Urban News

The Hindu 30.12.2009

Corporation increases drinking water tariff

Special Correspondent

COIMBATORE: After a protracted struggle, the Coimbatore Corporation managed to get the approval of the Council on Tuesday to increase the drinking water tariff. The sanction, however, came with a condition from councillors that the new rates should take effect only when the Corporation made 24-hour supply of water.

The Corporation wanted these to take effect on April 1 next year. But the parties wanted it to wait for more than a year till the 24-hour supply would begin.

The Corporation wanted to step up revenue from water supply to fund the Rs.113-crore Pilloor Phase II drinking water scheme.

Official sources, however, said that since the Council had passed the resolution on the tariff, the increase could be effected after the due consent from the Government was obtained, nothwithstanding the condition from the Councillors.

The Corporation on Tuesday did away with the slab system of tariff for one category of residential connections. A flat rate of Rs.100 a month would have to be paid for consumption up to 15,000 litres.

A tariff of Rs.6 per 1,000 litres would be charged for consumption between 15,001 litres to 20,000 litres.

The tariff for 20,001 litres to 1.5 lakh litres was fixed at Rs.8 per 1,000 litres and at Rs.11 per 1,000 litres for consumption above 1.5 lakh litres (see table for rates for other categories).

The Hindu 30.12.2009

More areas to come under Chennai Corporation

Staff Reporter

CHENNAI: The area under the Chennai Corporation limits is set to expand by over two times, with the State government issuing an order for merger of several neighbouring local bodies with it. It would be 426 sq km after the merger as against 174 sq km now.

Seven municipalities, three town panchayats and 13 panchayat unions in Tiruvallur district and two municipalities, five town panchayats and 12 panchayat unions in Kancheepuram district would merge with the Corporation, according to the government order. The G.O. said that the elected representatives of the local bodies would continue in their posts until 2011 when the next elections would be held. The decision on formation of two new corporations — Chennai-Avadi and Chennai-Tambaram — would be taken later, the government order said.

As regards Chennai Corporation, the formation of new wards in the merged entities would be based on the population. The 155 wards currently in the Chennai Corporation would also be redrawn on this basis.

The Chennai Corporation Commissioner has been given the power to delineate the wards, zones and reclassify existing wards. If need be, he can designate an Officer on Special Duty. A report pertaining to the delineation and reclassification must be submitted to the government within six months.

The municipalities that would be part of the expanded Chennai Corporation are Kathivakkam, Tiruvottiyur, Manali, Madhavaram, Ambattur, Maduravoyal, Valasaravakkam, Alandur and Ullagaram-Puzhudhivakkam.

The town panchayats are Chinna Sekkadu, Puzhal, Porur, Nandambakkam, Meenambakkam, Perungudi, Pallikaranai and Sholinganallur.

The panchayat unions identified are Edayanchavady, Sadayankuppam, Kattapakkam, Theeyampakkam, Mathur, Vada Perumbakkam, Surapet, Kathirvedu, Puthagaram, Nolambur, Karambakkam, Nerkundram, Ramapuram, Mugaliwakkam, Manapakkam, Kottivakkam, Palavakkam, Neelankarai, Injambakkam, Karapakkam, Okkiam Thoraipakkam, Madipakkam, Jaladampet, Semmanchery and Uthandi.

The GO said that the expansion of the Corporation limits was necessitated as the neighbouring local bodies were unable to develop infrastructure in tune with the growth of population.