For construction of new Circuit House
Raipur, March 20, 2010
Congress has alleged that the tender allocation process for construction of new Circuit House was done in a biased manner. PCC secretary and spokesperson Rajesh Bissa informed that the contracting agency Aarti Buildcon managed to grab the project owing to its nexus with the relevant officials. Bissa alleged that the officials were reluctant in providing him details about the tender process for new Circuit House project under Right to Information Act as they intend to bury the corruption case.
The estimated cost of the project was Rs six crore and the mandatory condition to qualify the tender was – the contractor’s total turnover must be at least equal to 75 percent of the estimated cost of the project and he should have experience of similar works, Bissa informed. The turnover of Aarti Buildcon was Rs 7.25 crore when it got the contract, but estimated cost of the project was increased to Rs 14.37 crore, Bissa said.
In this scenario, the project qualifying turnover became Rs 10.75 crore but Aarti Buildcon was never close to this figure, however it got the contract because the officials deliberately kept the estimated cost less at initial level to prevent big contractors to participate in the tender process, he charged.
Bissa further alleged that Aarti Buildcon had not even produced the experience certificate of similar works. According to conditions, the contract must have experience of government projects and the certificate should be signed by some top government official but Aarti Buildcon grabbed the project on the basis of its experiences like construction of private residential flats and without producing any certificate, he said. The contracting agency also failed to submit the mandatory affidavit that contains contractor’s declaration that all the information provided by him is true, Bissa said.
Stop Togadia to enter into the state: Rizvi
Raipur, March 20, 2010
Congress has demanded from Chief Minister Raman Singh to stop the general secretary of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) Praveen Togadia from entering into the state. PCC spokesperson Iqbal Ahmed Rizvi fears that Togadia would disturb the peace and harmony of the state by his communal comments. He alleged that Togadia main political agenda was to protest Muslims and Christians and he was running an anti-national campaign to create communalism.
Forest fire claims watchman
Raipur, March 20, 2010
While trying to extinguish fire erupted in Raipur district’s Baruka forest region, the Forest department’s watchman Devnath Sahu lost his life. Chief Minister Raman Singh expressed his grief over Sahu demise. In his message, Singh said Sahu gave his life while discharging his duty. Instructing the Forest department to provide every support to the deceased’s family, Singh further directed the officials to ensure that forest staff should regularly get guidelines to prevent occurrence of fire in forest regions besides providing all the safety materials to them.
World Forest Day
Raipur, March 20, 2010
Chief Minister Raman Singh has appealed from the people to take pledge that they will save trees and plants on the occasion of World Forest Day that will be celebrated on March 21. Terming felling of green tress self-destructive acts, Singh said people should avoid such habits. On the eve of World Forest Day on Saturday, Singh said forests were equally important for human beings, animals and birds. He also expressed his concern over rising global warming and sudden changes in climatic conditions and said such things were happening owing to increasing population that led to urbanisation and industrialisation and consequently the green belts were shrinking rapidly. “It is our social and moral responsibility to save forests, trees and plants as we get ample benefits from forests including medicines, fresh air, etc,” Singh said.
Regularisation of illegal tap connections by March 30
Raipur, March 20, 2010
Now those who are having illegal tap connections within RMC periphery can regularise their connections by March 30. A directive in this regard has been issued by the Urban Administration department on Saturday. For this, illegal connection holder would have to pay Rs 4000 in three installments.
Joint Forest Management Programme
Raipur, March 20, 2010
The officials of Forest department have informed that about 27.63 lakh villagers were imparting their contribution to in the security and development of forests under Joint Forest Management Programme (JFMP). These villagers have been given the responsibility to maintain about 33,190 sq km forest area under the programme. These villagers are the members of 7788 Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMC) constituted by the department and they have also been linked with cottage industries based on minor forest produces and afforestation works. There are 19,744 villages in the state of which 11,185 are located within 5 km range of the forest regions. The JFMP was launched to increase the public participation in these villages for forest conservation and expansion, the officials informed. Similarly, the department has linked over 12.50 lakh villagers with 915 Primary minor Forest Produce Cooperative Committees. The state government has made a provision of 14.45 crore for the JFMCs in its budget 2010-11.
Drinking water crisis in Babu Jagjeevan Ram ward
Raipur: District Congress Committee member Dhanmat Deep has alleged that Babu Jagjeevan Ram ward corporator Sunil Bandre had never visited those areas of the ward where problems are in abundance. He said the drinking water problem has affected several locations in the area surrounding All India Radio (AIR) office, Arjun Nagar, EAC Colony, Utkal basti near Shastri Bazar and Banstal. Similarly, the ward lacks proper sanitation facility owing to which drains are overflowing with filth and dirt, he said. The local residents are also irked with foul odour of stinking garbage, he added. The RMC has still not completed the construction of Sulabh toilet near AIR office, still the toilet is being used by the people living in the ambience but it lacks proper cleanliness, he said. Deep has demanded from the RMC administration to ensure the ward residents get sufficient supply of drinking water, the pending projects like Sulabh toilet get completed quickly and sanitary arrangements should be organised.
State needs special attention from Rly Ministry: Vora
Raipur, March 20, 2010
Chhattisgarh is the only state in the country that gives highest revenue to the Railway Ministry. However, no provision has been made for the state in the Rail Budget 2010-11. Neither any new train was announced for the state nor did the Railway Minister Mamta Banerjee declare any special project for the region. Congress leader and MP Motilal Vora raised the issue in the Rajya Sabha during discussion on Rail Budget, informed PCC spokesperson Ramesh Varlyani here on Saturday.
Vora further pointed out in Rajya Sabha that Chhattisgarh was nowhere in the list of states which got a number of long-distance special trains like Matribhoomi, Janmabhoomi, Karmbhoomi and Bharat Teerth expresses, although several lakh devotees arrive in the state to visit Ma Bamleshwari temple in Dongargarh and Mahamaya temple in Ratanpur (Bilaspur).
Vora said considering the percentage of Chhattisgarh’s revenue contribution to the Railway ministry, Banerjee should show equal generosity towards the state as she had shown to West Bengal and other states.
He further indicated that the two narrow gauge lines – Raipur-Dhamtari and Damtari-Sihava should have been converted into broad gauge tracks but in spite of several assurances, no provision was made for the two projects in the Rail Budget 2010-11.
Similarly, the proposed project to lay 235 km rail line from Dalli Rajhara to Jagdalpur have not been commenced in spite of the ministry’s declaration in the last session that Rs 700 crore would be spent on it, he said.
Vora also reminded that the then Railway Minister in 1998 had announced to conduct survey to lay rail line from Rajnandgaon to Jabalpur and the ministry had also made provision for the survey in its budget. However, even after completion of 12 years, there is no trace of the survey report, he said.
Similarly, no provision was made in the budget for railway line from Rajnandgaon to Manpur via Chowki Mohla, he said. Chowki Mohla is a tribal populated region and the local people have never seen train in their life, Vora said.
Vora welcomed Banerjee’s decision to use the vacant railway lands in constructing commercial complexes, economical residential hotels and fully-facilitated hospitals. Vora sought expansion of rail services in Chhattisgarh terming it a new state that require special attention.
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