Tamil Nadu News Papers

Singapore offers to share economic expertise

Thursday, 26 November 2009 01:51

The Hindu 26.11.2009

Singapore offers to share economic expertise

P. S. Suryanarayana

SINGAPORE: Singapore has offered to share its expertise with Tamil Nadu and other Indian states for possible collaboration in sectors such as water management, financial services and aerospace industry.

This was indicated by Singapore’s Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry S. Iswaran, who held talks with Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin here on Wednesday. Mr. Iswaran said: “We have been well acquainted for the last several years now. And, more recently, I heard about his thoughts on the Cooum: wanting to clean it. I had [then] invited him to come and see what we have done in Singapore, so that we [could] share our experience. And, to the extent that is relevant for the context of Chennai, he can adapt it. In general, Singapore’s experience in urban planning and development is something that we will be happy to share. We have several companies that have capabilities in this case. But the important thing is to find areas of mutual interest which will then create the opportunity to build some collaboration.”

Singaporean companies like “Ascendas and the Port of Singapore Authority have already got a good footprint in Tamil Nadu.”

Noting that Tamil Nadu “is also growing as a manufacturing hub,” Mr. Iswaran said, “that creates opportunities for both sides: for companies from Singapore to invest in Tamil Nadu, but also for collaboration on both sides to harness on some of Singapore’s capabilities.”

A range of possibilities was becoming evident now, he added.

About Singapore’s “regular discussions with the Indian states,” he said their “interests vary: urban development, business contacts and industrial parks.” parts.”

Last Updated on Thursday, 26 November 2009 01:55

Foundation laid for 160-cr sewer project

Wednesday, 25 November 2009 12:26

The New Indian Express 25.11.2009

Foundation laid for 160-cr sewer project

Express News Service

Tambaram MLA SR Raja at the Bhoomi Pooja function for the underground drainage system, in Tambaram on Tuesday.

CHENNAI: The long-time dream of residents for an underground drainage system in Tambaram got a step closer to reality on Tuesday with the laying of the foundation stone by Tambaram MLA SR Raja and municipal chairman E Mani.

Being implemented at a total cost of Rs160 crore under assistance from the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) fund, the drainage plan is scheduled to be completed in the next 24 months, benefiting 25,000 households. The Centre is providing a grant of Rs 64 crore under JNNURM, which is 40 per cent of the total cost and the State government is extending interest-free loan of Rs 16 crore, which constitutes 10 per cent of the cost.

The rest is to be equally shared by Tambaram Municipality (Rs 40 crore) and the Municipal Infrastructure Development Fund (Rs 40 crore).

N S Prema, Commissioner, Tambaram Municipality, said the project would be executed in three phases. Under the first phase covering East Tambaram, 85.47 km long sewer lines will be laid with six pumping and lift stations. In the next phase, work would be completed in West Tambaram that would have sewer pipes for 90.63 km besides six pumping and lift stations. In the final phase, treatment plants would be set up. For West Tambaram, the plant would come up on Darkas Road on a 4.5 acre plot and near Tiruvancheri lake for East Tambaram on a 15 acre site.

Bhoomi pooja and foundation stone laying function was held to mark the start of work for phase one. Senior government officials and local residents participated.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 25 November 2009 12:32

Cooum remains an eyesore in city

Wednesday, 25 November 2009 06:33

Deccan Chronicle 25.11.2009

Cooum remains an eyesore in city

November 25th, 2009

By Our Correspondent

Tags: Cooum, pollution, stench

Chennai
Nov. 24: Forty years have gone by since the first DMK chief minister, C.N. Annadurai, conceived an idea to clean up the Cooum, but the stench from the polluted river continues to make life difficult to this day. In 1967, during Annadurai’s regime, a clean-up project was launched. In 1973, chief minister M. Karunanidhi launched pleasure boat services, in 1976 P. Sivalingam Committee recommended a Rs 22 crore project to improve Chennai’s waterways, in 1991, consultancy firm Seven Trent was commissioned to suggest ways to improve the waterways, in 1994, a study by Mott MacDonald proposed projects worth Rs 34.8 crore for improving the Cooum, in 1998, Rs 19 crore was earmarked for improving the quality of Cooum water.

Finally, in 2000, Chennai City River Conservation Project was launched with an outlay of Rs 720 crore and in 2008, the government said World Bank help would be sought for the purpose. It was said the then PWD minister Durai Murugan and Mr Stalin called on Sai Baba to ask him to donate funds for cleaning up the Cooum.

But all these efforts have found space only on paper and podium, say environmentalists. Mr C.S. Kuppuraj, retired engineer, PWD, said the hutments on Cooum’s banks should be removed first. The government must plug sewage inlets, says Mr S.M. Arasu, a PWD retiree.

But if Mr Stalin’s trip to Singapore, ostensibly to study how to rejuvenate the Cooum, is successful and there is political will, then from being an eyesore, the Cooum could well be changed into a lifeline of the bourgeoning metro.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 25 November 2009 06:38

More Articles...