Siruthuli’s ‘Nadhikarai Nagarikam’ programme
Minister for Public Works Duraimurugan (left) addressing the inaugural of Siruthuli’s ‘Nadhikarai Nagarikam’ programme in Coimbatore on Saturday; (right) A stall put up by students at the programme venue.How much ever the Government endeavours to implement good schemes, their success depends on the involvement of the people, Minister for Public Works Durai Murugan said here on Saturday.Inaugurating Siruthuli’s programme “Nadhikarai Nagarikam”, he said it was heartening to note that wealthy people in Coimbatore had come together under the banner of Siruthuli to conserve water resources and even chalk out a programme to revive River Noyyal. “I wish this movement spreads across the State.” Mr. Durai Murugan underlined the need for preparing the people for their active participation in schemes for their welfare.“It augurs well for the nation if the people are involved in various programmes.”The Minister said he was happy that Siruthuli had taken up three-fourths of the job of his department (Public Works Department) – water resources management.The most notable of Siruthuli’s efforts was the one aimed as sensitising students to the need to conserve water resources.He also appreciated the students of 24 schools for putting up stalls that displayed coins, various forms of art, culture and even weapons used by generations of civilisation that had flourished along the banks of River Noyyal. Mr. Durai Murugan explained how the Nile Valley Civilisation and others flourished along rivers that were a key resource for their development.
In response to Rural Industries Minister Pongalur N. Palanisamy saying that tenements would be built for slum dwellers encroaching water bodies, Mr. Durai Murugan said: “They (Siruthuli) are doing three-fourths of my job. On the contrary, you are asking for water bodies under my control to build houses.”The Public Works Minister said that instead of assisting his ministry in conserving water resources, many people approached him for permission to build structures on these. “Siruthuli is the only organisation that has spoken against encroachments.”Mr. Durai Murugan warned of arrest and imprisonment if people encroached upon water bodies, pointing out that the State Government had recently passed an Act providing for such a punishment.Mr. Palanisamy admitted to having had some differences with Siruthuli over the need to evict encroachers from tanks.“They (Siruthuli) are doing a good job and it needs the support of the people.“But, all that I insisted upon was that alternative house sites or houses should be provided to the slum dwellers before they are evicted from the water bodies.”
Things were moving towards re-location as 12,500 houses were to be built for slum-dwellers under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission. While 4,000 houses would be built on 15 acres at Ammankulam, the rest would come up on 39 acres at Ukkadam.City Police Commissioner C.K. Gandhirajan recalled that Siruthuli had often enlisted the support of the police in its public service programmes such as waste management, conservation of water resources and removal of encroachments.“We assisted because the aim of Siruthuli was public good,” he observed.Mr. Gandhirajan referred to the call by Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi at a Chief Ministers’ conference for the linking of rivers.This pointed to the kind of focus that was being bestowed on water resources. In this context, Siruthuli’s efforts were commendable.
