The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Madurai News : `Provide domestic water connections from Nov. 1'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Oct 24, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Madurai

`Provide domestic water connections from Nov. 1'

By Our Staff Reporter

MADURAI, OCT.23. The Mayor, C. Ramachandran, on Thursday directed the Commissioner, A. Karthik, to provide new domestic drinking water supply connections from November 1.

During the council meeting, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) member, S. Mahalingam, sought resumption of daily water supply and provision of new domestic connections. He said the level in the Vaigai dam had gone up significantly.

Even as the Commissioner said that he would adopt a "wait and watch" approach and consider both the demands only next month, those who spoke thereafter insisted on provision of new water connections. He said daily supply was possible only after a river wetting.

The AIADMK council leader, S.D. Jayabalan, and Mr. Mahalingam demanded desilting of all 13 drainage channels to prevent flooding. Stating that the level in the Vaigai dam had touched 56.1 feet and continued to receive inflows, they said if only the drainage channels were desilted, inundation of the city could be prevented.

The City Engineer, Sakthivel, listed out the efforts made to desilt stormwater channels.

Free connections

Mr. Ramachandran also directed officials to provide free drinking water pipelines to places of worship. He said the practice was suspended by the Commissioner, as he had sought the Government's permission.

However, the Mayor said the Government had only directed that prior permission should be sought from the Commissioner of Municipal Administration to provide water to public fountains.

Four-wheelers sought

Another resolution moved by the Mayor sought Government permission to provide four-wheelers for the chairmen of four zones to facilitate inspection in their zones.

The zonal leaders wanted cars, while discussing the issue of replacing 12 worn out vehicles with new ones.

The CMA had permitted purchase of 12 vehicles without appointing new drivers at a cost of Rs. 60 lakhs.

Among those who participated in the discussion were the Congress leader, I. Siluvai, the Bharatiya Janata Party leader, S. Ramalingam, the CPI member, M. Saravanan, and the independent member, M.R. Manickam.

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