The Hindu 26.12.2013

Shifting of Corpn. offices begins

Workers shifting the documents to the Corporation’s temporary office in Thongum Poonga in Salem on Wednesday.— PHOTO: P. GOUTHAM

With work on to demolish the existing structure to pave the way for the construction of a new building for the City Municipal Corporation at an outlay of Rs. 7 crore soon, shifting of departments from the present building to Thongum Poonga began here on Wednesday.

Four special teams have been formed by Corporation Commissioner M. Ashokan to expedite the entire process of relocating the departments to Thongum Poonga without causing any damage to the records or properties.

The team members will be held responsible if any files or documents are lost during the shifting process. Officials said that sections including Engineering, Survey, Records, Health, Revenue, Public Relations Office, Town Planning, Office of Mayor, Deputy Mayor and others would be shifted within 15 days and demolition of the existing structure would begin after Pongal.

Thereafter, the Corporation would function in full-fledged manner in Thongum Poonga, they added.

The demolition and clearing of debris would be carried out for a month before the construction of three-storeyed building at a sprawling 1,25,150 sq.ft area was expected to begin in March and completed in two years.

The last council meeting in the present council hall is expected to be held on December 31.