The Hindu 28.12.2010
Corporation’s assurance on water charges
Staff Reporter
— PHOTO:R.M. RAJARATHINAM.
Hear us out: CPI councillors holding placards demanding civic amenities,
at Corporation Council meeting on Monday.
TIRUCHI: The Corporation came out with an assurance on Monday that
deposit and tax for drinking water connection will not be changed until
the Rs. 221.42 crore revamped water supply scheme takes effect.
The scheme envisaged by the Tamil Nadu Urban Infrastructure Financial
Services Limited entails contribution of Rs. 43.74 crore by the public
and the local body. Of the remaining amount forwarded as financial
assistance by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Rs.
111.25 crore constitutes loan and the rest subsidy.
At an urgent meeting chaired by Mayor S. Sujatha, Corporation
Commissioner T.T. Balsamy spelt out the assurance after opposition
parties – AIADMK, MDMK and DMDK – staged a walkout following a
discussion. The apprehension of AIADMK member Mariam Pitchai and DMDK
member Gerald was that the Corporation, in view of cost escalation of
the project from the earlier planned Rs. 144.86 crore, might force the
public to cough up Rs. 43.74 crore for making its contribution. Citing
the instance of the civic body levying new deposit amount and tax
mid-way through the execution of the underground drainage project,
Council Member Venkatarajan said the assurance from the Corporation
would augur well at this juncture. Just as the meeting was about to
begin, CPI members walked in carrying placards opposing the purported
move by the Corporation to hike the deposit and tax rates.
At the insistence of a majority of members, the Corporation
Commissioner announced annulment of the agreement for solid waste
management it had entered three years ago with the Salem-based
subsidiary of Messrs. Integrated Waste Management and Urban Service
Company, Chennai. When members wondered why the project was in limbo for
three years, Mr. Balsamy explained that the ground work done by the
company at Panjapur had not delivered utility since the four-lane
project had caused the company to look for an alternative site at
Ariyamangalam.
While deciding on maximizing the services of the 200 conservancy
workers who were temporarily recruited on daily wage for 52 days to
attend to the works in Srirangam in connection with Vaikunta Ekadasi,
several members prevailed upon the Corporation to distribute the workers
zone-wise for better upkeep of sanitation. Mr. Balsamy said the matter
would be discussed by the Assistant Commissioners and Zonal
Chairpersons.
Later, at the ordinary meeting, the house adopted 13 resolutions on
matters of education, entertainment, tenders and strengthening of roads.
The Council accorded its nod for a Multiplex with twin A/C theatres in
Ponmalai Zone. A decision on the 14,830 sq. ft. structure was deferred
in an urgent meeting last month.
At the outset, the House paid homage to late CPI(M) leader Pappa
Umanath and DMK member of 24 {+t} {+h} ward Rajathi by observing silence
for a couple of minutes. Members cutting across party lines paid
encomiums to the late CPI(M) leader for her contributions to trade union
movement and independence struggle. The Mayor administered the oath of
untouchability to the members.
