Latest news with #SMC
Filipino Times
3 days ago
- General
- Filipino Times
DOTr presses MRT-7 contractors, skyway management over Flooding Concerns
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) called on the contractors of the MRT Line 7 project and the Skyway management to address construction-related issues allegedly contributing to flooding in Quezon City. Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said he had met with the contractors of the MRT-7 project and directed them to clear any obstructions blocking drainage systems along Commonwealth Avenue. The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) earlier said the construction of the MRT-7 Batasan Station may have partially obstructed the flow of rainwater, worsening flooding in the area. According to the agency, a manhole was built directly above existing drainage pipe culverts, and a footing wall may also be impeding water flow. Dizon also raised concerns about the Skyway's downspouts, which were reportedly not connected to proper drainage. The transportation chief said he instructed both SMC and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to coordinate and fix the issue. The SMC denied that MRT-7 structures caused the flooding. The company said all project components in the area were constructed outside existing drainage lines and in compliance with approved plans. It added that while a portion of the drainage system was affected during earlier phases of construction, it was fully restored and certified by the DPWH in March 2025. SMC also said an inspection after the recent flooding revealed that the drainage outlet was heavily clogged with plastic waste and debris, which may have reduced its capacity to carry rainwater. The company noted that no documents have been presented so far to prove that MRT-7 structures obstructed drainage. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that six people have died due to the combined effects of Tropical Cyclone Crising, the southwest monsoon (Habagat), and a low-pressure area. Over 1.2 million people across the country, excluding Eastern Visayas, have been affected.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- General
- Indian Express
SMC releases marksheet: Surat city topped among 4,900 cities in Super Swachh League 2025
Surat city topped among 4,900 cities in the Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 by securing 12,151 out of 12,500 marks in the Super Swachh League, leaving behind Indore with 12,147 marks and Navi Mumbai with 12,074 marks in the category, according to figures released by the Surat Municipal Corporation on Tuesday. The marks in the Super Swachh League category were given to cities with a population of over 10 lakh. The Swachh Survey Inter-Award Ceremony was held at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi, on July 17. At the event, Surat city won an award for the best performance in the Super Swachh League from President Droupadi Murmu that was accepted by Surat Mayor Daxesh Mawani and Surat Municipal Commissioner Shalini Agarwal. Sources in Surat Municipal Corporation now revealed that the city has 'achieved a 100 per cent score (1300/1300) with a 7-star rating' in 'Garbage Free City (GFC)' — a comprehensive assessment framework that evaluates a city's solid waste management system across 24 defined indicators, awarding a star rating from 1 to 7. It emphasises 100% source segregation of waste, door-to-door collection from all premises, complete elimination of open dumping and burning, scientific processing of all waste types, remediation of legacy dumpsites, and visible cleanliness across the city. Achieving a 7- star status reflects the city's sustained excellence in decentralised waste systems, zero-waste practices, and active citizen participation. Surat city also scored a 100 per cent (1200/1200) in 'Water + Certification', which recognises cities ensuring 100% treatment, safe reuse and disposal of all wastewater, including faecal sludge. Cities are required to operate functional sewage and faecal sludge treatment facilities, achieve zero untreated discharge into water bodies, and reuse treated water for landscaping, construction, or industrial use. The certification also requires cities to involve bulk water consumers through formal reuse agreements and to promote awareness on water conservation and environmental protection among citizens. The city also scored a 100 per cent in 'Used Water Management' (1000/1000), 'Ecosystem Strengthening and Institutional Parameters' (400/400) and 'Advocacy for Cleanliness' (1500/ 1500). In 'Visible Cleanliness' category Surat scored 1490 out of 1500 marks, while 1489 out of 1500 in 'Solid Waste Management', 989 out of 1000 in 'Sanitation Access', and 493 out of 500 in 'Sanitation Worker Welfare' category. As per sources in the SMC's Health department, last year, more than 100 representatives from the states of Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, New Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, and cities like Mehsana and Vapi had visited Surat city and received mentorship on best sanitation practices.
Scoop
4 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Opening Up Highly Productive Land For Housing
The Government is proposing to open up some of Aotearoa's most highly productive agricultural land to make it available for housing development. Sweeping proposals to change the RMA national direction include the country's most productive agricultural areas, which are classed according to how versatile they are for primary production. According to the proposal, Land Use Capacity 3 land would no longer be protected in the National Policy Statement for Highly Productive Land (NPS-HPL), which restricts the rezoning, subdivision, and use of Highly Productive Land. Consultation on the proposed changes to the NPS-HPL runs until this Sunday, 27 July 2025. The SMC asked experts to comment. The SMC has also gathered expert reactions on proposed RMA changes to housing and slash management. Emeritus Professor David J. Lowe, University of Waikato, comments: 'It is proposed that the National Policy Statement for Highly Productive Land is emended to remove land use capability (LUC) class 3 soils from their current protection 'from inappropriate land use and development'. The proposal is poorly considered and, if it goes through, would be an irreversible blunder of intergenerational scale for multiple reasons. 'Future generations of New Zealanders are being robbed of the potential productivity of versatile soils by people with a vested interest. The Luxon-led coalition government has an ethical, moral, and legal obligation to provide for future as well as current generations. 'Contrary to popular myth, New Zealand does not have large areas of highly productive soils. Rather, such soils, encompassing LUC classes 1 and 2 along with most class 3 soils, make up only 14% of New Zealand's soils. Class 1 (0.7%) and 2 (4.5%), the most versatile soils, amount to a mere 5.2%, with class 3 soils another 9.2 %. Removing class 3 soils from protection would leave just 5% of New Zealand's soils to sustain the entire nation in perpetuity. 'Many of the highly-productive (versatile) soils typically have taken around 10,000 to 20,000 years, some 50,000 years and even longer (several hundred thousand years in Pukekohe area), to develop and hence are irreplaceable. 'The versatile soils confer the key capability to produce a wide range of crops yet over 10% have already been lost to lifestyle blocks and housing, with around 33% of the best land (highly versatile soils) in Auckland and Waikato lost for good to urban expansion under an accelerating process. 'The high-value soils of the Pukekohe-Bombay area have been facing 'death by a thousand cuts' over the past few decades under housing pressure yet it is seldom appreciated that these soils, only ~4,400 ha in extent (~3.8% of New Zealand's horticultural land) produce ~26% by value of New Zealand's vegetable production adjacent to the country's largest market and under a horticulturally favourable climate. 'The versatile soils, including many LUC 3 soils, must be preserved: – to support a wide variety of viable land use options, including cropping, to meet the foreseeable needs of future generations – to facilitate the sustainable production of food and fibre and other services and to help maintain food sovereignty (the ability to maintain authority over New Zealand's food supply) – to preserve soil ecosystems that provide environmental services and confer the greatest natural protection to the environment – to maintain natural capital and soil diversity 'The versatile soils have – high energy-use efficiency and yields for various crops – high pollution absorption capacity – moderate or better soil resilience 'There are plenty of less-versatile soils available for housing. 'In conclusion, preservation of nationally scarce highly-productive land including LUC class 3 soils for growing crops is of paramount importance because further loss needlessly and irreversibly limits this option for current and future generations. Hence the proposed amendment should be abandoned. 'Further, rather than maintaining its disparaging attitude to science, and geoscience in particular, and its reprehensible ridiculing of expert opinion, the current coalition government should engage meaningfully and respectfully with soil scientists and horticulturalists to resolve the conflicts and self-interest of vested parties with respect to land use in New Zealand.' Conflict of interest statement: Lowe is a former professor in Earth Sciences, School of Science, University of Waikato, Hamilton. He is not commenting on behalf of the institution. Dr Pierre Roudier, President, New Zealand Society of Soil Science, comments: 'Land classified as Land Use Capability class 3 (LUC3) represents the backbone of New Zealand's food and fibre production and high-value exports. It makes up two-thirds of the land currently protected under the National Policy Statement for Highly Productive Land (NPS-HPL) and supports a wide range of primary production, ranging from dairy and arable farming to viticulture and horticulture. In Taranaki, 80% of LUC3 land is used for high-value dairy exports, while in Marlborough and Tasman, around 30% supports intensive horticulture, including vineyards. LUC3 land is characteristically extensive and highly productive, supporting large-scale farming and a wide range of crops across New Zealand's varied climates. If the protection of LUC3 land were removed entirely, New Zealand would risk losing large, connected and versatile areas of land that are essential for both domestic food supply and high-value export industries. Once this land is built on, it's lost from food production forever. 'Blanket removal of protections of LUC3 land from the NPS-HPL is not required to achieve the housing goals the Government has set. Exceptions to the current NPS-HPL already exist that allow councils to approve urban development on LUC 1-3 land when justified. Meanwhile, blanket removal of LUC3 protections risks large-scale rural residential subdivision, which is an inefficient use of our best land. Research shows that the most pressing issue on HPL is residential lifestyle development, significantly more so than edge-of-city expansion. This type of development breaks up productive farmland into smaller, disconnected parcels, which not only makes the land harder to farm efficiently but also introduces new pressures because of 'reverse sensitivity' (when new residents in rural areas object to normal farming activities, leading to restrictions on farms). These impacts reduce the overall productivity and versatility of the land. Rural residential blocks on LUC class 3 land now take up an area equivalent to nearly 60% of all the land in New Zealand used to grow vegetables – highlighting the scale of land lost to low-density residential development. 'The Regulatory Impact Statement outlines 4 different policy options, ranging from a status quo to a complete removal of LUC3 protections. One of the more balanced options would allow councils to enable urban growth on LUC3 land through local planning processes, while still protecting that land from residential lifestyle subdivision. This targeted approach would support housing goals near urban areas without opening the door to uncontrolled sprawl across the wider countryside. 'The proposed Special Agricultural Areas (SAAs) are poorly defined and currently limited to just two regions (Pukekohe and Horowhenua), raising concerns about transparency, national consistency, and scientific rigour. Their effectiveness depends on being grounded in biophysical land qualities, not just current land use. This narrow focus risks excluding other significant food-producing areas and ignores future shifts due to climate or market changes. SAAs could also be less efficient than refining the existing LUC system, which already covers the whole country and is based on scientific land assessment. Without clear criteria and wide consultation, SAAs may create confusion and leave large areas of valuable land unprotected – especially if protections on LUC3 land are lifted before the SAA framework is finalised.' Conflict of interest statement: 'Pierre Roudier is employed full-time by the Bioeconomy Science Institute as a Senior Scientist. He is also the current President of the NZ Society of Soil Science (NZSSS), and his commentary is provided from his perspective as President of the NZSSS.'
The Star
4 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Call to include more streets in plan to revitalise Sibu town centre
Irene Wong: Include other historic streets as part of Sibu's long-term development strategy. Sibu Municipal Council's (SMC) proposal for a night market walkway between the back lane of Jalan Market and Jalan Cross has received praise, but also prompted calls for broader revitalisation in the area. Irene Wong (pic), who is Sibu MP Oscar Ling's special assistant, said more needed to be done for Sibu's town centre. 'Sibu was a thriving commercial hub in the 1980s and 1990s. 'Streets such as Jalan Bank, Jalan Bengkel, Jalan Central, High Street, Jalan Cross, Jalan Market and Jalan Chew Geok Lin played a pivotal role in the town's early economic development,' Wong said in a statement. 'In recent years, however, the emergence of modern shopping malls with improved facilities has led to a decline in footfall and vibrancy in these older areas.' She said more streets should be included in future SMC revitalisation plans, with a focus on preserving heritage buildings and boosting foot traffic. Preserving these areas by supporting traditional businesses and incorporating cultural elements, said Wong, could transform them into attractive destinations for foreign and local tourists. 'Sibu's old streets form an integral part of the town's cultural heritage and can be strengthened through restoration of its historic core, stakeholder engagement and careful planning. 'Preserving the original architecture while enhancing nostalgic charm, similar to what's being done in Melaka, can showcase Sibu's charm and Foochow culture. 'Through careful repair and maintenance, the old streets could be revitalised and contribute to developing a distinctive city identity,' she said. Wong added that increased foot traffic from revitalisation efforts would naturally generate new business opportunities and reinvigorate the local economy. She also proposed time-limited parking bays in front of shops, for example allowing vehicles to stop for a maximum of 30 minutes, to maximise use of limited parking spaces. This would improve parking turnover, reduce congestion on narrow streets and make it easier for customers to access businesses in the area.
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Every child has the right to education': Union Minister Paatil lays foundation stone for redevelopment of 7 municipal school buildings in Surat
Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Paatil on Monday laid the foundation stones for redevelopment of seven municipal school buildings, which will be equipped with the latest technology and facilities, in different parts of Surat. These schools fall under the state government's Schools of Excellence category. Addressing a gathering on the occasion, Paatil said, 'Every child has the right to education. Many students will benefit from these new schools, as the classrooms have been equipped with the latest technologies and facilities… I also studied in a municipal school for six years.' The schools marked for redevelopment are situated in South B zone (Kanakpur), Limbayat, Varachha A and B zones, and Rander zone. Appreciating the 'innovative education system' implemented by Surat Municipal School Board, Paatil said, 'Surat is the fourth fastest developing city in the world with different development projects being carried out by the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC). Surat is moving ahead with the pre-planning for the next 50 years. Within a short period, people in Surat will get facilities like Bullet train and Metro train.' At the event organised at an SMC Primary School at Pardi Kande in Surat city, the minister stressed on the importance of water conservation at homes to realise the motto of 'Water is Life' and 'Water is Tomorrow'. Paatil said children should be taught the importance of water conservation from an early age. Surat City mayor Daxesh Mavani and Choryasi BJP MLA Sandeep Desai along with officials of the Surat Municipal School Board were present on the occasion. Mavani said, 'Generally, there is a trend among the parents to get their children educated in private schools. However, here in Surat, there is a reverse trend, where parents are shifting their children from private schools to municipal schools. The reason is the good percentage obtained by students in Class 10 and Class 12 exams. On the lines of private schools, municipal students are also given training in robotics, coding, drones, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for a better future.' There are approximately 362 municipal schools in Surat catering to around 2 lakh students — the highest number in the state. Sources in the Surat Municipal Education Board said that this year, around 48 schools in the state have been approved for 'Schools of Excellence' category by the state government. These schools will have larger classrooms, computer training rooms, multipurpose halls, and laboratories. Of these 48 schools, foundation stones for redevelopment work for 10 such schools were laid in construction will be carried out at a cost of Rs 35.47 crore and the work is supposed to be completed by year-end. In the interim, students of schools undergoing redevelopment have been transferred to other municipal schools. Notably, with Surat being home to a large number of migrants drawn towards its diamond, textile and chemical industries, the SMC runs several schools imparting education in Gujarati, English, Hindi, Urdu, Telugu, and Marathi. This year, the overall pass percentage of municipal school students in the state board exams was 96% for Class 10 and 94% for Class 12, said Mavani.
