Deccan Chronicle 26.11.2009

Panchayats to get grants for drains

Nov. 25: The town panchayats are all set to alter the face of urban Tamil Nadu by taking up waste management projects and establishing storm water drains on a massive scale. The state government has released Rs 16.05 crore anticipating the grant from the 12th finance commission to facilitate the work this fiscal.

The funds would be routed through the municipal administration and water supply department.

The director of town panchayats has been told to ensure the town panchayats utilised 50 per cent of the grants for solid waste management, 20 per cent for liquid waste management, establishing storm water drains and sewerages and the remaining 30 per cent for road works, creating database and meeting electricity charges.

Meanwhile, the government has sanctioned Rs 5.36 crore including a financial assistance of Rs 4.56 crore received from Nabard for improving the basic infrastructure in 52 town panchayats for constructing sanitary complexes.

About 684 rural roads in 398 town panchayats covering 31 districts would be strengthened at a cost of Rs 113.56 crore. These roads, which totally run for a length of 871.93 km, will help improve rural connectivity.
The works would be executed with an assistance of Rs 91 crore from the Centre and the funds would be released in a phased manner, according to sources. As the amount is pending approval of the Legislature, the expenditure would be met by an advance from the contingency fund.