Pong lake: popular with winged visitors
Being one of the largest man made wetlands in the country, Pong Lake in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh attracts more than 230 species of migratory and resident birds. Renamed Maharana Pratap Sagar Bandh a few years ago, the reservoir offers an wide during rainy season. The HP Government has …
World Bank, ADB to fund rural road project
The World Bank and the Asian Development Bank have agreed to fund a sum of Rs 2,500 crore for the Centre's Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna, which was launched in December 2000 with the objective of providing road connectivity to close to 1.6 lakh villages.
VP flays move to relocate slums
Former Prime Minister V P Singh today called upon jhuggi dwellers, poor workers and other concerned citizens of Delhi to observe Garib Divas on March 27 by coming out on the roads and demand justice from the government. Singh's NGO the Jan Chetna Manch has demanded that the Master Plan …
Madhya Pradesh tops in good roads
Madhya Pradesh has topped the country in having the maximum number of very good quality roads constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. This was revealed in a report prepared by the National Rural Roads Development Agency, which carried out inspection across the country to determine the quality of …
Rural road projects : performance of many states found wanting
An official review of the ongoing Rs 60000 crore rural road connectivity project shows that the performance of some states is not up to the mark. The review notes that since the launch of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSYA) in December 2000, a sum of Rs 7553.77 crroe …
New master plan tries to make city slum-free
In order to give Delhi a new metropolitan look, the new master plan proposal has suggested a social welfare housing scheme for slum dwellers and resettling them near industrial areas only. The proposed "Master Plan for Delhi 2021' envisages a clean metropolitan look for the city. The removal of slums …
A village rich in talent lives in neglect
Five President's Award winners and an equal number of State award recipients live in a village that does not have a road, school, hospital or even drinking water. The approach to the village is through Orissa, though its craftspersons can boast of having travelled across the world. Yes, this is …
Bihar Government to develop hydel power units
The Bihar government is planning to complete the restructuring of the Bihar State Electricity Board by the end of the current financial year and develop hydel power units to cope with the power crisis. The Government is likely to conclude the deal with the National Thermal Power Corporation to hand …
Finding ways for slum resettlement
The UP Housing Board is seeking help of management institutes for practical and long-term solutions of slum resettlement. As a first step of this strategy, the UP Housing and Development Board on Friday sponsored a case study on 'Resettlement of slum dwellers' as part of Manfest, the annual festival of …
CM inaugurates Bhagidari meet for rural Delhi
In a step forward towards the governance through peoples' participation, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today inaugurated the first Bhagidari Workshop of participants from rural areas of the Capital. Participants from 30 villages will attend the workshop during the next three days. Residence Welfare Associations (RWAs), Market and Traders Associations (MTAs), …
Rural connectivity
Since urbanisation of Assam is one of the least in India with only 14.5 per cent of its population living in urban areas of the State, the improvement of road infrastructure chiefly means the improvement of village connectivity. However, the State in this respect presents a dismal picture. The 63rd …
Unauthorised slum-dwellers to pay service tax
Residents of unauthorised slum settlements will have to pay service tax every month. The expert committee on property tax reforms has recommended that the MCD should collect service charges between Rs 10 and Rs 20 per month from each dwelling unit. Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit had announced to introduce …
Patta for poor under RGH scheme
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh has said that state government would be granting 'pattas' to the poor under Rajiv Gandhi Housing Scheme(RGH). He was speaking at a function after inaugurating slum networking project at Rahul Nagar slums. Mayor Ms Vibha Patel, MLA PC Sharma and Bhopal Municipal Corporation Commissioner …
Rs. 14.36 cr. grant for KSCB project
The Union Minister for Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation, Ananth Kumar, has promised more assistance to the State for quick implementation of the Valmiki Ambedkar Avas Yojana. The scheme is aimed at ameliorating the housing problems of slum dwellers. Presenting a cheque for Rs. 14.36 crores as second instalment of …
Coke hints at more investment in state
Coke will commit itself to more investments in Kerala provided the government honours its commitment of providing some basic infrastructural facilities made three years ago when it invited Coca-Cola to set up a bottling plant, according to Deepak Mehrothra, vice-president of Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Ltd in charge of South India. …
Govt to appeal against HC ban on slum relocation
The Delhi state government has decided to appeal against the Delhi high court order banning the relocation of unauthorised slums. Delhi state urban development minister A K Walia said a special leave petition would be filed in the Supreme Court shortly. In a recent order the High Court had said …
Govt offers 50% aid for water harvesting
On Monday (30th Dec.) residents welfare associations representatives of groups housing societies and just about anybody who faces a water shortage turned up at a seminar organised by the Delhi Jal Board and city government on rainwater harvesting. Several experts from outside government made presentations on how and why rainwater …
US drafting new rules for diesel emissions - report
The Bush administration is drafting new rules to reduce dangerous emissions from off-road diesel-powered vehicles and machinery, The Washington Post reported. The Environmental Protection Agency and the Office of Management and Budget are proposing measures that would force engine manufacturers to install devices for capturing and treating exhaust gases and …
Ethanol mixed petrol launch put off
The Ministry of Petroleum has decided to postpone the launching of ethanol mixed petrol, scheduled for January 1, 2003, in nine stats and four UTs. Mr. Ram Naik, Minister of Petroleum has reportedly instructed oil companies to supply ethanol mixed petrol only at selected depots in these states as the …
MP board okays Rs 5,340 crore Plan
The Madhya Pradesh Planning Board has approved a Rs 5,340 crore annual plan for 2003-04. The plan will be sent to the Planning Commission for approval. The board has allocated Rs 1,622.44 crore for decentralised district level programmes. At present, 28 programmes are under implementation.
