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Mayor takes stock of city's monsoon preparedness

Tuesday, 07 September 2010 07:23 administrator
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The New Indian Express  07.09.2010

Mayor takes stock of city's monsoon preparedness

Chennai Mayor M Subramanian. (File photo: ENS)

CHENNAI: Mayor M Subramanian on Monday asked all the  departments concerned  to complete their preparedness before October 15 to meet any contingencies during the monsoon season.

At a meeting chaired by the Mayor, at the civic body’s headquarters here, to chalk out strategies to meet emergency situations in case of torrential rain, representatives of more than 30 different government agencies including police, public works department (PWD), Coast Guard, fire and rescue, fisheries, directorate of public health and army  briefed about their preparedness to meet any contingencies during the monsoons slated to begin in the last week of October.

Addressing the representatives, Subramanian asked the departments concerned  to stop allowing road cuts to any contractors from September 15. He also asked the Metro Water department to assure round-the-clock operation of its pumping stations to drain out rainwater.

With the view to cleaning storm water drains and sewerage clogs at the city’s 200-odd notified slums, Chennai Corporation along with State Highways, Metro Water and PWD will launch a mass-cleaning programme from Wednesday and complete it by October 15, Subramanian said.

For its part, Meteorological Department has assured the Corporation with a five-day advance forecast during  the monsoon. To provide an accurate weather forecast for the monsoon, India Meteorological Department’s Long Range Forecast centre at Pune will provide the state government with detailed forecast for October.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 07 September 2010 07:27
 

Park remains closed even after inauguration

Tuesday, 07 September 2010 04:20 administrator
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The Hindu       07.09.2010


Park remains closed even after inauguration

Staff Reporter

It was established at a cost of over

Rs. 15 lakh and declared open by the Deputy Chief Minister

ERODE: The formal inauguration of a park created by the Erode Corporation at Periyar Nagar here on August 26 evoked quite a lot of excitement among the residents.

But their excitement vanished soon as the civic administration preferred to keep the park closed for visitors.

The park, which was established at a cost of over Rs. 15 lakh, was declared open by Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin at a function.

The civic body had created walking track, seating arrangements, play area for the children and various other amenities.

Landscaping and planting of plants were completed a few months ago.

“But the park remains closed even after its inauguration,” the residents point out.

“If opened, we will spend our leisure time in the park. Senior citizens in the colony are taking their early morning walk on the roads now. Many of them will prefer to use the walkers' track in the park, if it is kept open,” the residents say.

When asked, the Corporation officials said that they would soon take steps to open the facility for the residents of the area.

People also suggested that the Corporation could approach business establishments for the proper maintenance of the park.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 07 September 2010 04:21
 

Civic body seeks help for subway at Alandur

Monday, 06 September 2010 11:41 administrator
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The New Indian Express  06.09.2010

Civic body seeks help for subway at Alandur

CHENNAI: To fulfil the long time demand of the people of Adambakkam for a pedestrian subway on Masthan Ghori Street, Alandur Municipality has urged the State government and the Southern Railway to build an underpass on a cost-sharing basis.

Ever since the railway gate (Level Crossing-LC 15) on Masthan Ghori Street in Adambakkam was shut, some years ago, the locals have been demanding a pedestrian subway to cross over to the Alandur side.

Notably, about 2,000 students of AJS Nidhi Higher Secondary School on Ponniamman Koil Street on Alandur side (bang opposite Masthan Ghori Street on Adambakkam side) come from several residential colonies in and around Adambakkam.

After LC 15 was closed (after the construction of a subway at nearby Karuneegar Street in Adambakkam) the students are forced to cover extra distance and use the Karuneegar Street subway to cross over to Alandur.

A sizable number of students, however, risking their lives continue to squeeze themselves through the shut facility to get across to Ponniamman Koil Street.

A Duraivelu, Chairman, Alandur Municipality, told Express a resolution has been passed in the council urging the State Highways Department and Southern Railway to build a pedestrian subway at this point.

“Nidhi school students will especially be benefited by the proposed facility. We hope the government will do this soon,” he said.

Municipal officials said projects such as subways, over bridges or pedestrian underpasses at railway locations are usually funded and implemented by the Highways and Railways.

According to estimates, the construction of a pedestrian subway to link Masthan Ghori and Ponniamman Koil Streets is pegged at Rs 1.56 crore.

Last Updated on Monday, 06 September 2010 11:43
 
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