Hubli-Dharwad, Bangalore in urban renewal plan
Business Standard
Vidya Kulkarni / Dharwad December 06, 2005: The Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), launched by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday, will be a boon to Hubli-Dharwad. The twin cities have been included in the list of cities chosen for implementing the mission. Hubli-Dharwad, along with Bangalore city, will be covered by the mission.
The sub-mission launched by the Union ministry of urban employment and poverty alleviation aims at providing basic services to the urban poor in 63 select cities across the country.
In Karnataka, Bangalore has been selected under cities with a population of over four million and Hubli-Dharwad under the category of cities with population of over one million population. With the inclusion of the twin cities for implementing the mission, all projects for the creation and development of infrastructure could be taken up under the JNNURM.
The mission will be implemented in 2005-06 and all works taken up under the mission need to be completed within seven years. Minister for municipal administration S R Morey, who is also the minister in-charge of Dharwad district, told this correspondent that the mission will be a boon to the twin cities.
He said, Hubli-Dharwad could secure assistance to the tune of Rs 500 crore in course of seven years to develop the infrastructure. This will enable the twin cities to attract investments and generate employment.
The minister has instructed the Hubli-Dharwad Municipal commissioner Manivannan to prepare plans and proposals with the help of expert consultants and send them to the central sanctioning and monitoring committee in the ministry of urban employment and poverty alleviation for approval within a month.
As per the financing pattern of the mission, Hubli-Dharwad will get 80 per cent of the project cost from the Centre while Bangalore will get 50 per cent. The remaining has to be borne by the state urban local body (ULB) concerned.
The main thrust of the sub-mission on basic services to the urban poor will be an integrated development of slums through projects for providing shelter, basic services and other related civic amenities to provide utilities to the urban poor.
The admissible components of the mission include integrated development of slums, projects involving development and maintenance of basic services, projects of water supply, sewerage, drainage, community toilets, baths and other amenities, affordable houses, street lighting among others.
The state governments and the ULBs/parastatals will be required to execute a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the Centre that include their commitment to implementing the identified reforms.
The MoA will also spell out specific milestones to be achieved for each item of reform. Signing of the tripartite MoA will be a necessary condition to access central assistance. The agenda of reforms include mandatory reforms and optional reforms.
The National Steering Committee has been constituted to steer the objectives of the mission. The Union minister for urban development is the chairman of the committee and minister for urban employment and poverty alleviation the co-chairperson.
The five members of the committee are secretary (UEPA), secretary, Planning Commission, secretary (expenditure), national technical advisor and secretary (urban development).
The state-level steering committee will decide on the projects and their priorities for inclusion in the NURM programme. It is headed by the chief minister as chairperson and includes minister for urban development as vice-chairman, mayor of ULB, MPs/MLAs concerned, secretary, finance, secretary public health engineering, secretary, municipal administration, secretary, housing and secretary and urban development as members.
The scheme will be implemented through a state-level nodal agency designated by the state government. The funds will be released in four instalments by the ministry of urban employment and poverty alleviation as additional central assistance. The first instalment will be released on signing the MoA.
The balance will be released after the receipt of the utility certificate.
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
Thursday, December 01, 2005
North Karnataka's investment potential showcased
North Karnataka's investment potential showcased
Hindu.com
BRIGHT FUTURE: Malcolm Wagget, Chief Operating Officer, HSBC, Hyderabad, delivering the keynote address at the launch of BIC Society in Belgaum on Wednesday. Development Commissioner for North Karnataka V. Umesh, KLES Chairman Prabhakar B. Kore, and BIC President B.S. Patil are seen.
Belgaum: BIC (BPO-ITES-CRM) Society's launch here on Wednesday showcased the investment potential in north Karnataka in general and Belgaum in particular for the prospective investors in the information technology sector, including MNCs.
It is for the first time that an organised and consistent process has been initiated to project the "unexploited" infrastructure facilities, skilled manpower and intellectual resource available in the region. The message BIC sought to send across is that Belgaum has best of the "untapped" infrastructure facilities and a congenial atmosphere and that it can be a good host among the secondary cities in peninsular India for all those companies and investors who are looking to expand or launch fresh ventures in the sector.
In a brief chat with presspersons that followed the launch, though Malcolm Wagget, Chief Operating Officer of HSBC, Hyderabad, maintained that HSBC has no plans to come up with more units in India, he kept his options open. He also said that the company will keep an eye on the market in reply to a question whether one of the biggest banking and financial organisations would be interested in making investments in Belgaum.
Apparently, the four hours he spent in the city is too little to decide on crucial issues such as investments of vast nature. Yet, a silver line and a moral booster for BIC came from the fact that Mentek IT Solutions became the first company to announce the setting up of a small facility in the IT sector in Belgaum in the next three months.
"The process has indeed begun," said founder president of BIC and former Chief Secretary, B.S. Patil. The BIC will keep marketing secondary cities such as Belgaum, Hubli-Dharwad in north Karnataka (and Davangere), keep inviting chief executive officers and industrial leaders so that they themselves can ascertain infrastructure available in the region, including educational institutions, medical facilities, skilled and talented human resources, a congenial working atmosphere and moderate climatic conditions.
It may not happen in a day or two. Yet the efforts to draw the attention of the investors in the IT sector would continue as there is abundant potential and talent in the region, which, for some reasons, could not be marketed or projected sufficiently to ensure investment commitments.
Earlier, Mr. Wagget, who lit the lamp to mark the launch of BIC, briefly spoke about the activities of HSBC, which, he said, was reaching out secondary cities in India and other countries. He said the country has a large pool of technically qualified English-speaking men. Other indicators of growth included the ability of Indian vendors to push operations rapidly, focus on cost-effective business model and importance of profitability.
The Karnataka Lingayat Society Chairman and MLC, Prabhakar B. Kore, who took the lead along with the Karnataka Law Society Chairman, S.M. Kulkarni, and two other educational institutions, People Education Society and Bharatesh Education Society, in signing memorandums of understanding with BIC to train young commerce, science and arts graduates and make them ready for the IT sector or any other industry, attributed the growth of the IT sector in Bangalore to the talent from north Karnataka.
At least 40 per cent of the workforce in IT industries in Bangalore is from north Karnataka, including some of the top executive and leaders. "All of them have graduated from Hubli and Belgaum. But we could not use their talent due to lack of investments," he said.
The Development Commissioner for Northern Karnataka, V. Umesh, appealed to the STPI Director (Karnataka), B.V. Naidu, to expedite the proposal for setting up STPI in Belgaum in this financial year itself.
Mr. Naidu said though the Governing Council of STPI had considered the proposals for setting up STPI parks in Belgaum and Gulbarga, the Union Government had decided to set up the park first in Gulbarga and then in Beglaum.
The Deputy Commissioner, Shalini Rajneesh, the Chief Executive Officer of Manthan Services, Bangalore, Gururaj Potnis, and the Chairman of BIC, M.S. Subhas, spoke.
Hindu.com
BRIGHT FUTURE: Malcolm Wagget, Chief Operating Officer, HSBC, Hyderabad, delivering the keynote address at the launch of BIC Society in Belgaum on Wednesday. Development Commissioner for North Karnataka V. Umesh, KLES Chairman Prabhakar B. Kore, and BIC President B.S. Patil are seen.
Belgaum: BIC (BPO-ITES-CRM) Society's launch here on Wednesday showcased the investment potential in north Karnataka in general and Belgaum in particular for the prospective investors in the information technology sector, including MNCs.
It is for the first time that an organised and consistent process has been initiated to project the "unexploited" infrastructure facilities, skilled manpower and intellectual resource available in the region. The message BIC sought to send across is that Belgaum has best of the "untapped" infrastructure facilities and a congenial atmosphere and that it can be a good host among the secondary cities in peninsular India for all those companies and investors who are looking to expand or launch fresh ventures in the sector.
In a brief chat with presspersons that followed the launch, though Malcolm Wagget, Chief Operating Officer of HSBC, Hyderabad, maintained that HSBC has no plans to come up with more units in India, he kept his options open. He also said that the company will keep an eye on the market in reply to a question whether one of the biggest banking and financial organisations would be interested in making investments in Belgaum.
Apparently, the four hours he spent in the city is too little to decide on crucial issues such as investments of vast nature. Yet, a silver line and a moral booster for BIC came from the fact that Mentek IT Solutions became the first company to announce the setting up of a small facility in the IT sector in Belgaum in the next three months.
"The process has indeed begun," said founder president of BIC and former Chief Secretary, B.S. Patil. The BIC will keep marketing secondary cities such as Belgaum, Hubli-Dharwad in north Karnataka (and Davangere), keep inviting chief executive officers and industrial leaders so that they themselves can ascertain infrastructure available in the region, including educational institutions, medical facilities, skilled and talented human resources, a congenial working atmosphere and moderate climatic conditions.
It may not happen in a day or two. Yet the efforts to draw the attention of the investors in the IT sector would continue as there is abundant potential and talent in the region, which, for some reasons, could not be marketed or projected sufficiently to ensure investment commitments.
Earlier, Mr. Wagget, who lit the lamp to mark the launch of BIC, briefly spoke about the activities of HSBC, which, he said, was reaching out secondary cities in India and other countries. He said the country has a large pool of technically qualified English-speaking men. Other indicators of growth included the ability of Indian vendors to push operations rapidly, focus on cost-effective business model and importance of profitability.
The Karnataka Lingayat Society Chairman and MLC, Prabhakar B. Kore, who took the lead along with the Karnataka Law Society Chairman, S.M. Kulkarni, and two other educational institutions, People Education Society and Bharatesh Education Society, in signing memorandums of understanding with BIC to train young commerce, science and arts graduates and make them ready for the IT sector or any other industry, attributed the growth of the IT sector in Bangalore to the talent from north Karnataka.
At least 40 per cent of the workforce in IT industries in Bangalore is from north Karnataka, including some of the top executive and leaders. "All of them have graduated from Hubli and Belgaum. But we could not use their talent due to lack of investments," he said.
The Development Commissioner for Northern Karnataka, V. Umesh, appealed to the STPI Director (Karnataka), B.V. Naidu, to expedite the proposal for setting up STPI in Belgaum in this financial year itself.
Mr. Naidu said though the Governing Council of STPI had considered the proposals for setting up STPI parks in Belgaum and Gulbarga, the Union Government had decided to set up the park first in Gulbarga and then in Beglaum.
The Deputy Commissioner, Shalini Rajneesh, the Chief Executive Officer of Manthan Services, Bangalore, Gururaj Potnis, and the Chairman of BIC, M.S. Subhas, spoke.
Friday, November 25, 2005
HDMC to implement Rs 30 crore road project by May-end
HDMC to implement Rs 30 crore road project by May-end
Newindpress.com
Friday November 25 2005 11:29 IST
HUBLI: The much ambitious Rs 30 crore road development project will be implemented completely in Hubli and Dharwad by May-end, said P Manivannan, Commissioner of Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation.
Speaking to reporters here on Thursday, Manivannan said most of the roads in twin cities were damaged due to heavy rains. All roads, which were in bad condition, would be repaired under the project.
He said works on repairing and remodelling of roads in twin cities would be taken up in four phases. About 54 roads had been identified as worst affected which would be repaired under the project.
He further said that Rs 5 lakh would be provided to each ward for the beautification purposes including the development of gardens, painting of pavements among others.
Stern action would be taken against the contractor for executing substandard quality works, he said adding that the contractors concerned would be held responsible, if there were any damages or low quality works till two years.
Contractors would have to look into complaints of roads immediately for two years after executing works, he added. When asked about any financial assistance from the National Highway Authority, he said National Highway Authority and Public Works Department had consented to provide some financial assistance to Corporation to repair National Highways, which pass through Hubli-Dharwad.
He said a comprehensive plan had been devised to keep the city free from dust problems. As per the plan, pavements would be laid at all important places so that it could help in ending dust problem in city.
He also promised to end the menace of stray animals including that of pigs, cows by January next. Commenting on financial status of the corporation, he said it has been improving in recent days.
When compared to the earlier days, present financial position of the Corporation was sound. He made it clear that Corporation would not give any compensation nor relocate the people who were evicted during the anti-encroachment drive for encroaching corporation’s property and land.
S L Kushti, Superintendent of HDMC and Mathad, Assistant Commissioner of HDMC were present.
Newindpress.com
Friday November 25 2005 11:29 IST
HUBLI: The much ambitious Rs 30 crore road development project will be implemented completely in Hubli and Dharwad by May-end, said P Manivannan, Commissioner of Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation.
Speaking to reporters here on Thursday, Manivannan said most of the roads in twin cities were damaged due to heavy rains. All roads, which were in bad condition, would be repaired under the project.
He said works on repairing and remodelling of roads in twin cities would be taken up in four phases. About 54 roads had been identified as worst affected which would be repaired under the project.
He further said that Rs 5 lakh would be provided to each ward for the beautification purposes including the development of gardens, painting of pavements among others.
Stern action would be taken against the contractor for executing substandard quality works, he said adding that the contractors concerned would be held responsible, if there were any damages or low quality works till two years.
Contractors would have to look into complaints of roads immediately for two years after executing works, he added. When asked about any financial assistance from the National Highway Authority, he said National Highway Authority and Public Works Department had consented to provide some financial assistance to Corporation to repair National Highways, which pass through Hubli-Dharwad.
He said a comprehensive plan had been devised to keep the city free from dust problems. As per the plan, pavements would be laid at all important places so that it could help in ending dust problem in city.
He also promised to end the menace of stray animals including that of pigs, cows by January next. Commenting on financial status of the corporation, he said it has been improving in recent days.
When compared to the earlier days, present financial position of the Corporation was sound. He made it clear that Corporation would not give any compensation nor relocate the people who were evicted during the anti-encroachment drive for encroaching corporation’s property and land.
S L Kushti, Superintendent of HDMC and Mathad, Assistant Commissioner of HDMC were present.
Thursday, November 24, 2005
Passport Assistance Centre inaugurated
Passport Assistance Centre inaugurated
Newindpress.com
Thursday November 24 2005 10:33 IST
HUBLI: Passport Assistance Centre was inaugurated in Hubli-Dharwad Police Commissioner Office here on Wednesday.
Narayan Nadumani, Commissioner of Police, Hubli-Dharwad said the people of twin cities who aspire to fly abroad have now no need to go Regional Passport Office, Bangalore as Passport Assistance Centre has now been facilitated in the premises of Huibli-Dharwad Commissioner office.
He said the application form for passport would be given in the office and same would be sent to the Regional Passport Office after character and data verification of the applicant by Hubli-Dharwad Commissionerate.
It would work on the pattern of ‘Single Window Agency’ now being worked out in Regional Passport Office, Bangalore, he added.
Newindpress.com
Thursday November 24 2005 10:33 IST
HUBLI: Passport Assistance Centre was inaugurated in Hubli-Dharwad Police Commissioner Office here on Wednesday.
Narayan Nadumani, Commissioner of Police, Hubli-Dharwad said the people of twin cities who aspire to fly abroad have now no need to go Regional Passport Office, Bangalore as Passport Assistance Centre has now been facilitated in the premises of Huibli-Dharwad Commissioner office.
He said the application form for passport would be given in the office and same would be sent to the Regional Passport Office after character and data verification of the applicant by Hubli-Dharwad Commissionerate.
It would work on the pattern of ‘Single Window Agency’ now being worked out in Regional Passport Office, Bangalore, he added.
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