Ktaka-Goa water war intensifies
The Centre's delay in taking a final decision on the Kalasa-Banduri Nala water project has forced Karnataka to go ahead with it, with or without central nod. The state will start work on the project on October 2. However, political observers feel the Centre should immediately intervene in the matter …
Integrated plan for Madurai tourism
Preparation of a master plan for Madurai tourism has gained momentum with all stakeholders - government departments, civic body, temple authorities and hospitality industry - rallying to piece together an integrated plan. The Commissioner of Tourism, Sanwat Ram, has written to the Collector, T. Udayachandran, to prepare a 'tourism master …
MCD to set up panel on market parking lots
With the MCD deciding to re-introduce the plan for multi-level automated parking lots in GK-I, South Extension and Karol Bagh in the next Standing Committee meeting, this could well be a ray of hope for shoppers struggling to find parking space in the market. While the need for multi-level parkings …
More parking space, battery buses at fort
Parking problem at Red Fort may soon be a thing of the past. The Central Public Works Department (CPWD) has begun implementing a Union tourism ministry-sponsored project to create a surface parking lot near the Ring Road-Chandni Chowk link road on the fort side. The project would cost Rs 1.48 …
Waste plastic gives roads longer life
Laboratory tests and field trials on application of waste plastic in road laying have shown a considerable reduction in the use of bitumen and an appreciable increase in the life of roads. A plastic-free environment is the bonus. Records available at the Department of Chemistry, Thiagarajar College of Engineering, here, …
Centre, Delhi Govt. lock horns over mixed land use
Even before the matter could be scrutinised by the Supreme Court, the Delhi Cabinet informally discussed the latest notification issued by the Union Urban Development Ministry on mixed land use and commercial streets terming it as "inadequate and full of discrepancies" and not in tune with the ground realities.
BMRDA nod must for land use conversion, says High Court
The Karnataka High Court ruled that neither the deputy commissioners nor any other local authorities can allow conversion of land use, formation of layouts etc, in the Bangalore metropolitan region without the approval of the Bangalore Metropolitan Region Development Authority (BMRDA).
East-west expressway hits roadblock as Haryana refuses to fund project
The ambitious east-west peripheral expressway project is in danger of getting stuck again. The project, to be funded by the governments of Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, and awaiting implementation even five years after it was conceived, may get delayed again as the Haryana government has made clear its inability …
Gujarat, AP better for women, kids
States like Bihar, Jharkhand and Orissa have lagged behind in improving the condition of women and children whereas Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat have fared better, a survey jointly conducted by the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) and Unicef said.
BSNL, IPH give harrowing time to residents
The Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd and the Irrigation Public Health (IPH) Department are polluting the residential areas in the sacred Tarna hill, the only tourist spot under the jurisdiction of the Mandi Municipal Council (MMC)in Mandi (Himachal Pradesh). The said bodies were digging private land with the JCV machines, dumping …
V.P. Singh leads pro-poor rally
Claiming that the recently launched National Urban Renewal Mission was aimed at developing 83 cities by displacing the poor, the former Prime Minister, V.P. Singh, and environmental activist Medha Patkar on Friday led a large number of urban poor in protest against the scheme on Parliament Street. The protesters courted …
Rainwater harvesting
Acute water shortage is something that many countries are experiencing now, and the problem can only worsen in the days to come. In India, cities like Delhi, Chennai and Hyderabad have already been affected by serious water scarcity. Consumption of water for various purposes, including industrial, in cities is much …
Hooking on to medical tourism
When medical tourism is the buzzword and Jalandhar its destination in the north, a smart operator is eyeing the opportunities for reversing the phenomenon in some measure: Singapore Airlines' Manager Punjab, Vimal Rai, is busy working out plans to sell the city state as a centre for medical screening as …
More city buildings may get lifeline tag
A proposal to identify one lifeline building in each of the nine districts in the Capital, and retrofit the same by 2015 is being considered by the Delhi government. A meeting is scheduled to be chaired by the Chief Secretary to discuss the issue. This proposal would be in addition …
Azad proposes satellite towns around Jammu, Srinagar
Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad had said that satellite townships would be set up in Jammu and Srinagar with provision of 8-lane roads, high rise structures and modernized facilities to decongest the duo cities and make these palatable. He also stressed for focusing on cleanliness and beautification of the city, …
Urban planning to go digital soon
Authorities in the Capital will soon have digital maps and GIS database of their areas to check rampant unauthorised construction and better urban planning. This will come through the urban development ministry's recently-launched National Urban Information Scheme (NUIS) aimed at achieving better planning and management of urban settlements. The recent …
World Bank likely to fund tunnel projects
The World Bank will consider funding of tunnel projects in Himachal Pradesh to upgrade road infrastructure. This assurance was given by the team leader of World Bank Mr Pirce Vicker, during his meeting with Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, here today. The state government was contemplating road projects involving an …
State may lose urban renewal aid
The Investment Commission headed by industrialist Ratan Tata is understood to have recommended the stoppage of disbursements from the National Urban Renewal Mission to Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Assam and Bihar for not repealing the Urban Land Ceiling acts.
