JOIN USMulti-level system to address parking problems at Zoo
Presiding over the council, Mayor Sandesh Swamy said that the work would be taken up under Build Operate Own and Transfer (BOOT) system at the existing parking lot opposite to the Zoo. However, 25 per cent provision would be made for commercial purposes in the complex. Apart from the parking space, the project includes subway to the Zoo, besides other minor works.
Following a debate on sharing the revenue, as provision for commercial purposes would also be made, the mayor assured to discuss the issue while awarding the contract.
The Mayor said, it has become inevitable to go for multi-level parking system owing to the increase in number of visitors and their vehicles, aggravated by regular traffic on the particular stretch. The road connects national highway, besides other important roads in the immediate vicinity calling for urgent need to go for hassle free parking system.
According to statistics given by Police Department, in the year 2005 alone 1,00,616 vehicles ferrying tourists to the popular tourist spot had been parked there, followed by 1,23,168 in 2006, 1,02,110 in 2007, 1,43, 201 in 2008 and 1,10,902 in 2009.
Hike in cess
Another important decision that was taken at the council was to hike the existing Solid Waste Management (SWM) cess charged for domestic, commercial buildings, hotels and industries. For domestic sector, it was decided to revise the existing tariff from the current ` 10 to ` 17.50 for the premises measuring less than 1,000 square feet per month.
Likewise for the properties beyond 1,000 sq ft and less than 3,000 sq ft it was decided to increase from ` 30 to ` 60 and from ` 50 to ` 100 for those premises exceeding 3,000 sq ft. For commercial buildings, depending upon the generation of solid waste per month, it was decided to charge ` 100 (previous ` 50) for buildings measuring less than 1,000 sq ft, followed by ` 200 (` 100) between 1,000 sq ft and 5,000 sq ft and ` 400 (` 200) above 5,000 sq ft.
Hoteliers have to cough up ` 600 (previous ` 300) for less than 10,000 sq ft, followed by ` 1,000 (` 500) between 10,000 sq ft and 50,000 sq ft and ` 1,200 (Rs 600) for above 50,000 sq ft. Industries have to pay ` 200 (previous ` 100) for below 1,000 sq ft, followed by ` 400 (` 200) between 1,000 sq ft and 5,000 sq ft and ` 600 (Rs 300) for above 5,000 sq ft.
Earlier, a section of Corporators exhorted for hiking the cess further than the revised rate for commercial and remaining sectors, instead of burdening the common man.
Following this, the proposal for ` 20 was reduced to ` 17.50 in domestic sector, while for the remaining sectors it was decided to add five per cent extra on the revised rate.
MCC Commissioner K S Raykar explained that the civic body is spending ` 27.81 crore per annum on operation and maintenance in the realm, against the meagre ` four crore garnered in the form of revenue. It has overburdened the city corporation, forcing to revise the cess.
Earlier, as soon as the council convened, cutting across party barriers, Corporators T Devaraj, S M Nandakumar, R Sunandakumar and Shantu Nesan trooped into the well of the house demanding development of Jodi Thengina Mara burial grounds in Bannimantap.
The fellow corporators who supported their demand, instead urged the mayor to take up development works of burial grounds irrespective of religions.
Deputy Mayor Pushpalatha Jagannath was also present.