The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Tirunelveli News : `First phase will be over by August'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Nov 08, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Tirunelveli

`First phase will be over by August'

By Our Staff Reporter

TIRUNELVELI, NOV. 7. The Corporation Commissioner, D. Chandrasekaran, said the first phase of the underground drainage project being executed on an outlay of Rs. 52.01 crores at various places within the corporation limits would be completed by August next year and the roads damaged during the execution of the work would re-laid from January next.

Speaking to reporters here today, he said the UGD project, besides benefiting the 4.25 lakh-population living within Corporation limits, would also prevent pollution of Tamiraparani, lifeline of Tirunelveli and Tuticorin districts. Apart from giving its nod for this ambitious venture, the Union Environment and Forest Ministry had agreed in principle to give its contribution of Rs. 19.50 crores, which accounted for 37.50 per cent of the total project cost. The Corporation had so far received Rs. 10.50 crores from the Centre.

The State Government, which agreed to give its contribution of Rs. 6.50 crores, had so far released Rs. 3.33 crores.

"The Corporation has to mobilise the remaining portion from its revenue and the public, who have to contribute Rs. 5,000 per connection for the successful completion of the project within the stipulated period. The sewage would be pumped to a treatment plant to be set up at Ramaiyanpatti, 5.5 km away from the town. Since the sewage will be properly treated, there is no need for any fear of possible foul smell or contaminated water," he said.

The effluent treatment plant and the ponds would come up on 183 acres on an outlay of Rs. 3.30 crores. More than 72 per cent of this work had been completed.

The roads damaged would be re-laid from January onwards as the tenders for this exercise, to be completed at a cost of Rs. 5.70 crores, had been finalised as per the norms of World Bank. "If the contractors failed to conform to standards stipulated by the World Bank, they would be taken to task," he said, adding the Corporation had paid another Rs. 4.70 crores to the Department of Highways for road laying.

The UGD project would see the use of 206.60 km-long pipes to carry sewage ranging from 24.20 million litres to 38.55 million litres from 31,000 domestic connections. The operating cost of the project would be Rs. 2.80 crores a year.

Asked about the reported objections raised by the Melapalayam residents to the UGD scheme, Mr. Chandrasekaran said the TWAD Board officials, who were executing the project, had met public representatives, particularly Jamaat leaders, and convinced them.

The Mayor, A. Jayarani, the Executive Engineer, TWAD, Krishnan, the Executive Engineer, Tirunelveli Corporation, Jai Xavier, and the Assistant Commissioner, Palayamkottai, Narayanan Nair, were present.

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