The Times of India 15.02.2013
Taxes in mind, civic body says sorry for underground drainage work mess
COIMBATORE: Civic officials have finally woken up to the fact that the slow-mowing underground drainage work
(UGD) has been a major headache for residents. Corporation vehicles,
usually used to relay messages regarding tax payment, have been deployed
on city roads to tell residents that the civic body regrets the mess on
the city roads.
So, we have the spectacle of civic officials
addressing citizens through loudspeakers fitted on corporation vehicles,
mainly autorickshaws, that UGD work is in progress and that the civic
body regrets the inconvenience caused to residents. “Please be careful
while using roads where the work is being carried out,” the message
concludes.
This reach-out initiative started only a few days
ago. So, what is it that prompted civic officials to become courteous to
city residents?
“We are playing these announcements to
acknowledge the co-operation of the city residents to our workers. We
are taking all measures to ensure that the (UGD) work gets completed at
the earliest,” said S Sivarasu, commissioner (in charge), Coimbatore
Municipal Corporation. At the moment there are three vehicles running in
west zone, two in north zone and one each in central, south and east
zone offices.
Drivers have been given flash drives with
pre-recorded announcements that are played when they ply on the city
streets. The corporation officials also added that
sorry-for-the-inconvenience boards will also be erected at UGD worksites
across the city. “It is a basic sign of courtesy to the residents from
our side. The contractors have to erect these signboards and we will ask
them to do so in the coming days,” Sivarasu added.
However,
sources in the corporation told TOI that the special UGD messages were
part of the corporation’s attempt to reach out to residents ahead of the
drive to mop up taxes. The corporation has set a minimum target of 90%
tax collection this year with a set target of Rs 103.5 crore. As of now,
the civic body has collected over Rs 67 crore from the residents. Last
year, Coimbatore Municipal Corporation collected 87% of the taxes due, which was the highest among urban local bodies in Tamil Nadu.
The UGD work began as part of the first phase of JnNURM projects in the
city. The works are being carried out in about 340 kms in the city.
Though maintenance works have been carried out in about 184 km where the
pipes have been laid and chambers constructed, the corporation is
facing a funds crunch and has sought additional resources to the tune of
Rs 86 crore from the state government to complete the work.
Residents agree that a proper underground drainage network is a
necessity for a bustling city like Coimbatore but they resent the
inconvenience on the city streets as they have been dug up for laying
the pipelines. Apart from incidents of pedestrians and two wheeler
riders falling into pits, two labourers digging the trenches were buried
alive near Suguna Nagar in Kavundampalayam on March 27, 2012.
(UGD) has been a major headache for residents. Corporation vehicles,
usually used to relay messages regarding tax payment, have been deployed
on city roads to tell residents that the civic body regrets the mess on
the city roads.
So, we have the spectacle of civic officials
addressing citizens through loudspeakers fitted on corporation vehicles,
mainly autorickshaws, that UGD work is in progress and that the civic
body regrets the inconvenience caused to residents. “Please be careful
while using roads where the work is being carried out,” the message
concludes.
This reach-out initiative started only a few days
ago. So, what is it that prompted civic officials to become courteous to
city residents?
“We are playing these announcements to
acknowledge the co-operation of the city residents to our workers. We
are taking all measures to ensure that the (UGD) work gets completed at
the earliest,” said S Sivarasu, commissioner (in charge), Coimbatore
Municipal Corporation. At the moment there are three vehicles running in
west zone, two in north zone and one each in central, south and east
zone offices.
Drivers have been given flash drives with
pre-recorded announcements that are played when they ply on the city
streets. The corporation officials also added that
sorry-for-the-inconvenience boards will also be erected at UGD worksites
across the city. “It is a basic sign of courtesy to the residents from
our side. The contractors have to erect these signboards and we will ask
them to do so in the coming days,” Sivarasu added.
However,
sources in the corporation told TOI that the special UGD messages were
part of the corporation’s attempt to reach out to residents ahead of the
drive to mop up taxes. The corporation has set a minimum target of 90%
tax collection this year with a set target of Rs 103.5 crore. As of now,
the civic body has collected over Rs 67 crore from the residents. Last
year, Coimbatore Municipal Corporation collected 87% of the taxes due, which was the highest among urban local bodies in Tamil Nadu.
The UGD work began as part of the first phase of JnNURM projects in the
city. The works are being carried out in about 340 kms in the city.
Though maintenance works have been carried out in about 184 km where the
pipes have been laid and chambers constructed, the corporation is
facing a funds crunch and has sought additional resources to the tune of
Rs 86 crore from the state government to complete the work.
Residents agree that a proper underground drainage network is a
necessity for a bustling city like Coimbatore but they resent the
inconvenience on the city streets as they have been dug up for laying
the pipelines. Apart from incidents of pedestrians and two wheeler
riders falling into pits, two labourers digging the trenches were buried
alive near Suguna Nagar in Kavundampalayam on March 27, 2012.