The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Renovation of roads to coastal colonies planned

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Nov 25, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Others

Renovation of roads to coastal colonies planned

By Our Special Correspondent

PUDUKOTTAI, NOV. 24 . The district administration has planned steps for renovating roads leading to fishermen colonies in the district during the current year, the Collector, Jatindranath Swain, said.

Speaking at a fishermen's grievances day meeting at Manamelkudi near here yesterday, Mr. Swain said the road improvement works, which could not be taken up now, would be executed next year. Agreement has already been signed for the Sethu road project. The project of improving the condition of the roads under the Highways Department would also be launched shortly.

Mr. Swain said the district administration had initiated steps for identifying poromboke lands for the provision of free house site pattas to fishermen.

Referring to the other projects implemented for the benefit of the fishermen, he said 400 houses had already been constructed in the coastal villages and it has been planned to construct 73 houses for fishermen this year.

Since the individual loan scheme was not in existence, the district administration has come forward to extend financial assistance through the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) for self-help groups comprising fishermen for the purchase of motors for the fishing boats. Steps would also be taken for upgrading the Manamelkudi Government Hospital by improving the infrastructure and constructing new blocks. The Tamil Nadu Electricity Board has been directed to replace all electric lamp-posts which were in a poor condition in the fishermen villages, he added.

The BJP MLA, P. Arasan, the Manamelkudi panchayat union president, E. Karthikeyan, the Motorised Boats Fishermen Association president, Ravi, the Countryboats Fishermen Association leader, Karnan and others spoke.

A total of 99 petitions were received from the fishermen and a majority of them demanded steps for improving road conditions, infrastructure, extension of drinking water projects, desilting water sources etc.

The Collector later inspected the local roads, which suffered damages in the recent rain. He also planted tree saplings in the local temple.

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