Mayor, Commissioner should get proactive
Times News Network - 2 August 2009, 09:11pm IST
Hubli-Dharwad figuring in the JNNURM list makes a happy tiding for the residents. Since project implementation is the responsibility of urban local
bodies the HDMC must complete the requisite formalities scrupulously to be eligible for the proposed Rs 600 crore Central funding. Apart from preparing project reports for various works the HDMC would do well to fulfill the basic reform agenda as required since the Central grant under the mission is not a free lunch. While the HDMC needs to change its good old mindset, the mayor and the acting commissioner should get more proactive in ensuring people-friendly civic governance now.
To improve accountability and transparency in administration the defunct citizen committees must be revived. Besides being financially strong the corporation must adopt modern accrual based double entry accounting system, introduce e-governance using IT applications like GIS and MIS for various services, reform property tax system with GIS application so that collection efficiency reaches at least 85% as needed under JnNURM mission mode scheme of urban renewal.
Funds received from the Centre and the state must be put to better and balanced use and avoid chances of resource leakage, misuse, misapplication and corruption etc. Priority be given to such projects as redevelopment of inner and old city areas, water supply, sewerage and solid waste management, construction and improvement of drains/storm water drains, urban transport including roads, highways, parking lots/spaces on a PPP basis, development of heritage sites, eradication of slums etc as envisaged under JnNURM.
Venkatesh N Muttur, Mayuri Estate, Hubli.
Hurdles in way of Ring Road proposal
The much required Ring Road proposal to decongest the traffic which has increased at unimagined proportions has another twist to it now. The concept conceded in 2001 has atleast five amendments to road alignment, even increasing the length of the road from the initial 9.5 km and not to mention the escalated costs into folds. The concurrence of the latest approved map which involves acquiring 202 acres of land at the fixed rate at Rs 1.5 lakh to 3 lakh per acre is debatable. This is because the land prices around Hubli have gone up substantially in recent times and the villagers may not agree to part with their land for less money further delaying the process. Under these circumstances it is difficult to imagine that how far the proposal will take shape.
Mohinder Singh Sublok, Arvind Nagar, Hubli
Fix time limit for truck movement
The monsoon has exposed the substandard quality of roads in Hubli. Potholes have come up on several roads in New Cotton Market area that were laid a few months back. Roads in this area were constructed after a gap of not less than a decade providing the much needed relief to the residents and shopkeepers here. One major reason for the roads here turning worse is movement of heavy trucks. The authorities should restrict the movement of monstrous trucks by allowing them into the city only during a fixed period of time.
Viswanath, New Cotton Market, Hubli
Times News Network - 2 August 2009, 09:11pm IST
Hubli-Dharwad figuring in the JNNURM list makes a happy tiding for the residents. Since project implementation is the responsibility of urban local
bodies the HDMC must complete the requisite formalities scrupulously to be eligible for the proposed Rs 600 crore Central funding. Apart from preparing project reports for various works the HDMC would do well to fulfill the basic reform agenda as required since the Central grant under the mission is not a free lunch. While the HDMC needs to change its good old mindset, the mayor and the acting commissioner should get more proactive in ensuring people-friendly civic governance now.
To improve accountability and transparency in administration the defunct citizen committees must be revived. Besides being financially strong the corporation must adopt modern accrual based double entry accounting system, introduce e-governance using IT applications like GIS and MIS for various services, reform property tax system with GIS application so that collection efficiency reaches at least 85% as needed under JnNURM mission mode scheme of urban renewal.
Funds received from the Centre and the state must be put to better and balanced use and avoid chances of resource leakage, misuse, misapplication and corruption etc. Priority be given to such projects as redevelopment of inner and old city areas, water supply, sewerage and solid waste management, construction and improvement of drains/storm water drains, urban transport including roads, highways, parking lots/spaces on a PPP basis, development of heritage sites, eradication of slums etc as envisaged under JnNURM.
Venkatesh N Muttur, Mayuri Estate, Hubli.
Hurdles in way of Ring Road proposal
The much required Ring Road proposal to decongest the traffic which has increased at unimagined proportions has another twist to it now. The concept conceded in 2001 has atleast five amendments to road alignment, even increasing the length of the road from the initial 9.5 km and not to mention the escalated costs into folds. The concurrence of the latest approved map which involves acquiring 202 acres of land at the fixed rate at Rs 1.5 lakh to 3 lakh per acre is debatable. This is because the land prices around Hubli have gone up substantially in recent times and the villagers may not agree to part with their land for less money further delaying the process. Under these circumstances it is difficult to imagine that how far the proposal will take shape.
Mohinder Singh Sublok, Arvind Nagar, Hubli
Fix time limit for truck movement
The monsoon has exposed the substandard quality of roads in Hubli. Potholes have come up on several roads in New Cotton Market area that were laid a few months back. Roads in this area were constructed after a gap of not less than a decade providing the much needed relief to the residents and shopkeepers here. One major reason for the roads here turning worse is movement of heavy trucks. The authorities should restrict the movement of monstrous trucks by allowing them into the city only during a fixed period of time.
Viswanath, New Cotton Market, Hubli
