The Times of India                       13.03.2013 

Mayor assesses drinking water crisis in suburbs

MADURAI: Corporation commissioner, R Nanthagopal and mayor V V RajanChellappa visited the suburban areas in the city that were annexed with the Madurai corporation to assess the drinking water shortage and evolve a mechanism to address the water crisis. They inspected wards 23 in Vilankudi, 28 in Uthankudi and 95 to 99 in Tiruparankundram area.

Protests over drinking water crisis were reported in the annexed areas and councillors from these wards in many council meetings pointed out the lack of amenities. The transition of administration from panchayats and town panchayats to corporation after these areas were annexed has caused administrative problems and the councillors had pointed out that the corporation should pay special attention to the annexed areas.

In wake of their repeated appeals, the commissioner and mayor inspected the wards in the annexed areas to assess the water crisis in the region. At ward 28, the commissioner ordered drinking water supply to be rectified in the area through overhead tanks. He also inspected the attendance register in the ward office and the operation of the overhead tank.

Later, they inspected ward 23, another annexed area and held a meeting with the local officials about the drinking water issue in the region. The commissioner ordered the ward officials to sink borewells and establish plastic water tanks in the area to supply water to the residents.

In the same way, a meeting was held with all the ward councillors of wards 95 to 99 in Tiruparankundram to discuss the drinking water scenario. The ward councillors suggested 25 places in the area for sinking borewells and the commissioner ordered the officials to take immediate measures to sink borewells as per the requirement.

The team later inspected the construction of an omni bus terminal near Mattuthavani and instructed the officials to complete the construction work at the earliest. The team also instructed the officials to provide proper toilet and drinking water facilities in the terminal. A battery of officials from the city corporation accompanied the mayor and commissioner during their visit.