Tag: Kolkata My City

KMC eases parking problems by introducing gadgets

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The Kolkata Municipal Corporation is introducing hand-held machines to eradicate scope of confusion over parking time. The hand-held parking ticket machines will print the exact fare after calculating the time spent by a car at the parking lot.

The facility, which was introduced at Russell Street and Park Street car parking lots on Tuesday , will be extended to all other major parking areas across the city in phases.

From Wednesday, all parking attendants in the region (Park Street and Russell Street) will carry hand-held machines that will read the time of arrival of a car.

Based on the time, the car owner or the driver will be given a receipt. The attendant will finally generate a bill out of the machine after stipulated hours of parking. The machine has the preloaded feed of KMC authorized parking fees for four and two-wheelers.

Apart from this, KMC has made it mandatory for the cooperative societies manning parking lots to provide uniforms and issue identity cards to each and every attendant for the convenience of car owners.

The new system of parking will also ensure that fare chart boards, name of the cooperative society manning the parking lot and KMC helpline numbers are displayed at vantage points.

KMC has also installed provision of parking taxis in parking lots which will be of much help to the commuters.

KMC gears up to fight vector borne diseases

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The Trinamool Congress board at the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) is out to tame vector borne diseases as they might cause embarrassment to the Mamata Banerjee government prior to the assembly polls next summer.

The KMC’s health department has organised a workshop for all private medical practitioners to sensitise them on the new guidelines on clinical management of dengue – a potentially fatal disease. The National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) director would be the main speaker of the sensitisation workshop at Uttam Mancha on August 1.

Earlier, in February, all civic councillors, medical officers and selected health field workers attended an awareness camp on vector borne diseases at Uttam Mancha. KMC authorities are inviting around 800-900 private medical practitioners across Kolkata for the August 1 workshop.

The workshop would also be a refresher course for the medical officers. It is the medical officers and health field workers who take on the challenge on the ground to minimise the attack of vector borne diseases. So, it becomes necessary for us to sensitise them at regular intervals.

KMC authorities have invited 10 neighbouring municipalities in a bid to chalk out a combined fight against malaria and dengue. KMC’s health department has called a high-level meeting with chairmen or representatives of neighbouring municipalities at the civic headquarters on Thursday.

“Combating mosquito-borne diseases cannot be done alone. So, we want to involve our neighbouring municipalities to ensure a malaria and dengue free city,” Atin Ghosh, Member, Mayor-in-Council (Health), said.

KMC has been seeking funds from the Centre to beef up infrastructure in these municipalities. Joint secretary of the Union health ministry who looks after the National Urban Health Mission is coming to Kolkata on August 1 and a meeting is scheduled with all stakeholders, which includes all these neighbouring municipalities also.

KMC health department officials want to train the officials of the neighbouring municipalities on Thursday prior to meeting the Union health ministry bosses. This meeting could pave the way for central funding for infrastructure development.

The neighbouring municipalities include Howrah, Madhyamgram, North and South Dum Dum, Bidhannagar, Rajarhat Goplapur, Mahestala, Sonarpur and Baruipur, among others.

 

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KMC launches WhatsApp number for citizen services

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Citizen services in Kolkata will now be a WhatsApp message away.

Kolkata Municipal Corporation has launched a dedicated number where you can send feedback, grievances, suggestions or any information you want to share. All you have to do is share a photo-based or text message via WhatsApp messenger app.

The messages will be collected centrally, sorted and handed out to the respective borough offices.

The WhatsApp number for Kolkata Municipal Corporation is: 8335-988-888.

KMC achieves historic success on Property Tax initiatives

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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.

 

Property Tax collected by KMC

 

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.

 

 

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

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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

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

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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

Community Halls for all: KMC makes social gatherings affordable for all

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For the last few years Kolkata Municipal Corporation has taken various innovative measures to turn Kolkata into not only a clean and beautiful city but also keep it affordable for all, especially when the cost of living is on the rise in all other metros in India.

If north Kolkata has a swimming pool in a park and Behala promises of steady water supply and better roads, those residing in Deshapriya Park-Gariahat-Dover Terrace area as well as those in Bhowanipore has something special in their areas. The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has constructed a three-storied community hall at Dover Terrace and another at Bhowanipore, for the ‘financially weaker’ section.

Each floor of the building has a sprawling 3,000 square feet banquet hall. This means that three parties can book the hall on the same day. Besides the banquet halls, there are modern kitchens, toilets and separate rooms for accommodating brides, grooms and guests. Anyone can book the banquets by paying a nominal charge in advance. Though the charge of each floor is yet to be decided, it will be within Rs 10,000 for a day.

Another Community Hall, Jai Hind, was recently inaugurated by the West Bengal Chief Minister at the Kalighat Road-Harish Mukherjee Road Xing in Bhowanipore.

The decision to construct a community hall was taken as cost of booking a standard community hall has become beyond the reach of financially weaker sections of the society. Though space is a premium but KMC wishes to undertake many such projects in the near future.

Other Community Halls  inaugurated by the KMC under Trinamool Congress are at 2, Ripon Square Ward No. 62, the C.I.T Park Community Hall at Sovaram Basak Street in Ward No. 22, Borough – IV, ‘Pubali’ at Kheali Park in Ward. 04, Borough-I among others.

Along with various beautification projects in the city, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation has also taken various social projects to meet the expectations and need of the public from building number of public toilets, schools, parks, modern and affordable mortuary and such banquet halls the municipal body has shown if there is a will there is a best possible way to serve the citizens of Kolkata.

Trinamool announces the candidate list for Kolkata Municipal Corporation Election 2015

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Trinamool Congress today announced the candidate list for the forthcoming Kolkata Municipal Corporation Election 2015.

There are 144 wards in the Kolkata Corporation. Out of the 144 candidates, there are 66 women candidates and 20 candidates belonging to minority communities. Sovan Chatterjee is the Mayoral candidate for Trinamool.

List of AITC Candidates for KMC Polls 2015