Four urban development projects planned in State
The State Government has proposed four urban development projects for Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai, under the newly launched Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission. The total cost is estimated at Rs. 1,050 crore. The Centre will fund 35 per cent of the cost for Chennai and 50 per cent for …
Jalpaiguri vetted for tourism projects
The state tourism department has decided to rope in corporate houses and private players to develop tourist centres in Jalpaiguri district, West Bengal. The chief minister had earlier spoken of the need to do more for development of tourism in North Bengal, especially in Bauxa and Dooars. Some corporate bigwigs, …
Guwahati gets Rs 3,100cr aid from Centre
The Union urban development ministry has approved the Guwahati city, development plan worth Rs 3,100 crores, under the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission. Disclosing this to reporters, Assam development minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that Assam was the first state in country to get their ambitious development project approved. The …
Notice to Centre over PIL on food
The Supreme Court on Friday issued notices to the Centre and others on a PIL seeking disclosure of the scientific data regarding the presence of harmful and hazardous substances in processed food in general and beverages in particular. A bench of Justices K.G. Balakrishanan and D.K. Jain also sought replies …
Do not destroy the character of villages: Bidhuri
Stating that the new Master Plan for Delhi-2021 should protect the interests of the Capital's rural areas, Delhi Pradesh Nationalist Congress Party president and MLA Ramvir Singh Bidhuri on Friday urged the Union Urban Development Ministry to direct the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) not to split the villages into urban …
Police Colony getting contaminated water
Strange though it may sound, residents of Ahata Ki Dara Police Colony near Filmistan cinema in North Delhi claim that for some days they have been receiving traces of blood in the water supply probably due a damaged sewer pipeline. The residents of the Police Colony -- comprising over 300 …
Dunes, drawings give Angola's Namibe tourism edge
With towering golden sand dunes, ancient art and stunning flora and fauna, Angola's Namibe region could be a dream playground for thrill-seeking tourists. The remote coastal province hopes to to lure visitors to revive its local economy and boost Angola's tourism industry as the country emerges from decades of war …
Water Park project mooted in Puthuvype
Giving a fresh impetus to the tourism sector, the Kerala State Industries Department is working on a proposal to set up a Water Park project centred around Puthuvype. The project envisages a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in the coastal belt for construction of luxury boats, fishing craft, sailing equipment, motor …
Big funds to change city's face
On the prodding of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Planning Commission has urgently reviewed Mumbai's infrastructure development and promised a staggering Rs 228,000 crore by 2020. However it has pulled up the Maharashtra government for not doing its homework on key development projects and insisted on quick municipal reforms.
MCD adds another 204 roads to list of commercial areas
With the September 16 Supreme Court deadline for sealing shops in residential areas two days away and final notification of nearly 2,000 roads, designated by MCD as commercial and mixed use areas still awaited, uncertainty continues over the fate of lakhs of shops in the Capital. MCD councillors, cutting across …
New national building code released
Construction industry is all set for major changes. The revised National Building Code 2005, which has just been released, sets new standards for construction of buildings and other infrastructure. The NBC 2005, formulated by the Bureau of Indian Standards, spells out new regulations for adoption by infrastructure departments, municipal administrators, …
Multi-range products on show at Water Expo
Water Expo, a three-day exhibition at the Chennai Trade Centre Tamil Nadu, showcases a range of products for industry, office and home water needs. From reverse osmosis membranes to quality testing equipment, the stalls offer the latest in technology for wastewater treatment, desalination and purification. Finance Minister K. Anbazhagan and …
More funds for rural projects
The Delhi government will be fund ing all those proposals that have got in principle approval from the rural development board and will be executed by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). This decision was taken during a meeting convened by Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit, which was attended by …
HC asks MCD to demolish all illegal structures in the city
The Delhi High Court asked the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to demolish all illegal structures across the city in four weeks. Observing that there was a strong nexus between MCD officials and the builders, a Division Bench of Justice Vijender Jain and Justice Rekha Sharma sought a compliance report …
NGO moves top court on commercial activities
The Delhi Pradesh Citizen Council filed an application contending that the notification amending the Delhi Master Plan 2001, which provide major relief to the traders, was arbitrary and unconstitutional. It has also questioned the reported decision of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi that commercial establishments in 1979 roads will not …
Maternal mortality still high: survey
Having succeeded in securing amendments to the old Master Plan for Delhi-2001 for allowing mixed land use and commercial activities in regularised and resettlement colonies along with 110 urban villages, some politicians and the land mafia are now coming together seeking to pressurise the Union Government to allow mixed land …
Death knell for urban development schemes
Funds allocated to states such as Gujarat and Karnataka under the Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns (UIDSSMT), Accelerated Urban Water Supply Programme (AUWSP) and Infrastructure Development in Mega Cities have not been fully utilised. Since subsequent installments of Central assistance are released only after utilisation certificates …
HUDA drive against illegal commercial activity
The Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) has launched a special drive to take legal action against illegal commercial activities being carried out by residents of various residential sectors. The Estate Officer, HUDA, Gurgaon, Ms Anju Chaudhry, informed that the department had already identified and sent notices to 177 occupants of …
No stay on Mumbai demolition: Top court
The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to stay the ongoing demolition of the unauthorised constructions at Ulhasnagar, a Mumbai suburb, amidst violent protests by nearly one lakh people affected by such drive. "Why should we entertain such petitions," a bench headed by Chief Justice Y.K. Sabharwal said. The bench raised …
From now on, cities to get credit rating
In an unprecedented move, the Urban Development Ministry has decided to introduce credit rating for city development projects under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), which provides assistance for tackling infrastructure bottlenecks in cities. Four credit rating companies
