Urban News

The Hindu 29.08.2009

Rs. 4 crore to mitigate drinking water problems

Staff Reporter

BENEFICIAL MOVE: Minister for Backward Classes Welfare K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran distributing administrative sanction orders to one of the officials for carrying out works to augment drinking water supply in Virudhunagar on Friday. The Collector Sigy Thomas Vaidhyan is seen.

VIRUDHUNAGAR: The State Government has released Rs. 4 crore for mitigating drinking water problems in the district under the Drought Relief Fund. While the seven municipalities will get Rs. 120 lakh, nine town panchayats will get Rs. 50 lakh and Rs. 230 lakh will go for the 11 panchayat unions.

After reviewing the drinking water problems in the district here on Friday, the Minister for Backward Classes, K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran, said that several steps have been taken to streamline drinking water situation through weekly reviews conducted by the district Collector.

Among the important steps were same day power shut down for all areas covering the combined drinking water projects, promptly attending to power failures.

The Tamil Nadu Electricity Board has been asked to provide a dedicated power line for the Pandalkudi and Kalkurichi water pumping stations under combined drinking water project as done for the Manur combined drinking water scheme, he said. The quantum of water supplied through Tamirabarani combined drinking water scheme to the Virudhunagar town has been increased to 23 to 25 lakh litres a day from 16 to 18 lakh litres a day.

Water was being supplied once in five days since June 15 as against the practice of once-in-10-days supply.

The pumping main booster of the Ondipuli water project for the town has been put into use after prolonged period of failure.

Water supply in Srivilliputtur town has been stepped up with four new deep borewells. Ten electric motors used illegally suck water from pipelines were seized.

Additional water supply has been made to Tiruthangal town by setting right the failed mini power pumps.

Similarly, water problems in various villages were set right by promptly attending to technical failures in handpumps and plugging leakages in pipelines. All the nine town panchayats were getting adequate quantum of water.

The district administration has increased water supply to Rajapalayam municipality by pumping water from 20 private wells besides the 16 deep borewells and six open wells in the summer storage facilities of the local body. Owners of 10 more wells have come forward to share their resources for the town after Mr. Ramanchandran intervened.

A proposal for a combined drinking water project for Rajapalayam, Srivilliputtur and 335 villages of Watrap panchayat union and seven town panchayats; another proposal for combined water project for Sattur, Sivakasi and 654 villages of Virudhunagar and Vembakottai panchayat unions and a third project for 474 villages of Aruppukottai, Tiruchuzhi, Narikudi and Kariyapatti panchayat unions based on the water resources of Tamirabarani river have been sent to the State Government, Mr. Ramachandran said.

The Collector, Sigy Thomas Vaidhyan, and officials from various departments participated in the meeting.

The Hindu 29.08.2009

Steep hike in property tax for hostels, mansions

Staff Reporter

CHENNAI: Hostels, mansions, lodges and serviced apartments will soon have to pay more property tax with the Chennai Corporation council on Friday passing a resolution to reclassify them as “Tenant Commercial.”

At present, they are classified as residential properties.

Although these establishments serve as temporary residences, they are being used for commercial purpose and hence the reclassification.

The increase in property tax would be up to three times. However, the civic body does not maintain separate data on all such establishments.

For lodging houses, the Corporation levies a special rate of property tax based on the rent that such facilities charge. “In many places, the mansions, which are supposed to let out rooms on a monthly basis, rent them out on a daily basis, which reduces the Corporation’s revenue,” said a senior official of the civic body.

Serviced apartments, which are becoming popular in the city, pay their property tax under the residential category. Such apartments are preferred by companies, those coming for medical treatment and employees of IT firms.

S.Selvakumari, who has a few service apartments, said with the slowdown in the economy, many companies that use to rent out facilities were demanding a reduction in rent. “Our services do not just include bed and room. The cost of pulses, oils and rice have shot up. We have taken this property on lease. This increase in tax would only add to the burden.”