Civic panel puts off decision on re-appointing agencies

The administration had proposed to re-appoint three of the four agencies that were executing the project. The civic body runs the project — providing free accommodation,food and education free-of-cost to streetchildren — through NGOs. The civic body had rejected applications of the 10 new organisations that had showed interest in executing the project. It had also decided to discontinue services of one of the organisations after receiving complaints about its working.

The ambitious project of providing shelter to streetchildren and bringing them into mainstream by providing them proper training was launched in 2007. As part of the project,four centres were being run in different parts of the city. At some places,the civic body had made arrangements for their night stay too.

As many as 350 streetchildren were benefiting from the initiative at the four centres. The civic body was providing 100 per cent funding to organisations running the centres and was paying Rs 61,651 a month for a group of 20 children.

Increase time limit for filing views on draft DP,city NCP chief urges CM

Citing complexity in understanding the draft Development Plan (DP) of the city,city NCP chief Vandana Chavan on Tuesday urged Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan to increase the time-frame for citizens to file suggestions and objections on the DP to 60 days as against the existing provision of 30 days. In a letter to the Chief Minister,she said the MRTP Act had a provision of 60 day’s time-limit for citizens to file their suggestions and objections on the draft DP but it was changed to 30 days in the amendments made in 2011. “Citizens want time to study and file their views,” said the city NCP chief,adding that the civic body has also been unable to provide existing land use (ELU) maps and survey sheets to citizens. Also,the copy of draft DP and development control rules are not available in marathi language which makes it difficult for citizens to understand,she added.