Bad road in Kolkata? Register your complaint to KMC via WhatsApp

Bad road in Kolkata? Register your complaint to KMC via WhatsApp

Posted on May 18, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

Repairing your neighbourhood roads will now be a WhatsApp message away. Kolkata Municipal Corporation is coming up with a dedicated number where you can send photos of broken roads and get them repaired in 48 hours.

All you have to do is take click a photo and WhatsApp it to the soon-to-be-announced KMC number, giving the exact address and the nearest landmark. After receiving the photographs, a team from the borough will visit the spot immediately to make a preliminary study o the damage.

There are around 4,000 km of roads in Kolkata, of which 1,800 km is repaired every year by the civic authorities.

The complaints will be collected centrally , sorted and handed out to the respective borough offices. Soon, residents can WhatsApp their complaint if a streetlight is defunct or a beautified road needs maintenance.

KMC draws up mega project report to combat water-logging

Posted on May 15, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

KMC drawn up a detailed project report for combating water-logging in this part of the city this monsoon. The cost of the project has been pegged at Rs 23 crore.

In his first meeting on monsoon preparedness with representatives of such government agencies as KMDA (Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority), KMWSA (Kolkata Metropolitan Water & Sanitation Authority), PWD (Public Works Department), Irrigation, PHE (Public Health Engineering) and KMC technocrats, Singh laid out the blueprint for fighting water-logging this monsoon.

As the first step to rid the city of water-logging, Singh directed his department to ensure that most major and critical drainage pumping stations in the city come under CCTV surveillance.

The KMC issued an order asking all executive engineers of the sewerage & drainage department to pull night shifts at different pumping stations from June 15 and continue in that vein till the monsoon retreats.

KMC eyes more compactors to fight filth

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

Convinced with the efficiency of compactor stations — 43 at work and 25 more in the pipeline — Kolkata Mayor Sovan Chatterjee has given a go-ahead to the civic board to extend the service to areas where it has still not been introduced. The Kolkata Municipal Corporation also has plans to procure movable compactor machines to take care of existing garbage vats.

This is not all. Keeping in mind next year’s assembly elections, the Kolkata Mayor has made cleanliness a priority. Accordingly, the KMC solid waste management department has requisitioned 800 trash bins that will be strategically placed to collect waste from large municipal markets. The KMC is also contemplating to introduce small battery-driven cars to replace hand carts for door-to-door collection of garbage. Such battery cars are already operational in areas like Manoharpukur Road, Sarat Bose Road and parts of Rashbehari Avenue.

However, of all these measures to make Kolkata a sparkling clean city, the Trinamool board is focusing most on the construction of more compactor stations. It was in December 2012 when Kalighat got the first compactor machine in the city. Then four more stations came up, one each in Southern Avenue, Samsul Huda Road, Tallah and Chetla.

Later West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee sanctioned a special Rs 30 crore funds for construction of compactor stations. The state funds were utilized for setting up 30 compactor stations during the period. In the last phase, the KMC set up stations at Mirza Ghalib Street to replace the infamous vat opposite the Food Corporation office. Similarly, large vats that used to spill garbage over to Camac Street, Surjya Sen Street were replaced thereafter.

The civic body will now concentrate on setting up garbage compactor machines at New Alipore, Bondel Road and Garfa Road among other areas. Initially, there was a plan to set up 78 compactor stations. But encouraged by the success of such stations, the KMC may now go up to 100 stations across the city.

“Ultimately, our aim is to make Kolkata a vat-free city. After getting a positive response from citizens, we are now committed to continue with the mission,” Kolkata Mayor Sovan Chatterjee said.

Water supply top priority: Kolkata Mayor Sovan Chatterjee

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

Sovan Chatterjee, who is set to take oath as mayor for the second time, came to office early on Wednesday and held a series of meetings with KMDA and KMC officials on the future course of action.

Excerpts of his plans regarding KMC’s work in the next five years:

Q. What are your plans for the next five years?

Mayor: This time I will concentrate on sustainable development of the city. I will try to do an all round development of the city.

Q: Tell us some areas where you want to bring about a marked change?

Mayor: Supply of drinking water is an area where we need to improve upon in a big way. We have undertaken a major augmentation project to make potable water reach every household. Right now we have decided to inaugurate a 50 million gallon water treatment plant at Garden Reach, which is nearing completion. Out of this treatment plant, we aim to supply 10-12 million gallons of water to areas of three municipalities Budge Budge, Pujali and Maheshtala.

We will then take up construction of another treatment plant at Garden Reach. Besides, the capacity of Palta waterworks and Dhapa water treatment plant will also undergo an augmentation programme. The aim is to discourage installation of tube wells as a source of drinking water.

Q: Besides water supply what will be the other focus areas?

Mayor: There are many. We have successfully installed 43 garbage compactor stations across the city to phase out vats, which would make the city dirty.
Now we intend to extend the service to places where large vats still exist. We are in the process of finding land for setting up such compactor stations. In the next five years, we will take the number from 43 to 100.

This apart, we have planned to install 1,000 trash bins of different sizes to take care of waste from the different markets.

Q: What about your plans for the beautification of the riverfront?

Mayor: We have decided to continue with the riverfront beautification. The successful implementation of the beautification project along the Hooghly till Jagganath Ghat will be extended up to Mayer Ghat and then further. We have appealed to the Centre to release funds for this.

Q. What will be the policy as far as determining property tax is concerned. Will you continue with the old method or introduce unit area assessment?

Mayor: We want to simplify the method of calculating property tax. While the present system of rental basis of calculating property tax will not be discarded, those who want to determine the tax based on unit area method will also be welcome. We want to keep the two systems alive.

Q: How will you undertake administrative reforms?

Mayor: We are duty bound to give a transparent civic administration to the citizens. It is our responsibility to ensure that nobody gets harassed while they seek services at our office counters.

Q: What will be your policy on hawkers?

Mayor: We have adopted a hawker policy in which we have stressed on pedestrians’ rights and ensured the livelihood of the hawkers.

Women councilors script history in KMC

Posted on April 29, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

With 51 women councilors – 44% of its 114 members – Trinamool has created history.

Trinamool had nominated 64 women candidates for the Kolkata Municipal Corporation polls, 15 more than it was mandatory under the state election rules. Fifty one Trinamool nominees won on Tuesday.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted, “Forty-four percent of councilors elected to the new KMC board from Trinamool are women.”

While it remained a general trend among political parties to shift and change candidates based on the ward reservation patterns, Trinamool chose to break ranks by re-nominating seven women candidates in general category seats.

Put an end to bandh culture: Mamata Banerjee

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

Trinamool Chairperson Ms Mamata Banerjee strongly condemned the bandh called by the CPI(M) and BJP on 30 April 2015. The Chief Minister was addressing the press in the backdrop of massive victory in municipal polls.

On that day West Bengal government will organise Nirmal Bangla Divas in the presence of representatives from UNICEF and World Bank being present. One lakh students will participate in this programme in each district and take oath to make Bengal clean and green.

The Chief Minister said, “CPM and BJP are like birds of one feather. They have called bandh together. We are against bandhs and strike. We appeal to CPI(M) and BJP to withdraw their bandh on 30 April and make Nirmal Bangla Mission a success.”

Highlighting the fact that 70 lakh man days were lost due to bandhs during Left rule, Mamata Banerjee said, “We appeal to people to defeat the bandh. Keep everything running. Let there be productivity and progress.”

She also slammed the Opposition for calling a bandh when rescue operations were going on in the aftermath of devastating earthquake in Nepal and north Bengal. She asked people to come forward to help the people in earthquake-affected areas.

We dedicate our victory to the people of Bengal: Mamata Banerjee

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

Trinamool today swept the municipal polls in Bengal by winning 71 of the 91 municipalities and 114 wards out of 144 in Kolkata Municipal Corporation.

The Chairperson also thanked the electorate of Bengal for coming out in large numbers to vote, braving the bad weather and natural calamities.

She praised Mayor Sovan Chatterjee for the good work in the last five years and expected him to perform even better in the future.

No victory rallies

After the final trends emerged, party Chairperson Ms Mamata Banerjee addressed the press at Kalighat. She dedicated the victory to the people of Bengal and urged party workers not to take out any victory rallies because of the earthquake tragedy in Nepal.

Mamata Banerjee said the victory will be celebrated on May 9, on the occasion of Rabindra Jayanti. She said Trinamool workers will dedicate the huge victory in municipal polls to Rabindranath Tagore through Rabi Pronaam in every block.

Slander campaign of media defeated

She also slammed a section of the media for their slander campaign against Trinamool and said people have the final say in a democracy. “In 2008, there was unabated violence. Many people lost their lives. Several media houses maligned us during elections.Media houses like ABP unleashed slander propaganda against us. They published several false news to defame us. These media houses indulge in baseless personal attacks against us. In other States, they would have been taken to task. I request the media to be neutral. Criticise me if I am wrong. But do not indulge in paid news,” she said.

“Out of 4000 odd booths in Kolkata, complaints came from 15 of booths. One person died in polls, he was our party worker. Opposition cried foul about rigging. Had rigging happened, would our sitting Councillors lose? The channels themselves said we would win 110 seats in opinion polls.People have the final say in democracy. No one has the right to insult them,” she added.

State-funded elections

Mamata Banerjee also slammed the Centre for destroying the federal structure of the country and reiterated her demand for state-funded elections.

LIVE BLOG: Bengal’s Verdict for Municipal Election 2015

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

Counting of votes for the municipal polls held across 90 municipalities and 2 corporations in West Bengal are in progress.

On April 18, election for the Kolkata Municipal Corporation was held. 68% voters exercised their franchise on that day.

On April 25, braving the rains and earthquake, 62% of the electorate cast their votes at 91 municipalities in the State.

Follow our Live Blog as we bring you minute to minute update about the results of the municipal polls from across West Bengal:

1:58 PM: Trinamool wins Uttarpara municipality in Hooghly district.

1:10 PM: Mamata Banerjee addresses the press, dedicates the victory to people of Bengal.

12:50 PM: Trinamool wins Serampore municipality in Hooghly district.

12:04 PM: Latest trends 91/91 – TMC leads in 75 municipalities.

12:02 PM: Latest trends in Kolkata: 144/144 – TMC leads in 115 wards.

12:01 PM: Trinamool leads in North Dumdum municipality in North 24 Parganas district.

11:55 AM: Trinamool wins Gobardanga municipality in North 24 Parganas district.

11:55 AM: Trinamool wins South Dumdum municipality in North 24 Parganas district.

11:54 AM: Trinamool wins Khardah municipality in North 24 Parganas district.

11:42 AM: Trinamool leads in Titagarh, Barrackpore & North Barrackpore in North 24 Parganas.

11:40 AM: Trinamool wins Rajpur-Sonarpur municipality in South 24 Parganas district

11:38 AM: Trinamool wins Bhatpara municipality in North 24 Parganas district.

11:35 AM: Trinamool wins New Barrackpore municipality in North 24 Parganas district.

11:34 AM: Trinamool wins Ashokenagar-Kalyangarh municipality in North 24 Parganas district.

11:32 AM: Trinamool wins Barasat municipality in North 24 Parganas district.

11:31 AM: Trinamool wins Dumdum municipality in North 24 Parganas district.

11:30 AM: Trinamool wins Birnagar municipality in Nadia district.

11:29 AM: Trinamool wins Dankuni municipality in Hooghly district.

11:26 AM: Uluberia – Leads 32/32 – TMC leading in 17 wards.

11:25 AM: Trinamool wins Maheshtala municipality in South 24 Parganas district.

11:21 AM: Trinamool wins Chinsurah municipality in Hooghly district.

11:16 AM: Trinamool wins Chandannagar municipality in Hooghly district.

11:15 AM: Uluberia – Leads 8/32 – TMC leading in 5 wards.

11:07 AM: Siliguri Leads: 28/47 – TMC leads in 12 wards.

11:06 AM: Trinamool leads in 11/22 wards in Bhadreswar municipality in Hooghly district.

11:01 AM: Trinamool leads in 13/22 wards in Chanpdani municipality in Hooghly district.

10:59 AM: Trinamool wins Kharar municipality in West Midnapore district.

10:57 AM: Trinamool wins Kalna municipality in Bardhaman district & Banshberiya in Hooghly.

10:54 AM: Trinamool WINS Baranagar municipality in North 24 Parganas district.

10:53 AM: Trinamool WINS Bankura municipality in Bankura district.

10: 50 AM: Trinamool leads in Englishbazar municipality in Maldah district.

10:45 AM: Trinamool WINS all 15 wards in Tarakeshwar municipality in Hooghly district.

10:43 AM: Trinamool WINS Bolpur municipality in Birbhum district.

10:43 AM: Trinamool WINS Ranaghat municipality in Nadia district.

10:41 AM: Kolkata Leads: 144/144 – TMC leads in 111 wards.

10:37 AM: Trinamool WINS Kalyani municipality in Nadia district.

10:34 AM: Siliguri Leads: 24/47 – TMC leads in 9 wards.

10:32 AM: Trinamool WINS Baduria municipality in North 24 Parganas district.

10:27 AM: Trinamool WINS Shantipur municipality in Nadia district.

10:29 AM: Trinamool WINS Basirhat & Naihati municipalities in North 24 Parganas district.

10:27 AM: Trinamool WINS Haringhata municipality in Nadia district.

10:23 AM: Trinamool WINS Bishnupur municipality in Bankura district.

10:21 AM: Trinamool WINS Sonamukhi municipality in Bankura district.

10: 18 AM: Trinamool leads in Old Maldah municipality in Maldah district.

10:17 AM: Kolkata‬ Leads: 142/144 – TMC leads in 111 wards.

10:14 AM: Trinamool WINS Titagarh municipality in North 24 Parganas district.

10:12 AM: Trinamool WINS Memari municipality in Bardhaman district.

10: 11 AM: Trinamool WINS Suri municipality in Birbhum district and Kamarhati in North 24 Parganas.

10:04 AM: Trinamool WINS Sainthiya municipality in Birbhum district.

10:00 AM: Trinamool WINS Rishra, Konnagar, Baidyabati municipalities in Hooghly district.

9:58 AM: Trinamool leading in all 23 wards of Nabadwip municipality.

9:53 AM: Kolkata‬ Leads: 135/144 – TMC leads in 105 wards.

9:51 AM: TMC WINS 10 wards in Coochbehar municipality.

9:45 AM: TMC WINS Jalpaiguri municipality in Jalpaiguri dist & Halisahar in North 24 Parganas.

9:43 AM: Kolkata: Leads in 126/144 wards: Trinamool leads in 102 wards.

9:42 AM: Trinamool leads in 9 wards in Siliguri.

9:40 AM: Trinamool leads in Bongaon (North 24 Parganas) & Budge Budge (South 24 Parganas).

9:38 AM: Mayor of ‪ Kolkata‬ Sovan Chatterjee wins from Ward No. 131.

9:37 AM: Trinamool WINS Khirpai municipality in West Midnapore district.

9:36 AM: Trinamool WINS Chandrakona municipality in West Midnapore district.

9:35 AM: Trinamool WINS Ghatal (Purulia) and Tamluk in East Midnapore district.

9: 31 AM: Chandrakona: 10/12 wards – Trinamool leads in 9 wards.

9:28 AM: Bolpur: 8/20 wards – Trinamool leads in 7 wards.

9:27 AM: Kolkata: Leads in 126/144 wards – Trinamool leads in 102 wards.

9:25 AM: Trinamool leads in Purulia, Raghunathpur, Trakeshwar, Madhyamgram.

9:22 AM: Egra: 10/14 wards – Trinamool leads in 8 wards.

9:15 AM: Trinamool leads in 7 wards in Suri.

9:13 AM: Trinamool leads in 8 out of 9 declared wards in Kanchrapara.

9:11 AM: Trinamool WINS Kanthi and Tamluk municipality in East Midnapore district.

9:10 AM: Trinamool WINS Baruipur municipality in South 24 Parganas district.

9:08 AM: Kolkata Municipal Corporation: 104/144 – TMC leading in 80 wards.

9:06 AM: Trinamool WINS Malbazar municipality in Jalpaiguri district.

9:05 AM: Kolkata Mayor Sovan Chatterjee leading in Ward No. 131.

9:03 AM: Trinamool WINS Tufanganj municipality in Coochbehar district.

9:02 AM: Trinamool leading in 6 out of 8 declared wards in Garulia.

9:01 AM: Trinamool leading in 50 out of 68 declared wards in #Kolkata.

9 AM: Trinamool wins 4 wards in Baruipur

8:57 AM: Trinamool leading in 6 out of 7 declared wards in Mathabhanga.

8:54 AM: Trinamool leading in 8 out of 18 wards in Gangarampur.

8:52 AM: Trinamool leading in 7 out of 12 wards in Tufanganj.

8:47 AM: Trinamool leading in 9 wards in Tamluk.

8:46 AM: Early trends suggest TMC sweeping municipal polls, leading in 18/22 wards in Kolkata & 69/84 municipalities.

8:32 AM : Trinamool leading in 34 wards in Barasat.

8:30 AM : Trinamool wins 2 wards in Malbazar municipality.

8:26 AM: Trinamool leading in 10 wards of Kolkata Municipal Corporation.

8:21 AM: Trinamool leading in 6 wards in Nabadwip and 5 wards in Shantipur.

8.17 AM: Trinamool Congress leading in 9 wards in Kolkata.

8.15 AM: Trinamool Congress has won uncontested in the three municipalities at Arambagh, Gayeshpur and Tarakeshwar. Trinamool Congress won in the majority of the wards of the three municipalities after the opposition withdrew nomination in 47 of 52 wards – 16 of 19 in Arambagh, 14 of 15 in Tarakeswar and 17 of 18 in Gayeshpur, thus maintaining majority in all these three municipalities.

8 AM: Counting begins

Polls in 91 municipalities of Bengal underway

Posted on April 25, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

Polling for the 91 municipalities in 18 districts of West Bengal started at 7 AM today. Polling is being held for the 1946 wards across the 91 municipalities at 8756 booths.

Incidentally, Trinamool Congress won uncontested in three municipalities – Gayeshpur in Nadia and Arambagh and Tarakeswar in Hooghly.

Earlier, peaceful, free and fair elections were conducted on 18 April for the Kolkata Municipal Corporation.

The results for municipal polls will be announced on 28 April, 2015.

Trinamool thanks people for peaceful KMC polls

Posted on April 18, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

People of Kolkata today came out in large numbers to vote for the Kolkata Municipal Election 2015. Long queues could be observed in front of the polling booths of all the 144 wards.

59.2% polling was recorded till 3 PM; the figure is expected to rise as people were waiting in queues at several polling booths.

Trinamool Secretary General Partha Chatterjee, Trinamool Youth Congress President Abhishek Bandyopadhyay and Chief National Spokesperson & Leader of the party in Rajya Sabha, Derek O’Brien conducted at a post-poll press conference at Trinamool Bhavan.

Highlights of Partha Chatterjee’s statement:

• The polls today were peaceful, free and fair. We thank the people of Kolkata, we thank the administration for conducting peaceful polls.

• Few sections were trying to spread canards. The long queues at polling stations answered such propaganda.

• People have voted fearlessly. We thank them for that. Our aim is to further speed up the process of development.

• We have witnessed rigging and terror in the past elections. This time they were peaceful. Administration deserves credit.

• The Opposition was banking on a few stray incidents to paint a bad picture. Their hopes have been dashed by peaceful polls.

• The Opposition should work with us for the development of Bengal. But they want to derail Ms Mamata Banerjee’s agenda of progress.

Highlights of Derek O’Brien’s statement:

Thank you Kolkata for voting peacefully. Opposition parties know they are going to lose. So they are suffering from ‘excus-itis’.

Mentored by WB CM, a lot of good work has been done by KMC in the last 5 years. We are confident people will bless us abundantly.