The Hindu      28.07.2010

Dindigul MLA flays municipality

Staff Reporter

DINDIGUL: Despite sanctioning of funds from the MLA constituency development, several development works at an estimated cost of Rs.75.20 lakh were not executed, owing to the “lethargic attitude” of the municipality, charged Dindigul MLA K. Balabarathi.

Talking to press persons here on Tuesday, she criticised the “inaction” of the municipality.

“I had sanctioned funds from the MLA constituency development fund for 2008-09 for construction of community halls at Savariyarpalayam and Puchinaickenpatti and sanitary complex in 10 {+t} {+h} ward, laying of road and construction drainage canals on Sellandi Amman Temple Street and meditation centre at gasifier crematorium near Nagal Nagar. But the municipality did not start works worth Rs.43.10 lakh.”

She said she had also sanctioned funds for 2009-10 for laying cement road and drainage canal in YMR Patti, MSP Teachers Colony, MDS Colony, asphalt road in 11 {+t} {+h} ward, Anganwadi Centres at Kakkan Nagar and near Municipality, asphalt road on Annamalaiyar School and railway colony tar road.

The municipality said that tenders had been floated for six times. No one took up the contract. But the municipality has the power to cancel the licence of contractors who did not take up the tenders that were floated thrice.

Why no action had been initiated against contractors, she questioned. Administrative sanction was given to many contracts. The work did not commence till date. She would go for an indefinite fast from August 16.

The Hindu      21.07.2010

Gasifier crematorium to be operational soon

Staff Reporter

VISIT:Municipal Chairman R. Natarajan, left, inspecting the gasifier crematorium at Bharathipuram in Dindigul on Tuesday.

DINDIGUL: The gasifier crematorium will be ready within two months. Seventy per cent of the work has been completed. Finishing touches are being given to the burning chamber and other buildings at Bharathipuram near Nagal Nagar (southern part of town). There is an electric crematorium at R.M. Colony.

The project was conceived at an estimated cost of Rs.60 lakh in 2007, but commenced only in 2008.

The work was moving at a snail's pace for long time, owing to technical and administrative reasons.

With sharp escalation of prices of raw materials, the municipality had submitted revised proposals to the government and enhanced project costs.

Now, the total cost of the project was Rs.1.10 crore. While the State Government offered Rs.20 lakh for this project, the municipality shared of Rs.85 lakh and Rs.5 lakh from the MLA constituency development fund.

The crematorium will have a burning chamber, big hall for conducting rituals, office room, prayer hall, security room, six toilets, two bathrooms and spacious parking lot with car shed.

Masonry work was over. Fixing of tiles on the floor of the prayer and ritual halls and on the outer walls of the gas chamber building is under way. Technical workers have been galvanising gas pipelines meant for burning chamber.

After inspecting the work here on Tuesday, Municipal Chairman R. Natarajan said these works would be over within two months and ready for inauguration. A garden will also be created on the crematorium campus. An arch at its entrance will be installed.

Two platforms to place the dead body were constructed in the chamber room. To begin with, one platform will be used. Excess rainwater overflowing from a tank near the crematorium is the biggest hurdle for this project. In rainy season, water flooded the crematorium campus and stagnated, owing to lack of outlet.

“We have overcome this problem by constructing a drainage canal near the compound wall to divert overflowing water from the tank. A small bridge across the main road bordering the crematorium is also ready to divert the water into the main canal on the other side of the road.”