The Hindu               28.05.2013

‘Rs.490 cr. needed for second phase of UG drainage scheme’

Special Correspondent

The Corporation may require an additional amount of Rs. 490 crore to complete the second phase of the underground drainage project, after having spent around Rs. 52 crore for the first phase a few years ago, an estimate prepared by a Bangalore-based consultant firm has said.

The first phase of the underground drainage programme was executed by the Corporation under the National River Water Conservation Programme, after it was found that the Tamirabharani was being increasingly polluted with drainage from houses and commercial establishments everyday.

However, only 20,403 houses and business establishments of the 1, 36, 647 entities in the civic body were covered in the first phase. Four drainage pumping stations and one sewage treatment plant were set up and pipes were laid for about 187 km out of the 963.54 km of road that comes under the Corporation. In other words, only 10 of the 55 wards were fully covered while another 22 wards were partially covered under the plan.

To bring the remaining areas under the underground drainage system, the Corporation planned to start the second phase of the work and roped in Bangalore-based Infra En Consulting Private Limited, to prepare the project report. “As per the report, the Corporation requires Rs. 490 crore to complete the second phase by laying pipelines for about 776.54 km to carry the drainage to Ramaiyanpatti in a scientific manner,” a senior official said.

Since the amount required for implementing the second phase of the programme is huge, the Corporation has decided to approach the Central and the State Governments for funding this infrastructure development scheme, which will help conserve the Tamirabharani from further pollution.

“Moreover, we’ve planned to approach the Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Town (UIDSSMT) so that the scheme can be completed within the stipulated period without any hitches,” the official added.

The Hindu                 24.05.2013

Remove seal on retail outlet: HC

Staff Reporter

: The Madras High Court bench here has directed the Madurai Local Planning Authority (LPA) to remove the seal on a private retail outlet in Madurai.

The LPA had sealed the multi-storied Big Bazaar outlet here for not having obtained approval to construct the building. N.K. Ashok, the deputy manager of Future Value Retail Limited, filed the writ petition at the court stating the building that was sealed was owned by Jeyam Velmurugan Associates. They had obtained approval for the building plan from the Madurai City Municipal Corporation in 2008, the petitioner claimed.

Based on the directions of the court, Collector Anshul Mishra filed a counter-affidavit in which he said that the commissioner of the Madurai City Municipal Corporation had granted permission to construct buildings between 2006 and 2010 ‘beyond the powers delegated to him’.

The commissioner had also signed on behalf of the member-secretary of Madurai Local Planning Authority without any authorisation, he said.

“As per the Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act, 1971 there is a parameter to approve multi-storeyed buildings. As per the Act, there are major violations in this building”, the Collector said justifying the act of sealing the retail outlet.

“The petitioner had not responded to the notices served on them. Therefore, the plan approval was rejected and the petitioner directed to obtain a fresh plan approval”, he further said.

A division bench comprising Justices M.M. Sundresh and R. Mala, on Wednesday, directed the LPA to remove the seal and allow the petitioner to use the building. However, the judges directed the petitioner not to put up additional construction in the building.

However, judges directed the petitioner not to put up additional construction.