E-Paper
Finally, KMC decides to make use of its wastelands
THE KANPUR Municipal Corporation (KMC) is often accused of not reaching out to what could make it ?rich?. And that too at a time when it desperately needs funds.
THE KANPUR Municipal Corporation (KMC) is often accused of not reaching out to what could make it ‘rich’. And that too at a time when it desperately needs funds.
Several prime lands, which could have earned rich dividends for the KMC, are either lying or going to waste because of unplanned development and lack of initiative on the part of engineers.
But the KMC now plans to use these lands to replenish its dwindling finances. For the first time, KMC bosses have decided to take the help of architects for the proper development of lands under its jurisdiction.
The plan took shape after it was found several prime KMC land was going waste due to improper planning. The panel to help the KMC properly plan and use its lands would be formed by the second week of April, additional municipal commissioner (I) Raghvendra Vikram Singh said.
The architects would help the KMC mint money by constructing shopping complexes, housing colonies and even beautifying parks, he said.
To make a beginning, the panel will help KMC to remodel and construct public toilets.
The exteriors of these beautified toilets will be used as publicity space.
Services of the architects will be taken on project-to-project basis and this help the KMC to make payments to the parties involved in the job. Elaborating on the plan, Singh said, “For example, the architects will be asked to draft a proposal for a shopping complex or a housing colony. Once they do it, the project will be advertised. When parties book space at these projects, the architects will be paid commission from the profit earned.”
The KMC is concerned with the payment issue as on earlier occasions its move to take help of private parties failed due to the corporation’s poor image and inability to pay the consultants on time.
The KMC is expected to invite applications from architects by March 23. At least five architects will be selected to form the panel.
The KMC had earlier tried to utilize some of its lands but poor planning did them in. The Mahabalipuram Housing Scheme did not yield desired result because of poor planning by KMC engineers and the corporation incurred huge loss. Similarly, a shopping complex in Vijaynagar area failed as some shops were allotted to meat shop owners.
However this time, a once-bitten-twice-shy KMC is taking no chances and is trying to learn from its past experiences.
