Think India Foundation

Renegotiating PPP contracts

Projects run the risk of getting derailed in the absence of an institutional mechanism for renegotiation

The 15-year history of public-private partnership (PPP) in India is mainly about creating an enabling environment to get private capital to invest in infrastructure assets. So, a plethora of instrumentalities from model concession agreements, viability gap funding, definitions of infrastructure and specialised financing have focused on asset creation. The happy result is that we now have a fairly large basket of operating assets. The flip side is that we have begun facing the problems associated with operating contracts.

These contracts are for periods ranging from 15 to 60 years. The problem is there is an ostrich-like belief that once negotiated, ground conditions will continue to hold forever; that the terms of the agreement between the private party and the state are cast in stone; and that any changes required can only attract charges of crony capitalism. So, even while economists find it extremely difficult to predict growth and inflation for the next quarter, assumptions on project cost, traffic, tariff, input costs, et al that go into preparing a winning bid, are expected to be inviolate and unchanging. The world moves on, but the concession agreement is frozen in time. Why? Because, simply put, it is the job of the private sector to forecast the future and take risk. That may indeed ring true for a wide range of market goods, where there is flexibility to morph, enter and exit. But for strait-jacketed, lumpy, fixed infra projects in regulated environments, the truth is that the task of forecasting for PPP bids gets highly complex  often, just intelligent guesswork packaged professionally. Read more

Source : www.business-standard.com

Urban PHCs to work from noon till night

NEW DELHI : Aim is to help urban poor go to health facilities after working hours

To help urban poor go to health facilities after working hours, urban primary health centres, planned under the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM), will function from noon to 8 p.m. Out-patient departments at standard health facilities worked only in the morning; when patients had to go to work, visiting a doctor or hospital would mean losing a day’s salary, Anuradha Gupta, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, said. Another important feature of the NUHM was the inclusion of urban-centric issues: domestic violence, sexual exploitation, HIV/AIDS, trafficking, and child and drug abuse, and gender-related matters. “These are broadly urban issues, but need to be addressed,” Ms. Gupta told The Hindu. For this, the NUHM would work in coordination with non-governmental and civil society organisations.

The NUHM, approved recently by the Cabinet, will run parallel to the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM). Reproductive and child health programmes apart, it will address communicable and non-communicable diseases, especially State-specific diseases such as sickle-cell and flourosis. Read more

Source : www.thehindu.com

India, UK sign MoU on cooperation in health sector

India and Britain have signed an MOU for cooperation in the field of health.

The MoU was signed by Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and Secretary of State for Health, UK, Jeremy Richard Hunt last evening in Geneva.

Describing the agreement as a historic event and a great milestone, Azad noted with optimism that this agreement is going to usher in a new era of cooperation in the health sector between the two countries. Read more

Source : www.bignewsnetwork.com

New masterplans for urban pockets of J&K

Jammu : Taking into account the increasing population of Jammu and Kashmir, the state government has formulated new masterplans for urban pockets. 

"The objective of the government is to develop every corner of the state with improved basic amenities. In this connection, the government has prepared revised masterplans for urban pockets in view of increase of population and area (of Jammu)," state Minister for Housing, Horticulture and Culture Raman Bhalla said yesterday. Read more

Source : www.business-standard.com

Centre to set up four electronics clusters in AP

Chennai/ Visakhapatnam : India under its national electronics policy aims to achieve $36 billion in hardware and electronics exports by 2020 by promoting the proposed clusters

The Centre is planning to set up 200 electronics manufacturing clusters (EMCs) across the country over the next eight years. Of these, Andhra Pradesh is expected to get four, said Killi Kruparani, minister of state for communication and IT.

The minister was addressing a workshop organised by the Software Technology Parks of India and Visakha Information Technology Association here recently. Read more

Source : www.business-standard.com

Net telephony providers will be asked to set up servers in India

NEW DELHI: India will mandate that all firms offering internet telephony, including popular online phone service provider Skype owned by software giant Microsoft, must set up a server in the country if they want to continue offering this facility here.

Net telephony providers will be asked to set up servers in India

The move is aimed at allowing law enforcement and security agencies get access to newer forms of communication that can't be tracked by traditional monitoring systems. Read more

Source : economictimes.indiatimes.com

Aadhaar enrolment to get easier with 2,000 more machines

Pune : You’ll find it easier to enrol for the Unique Identification Authority of India cards – or Aadhaar cards – as the state government plans to deploy 2,000 new machines for registration.

Secretary of the state information technology (IT) department, Rajesh Aggarwal, said they have placed work orders for 2,000 kits which will be used to register people for Aadhaar cards. This will lead to an increase in capacity by around 50% in the state which has 4,399 operational machines in 1,744 active registration centres run by both-- state and non-state registrars (like banks). Read more

Source : www.dnaindia.com

Delhi to get tout-free, seamless property registration system

In a major revamp of existing property registration system, Delhi Government will put in place a transparent mechanism by end of the year under which people will be able to access hassle-free services in all 13 sub-registrar offices without any jurisdictional issue. 

The aim of the ambitious project – first of its kind in the country – is to offer people a tout-free and seamless property registration experience through a highly secured online platform, which will replace the six-decade-old current system. Read more

Source : www.financialexpress.com

Redevelop Lutyens’ Zone, but don’t touch the greens, says DUAC

NEW DELHI : As plans get under way for redeveloping parts of Delhi that were designed by Edwin Lutyens, the Delhi Urban Arts Commission wants the “green character” of the area left untouched.

Apprehensive that an increase in the floor-area ratio in Lutyens’ Delhi will mean more high-rises and more trees felled, the Commission has written to Lieutenant-Governor Tejendra Khanna and the Delhi Development Authority to ensure that a reduced green cover is not the consequence of this redevelopment. Read more

Source : www.thehindu.com

Karnatak region expects more aid from new govt

Chennai/ Dharwad : With the Congress forming the new government headed by Siddramaiah in Karnataka, the people in North Karnataka are hoping that several issues haunting the region would be resolved.

The project of diverting the water from Kalasa and Banduri streams to Malaprabha to solve the problem of drinking water is a key issue the people expect to be solved. The Goan government has put a hurdle to the implementation of the Kalasa Banduri Nala project by approaching the Supreme Court saying that the project would be detrimental to the interest of Goa. Read more

Source : www.business-standard.com

No power backup at Huda water supply plant

Gurgaon : At a time when water scarcity is a burning issue in the city, the lone water supply plant of the Haryana Urban Development Authority (Huda), located at the fag end of Basai, does not even have power backup. With power disruptions being a perennial problem in these parts, the plant cannot supply water even hours after a power cut.

As a result, the residents of old Gurgaon have been reeling under severe water crisis for the past three weeks and the residents of DLF City are likely to stage a protest on Monday. “We have been purchasing water from private suppliers for the past two weeks. The DLF management says that Huda has not supplied water which has virtually led to the scarcity,” said Joginder Singh, a resident of DLF Phase-III, the locality hit worst by the scarcity. Read more

Source : www.hindustantimes.com

Bihar urban development minister distances himself from mayor

GAYA: Distancing himself from Gaya mayor Vibha Devi, urban development minister Prem Kumar has made it clear that the mayor's new status as a BJP member, would in no way come in the way of law taking its own course in the functioning of the Gaya Municipal Corporation (GMC) and the demand made by about a dozen corporators for a vigilance inquiry into the Corporation finances.

The mayor, who is in the eye of controversy for quite sometime now joined the BJP in the presence of urban development minister Prem Kumar in Gaya a few days back, fuelling speculation that the move to join the BJP was part of the mayor's survival strategy as the all important urban development department is held by Prem Kumar, who also happens to be the town MLA. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Bus Rapid Transit System delay cost Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation Rs100 cr: Corporator

PUNE: Opposition members have pulled up the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation for keeping the elected representatives in the dark about the status of BRTS projects and the cost escalation due to delay in its implementation.

Senior NCP corporator and former mayor R S Kumar said in the general body recently that delay in implementation of the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) work in Pimpri-Chinchwad has cost the municipal corporation Rs 100 crore. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

IPL's spot-fixing scandal and IOA suspension must speed up reforms in Indian sport

The IPL spot-fixing scandal and recent efforts to rehabilitate the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) in the Olympic movement suggest that Indian sport stands at a crucial juncture. If the spot-fixing saga has exposed a deep-rooted malaise in Indian cricket that can no longer be ignored, the IOA's suspension last year exemplifies a serious decay in the country's sporting infrastructure. Both incidents, however, also represent a golden opportunity to effect a much-needed revamp of Indian sport.

While the BCCI needs to be credited for making Indian cricket a veritable powerhouse, its inability to put in place transparent mechanisms and hone a culture of accountability has reached a point where it is threatening the very future of the game. Apart from a zero-tolerance policy towards fixing of any kind, the board needs to put in place a mentoring and counselling process for young players, which will help them deal with the temptations they are exposed to. And adequate security needs to be provided to them too. The latest reports that D Company gangsters have been able to get through to young players and attempt to coerce them into joining fixing rackets are alarming. Reporting such threat calls should be made mandatory by the board. And the government must move legislation to legalise betting in sport forthwith, which will help rescue betting from the clutches of organised crime syndicates. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

No parking slot, no car registration

MUMBAI: To control the burgeoning car population in Mumbai and curb parking on roads, state transport commissioner V N More has suggested to the state government to not allow private car registrations if there is parking space is not available on the applicants' residential building premises.

"I have proposed an amendment in the Motor Vehicles Act in urban areas making it mandatory for applicants of new car registrations to show proof of residential parking facility. If there is no space in the building to keep your car, it is better you don't buy one. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Residents irked by stagnating sewage water in Coimbatore

COIMBATORE: Residents are irked by the never-ending underground drainage work and its many problems, stagnating sewage water being a major complaint. 

For the past few days, drainage water from a blocked pipeline near the district collector's office has been pervading the main road used by thousands of people regularly. The district police office, railway station, banks, fire station and other public buildings are located on the State Bank of India Road where the drainage water has been flowing freely. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Congress to struggle in Bihar, Maharashtra, Delhi, UP: survey

Party will not increase its tally of 47 seats in these four states if the polls are held now, says survey 

New Delhi: If the national elections were held now, the Congress party will not fare well in electorally significant Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi and Maharashtra, a survey by television news channel ABP News and market researcher Nielsen has found.

In Delhi, which will elect its state lawmakers later this year, the Congress party is likely to win only two out of the seven Lok Sabha seats, compared with a clean sweep in the 2009 general election, according to the poll. Photo: Pradeep Gaur/Mint

The four states together send 175 parliamentarians to the 543-member Lok Sabha, the lower House of India’s Parliament. Read more

Source : www.livemint.com

31 pathological labs, X-ray centres sealed in Purnia

PURNIA: In a significant development, the health department officials on Saturday sealed as many as 31 illegal pathological and X-ray centres across Purnia town which has lately turned out to be a very big medical hub in north-east Bihar. Two persons were also arrested in this connection, according to health officials here. Many others, however, managed to dodge the raiding teams.

The crack-down on pathological and X-ray centres came in the wake of mounting complaints that many of the pathological and X-ray centres were being run illegally and in clear flouting of the norms established by the state government. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

GDA to implement schemes for urban poor

LUCKNOW: Training their eyes on the urban poor this time, the Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) has approved 29 proposals that are expected to benefit the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) and farmers residing in the region.

According to an announcement made by the GDA vice chairman Santosh Kumar Yadav, the latest proposal entails a payment of Rs 3500 per sq metre, equivalent to 6% farmers of the developed plot, from the total acquired area. According to existing plans, GDA will also enforce an existing affordable housing scheme, under which builders will allot 10% of the total flats constructed to Low Income Group (LIG) and EWS families. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Mumbai takes the lead in green housing projects

Mumbai : Quicker govt clearance is drawing more developers to plan environment-friendly buildings.

More green residences are coming up in Mumbai over the past couple of years  since the state has made it easier for these projects; higher costs may not be an issue much longer. 

According to experts with the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), of the 2 billion square feet of green construction projects across the country, a quarter are registered in Mumbai. Read more

Source : www.dnaindia.com

Mangalore City Corporation to fast-track UGD project

MANGALORE: With the 355-km underground drainage (UGD) network in the city expected to be completed by this month end, the focus will now shift to connecting individual dwellings and commercial units to this network.

The Mangalore City Corporation (MCC), which will be the custodian of this network, is now left with the task of formulating a policy to support interconnection to the network. Read more

Source : articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com 

West Bengal government announces draft industrial policy

KOLKATA: Mamata Banerjee's government will complete two years in office on May 20 and two days before that the government on Saturday announced its draft industrial policy to attract investment and to give incentives to the new entrepreneurs.

• 

(The West Bengal government…

Industry Minister Partha Chatterjee told reporters that the government was keen to develop industrial park and industrial hub on PPP model. Read more

Source : articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com

Kerala govt to bear airfare for returning expats: Minister

JEDDAH – A minister from the southern Indian state of Kerala said that the government of Kerala will meet the travel expense of the stranded Keralites who wish to return home by taking advantage of the grace period. 

Kerala Minister of Urban Development and Minority Affairs Manjalamkuzhi Ali speaks at a Meet the Press program in Jeddah on Friday. — SG photo

Speaking to Saudi Gazette, Manjalamkuzhi Ali, Minister of Urban Development and Minority Affairs, said that the modus operandi for this was being finalized by the government. Read more

Source : www.saudigazette.com.sa

DDA, corporations fight for revenue from country homes

NEW DELHI: Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and the three municipal corporations in the city have locked horns over revenue collection from farmhouses, now designated country homes under the new policy approved by the union urban development ministry. While DDA wants the 23 villages where the country homes will be allowed declared a development area, to take charge of them, the civic agencies claim and want to retain jurisdiction over these villages.

BJP, which controls all three corporations, is planning to approach LG Tejendra Khanna to settle the issue. The party says if the villages are taken over by DDA, municipal councillors will not be allowed to spend their funds on the development of these areas. "It is not just about losing revenue. We will not be able to spend funds on providing basic facilities in these areas. Moreover, DDA has not come out with a concrete plan regarding the development of these villages. We can't let people suffer due to poor policy decisions,'' said Sarita Chowdhary, mayor, South Delhi municipal corporation. Read more

Source : articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority's reluctance halts Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation's green belt proposal

HYDERABAD: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) are at loggerheads over allotment of 284 acres in Jawaharnagar for providing a buffer zone (green belt) around the dump yard and extending its boundary.

The GHMC has proposed providing a 100 metre buffer zone around the garbage dump in order to prevent ground, water and air pollution by acquiring 172 acres of government land from the HMDA. The corporation has been running the Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) project at the dump yard since the past two years in public-private-partnership model along with Ramky Enviro Engineers Ltd. The aim of the project, which began a couple of years ago, is to dispose around 3,800 metric tones of garbage daily in a scientific manner. Ramky was given 339 acres of land for the project. Read more

Source : articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Share autos likely to be introduced in Kochi

KOCHI : The Kochi Corporation is likely to introduce share autos in the city. The service is aimed at making public transport available on side roads and in residential colonies.The service would be helpful as buses ply only along conventional routes. It could in the long run become a feeder service to the Kochi metro expected to be commissioned in 2016.

Autorickshaw trade unions in the city, with whom the plan has gone down well, have demanded clear-cut norms on the type of vehicle to be used, the routes and fare rates. File Photo

A meeting to discuss the matter was held on Friday at Mayor Tony Chammany’s chamber. Ernakulam Regional Transport Officer B.J. Antony and traffic police officers took part in the meeting. Read more

Source : www.thehindu.com

BRTS drives land rates up 50% on Iskcon-Bopal stretch

Ahmedabad: After the skyrocketing rates it witnessed in the last couple of years, realty sector in Amdavad has not seen much movement for about a year now. However, the announcement of high density corridor along the BRTS route and proposed Metro corridor in the new development plan (DP) by Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (Auda) has infused some life into the realty market at least in residential zone-II (R-II). 

 

Land prices in R-II zone on the stretch from Iskcon Circle to Bopal have appreciated by 65%, reveal nearly half a dozen realty deals that took place recently. In the new DP for Ahmedabad, the development authority has provided more construction area by raising the floor space index (FSI) limit from 1.2 to 4. This means that a developer can build a 40,000-square metre area on a 10,000 sq m plot now. “Real estate projects have become more viable along the corridor because of higher FSI,” said Neeraj Tomar, head of Ahmedabad operations at Jones Lang LaSalle. Read more

Source : daily.bhaskar.com

Haryana releases water for Delhi

CHANDIGARH: Haryana has bailed out Delhi from the impending water crisis by releasing 240 cusecs of water from Munak and Tajewala dams.

Officials said 85 cusecs water was released on Friday evening and 160 cusecs on Saturday. More water is expected to be released to New Delhi on Sunday and Monday as well, officials in irrigation department said. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Water crisis deepens in South Kanpur localities

KANPUR: Residents of Barra -2 locality in Kanpur South on Saturday performed prayers at uprooted handpumps on water works premises in protest against erratic water supply in the area. The residents prayed that these handpumps would be repaired and re-installed in the area.

Kanpur South is in grip of acute water crisis. Water to the area is supplied by Gujaini water works and handpumps. Overhead water tanks have failed to meet needs of the area owing to frequent power cuts and unscheduled rostering. Even Gujaini water works is not functioning to its capacity. Against the demand of five crore litres, the water works is supplying merely three crore litres of water on daily basis. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

GMC election next month

Guwahati : Residents of Guwahati can finally choose their representatives to the Guwahati Municipal Corporation after a five-year gap as elections will be held next month.

The Assam State Election Commission today announced GMC elections in adherence to the provisions of the GMC Act and GMC Election Rules 1973. Read more

Source : telegraphindia.com

Huda ropes in NGO to address water shortage

Gurgaon : With water shortage worsening with each passing day in the Millennium City, the Haryana Urban Development Authority (Huda) has roped in an NGO to find a permanent solution.

At present  the city is struggling to meet water shortage, fast depletion of groundwater level and conventional mode of sewage treatment. The authority is all set to tie up with the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a Delhi-based research organisation, which lobbies for and communicates the urgency of sustainable and equitable development. A crucial meeting between Huda officials and CSE executives was held on Saturday. Read more

Source : www.hindustantimes.com

Developers axe old tree, NMC residents protest

Gurgaon : In the wake of the Haryana Urban Development Authority (Huda) allegedly taking into possession the National Media Centre’s (NMC) greenbelt on May 8 to construct a road, private developers of the gated community allegedly tried to axe a 45-year-old tree on the premises on Friday night.

According to the residents, the developers of NMC — DLF and ILFS — along with two earth-moving machines allegedly tried to axe a 45-year-old Peepal tree in the gated community’s greenbelt. Read more

Source: www.hindustantimes.com

22-hour power supply in Haryana

CHANDIGARH: As the mercury is soaring, the electricity distribution companies in Haryana have made arrangements to provide at least 22-hour power supply in urban areas. Besides monitoring the demand and supply, distribution companies Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam(UHBVN) and Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam(DHBVN) have created a bank of transformers to ensure smooth flow of electricity.

Peak summer has set in and the demand for power has risen up to 7,258 MW against the demand of 6,122MW on Friday. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

India could face 200 mt coal shortfall by end of 12th Plan

HYDERABAD :  Despite efforts to ramp up indigenous coal production, the Planning Commission feels that India will still face a shortfall of about 200 million tonnes of the fuel source by the end of the 12th Plan Period.

Tapping other resources: I. A. Khan, Advisor Energy, Planning Commission, talking to mediapersons after his special address at the annual general meeting of the Ficci State Council, in Hyderabad on Saturday. — Mohammed Yousuf

I. A. Khan, Advisor Energy, Planning Commission, said India would have to depend on imported coal, unless it is able to tap other natural resources to a greater extent for power production. Read more

Source : www.thehindubusinessline.com

Faulty drawing brought down Ultadanga flyover in Kolkata

KOLKATA: A flaw in the drawing and design of the curved stretch of Ultadanga flyover led to its collapse on March 3 this year, says the report of the fact-finding committee. 

The urban development department had tasked a five-member panel with finding out why the curved section of the flyover collapsed. The final report has been submitted to the urban development minister Firhad Hakim, who also heads the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA). Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

It’s time planners did some jugaad on rural public transport

On the face of it, the Supreme Court order of May 15 directing all states to ensure that jugaad vehicles  do not ply unless they are registered with the regional transport authorities and have third party insurance needs to be welcomed.

Servicing the rural market will be difficult, since it will not be as lucrative as the urban one. Pic:Wikipedia Commons

Jugaad vehicles are those makeshift, rickety contraptions powered by irrigation pump motors that pass for public transport in many rural areas of north India. It doesn’t require a Supreme Court order to make one realise that these are extremely risky to the life and limb of its passengers. The Court’s order will have the effect of getting them off the roads. Read more

Source : www.firstpost.com

Meet monorail's first 3 Indian captains

Ahead of August launch, youth share their experience of training & trial runs, and gush about how they enjoy the attention of motorists who stop to click pictures of the rake.

Three young Mumbaikars are set to drive the city’s newest mode of transport — India’s first monorail that will start operating between Wadala and Chembur in August this year.

A total of 21 captains have been appointed and are undergoing training, while 15 more will be recruited in the coming weeks. Like a local train has a motorman, captain is the title for those who will drive the monorail. Read more

Source : www.dnaindia.com

NGO claims lacunae in draft Development Plan of PMC

Pointing out serious lacunae in various studies undertaken by PMC to prepare the draft Development Plan, city-based organisation Parisar has alleged that several urban planning norms were flouted in drafting the DP for the old part of the city.

In its 30-page report on suggestions and objections, the organisation has highlighted serious lacunae and mistakes in Existing Land Use (ELU) Study , Demographic Study, Housing Study and Transport Study conducted by the civic administration. Read more

Source : www.indianexpress.com

Taps dry as water project fails in Koraput

KORAPUT: Two years ago, residents of Girliguda in Koraput's Kundra block had hoped to receive regular supply of hygienic drinking water as a Rs 19 lakh rural piped water supply project was inaugurated in the village.

But the euphoria over the project was short-lived. The villagers received water only for only a few weeks . Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Madurai civic body looks towards Cauvery for future needs

MADURAI: The city corporation council has passed a resolution to sanction works on the detailed project report (DPR) for the Cauvery drinking water scheme considering the future drinking water needs of the city.

The resolution stated that the population of the city is expected to increase from 15 lakh at present, to 30 lakh within 30 years. As per the Central Public Health and Environmental Engineering Organisation (CPHEEO) guidelines, 135 litres per person per day has to be provided and the corporation needs 203 mld and calculating the population boom, the city may need 405 mld in future. To cater to the present drinking water needs, the civic body has 115 mld from the Vaigai drinking water scheme, while another 12 mld is expected from the Cauvery drinking water scheme which is under process. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Water sports to buoy Puri beach tourism

BHUBANESWAR: From the forthcoming tourist season (October-February), tourists visiting Puri would feel the thrill of adventure in the Bay of Bengal. The proposed water sports projects along the coast of Puri beach are likely to be commissioned by October, with the empowered committee on investment, a body of the state government, giving its nod to the projects a few days ago.

"The empowered committee on investment, headed by the chief secretary, has approved the projects, which will be implemented on the beaches in Puri and its outskirts (Chandrabhaga and Ramchandi near Konark)," said state tourism director H S Upadhyay. "A Mumbai-based company has been assigned to commission the water sports in public-private-partnership (PPP) mode," Upadhyay added. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Bengal plans to raise onion output

KOLKATA : Availability of locally produced onions in West Bengal is set to improve starting this year.

A vendor arranges onions at a wholesale vegetable market in Kolkata

The State Government is planning to supply seeds at subsidised rates to farmers to grow onions in the kharif season (June-end October). Read more

Source : www.thehindubusinessline.com

ONGC yet to decide on Haldia bid

Kolkata : If the ONGC decides to bid for HPL, it would do it either through ONGC or its subsidiary MRPL

Days after the West Bengal government invited expressions of interest (EoIs) for selling its stake in Haldia Petrochemicals Ltd (HPL), Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) today said it was “examining” whether to bid for the beleaguered petrochemical company. “It is to be decided in the boardroom. We are examining now,” ONGC Chairman and Managing Director Sudhir Vasudeva said to a query.

Sudhir Vasudeva, Kallo Datta & Partha Chatterjee

As The Chatterjee Group (TCG), one of HPL’s key promoters, has brought out an advertisement cautioning probable bidders for the government’s stake citing the dispute over 155 million shares, Vasudeva said, “We are aware of the matter. Everything will be taken into consideration by the board.” Read more

Source : www.business-standard.com

Jaipur Development Authority seeks govt nod for vertical growth in Jaipur

JAIPUR: The Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) is all set to provide relaxations in norms for multi-storey buildings that is expected to provide benefit to the big developers in the city. A proposal for amendments in the building bylaws has been sent to the state government. 

According to the proposal, multi-storey buildings on a plot size of 1,000 sq metre to 2,500 sq metre with height up to 30 metre to 40 metre can be constructed after leaving 9 metre setback. However, according to existing building bylaws, for a 30 metre to 35 metre-high building, the developer has to leave 11 metre setback area, while for 35 metre to 40 metre-high buildings, 12 metre setback area is required. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Bhubaneswar faces illegal temple demolition heat after Cuttack

BHUBANESWAR: Following mass demolition of temples on encroached government land in Cuttack, the spotlight has now shifted to Bhubaneswar.

Encouraged with the execution of Orissa high court's January 6, 2011 direction to evict religious structures on government land in Cuttack, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) have also started consultation for a suitable process to end encroachments in the name of temples. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

CM Siddaramaiah steps in to avert water crisis

BANGALORE: With an unprecedented water crisis staring Bangalore in the face, chief minister Siddaramaiah on Friday directed the irrigation and water resources department to ensure that adequate water is released to KRS so that the city gets its due drinking water supply. 

The directive came after the CM went into a huddle with BWSSB chief Gaurav Gupta and other top officials. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Water crisis in Delhi as UP fixes breach in upper Ganga canal

NEW DELHI: Various areas in East and South Delhi today faced water shortage as Uttar Pradesh cut raw water supply to the city from the upper Ganga canal to fix a breach.

BJP activists carry earthen pots as they shout anti-Delhi Cong govt slogans during a protest in front of the Secretariat in New Delhi.

Concerned over cut in water supply due to the breach in Upper Ganga canal, the Delhi government has requested Union water resources ministry and Uttar Pradesh to fix the problem at the earliest. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

'Get roads in Varanasi built before monsoon'

VARANASI: While the city is facing troubles as far as basic infrastructure and civic amenities are concerned, the Uttar Pradesh Awaas Vikas Parishad (UPAVP) preferred not to use the development fund of Rs 502.91 lakh that they received during last financial year as none of the 15 development projects for which the money had been sanctioned have started yet.

This fact came to light at the review meeting held by divisional commissioner Chanchal Kumar Tiwari on Thursday. The progress in development works of Varanasi Development Authority (VDA), Varanasi Municipal Corporation ( VMC) and UPAVP were reviewed in the meeting. Officials of UPAVP were directed to start these projects soon failing which the same would be cancelled. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Punjab & Haryana HC slams civic bodies for not completing development works

GURGAON: Punjab and Haryana high court on Thursday issued notice to the state government, director general of town and country planning (DTCP), Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG), Haryana Urban Development Authority(HUDA) and others for not completing the external and internal development works at residential colonies within the given time frame. The court has directed them to file a report before August 19.

The court issued notice on the basis of a petition filed by the Gurgaon Citizens' Council (GCC) after the state government and other parties concerned despite the directions issued by the apex court issued tax demand to the petitioner. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Corporation yet to be compensated for prime land handed over in 1986

CHENNAI : The Tamil Nadu Housing Board (TNHB) owes the Chennai Corporation crores for a 73-acre property it took over in 1986.

As many as 2,334 housing plots were developed on 73.73 acres of land in MMDA Colony, Arumbakkam, in 1986 — Photo: S.S. Kumar

Soon, however, the civic body may have to cough up an equivalent amount to gain control of a community hall spread over three grounds of TNHB land. Read more

Source : www.thehindu.com