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Biogas cuts power bill of Arcot civic body

Friday, 07 April 2017 05:41
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The Hindu    07.04.2017 

Biogas cuts power bill of Arcot civic body

Clean energy:Collector S.A. Raman inspecting the biogas plant at Arcot Municipality on Thursday.C. VENKATACHALAPATHYC_VENKATACHALAPATHY  

Plant powers 156 street lights

The Arcot Municipality has been saving at least Rs. 2.25 lakh, every month after it started using the power generated by its biogas plant, according to Collector S.A. Raman.

Using the methane produced at the biogas plant in place of diesel for operating a 30 kVA generator, the municipality was powering 156 street lights and 10 other lights. There was uninterrupted power supply for these lights, thereby reducing the use of diesel. The municipality had been saving at least Rs. 75,000 as electricity charges every month, a release said.

The Collector visited the facility on Thursday. The plant was set up in 2013 under the self-sufficiency scheme at a cost of Rs. 44 lakh.

Earlier, the civic body had been removing its vegetable, fruits and meat waste by involving a private agency and paying them Rs. 3 lakh a month. After the biogas plant came into place, the municipality workers were removing the waste and taking it to the plant in the municipal vehicles. This cost only Rs. 1.5 lakh, he said in a press release. Through this, the municipality had been saving Rs. 1.5 lakh a month. It had been saving Rs. 2.25 lakh, including its spending on electricity that amounted to Rs. 75,000, he added. Following the success of the project, the scheme was being implemented at 32 municipalities in the State, he added.

 

New watershed mission in Tiruvannamalai

Friday, 07 April 2017 05:38
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The Hindu       07.04.2017

New watershed mission in Tiruvannamalai

Water conservation:A gabion check dam being constructed across a watercourse in Thumbakkadu, a tribal village, located on the foothills of Jawadu Hills.Special Arrangement  

Collector orders construction of 1,000 gabion check dams

A new watershed mission conceived by Collector Prashant M. Wadnere has been launched in Tiruvannamalai district aimed at giving an impetus to the ground water table once the rain begins.

Mr. Wadnere said that 10,000 gabion check dams with recharge pits would be constructed across water courses in the district. At present, sanction for 1,000 such structures has been given and they would be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs. 9.25 crore.

In each structure, small rough boulders would be stacked (without mortar) into a retaining wall/check dam across the stream/water course, that are dry now. The stacked boulders would be tied using a mesh in order to prevent the structure from getting washed away by the stream. Near each wall a recharge pit would be dug. Every pit will contain a 50-feet-deep bore well.

When it rains the gabion walls would retain water for some time/ slow the course in order to help water to percolate and improve water table. The recharge pits with bore well would play supportive role and directly take water to the depth of 50 feet in order to recharge the water table. Construction of 32 gabion structures is already over. Construction of structures in other identified places is being expedited.

Sources said that mission has been synchronised with Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). Labour force that is estimated to take 40% cost of the project would be drawn from the MGNREGS. Remaining 60% cost would be spent on materials including mesh and boulders, digging bore wells etc.

Mr. Wadnere called upon the people to volunteer and donate their labour in construction of such dams. Those willing to volunteer would be given training in the Collectorate every Saturday. To symbolise the importance of voluntary participation of people in the mission, Mr. Wadnere physically participated in the construction of one such structure in Thumbakkadu, a tribal village, located on the foothills of Jawadu Hills.

In each structure, small rough boulders would be stacked into a retaining wall

Prashant M. Wadnere,

Tiruvannamalai Collector

 

Tiruchi Corporation draws up surplus budget

Friday, 07 April 2017 05:32
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The Hindu     07.04.2017

Tiruchi Corporation draws up surplus budget

Total revenue for the fiscal will be Rs. 402.65 crore

The Tiruchi Corporation Budget for 2017-18 projects a surplus of Rs. 98 lakh.

According to the budget estimates, the total revenue for the fiscal will be Rs. 402.65 crore against the expenditure of Rs. 401.67 crore.

The Corporation has proposed to construct two shopping complexes in the city in an attempt to augment its revenue. It has proposed to construct a shopping mall at Travellers Bungalow on Bharathidasan Road.

A sum ofRs. 20 crore will be spent for the project by availing subsidy under the State Innovation Fund.

The proposal said that there was sufficient space at the complex for constructing a spacious complex.

Since it was located close to the Lawsons Road and Reynolds Road, where a number of residential colonies and commercial complexes were located, the proposed shopping complex is expected to generate good revenue.

The second shopping complex will be built at 7th cross in Thillai Nagar. A sum ofRs. 12 crore will be spent for the project with the grant of State Innovation fund.

The Local Planning Authority had already granted project approval for the shopping complex on August 27, 2015.

N. Ravichandran, Commissioner cum Special Officer, told The Hindu that the shopping complexes were aimed at improving financial position of the Corporation. The Travellers Bungalow complex had 76,230 square feet of space.

However, it was under utilised for so long. The Detailed Project Reports for the shopping complexes would be prepared shortly for getting administrative sanction.

Mr. Ravichandran said a sum of Rs. 12 crore had been earmarked for laying of new roads and formation of footpath during the current fiscal. New roads will be laid to the length of 17.68 km. About Rs. 2 crore will be spent on improving and proper maintenance of public parks at Sanjeevi Nagar, Devar Nagar, Diraviyam Pillai Park, Dr. Renganathan Park, Pookkulam Park, Rengasamy Park and Bhagavathipuram Park.

In addition to this, he said that it has been proposed to develop roads to the length of 37.69 km along with storm water facility by availing funds under the Tamil Nadu Urban Road Infrastructure Development Fund during 2017-18.

Under the General Fund, it was proposed to upgrade various roads to the length of 77 km at an estimate of Rs. 10.50 crore.

On the anvil

Corporation to construct a shopping mall at Travellers Bungalow on Bharathidasan Road

Another shopping complex will be built at 7th cross in Thillai Nagar

Rs. 12 crore has been earmarked for laying of new roads and formation of footpath

 

 
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