The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Jaffarabath panchayat cries for attention

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Wednesday, Mar 19, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Jaffarabath panchayat cries for attention

Staff Reporter

Plagued by lack of enough sanitary workers, poor infrastructure

Wants 24-hour power for regular supply of water
Assistance sought to meet Electricity Board charges

VANIYAMBADI: Lack of sufficient number of sanitary workers and poor infrastructure to carry out conservancy operations, affect the residents of Jaffarabath.

One of the panchayats adjoining Vaniyambadi, it has a population of 10,000. Panchayat president Sirajunnisa said that three posts of sanitary workers, against the sanctioned strength of six, were lying vacant. It was difficult to fill the posts as the monthly salary fixed was only Rs.600. The panchayat required a tractor to transport garbage to the disposal point. A request for funds to purchase a tractor was turned down by the government, saying that the panchayats were not eligible for any assistance to purchase tractors.

According to Mr. Sirajunnisa, even the NABARD denied a loan and the vehicle could not be purchased from the MP and the MLA fund.

Sanitary workers worked only for two hours a day. At present, the garbage was loaded and transported to the disposal point by bullock carts. All streets could not be cleaned properly owing to this limitation.

Mr. Sirajunnisa said that the local body faced a financial crisis. There were no industries in the panchayat limits. The income through various taxes was also insufficient to meet the administrative expenses.

The yearly collection of professional tax stood at Rs.22, 000. Similarly, the amount collected through property tax was only Rs.50, 000 per annum. The panchayat was denied financial assistance by the Alangayam Panchayat Union to implement even minor development works. The revenue generated by the panchayat was also less than the yearly expense of Rs.9 lakh.

Water and electricity were two other issues that affect the panchayat, Mr. Sirajunnisa said. There were a total of 140 streetlights in 36 streets in the panchayat limit and the electricity bill was also rising. Water had to pumped using a motor from a pump house to two overhead tanks of one lakh litre and 30,000 litre capacity each. The Electricity Board supplied power only for six hours to run the motor and as a result, only 40,000 to 50,000 litres could be saved in the tanks. Hence, the water could be supplied to the people only once a week. The use of the motor resulted in the increase in the electricity bill.

Representations were given to the government seeking 24-hour power supply to facilitate more frequent supply of water, Mr. Sirajunnisa said. But, the Electricity Board gave an estimate of Rs.2.5 lakh for 24-hour power supply, which the local body could not shoulder.

Pointing out that the panchayat was not eligible to demand the amount from the MP and the MLA fund, Mr. Sirajunnisa said the local body had sought permission to pay this amount from the Rs.5 lakh available under the ‘Anaithu Grama Anna Marumalarchi Thittam.’ However, a reply was sent saying that the amount could be used only for basic development projects and should not be diverted for other purposes. “If the Collector wills, he can allocate this amount from his funds. Similarly, the Electricity Minister has the powers to fulfil the demand,” Mr. Sirajunnisa said.

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