Tamil Nadu - Thanjavur   

Minister calls for people’s participation

— Photo: M. Srinath

APPEAL: Union Minister of State for Finance S.S. Palani Manickam interacting with the public as part of efforts to create awareness about the underground drainage work in Thanjavur.

THANJAVUR: Union Minister of State for Finance S.S. Palani Manickam has called for people’s participation in making the underground drainage a success in the district.

The drainage work has been completed by the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board and became operational from September 28. Now, people can get connections by approaching the municipality. With a view to creating awareness among the public, the Minister, along with MLAs, Councillors, Collector and municipal officials, went to two wards and appealed to the people to apply for house connections.

The municipality has given pipeline connection up to a point before each house from the main pipeline. “Now, it is for house owners to spend Rs.500 to Rs.700 and link the house to the drainage,” the Minister said.

On complaints that pipelines have not been laid in some areas in the town, he said the area envisaged in the plan had been covered. Many lanes were narrow and, hence, could not be connected. But taking into consideration the demands from some areas, efforts were being taken to extend the pipelines. The Rs.70-crore scheme was taken up under the river water conservation programme in 2000.

Mr. Palani Manickam alleged that the work was delayed because of the erstwhile AIADMK Government’s “indifferent attitude” to the project. But when the DMK came to power in 2006, the work was expedited.

He said AIADMK councillors and other members could help in making the project work by creating awareness among the people instead of being critical. “I seek the co-operation of the AIADMK members also in this endeavour,” he said.

With regard to laying of roads in dug up areas, Municipal Commissioner S. Shanthi said the road had been laid to a distance of 120 km. Roads would be laid to a distance of 140 km. The State Government had allotted Rs.2 crore recently for laying of roads.

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