Engineers on a Boat

The level of water in the lake in Eco-Park has risen considerably in the last week. We tried to analyse the possible reasons for this. It seemed that a storm water canal that brings run-off rain water from  VIP Road, Chinar Park and even Dum Dum has breached a thin earth barrier and connected itself to the lake. The storm water canal is intended to go farther down to Bagjola Canal.
We decided to inspect the site of the breach yesterday. All senior engineers of Hidco including P.P.Datta, Executive Director (Technical), Ananda Ganguly Chief Engineer, Suman Neogy General Manager (Engineering), Arijit Sanyal General Manager (Engineering), Pradip Guha Addl General Manager (Planning) and others accompanied me yesterday afternoon on a country boat to the site. The breach spot is not accessible by road: it is on the far side of the lake, on the other side of the new jetty near Rabi Aranya.
After inspection and discussions on the boat at site, we decided to make a sand bag barrier to isolate the lake and observe results. Permanent solution can be worked out only after analyzing results, and that too after the monsoons.
Here is a photo taken just before we started

* * *
Here is a clipping from today's Pratidin:

Plot for retail market / shopping-cum-commercial complex auctioned at AA-II

Yesterday was the last date of receiving bids for tender / auction for a plot of land of area 2.50 acres in Action Area II of New Town Kolkata. The plot has a frontage on the Major Arterial Road to Airport, and is   close to the second sharp bend near the sixth intersection, close to the Diplomatic Enclave. A prime plot, it fetched a highest bid of Rs. 57.33 crores. Converted this amounts to Rs 23 crore per acre, or Rs. 38 lakhs per kottah or Rs. 56,666 per sq metre or Rs. 5,264 per sq ft. This is perhaps the highest bid that Hidco received;, an earlier bid having fetched Rs 51 crore but which didn't materialise finally. We wait to see if this does.
* * *
I took a session yesterday at the ATI (Administrative Training Centre) with the new batch of IAS officers who have just been allotted the state. I spoke on Urban Development in West Bengal.
* * *
Here is a clipping from yesterday's Khabar 365:

Land friendly water treatment plants

Yesterday a seminar of eastern states of India was held. The topic was "Energy & Resource Efficient Urban Water Management". At the inaugural session, I remarked that we need Water Treatment Plants and Waste Water Treatment Plants that need less land. Conventional treatment plants need huge amount of land that is becoming scarce. Technologically advanced solutions like SBR (Sequential Batch Reactor), FBR (Fluidised Bed Reactor), Organic Media etc were explored by us. I also announced that we are thinking of a tertiary treatment of 10% of waste water to make it of reusable quality and to compensate this increased cost by fitting in bottled water plants in our new Water Treatment Plants. I also mentioned that we'd have solar panels and methane power plants wherever possible in WTPs / WWTPs.

I also spoke of having SCADA-like sensor device based IT systems that will help reduce water losses. CSE, the facilitators, mentioned that as per their estimate, the water losses in Kolkata was 39%. They also talked about the strategy in JnNURM-II where WTPs and WWTPs would be dealt with together as a combined project in all cases.
* * *

I inspected yesterday the parks in AAI being maintained by NKDA. A new Children's Multi-Ride Equipment is being set up in Shishu Tirtha. I advised that few exhibits required a fresh coat of paint. I also went to see several ongoing projects of Action Area I. Here is a photo of the community market in BB Block of Action Area I that took yesterday afternoon:

* * *
Today morning, Ms Keya Seth, MD of Keya Seth's Aromatherapy visited Eco-Park. Here is a photo taken during her brief visit to Hidco Bhavan before the tour to Eco Park:

L-R: Me, Keya Seth, Asish Seth at Hidco just before
their Eco Park visit

* * *
Here is a clipping from Khabar 365:

* * *
Here is a clipping from Bartaman:

CM Visits Eco Park

On her way back from Bongaon, Hon'ble Mamata Banerjee, Chief Minister, visited Eco Park today evening for about an hour or so. She gave a lot of advice and directions. She posed for photos with visitors in the Eco Park. Photos captured on my camera:

Machan in Rain Forest

In Gorumara Forest in the Duars, there is a wooden machan for viewing rhinos in the salt lick across a stream down below. Based on this idea, we decided today to make a viewing gallery in the midst of the rainforest zone within the Eco Park. A drawing was approved in the weekly meeting at Hidco.
* * *
Here is a clipping from today's Times of India:-

Drag Race in New Town

The second and final part of a Drag Race of cars took place today morning at Action Area III of New Town. The rules of the game are that two cars participate in each go for a 400m straight race. The loser gets eliminated. Here is a pic:

I requested the organisers to have an exciting car event in winter. Incidentally, we received an application recently from Mumbai requesting 17 acres space for a great musical band show in the first week of December: I am thinking of the grassland zone within Eco Park for this. Let's see.
* * *
Prof Sukanta Chaudhury of Jadavpur University told us of Bichitra Web Project today evening at Rabindra Tirtha. In Rabindra Tirtha, we have the objective of having a leading web networking core of Rabindranath for the Bengali diaspora around the world. A modest beginning has already been made. The second phase process has been initiated. A photo:

Prof Sukanta Chaudhuri in Rabindra Tirtha talking on Bichitra

After the event, I discussed with Prof Chaudhuri about the possibility of linking up Rabindra Tirtha Web Effort (Time Line on Rabindranath) with Bichitra.

Foundation Stone of SBI Management Institute

Last year in May, SBI took up a plot of 10 acres at New Town Kolkata for their Apex Training Institute. I recall my posts in this blog (search for SBI in the box) and my post at http://principalsecretarysblog.blogspot.in/2012/05/sbi-takes-land-for-international.html . Today, the foundation stone was laid by Chairman SBI in presence of MD and CGM Bengal. A photo:

L-R on dais: Sunil Srivastava CGM Kolkata, me,
Pratip Chaudhuri Chairman SBI, A Krishna Kumar MD SBI
and B V Chaubal, DMD & CDO

There was a 3D model on display and it was assured that construction would start soon.
* * *
The renovated Ahindra Mancha at Chetla was inaugurated today by Minister Firhad Hakim. I recalled in the inaugural ceremony this evening that even when he was in the opposition as an MLA, in one of the Standing Committee meetings at the Assembly, Mr Firhad Hakim had asked for quick repair of the then dilapidated Ahindra Mancha. After taking oath as Minister, he took initiative to renovate Ahindra Mancha quite beyond recogition. A photo:

Water Supply

Cities, experts say, cannot exist without water. In fact, most major cities of the world are on the banks of rivers or in coastal areas where surface water or ground water is available in plenty. I think of Fatepur Sikri where a whole capita city had to be abandonned since there was not water. Water supply sources are being created throuugh JnNURM.
Last Monday, I held a review of the projects on water supply. A large number of water treatment plants are being built, both in ADDA region and KMDA region. Insofar as KMDA area is concerned, 877 mld (million litres per day) of additional water treatment plant capacity is being added under UIG of JnNURM.. The 877 mld is in addition to the capacity of existing WTPs (2246 mld). This means an increase in 39% of the existing capacity. It is also fit to cater to the requirements of 6.5 million additional people, taking the per capita water requirement to be 135 lpcd. Already commissioned WTP are at Uluberia (46 mld), Kalyani (136 mld), Garulia  (19mld). Some of the WTPs where work is going on include Madhyamgram (140 mld), Dhapa (136 mld), Baranagar (136 mld), Bhatpara (104 mld), Bally (48 mld), Titagarh-Khardah ((70mld), Bansberia (68 mld) etc. The target is to complete all the WTPs by March 2014.
* * *
Here is a clipping from today's Telegraph (Salt Lake):

e Auction

Two plots at New Town were put up for e-Auction today.
 One was a plot for an Automobile Showroom. This is a plot of area 39.79 kottahs (0.658 acres). It is located in Action Area II. It fetched a price of Rs. 9.55 crores.
  The other plot was for a bank branch plot in Action Area I. It is a plot of 6.3 kottahs (457 sq m). It fetched a price of Rs. 1.26 crores.

Herbal Garden

In 3 acres of Eco Park, a Herbal Garden will be set up in collaboration with Institute of Post Graduate Ayurvedic Education and Research, Kolkata. The Herbal Garden will create awareness on importance of medicinal plants for treatment and prevention of diseases. There will be about 200 square plots where the medicinal plants will be grown. I held a brief review on the progress made at today's weekly review meeting.
* * *
Here is a clipping from today's Anandabazar:

Request for Information (RFI) for Space Saving STP

We wish to save land for treatment plants for waste water ie STP or Sewage Treatment Plants. How to go about it? Request for Information (RFI) was solicited through newspaper advertisement. We called for new ways of treating waste water that would be modern, cost-effective as well as land economising - all to be achieved through use of modern technology.

The last date was over recently and seven applications have been received. The idea is now to consult each of them and thereafter make a framework for calling tenders ie for creating RFQ / RFP documents.

This is a very transparent and innovative method of introducing new technology. We are trying it for the first time. I explained this briefly to the British Delegation when they came to Hidco Bhavan today afternoon. A photo:

Me, Minister Hakim & John Nutt are at the far end

Afterwards, the delegation visited Eco Park and were very enthusiastically appreciative about it.
 Here is a photo taken today morning at the Oberoi Grand:

Me, UK Minister Mr Eric Pickles,  Minister Hakim, Mr Wadhwani

* * *
Here is a clipping from today's Times of India:

Eastern Regional Workshop on Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation

Last Wednesday, Mr Arun Misra, Secretary Govt of India Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation (MoHUPA) held a regional workshop in Kolkata where representatives of Assam, Orissa, Tripura, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh were present besides West Bengal.

A copy of the recommendations of the Task Force on Affordable Housing Projects was released. We were informed that the Govt of India had accepted the recommendations. Incidentally, I was one of the members of this Task Force. It makes practical ways in which the centre and the states can come together to combat the housing shortage for the EWS, LIG an MIG sectors.

In our submission, I stated that while we had completed 74,000 dwelling units under JnNURM - the highest in the region - we could do more if we were allowed to revise the project cost to prevailing market prices. Secretary replied that Finance Ministry was not agreeable to this as the projects were already sanctioned. I also requested for permission to change location of units due to land problems: specific proposals were sought for.

Here is a picture of the head table:

L-R:
Me, Sushil Kumar Addl Secy, AKMisra, Secy, BKAgarwal JS, Advisor Plg Comm

* * *
Yesterday, the work of Ganga Water project actually started on the ground. A photo on VIP Road near Lake Town Crossing:

Ground Breaks for Hugly Water Intake for New Town,

* * *
Here is a clipping from the Telegraph that came to my notice recently although Ms Sucheta Chakraborty had met me a Hidco Bhavan a few days ago from the date of publication:

Team Najrul Tirtha

In the evening today, we had a crash brain storming session on how to get moving on the Nazrul Tirtha Project very quickly. Tomorrow there will be a site inspection. By Tuesday next, we hope to come up to a fair degree of preparedness. A photo at Hidco Bhavan this afternoon:

Team Najrul Tirtha: (L-R)
Salil, PPDatta, Kalyan Roy, me
Gopal Ghosh, Supriyo Das, Sutanu Kar, Ananda Ganguly,
P. Bhattacharya, Abin Chowdhury

* * *
In the morning, I was ina seminar organised by Indian Chamber of Commerce. I spoke briefly of the efforts made by us in trying to bring about densification of cities and of the possibility of posing Raghunathpur Planning Authority as a probable National Investment and Manufacturing Zone:

Seminar at Taj Bengal

(Later)
Here is a clipping from next day's Times of India:

NKDA Board Meet

At NKDA Board meeting today, we decided to make it compulsory for big buildings to install solar rooftop systems to meet 1.5% - 2% of their electrical load requirement. All upcoming large commercial / business establishments, schools, colleges, hospitals, large housing societies and govt establishments will have to meet this requirement. NKDA will ensure this in New Town while sanctioning building plans. Necessary amendment in Building Rules of NKDA will be made shortly.
* * *
I went to Nazrul Mancha today afternoon. Here is a picture on my Sonyh55:

In her speech, CM said that Nazrul Tirtha
should be completed in 12 months

* * *
Here is a clipping from the Telegraph of few days ago:

The headline is not quite a fact though !

* * *
Later:
A clipping from Anandabazar dt 26th May 2013

Bus

At a ceremony today morning, the Transport Department flagged off from Salt Lake Sector V, near Technopolis Building, a number of AC Buses that will connect the IT Hubs of New Town and Nabadiganta. Unitech-Joka (Route MB-7) new Bus Service would also start from today. A photo:

* * *
Here is a clipping from today's Khabar 365 on the Solar Energy Eco Park New Town:

Village Development

Under its neighbourhood development programme, Hidco has been doing village improvement works in adjacent rural belts of New Town. I visited a concrete road recently commissioned. A photo:

2 Km Concrete Road in Patharghata GP area

I again visited the main drainage pumping station at Jatragachi. It has progressed substantially since my last visit. A photo near Bagjola Canal:

There is a recently installed bus stop sign for Eco Park:

Fact Finding

We, the five-member Fact Finding Committee on the collapse of Ultadanga bridge, submitted our Report to Minister Firhad Hakim yesterday, less than three months after the day of collapse of the bridge. Here is a photo:

L-to-R m(standing)
Firhad Hakim, me, Arup Saha, Rajat Chatterjee, Udayan Sengupta, J Ganguly
At Unnayan Bhavan

* * *
Here is a clipping from yesterday's Bartaman:

* * *
(Later)
Here is a clipping from Anandabazar dt 2nd June 13:

Japan, German and British Meets

Yesterday I had meetings with (1) a delegation from JICA (2) a representative from Indo German Chamber of Commerce (3) Senior Trade & Investment Advisor from UKTI.
With JICA, we reviewed the progress of the Solid Waste Management Project now being implemented in Hoogly. We also talked of three big infrastructure projects.
With German Chamber, we talked of a vertical exhibition centre project.
With Rishikesh Chanda of UKTI, we talked of the impending UK delegation in 3rd June.

Two photos:

Ms Yui Nakamura, Mr Kazuyoshi Ohnuma, me & Mr Sarin

Mr Jan Thorsten Kotschau & me

Convention Centre for Destination Kolkata

Yesterday, in the Core Committee meeting on Industry headed by Chief Minister, ITC Chairman Y C Deveshwar indicated that Kolkata needs a Convention Centre of World Class standard so that business groups can be attracted which in turn will spur tourism and finally transform Kolkata into an international destination. Chief Minister mentioned of the Convention Centre being designed for New Town Kolkata. It was decided that we will interact with ITC, Indo-German Chamber of Commerce and others before finalising the concept. Here is a clipping from today's Telegraph:

In fact I mentioned about the Convention Centre in this blog earlier. Here is the link http://principalsecretarysblog.blogspot.in/2012/08/hidcos-convention-centre-design.html .Tenders have since been been invited. This will be put up to the Board of Hidco in its meeting slated on Saturday 11th May.
* * *
Today is Pachishe Baisakh. Kabi Pranam was held in Rabindra Tirtha from 7am-10am in the morning. I offered flowers on the just installed bronze statue as my tribute to Tagore. A photo:

Jnnurm Buses

Just attended a day-long workshop in Delhi. Writing this from Delhi Airport. The workshop was a stakeholders' meeting convened by MoUD. Buses, depots, terminals, control centers etc would be assisted under Jnnurm. Not only the mission cities of Kolkata and Asansol, but also smaller towns will be eligible if covered by a Planning Area under the Town and Country Planning Act. I requested Secretary GoI to give models of modern bus depots so that while passengers can get airport-like ambiance, there can be commercial establishments on upper floors. I recalled the awe that I experienced on seeing the renovation of Kings' Cross railway in London when I'd been there with minister Hakim last year. Secretary Sudhir Krishna referred me to the pilot projects being executed in Karnataka. Mr Alapan Bandyopadhyay gave a formal presentation on behalf of Transport Department and explained the preparedness of the state in making DPRs. I suggested that New Town / Hidco may be included in the DPR.

VTC Building

The VTC building is nearing completion. Located in AA-III, it is being built on a  2.5 acre plot. A very large building of about 2.75 lakh sqaure feet and a 1,000 seater auditorium on the 5th floor, I inspected the progress with engineers recently. I was assured that the building could be commissioned by next month. Here is a picture:

* * *
Today's papers contain the announcement that the Shyamal Sen Commission will begin receiving complaints at Finance Centre, New Town from Monday onwards for the South Bengal districts. There was a full inspection and co-ordination meeting today morning by Home Secretary, Finance Secretary, District Magistrate, Addl CP, IG(R), WTL, Hidco Engineers, myself and others. Here is a photo in the conference room of Finance Centre this morning:

At Head of table, L-R:
HKDwivedi, Pr Secy Finance, BBanerji, Addl CS(Home), me

  * * *
Here is a press clipping that appeared yesterday:

Baisakhi Grows !

Eight months ago, I'd visited the site of Baisakhi Housing Estate where two towers were being built. The photo taken during that visit is available in this blog's post dated 15th Aug 12 (search it). The additional towers are now fully tall. Internal works are going on. Here is a photo taken during my visit today:

Four additional towers now under construction at Baisakhi

* * *
The bronze statue was installed today at Rabindra Tirtha. It is more than 2 tons in weight and quite some engineering feats were required to put it in the middle of the water body. A powerful crane with a long boom was brought and a gangway built for technicians to go to the pedestal. Here is a picture after the installation:

The man in white shirt on the pedestal is me !
[ So guess the height of the statue:) ]

Bank Branch Plot

Many banks often approach us for getting a space for setting up a Bank Branch in New Town's Action Area I. Today we published a notice in newspapers inviting applications for  a 457 sq m plot in Action Area I for setting up a bank branch. It will be allotted through e-auction to be held on 5th June.
* * *
In the citizen meet, there have been complaints that in the area near DLF building, the roadside makeshift stalls selling food items create a problem for the residents.We are creating a food court only a few hundred metres away. I had seen such a food court in Singapore where various small vendors make snacks of various types under one large roof. Here is a picture of the site which I visited recently:

Food Court in Action Area I, New Town:
Likely to be inaugurated in June 13

* * *
The 5 member Fact Finding Committee on the collapsed bridge in Ultadanga met today and made the draft final report. The final report will be put up to the members for a last review within a week by the member-secretary, I hope.

Annual Action Plan for NGRBA

Writing this in Delhi Airport. Had meeting with Secretary MoEF, GoI and World Bank. All states have to step up implementation speed. Changes in framework is being contemplated. Functioning of State Program Management Group in West Bengal was appreciated but will have to be expanded further. I pleaded for more autonomy to the SPMG for quicker project implementation. An annual action plan of Rs 177 cr was approved for West Bengal. A special mission for riverfront development  is likely to be deployed by the World Bank to help Hoogly River Development.
* * *
Here is a cutting from today's Times of India:

* * *
And here is a cutting from today's Anandabazar:

Receiving Centre in Finance Centre

Today afternoon I inspected the Finance Centre Building, opposite Eco Park, in New Town. Counters are being set up for receiving complaints. Here is a pic:

* * *
Lopamudra Mitra gave a great performance in Rabindra Tirtha today. Here is a pic:

Lopamudra singing Benimadhab, Tore Ritmajare, Momo Chitte
at Rabindra Tirtha on 28th Ap Sunday evening

View from the sky

An areial shot was taken by a consultant when in a helicopter over New Town. Here is a link to the uploaded video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7kdLEaHGaY&feature=youtu.be
* * *
I visited Smritiban today after a while and was impressed by the progress made. I remember that last year, while talking of parks, the Forest Department gave a proposal in Writers' Buildings that a Smritiban may be developed by them where in a park various dignitaries visiting Kolkata can plant a tree. Later, these trees could be have the names of the VIPs who planted these. In fact I'd seen such a plantation in a Coal India mine in Jharkhand years ago.

Here is a photo taken this afternoon: