The Hindu Business Line : KMC going online for `transparency'

Kolkata April 4 The Kolkata Municipal Corporation wants to bring in transparency in administration with the help of technology, said Mr Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharyya, Mayor, Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC).

To start with, the corporation, as a part of its e-governance programme, has booked a central server, which will be installed at the KMC headquarters by August this year, said Mr Bhattacharyya.

While addressing a seminar organised by the Merchants' Chamber of Commerce, he said that the online service would be fully operational by the end of 2008. Once installed, the departments of KMC would be interconnected and services to citizens were expected to improve, he added.

A few months ago, KMC has introduced e-banking facility for collection of property tax, licence renewal fees and other charges.

The Mayor said the KMC aims to bring in transparency in the administration and has taken up the cause to stop harassment of taxpayers. "With the introduction of new technology the situation is a little better now," he said.

On preservation of heritage sites and buildings in the city, Mr Bhattacharyya said, "The heritage concept unfortunately has not taken proper shape. The idea of conserving heritage sites should go down to the minds of average citizens and not only city managers." The Mayor urged industry houses to assist the municipality in maintenance and preservation of heritage sites.

The KMC has opened a heritage account where it will receive donations from the industry houses for repair and renewal of heritage buildings.

"The industry houses should come forward and adopt heritage sites, parks, footpaths. The industry should maintain these sites, while KMC will provide the technical cooperation," he added.

The corporation also plans to introduce "trench-less" technology in its maintenance and repair work of underground pipelines. Till now, roads had to be cut open causing commuting problems and traffic jams. "The new technology will be more costly but definitely less hazardous for the citizens," Mr Bhattacharyya said.

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KMC going online for `transparency'