The Times of India              31.01.2014

Corporation to pay Rs 4.75 lakh more to firm for plan to rejuvenate 8 water bodies

COIMBATORE: The city municipal corporation has passed a resolution to pay an additional 4.75 lakh to the private consultants involved in preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the rejuvenation of eight water bodies under the corporation's control. The civic body had earlier paid a whopping amount of Rs40lakh to a Bangalore based consultancy firm to prepare the detailed project report for the lake rejuvenation project. However, the city corporation was unable to get the project sanctioned from the centre under the JNNURM scheme.

The civic body was instructed to rework the project report and ensure that it adheres to the National Lake Conservation Policy guidelines. The project report was reworked and the civic body will now pay an additional amount of Rs 4.75lakh to the consultants. The corporation had taken over eight water bodies from the Public Works Department in 2010 but failed to take steps to maintain the lakes.

"The corporation should ensure proper rehabilitation of the people living in encroachments along the banks of some of the lakes," said Venthamarai Balu, AIADNK councillor at the meeting.

Mayor SM Velusamy said that the corporation would ensure that those residing along the banks of the lakes will be properly rehabilitated before they commence the rejuvenation project.