Kolkata now free from water logging problems, thanks to KMC

Kolkata now free from water logging problems, thanks to KMC

Posted on April 2, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

The drainage system of Kolkata is depended on the canal network surrounding the city. After independence, most of these canals were not dredged in totality. With the help of the State Government, KMC has undertaken dredging and desiltation of this canal network. As a result, the people of Kolkata have got relief from the age-old water logging problem during the monsoon.

The canals which have been dredged and desilted are:

1. Dredging and desiltation of TP canal, inter-stepping channel, lead channel, AA1, BB1, CC1, EE1, A5, A6 up to 16 km and lining done up to 665 m

2. Desiltation worth 1.5 km has been done from Monikhali in Monikhali canal; Parnashree, Bagore channel, CPT canal areas, and lining for 390 metres have been done

3. For Keorapukur canal, Keorapukur channel, Keorapukur branch canal, desiltation of 1.1 km has been completed for, lining for 797 metres and 951 metres of U-through has been done

4. Churiwal canal, the increased areas of Churiwal canal and Suti canal’s 26.8 km silt has been cleared and lining of 211 metres have been done

The Pumping Stations used for clearing monsoon water have also been upgraded and modernised sparing the citizens of Kolkata from facing water logging problems. Also the following steps have been taken:

• Four new booster pumping stations have been installed in Borough I – RK Ghosh drainage pumping station, Birpara drainage pumping station, Dutta Bagan drainage pumping station and Kashipur drainage pumping station.

• Under Borough VIII the new pumping stations are Topsia drainage pumping station, Ambedkar Bridge pumping station over EE-1 canal, Pataldanga drainage pumping station, Kulia-Tangra drainage pumping station and the old pumping station at Chingrighata have been renovated and refurbished to cater to an increased volume.

• Under Borough XI six new pumping stations have been renovated and refurbished to increase their capacity.

• In Borough XII the old drainage pumping stations have been replaced with new ones, PS1 drainage pumping station near Bagha Jatin Rail Station, PS 3 drainage pumping station near Kasba Rajdanga, Nonadanga, PS 4 drainage pumping station and Neelachal Housing Complex drainage pumping station.

• New pumping station has been installed in Borough XIII canal road area and the three old pumping stations of that area have been refurbished to an increased capacity.

•In Borough XIV area new pumping stations have been installed namely CPT canal drainage pumping station, Behala Flying Club drainage pumping station and the two older pumping stations of that area have been refurbished to an increased capacity.

KMC achieves historic success on Property Tax initiatives

Posted on April 1, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

Kolkata Municipal Corporation under the leadership of Mayor Sovan Chatterjee has decreased the property tax rates for the poor slum dwellers, middle class and lower middle class income group. Legal actions have been taken against those who have been avoiding taxes. Administrative reforms, easier tax payment procedures have helped KMC to significantly increase the revenue from property tax.

In the last five years Kolkata Municipal Corporation has taken a number of effective steps to give tax reliefs to slum dwellers, middle class and lower middle class.

Between fiscal year 2005-2006 and 2009-2010, the property tax earned was Rs 1605.67 crore. In the tenure of the present Kolkata Municipal Board the property tax collected has been Rs 3291.74 crore, out of which Rs 340 crore was earned due to the waiver scheme.

Other significant steps include:

Certificates to thika Tenants: Kolkata Municipal Corporation along with Government of West Bengal jointly has for the first time taken steps to provide certificates to thika tenants. If the certificate is in the name of the thika tenants, then it will be very easy to make mutation and take necessary permissions for reconstruction, renovation and re-modelling.

Waiving of Interest: For economically backward section who have failed to comply with taxes and interest and penalties, due to financial reasons a waiver up to 50% of the interest is provided.

E-Governance: Various administrative steps have been taken to make tax payments easier. Citizens can visit the KMC website and check the tax due, pay taxes, download forms.

Mutation: In the last five years various mutation camps have been organised for faster mutations. Apart from this, in various unit offices, ‘one visit mutation counters’ have also been opened. More than 5 lakh mutations have been given in the last five years.

Trinamool Congress releases Manifesto for Kolkata Municipal Polls

Posted on March 30, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

Trinamool Congress today released the Manifesto for the upcoming Kolkata Municipal Polls. The Manifesto is a reflection of the road map for the next five years. One of the highlights of the manifesto is there would be social accountability, development, progress, peace, no burden of taxes and secularism.

Before the launch, Secretary General of the party, Partha Chatterjee addressed the press highlighting the achievements of the KMC in the last five years. “We will make it (the city) green and clean,” he said.

From simplification of taxes, to lighting of streets to launch of free WiFi, KMC under the guidance of Mamata Banerjee has done a spending job, he said. He added that the drainage system has improved a lot in the last five years.

Partha Chatterjee also said, “Under the leadership of Mayor Sovan Chatterjee, we seek blessings from people based on the work done in five years. We appeal to all sections of the society to come forward and shower us with votes to carry forward the surge of development.”

He urged the people to vote for Trinamool candidates in all the 144 wards of Kolkata.

Click here to download the Manifesto.

In conversation with… Sovan Chatterjee, Mayor of Kolkata

Posted on March 30, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

AITC Web Team: The Municipal Corporation elections are a few weeks away. What are the preparations leading up to it?

Mayor: Throughout the last five years, development work has been done in all the wards under the Kolkata Municipal Corporation. From ward number 1 to 144, a lot of work has been happening in every department including roads, lighting, parks, health, drainage and drinking water. Therefore, there is no need to take preparations for the elections separately. Work has been done for the common man and they will vote in favour of us.

AITC Web Team: According to the Opposition, the municipal board failed in the last five years. What would you say to that?

Mayor: Opposition will always criticize. People are the ultimate judge. Work has been done in all the departments and in all the wards irrespective of the political background.

AITC Web Team: Some projects of the Corporation are dependant on Central grants. Did you receive cooperation from the Centre?

Mayor: Before the Lok Sabha 2014 elections, we had sent reports to the Centre regarding several projects like JNNURM, garbage compactors, Tala Park etc. Funds from the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission were also sanctioned. But BJP dismissed all such allocation after coming to power. However, that could not halt the surge of development in Kolkata.

The Corporation has achieved success in removing garbage dumps from the city with the quick action financial support from West Bengal Government. Kolkata has been made clean with the compactor machines and movable compactors. Kolkata has been made ‘Vat-Free’ without any support from the Centre.

AITC Web Team: What are the other significant works done by the Corporation in the past five years?

Mayor: Developmental work has taken place in every department. The most significant among all would be the supply of drinking water supply to 95% parts of the city. With the one and half crore gallon capacity water purification system at Garden Reach and the booster pumping station at Chetla, almost 12 wards including areas of Chetla, Alipore, eastern areas of Behala, Thakurpukur, Daspara and Joka would benefit directly and indirectly.

The Dhapa Jai Hind project has also been started which is supplying almost 30 million gallons of purified drinking water to Anandapur, Mukundapur, Patuli, JJ Khan Road and seven booster pumping station and 12 overhead reservoirs.

Also, the Kolkata Improvement Trust has done a great work to improve the drainage system, due to which Kolkata did not get water logged despite of having excessive rainfall from 2012 to 2014. Apart from this entire routine road building and repair work has been undertaken. Roads were repaired swiftly on complaints that were received.

AITC Web Team: What work has been undertaken to beautify Kolkata under the current Municipal Corporation?

Mayor: Our Hon’ble Chief Minister wished that the City of Joy be beautified in a single colour theme. In accordance with that, bridges, road railings, etc. have been painted. Out of the 620 odd parks in the city, almost all have been freshly painted; decorative lights have been installed along the roads.

The 2.5 km riverside along the Ganga from Princep Ghat to Babughat has been beautified. Anti-pollution devices have been installed at the crematoriums and the Nimtala crematorium has also been revamped. The Tangra slaughter house has also been modernised using latest technology and standards.

AITC Web Team: What are your expectations about the upcoming Kolkata Municipal elections?

Mayor: Our strength in the Corporation will increase from what it was last time. We have completed every work that was undertaken. Not a single developmental agenda has been left out. All the Councilors are now waiting for the elections.

Simplified licensing procedures for all: KMC provides online services

Posted on March 28, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

Kolkata Municipal Corporation has taken steps for simplifying procedures of licensing. The process of issuing new license, renewal and receipt has been simplified in an unprecedented way. It has helped KMC to generate considerable revenues.

Here are few of the initiatives undertaken by KMC:

A comprehensive database has been created

A web portal has been created to provide citizen-centric services

In ‘single-window’ portal, the residents can view all information related to licensing; application of new license and renewal

Amendment has been made in Section 435 of the Principal Act for establishment of risk free business along major roads of the city

For details please click here.

Trinamool Congress raises demand to extend polling time to 5 PM for municipal elections

Posted on March 26, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

A delegation team of Trinamool Congress met the State Election Commission regarding the forthcoming Municipal Election. Senior leader Subrata Mukherjee addressed the press after the meeting.

Trinamool Congress raised the demand to extend the polling time from 3 PM to till 5 PM.

Subrata Mukherjee said, “This issue is related to the right of the people to vote.”

Initiatives taken by KMC for the prevention of mosquito-borne diseases

Posted on March 26, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

Kolkata Municipal Corporation has taken various steps to control mosquito borne deceases. The deaths due to malaria have come down to zero in the last few years. The initiatives have received international mention is Oxford journals.

In a study conducted, it has shown that for February, the peak month for mosquito breeding, densities for egg rafts, larvae, pupae and adults, respectively, declined from 800, 2942, 1457 and 662 to 3, 75, 15 and 27.

Steps taken by the KMC:

Identifying the high risk area: Based on the data for last 3 years, 52 wards were identified as high risk areas

Joint drive for source reduction: KMC with other government departments like water supply, building, drainage and solid waste management took weekly joint drives for the period of peak malaria transmission. It was effective in destroying the mosquito breeding sites

Organising health camps and malaria clinics: Health camps adjoining to the slum areas were undertaken every year

Larvicidal spray: Larvicidal spray was done in door to door basis for all KMC wards. More than 1300 people are employed for the purpose, who carried the work all round the year

Plying speed boats along the canals: KMC has taken an initiative to ply speed boats along the canals and treat the canals with larvicidal spray to stop the breeding of mosquitoes. Speed boat generated waves were also very effective in preventing breeding of mosquitoes

Use of larvivorous fish: Efforts to destroy mosquito by using guppy fish were taken. To ensure availability, in house production of guppy fish was made in hatcheries

Mosquito research laboratory: Trinamool after coming to power in 2010, did set up the first-of-its kind laboratory in eastern India. Facilities were made for entomologists to undertake research and multiple research papers from the Institute were published in journals of international repute

Early diagnosis and complete treatment (EDCT): EDCT is one of the key strategies of the National Malaria Control Programme. KMC has set up 140 malaria clinics across the city, and suspected cases of malaria were treated in accordance with the National Drug Policy

Awareness programme through TV, Radio, leaflets, using mobile vans: High voltage mass awareness programme were launched by KMC. From audio CD, to television advertisements, to leaflets, to mobile vans to tabloids, KMC has taken a host of initiatives for creating awareness

The changing face of Kolkata under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee

Posted on March 24, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

In the course of last 5 years, Kolkata has undergone a face-lift, under the initiatives of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC). The Trinamool-run KMC has undertaken various measures for the residents of the city.

Under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee and the initiatives of , the ‘city of joy’ is now even more beautiful.

From beautified road dividers to modernised automated garbage vats; underpasses to beautified banks of river Hoogly, Kolkata is now a clean and green city.

Few instances of the changing face of Kolkata:

Mordernised VAT:

Kolkata Municipal Corporation has introduced mechanised garbage vans in place of the hand held vans

E-services:

KMC has introduced a host of online services for the citizens like assessment-collection, birth-death certificates, water supplies, car parking and others

Road:

The underpass constructed in Ultadanga has helped to make traffic smooth for the area

City beautification:

Kolkata has transformed into a clean and a green city

Initiatives for mosquito prevention:

KMC has taken several measures to prevent mosquito borne diseases.

When it comes to providing quality services to residents, TMC-run Kolkata Municipal Corporation has lived up to the promises made in 2010.

Water logging no longer a problem in Kolkata, thanks to modern sewer system by KMC

Posted on March 23, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

The Kolkata Municipal Corporation’s project for upgradation of the man-entry brick sewer system is nearing completion. This will substantially bring relief to the menace of water logging during monsoon. KMC also has installed mechanical sewer machines to remove water logging and cleaning choked sewers.

Primary reasons for water logging:

• Reduction of hydraulic capacity of the sewerage system due to heavy siltation

• Century old brick sewers in poor structural condition along most stretches leading to collapse

• Rapid urbanization and destruction of wetlands has resulted in increased runoff reaching the sewers

• Century old pumps and pumping machineries of the pumping station

• Silted up outfall canals in and around Kolkata

In the last few years KMC has rapidly upgraded its systems by not only building new brick sewer systems and installing mechanical sewer machines but also by construction of new pumping stations, time to time cleaning of silt, dredging of canals and also by protecting its existing wetlands.

To keep the city clean and to prevent water logging in the city, as citizens there are some do’s and don’ts which are required to be followed to help the Municipal Corporation to do their job and give high quality services in turn;

• Ensure garbage is not dumped specially in nikashi or gully pits

• Please stop usage of plastic lower than the prescribed micron thickness

• In case you notice choked sewers/ gully pits/ house drainage then please contact your local ward office or the concerned office of your area

• As a preventive measure you may also put a danger sign or some prominent object on the same or a stick protruding out of the manhole

• You can also register your complaints in the grievance cell of KMC

• Adhere to KMC’s guidelines during construction of buildings and stick to the sanctioned plans

Waves of Development@KMC 2010-15: KMC’s success story unveiled

Posted on March 23, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

Kolkata Municipal Corporation on Sunday launched the book Waves of Development@KMC 2010-15. The book highlights the achievements of the Trinamool run Board during the last five years.

Kolkata Mayor Sovan Chatterjee said that the Civic Board is striving to make the city a world=class metropolis by being efficient and effective, equitable, citizen-responsive, financially sustainable and transparent.

The book lists the successful completion of the Jai Hind Water Projects in Dhapa. The Mayor also pointed out that the water treatment plant in Garden Reach combined with the Chetla booster pumping station would be an effective measure for providing clean and treated water to every home of the city.

The book lists the beatification drive taken in the city including the Kolkata river front, introduction of colour code, replacing old iron grill railings as road dividers with concrete ones affording a bed for flowering plants and many other such measures.