The Hindu    16.08.2012

Coimbatore wins ‘Best Corporation’ award

Independence Day celebration was memorable in more ways than one for the Coimbatore Corporation officials and the city’s residents as the Corporation won the ‘Best Corporation’ award.

Chief Minister Jayalalithaa presented the award and a cash prize of Rs. 25 lakh to Mayor S.M. Velusamy and Commissioner T.K. Ponnusamy at the Independence Day celebrations held in Chennai.

Mr. Ponnusamy said that the Corporation competed against nine other Corporations in the State, including Chennai and Madurai.

Achievements

The award was in recognition of the achievements the Corporation made in tax collection, education, solid waste management, health etc.

He said that the Corporation had improved its tax collection in the 2011-12 financial year to 89 per cent by adopting a series of measures, including computerisation of data and introduction of e-payment option. Soon after the merger of the 11 local bodies, the Corporation completed computerisation of records within 30 days to enable prompt issue of demands and collection.

Deputy Commissioner S. Sivarasu says that the civic body made 7,070 new property tax assessments during 2011-12, added 8,171 more since April 1, 2012 and that included items that were hitherto not taxed.

The Commissioner said that on the solid waste management front, the Corporation has closed open dump yards through scientific closure method, built transit stations and was in the process of extending the waste management facilities to added areas.

Yet another highlight of the Corporation was e-governance initiatives. The civic body had sent a proposal to the Government of India for e-governance initiatives in all municipalities and urban local bodies in the State. Coimbatore Corporation, if the project is approved, would be the first to have it implemented.