Urban News

Source : The Hindu Date : 23.06.2009

Motors fitted in water connections to be seized

Staff Reporter

TIRUNELVELI: Informing that petition boxes would be kept in the zonal offices of Tirunelveli Corporation for receiving complaints regarding drinking water supply, Mayor A.L. Subramanian has announced adding that checks would be conducted to seize motors fitted in drinking water connections.

“Besides, the water connection to the erring houses or commercial establishments will be cut off immediately and legal proceedings initiated against them,” Mr. Subramanian informed at the council meeting held here on Monday.

Raising the issue of inadequate and erratic drinking water supply to the residents in various parts of the local body, Melapalayam Zone chairman S.S. Mohamed Maideen said a farmer near Melapalayam was tapping water from the main pipeline for his plantain saplings planted on over 10 acres even as the residents were running from pillar to post for drinking water.

The Assistant Executive Engineer, Melapalayam, Samuel Selvaraj said a police complaint had been given in this connection and the first information report would soon be registered.

To facilitate the filtration and increase the quantity of water being supplied by the infiltration wells, the Mayor asked the officials to initiate steps to heap sand around the wells.

Executive Engineer Narayanan Nair replied that the exercise had been suspended as the contractor identified for heaping the sand around infiltration wells failed to comply with the contract norms. “The contract has been cancelled and the contractor blacklisted. Soon the work will resume,” he assured.

Palayamkottai Zone chairman Suba. Seetharaman, councillor Revathi Ashok wanted the age-old distribution pipelines be replaced without further delay as there were frequent bursts.

The Mayor said finalization of tenders for two major drinking water projects worth Rs. 22.22 crore, for the benefit of wards 8, 9 and 10 and wards 19, 26 and 27, would be done shortly and hence these projects, designed to benefit peripheral areas, could be completed within 12 to 18 months.

“If the drinking water taken in lorries from the corporation reservoirs is sold to commercial establishments, the corporation personnel concerned will be suspended immediately. Similarly, the pumps fitted in the drinking water connections will also be seized and the people concerned will have to face legal action. I appeal to the councillors not to support these erring people,” Mr. Subramanian said.

Even before the council meeting started, a group of residents from Bharani Nagar submitted petition to the Mayor demanding regular supply of drinking water.

Source : The Hindu Date : 23.06.2009

Corporation flays move to shift Siddha units

Staff Reporter

TIRUNELVELI: Flaying the decision of Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha (CCRAS), New Delhi, to “gift” the Survey of Medicinal Plants Unit – Siddha and the Clinical Research Unit – Siddha, both on the premises of Government Siddha Medical College here, to two private institutions, the Tirunelveli Corporation has unanimously resolved to forward memoranda to the State and Central governments urging them to drop the move.

“If the CCRAS enforces its decision forcibly, it will certainly create unrest among the public, students and research scholars of the Siddha College here,” the council noted.

Raising this issue in the council meeting held here on Monday, Palayamkottai Zone chairman Suba. Seetharaman said rare medicinal plants collected from for nearly four decades, particularly from Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Western Ghats, known for its rich medicinal plant wealth, had been kept in the SMP Unit.

“However, the steps taken by the CCRAS, New Delhi to gift away the Survey of Medicinal Plants (SMP) Unit - Siddha and the Clinical Research Unit – Siddha to two private organizations have created serious doubts in the minds of the public. ,” said Mr. Seetharaman, while appealing to Mayor A.L. Subramanian to pass a resolution in this regard.

Accepting Mr. Seetharaman’s submissions, Mr. Subramanian said: “The Tirunelveli Corporation Council unanimously passes the resolution that the CCRAS should immediately give up its move to shift and gift away the siddha units of Government Siddha Medical College here. The council also appeals to the State and Central governments to restrain the officials concerned from gifting away the priceless government properties to private institutions. Otherwise, the CCRAS’s move will certainly result in public unrest here.” Welcoming it, Deputy Mayor K. Muthuramalingam also noted that any move to shift the “treasures of Tirunelveli” from its birthplace would be resisted with all might.

Meanwhile, undergraduate Siddha students, who have been placed under suspension, can be seen sitting in the neighbouring VOC Ground as the college administration has reportedly warned that the suspended students would be arrested if they entered the college premises.

“The post-graduate students withdrew their agitation on Friday after the administration agreed to withdraw the suspension and the indefinite closure of the college. Now, the promise has vanished in thin air,” fumed the suspended students.