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Tamil Nadu
By Our Special Correspondent
"Bigger town panchayats will be upgraded municipalities and smaller ones downgraded panchayats. However, we are keeping this decision in abeyance in view of the delimitation process being carried out by the Centre. Once the process is over, we will implement our decision", she said, intervening in the debate on the demands for the departments of Rural Development, Local Administration and Water Supply. Her statement came after L. Santhanam (Forward Bloc) articulated problems faced by the town panchayats in getting funds.
Cong. walkout
Later, at the fag-end of the day's proceedings, the Congress leader, S.R. Balasubramanian, led a walkout by his partymen, as his demand for placing on the floor of the House tender documents of the Veeranam project (Chennai Water Supply Augmentation Project-I) and minutes of a meeting of Metrowater Board of Directors did not yield any response from the Local Administration Minister, M.C. Sampath.
World Bank nod
Earlier, making a set of announcements relating to his departments, Mr Sampath said the World Bank had given "in-principle" approval for the Rs.1,000-crore Tamil Nadu Rural Water Supply Project, proposed by the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board for providing protected water supply to the rural poor. The bank's appraisal team was expected to visit the State shortly. This year, a combined water supply scheme, with the Tamirabarani as the source, would be taken up for execution at a cost of Rs. 79 crores to benefit Manur and 400 habitations in Tiruneveli and Virudhunagar districts. As many as 50 such schemes, costing Rs. 602 crores, would be completed during 2003-04 to benefit a population of around 43 lakhs. Under the Sector Reforms Project, schemes, at a cost of Rs. 36 crores, would be executed in 837 rural habitations in Coimbatore, Vellore, Cuddalore and Perambalur districts. Water supply improvement schemes for Rs. 58 crores would be executed in five municipalities including Tindivanam and Sivakasi, while 22 town panchayats would be covered under the Rs. 22-crore supply schemes.
Sewer cover for new areas
It was proposed to provide underground sewer systems in 14 municipalities including Ambattur, Kancheepuram, Vellore, Erode and in the Coimbatore and Salem Corporations at a cost of Rs. 844 crores in the current year. Investigation works would be carried out for the sewerage schemes in all the district headquarters. As many as 905 integrated sanitation complexes for women and children in urban areas would be constructed at a cost of Rs. 36.2 crores. In 20 town panchayats of Kanyakumari district, 20 complexes would be built for women. Solid waste management would be implemented in 306 town panchayats at an estimated cost of Rs. 20 crores with TNUIFSL financial assistance. Considering the poor finances of municipalities, the Government would allocate Rs. 1.5 crores to them for purchasing land for setting up compost yards. As the World Bank-assisted Tamil Nadu Urban Development Project (TNUDP)-II would come to an end next year, the Government proposed to approach the multilateral agency for the Rs.750-crore TNUDP-III. Two ponds in every village panchayat would be rejuvenated in a phased manner, and the allocation was Rs. 50 crores. A rural bazaar web site would be hosted to facilitate online sale of rural products. Regional exhibitions of self-help group-made products would be organised in Salem, Coimbatore, Thanjavur, Madurai and Tiruneveli. Every panchayat union would have a maternity unit and the total cost was Rs. 3.85 crores. About 31,500 new houses would be constructed at a cost Rs. 100.65 crores for the rural poor, particularly SC/STs. As many as 6,309 minor irrigation tanks would be desilted at a cost of Rs. 63.09 crores.
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