The Hindu 28.12.2010
Corporation's assurance on water charges
Hear us out: CPI councillors holding placards demanding civic amenities, at Corporation Council meeting on Monday.
TIRUCHI: The Corporation came out with an assurance on Monday that deposit and tax for drinking water connection will not be changed until the Rs. 221.42 crore revamped water supply scheme takes effect.
The scheme envisaged by the Tamil Nadu Urban Infrastructure Financial Services Limited entails contribution of Rs. 43.74 crore by the public and the local body. Of the remaining amount forwarded as financial assistance by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Rs. 111.25 crore constitutes loan and the rest subsidy.
At an urgent meeting chaired by Mayor S. Sujatha, Corporation Commissioner T.T. Balsamy spelt out the assurance after opposition parties - AIADMK, MDMK and DMDK - staged a walkout following a discussion. The apprehension of AIADMK member Mariam Pitchai and DMDK member Gerald was that the Corporation, in view of cost escalation of the project from the earlier planned Rs. 144.86 crore, might force the public to cough up Rs. 43.74 crore for making its contribution. Citing the instance of the civic body levying new deposit amount and tax mid-way through the execution of the underground drainage project, Council Member Venkatarajan said the assurance from the Corporation would augur well at this juncture. Just as the meeting was about to begin, CPI members walked in carrying placards opposing the purported move by the Corporation to hike the deposit and tax rates.
At the insistence of a majority of members, the Corporation Commissioner announced annulment of the agreement for solid waste management it had entered three years ago with the Salem-based subsidiary of Messrs. Integrated Waste Management and Urban Service Company, Chennai. When members wondered why the project was in limbo for three years, Mr. Balsamy explained that the ground work done by the company at Panjapur had not delivered utility since the four-lane project had caused the company to look for an alternative site at Ariyamangalam.
While deciding on maximizing the services of the 200 conservancy workers who were temporarily recruited on daily wage for 52 days to attend to the works in Srirangam in connection with Vaikunta Ekadasi, several members prevailed upon the Corporation to distribute the workers zone-wise for better upkeep of sanitation. Mr. Balsamy said the matter would be discussed by the Assistant Commissioners and Zonal Chairpersons.
Later, at the ordinary meeting, the house adopted 13 resolutions on matters of education, entertainment, tenders and strengthening of roads. The Council accorded its nod for a Multiplex with twin A/C theatres in Ponmalai Zone. A decision on the 14,830 sq. ft. structure was deferred in an urgent meeting last month.
At the outset, the House paid homage to late CPI(M) leader Pappa Umanath and DMK member of 24 {+t} {+h} ward Rajathi by observing silence for a couple of minutes. Members cutting across party lines paid encomiums to the late CPI(M) leader for her contributions to trade union movement and independence struggle. The Mayor administered the oath of untouchability to the members.
