Think India Foundation

After years of slumber, Karnataka govt wakes up to survey of cities

Bangalore : Believe it or not, none of the documents you possess pertaining to immovable properties in urban areas actually establish your ownership.

Khata, sale deed, tax-paid receipt... these and many more documents are mere proofs of transactions done over a property or having paid some levy to the government agencies, and they do not denote the ownership.

 Urban property records are in a mess in the State. The government and the urban local bodies have been only collecting taxes and cess on private properties over the last several decades and not bothered to issue ownership title to people. The government has not even maintained proper ownership records of its own properties in urban areas of the State. Read more

Source: deccanherald.com

Hot new destination - Bihar

Leading companies have big investment plans for Bihar

Balram Singh Yadav, 46, the Mumbai-based Managing Director of Godrej Agrovet, has toured Bihar on business six times in the last seven years. Each time he visits, he finds the overall atmosphere has improved over the last time.

On his early visits, the road from Patna airport to his hotel used to be potholed and dusty. He never dared venture out of his hotel in the evenings for fear of being mugged. Read more

Source: businesstoday.intoday.in

Cambridge, TVM’s twin

Ajay Prasad would like to be addressed as a proud son of Thiruvananthapuram. He has been an active member of Thiruvananthapuram Development Front (TDF), an association that aims to promote the economic development of the city. He continues to be active in the group after migrating to Boston to do his masters in real estate development from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

It was his report on the Vizhinjam port project on a web portal that drew the attention of the TDF founders. Since then, he works with the TDF in helping the government on major projects like Vizhinjam and Technocity and promote Thiruvananthapuram as a global investment destination. Read more

Source: deccanchronicle.com

AP govt writes Centre for telecom research institute in Hyd

Hyderabad : Andhra Pradesh has requested the Government of India to set up a premier institute on the lines of C-DAC and D-DOT for exclusive design and development of the fourth generation (4G) and next-generation networks (NGN) in Hyderabad to meet the requirements of telecommunications industry. The state government will provide required land and other infrastructure facilities for the new institute, according to state Information Technology and Communications Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah.

In a letter to Union IT and Communications Minister Kapil Sibal today, Lakshmaiah pointed out that the mobile telecom revolution was sweeping the country minimising the digital divide between rural and urban areas. "With introduction of 3G services for future telecommunications, the need has come for taking up 4G and thinking about NGNs. There is a need for establishing premier telecommunications institutes for design, development and production of 4G and NGN, ICT network and telecom equipment in India. I request you to consider setting up an exclusive design and development of 4G and NGN in Hyderabad,"Lakshmaiah said. Read more

Source: ibnlive.in.com 

Andhra CM favours women's co-op as SHG nodal agency

Chennai/ Hyderabad : The Women Cooperative Finance Corporation (WCFC) could work as a nodal agency for mid-way financing of the women self-help groups (SHGs), according to chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy.

Speaking to the chief executives of the banks during the State-Level Bankers Committee meet held in here recently, Reddy said the state government would provide a working capital to WCFC towards mid-way financing and would extend support and cooperation in ensuring recovery of the loans extended to women SHGs. Read more

Source: business-standard.com

Can India emerge as the World's third largest economy?

Bangalore: It is well known fact that, India is the next close competitor to China in terms of economic growth and the speed at which the growth rate is increasing, it is said that India will be the third largest economy in the World. Standard Chartered through one of its surveys predicts that by 2030, India will out beat China but there are many pitfalls that India has to face before it reaches that stature. Regulatory burden, infrastructure bottlenecks, high oil prices and slowdown in foreign direct investment could be the main hurdles that India will have to face.

According to Gerard Lyons, Chief Economist and group head, global research, Standard Chartered Bank, the world is going through its third 'super-cycle', which is referred to as a period of historically high global growth, lasting a generation or more. He said the growth will be driven by increased trade, high rates of investment, urbanization and technological innovation which only the large and new economies can sustain. He said that only countries which have abundance of cash or commodities will make it to the third super cycle and the balance of economic and financial power will be shifted from the West to the East. Read more

Source: siliconindia.com

UID numbers not needed for driving licences

MYSORE: Transport minister R Ashoka on Sunday asked the RTOs not to press for the submission of unique identification numbers (Aadhar numbers) while issuing driving licences (DL) and LLR. The deputy commissioner, who is also the chairman of road transport authority, had made it mandatory to submit Aadhar number, while applying for DL or LLR.

Speaking at the Sarige Adalat here, Ashoka expressed his helplessness when asked about the Union government's rule making it compulsory for autorickshaw drivers to pass class VIII to get their DL. District minister Ramdas, who was also present in the adalat, said that drivers who failed to meet the requirement can enrol themselves in government schools. "They can produce the the admission certificates when applying for the DL," he said. Read more

Source : articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Panchkula council to spend more on maintenance of parks

PANCHKULA: Finally waking up from deep slumber, Panchkula municipal council has decided to increase the amount to be spent on the maintenance of parks in different sectors.

This amount has been increased from Rs 60 lakh to Rs 90 lakh, every year. Besides park maintenance, MC has also fixed a target to spend Rs 4 crore on the repair of rain shelter, bench, tower lights and parks. Read more

Source: articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Panchkula NIFT remains a distant dream, state government yet to provide land

Chandigarh/Panchkula: Union urban poverty alleviation and housing minister and the Haryana government are at the loggerheads over the issue of setting up of National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) at Panchkula with the minister alleging that the state government is hesitating in providing land for the top fashion institute.

Selja blamed the Haryana government of neglecting the establishment of NIFT in the state, saying the administration has been requested to provide land for the institute on several occasions but to no avail. Read more

Source: daily.bhaskar.com

Panchkula green cover hogs water supply

PANCHKULA: The city is struggling to balance its water consumption between residents and plants as it faces a shortage of 5 million gallons per day (MGD). There are 11 gardens in the city that are spread over 168 acres and 2.85 MGD water is needed to irrigate them.

As the water treatment plant in Sector 28 has not started functioning, only drinking water is available for the green areas. A working treatment plant would have allowed for the availability of tertiary supply for irrigation purposes and put less pressure on drinking water resources. Read more

Source: articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Tatas may return with city housing project in Kolkata

KOLKATA: The Tatas are showing a renewed interest to return to West Bengal, leaving behind the bitter memories of Singur. The Tata Housing Development Company Limited (THDC), which has already set up luxurious buildings in Rajarhat, wants to invest further within the city surroundings.

Sources say that the company is keen to get in touch with the Mamata Banerjee government to get more land in the city and suburbs to set up more residential and commercial complexes. After she took over as chief minister, Mamata herself has welcomed the Tatas a number of times to invest in Bengal. Read more

Source: articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com

RTI: Pathetic state of implementation in Rajasthan

JAIPUR: For a government harping on transparency and accountability, a glance through the websites of various departments brings to the fore the pathetic state of the implementation of the RTI Act. Incidentally, it was Rajasthan that laid the foundation for this law.

A survey by the Suchna Evum Rozgar Ka Adhikar Abhiyan, based on the websites of 64 government departments, shows that there are at least 17 departments that do not have a public information officer (PIO) or an appellate authority either at the office level or at the department level. Apart from this there are seven other departments that do not have PIOs or an appellate authority at the office level though they have such posts at the department level. Read more

Source: articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Ahmedabad city's lakes to figure in Sweden meet

AHMEDABAD: Kankaria and Vastrapur lakes of the city will become exemplary in an international conference to be held in Sweden.

The stories of the development of both the lakes will be told in a workshop on urban ecology there. Read more

Source: articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Builders facing acute shortage of labourers in Ahmedabad

AHMEDABAD: Construction related projects in the state are facing a huge problem of labour shortage. Labourers are not available even at higher wages and as a result, ongoing projects, including many realty projects, are progressing at a snail's pace.

The labour intensive real estate and infrastructure industry is worth nearly Rs 50,000 crore and depends heavily upon migrant labourers from Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Bihar besides Panchmahal and Dahod districts of Gujarat. Read more

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Rajasthan embraces Dal model for conservation of lakes

Srinagar : In a significant development, the Government of Rajasthan is embracing the famous Dal Lake in Srinagar as a model for conservation of its lakes which are confronted with multiple problems including pollution and siltation.

Officials said on the recommendation by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, the Rajasthan Urban Infrastructure Finance and Development Corporation Limited (RUIFDCO) has deputed a six-member team to Srinagar to “learn about the conservation measures of Dal Lake.” Read more

Source: greaterkashmir.com

1,300 crore water plan gets civic nod

MUMBAI: A Rs 1,300-crore water project, which will ensure 24-hours water supply to Mira Road and Bhayander in three years, has been sanctioned by the standing committee of the Mira-Bhayander Municipal Corporation (MBMC).

The state government had, in March 2009, promised to provide 200 million litres per day (mld) of water to the Mira-Bhayander region by building a pipeline from Surya dam in Palghar taluka. A detailed project report was submitted to the central government. The project was to be carried out using funds from the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) scheme. However , the Centre did not approve the funds for the project. Read More

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Gurgaon govt depts use hi-tech ideas

Gurgaon : Government departments in Gurgaon are adopting new technologies to cater to the increasing number of tech-savvy people in this information technology hub. Government agencies such as traffic police and the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) have already changed their approach by connecting to people through internet.

No wonder, Haryana won the ‘[Best e-Governed state government’ TELECOMM India Excellence Award 2007. Read more

Source: hindustantimes.com

 

CII for action against polluting industries

CHANDIGARH: With fingers being pointed at Punjab's industry for polluting river waters, the Confederation of Indian Industry president B Muthuraman has made it clear that those breaking the norms should face the consequences. With the industry remaining the number one defaulter, the CII is now going to send a team of experts to Jalandhar, where villagers have revolted against the pollution of Kala Sanghia, to work out ways to mitigate the menace.

"CII is concerned about environment and whoever is indulging in breaking norms is not right and must be stopped. The issue was discussed in our meeting with industry on Saturday," said Muthuraman. Read more

Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com

Karnataka government inks $350 million pact with World Bank

Karnataka Government today signed an agreement with Centre and World Bank for securing USD 350 million loan assistance for implementing roads development under K-SHIP-II project. 

Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa , in whose presence the agreement was signed, said the state would develop 3,411 kms of state highway with the World Bank assistance. 

Under K-SHIP-I, the state has upgraded 2,385 kms of roads in the state, he said. Read More.

Source:  economictimes.indiatimes.com

India's 68 % people may get legal right to subsidised food

India's 68 per cent population may get legal right to subsidised food if the draft National Food Security bill prepared by the Food Ministry is approved by a panel of ministers at the forthcoming meeting.

 After analysing the recommendations of the National Advisory Committee (NAC) and Rangarajan Committee, the Food Ministry has prepared a draft bill, likely to be placed before the Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) on food next week.

The ministry has also proposed to provide subsidised food grain on 'individual basis' instead of the current practice of allocating 35 kg of wheat or rice to per family, according to sources. Read More.

Source: india.gov.in

Traffic cop assaults anti-corruption activist

India Against Corruption activist Deepak Gadekar, 32, was allegedly beaten up by home guard Shiva Gawde on Saturday for video recording the latter accepting bribes from private bus drivers at Mapusa bus stand. 

In his complaint to Mapusa police, Gadekar alleged that Gawde, attached to Mapusa traffic cell, wrongfully restrained him, abused him using filthy words, assaulted him causing injuries and threatened him with dire consequences. Gadekar said he was at Mapusa bus stand on Saturday at 4.45pm clicking photographs and recording police personnel from Mapusa traffic cell accepting money from bus drivers and conductors on private buses. Read More

Source: The Times of India

Slum dwellers to benefit from RAY Project

KOCHI: Over 24,775 families residing at 240 colonies in the city will benefit from the Rajiv Awas Yojana (RAY) for slum dwellers under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban renewal Mission (JNNURM).

A presentation was held in the Kochi Corporation Council Hall on Friday in which RAY state cell social development officer Philip Mathew presented the draft list of the slums that were identified in a city-level slum profiling conducted by the state. Read more

Source: ibnlive.in.com

Panaji MLA turns down Central funds for SWM

PANAJI: A state-level steering committee under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) headed by chief minister Digambar Kamat on Friday approved two detailed project reports (DPRs) for improving water supply ( Rs 173.9 crore) and sewerage facilities ( Rs 156.15 crore) in Panaji for submission to the Union ministry of urban development.

DPRs of solid waste management (SWM) for the city worth Rs 33 crore were not taken up for consideration after opposition leader and panel member Manohar Parrikar said the state could support the project. Read more

Source: articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Odisha Govt chalks out massive Urban Tree Plantation Initiative; to plant 7.50 lakh saplings in 8 cities

Bhubaneswar:  The state government on Saturday decided to take stern action against the encroachers of forest land in the capital city in the first phase in its effort to embark on a massive plantation programme to make the city eco-friendly under the Urban Tree Plantation Initiative.
It also imposed restrictions on felling of trees and cutting of branches in the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation limits to ensure the required green cover.

Cutting of trees in Bhubaneswar for any reasons irrespective of Government or private areas will be taken very seriously. Prior permission of the City DFO is mandatory for felling trees or cutting branches, chief secretary Bijay Kumar Patnaik told reporters after presiding over a state-level meeting at the State Secretariat here. Read more

Source: orissadiary.com

No skirting this problem on skywalks

Bangalore : For skirt clad girls, it is an embarrassment climbing the foot over-bridge at Basaveshwara Circle near Sophia School. The gap between the steps remains open in full view of pedestrians passing beneath the infrastructure. During rains when the steps of the bridge turn slippery, it poses a safety threat too, especially for children and elders.

On Monday, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) council will discuss a proposal to close the gaps between the steel steps of the skywalk and the connecting platform and install MS gauge steps and platforms on both sides, additional steps near Gulf Club gate, roof to protect the bridge users from sun and rain and escalators for the comfort of the users. Read more

Source: dnaindia.com

Cut power, water supply of dilapidated buildings, says Maharashtra govt

Mumbai : In a bid to save lives, people living in decrepit and dangerous houses will be shifted to transit camps and BMC shelters this monsoon

With the residents of dilapidated buildings refusing to vacate their homes, the State Government has directed respective agencies to cut electricity and water supply of old buildings this monsoon.

The government has taken the step as residents of such buildings refuse to move

The decision was taken in a pre-monsoon preparedness meeting chaired by the chief secretary Ratnakar Gaikwad in Mantralaya on Friday. Read more

Source: mumbaimirror.com

Hyatt Hotels to Add another Feather to Luxury Address in Chennai

Chennai is the ethnic gateway to the southern terrain of India and is the most sought after Medical hub in India. The land is emerging as a commercial territory and is always in demand for it’s out of ordinary hospitals. Chennai is visited by peoples from across the world for specific purposes and this gives a high demand to Chennai hotels irrespective of seasons.

All global brands are now taking initiative to consolidate maximum market in India. Hyatt Groups of Hotel are all set to open a luxury property in Mount Road near Anna Arivalayam by June this year. The group with 447 hotels spread across 40 countries is now aiming to improve the environmental conditions and lifestyles of natives of the regions where they are operating. Read more

Source: release-news.com

Green journey: EW Metro to bypass Subhas Sarobar

KOLKATA: The East-West Metro will change alignment to evade destruction of green of Subhas Sarobar in the east Kolkata.

Emerging from a meeting with chief minister Mamata Banerjee at the state secretariat, Trinamool MP and party chief whip in parliament Sudip Bandyopadhyay said, East-West Metro will change its alignment. It will run without disturbing the greenery in the lake area. Read more

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Vacant Sec V plots under lens

KOLKATA: Plots in Salt Lake Sector V lying vacant for more than three years have come under the newly formed government scanner. Industries and IT minister Partha Chatterjee visited the Webel office and Sector V on Saturday to take stock of the scenario.

Officials say there are about 150 plots, measuring two to five cottahs. Many of these were leased out to firms but remained utilized. A committee was formed in 2005 under the then chief secretary Amit Kiran Deb to look into the distribution of plots but the re-allotment did not occur. Read more

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Mumbai to host Green Day celebrations

Mumbai : India will be hosting the celebrations for this year’s World Environment Day (WED) on June 5. The theme for this year’s celebration is ‘Forests: Nature at your service’.To mark this historic event, Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), in collaboration with Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), has organised a 3-day long special exhibition from June 2 to June 4.

The themes included in the exhibition are urban biodiversity, air, water and noise pollution, green zones of Mumbai, extinct wildlife of Mumbai, citizens Initiatives, mangroves and death of Mumbai’s seashore. The exhibition will be organised at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) and Churchgate railway stations. Read more

Source: dnaindia.com

Jumbos choke in filthy Yamuna

NEW DELHI: Elephants have been living on the banks of the Yamuna for over 400 years, but the level of pollution has increased so much that today the river has become poison for these giants.

Animal activists say urban Delhi is not the ideal living place for these elephants — the humidity level, for instance , is much lower than required and there is a lack of clean air. Read more

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com 

Opening shopping mall at OMR

CHENNAI: Suryavardhan Estates Private Limited is all set to lease out Coromandel Plaza, its new mall at OMR. Constructed at a cost of `105 crore, it occupies a sprawling area of 3 lakh square feet.

The five floor mall, with elaborate parking facilities and a four screen AGS multiplex, targets over two lakh people working in the IT parks, hotels and hospitals; school and college students; and the residents staying on the OMR and ECR stretch. Read more

Source: ibnlive.in.com

Urban India is acquiring a taste for the pig

Mumbai : Pork is not the most popular of meats in India, but it has always had its passionate followers. Think Goa, Coorg and the North-East. Elsewhere too, in urban India, chefs are now seeing pork orders rise and adventurous carnivores are trying their hands at it in their own kitchens, encouraged by reliable suppliers and awareness of safer cooking methods.

Adman Juju Basu is one such pork aficionado. “I love talking about pork,” he exclaims. His Facebook page has an album, titled ‘Pig — The Divine Giver’, featuring pork in its various edible avatars. “In India, the pig has the baggage of being a ‘dirty’ animal. In fact, it’s easier to cook than mutton. It’s a diverse meat, and grills better than any other because of the fat content. You can roast the belly, barbecue the ribs or bake the legs,” he says with relish. Read more

Source: dnaindia.com

2002 in mind, slumdwellers recoil at new flats at Vadodara

Vadodara : The Vadodara Municipal Corporation has turned down the demand for re-allocation of houses provided to the urban poor from Kamatipura area of the city as part of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.

About 450 families have been given notice to vacate their houses from Kamatipura and Harijanwas slums in Fatehgunj area and move to Kishanwadi, where they have been allotted new houses. But many of these families now say they do not want to move to Kishanwadi, saying they will not feel safe there since the place was affected during the 2002 riots. Read more

Source: indianexpress.com

Challenges before local governance increasing: Uttarakhand CM

Dehradun : Advocating for better coordination between local, state and union governments, Uttarakhand chief minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank today said that challenges before the local governance are increasing with the rapid urbanisation.

"The concept of local government could only be strengthened by making better coordination between the Union government, the state governments, and the local bodies,” Nishank said while inaugurating a meeting of the All India Mayor Council Working-Committee here. Read more

Source: dnaindia.com

Cauvery pipeline: Minister cracks the whip

Bangalore : The minister for Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), S Suresh Kumar on Saturday, was on his rounds to inspect areas where pipes are being laid for Cauvery Water Supply Scheme (CWSS), Stage IV, Phase II.

But instead of getting reports on the project, all he heard was officials of various departments mud-slinging at each. This included the police department, BWSSB, and Bangalore Development Authority (BDA). Read more

Source : dnaindia.com

Government halts demolitions in Golibar

Medha Patkar ends fast on day 9

Medha Patkar, leader of the National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM), ended her nine-day fast at Mumbai's Golibar colony on Saturday after the government handed her two resolutions incorporating the demands of the agitators.

“It is a victory for the lakhs of people fighting for their right to live in the financial capital of India with dignity,” Ms. Patkar said. Read more

Source: thehindu.com

Modi wants an urban NREGS

New Delhi : Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi wants an urban job scheme on the lines of the MGNREGS, started in 2006 through legislation and the budgetary allocation for which each year is around Rs 40,000 crore. The proposal, sent by his urban development department, is with the ministry of urban development and poverty alleviation.

"We are urbanising very fast and migration to cities is creating a huge employment gap. An NREGA-like programme would come to the rescue of the less advantaged urban poor," said additional chief secretary BK Sinha in his letter. Read more

Source: hindustantimes.com

 

The Future of Human Civilization

The future of the human civilizations is going to be largely defined by the character of its future cities. This is especially important to reflect on at this point in time as humanity reached a special milestone this century by becoming a majority urban species. In 2007, for the very first time in our history, humankind has become a majority urban with more than half of the world’s population living in cities. The phenomenal rate of urban growth, increasing from 13% in the 1900’s to 29% in 1950, reach over 50% this decade.

Nevertheless, India is still a majority rural nation. Today Approximately 300 million people inhabit urban areas today and make up about 30% of the population. But urbanization is projected even in our country and India will be more urban than rural over the coming decades like other parts of the world. As a result India has a tremendous opportunity to leap frog into a new urban model by learning from the mistakes and succeses of the more urbanized geographies of the world. Read more

Source: green-changemakers.blogspot.com

 

Revenue opportunity from fibre-based broadband services is $32 billion: Study

MUMBAI: The total revenue opportunity from fibre-based broadband services is estimated to be approximately $32 billion across the four leading emerging markets in Asia–Pacific - India, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam.

However, to realise this opportunity, government involvement and financial support is essential, particularly in rural areas, in order to drive broadband penetration. Read more

Source: indiantelevision.com

Jairam may give zoo to Delhi govt

NEW DELHI: Environment minister Jairam Ramesh is seriously contemplating to hand over the management of Delhi zoo to the state government. After an inspection on Thursday, Ramesh said that despite several warnings, civic agencies concerned had been unable to maintain the standards of sanitation.

"There is a major sewage problem in the zoo that, despite repeated efforts to check it, keeps reappearing. Sewage enters the zoo premises and contaminates the water. The death of the second giraffe could have been caused by poor quality water but we still have to confirm that. The ministry has given Rs 5 crore to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to sort out the problem but they are yet to start work. Most of the civic work in the zoo is being carried out by MCD, Delhi Jal Board and the Public Works Department, and if they are not able to brush up their act then one of the extreme options before me is to transfer the zoo to the Delhi government," he said. Read more

Source : m.timesofindia.com

With each puff, women are risking their health

Bangalore : Head to a hen party and you will see smoke all over. Outside a college campus or on office corridors, gang of girls or women busy smoking is a common view in Bangalore. Young girls from the city have taken up to smoking as a lifestyle.

And on World No Tobacco Day, experts from the city spoke about the ill effects of smoking — both active and passive on women. Read more

Source: dnaindia.com

Landmark BDA complexes will become malls in Bangalore

BANGALORE: The Bangalore Development Authoritys old and dying shopping complexes are to be razed and their place occupied by trendy commercial space to be developed under the public private partnership (PPP). To be ready by 2014 (by current estimates),these renovated urban commercial spaces are envisaged to emerge as the nerve centres of the communities they serve.In addition,they will swell the coffers of the funds-starved BDA through higher rentals.

Six BDA complexes have been identified for the transformational exercise: Indiranagar,Domlur,Austin Town,RT Nagar,MRCR (Vijayanagar complex) and RMV mini-market.The demolished structures will make way for retail spaces with food courts,big retail brands,multiplexes,office spaces and new cultural complexes.A detailed project report for these complexes is being compiled. Read more

Source: articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Freedom Park in Bangalore mired in scandal

BBMP exceeds budget ceiling for development of the venue for anti-graft campaign, pays the contractor almost 80% more

Freedom Park, the theatre of the city’s fight against corruption and a venue which witnessed a groundswell of support for social activist Anna Hazare’s anti-graft campaign, is itself at the centre of a scandal. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) had defied a government order and passed bills way in excess of an authorised budget for the development of the park. Read more

Source: bangaloremirror.com

10 slums of Chennai to be declared smoke-free by month-end

CHENNAI: Ten slum colonies in the city, including the one at Ambedkar Nagar, will be declared smoke free by the year-end.

Prasanna Kannan, WHO consultant, speaking to Express, said, “Incidence of tobacco consumption in slums have been found to be high. So the State Tobacco Control Cell has decided to educate the slum residents on awareness about the ill-effects of tobacco consumption. As per the Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2010, the most affected age group in terms of tobacco consumption is 13 to 25 years. So each educational institution in this particular area will be made smoke-free. Read more

Source: expressbuzz.com

Green camp for students in Chennai

CHENNAI:  In a bid to spread awareness among the students on the importance of caring for the environment, a day-long camp is being organised in Taramani on June 4.

The camp, which is jointly organised by M S Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) and Federation of Science Clubs of Tamil Nadu (FSCT), in association with Loyola Institute of Frontier Energy (LIFE), Loyola College, Chennai at MSSRF, Taramani, will sensitise the youngsters on the serious impacts of deforestation and forest degradation and on preservation of ecosystems, according to President, Federation of Science Clubs of Tamil Nadu (FSCT), J Daniel Chellappa. Read more

Source : expressbuzz.com

‘Green buildings are a must to sustain environment’

Chandigarh: The national conference on green buildings, organised by PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) on Friday focussed on efforts to conserve the environment, preserve natural resources and save energy in all structures.

Delivering the inaugural address at the conference, Haryana Principal Secretary of Housing, S K Gulati said: “Our mindsets must go green to ensure that we save resources for future generations. With 2010 being the peak of all bio-fuels, it is high time that we develop a mindset with energy efficiency at its core.” Read more

Source: indianexpress.com

 

 

 

Civic officials' study tours of Jaipur end up as leisure trips

JAIPUR: Week-long foreign tours of local body officers and elected representatives in the recent past have proved nothing more than leisure trips. The foreign jaunts, ostensibly to gather first hand experience of development activities in cities around the world, are turning out to be useless and mostly leisure trips.

The suggestions and reports submitted by officers of local bodies are either not feasible or pipedreams of elected members of such organisations. Read more

Source: articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Street vendors' body slams Bihar govt

PATNA: The National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI) on Friday came out heavily on the state government and said that lakhs of street vendors in the state would remember the NDA government for empty promises of integrated urban development and bringing about a law for vendors.

The NASVI flak comes close on the heels of UPA president Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council (NAC) endorsing the NASVI demand for a central law for street vendors. It felt that the state government was playing joke with livelihood and social security of street vendors. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Government not against USE : Shanmugam

CHENNAI: School Education Minister C Ve Shanmugam on Thursday reiterated that the AIADMK government was not against implementing the uniform school education (USE) system and that the system would be introduced soon after getting recommendations from an experts committee on improving the quality of education.The minister conveyed this to a delegation of CPM leaders led by its legislative party leader A Soundararajan, which met him at the Secretariat.

The delegation comprising representatives of DYFI, submitted a representation to the minister explaining the apprehensions of the public, particularly the parents, students and educationists, on the AIADMK government’s announcement on USE. Read more

Source: ibnlive.in.com