Tamil Nadu   

Corpn. plans special meeting on JNNURM

Coimbatore: Mayor R. Venkatachalam on Thursday informed the councillors that a special meeting of the Corporation Council would be convened soon to keep the councillors informed about the status of various components of Jawarhalal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).

Announcement by the Mayor came in the wake of vociferous protests by the members of various political parties cutting across political affiliations on the lack of transparency in implementation of JNNURM.

Members complained that for the last two years they had been telling people that JNNURM would ensure better basic amenities for the residents. Even after the lapse of two years, there had not been any major progress on the field in terms of JNNURM works, members complained.

Commissioner-in-charge V. Shantha said efforts were on to speed up implementation of JNNURM. She said the delay so far was a fallout of the hitches in adhering to procedural formalities in tender process. Conceding the demand of the AIADMK, CPI (M), CPI and DMK members, who said that the white paper by the civic body on JNNURM had not thrown enough light, Mayor said in consultation with the officials that a date would be fixed for holding the special meeting soon.

Similarly, following complaints from almost all members that property tax revision demand notice had not reached most of the residents, Ms.Shantha said even in the absence of a demand notice for the revised property tax the property owners could approach the tax collection centres and remit their tax. Since the upward revision of property tax had been updated in the computer database and there should not be any problem in remitting the tax. However, Mayor R. Venkatachalam ordered the Corporation revenue officers to review the process of despatching the demand notice to the property owners. Conceding a demand from one of the members, Mr. Venkatachalam said he would consult the officials and conduct a special camp in the city where property owners could voice their grievances relating to property tax revision and remittance of the same.

Asked as to when the revised budget of the civic body was expected so that pending works could be given an impetus, Ms. Shantha said the anticipated revenue from property tax revision stood at Rs. 82 crore whereas it has now come down to Rs 65 crore. Projections in terms of commercial properties were awaited and soon the revised budget would be released, she said. This triggered complaints of “corruption” in property tax revision and delay in despatching the demand notices to the officials.

Congress councillor Shobana Selvan said most of the roads had become slushy because of the recent rains and one garbage removal truck was being shared by at least more than one or two wards resulting in garbage accumulation”. Even after approval of estimates, the official machinery was not willing to work out a solution for lack of disposal mechanism for drainage, as a result Jagannath Nagar in her ward was waiting for drainage for more than two years.

During the zero hour, Congress member V.K.S.K. Senthilkumar sought steps to carry out patch works on the rain battered roads. CPI (M) member Velmurugan wanted the Mayor to explain the unfulfilled promises and assurances made earlier in the house in terms of construction of a modern council hall and biomass gasifier operated crematoriums.

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

Stories in this Section

Karunanidhi dedicates upgraded Rajiv Gandhi Salai
Great response to NREGS, says Collector
“Women make good entrepreneurs”
Relief collection centre set up
In remembrance
Surveyors demanding money for patta transfer, allege farmers
Emergency medical care unit on the NH soon
‘Donate liberally’
Local Bodies Day
No drop in food output, says Agriculture Commissioner
Janakipuram flyover will be ready next month: T.R. Baalu
Neglected
Raise wages to Rs. 150 a day
Small scale units down shutters
In unison
Stern action
No leader should receive any threat: Thangkabalu
Obeisance to leader
Attack a planned one: AIADMK chief
Egg price touches record high in Namakkal
Preparations under way for inauguration of new district
Taluk merger: telegrams sent to Karunanidhi
Tirupur Corpn. staff stage protest
Photo exhibition on Annadurai
Corpn. plans special meeting on JNNURM
Proposal to set up compost yard in Kuthambakkam cleared
PT plans demo over Lankan Tamils’ issue
Discoloured paddy worries farmers
Disaster management preparedness reviewed
‘Greed, the reason behind global financial crisis’
Decomposed body of female elephant found
Vaiko’s book on Barack Obama released
Meeting discusses hoardings menace
Open kitchen… schools lag behind in food preparation
‘Nuclear power generation will increase by 2,500 MW by March’
Science workshop for physically challenged
Clarification
Lofty celebration
Many miles to go
Mettur level
Students fed gruel by BJP
342 folk artistes enrol
Relief handed over
Samathuvapuram work begins at Athithanendal
Problems persist even 25 years after it was created zone in
Coordination meeting
Save money, Collector urges students
Bank’s net profit up by 29 per cent
MLA arrested
Brinjal brings better prospects to farmers
Revoke teacher’s transfer: students
Tuticorin Corporation to get more employees
Radikaa Sarathkumar and Sarathkumar get Vocational Excellence Awards
Angry mob chased away at Manamadurai
Two Dalits attacked in Dindigul village
Jayalalithaa’s security will be reviewed: DGP
Jayalalithaa moves court for enhanced security
Adequate security was provided at Pasumpon, says ADGP
Jayalalithaa creating law and order problem: Minister
“Restore export sops to textile industry”
Acquittal in gold biscuit cases upheld
‘Snag’ hits booking of tickets on Salem-Chennai Express
Sarathkumar rules out alliance with DMK, AIADMK , DMDK

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