Cuddalore Underground drainage project to be completed by October: Rural Industries Minister M.C. Sampath

Rural Industries Minister M.C. Sampath reviewing the process on the underground drainage project in Cuddalore on Saturday.

CUDDALORE:

         Rural Industries Minister M.C. Sampath told the presspersons here on Saturday that the underground drainage project, now being executed in Cuddalore town, would be completed and brought into use by October.

          After attending a review meeting on the progress of the works here, the Minister said that the pipe laying work would be completed by August-end and all the roads that were dug up for laying the pipeline would be repaired by the highways department by September-end. The strength of the workforce would be increased to speed up the execution and the contractors too had agreed to engage the labourers for extended hours to keep up with the schedule.

         The Minister warned of either penal action or imposing fine on the contractors if there happened to be a slippage in meeting the deadline. As for overcoming the impediments in the drinking water supply, the Minister said that fresh water sources would be identified and with the consent of the government, the new water project would be implemented. 

               About the formation of proper link road from Jawan's Bhavan and Khammiampettai, the Minister said that this road stretch was now under the jurisdiction of the Public Works Department (Water sources) and a proposal had been sent to the government in order to bring it under the purview of the highways department to take up the work in a speedy manner. District Collector V. Amuthavalli; District Revenue Officer C. Rajendran; Superintendent of Police P. Pakalavan; Executive Engineer (TWAD Board) Raghunathan; and Municipal Commissioner M. Elangovan were the participants.

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Cuddalore Underground drainage to be ready by September 30

Scrutiny:Collector V. Amuthavalli inspecting a plan in Cuddalore on Saturday. 

 

CUDDALORE:

        The ongoing underground drainage project in Cuddalore town will be completed by September 30, according to V.Amuthavalli, Collector.

    She inspected the progress of works at various places such as Manjakuppam, Old Town area, Varadaraja Nagar, Pudupalayam, Thevanampattinam and Pachayankuppam on Saturday.

Later, she held a review meeting in which Deputy Superintendent of Police Vanitha, Managing Director of the Tamil Nadu Water and Drainage Board (executing authority of the project) K.Raghunathan, Cuddalore Municipal Chairman M. Elangovan, Divisional Engineer of the Highways Department Uthirapathi and Assistant Divisional Engineer Nadanasabapathi participated.

     After the meeting, the Collector told presspersons that of the total distance of 157.4 km to be covered under the project, works had already been completed for a distance of 146.8 km. Of the targeted 5,702 manholes to be built, 5,437 had been completed, and, of the 11,665-metre of pipeline to be laid, 11,415 metre had been put in place. Of the 16,000 households to be benefited under the project already 15,675 houses had been connected to the pipeline. The Collector said that the project envisaged setting up of seven sewage pumping stations at places such as Srinivasa Nagar, Varadaraju Nagar, Rajambal Nagar, near Mohini bridge, Manaveli, Old Town area and K.K.Nagar.

       Excepting the one at K.K.Nagar, works on the remaining six pumping stations had been completed. Under the project, it was also proposed to set up a sewage treatment plant with 12.25-million cubic litre capacity at Thevanampattinam. The treated water would be pumped through a pimple extending to a length of 2,800 metre to be drained into the Gedilam. Ms. Amuthavalli further said that the pipeline laying work on Nataji Road and Bharathi Road in the Manjakuppam area would be completed on June 27 and normal traffic would be rested.

      The Collector also inspected pot-holed link road connecting the Jawan's Bhavan to Khammiampettai in the town. She said that a proposal had been sent to the government for laying the pucca link road. Ms Amuthavalli exuded confidence that the link road works would be taken up soon.

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Heavy traffic congestion has become a common feature at Cuddalore town

Heavy traffic congestion has become a common feature

CUDDALORE:

        The entire stretch of the East Coast road passing through Cuddalore town, starting from Manjakuppam to Anna bridge has become a nightmare for motorists because of the heavy congestion during peak hours.

         As almost all the private and government schools, marriage halls, cinema houses and offices are concentrated in this area, the road traffic has become almost unmanageable. Traffic jams have become a common feature in Cuddalore. The digging of trenches for laying the pipeline and construction of manholes for the underground drainage project has been continuing from January 2007, thereby causing great inconvenience and immense hardships to the commuters.

At snail's pace

            Owing to burgeoning vehicle population and narrowing down of the main thoroughfares due to encroachments, the traffic on the Bharathi Road, the Nethaji Road and the Lawrence Road moves at snail's pace and it takes over 30 minutes to cover the distance of two km. in the mornings and evenings.

Caught in traffic snarls

          For executing the underground drainage project, parts of the Nethaji Road and the Kammiampet road too have been closed for traffic. Therefore, buses and heavy vehicles going to and coming from Puducherry invariably get caught in the traffic snarl. With the re-opening of schools and colleges on June 15, the traffic problem has become aggravated as many of the students depend on motorised vehicles. A crucial stretch of the Nethaji Road has been narrowed due to encroachment and this has been further constricted by the digging of trenches.

             Such undue delay not only gets on the nerves of the motorists but also commuters' schedules into disarray. There does not seem to be any worthwhile planning to ease congestion nor is there any proper traffic management. The residents and the public are of the opinion that certain drastic measures ought to be taken to widen the roads to facilitate free flow of traffic and to ensure rights of passage to the pedestrians. But the question is who will take resolute action in this regard and when.

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Delay in underground drainage project will be studied Says Cuddalore Collector V.Amuthavalli

CUDDALORE:

         V. Amuthavalli assumed office as Collector of Cuddalore district at the camp office here on Wednesday.

         Born at Thiruparankunram in Madurai district, Ms. Amuthavalli has completed M.Sc (agriculture), M.A (economics) and M.B.A. She joined government service as Deputy Collector in 1997 and served as District Revenue Officer in January 2003.

         She was conferred IAS in 2010. Before taking up the new responsibility, she was serving as the Additional Registrar of Cooperative Societies in Chennai. Collector in-charge C. Rajendran handed over charge to her. She has been posted in the place of former Collector P. Seetharaman, who has been appointed Project Director, Post Tsunami Sustainable Livelihood Programme. Later, she told presspersons that she would take all steps for implementing government schemes. On the undue delay in execution of the underground drainage project, she said the reasons would be studied and addressed. Ms. Amuthavalli also said that among other issues, she would focus on decongesting roads in Cuddalore.

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Underground drainage project to be expedited says M.C.Sampath

CUDDALORE: 

         Rural Industries Minister M.C.Sampath told presspersons here on Sunday that steps would be taken for the speedy implementation of all government schemes. As regards Cuddalore constituency, the works on the underground drainage project would be expedited and all pending projects would be completed in a time-bound manner.

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Bad roads: activists, members of opposition parties observe fast

Members of the Opposition parties and residents observing hunger strike in Cuddalore on Monday. 

 

CUDDALORE: 

           The opposition parties, residents, social activists and vehicle operators observed fast in front of the Collectorate here on Monday condemning the slow progress in the execution of the underground drainage project and bad condition of roads all over the town.

            Presided by N.Thalavai Sundaram, former AIADMK Minister, district secretaries of the AIADMK M.C.Sampath, Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam P.Sivakolundu, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam N.R.Ramalingam, Communist Party of India (Marxist) T.Arumugham and Communist Party of India M.Sekar participated in the protest. The speakers pointed out that the underground project was running behind schedule for over one year. Though it was scheduled to be brought into use by December 2009 so far, only 50 per cent of the works was completed.

             Moreover, the digging work done for laying the pipeline had damaged the entire network of roads in Cuddalore town. Most of these roads had become unfit for commutation and those who dared to drive on the pot-holed undulating surfaces were exposing themselves to grave risks. The recent spell of rain made the condition worse. The speaker further stated that the subway project at the level crossing on the Lawrence Road was yet to take off, even though the civic body had given its consent to it.

               They alleged that the authorities were paying scant regard to the quality of the roads and the hardships faced by the people. They had jointly organised a series of protests, including fast, to prompt the officials to act but in vain.

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