The Hindu 31.07.2012
“Share water or we cannot claim right over inter-State rivers”
Mayor denies charges of AIADMK councillor regarding water project in 3 wards
The Corporation council that met here on Monday witnessed some embarrassing moments after a ruling party councillor raised objections over the urban civic body’s decision to complete work of one of the ongoing major drinking water schemes on an early note.
Raising the issue in the council meeting, member Gomathinayagam of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam told the Mayor that she should have accorded highest priority for completing the work on the drinking water project meant for wards 8, 9 and 10.
“Even as the people sitting on the banks of the Tamirabharani (residents of wards 8, 9 and 10) are indefinitely waiting for the completion of the project, you (the Mayor) are according priority for expediting the (drinking water project) work for wards 19, 26 and 27, all situated far off from the river. While these three wards (19, 26 and 27) are being represented by councillors of other political parties, welfare of the ruling party councillors’ wards are being ignored,” Mr. Gomathinayagam alleged.
A visibly upset Mayor Vijila Sathyananth replied that the work on completing the drinking water scheme for wards 19, 26 and 27 were expedited as it was commenced first and long back even before the work for the remaining three wards was started.
“Since residents of wards 8, 9 and 10 are now getting drinking water supply at least once in four days, people of wards 19, 26 and 27 are getting drinking water supply through lorries once in ten days and hence we decided to commission the project meant for the far-off places first,” she said.
As Mr. Gomathinayagam was not still convinced with the Mayor’s answer and preferred to drag the conversation further, an agitated Mayor said: “If you are not even prepared to share water with the people living within the jurisdiction of the same corporation where you live, then how can we claim our rights over the water of interstate rivers?,” asked Ms. Vijila, putting end to the argument.
“I assure you that drinking water project work for your ward will be completed within a fortnight,” the Mayor assured the councillor.
She thanked the officials, especially Executive Engineer V. Narayanan Nair for having ensured the smooth supply of water to the ground-level sump at Teachers’ Colony, which will be the nodal point in the drinking water scheme for wards 19, 26 and 27.
On his part, Mr. Narayanan Nair assured the council that the technical workforce being used in the Corporation’s drinking water project would shortly be shifted to the second project so that there would be no dearth for trained personnel and hence it would be completed on an early note.
Expressing dissatisfaction over the performance of Akash Associates, which has been entrusted with the task of maintaining streetlights, Congress councillor T.N. Umapathi Sivan and DMK member S. Kamaludeen sat on the floor in front of the Mayor’s seat. Endorsing the protesting councillors’ views, Ms. Vijila said the contract executed between the private firm and the corporation would be valid for one more year. “However, the officials need not process the bills being submitted by Akash Associates till they show visible improvement in the maintenance of streetlights,” she said.
The Mayor also said the ban on plastic should be implemented with more vigour through spot fines and asked the officials to distribute hand-held bill collection gadgets to give receipts for the fine to be slapped on the sellers as well as the consumers.Today’s council meeting resolved in favour of increasing the daily wages of the temporary workers from Rs. 110 a day to Rs. 185.
