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Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
GHMC to implement flood mitigation measures in low-lying areas
Hyderabad: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has invited agencies to prepare detailed project reports and draw up comprehensive plans to tackle the problem of inundation in low-lying areas of Ameerpet during the monsoon. The move comes days after chief minister A Revanth Reddy's assurance to residents of these areas that the govt would take urgent steps to address the issue. The civic body has invited agencies to conduct a rainfall intensity survey and study the discharge and sewerage networks in several colonies of Ameerpet. This includes the major drain running from Krishnakath Park to Buddhanagar via Madhuranagar, Harsha Mess, Maitrivanam, Aditya Trade Centre, Satyam Theatre and Gangubaibasthi. GHMC has asked agencies to utilise the latest national and international techniques for the effective completion of the works for the stormwater drain network to remove inundations during heavy rains. Consultant firms were told to prepare a detailed plan and cost estimates as per bid documents. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad | Gold Rates Today in Hyderabad | Silver Rates Today in Hyderabad "The city experienced unprecedented rains in October 2020. In order to prevent and mitigate the consequences of flooding in the future and minimise the damages to properties, a comprehensive stormwater drain network is needed. The works proposed to be taken up are of high priority, targeting primarily to permanently address the hardships experienced by the people in those localities. The focus will be on the prevention of encroachments on drains, followed by homes, businesses, and roads," said an official in GHMC's engineering wing. GIS mapping of stormwater drains In an effort to enhance urban flood management and improve stormwater infrastructure, the GHMC embarked on plans to implement a GIS-based survey and mapping of stormwater drains within its limits. The geomapping of stormwater drains entails the digital mapping of the entire stormwater drain network utilising GIS technology, based on high-accuracy base maps generated through drone surveys. The exercise will capture precise locations, dimensions, and connectivity data of all drain lines, culverts, and catch pits, linking them with geospatial coordinates. This data will contribute to the preparation of a comprehensive stormwater drain master plan. Visual maps generated through the project will be shared with communities to increase awareness of local drainage systems and encourage citizen participation in reporting issues, officials added. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Indian Express
30-06-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Chandigarh MC okays e-auction of unipole ad sites, high-rises in pocket no. 6 in Manimajra
Facing a financial crunch, the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation (MC) Monday passed two key revenue-generation proposals during its House meeting on Monday — the first major resolution approved was the e-auction of unipole advertisement sites, while the second supplementary proposal involved allowing high-rise group housing projects in pocket no. 6 in Manimajra for residential purposes. E-auction of unipole ad sites approved In a significant move to enhance revenue streams, the MC approved the e-auction of 75 advertisement sites, primarily unipoles. The sites have been divided into three zones with 25 panels each. The tender for the auction is expected to be issued soon. The corporation anticipates to generate Rs 12 crore annually from these sites, with a provision for a 10 per cent yearly increment in the contract. These 75 sites comprise 53 new locations and 22 existing ones approved by the UT Urban Planning Department. Strategically located along commercial roadsides, the sites were recommended by the Chief Architect of the Urban Planning Department. The councillors welcomed this initiative as a progressive step toward modernising the city's advertising infrastructure. Green light to high-rise group housing projects in Manimajra The House also cleared a proposal for developing Manimajra as a hub for high-rise group housing projects. The Chandigarh Administration has already approved the layout and zoning plans, allowing construction up to five storeys with a floor area ratio (FAR). This project aims to tackle the city's housing shortage and accommodate its growing population. Plot 6 in Manimajra, Chandigarh, is a 6.9-acre area designated for residential development under the Chandigarh Master Plan. The Municipal Corporation (MC) is considering auctioning this land, with a reserve price of Rs 300 crore, expecting to generate at least Rs 500 crore. The MC is considering various options for these developments, including auctioning the land or partnering with public sector companies like NBCC. GIS-based sweeping proposal deferred again The proposal for GIS-based mechanised manual sweeping in southern sectors was once again deferred following objections from councillors. During the meeting, former mayor Anup Gupta announced the formation of a committee comprising councillors from all parties and nominated members. The Sanitation Committee chairman will be a special invitee. Recommendations from this committee will be presented along with the proposal in the next House meeting. Meanwhile, Lions Services, the company currently handling sweeping operations, has been given a three-month extension, as its contract ended on Monday. New horticulture waste processing plant proposal declared invalid A proposal to set up a new 60-tonne-per-day horticulture waste processing plant was also brought before the House but could not gain consensus. A heated exchange occurred between ex-mayor Anup Gupta and senior officials, including the Commissioner and Chief Engineer. As consensus remained elusive, the Commissioner declared the proposal invalid. Controversy over booking rates and job cuts Congress councillor Gurpreet Singh Gabi lashed at the Mayor in the House meeting over proposed hike in tube well operator removals and community centre booking rates. Gabi criticised the mayor over the sharp hike in community centre booking rates and the looming unemployment crisis among tube well operators. Speaking on the meeting minutes, councillor Gabi said, 'Madam Mayor, during your tenure, unemployment has started looming over 1,900 people in the last two months.' Gabi pointed out that the House had previously passed a resolution stating that the 664 existing tube well operators employed by the corporation would not be removed. 'So then how was a new tender allotted?' he questioned, adding that these 664 individuals now face unemployment. Gabi highlighted that the tender of Lions Company is about to expire, and a new tender is soon to be allotted. 'There are 1,200 employees working in that company, and no provision has been made for them in the new tender. They too will be rendered jobless,' he said. Addressing the Mayor directly, Gabi asked, 'What exactly are you doing? When the House had unanimously passed a resolution to accommodate these people, then how was a new tender issued?' He expressed frustration, questioning whether House meetings are simply meant to serve councillors food and tea before sending them home. 'If this is the purpose of House meetings,' Gabi declared, 'then I will never eat at any House meeting again.' He added, 'Madam Mayor, you will go down in history as the Mayor who took away people's jobs.' In response, the Commissioner clarified that no staff would be removed until a new tender is finalised. 'Put chili in their eyes and rob them blind' Congress councillor Gurpreet Singh Gabi also lashed out at the steep increase in booking rates for community centres. He said, 'Without offering any additional facilities, you are simply raising the rates.' Expressing objection to the arbitrary hikes, he said, 'If you are going to loot people like this, then just go ahead and throw chili powder in their eyes and rob them outright.' Gabi handed over packets of chili powder he had brought with him to the mayor, sarcastically saying, 'Here, use this in the people's eyes.' The proposal to revise booking rates was brought for the third time but was deferred again following opposition from councillors.
NDTV
03-06-2025
- Health
- NDTV
Kerala's Idukki Turns To AI, Sensors To Become Most Disaster-Ready Hill District
Idukki: In the lush, hilly district of Idukki in Kerala, where nature's beauty meets frequent danger, authorities are turning to technology for protection. A new high-tech system using artificial intelligence, sensors, and satellite maps will soon help predict landslides, flash floods, forest fires, and droughts in real time -- part of an ambitious plan to make Idukki the most disaster-resilient hill district in the country. The innovative Idukki Disaster Resilience and Information System (IDRIS)-- a first-of-its-kind early warning and planning platform -- will be rolled out this monsoon as a pilot project, said District Collector V Vigneshwari here on Tuesday. The pilot rollout will begin in Adimaly and Rajakkad, two areas often hit by landslides, floods, and rising conflict between people and wildlife, an official release said. IDRIS is the first system of its kind in India, combining real-time data, satellite maps, and advanced tools like Artificial Intelligence to send early warnings for natural disasters such as landslides, flash floods, wildfires, and drought, the release claimed. The system will help local leaders and government officials make better, faster decisions. It does this by using GIS-based risk maps to guide where roads, buildings, and water systems should be built -- keeping both people and nature in mind, officials said. The system is being developed under the leadership of the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA). The system uses artificial intelligence, sensors and satellite maps to monitor and predict hazards like landslides, flash floods, forest fires and droughts in real time, the release said. "Forty-six sensors will monitor soil movement, rain and moisture levels. Forty-eight river gauges will track water levels in key tributaries such as the Thodupuzha River and Pamba. Data will be fed live into a GIS-based control room at the District Emergency Operations Centre. Officials will use this information to send early warnings and guide safer infrastructure planning," it said. Alerts will be sent through SMS, sirens, radio and a mobile app, in Malayalam, English, Tamil, Hindi, and tribal languages. "The development of the IDRIS software and its field-level testing will begin soon," the district collector said. The aim is to transform Idukki into India's most disaster-resilient hill district by combining sensor technology, GIS-based risk layers, and machine learning, she added. Officials said Idukki is a district highly prone to disasters. Since 2000, it has faced over 600 landslides, recurring floods, rising incidents of wild animal attacks, unsafe constructions, and forest fires, they said. Taking all these risks into account, a comprehensive multi-hazard monitoring system is being set up in the district, officials added.
Indian Express
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Review pending building map approval cases, streamline process: CM Yogi Adityanath to officials
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday convened a meeting with the Housing and Urban Planning Department and directed a review of pending building map approval cases, pointing out that repeated objections are inappropriate and the process must be streamlined for single-instance resolution. Adityanath emphasized an integrated approach to urban planning, residential safety, infrastructure and digital management. He also directed that the GIS-based master plans for cities, which are yet to be approved, must be sanctioned before this month ends. The CM was informed that corridor one and two of the Kanpur Metro are scheduled for completion by the year-end. He was informed that the first corridor of the Agra Metro is targeted for completion by December 2025, while the second corridor is expected to be completed by 2026. In the same sequence, the process for the Lucknow Metro project, covering a stretch from Charbagh to Basant Kunj (11.165-km), is progressing rapidly. The CM highlighted the need for expanding the jurisdiction of the Lucknow Development Authority and directed the prompt transfer of Jay Prakash Narayan International Centre to the Authority. The centre has been in the midst of a controversy since after BJP formed the government in 2017 and the construction work was suspended. The previous Samajwadi Party government in the state had launched this project and the centre was the dream project of the then CM Akhilesh Yadav. The Chief Minister was also informed that public suggestions on the draft of the Building Construction and Development Bylaws–2025 are being invited from April 16 to May 30, 2025. The final version of the bylaws will be prepared based on the feedback received. While reviewing the International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre project in Lucknow, CM Yogi directed that this world-class convention centre—being developed on 32.50 acres at a cost of Rs 900 crore—must be completed within a maximum of two years. He said that this centre will become a landmark identity of New Lucknow. Discussing the current status of the UP-State Capital Region, the Chief Minister mentioned that this project encompasses the districts of Lucknow, Hardoi, Sitapur, Unnao, Raebareli, and Barabanki, covering a total area of 27,826 sq km. He said that there should be no further delay in the preparation of its Detailed Project Report (DPR). The meeting also reviewed the three-month action plan, which includes the implementation of key policies such as the Uttar Pradesh Town and Country Planning Act–2025, Land Pooling Policy–2025, and Building Construction and Development Bylaws–2025. Revised guidelines will also be issued shortly to ensure timely completion of ongoing projects under the Integrated Township Policy. The CM was informed that under the Mukhyamantri Urban Expansion/New City Promotion Scheme, the approved projects will be launched in phases between June and December 2025. Cities covered under the scheme include Jhansi, Bareilly, Aligarh, Saharanpur, Agra (Kakua), Kanpur (New Kanpur City Plan), Mathura (Transport Nagar), Moradabad (Didauzi), Bulandshahr, Ghaziabad, Meerut, and Lucknow. He directed that all these projects must strictly adhere to timelines and maintain quality standards. He also said that under the GIS-based master plan framework, master plans for 59 cities in the state are being prepared—of which 42 have been approved. The approval process for the remaining four cities—Jhansi, Mainpuri, Farrukhabad-Fatehgarh, and Bahraich—must be completed within the current month. To promote private investment, the Chief Minister emphasized prioritizing projects based on the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. He also instructed the launch of special housing schemes for migrant workers and mandated urban standards such as green building certification, solar rooftop systems, rainwater harvesting, and waste management.
Time of India
25-04-2025
- General
- Time of India
Dhamtari district's water conservation initiative bags PM's Award
Raipur: Dhamtari district in Chhattisgarh was conferred the Prime Minister's Excellence Award 2023 in the Innovation category for its GIS-based water conservation plan. This multi-layered initiative significantly improved water management across the district. The project involved revitalising existing water structures and implementing targeted interventions that led to the creation of 26 new Amrit Sarovars, 156 rainwater harvesting structures, and expanded agricultural potential across 472 acres. Using GIS technology, customised maps were developed for each panchayat, facilitating data-driven planning and the strategic development of essential water infrastructure at the grassroots level. These efforts, led by then district collector Namrata Gandhi, enhanced water availability and empowered local communities with sustainable water solutions . A comprehensive GIS-based framework, developed with technical support from Upendra Singh Chandel, District Informatics Officer, NIC Dhamtari, transformed the district's water conservation strategy. The framework integrated data from the Jal Doot App, the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), INDIA WRIS, and NIT Raipur survey data. The initiative yielded several impactful outcomes, including hydrological mapping to identify water-stressed zones through overlay analyses of aquifer characteristics, land use, and rainfall patterns. It enabled the identification of priority areas for constructing check dams, recharge wells, and rainwater harvesting structures, along with seasonal groundwater analysis to assess pre- and post-monsoon water levels. A GIS-enabled Water Body Inventory—developed using satellite imagery and drone surveys—was created to monitor the health, encroachments, and conservation status of water bodies. Mobile applications were also introduced to crowdsource water conservation efforts during the Jal Jagar Mah Utsav. Real-time progress tracking is now possible through GIS dashboards, ensuring transparency and accountability. Despite these significant efforts, data from the Jal Doot App indicates a declining water table, underscoring challenges such as overdraft due to the cultivation of 60,000 hectares of summer paddy and over 32,000 borewells. As of March 2023, 98 gram panchayats faced spot source failures under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). Declining reservoir levels and growing reports of water scarcity remain concerns. To address these issues, a 24x7 JJM call centre was launched in March 2024. Of the 732 complaints received, 663 were resolved, significantly improving public service delivery. Under Gandhi's leadership, the district shifted from infrastructure-centric approaches to behaviour-driven, sustainable practices. These included promoting crop diversification—from summer paddy to millets and pulses—and advocating for rooftop rainwater harvesting in urban and industrial areas. A platform called SATHI was launched to encourage collaboration between civil society and govt, fostering community ownership. A workshop conducted by the CGWB brought together departments such as Public Health Engineering (PHE), Agriculture, Forest, Urban Development, and MGNREGA to map recharge zones and plan interventions. It also focused on linking urban rooftop harvesting systems to alluvial recharge zones and identifying causes of spot source failures, such as water divide locations and poor recharge potential. Industries were mapped against local groundwater levels, revealing widespread non-compliance with CGWB norms. Following the collector's directive, flow meters were installed at water sources, and renovation of 198 rooftop rainwater harvesting systems in industrial areas was initiated. As a result, 136 notices were issued for non-compliance, and 99 industries applied for usage permissions. A single-window system under the General Manager of the District Industries Centre (GMDIC) was introduced to streamline industry facilitation. The Clean Gangrel Campaign in February 2024 mobilised 29 organisations and recovered 35 mini-truckloads of plastic waste. Proposals have been made for an eco-tourism plan and a single-use plastic ban around the Gangrel reservoir. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), South East Central Railway (SECR), and Asian Development Bank (ADB) collaborated to link excavation activities with Amrit Sarovar construction, of which 102 were completed and 12 are underway. Linear road projects also incorporated injection wells in recharge-deficient zones; 66 are planned and 17 have been implemented. Gandhi's approach exemplified convergent governance, scientific planning, behaviour change, and community engagement. Under her stewardship, Dhamtari emerged as a model of innovation in water conservation, earning national recognition through the PM's Excellence Award 2023.
