Civic bodies in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region could soon start sharing landfill sites to create environment friendly dumping grounds, thereby reducing the requirement of land for garbage. "Two to three civic bodies can possibly have a landfill site in common where they can dump their garbage, however the land will be only for bio-degradable waste," Metropolitan Commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad said. The sites would be earmarked for certain civic bodies on the basis of their geographical proximity to the landfills.

After four years of monitoring by the Supreme Court, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Tuesday said the modern Ghazipur abattoir, which has missed many a deadline, would be ready by May 20 but the apex court gave it an additional 10 days. Appearing for MCD, additional solicitor general Amarendra Saran informed a Bench comprising Justices Ashok Bhan, S B Sinha and A K Mathur that the project would be ready by May 20.

Autorickshaws and private buses are responsible for the snarls on city roads, a Besu study has revealed. The study, commissioned by the Calcutta Municipal Corporation (CMC), was conducted by the transportation engineering and planning wing of the civil engineering department under the leadership of Prof Sudip Roy. "There are over 100 auto routes in the city and the count is rising by the day,' said Roy. "Initially, an auto carried three passengers. Now, they ferry up to six in violation of traffic rules.'

In order to improve the water supply and distribution system to the city, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) will be constructing an alternate water supply line soon. This would act as one of the main water supply line for the city, replacing a 60-inch water supply line from Palta to Tallah. Rs 305 crore has already been sanctioned in this regard by the Centre.

Siliguri: The Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC) will crack down on those who tap water illegally from underground supply lines in many of its wards, in a bid to give uninterrupted water supply to residents. As part of its drive to check the diversion of water, the civic body will conduct raids, slap fine on those found taking water without permission and even seek the help of police to seize their pumps. "In the past couple of weeks, we have received complaints regarding water supply,' said Sharadindu Chakraborty, member, mayor-in-council (water).

Many people of ward 71, 73 and 74 of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) fell ill today after consuming water supplied by the civic body. While civic officials said that eight people had fallen ill, locals said that the number was at least 27.

Rising mercury fuels the demand for cut fruits & juices, but they can cause waterborne diseases if not vended hygienically As temperatures soar and the sun beats down relentlessly, glistening heaps of cut fruit and cool glasses of juice in stalls on the roadside become more and more inviting. Although they provide relief from the heat, they could still bring one to grief.

The Municipal Corporation (MC) has issued challans against three persons and served notices to 65 others for watering their lawns and washing cars during peak morning hours despite a ban imposed by the civic body. The MC had started the drive on April 15 and since than more than 500 notices have been issued. The Public Health Division (PHD) of the civic body has constituted 13 teams consisting of sub-divisional engineers and junior engineers. The teams visited all the sectors in the city and conducted checks to ensure that people are not washing cars or watering lawns.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi on Wednesday said no child will be denied admission in primary schools run by it due to non-submission of birth certificate. Provisional admission is being granted to every child seeking admission in primary schools after accepting an affidavit by the guardian, subject to submission of birth certificate later on, civic body officials said.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is now planning to launch a vigorous campaign for the rounding up of stray cattle and removal of illegal diaries to meet the Delhi High Court deadline. The MCD has written to the Home ministry and asked for a police force comprising 130 police personnel on a permanent basis till August 31, 2008.