No response for the elected representatives quota in the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) lottery have fumed the housing activists of the city and they have now demanded scrapping of the quota and the same should be made available to general public.
MHADA had kept 78 flats reserved under the elected representatives quota that includes the current or former MPs, MLAs and MLCs, however only 14 flats received 30 applicants, while 64 flats remained unsold.
Out of that two leaders have won two houses so they would be forfeiting one house each thus leading to a surplus of 66 flats and raising questions on the reserved quota for them. Housing activists of the city have expressed their displeasure over the same claiming that the city is in desperate need of affordable housing and such reservations should be done away with.
"There is no need to have a special quota for the elected representatives and it should be scrapped immediately and also is any member of the family of an MP, MLA or MLC has a flat in the city, their application should be disqualified" said social activist Medha Patkar. Some activists have also targeted the increasing assets of the MPs and MLAs and hence demanded that they don't require any cheap house as they could afford expensive houses as well.
"The elected representatives do not deserve any special quota as most of them already have flats, even if not in their names but in the name of their kin" said Krishnaraj Rao, an RTI activist. He has alleged that they are already being given many privileges and pampered by the government. " I have came across a research that showed 400- 500% increase in assets between the time of two elections, hence they don't need an affordable house" added Rao.
Meanwhile MHADA would be consulting their legal department, as there is no clear directive in the MHADA Act, 1976 about what should be done in such a scenario.
Showing posts with label Regional News. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Regional News. Show all posts
Monday, June 6, 2011
Thursday, June 2, 2011
MHADA lottery winners eligibility to be thoroughly examined
The 3849 lucky winners of Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) lottery houses will now have to wait for the eligibility test to make sure their dreams of having an affordable home in the city come true. The banks would now be sending letters to the winners and the winners would have to submit the required documents between July 15 and July 30.
"As soon as the winners submit the documents to the bank, the bank would submit the same to MHADA and we will scrutinize it further and the final list would be returned to the bank," said Amarjit Manhas, chairman, Mumbai board, MHADA. Once the eligibility is proved the winners of the readymade flats would have to deposit pay the entire amount in 90 days.
The time period would be extended by another 45 days, however after that the application would be disqualified if he is not able to pay. While for the people who have won under construction houses, the payment would be done in installments.
The applicant would have to pay 10 per cent of the total amount after winning the flat, pay 40 per cent after the concrete construction of the home is ready, pay 25 per cent after the entire project is complete and pay 25 per cent final installment while taking the possession.
While for the losers the Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) would be returned within a week by the electronic clearance system. The bank will have to take the permission from the Reserve Bank of India and then they will return the amount.
"As soon as the winners submit the documents to the bank, the bank would submit the same to MHADA and we will scrutinize it further and the final list would be returned to the bank," said Amarjit Manhas, chairman, Mumbai board, MHADA. Once the eligibility is proved the winners of the readymade flats would have to deposit pay the entire amount in 90 days.
The time period would be extended by another 45 days, however after that the application would be disqualified if he is not able to pay. While for the people who have won under construction houses, the payment would be done in installments.
The applicant would have to pay 10 per cent of the total amount after winning the flat, pay 40 per cent after the concrete construction of the home is ready, pay 25 per cent after the entire project is complete and pay 25 per cent final installment while taking the possession.
While for the losers the Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) would be returned within a week by the electronic clearance system. The bank will have to take the permission from the Reserve Bank of India and then they will return the amount.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Medha Patkar follows Anna Hazare path, for good
Medha Patkar's follows the path laid by Anna Hazare and her fast seems to be bringing an impact on the government as Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan spoke to her over the phone on Thursday midnight and agreed to many of her demands. However Patkar has not broken her fast claiming the language in the Government resolution (GR) was less than what was promised by the CM. Patkar is on indefinite hunger strike since eight days, demanding major changes in slum rehabilitation policy and inquiry on projects where there have been complaints of forgery.
CM has agreed for inquiry of alleged forgery in Ganeshkripa Society and 15 other Slum Rehabilitation projects across Mumbai city with members of civil society and a time- bound investigation. The government officials presented drafts of two GRs; one of them was about the inquiry committee on Ganeshkripa Society and the second was about 15 other projects where we have found forgery. " The language was twisted in a way that was not favoring the inquiry.
There were certain mistakes in terms the number of members in the committee. We rectified all of them and sent it back for notification," said Simpreet Singh, member, National Alliance of People's Movement. Singh also alleged that there has been pressure from the builder lobby on the CM. " There were differences in what CM and Sachin Ahir, housing minister collectively told us and what was mentioned in the GR. It seems builders have applied pressure and the Court and government have been misguided by the builders but we don't want such scene to repeat."
Demands
1. Two committees to be constituted: one, four member committee for the Ganesh Kripa Society and another five member Committee for 15 SRA projects across the Mumbai.
2. The committee for Ganeshkripa would submit its report to the state government by June 15 and till then no demolitions should take place.
3.The second committee to review other projects would submit interim report in three months time and final report in six months time.
4. 25 settlements to be declared as slums officially in three months time and provision of basic facilities like water, electricity and sanitation in these areas.
5. A meeting on June 10 with government officials to discuss about the implementation of Rajiv Awas ojana (RA) that would allow slum dwellers of rehabilitation without considering any cut- off date for eligibility that was promised by Chief Secretary Ratnakar Gikwad.
Monday, May 23, 2011
List of nineteen most dangerous buildings in Mumbai revealed
With the posts of both the chairman lying vacant and the absence of a chief officer (CO), the repair and reconstruction board of Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (Mhada) has become directionless, claim the housing agency officials. For, why then would ' the list of dilapidated and most dangerous buildings' be issued without a formal press conference, as is the regular practice. " As there is no chairman and the CO is on a leave, we do not have any official to conduct any official program, but issuing the list was necessary as May- end is our deadline. And, hence it was issued," said an official from Mhada's repair board.
The list contains 19 most dangerous building throughout the Island City, including the Esplanade Mansion that makes it to the list every year. Although the list has been decreasing every year from 35 in 2009 and 24 to 2010 to 19 in 2011, five buildings are common in all these lists. " The major reason for that is the people are reluctant to vacate the buildings and hence these buildings are included in every year's list" said and official from repair board requesting anonymity.
Every year, before monsoon, Mhada's repair and reconstruction board surveys the dangerous or dilapidated buildings among the nearly 15,000 cessed buildings in the city and categorises them under three categories. In this year's list, nine buildings are in C ward, while B ward has three, E ward has four, A ward, F south and G north has one building respectively.
While the post of the chairman has been vacant since 2009 as Sachin Ahir became the Minister of State for Housing. Since then, the NCP has been unable to find a suitable candidate. While the CO Subhash Hazare has gone on a leave for around 20 days.
Generally the authority sends notices to people living in these dangerous buildings asking them to shift in the alternate transit camp accommodation provided by the repair board. However, many people don't prefer to go to transit camps as firstly they are very far from their current accommodation and they far that once they have shifted from their houses, the repairs won't be completed on schedule.
The list contains 19 most dangerous building throughout the Island City, including the Esplanade Mansion that makes it to the list every year. Although the list has been decreasing every year from 35 in 2009 and 24 to 2010 to 19 in 2011, five buildings are common in all these lists. " The major reason for that is the people are reluctant to vacate the buildings and hence these buildings are included in every year's list" said and official from repair board requesting anonymity.
Every year, before monsoon, Mhada's repair and reconstruction board surveys the dangerous or dilapidated buildings among the nearly 15,000 cessed buildings in the city and categorises them under three categories. In this year's list, nine buildings are in C ward, while B ward has three, E ward has four, A ward, F south and G north has one building respectively.
While the post of the chairman has been vacant since 2009 as Sachin Ahir became the Minister of State for Housing. Since then, the NCP has been unable to find a suitable candidate. While the CO Subhash Hazare has gone on a leave for around 20 days.
Generally the authority sends notices to people living in these dangerous buildings asking them to shift in the alternate transit camp accommodation provided by the repair board. However, many people don't prefer to go to transit camps as firstly they are very far from their current accommodation and they far that once they have shifted from their houses, the repairs won't be completed on schedule.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Close to 1.5 lakh applications for MHADA lottery
After the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority's (MHADA) online application received only around 1,82,000 forms, more than 75 per cent, have submitted the forms to the Axis Bank. The total number of official applications for the lottery is 1,40, 289 as the deadline for submitting the forms and depositing the earnest money deposit (EMD) ended on Thursday.
The number of forms submitted this week saw more than cent per cent rise (almost 72,000) as compared to the total number of forms submitted till last Saturday (68,000). "We are very satisfied with the response as the final applications have crossed 75 per cent mark and that is the highest amongst the four lotteries" said Amarjit Singh Manhas, Chairman Mumbai board.
Though from the initial response, the lottery was criticized and people including MHADA officials had just hoped that they would be barely able to cross the 75,000 mark. However the 1,40,000 mark has come as a big positive sign for MHADA. " One of the major reasons for increase in the number of forms in the second half of the lottery period is the loan scheme offered by the bank in the same period" said a MHADA official.
Axis Bank had provided an offer wherein they had paid the EMD amount on behalf of the applicant from May 9 and since then the lottery saw almost 1,27,000 applications as compared to a miniscule 13,000 in the first 10 days.
Though MHADA is patting their backs in self- appreciation, even though the response to the lottery on the whole has been disappointing as compared to the previous two years when 3.28 lakhs applications had come for 3449 houses in 2010 and in 2009, 4.33 lakh applications had come for 3863 houses. Various officials within MHADA have cited different reasons including only online application that was not accessible to majority of lower class people, no funding from Centre under JNNURM and less number of flats for the economically weaker section that were 256.
The number of forms submitted this week saw more than cent per cent rise (almost 72,000) as compared to the total number of forms submitted till last Saturday (68,000). "We are very satisfied with the response as the final applications have crossed 75 per cent mark and that is the highest amongst the four lotteries" said Amarjit Singh Manhas, Chairman Mumbai board.
Though from the initial response, the lottery was criticized and people including MHADA officials had just hoped that they would be barely able to cross the 75,000 mark. However the 1,40,000 mark has come as a big positive sign for MHADA. " One of the major reasons for increase in the number of forms in the second half of the lottery period is the loan scheme offered by the bank in the same period" said a MHADA official.
Axis Bank had provided an offer wherein they had paid the EMD amount on behalf of the applicant from May 9 and since then the lottery saw almost 1,27,000 applications as compared to a miniscule 13,000 in the first 10 days.
Though MHADA is patting their backs in self- appreciation, even though the response to the lottery on the whole has been disappointing as compared to the previous two years when 3.28 lakhs applications had come for 3449 houses in 2010 and in 2009, 4.33 lakh applications had come for 3863 houses. Various officials within MHADA have cited different reasons including only online application that was not accessible to majority of lower class people, no funding from Centre under JNNURM and less number of flats for the economically weaker section that were 256.
Monday, May 2, 2011
MHADA application forms cross 20K mark
The number of applications for MHADA houses finally crossed the 20,000 mark till Monday evening, the sixth day for online submissions of forms for allotment in the lottery conducted by Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA).
In the six days of the submission of applications forms for lottery, the total count has gone up to 20,531 and has been increasing steadily after a shocking count of only 898 on the first day. " I agree there were problems on the first day but now the number of applicants is rising steadily and we are confident that it would match the numbers of the previous years" said Amarjit Singh Manhas, Chairman, MHADA's Mumbai board, The total number of forms submitted to the banks is only 2300, just about 11 per cent of the total forms filled.
"Generally the number of receipts of forms at the centers is low every year compared to the number of forms purchased and this year since the filling up of forms is online, many people have just filled it as a safety measure and would be submitting them at the later stage" said a MHADA official.
The number of forms at the banks is expected to rise on in the coming days as Saturday saw around 1000 forms submitted and Monday saw 800. While the people are also facing problems obtaining a printout of the entire 40- page information booklet as MHADA has not sold any hard copy of the same. The booklet contains all the information regarding the codes of the areas and the special reservations in categories.
"The new process is both complex as well as expensive as we need to pay more than what we used to pay earlier to fill up the forms and submit them," said Pramod Mane an applicant.
Meanwhile MHADA has also placed the link of the forms on their main website that was missing on the first day. It has started the submission of online forms from Wednesday for the 4034 houses it has offered this year for lottery.
In the six days of the submission of applications forms for lottery, the total count has gone up to 20,531 and has been increasing steadily after a shocking count of only 898 on the first day. " I agree there were problems on the first day but now the number of applicants is rising steadily and we are confident that it would match the numbers of the previous years" said Amarjit Singh Manhas, Chairman, MHADA's Mumbai board, The total number of forms submitted to the banks is only 2300, just about 11 per cent of the total forms filled.
"Generally the number of receipts of forms at the centers is low every year compared to the number of forms purchased and this year since the filling up of forms is online, many people have just filled it as a safety measure and would be submitting them at the later stage" said a MHADA official.
The number of forms at the banks is expected to rise on in the coming days as Saturday saw around 1000 forms submitted and Monday saw 800. While the people are also facing problems obtaining a printout of the entire 40- page information booklet as MHADA has not sold any hard copy of the same. The booklet contains all the information regarding the codes of the areas and the special reservations in categories.
"The new process is both complex as well as expensive as we need to pay more than what we used to pay earlier to fill up the forms and submit them," said Pramod Mane an applicant.
Meanwhile MHADA has also placed the link of the forms on their main website that was missing on the first day. It has started the submission of online forms from Wednesday for the 4034 houses it has offered this year for lottery.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
All inclusive Maharashtra budget lacks clarity, foresight
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar presented his maiden, an Rs 58-crore surplus budget in the Legislative Assembly amid slogan shouting by the Opposition members last week.
While hiking taxes on soft drinks and liquor, food grain and essential commodities have been exempted this Budget, with the Finance Minister announcing the Krishi Sanjeevani ojna 2011 for farmers. The scheme allows the waiving off of interest and penalties of farmers who pay in full the outstanding principal amount as of a specified cut- off date. Also, farmers can avail interest free loan up to Rs 50,000 and a mere 2 per cent interest would be charged for a loan of Rs 3,00,000 (three lakh). Over 2.2 million farmers are expected to benefit from the scheme. The minister also offered concessions in power charges and has promise adequate measures for water reservoirs.
According to Pawar, in 2010- 11, the revenue receipts were Rs 1,07,159 crore as against Rs 86,910 crore in 2009- 10, registering a 23.3 per cent increase. There was also 26 per cent increase in Sales Tax mop up in 2010- 11 and 31 per cent rise in stamp duty collections. The minister also said he has not increased sales tax rates like some other states have done, yet sales tax receipts registered an increase.
In 2011- 12, revenue receipts are expected at Rs 1,21,503 crore while the revenue expenditure stands at Rs 1,21,445 crore. Pawar said revenue deficit is proposed to be eliminated for coming fiscal and a marginal revenue surplus of Rs 58 crore expected during the period.
Considering the trend of revenue collection during the year, revised estimates of revenue receipts were fixed at Rs 1,07,159 crore.
Though the regional media welcomed the so called " all inclusive budget", it was critical about it as well. 'Maharashtra Times' in its editorial appreciated the State budget, calling it an all inclusive budget taking care of all the sections of the society, including poorest of poor to the elite class, thus ensuring that the tax burden is not much on the ' aam admi'. Though it looks good on paper, whether it will achieves its objective remains to be seen, it remarked.
Referring Pawar's claim as naïve, Loksatta in its editorial was skeptical about the FM's claim of Rs 58 crore surplus amount, remarking that given the State's debt burden at Rs 2.09 lakh crore set to touch Rs 2.31 lakh crore by the financial year 2011- 2012, it wondered if the State expected to earn this amount only from Sales Tax.
While appreciating the budget, Sakaal too was apprehensive of the surplus money, saying the budget lacked clarity, Lokmat referred to it as an " unrealistic" one. Analysing the budget ' Navshakti' referred to it as being a disappointing one lacking vision as well.
Further, the regional media equivocally appreciated the government's decision of suspending 405 State employees from the agriculture department for misappropriating the relief package for distressed farmers in the Vidarbha.
While hiking taxes on soft drinks and liquor, food grain and essential commodities have been exempted this Budget, with the Finance Minister announcing the Krishi Sanjeevani ojna 2011 for farmers. The scheme allows the waiving off of interest and penalties of farmers who pay in full the outstanding principal amount as of a specified cut- off date. Also, farmers can avail interest free loan up to Rs 50,000 and a mere 2 per cent interest would be charged for a loan of Rs 3,00,000 (three lakh). Over 2.2 million farmers are expected to benefit from the scheme. The minister also offered concessions in power charges and has promise adequate measures for water reservoirs.
According to Pawar, in 2010- 11, the revenue receipts were Rs 1,07,159 crore as against Rs 86,910 crore in 2009- 10, registering a 23.3 per cent increase. There was also 26 per cent increase in Sales Tax mop up in 2010- 11 and 31 per cent rise in stamp duty collections. The minister also said he has not increased sales tax rates like some other states have done, yet sales tax receipts registered an increase.
In 2011- 12, revenue receipts are expected at Rs 1,21,503 crore while the revenue expenditure stands at Rs 1,21,445 crore. Pawar said revenue deficit is proposed to be eliminated for coming fiscal and a marginal revenue surplus of Rs 58 crore expected during the period.
Considering the trend of revenue collection during the year, revised estimates of revenue receipts were fixed at Rs 1,07,159 crore.
Though the regional media welcomed the so called " all inclusive budget", it was critical about it as well. 'Maharashtra Times' in its editorial appreciated the State budget, calling it an all inclusive budget taking care of all the sections of the society, including poorest of poor to the elite class, thus ensuring that the tax burden is not much on the ' aam admi'. Though it looks good on paper, whether it will achieves its objective remains to be seen, it remarked.
Referring Pawar's claim as naïve, Loksatta in its editorial was skeptical about the FM's claim of Rs 58 crore surplus amount, remarking that given the State's debt burden at Rs 2.09 lakh crore set to touch Rs 2.31 lakh crore by the financial year 2011- 2012, it wondered if the State expected to earn this amount only from Sales Tax.
While appreciating the budget, Sakaal too was apprehensive of the surplus money, saying the budget lacked clarity, Lokmat referred to it as an " unrealistic" one. Analysing the budget ' Navshakti' referred to it as being a disappointing one lacking vision as well.
Further, the regional media equivocally appreciated the government's decision of suspending 405 State employees from the agriculture department for misappropriating the relief package for distressed farmers in the Vidarbha.
Friday, March 11, 2011
BJP ups the ante on Chavan resignation
The state BJP has demanded Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan's resignation over the issue of the prime minister directly naming him in the appointment of controversial ex- CVC P. J. Thomas. Incidentally, the chief minister rushed to Delhi on Thursday canceling all appointments.
State BJP chief Sudhir Mungantiwar said in Mumbai today the so- called 'clean' CM is not as clean as it seems. " Firstly there were allegations against him regarding non- disclosure of flat at Wadala, then there were allegations in the Sband scam and now none other than the prime minister of the country has said he hid information regarding the ex- CVC Thomas." BJP leader Pandurang Fundkar demanded the chief minister's resignation saying the Kerala chief minister had clarified that he had alerted the center about the involvement of Thomas in the palm oil scam. At that time, it was Prithviraj's department that was scanning the credentials, which the PM has said, were not disclosed to him. " If the CM does not resign, we would raise the demand in the house," Fundkar added.
On March 14, all top leaders of the state BJP and Venkaiya Naidu would lead a morcha from Azad Maidan to Vidhan Bhavan. The morcha would protest against the state's apathy toward different mafias and scams like oil, sand, land, education etc.
Mungantiwar said he expects around five to six lakh workers from across the state to join in the morcha. About 5000 cyclists from across the state are also expected to join the agitation. The slogan would be 'mafia sakar hatao - Maharashtra bachao'. This agitation has already been started from the district where additional collector ashwant Sonawane was burnt alive by oil mafia. For the past 15 days top BJP leaders have been addressing rallies against the mafia and scam ridden government all over the state.
Public rallies for the agitation was carried out in 250 vidhan sabha constituencies and in 2100 small villages, moreover 1000 local meetings were also organized, Mungantiwar informed.
State BJP chief Sudhir Mungantiwar said in Mumbai today the so- called 'clean' CM is not as clean as it seems. " Firstly there were allegations against him regarding non- disclosure of flat at Wadala, then there were allegations in the Sband scam and now none other than the prime minister of the country has said he hid information regarding the ex- CVC Thomas." BJP leader Pandurang Fundkar demanded the chief minister's resignation saying the Kerala chief minister had clarified that he had alerted the center about the involvement of Thomas in the palm oil scam. At that time, it was Prithviraj's department that was scanning the credentials, which the PM has said, were not disclosed to him. " If the CM does not resign, we would raise the demand in the house," Fundkar added.
On March 14, all top leaders of the state BJP and Venkaiya Naidu would lead a morcha from Azad Maidan to Vidhan Bhavan. The morcha would protest against the state's apathy toward different mafias and scams like oil, sand, land, education etc.
Mungantiwar said he expects around five to six lakh workers from across the state to join in the morcha. About 5000 cyclists from across the state are also expected to join the agitation. The slogan would be 'mafia sakar hatao - Maharashtra bachao'. This agitation has already been started from the district where additional collector ashwant Sonawane was burnt alive by oil mafia. For the past 15 days top BJP leaders have been addressing rallies against the mafia and scam ridden government all over the state.
Public rallies for the agitation was carried out in 250 vidhan sabha constituencies and in 2100 small villages, moreover 1000 local meetings were also organized, Mungantiwar informed.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
'Clean- up' drive gets a makeover
The much controversial 'Clean- Up Mumbai' scheme is soon coming to the city with a new version and attitude.
In an attempt to keep the city clean, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation ( BMC) has decided to revive the earlier clean- up scheme. However, keeping in mind the earlier loopholes that led to failure of the scheme, the civic body has incorporated some changes in the scheme, which is going to be implemented in the city probably from next month.
The conduct of clean- up marshals, who were entrusted with the responsibility of fining offenders caught littering the city, was the most contentious issue of the earlier scheme.
This time around, the civic body has decided to impart training to these marshals on etiquette. " We had earlier received a lot of complaints from people about the rude behaviour of marshals with people.
The BMC will now train these marshals on how to behave with people while charging them a fine," a senior civic official said. The training will be given by civic officials, he added.
The other important feature of the new scheme is that the maximum fine has been brought down from Rs 20,000 to Rs 10,000. In addition to this, the marshals will have limited powers in the scheme, with civic ward officers having a major say in slapping fine. While collecting a highest fine of Rs 10,000, the marshals have to seek the approval of ward officers concerned, the official said.
Though the civic body has kept the other formats of the former scheme more or less same, it has decided to slap restrictions on marshals in order to reduce corruption.
Around 30 per cent of marshals in the ward will supervise at locations selected only by the ward officer. "There were allegations about marshals trying to extort money by standing at selected places like outside clinics and construction sites. However, now they will follow directives of civic officials in this regard," the official said.
In the new set up, there will 25 to 30 marshals in each ward and one private agency will not get more than five wards to man. But sharing of revenues will be based on the earlier formula, with the agency sharing 50 per cent of revenue collection with the civic body.
The BMC had scrapped the earlier clean- up scheme in December last year after corporators dubbed it a total failure. Launched in 2007, the civic body had appointed several private agencies to keep city clean.
The marshals of these agencies were authorized to fine people who litter or spit on the roads or public places. The civic body will be issuing Expression of Interest from private agencies in a couple of days.
In an attempt to keep the city clean, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation ( BMC) has decided to revive the earlier clean- up scheme. However, keeping in mind the earlier loopholes that led to failure of the scheme, the civic body has incorporated some changes in the scheme, which is going to be implemented in the city probably from next month.
The conduct of clean- up marshals, who were entrusted with the responsibility of fining offenders caught littering the city, was the most contentious issue of the earlier scheme.
This time around, the civic body has decided to impart training to these marshals on etiquette. " We had earlier received a lot of complaints from people about the rude behaviour of marshals with people.
The BMC will now train these marshals on how to behave with people while charging them a fine," a senior civic official said. The training will be given by civic officials, he added.
The other important feature of the new scheme is that the maximum fine has been brought down from Rs 20,000 to Rs 10,000. In addition to this, the marshals will have limited powers in the scheme, with civic ward officers having a major say in slapping fine. While collecting a highest fine of Rs 10,000, the marshals have to seek the approval of ward officers concerned, the official said.
Though the civic body has kept the other formats of the former scheme more or less same, it has decided to slap restrictions on marshals in order to reduce corruption.
Around 30 per cent of marshals in the ward will supervise at locations selected only by the ward officer. "There were allegations about marshals trying to extort money by standing at selected places like outside clinics and construction sites. However, now they will follow directives of civic officials in this regard," the official said.
In the new set up, there will 25 to 30 marshals in each ward and one private agency will not get more than five wards to man. But sharing of revenues will be based on the earlier formula, with the agency sharing 50 per cent of revenue collection with the civic body.
The BMC had scrapped the earlier clean- up scheme in December last year after corporators dubbed it a total failure. Launched in 2007, the civic body had appointed several private agencies to keep city clean.
The marshals of these agencies were authorized to fine people who litter or spit on the roads or public places. The civic body will be issuing Expression of Interest from private agencies in a couple of days.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Thane MP jeered over lack of amenities at station premises
Hundreds of commuters jeered Thane MP Sanjeev Naik when he came to inspect the Thane railway station premies. Aggrieved by the daily travel ordeal, rundown station infrastructure, unclean platforms and stinking toilets the irate commuters volunteered to shell out Rs 10 each everyday to revamp the Thane railway station which has a footfall of 5.50 lakh every day.
Does Thane have a world class or a third class railway station? '' was the angry refrain of most commuters who voiced their sufferings to Naik and officials of the central railway during a twohour meeting at the railway station.
Naik along with local Congress leader Bal Purnekar and divisional commercial manager Jagdish Prasad were greeted to a chorus of volatile reactions from commuters on their visit to Thane station.
Naik who claimed the credit for the Union railway ministry's announcement last year to turn Thane station into a world class premise, was heckled by the angry commuters who demanded to know when the railway authorities will pull up their socks and put the station infrastructure on the tracks.
What has angered Thanekars most is the fact that basic amenities are being denied to them when the CR pockets an annual revenue of Rs 65 crore to Rs 70 crore only from sale of daily tickets and CVM coupons.
" Where does all this money go and why even a fraction of these funds are not made available for sprucing up the infrastructure facilities at this most important railway junction on the Central Railway network,' the agitated commuters asked.
Does Thane have a world class or a third class railway station? '' was the angry refrain of most commuters who voiced their sufferings to Naik and officials of the central railway during a twohour meeting at the railway station.
Naik along with local Congress leader Bal Purnekar and divisional commercial manager Jagdish Prasad were greeted to a chorus of volatile reactions from commuters on their visit to Thane station.
Naik who claimed the credit for the Union railway ministry's announcement last year to turn Thane station into a world class premise, was heckled by the angry commuters who demanded to know when the railway authorities will pull up their socks and put the station infrastructure on the tracks.
What has angered Thanekars most is the fact that basic amenities are being denied to them when the CR pockets an annual revenue of Rs 65 crore to Rs 70 crore only from sale of daily tickets and CVM coupons.
" Where does all this money go and why even a fraction of these funds are not made available for sprucing up the infrastructure facilities at this most important railway junction on the Central Railway network,' the agitated commuters asked.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Medha raises banner of revolt against Adarsh
Social activist Medha Patkar was arrested late on Tuesday by the Colaba police, for protesting along with her supporters at the controversial Adarsh Cooperative Housing Society.
Demanding the demolition of the illegal Adarsh building and seeking justice for the people who have been misled in this matter by the government, Patkar said she was staging an indefinite protest against the government. Slum-dwellers from Sion- Koliwada, Govandi- Mankhurd and Golibar area joined the protest.
About two hours before her arrest, Patkar said, " Adarsh is an illegitimate child born out of immoral relations between politicians, government and other authorities associated with Adarsh. This land belongs to the slum dwellers, who have been fraudulently victimised by the government under the pretext of rehabilitation. In August 2008, we had written a letter to the defence ministry stating that this land belonged to them and they must immediately take charge of it. However the ministry has been lackadaisical about it. By staging this protest we are demanding the demolition of this symbol of corruption." She further stated that, " The government and the builder have been making fake promises to the slumdwellers that they shall be rehabilitated. For the construction of this society, houses of slum dwellers were demolished immediately.
However, "the Government is turning a blind eye towards demolishing Adarsh" , she said. Government officials compelled slum- dwellers to sign on blank papers and stated that it is with the consent of the people that their homes are being demolished.
Also, we have sent a letter comprising questions regarding Adarsh to all the political parties in the state and have demanded an answer within four days." Patkar claimed that the government should scrap the 3K clause of the Maharashtra Slum Act, which states that the 70 per cent of the land should be reimbursed to the slum dwellers and the balance is gifted to the developer for redeveloping a slum colony. However, Patkar alleged that this law is neither followed by the government nor by the developer.
Shiv Sena MLA Vivek Pandit who was present on the site said, " Societies like Adarsh are cropping up everywhere and the common man is becoming a victim of all this. The government should demolish this illegal structure and yield justice to the people."
Demanding the demolition of the illegal Adarsh building and seeking justice for the people who have been misled in this matter by the government, Patkar said she was staging an indefinite protest against the government. Slum-dwellers from Sion- Koliwada, Govandi- Mankhurd and Golibar area joined the protest.
About two hours before her arrest, Patkar said, " Adarsh is an illegitimate child born out of immoral relations between politicians, government and other authorities associated with Adarsh. This land belongs to the slum dwellers, who have been fraudulently victimised by the government under the pretext of rehabilitation. In August 2008, we had written a letter to the defence ministry stating that this land belonged to them and they must immediately take charge of it. However the ministry has been lackadaisical about it. By staging this protest we are demanding the demolition of this symbol of corruption." She further stated that, " The government and the builder have been making fake promises to the slumdwellers that they shall be rehabilitated. For the construction of this society, houses of slum dwellers were demolished immediately.
However, "the Government is turning a blind eye towards demolishing Adarsh" , she said. Government officials compelled slum- dwellers to sign on blank papers and stated that it is with the consent of the people that their homes are being demolished.
Also, we have sent a letter comprising questions regarding Adarsh to all the political parties in the state and have demanded an answer within four days." Patkar claimed that the government should scrap the 3K clause of the Maharashtra Slum Act, which states that the 70 per cent of the land should be reimbursed to the slum dwellers and the balance is gifted to the developer for redeveloping a slum colony. However, Patkar alleged that this law is neither followed by the government nor by the developer.
Shiv Sena MLA Vivek Pandit who was present on the site said, " Societies like Adarsh are cropping up everywhere and the common man is becoming a victim of all this. The government should demolish this illegal structure and yield justice to the people."
Saturday, February 5, 2011
MSRDC plans IPO, racing track to tide over debt
With around Rs 4200 crore debt in the last three to four years, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation ( MSRDC) is struggling to straighten their finances with help of various revenue- generation methods. This, even as authorities maintain that they are not under any pressure, as the debt figure is the total amount and not the entire money that needs to be paid on an immediate basis.
" Of the total debt, around Rs 1000 crore needs to be paid on an immediate basis, while the rest can be paid over a period 20 years," said Bipin Srimali, Vice- President and Managing Director, MSRDC. One of the most crucial among the various plans the agency has for generating revenue is to restructure their financial face, by entering the stock market, thereby imparting them a corporate look.
Though the idea was discussed around a year ago, it was recently that the MSRDC has begun considering the task seriously, and is reportedly in talks with financial consultants for the same. " We are in discussion with finance consultant KPMG and Barclay, a wealth management firm, for the same" said an MSRDC official.
" The first goal is to take out an initial public offering ( IPO) and then observe the public response," said Srimali.
Another ambitious project is to develop a car- racing track of Formula One standards in the city for which they have identified three plots. These spots are near Marve in Malad, which belongs to the State revenue department, in Panvel near the Mumbai- Pune Expressway and in Kalyan. " We are currently finalising the land on which we can develop the track, as we require around 450 - 500 acres," said Srimali.
The agency has already started inviting bids for this project.
" Of the total debt, around Rs 1000 crore needs to be paid on an immediate basis, while the rest can be paid over a period 20 years," said Bipin Srimali, Vice- President and Managing Director, MSRDC. One of the most crucial among the various plans the agency has for generating revenue is to restructure their financial face, by entering the stock market, thereby imparting them a corporate look.
Though the idea was discussed around a year ago, it was recently that the MSRDC has begun considering the task seriously, and is reportedly in talks with financial consultants for the same. " We are in discussion with finance consultant KPMG and Barclay, a wealth management firm, for the same" said an MSRDC official.
" The first goal is to take out an initial public offering ( IPO) and then observe the public response," said Srimali.
Another ambitious project is to develop a car- racing track of Formula One standards in the city for which they have identified three plots. These spots are near Marve in Malad, which belongs to the State revenue department, in Panvel near the Mumbai- Pune Expressway and in Kalyan. " We are currently finalising the land on which we can develop the track, as we require around 450 - 500 acres," said Srimali.
The agency has already started inviting bids for this project.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Oil mafia operates with impunity in Mumbai
The oil mafia continues to operate out of Sewri and Chembur where diesel is adulterated with naptha and smuggled out of the city to various places in the state. Senior police officials who were earlier attached to Mumbai's Crime Branch that polices adulteration of food and fuel, claim that political heavyweights control the racket in the state.
Some of the big- time oil tanker fleet owners operating out from Chembur and Navi Mumbai, enjoy political patronage in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Nashik- Jalgaon belt and Konkan region bordering Goa and Karnataka and hence initiating criminal action against them is absolutely difficult.
" The raids on oil adulteration gangs in the backdrop of Additional Collector of Manmad ashwant Sonawane being burnt alive by the oil adulteration mafia is a nothing but an eyewash. Action is being initiated against very small players while the big players remain untouched because of immunity provided by the powerful political leaders controlling regions and cities in the state.
Apart from Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai, the adulterated fuel is transported to the Ratnagiri- Sindhudurg region and then transported to Goa and Karnataka.
Nashik and Jalgaon too are major hubs of fuel adulteration where naptha illegally offloaded from oil tankers in mid- sea, off the Mumbai coastline, is smuggled out from porous landing points like Sewri. The smuggled naptha is then transported to various parts of the state, including Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Thane," claimed a senior police official who was formerly attached to the city crime branch.
He further added that tankers containing diesel adulterated with naptha have been seized a number of times in the recent past by the city crime branch. However, due to pressure from certain quarters in the police hierarchy, cases against the fleet tanker owners involved in the multi- crore racket spread out to states in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Goa, were diluted.
In a number of cases, licensed naptha importers were also involved in illegally diverting naptha to the local market where it finds its way into the dens of the oil adulteration mafia syndicates. However, since these naptha importers were politically connected at high- level, even Customs authorities fail to initiate punitive action against these unscrupulous importers.
Some of the big- time oil tanker fleet owners operating out from Chembur and Navi Mumbai, enjoy political patronage in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Nashik- Jalgaon belt and Konkan region bordering Goa and Karnataka and hence initiating criminal action against them is absolutely difficult.
" The raids on oil adulteration gangs in the backdrop of Additional Collector of Manmad ashwant Sonawane being burnt alive by the oil adulteration mafia is a nothing but an eyewash. Action is being initiated against very small players while the big players remain untouched because of immunity provided by the powerful political leaders controlling regions and cities in the state.
Apart from Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai, the adulterated fuel is transported to the Ratnagiri- Sindhudurg region and then transported to Goa and Karnataka.
Nashik and Jalgaon too are major hubs of fuel adulteration where naptha illegally offloaded from oil tankers in mid- sea, off the Mumbai coastline, is smuggled out from porous landing points like Sewri. The smuggled naptha is then transported to various parts of the state, including Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Thane," claimed a senior police official who was formerly attached to the city crime branch.
He further added that tankers containing diesel adulterated with naptha have been seized a number of times in the recent past by the city crime branch. However, due to pressure from certain quarters in the police hierarchy, cases against the fleet tanker owners involved in the multi- crore racket spread out to states in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Goa, were diluted.
In a number of cases, licensed naptha importers were also involved in illegally diverting naptha to the local market where it finds its way into the dens of the oil adulteration mafia syndicates. However, since these naptha importers were politically connected at high- level, even Customs authorities fail to initiate punitive action against these unscrupulous importers.
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