24x7 operational control room helps in tackling public grievances

Implementing a global positioning system (GPS) based municipal solid waste transportation has led to saving of more than 48 per cent running cost and increased efficiency by 88 per cent for the Mysore City Corporation (MCC). The statistics on effect of GPS was revealed by Kallatra Technologies director Nishad Ali and project manager B S Vishwanath at the ongoing third international conference on solid waste management ‘ICONSWM-2012’ at the N R Narayana Murthy Centre of Excellence here on Tuesday.

‘45 projects at an estimated cost of Rs 2086 crore approved under JnNURM in country’

Union Minister of state for urban development Saugata Roy said an integrated solid waste management project at an estimated cost of Rs 29.85 crore has been approved by his ministry under the UIG component of JnNURM. He was speaking at the inauguration of third international conference on solid waste management ICONSWM-2012 at the N R Narayana Murthy Centre of Excellence here on Monday.

Under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Reconstruction Mission (JNNURM), 45 solid waste management (SWM) projects at a cost of Rs 2,086 crore and 70 projects of Rs 409 crore have been approved so far in different states by the Urban Development Ministry, Government of India. JUNNURM has listed 65 mission cities for financial assistance for urban development in the country.

“These projects are in the different stages of implementation,” Union Minister of State for Urban Development Saugata Roy said in Mysore on Monday, highlighting the efforts of the government to tackle the SWM problem in urban India.

Modern stations and facilities to open at B’lore and Mysore

Home and Transport Minister R Ashoka said on Friday that 13,000 BMTC buses will be operating in Bangalore city within the next decade. Ashoka was speaking after laying the foundation for a new bus station in Yelahanka old town, and for bus depots in Sadenahalli and Nagadevanahalli. “Our aim is to bring the best buses from different parts of the world to Bangalore and thereby making public transport popular,” he said. “Currently, the number of buses plying in Bangalore is around 6,500. The number will touch 13,000 in the next 10 years.”

A steep hike in water rates without any transparency has shocked consumers in Mysore resulting in protests and demonstrations demanding a rollback.

Water rates of both domestic and commercial consumption have been raised three-fold from May 1. The minimum charge of Rs 60 has gone up to Rs 175 from May 1. The MCC has however defended the steep rise by saying it had been raised throughout the state. Among those who opposed the hike was former minister and sitting N R constituency MLA Tanveer Sait (Congress).

Even though the Indian Railways has taken over the catering service it has not been able to implement its policy on the desired lines and the problem of drinking water continues to be acute and a matter of concern in stations and moving trains.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee headed by T.R. Baalu in its report, which was tabled in the Rajya Sabha on Monday, expressed concern that during inspection, the committee found that normal tap water was being used for drinking at most stations.

Projects to improve infrastructure discussed at Vision-2020

With an eye on improving waste management in the city, the Mysore City Corporation (MCC) is planning to install a computer controlled chip in each house, which would indicate if garbage has been collected. Think tank: Alert Citizens Team president Prof Shivaram Malavalli shares a point with district in-charge minister S A Ramdas in Mysore on Wednesday. Deputy commissioner P S Vastrad and police commissioner K L Sudheer are seen.

The move will improve Mysore's connectivity and spur growth: Chief Minister

The high-speed ‘bullet train' service proposed between Chennai and Bangalore will be extended up to Mysore to improve connectivity with Mysore and spur industrial growth in the region. This was announced by Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda after inaugurating the Mysore Region Business Development Summit here on Friday.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday told the Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE) that the company will not be able to get possession of land for undertaking the ambitious multi-thousand crore Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor Project (BMICP) till the issue of land compensation was resolved.

A three-judge Bench headed by Justice R M Lodha refused to hear further a contempt petition filed by NICE seeking action against the State government for failing to acquire land for the project.

The urban greens demand that the rural poor live in conflict even where it does not help conservation