Latest news with #SulochanaDas
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Civic body's permission now mandatory to dig borewell in Bhubaneswar
BHUBANESWAR: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has made prior permission for digging borewells in the state capital mandatory for both commercial and residential users. A decision to this effect has been taken in the BMC corporation meeting on Friday. Mayor Sulochana Das told this paper that the decision has been taken to regulate extraction of groundwater and prevent its misuse in view of the depleting sub-surface water level in the capital region. Das said the planning wing of the BMC will prepare a standard operating procedure (SOP) for groundwater use and borewell digging under BMC jurisdiction. The Odisha Municipal Corporation (OMC) Act 2003 stipulates permission from the municipal corporation to dig borewell for both commercial and residential uses. However, sources said, poor enforcement of the norm has resulted in unregulated use of groundwater in the city in last two decades, primarily due to the growing urbanisation of the city and its periphery. As per the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) report, the consumption requirement met through groundwater in the capital city has already plunged from 112 MLD to 206 MLD in a decade. The over-dependency has also affected the level of groundwater in different parts of the city with water level in Saheed Nagar plunging from 5.3 metre in 2006 to 4.4 metre in 2015. Corporator of ward no 51 Binayinee Jena, who had raised the matter with the civic body seeking formation of a special groundwater cell and appropriate regulatory norms to check misuse, said the corporation meeting also deliberated on other possible measures including use of metres in borewells to check the water uses. She has been advocating that considering the government guidelines a person should be restricted to the daily water consumption limit of a maximum 60 gallons (227 litre) to prevent water scarcity in city in the future.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
BMC plans to make permission must for digging bore wells
1 2 3 4 Bhubaneswar: In an unprecedented move, corporators of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Friday advocated for mandatory permission of the civic body to dig bore wells within city limits. The demand, which arose at the corporation meeting, aims to check erratic site selection for bore wells and haphazard digging by residents, agencies and realtors that leads to depletion of groundwater. The corporators also decided that rainwater harvesting for individual houses and apartments will be made mandatory, BMC officials said. BMC mayor Sulochana Das said a standard operating procedure (SOP) will be drawn up soon to establish clear principles for segregating areas where and how many bore wells will be allowed to be dug. "The SOP on bore well digging will be incorporated into the building plan approval gradually. The SOP will clearly state the carrying capacity of which places have been exhausted, and digging should not be carried out. We don't want a situation like Bengaluru. There are instances where, for every 1,000 people, there are more than 100 bore wells. In apartments and individual houses, the location of the bore well is also important. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like USDJPY đang đi lên không? IC Markets Đăng ký Undo At times, the neighbour doesn't know that another bore well is coming up just a metre or two away. This is not a healthy practice as groundwater is depleting," she said. Majority of the corporators endorsed the new SOP to be incorporated into the building plan approval. "In another sitting, further opinions of corporators will be elicited on how to proceed with the guidelines and what aspects should be addressed to make it development-, environment- and people-friendly," the mayor added. Recently, BMC planned to construct 10 mega water harvesting structures in the city to recharge groundwater. Work will be completed before next monsoon, BMC officials said. The civic body will take guidance from the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA). The ministry of housing and urban affairs (MoHUA) has provided funds to BMC to spend Rs 5 lakh on each water harvesting structure. BMC has identified the places where the structures will be established. BMC officials a list of low sustainable zones has been prepared where high interventions in terms of constructing artificial recharge structures have been recommended by the ministry following the National Remote Sensing Centre's survey of groundwater levels in Bhubaneswar.
New Indian Express
23-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Odisha Mayor Sulochana Das draws ire for ‘supporting' Bangladeshi settlers
BHUBANESWAR: Mayor Sulochana Das on Thursday faced severe protests in Niladri Vihar area of ward no 14 for allegedly making comments in favour of the Bangladeshi immigrants. Raising 'go back' slogans, the protesters also showed black flags to Das who had visited the area in the morning for a ward-level grievance hearing programme of the BMC, accusing her of being a supporter of the Bangladeshi immigrants. They questioned the mayor as to how the illegal immigrants from the neighbouring country were provided ration cards when hundreds of genuine beneficiaries in the city have been deprived of the facility for years. They demanded a clarification on the matter from Das and accountability from the local administration in the matter.
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Mayor faces flak over remarks on B'desh immigrants
Bhubaneswar: Mayor Sulochana Das on Thursday faced protest for her alleged remark in support of Bangladeshi immigrants in the city. Protestors blocked the mayor's path and showed a black flag to her during a ward-level grievance hearing programme at Niladri Vihar. A few days back, the mayor had told the media that the safety and security of the country come first, but the govt should consider the livelihood of those people living in the city with a valid ration card and other documents for years now. The statement did not go well with the demonstrators, who said the mayor is supporting Bangladeshi immigrants. "The mayor is seen to be in favour of illegal immigrants. For this reason, she wants Bangladeshis living for years in the city to stay here only. She is less worried about the safety and security of the country," said a protester. The mayor, however, refuted the allegations said that her statement was taken out of context. "I said that the country's security is always a priority, and we will abide by what the govt decides," Das said. Later, members of BJP state unit held a protest rally from Raj Bhawan to Sishu Bhawan, demanding the mayor's resignation. BJP's Ekamra MLA, Babu Singh, said being the first citizen of Bhubaneswar, such a statement from her is completely unacceptable. "Here we are talking about the country's security, but the mayor seems least concerned about the city's security," Singh said. BJP leader Jagannath Pradhan said the mayor has made a wrong statement. "She seems to be in favour of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants living in the city. How can she allow them to live here without valid documents?" Pradhan asked.
Time of India
16-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
BMC to deploy volunteers to counter dengue menace
1 2 Bhubaneswar: BMC on Friday decided to engage 100 volunteers for three months for dengue surveillance. These volunteers will focus on generating awareness and carrying out mosquito breeding source reduction exercises as part of a plan to tackle dengue menace ahead of the monsoon. BMC officials said each volunteer will be paid Rs 400 daily. The deployment will be in 20 teams, with each team conducting door-to-door surveillance, covering 40 houses daily. The urban malaria surveillance unit (UMSU) will oversee this initiative and compile regular reports, according to a BMC officer. BMC sources said mayor Sulochana Das is slated to convene a meeting with all corporators to ensure wider publicity of prevention activities. Medical officers, district education officers, and child development project officers will undergo specialised training to better coordinate prevention efforts. "Our primary focus is on educating the community about dengue fever, its symptoms, transmission, and preventive measures," BMC officials said. "We're implementing a grassroots approach that will reach every household in the capital city," they added. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Click Here To Read More - micro segmentation software Expertinspector Click Here Undo BMC is also launching a comprehensive media campaign utilising various platforms, including radio jingles, FM talks, and social media outreach. Also, waste collection vehicles will be used to spread awareness messages across the city, officials said. A novel 'Zero Dengue Day' will be observed in each ward, featuring rallies led by local corporators with the participation of health workers, ASHA workers, Swachha Sathi, and Residential Welfare Associations. The corporation has also decided to coordinate with IDCO/MSME and other departments and market associations to ensure dengue prevention measures are implemented in their respective premises. "Special attention will be paid to hotspot areas through intensive fogging and anti-larval activities under the supervision of BMC health officer," BMC officials said. BMC said various govt and private offices and schools will also be directed to inspect mosquito breeding sources and destroy them. There are open stockyards in both offices and schools, which have abandoned articles that become mosquito breeding sources. In the second phase, residents will be educated on how to check household articles and spaces around them to ensure there is no stagnant water.
