rules, high prices and so on. But, the effect is a steep decline in the number of applications submitted for approval of building plans this year. Though the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) is receiving applications for approval of plans for individual buildings now and then, the scenario is worst with regard to apartments and multi-storeyed complexes. The VMC has, literally, “not received even a single application” for construction of apartments in the city during the last three months.

According to official sources, the corporation received 10 to 15 applications during the last six months for construction of apartments or multi-storeyed complexes. The scenario was entirely different a year and half ago.

The corporation used to sanction building plans for apartments and group housing more than 60 a year. Sometimes, it even touched 80.

The corporation received 1,055 applications for approval of plans for houses in an area of less than 300 sq. yards, and 60 applications for buildings/houses in more than 300 sq. yards from January this year. A major chunk of these 1,055 applications were for sanction of approval for individual houses. The VMC, earlier, used to receive 1,400 to 1,500 applications a year. In the city, about 50 apartments and 2,500 individual houses used to be constructed every year on an average.

The town planning wing used to process 250 to 300 building applications a month, sources say.

Likewise, the town planning wing’s receipts have also fallen to a greater extent.

The officials cite various reasons for decline in receipts, including withdrawal of ‘infrastructure fund’ that was earlier raised, collection of double amount of security deposits and so on. Officials point out that the Corporation is not collecting any security in view of the new building rules.

The builder/house owner would have to mortgage a portion of their building.

This clause was incorporated to ensure that building norms were followed rigorously.

The Corporation received only Rs. 2.57 crore from January this year. The building licence fee collected in 2006-07 was Rs. 3.5 crores.

It was Rs. 4.65 crores in 2007-08. The total receipts jumped to Rs. 23.15 crores in 2007-08, as two unusual components – infrastructure fund and Building Regulation Scheme – supplemented the receipts. The infrastructure fund was about Rs. 6 crore.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 28 July 2009 04:52
 

Kerala House panel calls for package to tackle disasters

Monday, 27 July 2009 09:59 administrator
Print PDF

Business Line 27.07.2009

Kerala House panel calls for package to tackle disasters

 

Our Bureau

Thiruvananthapuram, July 26 The Assembly Subject Committee on Land Revenue, Forest and Fisheries has called for a comprehensive disaster mitigation package for the coastal areas of the State.

In its report on the draft Disaster Mitigation and Management Policy of Kerala-2006 tabled in the Assembly, the committee said the State should ideally set up a coastal security force.

This can be achieved by giving specialised training to the youth in the coastal hamlets under the joint initiative of the revenue, ports and fisheries departments and the Coast Guard and Navy, it said.

The State must also put in place an insurance scheme to provide cover to fishermen who meet with accidents while at outer seas.

The Calamity Relief Fund (CRF) should be leveraged to extend assistance to those who lose boats, nets and homes to sea erosion, said the panel.

The main obstacle to disaster mitigation efforts in the State was paucity of funds, it said, and the funds being received from the CRF were insufficient.

Inclusion of all forms of disasters in the State policy comes in the way of extending assistance after major disasters strike with increasing regularity.

The State Government must take steps to prioritise disasters so that sufficient funds would be available for major disaster mitigation activities, said the report.

One of the major reasons for the failure in rehabilitating the affected due to sea erosion was the delay in land acquisition.

 

 

 

The Government must effect appropriate changes in the relevant laws and rules to speed up land acquisition, the committee suggested.

Given the high accident rates in the outer seas, the panel advised that global positioning systems and safety kits must be onboard fishing vessels.

The committee also called for a standard operating procedure applicable to all departments such as Revenue, Fisheries, Local Self-Government, Police, Fire Force, Forest, Public Works, Information, Electricity and Harbour Engineering, which are normally involved in disaster mitigation efforts.

Absence of coordination between these departments can undermine the best disaster mitigation efforts.

Failure of related agencies in responding to different types of disasters was proving costly, it said.

Steps must be taken to install disaster warning signs at quarries and river banks besides weather warning signals at public places, including hotels, trains and fishing harbours.

The report also asked the State to submit to the Centre proposals for securing helicopter services for search and rescue operations, and strengthen the oil pipeline mapping system in cities such as Kochi.

According to the report, steps must also be taken for forming safety clubs in schools to create awareness among the younger generation about disasters and mitigation efforts.

In order to check road accidents, the Government must limit issue of heavy vehicle driving licences to those aged between 25 and 55 and seek to create an ambulance service network with modern equipment and paramedical staff, the Assembly Committee said.

Temporary sheds may be set up adjunct to schools for being used as a shelter during disaster. Shelters should be repaired and permanent shelters built in places prone to disasters such as the coastal hamlets. The Government must also expedite efforts to secure Central assistance for the proposed 105 cyclone shelters in the coastal villages, the panel report added.

 

Zip on Expressway from October 2

Thursday, 23 July 2009 12:15 administrator
Print PDF

The New Indian Express 23.07.2009

Zip on Expressway from October 2



A view of the PV Narasimha Rao Elevated Expressway which is nearing completion.


HYDERABAD: The 11.66-km P V Narasimha Rao Elevated Expressway, the longest flyover in the country will be inaugurated on October 2 and opened up to traffic on the same day, Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development Anam Ramnarayana Reddy said on Wednesday.

He said that except for three ramps, the elevated structure from Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital to Aramgarh Junction on National Highway-7 along the Inner Ring Road is nearing completion. The Expressway will provide hassle-free direct connectivity International Airport at Shamshabad and the Bangalore Highway.

Ramnarayana Reddy, along with HMDA Metropolitan Commissioner KS Jawahar Reddy, inspected the works going on the Expressway. He expressed satisfaction over the progress of work. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 600 crore.

Of the total 328 piers, 327 have been completed, works on 328 foundations are done and out of the 327 spans, 312 have been completed.

Four components providing underpass at Aram Ghar junction and providing trumpet interchange near the airport on the National Highway 7 and connectivity to the airport have been thrown open to the public. The widening of the Inner Ring Road from Rethibowli to Aram Ghar Junction from fourlane to six is under progress.

Three pairs of intermediate up and down ramps at Rethibowli, Upperpally and Aramghar junction are to be provided to enter and exit the elevated corridor. This would take four to six months.

The MAUD Minister said that funds were not a constraint and that the State Government would provide necessary funds to complete the ongoing projects in the Twin Cities undertaken by HMDA, GHMC and HMWS&SB.

 
More Articles...


Page 325 of 328