Coimbatore Corporation may get more staff
The Coimbatore Corporation may get more staff in various wings, especially the engineering section, to enable smooth and effective implementation of infrastructure projects under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.An indication of this emerged from the review meeting held by Local Administration Minister M.K. Stalin here on Sunday to know of the status of the projects cleared so far by the Central Government under the Mission. Rural Industries Minister Pongalur N. Palanisamy also took part in the review. While the Corporation seemed to have made some headway on its demand for more staff, there were indications that its appeal for a 20 per cent State Government grant for a drinking water scheme might be turned down. Secretary of Municipal Administration and Water Supply K. Deenabandhu told presspersons after the meeting that the Minister gave instructions that the necessary staff should be provided to the Corporation. It was, however, not clear whether the Corporation would get all the staff it had asked for.
When asked how many extra posts the Corporation had sought and how many would be provided, the Secretary said that the Minister had only said that the civic body could be given manpower "necessary" to implement the schemes. On the reservations in the Corporation over the State Government providing a 20 per cent interest-free loan for the Pilloor Phase II drinking water scheme and not a grant, Mr. Deenabandhu said that usually local bodies were supposed to implement these schemes by mobilising funds. This time, there was 50 per cent grant (from the Central Government).
The State Government was not only providing 20 per cent of the project cost as interest-free loan for the water scheme but was also arranging for loans to enable the Corporation to meet the 30 per cent commitment. His statement hinted at the Corporation having to avail of loans for 50 per cent of the project cost and not just 30 per cent as it was originally planned. (It was said earlier that the Central Government and State Government would provide 50 per cent and 20 grants each and the Corporation would have to meet only 30 per cent of the total cost of Rs. 113.74 crore of the water scheme.)
The official said that the meeting discussed the progress of the three schemes cleared during the last financial year for the city. Apart from the water scheme, the others were for solid waste management (Rs. 96 crore) and amenities for the urban poor (Rs. 250 crore). The Minister was told at what stages these schemes were in the run up to implementation. Mr. Stalin was also told that the Bus Rapid Transit System (bus services in dedicated lanes) and a scheme for underground sewers would be finalised during this financial year. The total mission period was seven years. And, each project would take 18 months to be completed after work orders were issued.
It was said that Mr. Stalin wanted the process of drawing up and presenting schemes to the Governments to be done quickly. The meeting also discussed how areas located around the city would be included under the mission for infrastructure development. Commissioner of Municipal Administration Niranjan Mardi, Coimbatore Collector Neeraj Mittal, Mayor R. Venkatachalam, Corporation Commissioner P. Muthuveeran and Deputy Mayor N. Karthik were among those who took part in the meeting.
