Last Few Days For Trauma / Geriatric Centre Application

Here is a report in Anandabazar today. Last date for application is 31st Oct 2011.

Marina

Today's Anandabazar carries an article on the "Kolkata Eye". I, alongwith others, went to see a possible site on the Howrah bank of Hoogly River, near the place where the Vidyasagar Setu meets the bank.
Close by, there are certain piers that were constructed when the Bridge was being built. These could be a possible site for a River Marina. Here is a picture that I took on my Sony Digital DSC H55:

Plan for Rajarhat

Can we have a scheme of planned urban development without acquiring land? The Town and Country Planing Act suggests a way forward. I will hold a meeting today at UD Department in the morning to discuss a strategy for areas outside New Town but within its Planning Area. Bartaman today talks of this. Here is a clip:

Date Change Likely for Digha Festival

I have been quoted today in Hindustan Times that the dates of the Digha Beach Festival would be finalised in early November. This is true. It seems the festival may be shifted to January 2012 for various reasons. Watch this space !
Here is the article.

Financial Inclusion and the Urban Economy

I'd come in contact with Janagraha during my Election Commission days. A few days ago, I met the organisers of an Urban Conference at Mysore at my office at Nagarayan. I said I could send a paper if there was a 'stand-in' speaker. I emailed them today to choose the topic : "Financial Inclusion and the Urban Economy ".
I post the following clipping in this context:

Financial Hub

There is an article in Sakalbela today on Financial Hub. Here is the link. Please see page 10.
http://115.248.217.9/Sakalbela/daily/sb.html
Here is the clipping:

At Delhi Today

Posting this from Delhi Airport. Did the following today :
1. Spoke to, and submitted, a proposal to MNRE (Ministry of Non-Conventional and Renewable Energy) for setting up a demonstration and counselling centre for Green Building Construction at New Town
2. Got a copy of the order by Ministry of Defence allowing beautification of Ganga Riverfront with certain conditions
3. Got a way to revive the old West Bengal Secondary Cities development Project but this will have to be "revived" in a screening committee meeting of DEA, MoF
4. Spoke about proposing two TA grants from World Bank/ DFID Trust Fund for (i) studyng ULC and (ii) changing FAR in New Town
5. Talked about setting up a Inland International Container Terminal near Siliguri, in conjunction with land custom stations and regional connectivity at DEA for taking up in an ADB-led mission

Here is a press clipping:

Date Extended

We are receiving few queries on our invitation for setting up of a Trauma Care Centre and a Geriatric Health Care Centre at New Town, Rajarhat and some requests for extending time, which was to expire tomorrow the 18th Oct.
We have just extended it to 31st Oct 2011

More on Financial Hub

The Statesman carried this last Friday:

The Bangla Statesman said this:

For full stories, see http://www.wbhidcoltd.com/About_hidco/NewsRoom.html

Financial Hub by HIDCO

We have decided to set up the Financial Hub in New Town Rajarhat in its Action Area-II, in CBD land. We have set apart 25 acres of prime land for this. Here is a story that appared in Times of India today:

Here is another clip from today's Bartaman

Designer Market for New Town, Rajarhat

In September, we had published an Expression of Interest inviting applications for participating in a creative design competition for local neighbourhood market in Action Area -I. The entries were judged by a panel headed by Shri Partha Das, Principal Consultant, HIDCO. The results have been finalised. The winning competition for one category is as follows:

This is what I'd written in my Sep 14 blog post:

"... In today's Times of India, we have published an advertisement asking for designs from Architects through a competition. There will be two plots and two separate competitions, both are located in Action Area I of New Town..

I have Delhi Haat or Dakshinapan in mind. But local open markets here are very small - about 20 kottahs or so. This is meant for getting daily groceries, vegetable, fish etc : we are not looking at glass facaded shopping malls. We want fresh open friendly neighbourhood market but with a bit of creativity added, a bit of originality.

Hence the competition and call from young and talented architects.Winner will get Rs 50,000 reward for one, and Rs 60,000 for the other..."

Smart Trafic Signalling for New Town

During my last visit to Delhi, I paid a visit to a JV Co between Delhi Govt and ILFS IDFC which is monitoring bus movements on Delhi. I saw GIS based bus movement trackers on giant wall screens. Video coverage at junctions adjusts signals to optimise traffic flow. Police can even see number plates of traffic violating offenders and issue "challans" for fines. In one case, it was subsequently discovered that fake number plates were being used by someone when an owner complained on receiving the challan that he couldn't have violated traffic rule on that date as he was away from Delhi with his car!
.. I'd visited the Delhi Hub because I am thinking of having a smart traffic management system for Kolkata. Yesterday, I informed Mr Gopal Ghosh, CEO NKDA to make a project report. Here is an article that appeared in today's Anandabazar:

"First Aid"

Hindustan Times spoke to me last Friday. An article appeared today. Here it is:

Pricing Policy in HIDCO

Most Non Residential plots will be sold through bids in New Town, Rajarhat. Here is a press clipping that appeared on page 1 of Bartaman today. Mr Amal Sarkar had briefly spoken to me on this yesterday evening.

Geriatric Health Care Centre

Advertisement that appeared today in Hindustan Times. See the following link (you'll have to go to page 3 in this Delhi Edition):

http://epaper.hindustantimes.com/PUBLICATIONS/HT/HD/2011/10/02/index.shtml

It'll appear in some other papers too. 

MNRE & JICA

I am in Delhi today to attend national workshop on NIJNNRUM. In the workshop, I said that (i) Development Authorities should have a role assigned to them as an implementor and (ii) there may be capitalisation of O&M costs of 5 years. The meeting was held at Vigyan Bhavan where Mr Kamal Nath and Kum Selja - Union Ministers - and other dignitaries were there.
* * *
I met Mr Tarun Kapoor, JS, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Govt of India. I submitted to him a formnal proposal for according Solar City Status to New Town. We also discussed about use of electric vehicles (Reva) in New Town.

* * *
I met Mr Shinichi Yamanaka, the Chief Representative of JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) in India. I talked about help in sourcing technology from Japan for making New Town a smart city. We reviewed the Yokohama meeting too. It seems, a pre-feasibility study will be required first.

Meeting with Singapore and Italian Representative at Hidco

Last Saturday, in course of the KMRCL (Kolkata East West Metro) meeting, I discussed with Mr Lohia, Joint Secretary MoUD Govt of India, that I was looking for international state-of-the art traffic-signalling system for New Town. Working from his reference, Gopal Ghosh CEO NKDA and I met today morning Ms. Wong Foong Chung Sindy of Singapore at Hidco. They asked for a due diligence study on the present status of traffic only after which they will be able to comment.
We will take it from there.
* * *
The engineering team of HIDCO, KIT, UD and others saw a presentation by an Italian expert at Hidco about very-quick low-cost housing construction technology. Although many issues were justifiably raised, I think we must continue to look at international trends whenever possible. 
* * *
Just reached Delhi. Will go to JICA office to discuss a few things for the benefit of New Town. Let's see how it turns out.

Geriatric Clinic and Trauma Centre in New Town - Land Auction

Few days ago, a large group of doctors from US (but from Bengal) met me and said that they want to set up an advanced Geriatric Clinic with regenerative medicine. I was happy to know of the cutting edge technology and wished that it could be used to treat senior citizens of Eastern India.
- Police has been telling me that a Trauma Ambulance is necessary in view of frequent accidents in New Town.
 We are thus thinking of inviting offers to set up these health care facilities in Rajarhat New Town. Here is an article that appeared in today's Times of India:

File Tracking System for Govt Secretariat

My good friend Dr Subir Roy of e-Governance Mission Team rang me last Thursday and deputed a team that showed us how a tailor-made-for-bengal-secrtariat-babus software can be used to keep track of file movements within the department. It was a non-sophisticated simple system, but a system that fits very well into the existing procedures. Me and my officers were immediately enthusiastic - no long term SRSs, no presentations, no high-flying software codes - all that is needed is a LAN and a 2 hour training for the PAs and assistants.
I will introduce it in UD soon - as soon as our LAN is ready.
I think it will make government business speedier.
By the way, the software is free.

Mela rent at Salt Lake to increase

We have decided to increase manifold the fees charged for holding melas in Bidgannagar Central Park. Here is a press report that appeared in today's Bartamaan:

Kolkata Metro Board Meet

I attended the Board meeting of the Kolkata East West Metro under the Chairmanship of new Govt of India Secretary Dr Sudhir Krishna. Executive Director of Railway Board Mr Rajib Chowdhury was also there. Among other things it was decided that the shares of EW Metro would be given over to the Railway Ministry. But till all the formalities are completed, the project work would go on as per schedule.
* * *
About the Garia-Airport Metro link that will pass through New Town, HIDCO, there is an article in today's Times of India. Here is it:

Asian Development Bank, Kolkata Beautification and UK India

A 3-member team from ADB met me yesterday. They talked about transport linkage in north Bengal to facilitate regional co-operation among Nepal, Bhutan, India and Bangladesh. I recalled my old association with ADB when I was chosen to deal with North-South Development Corridor from Raichak to Siliguri.
Yesterday, I highlighted the significance of Look East Policy, opening of Nathu-la pass and the importance of setting up an indoor International Container Terminal with Railway Freight Corridor.
***
We also held the second meeting of the Kolkata Beautification Committee of which I am the co-ordinator. Many agencies including HIDCO, Urban Forestry etc showed photographs of their achievements. KMC gave a presentation. Next meeting will be held on 21st Oct.
KMC hosted a good lunch too!
Here is a press report in today's Telegraph:

***
Yesterday's Pratidin carried a small report on Mr Heald's meeting with me. Here is a report:

UK India Business Council

Yesterday, I met Mr Richard Heald, Chief Executive of Uk India Business Council at my HIDCO office. He talked about an Innovation Seminar to be held in London in October: I said I'd be interested in knowing more about it. I also said that I needed technological inputs for smart, intelligent and green city as I'd like to position New Town as such. He said he'd revert with more thoughts.
The British Dy High Commissioner Mt Sanjay Wadvani and Mr Chanda were also there. Deepak Gupta of UD Department handled the protocol and took this picture:

I was also told by Mr Debashis Gharai of Sakalbela - with whom I'd spoken some time back - that there'd been a story on the design competition for a local market in New Town. Here is the clipping:

Earthquake and Digha Beach Festival Logo

A digital artist I know has created the following logo for the Digha Beach Festival. Here it is:

. In the morning yesterday, I'd asked Special Engineer to inspect our Housing Estates in Salt Lake for possible damages. I spoke to Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority and Jaigaon Development Authority too and called for reports after inspections. I also met a group of residents of New Town Rajarhat to report any damage to the high-rises of Rajarhat due to earthquake. Suman Chakrabarti of Times of India asked me about response of UD Department to the recent earthquake. Here is a report that appeared in today's Times of India:

Digha Beach Festival on December 9-12, 2011: DSDA Website

I held a long meeting at Digha yesterday witth all stakeholders to set the agenda for holding the Digha Beach Festival in December. The idea was to give everybody a target to kick-start short-term plans for transforming Digha-Shankarpur-Mondarmoni-Tajpur into a major national tourist destination. The main idea is to bring in quality improvements.
After some detailed discussions, we decided to have it on 9th Dec (Friday) to 11th Dec (Monday). There will be Sea Food Festival, Bratachari, Beach Volley Ball, Bangla Band, Eco-quiz and other events.
***
I launched the website of Digha Sankarpur Development Aithority. Its address is:
http://www.dsda.gov.in/
This also contains a new facility of on-line booking for Saikatabas.
DSDA and M/s Telmac did a great job in putting this up in a short time: we hope to make it operational after the Pujas when the renovation of Saikatabas will be over.
***
Here is a news article on Clean Ganga that appeared in today's Anandabazar:

Biometric Cards for HIDCO

Amal Sarkar of Bartaman spoke to me yesterday. He has written the following article.

Yokohama and Kolkata

In an earlier post I had mentioned about Yokohama. Yesterday, Mr Toru Hashimoto from the International Technical Cooperation Division from the City of Yokohama came and gave a presentation to us at HIDCO Bhavan. Here is a picture.

Along with Mr Hashimoto, Mr M Numahata, Japanese Consul in Kolkata was also there. Commissioner KMC, CEO KMDA and HIDCO and UD officers were there.
We will have a wrap up today morning.

There have been few articles in the press. Here are a few links:-

Times of India:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/Japanese-touch-to-riverfront-project/articleshow/9989076.cms

Pratidin:

http://epratidin.in/Details.aspx?id=9995&boxid=2161624

Bartamaan

http://bartamanpatrika.com/content/kolkata.htm

Address Locator ....2

I read this article at Under Secretary's chamber at Writers' Buildings today:

Design Competition for Local Market in Rajarhat New Town: Win Up to Rs 60, 000

In today's Times of India, we have published an advertisement asking for designs from Architects through a competition. There will be two plots and two separate competitions, both are located in Action Area I of New Town.
I have Delhi Haat or Dakshinapan in mind. But local open markets here are very small - about 20 kottahs or so. This is meant for getting daily groceries, vegetable, fish etc : we are not looking at glass facaded shopping malls. We want fresh open friendly neighbourhood market but with a bit of creativity added, a bit of originality.
Hence the competition and call from young and talented architects.
Winner will get Rs 50,000 reward for one, and Rs 60,000 for the other.
Valid entries will get Rs 5,000 each - unless the number is too large.
Here is the ad:

Address Locator Kiosks: Expression of Interest

We want to instal static address locator in New Town and Salt Lake to enable tourists to find out addresses quickly. Here is a notice inviting Expression of Interest that appeared in today's Times ofIndia and Hindusthan Times:

EOI published for Saikatabas, Digha

We are trying to modernise Saikatabas at Digha professionally. Advertisements appeared today in Times of India:

Rules of Business Amended: Notification Issued by Chief Secretary: HIDCO with UD

Yesterday I received the fax copy of the notification dated 8.9.2011 signed by Chief Secretary, Govt of West Bengal stating that the Rules of Business of the Government has been amended so as to bring HIDCO and all matters relating to Rajarhat township within the schedule of Urban Development Department.
* * *
Minister of Urban Development Mr Firhad Hakim made a visit to HIDCO yesterday. We made a powerpoint presentation and few issues facing it today. This was covered by the media and I put a clipping that appeared in Bartamaan today.

Lord Mayor of City of London to Kolkata on 13th Oct

Yesterday, Mr. Sanjay Wadvani, British Deputy High Commissioner in Kolkata met me at my office of UD at Nagarayan, Salt Lake. He talked about the visit of Lord Mayor of the City of London to Kolkata on 12-13th October. There will be a seminar in co-ordination with the Urban Development Department on 13th Oct. The topic is likely to be Urban Renewal and Financial Inclusion. In the afternoon, an interaction on the proposed Financial Hub in Rajarhat New Town will be organised.
I learnt that the Mayor of London (elected politician) is different than the Lord Mayor of the City of London (a businessman with rank of an MP/minister looking after "one square mile" of London's financial district.
**
Here's a photo with Mr Sanjay Wadvani at our new 5th floor office at Nagarayan:

Digha Utsav in December

Here is a news item that appears in today's Anandabazar.

I am planning to hold a meeting of DSDA at Digha on Saturday 17th Sep so that we can form the Organising Committee.

Rabindra Tirtha in New Town

Half a dozen or so agencies have applied for against the Expression of Interest. The bid document will be ready by today. I have entrusted one General Manager (Engineering) whole-time exclusively to handle this project.
Here is an article that appeared in The Statesman recently (on 31st Aug 2011):

Digha Beautification

Here is an article that appeared in the press:

Dedicated water supply for New Town, Rajarhat

After a longish meeting with water experts from all wings of the government and elsewhere, I decided to have a dedicated raw water pipeline for the New Town, Rajarhat.
Here is a link to a story:
http://epratidin.in/Details.aspx?id=9755&boxid=3315671
 

Digha Beach Festival in December 9, 2011

I met Tourism Secretary Mr Raghabendra Singh last Tuesday and proposed that we could have a beach festival in October, a water sports festival in December and a Sea Food Festival in January - in and around Digha-Sankarpur-Mandarmoni. We finally agreed to converge all on a week or fortnight starting on December 9, 2011. It is a Friday, a day before full moon. Yesterday, I got a confirmation from the Tourism Department.
I will hold a meeting tomorrow to introduce a theme to Digha Tourism. Bright Blue & Yellow (I am thinking of Van Gogh' ), a logo ('let's go to digha' ) and a signature tune. Let's see.

PMU for HIDCO

In Telegraph, Times of India etc, HIDCO has published a notice inviting Expression of Interest for engagement of a Project Management Unit.
Here is the link:
http://wbhidcoltd.com/notice/pmu.html

Expression of Interest for Rabindra Tirtha Published today

See Times of India, for example.

Convention Centre at New Town, Rajarhat

I met Mr Prasoon Mukherjee of Universal who is a 50% partner of a Company that is going to make a Convention Centre. I was told that work would start on 2nd October 2011. Here is a picture of the proposed centre:

Meeting with Roberto Zagha

I met Mr Roberto Zagha, Country Director of World Bank in India yesterday in Kolkata. We discussed about the possibility of reviving the Secondary Cities Project and also co-financing of the Kolkata Riverfront Development Project. We also talked of looking at Kolkata's rejuvenation anew. I was interested to know that the FAR of New York was 11.4 while we have in Indian cities FARs around 2 or so: thus the cities were "chapati cities", to quote Mr Zagha.

Rabindra Tirtha Announced by Chief Minister

Yesterday, at Writers' Buildings, CM announced that Rabindra Tirtha will be constructed in Rajarhat. I was present when this was done. The day before, I had had an occasion to discuss this project with her. It will be built over 5 acres of land. The land is earmarked. I will hold a meeting on Baise Sraban (8th August) even though it is a holiday.

But I am given only 8 months for this project. How can I achieve this, I wonder.
Helpful suggestions, anybody?

Yokohama & Kolkata?

Yesterday at Delhi, I was informed by the World Bank of the efforts taken by Yokohama in their "open yokohama" effort and turn it to a global city - smart and eco-friendly - from a polluted and decaying city.

We are getting in touch with their International Technical Co-operation Division to see if there could be a collaboration.

Joined HIDCO as CMD today (27th July 11)

HIDCO

Visit to Digha as Chairman DSDA

On 21st July, as the city was witnessing the mass meeting at Brigade, I slipped away to Digha to have a quick glimpse of Digha as Chairman of DSDA.
Viewed above is a pic of Oceana Guest House of SFDC where I stayed

"HIDCO with UD" ? (The Statesman)

Today's Statesman carries a neews brief that can be accessed at:
http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=377007&catid=35
Let us see how the report evolves

Urbanisation Strategy of West Bengal for 12th Plan : Meeting with Member Planning Commission

Mr Arun Maira, Member Planning Commission came to Kolkata today and held a meeting on Urbanisation and Industrialisation aspirations of West Bengal. Mr Manish Gupta, Minister and Mr Samar Ghosh, Chief Secretary were also present.
.
I said that the vision in the state's urbanisation strategy was to make Bengal the Eastern Gateway of India. I said that infrastructure must precede development, that there should be a conscious attempt to over design so that we never lag behind in infrastructure in the future. We needed a State Planning Institute to design and implement infrastructure by plotting demographic evolution. We also needed a State Skill Development Institute to train workers in mechanical tools and machines so that we have skilled manpower to run the cranes and pavers. I said that there should be reliance on PPP. I said that DBOM (Design, Build, Operate and Maintain) should be the key driver to ensure that assets perform for the lifecycle.

Lottery of Kalyani Plots

Today the Cabinet met at 7pm. It approved the decision that lottery for Kalyani plots - 110 in number - will be held in July at Nazrul Mancha, Kolkata.

Nortification of Chairman and Vice-Chsirman of KMDA

Only today Bartamaan Patrika carried a story on who is going to be the new Chairman of KMDA. The link is as follows:

http://bartamanpatrika.com/content/rajya.htm

(You'll have to scroll down the web page so linked to get to the story).

And only today we published the notification stating that Hon'ble Chief Minister will be the Chairman of KMDA. (how untrue press reports turn out to be !). Yesterday, we published the notification that the Mayor of KMC would be the Vice Chairman of KMDA.

For issuing these notifications, I first came across the handwriting and signature of the CM on file. She'd used a green ink.

Brazil Study Tour on Water and Sanitation : Key Take-Aways

Just landed back from Brazil via Doha (in Qatar) at Delhi airport. Waiting for connecting flight of Air India at 1.20pm. Tried to prepone, but Indian Airlines says there are no seats (i believe they are plain non-co-operative).
So I have 3-4 hours to while awat at T3. I was wondering what I learnt during the week-long visit to Brazil:

The picture above is that at a Water Treatment Plant at Sao Paolo. I was struck by the cleanliness of the place and attention to minute details. There is an independent regulator whose inspectors regularly come and countercheck to see that all purity standards are rigorously followed. The PlantAuthorities are given qurterly and annual targets to achieve: these are monitored for improved performance.

In Nittaroi, near Rio de Janeiro, the private service provider was performing so efficiently that the Municipality had given them a concession period of 43 years - almost half a century. They are doing very well, increasing coverage of sewerage and water supply even in slum areas and have actually reduced tariff through efficient management, reduction in water leakage etc.

Brazil has the world's largest fresh water reserves, as per UN (though there are regional inequities). In spite of their water abundance, they are paying great emphsis in efficient performance in water supply and sewerage. They have, after a decade long debate,brought out a comprehensive legislation laying down that all water / sanitation utilities (generation and treatment as well as distribution and collection) would have to subject themselves to regulator's scrutiny. Some regulators are multi-sectoral: ie, the power sector regulator may also deal with water sector.

Sanitation/sewerage has to be treated together..As in India, the sewerage services lag behind water services cooverage. There is an organic link and logical connectivity (recycles water is used to clean streets, for example). Besides, an element of financial cross subsidy also come in.

Brazil has a concept of "social tarrif". This refers to subsidised water charges in slum areas. It is set usually by the service provider in consultation with local slum people to ensure maximum coverage. Bulk water is supplied usually at low prices.

Personally, I realised that like the power sector in India, the water/sanitation sector may also be de-bundled and put under the 'glare' of a regulator to optimise service delivery.
  

Face to face with CM

I was pleasantly surprised to note that the new CM, Ms Mamata Banerjee, recognised me by name when I, along with others of the IAS Association, met her on Friday (the date of swearing in, 20th May) to hand her a bouquet of flowers. It was 8 pm or so when we met her at Writers' Buildings. I remember the occasion when she'd led a delegation to the CEO's Office when I was the Chief Electoral Officer few years ago, demanding error-free rolls. Now, even on the first day when we were there to welcome her, she talked of a certain work by Monday. I could really sense that 'poribartan' had come and was here to stay.
* * *
Saturday the 22nd, I met MIC UD&MA and MIC Fisheries along with departmental officers and handed over introductory books on the departmental works.I was so glad to note that both the MICs were very good and eager to get off to work.

Chairmen of Development Authorities Resign

Asok Bhattacharya (SJDA, KMDA), Nirupam Sen (BDA), Bangsha Gopal Chowdhury (ADDA), Pulin Behari Baskey (MKDA), Ramchandra Dom (SSDA) have all resigned from posts of Chairmen; that of MKDA's resignation letter reached me today.

Shelter for Shelterleaa at "alo" in Howrah

The Supreme Court has asked the States to set up shelters for the pavement dwellers etc. We had a meeting on this last Friday afternoon. I had visited the School for the Visually Handicapped called "Alo" on 30th April with HIT officers. The building was inaugurated in 2008 but is not in use at all. We decided in principle to use it as a Shelter for the Shelterless as per Supreme court's orders. Procedural details will have to be worked out now.

Here's the picture of 'Alo' that I took on my Nokia on Saturday the 30th April 2011: