Urban News

Source : The Business Line Date : 05.03.2009

Mangalore tops in urban malaria cases

Our Bureau

Mangalore, March 4

The share of Mangalore in the reported cases of urban malaria in Karnataka stood at 64 per cent in 2008, according to Mr M. Madan Gopal, Secretary of Department of Health and Family Welfare, Karnataka.

Addressing presspersons here on Wednesday, he said that this was followed by Gulbarga at 25 per cent, Bellary at 4 per cent, Udupi and Hubli-Dharwad at 3 per cent each, and Hospet at 1 per cent.

He said that 94 per cent of cases of malaria in Mangalore were reported from the core Mangalore town itself. As many as 11 areas in the town have been classified as high-risk areas.

Last year, nearly 50 per cent of the budget allocated to control urban malaria was spent on Mangalore itself.

Construction sites, abandoned open wells and overhead tanks in buildings are some of the breeding grounds for mosquitoes leading to the spread of malaria in the region.

Construction activities in the town have led to the increase in the number of migrant workers coming to the city.

In some of the cases, these workers reside at the construction sites. Some of these sites lack basic facilities leading to the increase in the cases of malaria.

Last year, 50 building contractors were penalised for not taking steps to control the breeding of mosquitoes.

Source : The Business Line Date : 30.05.2009

Upgradation of drainage, sewerage systems in Kolkata may cost Rs 20,000 cr

Our Bureau

Kolkata, May 29

The work on improving the drainage and sewerage systems in Kolkata may cost around Rs 20,000 crore, though in phases, according to Mr Alapan Bandopadhyay, Commissioner, Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC).

Loan awaited

Addressing an interactive session, organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce

here on Friday, Mr Bandopadhyay said, “We have already mobilised Rs 2,500 crore and an additional Rs 2,500 crore of loan is awaited from the Asian Development Bank.”

Aila effect

The loan, to be used for funding the Kolkata Improvement Project, was expected shortly, he observed.

The city’s drainage system was virtually crippled and parts of the city were waterlogged for long after the cyclone Aila had hit the state on Monday.

Difficulties

“While it is difficult to formulate a mechanism to protect from such a disaster, we certainly need to upgrade our disaster management apparatus,” he said adding that the electricity and water supply had already been restored in most areas.

Nearly 1,500 trees in the city were uprooted , he added.

Last year, KMC earned Rs 1,000 crore by way of lease rental from land for commercial use, Mr Bandopadhyay said.

He added that it had a fixed deposit of Rs 1,200 crore in banks as on date.