Urban mission loses reform edge
The National Urban Renewal Mission is likely to lose much of its sting, with the Centre more or less agreeing to dilute the mandatory reforms conditions that come with it. The NURM, in its new avatar, is likely to get the Cabinet's nod tomorrow. Under pressure from the states, highly …
WB water alarm: Groundwater hits rock bottom
World Bank's John Briscoe, senior water adviser for South Asia at the World Bank until recently, in a grim report titled India's Water Economy: Bracing for a Turbulent Future, indicated a departure in the World Bank's strategy. He also recommended a move to managing existing water resources better rather than …
Metro to touch new height at Raja Garden this year
In December, Delhi Metro will take the city to new heights. Literally. The journey from Barakhamba Road to Dwarka will touch the highest point over Raja Garden flyover where the tracks will go 18 metres above the ground level. A 60
CM weighs options on Sonia Vihar situation
Delhi is not taking any chances with Sonia Vihar water treatment plant this time. Chief minister Sheila Dikshit will meet Union power minister P M Sayeed next week to discuss release of raw water from Tehri on time in December and has asked the Planning Commission to push Utaranchal and …
Indian cos asked to set up CNG network in Thailand
Thailand invited Indian petroleum companies to participate in the upstream activities there. This emerged at the meeting the Thai Energy Minister, Mr Viset Choopiban, had with the Petroleum Minister, Mr Mani Shankar Aiyar. The Minister also invited Indian companies to set up compressed natural gas network in Thailand. Showing keen …
Ethanol makes new demands on Thai tapioca, curbs exports
New Cassava(tapioca) demand form Thai ethanol producers has raised domestic prices of the crop and curbed the exportable surplus of products made from it, traders said. That means production will have to rise as the Government promotes production of ethanol, an alternative fuel produced from sugar cane, molasses or cassava, …
CCEA to discuss policy spat on urban mission
Already dogged by opposition from states because of Centre's linking it to implementation of reforms, the National Urban Renewal Mission has now got embroiled in a policy spat between urban development ministry and finance ministry over its funding pattern. While the urban development ministry is asking for 100% grants to …
After taxis, buses to ply on the river
In an attempt to reduce the load on Calcutta roads, the transport department is set to introduce water buses on the Hooghly. The city-based Pailan group will be the West Bengal Surface Transport Corporation (WBSTC)’s partner in the joint-venture project. An MoU has been signed in this regard earlier in …
Cabinet to take up urban renewal mission this week
The National Urban Renewal Mission (NURM) for integrated development of cities and towns would be taken up by the Cabinet this week, the Minister of State for Urban Employment and Poverty Alleviation, Ms Kumari Selja, said. While addressing a FICCI conference on 'Housing and urban development opportunities in North Indian …
Mumbai in list of Asias worst cities
The Asia-Pacific region boasts some of the world's most liveable cities but also a number of the most wretched capitals on earth, according to survey results issued on Tuesday. Vancouver in western Canada topped the global list compiled by research firm the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). The EIU ranked 127 …
New sign of life on Mars
Living microbes found in what could be one million year old ice on aremote Arctic island support the theory that the frozen planet Mars could also sustain life, researchers said. An international team drilled ice core samples on the remote Svalbard islands at the extinct Sverrefjell volcano. They said that …
Rs 20,000-cr road plan for Bihar
In a move to give a push to infrastructure in the backward state of Bihar, the Centre has initiated an ambitious Rs 20,000-crore road development project. To be implemented under the aegis of the Rashtriya Sam Vikas Yojna, the project involves repair and construction of more than 2000 km of …
Down to a Crawl
Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) has just confirmed what most Delhiites have been suspecting for some time now
Notice issued for illegal construction in Aravalis
The Environment Department , Haryana has begun a massive exercise of issuing show cause notices to those who have illegally constructed farm houses, residential colonies and other buildings in the ecologically fragil Aravali range near Gurgaon. Senior official I Environment Department informed TNS that over 560 notices had been issued …
Govt asked for views on toxic reactions of 10 pesticides
The Central Insecticide Board has asked the Punjab Government to give its observations on toxic reactions of several pesticides which are banned or restricted for use in other countries but are being used in India. The CIB has a list of 37 banned pesticides, but in the first list sent …
Increasing cancer deaths in Punjab
THE Malwa region of Punjab is turning into toxic hotspot. The villages of Jajjal and Giana in the Talwandi Saboo block of Bathinda district, Punjab, have reported increased cases of cancer over the last five years. The cancer of oesophagus, leukaemia, uterus, breast and digestive system is common. In the …
Spread out Blore growth to other cities
Master Plan 2015 for Bangalore, (the revised Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) prepared by Bangalore Development Authority) attracted severe criticism on Saturday, with town-planners and urban development experts pointing out lapses and violations in it. The plan, currently on public display at Yavanika till September, has failed to place the BDA …
Increasing water supply: BWSSB launches project
Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) on Saturday formally launched the Cauvery IV Stage, II Phase drinking water supply project, to increase the existing supply of water for Bangalore by 500 MLD. Scheduled to be completed in 2011, the Cauvery water will be drawn from Shiva Anicut (100 kms …
Transport policy set to have an intelligent element
With the government busy formulating a national urban transport policy, key transport sector players are doing the groundwork for highlighting the significance of intelligent transport system (ITS). This is a broad range of technologies, which the Association of ITS (AITS) feels can totally change the traffic scenario in India. The …
