80% of third phase UGD project in Tirunelveli likely to be completed by December 31
Responding to a question from M. Francis, chairman of Palayamkottai Zone, Mr. Kannan said 44% of the third phase of the underground drainage work being implemented in the wards in Palayamkottai and Melapalayam Zones had been completed. As of now, the underground drainage work was being completed at the rate of 1.30 km daily and the roads damaged in the process were repaired after the drainage pipes were laid. 'Hence, we are hopeful of completing 80% of this work by December 31,' Mr. Kannan informed the councillors. He said 8 or 9 blocks in the underground drainage system were being removed every day.
Water scheme
On the progress of the Ariyanayagipuram Drinking Water Scheme, he said the TWAD Board implementing this project had given more than 24,000 drinking water connections to the houses against the target of 33,000 connections.
He said the Corporation, in the past five years, had taken up 1,763 roadworks and completed more than 1,000 works by laying roads for 326 km at the cost of ₹173 crore.
Pavulraj, representing Ward No. 6, said the cement roads laid earlier in some parts of his ward could not be milled for laying the bitumen over it, which had resulted in significant increase in the height of the road to leave pits around the underground drainage manhole. 'Since this uneven surface often causes accidents, the officials should find effective solution for this serious issue,' he said.
When Mr. Pavulraj complained about frequent fires in the dumpyard at Ramaiyanpatti during summer, Mayor G. Ramakrishnan said the waste dumped on 135 acres would be compacted to 60 acres after compartmentalising the garbage in smaller areas for preventing the rapid spread of the fire and facilitating fire fighting.
Show of support
Expressing solidarity with the protesting sanitation workers of Greater Chennai Corporation, Mr. Pavulraj turned up in sanitation worker's uniform while carrying placards demanding regularisation of their service instead of outsourcing the sanitation operations.
As Mr. Ramakrishnan completed one year in office after his predecessor P.M. Saravanan had to step down following a revolt by councillors, he thanked the members for having reposed faith in him.
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