The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Nod for scheme to desilt, deepen 21 canals

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Friday, May 29, 2009
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Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Nod for scheme to desilt, deepen 21 canals

Deepa H Ramakrishnan

Chennai Corporation council meeting adopts 59 resolutions

— Photo: R. Ragu

In session: The council meeting in progress on Thursday.

CHENNAI: A total of 59 resolutions, including one approving a Rs.1,400-crore scheme to desilt and deepen 21 canals in the city, were adopted at the Chennai Corporation council meeting on Thursday.

Mayor M.Subramanian said that tenders would soon be called for each of these canals, five of which were being maintained by the Public Works Department. The work would be completed in two years.

It was also resolved to appoint consultants to study the impact of the on-going construction of flyovers and subways in the city. The Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) study has become necessary in view of the funding agency, KFW, insisting on this.

“Tenders would be floated immediately and the consultancy or the individual expert would be given three months to complete the work. This, however, would not delay the completion of the flyovers and subways,” he added.

Water sachets

Mr. Subramanian also announced that to prevent sale of sub-standard mineral water sachets in the city, the help of the police would be sought. The police would be asked to initiate criminal action against those vendors and manufacturers who deal in such poor quality water sachets.

During Zero Hour, several councillors, including the Leader of the Opposition Saidai P. Ravi, demanded that Chennai Corporation take steps to tackle the issue of blocked drains and overflowing sewage in various parts in the city. In response, the Mayor said that the Chennai Metrowater was initiating measures to prevent manual cleaning of sewers and procuring equipment for such desilting work. “We will take up the issue with the Metrowater,” he added.

Expedite projects

Mylapore MLA S.Ve. Shekher, who was present during the Zero Hour, urged the civic body to expedite several works for which he had sanctioned funds from his MLA Development Fund over the past two years. Construction of public conveniences at Oorur Olcot Kuppam, additional classrooms at Bheemanna Garden Corporation School, civil works at the Pattinampakkam Metropolitan Transport Corporation bus terminus and construction of a foot overbridge at Sathya Studio junction were among the projects for which he had given the funds of around Rs. 2 crore.

Mr. Ravi tabled a resolution greeting Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi and Local Administration Minister M.K. Stalin for the Lok Sabha election results.

Walkout

Members of Pattali Makkal Katchi staged a walkout when they insisted that they be allowed to table a resolution condoling the death of Tamils in Sri Lanka. Though the Mayor said they would be given a chance to express their views, PMK party leader M. Jayaraman said he must be allowed to speak first. When he was not allowed to do so, the party councillors staged a walkout.

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