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Tamil Nadu News Papers

Corporation to launch Blue Brigade service

Friday, 04 December 2009 01:41
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The Hindu 04.12.2009

Corporation to launch Blue Brigade service

Staff Reporter

It will help detect and resolve problems in water distribution

Photo: P. Goutham

Innovation: Salem Corporation has completed the procurement of equipment for the Blue Brigade service that will attend to water supply issues in the city. —

SALEM: The Salem Corporation has received all the equipment required for running the Blue Brigade service.

This service is going to be launched soon by the civic body in order to detect problems that exist and which might arise in the water distribution network and resolve them quickly, so that the people are not put to needless inconvenience.

The civic body has purchased modern equipment along with a vehicle at a cost of Rs. 10 lakh to detect the leaks in the water supply network and plug them immediately.

The government has provided the total cost of the vehicle as grant.

Grievances

Civic officials said that the service would help the civic body to respond to the public grievances regarding water supply quickly and effectively.

The vehicle has facilities to test water quality and also detect leaks in the water pipeline.

Among the devices that are available on the vehicle are a turbidity meter, PH meter and equipment to test the level of chlorination in the water.

A tool kit is also provided for plugging leaks in the pipelines.

In addition to this, a motor pump and a laptop with Internet connection are also available in the vehicle.

A three-member team that will travel in the vehicle will use the laptop for collecting water charges.

A wireless and a public address system are also fitted in the vehicle.

The team, apart from plugging leaks, will also help prevent incidents of illegal water tapping from the Corporation pipelines, officials said.

Last Updated on Friday, 04 December 2009 01:42
 

High Court ruling on property tax defaulters

Friday, 04 December 2009 01:33
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The Hindu 04.12.2009

High Court ruling on property tax defaulters

Staff Reporter

Distraint proceedings, a condition for criminal prosecution

MADURAI: Municipalities cannot institute criminal proceedings for non payment of property tax without taking any efforts to seize and sell movable properties of tax defaulters, the Madras High Court has ruled.

Dismissing three criminal appeals filed by the Commissioner of Rajapalayam Municipality in Virudhunagar district, Justice G.M. Akbar Ali said criminal prosecution could be launched only if the distraint of movable properties was unfeasible.

The judge pointed out that Rule 30(2) of the Tamil Nadu District Municipalities Rules states that the authorities concerned might prosecute tax defaulters if any distraint or sufficient distraint of the defaulters’ properties was impracticable.

A careful reading of the Section would make it clear that the officials cannot prosecute defaulters by merely recording their statement that distraint proceedings were not feasible without actually taking steps to bring the movable properties for sale, he added.

Bill must be served

To commence distraint proceedings, it was necessary that a bill under Rule 29 should be served on persons from whom the amount was due.

Such a bill should contain statements of the period of tax arrears and description of the property taxed.

A notice of liability incurred in default of payment of such due should also be served on the defaulters.

If the amount was not paid within 15 days from the service of such notice, it could be recovered under a warrant of distraint, the judge said.

These procedures were a condition precedent for launching criminal prosecution.

The criminal law could be set in motion only after the efforts of a Muncipality to recover the tax arrears go in vain, Mr. Justice Ali clarified.

Present appeals

The present appeals were filed by the Municipality Commissioner against the refusal of a Judicial Magistrate at Rajapalayam to initiate criminal action against two individuals and a textile mill for not paying tax arrears of Rs.5,94,677.

The Magistrate had initially taken the three complaints filed by the Municipality on file and also summoned the defaulters.

The cases were dismissed only after examining the defaulters under Section 313 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Last Updated on Friday, 04 December 2009 01:40
 

CDMA flouting service rules

Thursday, 03 December 2009 11:20
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The New Indian Express 03.12.2009

CDMA flouting service rules

C Shivakumar

CHENNAI: The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) is allegedly flouting the State government’s service rules while making appointments to various posts in the organisation, including that of deputy planner.

As per records available with Express, CMDA has violated the rules despite the State government orders and the high court’s direction to the contrary. The observations of an audit report — Annual Accounts of CMDA — highlighted the defects in the appointment and promotion of the then deputy planner R R Kubendran (currently chief planner). The report says that Kubendran, who holds ME (Urban Engineering) degree, did not have the requisite qualification in line with the approved CMDA service regulations, 1980.

As per the norms, the deputy planner should have a master’s degree in town planning or be an associate member in the Institute of Town Planning, India (ITPI). The report said, “any amendment regarding appointment may be effected by the authority only with the previous approval of the government.” Though the authority prescribed ME (Urban Engineering) as one of the qualifications for the post of deputy planner by way of amendment, this qualification was taken away by the government constituted panel while formulating the draft regulation.

“At present ME (Urban Engineering) is not prescribed as a qualification, either in the approved service regulation or in the draft service regulations pending approval with the government,” the report states.

“In the event of refusal by government for the approval of the said amendment, ratification of government would need to be obtained for having promoted to the post of deputy planner based on the amendment approved by the authority,” the report adds.

According to a HC order, “so long as the word ‘prior approval of the government’ is found in Section 124 (1) of the Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act, the CMDA making its own amendment and not getting approval from the government does not make any regulation valid.” Despite the audit observation, government order and court direction, the individual was promoted to the post of deputy planner without masters in town planning, the ITPI points out. This is not the only occasion when the CMDA flouted norms.

The issue has resulted in court battles as well as non-government organisations taking up cudgels against the CMDA. Many outfits like Citizens Care Foundation and Forum for Practising Qualified Post Graduate Town Planners in Tamil Nadu have also sent representations to Chief Minister seeking disciplinary action against the administrative officer in CMDA.

Last Updated on Thursday, 03 December 2009 11:23
 
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