Date:30/11/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/30/stories/2007113059080100.htm

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Erode Municipality gears up to be a Corporation

Karthik Madhavan

ERODE: Erode, which will shed its ‘Municipality’ tag to adorn the ‘Corporation’ attire, is gearing up to meet challenges. According to sources, the new, full-fledged Corporation may have either 60 or 72 wards. The former is likely, though. The 60 wards will fall under four zones and have offices at Veerappan Chatram, Kasipalayam, Surampatty and Suriyampalayam. If things go as planned, Zone One may comprise Kasipalayam area, Zone Two Erode Municipality, Surampatty and Thindal, Zone Three Villarasampatti, Veerappan Chatram, Periyasemur, Ellapalayam and Gangapuram and Zone Four may have B.P. Agraharam and Suriyampalayam.

The total area of the four zones will be 160.15 sq. km, up from the 8.5 sq. km of the Erode Municipality.

The expansion in area will go with increase in staff strength. Municipality sources say as per norms, the requirement is for 2,753 employees. Of them, the present strength is 1,461. The additional requirement of 1,292 will result in increased expenditure in wages to Rs. 10.99 crore a year.

More announcements are expected when the Chief Minister visits Erode on December 29 to declare open the Corporation, which will come into existence from January 1, 2008.