The Hindu     13.11.2014 

Stormy start for Mayor Rajkumar

It was a stormy start for Mayor P. Rajkumar as heated arguments were witnessed during the first urgent council meeting convened after his election. The council met on Wednesday.

The police prevented councillors belonging to the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam from entering the council hall after they insisted that the picture of their party leader M. Karunanidhi also be placed in the hall pointing out to the presence of the portrait of former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.

The police held discussions with DMK councillor Meena Loganathan and others to dissuade them from bringing the picture. However, the attempt failed and a scuffle broke out between the 10 DMK councillors and the police personnel, who were deployed in strength, outside the meeting hall.

They raised slogans against the All India Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Government and the police.

Later, they waited outside the hall and attempted to talk to the Mayor after he came out at the end of the meeting. However, Mr. Rajkumar left quickly.

Councillor V. Ramamoorthy of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), who represents Ward No: 42, staged a walkout alleging that the Corporation officials were not according councillors due respect.

He also called for scrapping the existing system of sanctioning new water connections as it had resulted in a pending list of nearly 10,000 and called for refunding the ‘excess amount’ collected.

Resolutions passed

The ruling party, which has 80 members in the 100-strong council, had little trouble in passing a total of 59 resolutions during the meeting.

The council allotted Rs. 1 crore to Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board for preparing a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for extending the underground drainage to the newly-added areas. It also approved the allocation of Rs. 4.95 lakh for renovating the Ukkadam Tank, which spanned 1.4 km till Karumbukadai.

The funds would be used to strengthen the bunds, erect fencing and a pathway along the banks.

The civic body also resolved to send a proposal for creating a tunnel in Periyakumbai and Kattan Hills for laying pipelines at the cost of Rs. 130 crore under the Pilloor Phase II water supply scheme as part of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.

It also resolved to implement the scheme with Central subsidy and State funding. In the event of the cost escalation, the Corporation would meet the difference.

The council also resolved to take over the 50 to 100 tonne manure generating vermin-compost unit.

Fresh tender

It also planned to renovate it through a fresh tender and to operate the unit.

Further, a resolution was passed deciding to go for DPR to renovate the Sanganoor Canal at a cost of Rs. 395 crore besides another DPR for constructing and maintaining storm water drains.

Several councillors raised issues pertaining to issual of new water connections, storm water drainage and anti-dengue operations.

Deputy Mayor S. Leelavathi Unni, Corporation Commissioner S. Ganesh and other Corporation officials were present.

The Hindu        13.11.2014 

City to get 161 tax payment centres

Come December 1, a total of 161 integrated centres where residents can pay both property and water taxes will come up across the city.

These centres will come up in existing division offices of the Corporation and depot offices of Metrowater.

Tie-up with bank

The facility is the result of an agreement between the two civic agencies and ING Vysya Bank, and is aimed at making the process easy for citizens.

ING Vysya Bank will sponsor manpower at the centres, which will remain open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Payment of property tax can be made by cheque or DD.

Receipts on the spot

Officials said receipts for the payment would be provided at the centres itself.

The existing system of property tax collection has various modes of payment, including facilitation counters in the city’s 15 zones and at Ripon Buildings, walk-in counters at 400 bank branches, door-to-door collection by tax collectors and online payment.

With a target of Rs. 600 crore, the civic body may exceed its property tax collection target this year.

Councillor S.M.K. Mohammad Ali Jinnah said the new centres would help residents in areas that are not near zonal offices.

The Corporation’s online system of property tax collection has been disrupted a number of times because of problems in its electronic data processing cell.

Residents will be able to pay both water and property taxes at the integrated centres that will be open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.