SBR and trench less technology for Halisahar

Writing from Delhi airport. Attended Empowered Standing Committee meeting at Ministry of Environment and Forest yesterday. Our sanitation project for Halisahar was approved. I'd been to Halisahar - a 2 hour drive from Slat Lake - and seen the black waters pour out into the Hoogly. I mentioned this experience in my presentation. This is a Rs 274 cr project that involves 70% Govt of India grants and 30% State Government funds. I mentioned that because of land scarcity, we have to use state of the art SBR technology. SBR stands for sequential Batch Reactor, a method that treats waste water through a technology that retains water just so long as is required to clean it (20 BOD and 30 TSS). World Bank suggested using trenchless technology to lay down pipes. I welcomed it since it would minimize road cutting and so cause less inconvenience to residents.
(It is 12 dec C outside now)

Biometric Attendance in UD and KMDA too

In September 2011, we introduced bio-metric attendance system in Hidco Bhavan. This was inaugurated by Minister Firhad Hakim. A year later, bio-metric attendance system was introduced in NKDA. Both events were mentioned in this blog. Now, the necessity of introducing biometric attendance system in the Nagarayan Building of UD Department was discussed with Minister Hakim at his Assembly chamber day before yesterday, in course of discussions on the ensuing NKDA Amendment Bill (see clipping below). It was decided that not only at Nagarayan of UD Department but also Unnayan and Prashasan Bhavans of KMDA will be brought under the biometric attendance system. NKDA has been entrusted to interact with the nodal officers of UD and KMDA and make the proposal.
* * *
The NKDA Amendement Bill was passed at the Assembly yesterday. Here is a clipping from today's Telegraph:

Protecting Khowai

I visited Bolpur yesterday. There has been a High Court judgment recently that prohibits any construction till a development plan is notified that will protect the Khowai areas and prevent indiscriminate building construction. I learnt that Khowai is an undulating red laterite soil formation typical of Shantiniketan. I spoke to District Magistrate, SDO, Sriniketan Shantiniketan Development Authority, Jogen Chowdhury, Chairman Bolpur Municipality and Viswabharati Registrar and other officers. I will submit my observations to the Governemnt next week.
* * *
Here are few press clippings:

Salt Lake Telegraph dt 23.11.13 

"The City as a Canvas"

Mr Sam Hoey met me at UD Department today. He is part of a UK delegation that is visiting Kolkata for a workshop / seminar. He, alongwith four others, had visited Writers' Buildings this morning to see how its renovation work is planned. After this, Mr Hoey met me, made a presentation to say that the city itself is a canvas and many artists and designers were choosing the city as their canvas where buildings, bridges, footpaths and stations provide creative spaces.

Long time back, I was introduced to a French innovator who called himself a light sculptor. Today, Mr Hoey explained how art, architecture and interactive design could bring up interesting ideas. In particualar, I liked the projects of (i) waterless fountains, (ii) wind powered light stalks and (iiii) city gateway.

Sam Hoey and me:
at Nagarayan, Salt Lake

Mr Hoey went to Eco Park thereafter. I'm told, he quite liked it.

* * *

Here is a clipping from yesterday's Times of India:

F.A.R. up to 6 allowed in select locations in New Town

The Gazette Notification was published recently and can be seen at http://www.wburbandev.gov.in/circulars/3865-ud_o_m_hid_41-3-2011.pdf . In CBD (Central Business District) if a plot is located within 250 metres of the Metro Railway Line, a builder can make a house with a Floor Area Ratio of 6 on payment of prescribed fees. This FAR is the highest in the state. This is in pursuance of our perception that cities need to densified by creating virtual land through taller buildings.

* * *

Here is a clipping from today's Anandabazar:

And here is a clipping from today's Economic Times:

Mechanical Sweeping to Start Soon

With project works going on at various corners of New Town, dust accumulation is becoming a menace in New Town. This afternoon, I held a meeting in NKDA with senior engineers of both Hidco and NKDA in an effort to find solutions. Arup Ghosh GM Hidco and Abin De EE NKDA went to the engineering wing of KMC to collect information. We've given ourselves seven days to formulate a strategy for using mechanical sweeping gadgets.
* * *
Here is a clipping from today's Anandabazar:

Children's Day

Yesterday was Children's Day. More than 1,000 students had come in the morning to Eco Park by prior arrangement. Large number of buses were seen in the two parking lots of Eco Park. Even Hon'ble Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee remarked during her speech in the foundation stone laying ceremony of KMoMa that she'd observed a large number of children queuing up  at the gates of Eco Park.

From Hidco side, an NGO brought in for a day's outing at Eco Park, underprivileged children from two locations including one in Salt Lake. A duo cycling activity was also launched. A photo:

Duo Cycling part of Children's Day Out at Eco Park:
Me with Urmila Sen who has recently been appointed honorary visitor
of a Children's Home in Salt Lake

* * *
Yesterday, Hon'ble CM laid foundation stone of KMoMA at New Town.
After this, CM went to Hidco Bhavan to meet the 14th Finance Commission.
* * *
Here is a clipping from today's Times of India:

14 Finance Commission to New Town

Tomorrow, the Chairman and other members of 14th Finance Commission will meet the State Government at Hidco's Conference Room. Hon'ble Chief Minister Mamata Bandyopadhyay, Finance Minister, UD Minister and other ministers and secretaries will meet them at 3pm tomorrow. I spent the evening with my team to make our place as good as possible.
* * *
Here is a clipping from today's Anandabazar:

 And a clipping from Ekdin:

Video Conference with all Development Authorities

On Friday, I held a Video Conference from Writers' with all Development Authorities of the State. Among other things, I informed that notification bearing number 3970-UD/O/M dated 6.11.2013 was just issued under the West Bengal Right to Public Services Act. In the notification, certain services would be delivered within a stipulated time limit.
I advised that for these time limits to be achieved, it was of paramount importance that when applications were received, a preliminary scrutiny should be conducted so that all documents were attached and necessary signatures etc were affixed. I recalled my days as Chief Electoral Officer when all Booth Level Officers would do a preliminary scrutiny and bring to notice if, for example, somebody had forgotten to sign the Form 6 or not attached a photo.
* * *
On Saturday, the exhibition Rugby match was played with great enthusiasm. A photo:

End-of-game group photo with players.
(Photo Courtesy Subhamita De)

* * *
Here is a clipping from yesterday's Khabar 365:

Prizes to Puja Committees

Yesterday, Minister Firhad Hakim came to New Town Mela and gave away prizes to winning puja committees of New Town. Later, there was a brief fireworks show, signalling the end of New Town Mela.

Ministe Firhad Hakim giving away prizes:
New Town Mela, 6th Nov 2013

Fireworks marking end of 2-week first New Town Mela

* * *
Here is a clipping from Times of India :

Grafitti Wall Painting Complete

The second Art Workshop that was flagged off by Jogen Chowdgury ended yesterday (see earlier few posts in this blog). The motifs this time were more bold and expressive. Spray paints typical of street graffiti  were also used. A collage by Kaushik of PMU, Hidco:

A collage of paintings on Eco Park's Graffiti Wall - just completed

* * *
Here is a cutting from today's Anandabazar:

First Rugby Exhibition Match of New Town on 9th November Saturday

Gopal Ghosh CEO NKDA, Abin De EE NKDA, A. Tudu of Khelo Rugby and Paul Walsh of Jungle Crows discussed yesterday of the First Ever Exhibition Rugby Match to be held on Saturday next. We decided on the following:
1. Time : 3pm
2. Venue: AA-1 football Field
3. Teams: (i) Jungle Crows vs (ii) CCFC/ KP
4. 15-a-side
5. Duration: 30 min + 30 min

Here is a photo at Hidco:

Paul Walsh and me
1st Nov 2013, Hidco Bhavan

Schedule of Films for Children's Film Festival

Yesterday, I got the schedule of Children's Film Festival screened in 2012. Here is it:

* * *
Here are two cuttings:

Khabar 365 dt 30 Oct 2013