The Hindu                       02.03.2013

‘Expedite the Rs.27.50-crore sewage treatment plant work’

On the spot:Sandeep Saxena, Monitoring Officer, Ariyalur district, inspecting the sewage treatment plant work in Ariyalur on Wednesday. P.Senthilkumar, Collector, is in the picture.

Sandeep Saxena, Secretary for Agriculture and Monitoring Officer of the State government, has directed the Tamil Nadu Water and Drainage Board officials to complete the Rs.27.50-crore sewage treatment plant coming up at Kizhapazhur-Parpanancherry at the earliest.

Mr.Saxena, who inspected various works in Ariyalur district on Wednesday, reviewed the performance of the Agriculture Department in particular. He wanted to know whether the targets had been reached with regard to paddy, pulses, oil seeds, cotton, and sugarcane. He also tried to identify how much had been affected by drought.

According to an official release, he studied the condition of cattle and availability of fodder . He enquired on the quantity of milk produced in the district and steps initiated to boost dairy production .

Mr.Saxena took special interest on poultry development and assistance extended by banks for the sector.

He reviewed the public distribution system and Chief Minister’s Expanded Health Insurance scheme.

Mr.Saxena made an in depth study of the underground drainage project going on in Ariyalur and Jayankondam municipalities and their solid waste management practices.

He wanted to know whether the Regional Transport Office coming up here has all the requisite facilities.

Later, he handed over Rs.43.59-lakh worth farm implements to beneficiaries.

Those who took part in the programme included P.Senthilkumar, Collector, and A.Karuppasamy, District Revenue Officer.

The Hindu                01.03.2013

“Rainwater harvesting structure a must”

Special Correspondent

In an attempt to improve the groundwater table in areas under its jurisdiction, the Corporation has decided to disconnect the drinking water connection to those houses that have not incorporated the rainwater harvesting structure on their premises.

"Whenever we receive applications from home owners for building plan approval and also for fixing house tax, our officials will inspect the spot and ensure that there is a provision for installing a rainwater harvesting system in the new structure.

If there is no rainwater harvesting system, no approval will be given nor the tax payable to the Corporation fixed.

For the existing houses, the owners should create the rainwater harvesting structure or else drinking water connection to these houses will be cut," Mayor Vijila Sathyananth announced in the council meeting held here on Thursday.

No deadline set

Though no deadline was set , the Mayor directed officials to issue notice to all houses which had not created the rainwater harvesting system before unplugging the drinking water connection.

Since the district has suffered deficit rainfall for the fourth successive year, the groundwater level in several areas under the Corporation limits has gone down alarmingly.

Another important issue taken up in today’s council meeting was the delay in giving building plan approvals.

Green channel

Condemning the "inordinate delay" even through the ‘Green Channel’, which was introduced with the objective of clearing the applications within 24 hours, Deputy Mayor P. Jaganathan alias Ganesan of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam said the officials should sanction building plan approvals at least within a week if the applications were received under the ‘Green Channel’.

Deputy Mayor Ganesan wanted to know the deadline for giving building plan approvals.

Executive Engineer (Planning), Soundararajan assured him that the applications received under ‘Green Channel’ from Monday (March 4) onwards would be cleared within a week.