RMC :: Rajkot Municipal Corporation

Infrastructure

Infrastructure Services Rajkot Municipal Corporation being a local government is responsible for providing basic infrastructure services including water supply, drainage, roads, street lights, waste management, fire brigade, slum management, Urban Town Planning, preventive health-care, public health, regulation of land use, planning for economic and social development and parks and library services.

1. Water Supply

Rajkot city with the population of 1 million plus has present water demand of 135 MLD. This is supplied through 122000 trap connections, 2100 stand posts and 550 tankers. Rajkot Municipal corporation is making highest efforts to make water available for supply in city. Presently it is supplying 110 MLD of water which is 90 MLD during scarcity period. RMC is draws water from various surface reservoir viz. Nyari-I, Nyari-II, Aji-III, Bhadar, Lalpari and Randarda lake. This year due to scarcity water is drawn from various borewells drilled in Wankaner region.

There are 4 filteration plants viz. Ribda, Aji, Nyari and Ghanteshwar with total filteration capacity of 110 MLD. The water supply distribution system is divided into 4 zones viz. Jubilee, Gurukul, Nyari and Aji. RMC charges annually and bills are served category wise. The system of water charge bills is computerized and looked after by tax officer.

2. Sewerage System

The Rajkot city under-ground drainage project was framed in 1981 and was accepted by World Bank. The project was delayed due to difficulties in excavation and other contractual problems. Phase-I is completed in all respect and 80,000 connections have been released so far. Sewerage treatment plant with 44.5 MLD capacity and 7 pumping stations are under operation.

The existing drainage network consists of 250 kms long network of collective system, 7000 number of manholes and 7 intermediate pumping stations. The Phase-I project covers only 60 Sq. Kms. The population covered is 60% of the city.

omputerized and looked after by tax officer.

3. Solid Waste Management and Health components

The responsibility of solid waste management in the city lies with health department of Rajkot Municipal Corporation under the supervision of Medical Officer of Health and attempt is also made to start a separate solid waste management department under the supervision of Environment Engineer.

The total waste generated in the city is approximately 500 Metric Tonnes per day. Rajkot Municipal Corporation does not have any facility for processing the solid waste. It has two landfill sites viz. Sokhada having an area 11 acres of land, 12 kms away from the city and Manda dungar 2.5 acres, 7 kms away from the city. Both the land fill sites are about to take fill fully and RMC has already put forward a proposal for new landfill site with Government of Gujarat for 40 acres of another landfill site near Nakrawadi, 15 kms away from the city.

Privatisation is introduced in the primary collection (sweeping) and secondary collection activities of the Corporation. The work involves collection of Solid Waste from all the collection sites and transporting it to the waste disposal site.

Twelve out of the twenty-three wards have been privatised so far for primary collection, transporation and disposal. The percentage participation of the private sector is 70.

Contractors use big trucks while municipality uses smaller vehicles thus increasing the efficiency. To avoid the system of big vehicles going outside the city frequently carrying full quantity of solid waste now it is planned to adopt a system of garbage transfer from smaller vehicles to big vehicles. One garbage transfer station is already constructed and will be in operation very soon. Second garbage station is at construction stage.

The Corporation runs 4 dispensaries and 6 urban family welfare centers. There are three ayurvedic dispensaries which are run by NGO's on behalf of RMC. Besides these there 3 mobile dispensaries are run by NGO under supervision of RMC.

4. Street Lights

Rajkot Municipal Corporation provides street lighting facilities. There are 25,000 tube lights, 2700 sodium vapour lamps and 4000 mercury lamps. The main intersections have been provided with high mast lamps. In some of the wards the maintenance work of street lights has been contracted out.

5. Housing Schemes

The city is affected by wave of rapid Industrialization and urbanization and many people from surrounding region started coming to Rajkot for employment & education increasing the population resulting in high growth rate of 48% during last decades.

The substantial increase in the city's population made city stretch in every direction without planned layout. Many of the public open spaces & river banks are occupied by poor quality dwellings of migrants resulting in the growth of more slums & squatter settlements.

To manage the problem of housing for urban poor, Rajkot Municipal Corporation has under taken projects involving construction of houses, innovative solution for funding, community mobilization etc. leading to sustainable & affordable solution, keeping in view that community needs affordable housing with proper sanitary conditions - not so that poor people can move in, but so that people already living & working here don't have to move out of the city.

For the economically backward class of people low cost housing schemes have been undertaken by Rajkot Municipal Corporation at an affordable cost and a monthly repayment scheme.

Two housing schemes have been completed so far with the financial help of HUDCO involving construction 3012 units in 1998 & 960 units is 2001. For the second housing scheme ( rehabilitation of slums at Dharmnagar ) RMC has received HUDCO Award of Rs.45,000 under low cost housing competition (Urban) 2001-2002. The third scheme is at execution stage for construction of 856 units.

World Bank & HUDCO assistance has encouraged RMC to develop human settlement projects that offer sustainable development for urban poor for providing practical & imaginative solution to current housing problem.

6. Slum Development Programme

The population has grown by leaps and bounds and the corresponding provision of housing facilities has not kept abreast. Shortage of housing facilities has contributed to the emergence of slums. At present there are 74 (64 recognised + 10 unrecognised) slum localities with an approximately population of approx. 2,00,000 inside the city Municipal limits.

The substantial increase in the city's population after independence made the city stretch in every direction without a planned layout. The city started experiencing ribbon development along the transportation corridors with poor quality dwellings. Many of the public open spaces and river banks were occupied by migrants. A large number of huts were erected without any supporting infrastructural facilities. Establishment of industries in some areas fostered the growth of many more slums and squatter houses in their vicinity. In spite of many physical developmental schemes undertaken by the government, the slums became an unavoidable part of the city. Thus, the layout of Rajkot, which was well planned in the grid-iron pattern with some open spaces as lungs and a river bank water-front, started decaying with the emergence of slums. Presence of squatter settlements made the city areas over-crowded, polluted the environment and deteriorated the standards of living of the people.

The slums in Rajkot are experiencing a faster growth rate than that of the city and many times that of the provision of facilities. There were 24 slums with 4927 households in Rajkot in 1972-73. At present, there are 74 slums with 28,000 households. This indicates an increase of 468 per cent in slum population in just twenty-five years.

The population in the slums varies from one locality to another.

Religion and caste play an important role in the social structure of the Rajkot slums. This is normal from the nomenclature itself. Certain slum pockets are known by the caste of its inhabitants. The majority (almost 90 per cent) of the slum dwellers are Hindus, the remaining being Muslims & Christians.

In Rajkot slums, children below school going age form 8.91 per cent and older children (above 6 years) form 3.67 per cent of the total population. The age group 5-17 pre-dominantly consist of school going children and account for 22.7 per cent of the total population. Primary and secondary education is free of cost. Rajkot Municipal Corporation runs 95 schools with Nagar Prathmik Sikshan Samiti. Most of these schools are situated nearby slum areas so that the children from slum area can get the benefit. Adult education programmes are being arranged under the UBS project through NGOs.

Many government schemes like "Suvarna Jayanti Rojgar Yojana (SJSRY)", training centers for ladies, etc. are implemented by Rajkot Municipal Corporation funded by Municipal Finance Board.

Almost all the slums are provided with basic infrastructure facilities like water supply, drainage, street lights etc. as and when the funds are received under National Slum Development Programme.

1. Long Term Water Supply Scheme

The city of Rajkot lies in semi-arid region. The rainfall is low and scanty, the average being 500 mm. For the last 3 years, the rainfall is even less than average and the city is dependent upon the ground water form the bore wells drilled in the Wakaner region, 80 kms away from the city. As there are no permanent surface water sources nearby the city, the only permanent source is to avail the water from Sardar Sarovar Project. For this a Maliya Branch Canal Project is planned, which is under progress. In this project the Narmada Water from Sardar Soravar will reach through Saurashtra main canal upto Maliya and from Maliya to Hadala through canal and from Hadala to Rajkot by pipeline.

After the completion of Sardar Sarovar project, sufficient quantity of water will be available, which will help to solve the water problem of the Rajkot city a great extent.

8.5 million people of Saurashtra region will get water for domestic use and 2196 million sqmts land will get water for irrigation after the completion of Sardar Sarovar Project

Sardar Sarovar Project is a terminal dam on River Narmada. Through this Dam, Gujarat and Rajasthan have proposed to utilize their share of allocated water. An annual irrigation of 18.65 lakhs ha and hydel power generation of 1450 MW are proposed through SSP.

1. Under Ground Drainage Scheme (Phase-4)

During June 1998, three Muncipalties viz. Raiya, Nana Mava & Mavdi had been merged. These areas are lacking of planned drainage / gutter network. It is proposed to execute underground drainage Phase-4 to cover 15 Sq. Kms. of the newly merged areas. The estimated cost of the total project is Rs.55 millions. The tendering procedure had been already completed.

2. EWS Awas Scheme

To facilitate below poverty-line urban poors, RMC propose to construct 860 EWS housing units under VAMBAY Scheme. The project is at the tender stage.

Rajkot Municipal Corporation is a public body statue under the BPMC Act, 1949. As per BPMC act under section 63, RMC has to perform certain obligatory functions, which are related to the public health, safety and environment. To provide efficient and effective urban infrastructure services to people, RMC has decided to involve private sector in delivery, operation and maintenance of urban services. In order to cut over-head costs and provide service efficiently through committed and efficient NGOs a number of services have been handed over to NGOs. They are providing these services with the help of maintenance-grants, which are much smaller than the actual expenditure in case the RMC performs the same activities directly. These services include management of crematoria, planetarium, science center, libraries and dispensaries. The other categories of service, which have been privatized, are those for which management contracts have been given to professional contractors. These services include maintenan ce of parks & gardens, amusement park, transportation and disposal of solid waste, maintenance of streetlights, security at crucial installations. Some of the services privatized as follow:

Operation and maintenance of Water supply distribution network

To supply water to the citizens of the Rajkot, RMC has its own source as well as RMC buys water in bulk from the Irrigation Department of Gujarat. RMC receives 50 mld from Bhadar scheme and 25 mld from Aji scheme in normal case. At present RMC also receives water in bulk from Gujarat Water Supply and Sewerage Board (GWSSB) through pipeline. After giving treatment, water is supplied through distribution network. To ensure efficient water supply to each and every citizen is the prime motto of RMC. So RMC has involved private sector in maintenance of water distribution system through service contract.

The entire city is divided into 23 wards. Out of 23 wards, in 20 wards service contract is given to the different contractors through competitive negotiation. RMC has prepared its own Schedule of Rates for the water supply. Contractor has to quote percentage rate above or below to carry out the work. The contract duration is only one year. Under this arrangement the responsibility of capital as well as working investment lies with RMC.

Operation of Water Treatment Plant

Recently RMC has privatized the operation of Ribda water treatment plant. Previous the operation and maintenance of the plant is carried out by the RMC. In normal case when RMC draws water from Bhadar dam, to operate and maintain the filter plant.

Operation of drainage pumping stations

At present, sewage is conveys to treatment plant through under ground pipe network with the help of pumping. There are seven pumping stations are located in different area to pump the sewage. Out of seven pumping station, operation and maintenance of six pumping station is given to the private contractor, and remaining is operated through RMC employee. The maintenance of six sewerage pumping station is given under service contract by calling for tenders on yearly basis. Regarding privatized six pumping station, RMC�s responsibility is limited to the payment of electric bill and replacement of major parts. At each pumping station the contractor has to provide one electrician and one helper per shift. Monitoring and regulatory supervision of contractor�s work is carried out by the Assistant engineer and Deputy executive engineer. Total cost incurred in operating and maintaining the six pumping station is fixed on shift basis.

Privatisation of complaint sale of Drainage department

Recently, RMC has taken further step in involvement of private sector in delivery of urban services. The complaint sale of drainage department is privatized by RMC. For ward no. two to eight, Responding and redressal to complaint is given to private contractor. As per contract, the contractor has to look after the complaint regarding the drainage services in ward no. 2 to 8.

Solid Waste Management

As per the BPMC act, 1949 cleansing and scavenging is the obligatory function that is to be performing by RMC. So it is difficult to involve private sector in cleansing and scavenging of public streets. But streets belongs to private society can be privatized. So RMC has started to involve community based organization and society in solid waste management. To motivate the society holders to participate in solid waste management, RMC has started to give incentive grants to the society for solid waste management within society. Internal streets sweeping and primary collection of solid waste within society is carried out by the society it self. Then collected waste transferred to the land fill site either by conservancy department or by private contractor.

At presents, RMC gives monthly incentive grants to twenty-five societies. The amount of grants depends upon the area of streets belongs to the society. RMC gives Rs. 1000/- per 30,000 sqfts. Total amount spent as incentive grants to the society is Rs. 37200/- per month. By giving such incentive grants to society RMC saves Rs. 3000/- per 30,000 sqfts.

Also RMC has involved private contractor in secondary operation i.e. transfer of solid waste from the predefined collection points to the landfill site. Earlier contractual amount was fixed on total weight of solid waste transferred per trip. But it was found that, instead of transferring solid waste, construction debris and heavy materials was most favorable item to transfer under the contract. Also malpractice was found in weightage of solid waste. Also during vigilant checking it was found that actual net weight of solid waste transfer is less then by on an average 300 to 350 kg per trip. So RMC has decided to terminate the contract and gives fresh co0ntracts on point basis. Under this arrangements nos. of point are fixed in all wards from where the contractor has to collect the waste and transfer to the disposal site. At present in 11 wards in old RMC and three wards of newly merged area, the private contractors carry out secondary waste. In new merged area the private contractor also carries out p rimary collection collection of solid.

Maintenance of Parks and Gardenst

RMC also develops and maintains a large no. of parks and gardens in a city. RMC has started to involve private contractor in maintenance of parks and gardens in 1991-92.

At present there are 30 parks and gardens covering an area of 1,97000 sqmt. located at different place within a city. Maintenance contract is given for area ranging from 2290 sqmt. To 24500 sqmt. Tenders are invited and maintenance contract is given on fixed amount per sqmt. And contract is given for one year only. For the maintenance of gardens and parks a rate of Rs. 12.80 per sqmt. per year has been fixed. The works given to private contractors includes lawn moving, top dressing, cutting hedges and growing plants.