The Hindu         01.02.2011

Firm entrusted to clean garbage in city comes under attack

Making a point: A councillor raising the issue of drinking water shortage at the Salem Corporation Council meeting on Monday. — PHOTO: P. goutham

The private firm SRP with which the Salem Corporation has entrusted the job of cleaning garbage and drainage in 22 wards has come under a severe criticism from councillors cutting across party lines for its tardy work. “A major heath hazard is waiting to happen due to poor sanitation in 22 wards in the city,” they said.

The issue of garbage removal and other issues, including drinking water shortage and the recent fire accident in plastic godown, garnered the lion's share of time at the Council meeting of the Salem Corporation here on Monday in which Mayor J Rekha Priyadarshini presided.

The councillors in one voice criticised the private firm for not clearing the garbage in 22 wards.

They said that heaps of garbage was found in every corner of the street and drainages were not cleaned for days together. “This has led to mosquito proliferation and serious health problems,” said DMK councillor and Asthampatti Zonal chairman Natesan.

He further pointed out that the firm was not employing adequate workers for the purpose. Many councillors, mainly from the 22 wards, echoed the same views and claimed that the private firm was not paying the wages properly to its workers. “Hence the tardy removal of garbage and drainage,” they claimed.

They also charged that Corporation health staff did not monitor the private firm's works properly. They further added that fogging of mosquito repellent should immediately be taken up in the city to contain the mosquito menace. CPI councillor Ramani said that unauthorised plastic godowns and recycling units within city limits should be immediately closed down after proper verification. Many said that water supply had become erratic and need to be streamlined.

Responding to these charges, the Mayor on the tardy performance of the private firm SRP said that she would immediately look into the issue and sort it out immediately.

She also said that she would take steps to provide alternative site for those who had been removed from the banks of Tirumanimutharu in view of its on-going development project.

Corporation Commissioner Dr K S Palanisamy, Deputy Mayor Paneerselvam and others took part in the meeting.

The Hindu         28.01.2011

Corpn. South Zone office to be inaugurated today

After withstanding many political tremors, Coimbatore Corporation's earthquake-resistant South Zone office will be inaugurated on Friday.

Basement

Sources in the Corporation said the basement of the 15,000 sq.ft. building had been made earthquake-resistant through ‘isolation technique', under which six feet beneath the basement, one-and-half feet of river sand had been filled.

Shear walls had also been built to counter the effects of lateral load that would act on a structure. The measures would ensure that the building did not develop cracks after the tremors.

The Corporation had spent around Rs. 2 crore for the construction and that is where the epicentre of the quake is.

Corporation councillors said the civic body had not followed the rules in awarding contract for the construction of the building.

C. Padmanabhan, Councillor, Ward 3, said the Council's permission was sought only after the construction started and by doing so other contractors' participation in the tender process was ruled out. Besides, the work was awarded in phases.

Delay

He wanted to know why the Corporation failed to open the building as soon as it was constructed and had to postpone the inauguration for over one-and-a-half years.

P. Rajkumar, Councillor, Ward 71, wanted to know why the councillors were not told about the reason for the delay whenever they raised the issue on the floor of the Council.