Tamil Nadu - Tiruchi   

Rs. 3-crore footbridge planned: Tondaiman

TIRUCHI: Tiruchi Corporation has decided to construct a new footbridge to replace the one that carries the drinking water mains across the Cauvery from the Collector Well of the Kambarasampettai main pumping station in the city.

The decision comes in the wake of the major disruption in the drinking water supply early this month after one a pillar of the 30-year-old bridge sank by about two feet. The pumping station meets a major portion of the city’s drinking water requirement.

The existing bridge has outlived its utility, Mayor Sarubala R.Tondaiman said at a meeting of the Corporation Council here on Wednesday.

“Estimates for the new footbridge will be prepared soon and we expect it to cost about Rs.3 crore,” Mrs.Tondaiman said.

Answering AIADMK floor leader Mariam Pitchai on whether the pillar had sunk due to sand mining, Commissioner T.T.Balsamy said natural seepage and erosion of sand through one of the 13 radial arms of the infiltration wells had caused the problem. There was no sand mining in the vicinity of the bridge. The council witnessed heated exchanges between AIADMK and DMK members as the Mayor expressed gratitude to Transport Minister K.N.Nehru and officials for solving the water supply crisis.

The AIADMK councillors took exception to the filing of a first information report (FIR) by the police against a party councillor _ Muthmariamma _ after she led a road roko demanding water supply to her ward through tankers.

Some councillors complained about frequent disruptions in the Golden Rock Combined Drinking Water Supply Schemeowing to pipe damageswhile laying the four-lane highway along the Chennai By-pass Road. Mr.Balsamy said he had recently convened a coordination meeting with the National Highways Authority (NHAI) and the TWAD Board to prevent such incidents.

The Council approved a resolution to replace the pipeline with ducted pipes for a stretch of about 315 metres along the By-Pass Road at a cost of Rs.50 lakh to prevent the frequent bursting of the water mains. The NHAI will bear the cost of pipes for another 410 metres.

Earlier, Jerome Arockiaraj of the Congress urged the Mayor to build a home for beggars and the mentally ill at a seven-acre site provided by former Municipal Chairman Lourdusamy Pillai.

They were occupying many of the modern bus shelters, he said. Mrs.Tondaiman promised to consider the suggestion.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Woman ragpicker provides clue to crack accident case
Workshop on innovative teaching methodologies
Workshop starts in Tiruchi today
Triple fest to tap talent of students
Rs. 3-crore footbridge planned: Tondaiman
Varsity professor gets Rs. 40-lakh research grant
“Poor facilities, cause for downfall of hockey”
Poor drainage system irks residents
People urged to stay alert by Collector
Matric syllabus
Tiruchi today

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu