The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Local Administration Minister’s vow ‘remains unfulfilled’

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Monday, Aug 11, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Local Administration Minister’s vow ‘remains unfulfilled’

R. Krishnamoorthy

Ariyalur district still dependent on Perambalur for vital needs

ARIYALUR: Late last year, when Local Administration Minister M.K. Stalin inaugurated Ariyalur district, his announcement that the new district, the smallest in the State with Ariyalur, Udayarpalayam and Senthurai taluks, would be made front-ranking in all spheres in a year’s time evoked loud cheers from the audience.

Almost eight months have passed now, and the sense of uneasiness among the public is palpable. For administrative purposes, several government departments still continue to function from the composite Perambalur district.

The absence of a District Police Office, a vital need for the department for effective functioning of the force in the district, which is categorised as sensitive for various reasons, is quite glaring. A DPO is a basic need for establishing Armed Reserve units and District Crime Branch. At times of need in the recent past, armed reserve units had to be rushed from Perambalur district.

The same is the case with many other departments too. The post of Joint Director of Agriculture, another vital need in the agrarian district, is also yet to be created. So are the cases of the District Disabled Rehabilitation Office, Adi Dravida Welfare Department, and Education Department where the non-creation of the top district-level posts has rendered the nascent district entirely dependent on the machinery in Perambalur district. It is also learnt that the administrative tasks could be performed even better if the posts of Personal Assistants to Collector for Accounts and Small Savings are created.

While the media is prompt in highlighting the strides made by the district on various fronts, the absence of a full-fledged Information and Public Relations department has reportedly caused resentment among journalists in the district. An officer deputed from Perambalur district is currently handling the entire task of the department, without communication or conveyance facilities.

According to sources, construction of a master complex for housing the Collectorate and various other departments would make significant headway in addressing these shortcomings. Though the site has been identified, the delay is said to be on account of the procedures for acquiring a part of the land belonging to private parties.

The district administration was hopeful of securing the sanction soon from the government for commencing the construction work in a major part of the site that belongs to the nearby Government Industrial Training Institute, official sources said.

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