HDMC conferred Best Practice Award

HDMC conferred Best Practice Award

TNN, Dec 8, 2010, 08.53pm IST

HUBLI: Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) is perhaps the first corporation in the state to be appreciated by the state urban development department for adopting technology to provide hassle-free services to the public.

HDMC has been chosen for prestigious Best Practice Award-2010 under city corporations' category by Karnataka Urban Development Department (KUDD) in association with City Managers' Association-Karnataka ( CMAK) for its initiative in automized building plan approval system and implementation of volumetric tariff for water supply system.

HDMC is also said to have inspired other corporations in the state to adopt the services being offered by it __ to provide building plans and fixing volumetric water tariff.

According to a KUDD letter available with TOI, HDMC has been chosen for the coveted award "for revolutionizing the way of issuing building plans (building permission)" by adopting technology called Auto DCR software.

Earlier, people had to wait for over 21 days to get building permission. But after the implementation of the new system, people are getting building licence within a week.

The documents furnished by building owners will be loaded into the software. The applicants will be called for clarification, only if found to be violating the norms while constructing building. If not, the licence will be couriered to their address within seven days.

The government is also impressed with the way the corporation implemented the volumetric tariff for water supply in the twin cities. HDMC had earlier fixed flat prices as water tariff. But it has now joined hands with Water Board to introduce volumetric traffic.

Accordingly, the water tariff will be collected as per the consumption of water, instead of fixing uniform tariff to all consumers. If a person uses less water, (s)he will pay less amount.

Speaking to `The Times of India', HDMC commissioner K V Trilokchandra said: "We are happy that the government has recognized our works. The award has further increased our responsibility to deliver better services. We will strive to provide good services to the public."