Mushrooming multi-level residential buildings and absence of a proper government policy to provide water connection to these complexes are leading to a grave situation in the city.

Since the civic authorities are not providing water to residential complexes, the private builders are digging borewells to meet the demand, putting extra pressure on the depleting groundwater level. Yet, the state government is far from making a concrete policy on it and departments are passing the buck.

JAIPUR: The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation's (DMRC) proposal of operating and maintaining of the Jaipur Metro for one year after completion of the project may not be accepted by the Jaipur Metro Rail Corporation (JMRC). To operate the Jaipur Metro under the surveillance of experts, the DMRC has proposed that JMRC should take over after one year when the new staff is well-versed with the operations and maintenance.

However, JMRC chief managing director N C Goyal says, "We are confident of handling operation and maintenance from day one. As some day we have to take the responsibility, it's better to take it from the start." He added, "The option of DMRC assistance and expertise is always available."

The Supreme Court today asked the Jaipur Metro Development Authority to seek permission from the Ministry of Environment and Forests for carrying out sand mining from river bed for its metro rail project.

A special forest bench of justices K S Radhakrishnan and C K Prasad said the MoEF shall consider within 10 days any application moved by the metro corporation for excavating sand from the river bed. The apex court passed the direction after Attorney General G E Vahanvati told the bench that the project development had been adversely affected after the Rajasthan High Court recently restrained any type of mining activities from Banas river.

JAIPUR: Though the Public Health and Engineering Department is claiming that the 'yellow water' is safe for drinking, the health and medical department is yet to give its approval on the quality of the yellow water, which is being supplied to the city from Bisalpur.

The medical, health and family welfare department collected samples from various parts of the city on Monday. It has sent the samples to the Jaipuria laboratory for testing its quality.

The Jaipur Metro Project on Monday rushed to the Supreme Court complaining that its construction work was badly hit by an order of the Rajasthan High Court extending the SC's ban on mining in Aravalli hill range to extraction of sand from Banas river bed.

Appearing for the metro project, scheduled to be completed by June 2013, attorney general G E Vahanvati informed a bench of Justices K S Radhakrishnan and C K Prasad that there never was a ban on extraction of sand from the river bed.

Urban planners attached to an advocacy group on Panchayati Raj here on Monday called upon the Rajasthan Government to pay greater attention to the Centre's flagship scheme, Rajiv Awas Yojana, for providing affordable housing to slum dwellers in the cities. The focus of the Yojana is on according property rights to people living in slums.

Jaipur: Those development projects which came to a halt for want of bajari (sand) will be anxiously looking forward to the Supreme Court decision on Monday as there is a desperate need to resume the work soon to meet the deadline.

The Supreme Court has fixed the hearing for Monday after a team of officials from the Jaipur Metro Rail Corporation (JMRC) and the Jaipur Development Authority filed a special leave petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court, following a Rajasthan High Court order against mining sand from the Banas river.

JAISALMER: Viewing the security scenario and the frequent threats, an integrated security system is being put in place covering 202 railway stations across the country. This includes Jaipur, Ajmer, Jodhpur and Bikaner.

In addition to this, three trains-Thar Express, Palace on Wheels and Atari Express will be a part of the system, informed Railway Protection Force director General P K Mehta during his visit to Jaisalmer on Tuesday.

Demand for proper security and cleanliness in trains

Reacting to the Rail Budget presented by Union Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi in Parliament on Wednesday, Delhiites welcomed the announcement of new trains from the Capital to various locations while stating that an increase in fares was long overdue.

Among the other safety measures announced by Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi in his budget on Wednesday are increasing the number of trains to be escorted by RPF/GRP personnel to 3,500 and integration of the RPF helpline with the All-India Passenger Helpline.

As part of the Railways' green initiative, 2,500 coaches will be equipped with bio-toilets, 200 remote stations will be powered by solar energy, solar-lighting systems will be installed at 1,000 manned level crossing gates, and two bio-diesel plants will be commissioned at Raipur and Tondiarpet.