The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : New parking lot near Model School

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Tuesday, Jul 15, 2008
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Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

New parking lot near Model School

Special Correspondent

Externally aided projects to be expedited: Mayor

21 cents to be acquired to set up the parking lot
Moves on to establish project implementation unit for JNNURM schemes

Thiruvananthapuram: The City Corporation Council which met here on Monday approved a resolution sanctioning the acquisition of 21 cents near the Model School junction to set up a parking lot .

Moving the resolution, chairman of the standing committee on Town Planning P.Harikumar said the development of parking facilities was imperative in the light of the increasing number of vehicles in the city. The resolution was adopted unanimously.

Mayor C. Jayan Babu told the council that moves were on to establish a separate project implementation unit (PIU) for the schemes to be taken up with Central government assistance under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).

In a written reply to Nanthancode ward councillor Palayam Rajan, he said the integrated PIU for JNNURM and the Kerala Sustainable Urban Development Project (KSUDP) would be divided into separate units for better project administration.

JNNURM aid

The Mayor said the Corporation had received a total of Rs.4.94 crore as assistance under the JNNURM for water supply, sewerage and improvement of basic services for the urban poor. He said the Centre was expected to release funds for a solid waste management project.

Mr.Babu explained that the water supply and sewerage projects would be implemented through the Kerala Water Authority. The KWA had set up a PIU.

“The contract for construction of a sewage treatment plant is awaiting clearance from the State government and the Asian Development Bank. Land acquisition for extension of the sewerage network is progressing. Moves are on to tender the work on augmentation of the piped water supply network,” he added.

Mr.Babu added that the redevelopment of five slum colonies in the city had been entrusted to three different agencies. An amount of Rs.20.03 lakh was disbursed as housing assistance and another Rs.10 lakh would be distributed to 100 beneficiaries this month.

The Mayor said the Central government-sponsored programmes taken up by the Corporation had been bogged down by the shortage of staff and legal complications.

Poojappura ward councillor K.Maheswaran Nair said infrastructure projects under the JNNURM had not registered progress though housing schemes had taken off.

The Mayor, however, said all the projects would be completed within the specified time.

“We are working out a weekly review and monitoring system to expedite the works. The government has agreed to set up a special team to speed up land acquisition,” he said.

Trade licence

The meeting approved conditional sanction for issue of trade licence for a new outlet of the Varkey retail chain near Ayurveda College that was closed down soon after inauguration.

A resolution moved by the health standing committee said the trade licence would be issued only on the condition that the owners of the outlet agreed to provide adequate parking facility for customers within the premises.

Narrow road

In view of the narrow road and the proximity of the District Court, Collectorate and Government Ayurveda College, the trade licence can be issued only on the basis of an undertaking from the owners that customers will not park their vehicles on the congested road.

The Mayor pointed out that the complex had already been issued a building licence after verification of the mandatory requirements.

Sreekanteswaram ward councillor P.Rajendra Das sought an explanation on the functioning of a Reliance retail outlet at Kaithamukku. The Mayor, however, asked for a written request for information.

Stray dog menace

Mr. Rajan pointed out that the Animal Birth Control programme for sterilisation of stray dogs had ground to a halt. The Mayor directed the health standing committee to convene an emergency meeting to discuss and sort out the issues including the availability of vehicles, medicines, manpower and revenue for the project.

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