Urban Development

German city promises technical assistance to Coimbatore

Thursday, 19 February 2015 05:56 administrator

The Hindu 19.02.2015

German city promises technical assistance to Coimbatore

Jurgen Zieger

German city Esslingen am Neckar is ready to help Coimbatore by providing technical assistance and manpower in the areas of climate change, waste management, clean power generation and a few other areas, Mayor Jurgen Zieger has said.

But it will not provide any financial assistance, he clarified while addressing a meeting at the Coimbatore Corporation.

His comments come in the wake of efforts the Coimbatore Corporation has been taking to sign a memorandum of understanding with the German city to forge twin-city partnership to avail of assistance in waster water treatment, solid waste management, water to energy projects, students exchange and a few other areas.

Mr. Zieger said that along with a few European cities Esslingen am Neckar has formed a not-for-profit company that is aimed at providing technological assistance to cities for clean power generation and waste water treatment. Coimbatore could be a beneficiary if the agreement were to come through.

The two cities have been keen on forging partnership for the past four years or so after the formation of the Esslingen Coimbatore Association (ESSCOM) and start of student exchange programme. This time, though, the student exchange programme could extend to Coimbatore Corporation school students, he added.

Minister for Municipal Administration S.P Velumani said the cities could leverage each other’s strength for their development. Coimbatore had a strong foundation in engineering and textile industries, technical education and a few other areas. It was fast emerging as a medical tourism destination. And, its strengths included its hospitality.

He promised to pursue the matter with the State Government to facilitate the twin-city agreement.

The German Mayor had earlier addressed the Coimbatore Corporation Council in this regard on Monday.

Collector Archana Patnaik, Mayor P. Rajkumar, Corporation Commissioner K. Vijayakarthikeyan and Coimbatore City Police Commissioner A.K. Viswanathan were present at the meeting.

Konakarai crematorium to be ready by January

Tuesday, 23 December 2014 05:38 administrator

The Hindu 23.12.2014

Konakarai crematorium to be ready by January

Fourth biomass gasifier crematorium in the city

The Tiruchirapalli City Corporation (TCC) will soon complete the construction of a biomass gasifier crematorium at Konakarai –

the fourth such crematorium in the city. While two are functioning at Oyamari, the third one is located at Karumandapam.

The civic body had taken up the Konakarai project about six months back following repeated agitations by Woraiyur residents over demand for better infrastructure at the Konakarai crematorium complex. Once operational, the crematorium is expected to serve the residents of Woraiyur, Thillai Nagar, and Ramalinga Nagar. R.Chandran, Chief Engineer, Tiruchi Corporation, told The Hindu that a sum of Rs.1 crore had been allocated for the project. Setting up of the gasifier crematorium raising the ground level, and construction of a compound were part of the project, he said. More than 90 per cent of the gasifier installation work had been completed, and the remaining work is expected to be completed before the end of January.

A tender had been called for constructing the compound around the four-acre crematorium complex to safeguard the property from encroachers. Similarly, special attention would be paid to increase the ground level of the crematorium to prevent water inundation during rainy days, the official said.

The procedure for using the crematorium, operation and maintenance, user charges and other issues would be decided once all works were completed. The project would bring down the level of air pollution to a great extent in Konakarai area, Mr.Chandran said.

Underground drainage system to be revamped

Monday, 22 December 2014 05:19 administrator

The Hindu 22.12.2014

Underground drainage system to be revamped

Rs 83-crore project launched in city

Much-needed:Mayor V.V. Rajan Chellappa looking at the underground drainage work plan after performing ‘bhoomi puja’ at Maninagaram in Madurai on Sunday.— Photo: G. Moorthy

The Madurai Municipal Corporation started a revamp of the underground drainage system in 72 wards on Sunday.

Mayor V.V. Rajan Chellappa performed the ‘bhoomi puja’ to launch the Rs 83-crore project at Maninagaram in the presence of Corporation Commissioner C. Kathiravan, City Engineer A. Mathuram, ward councillors and senior officials of the civic body.

Speaking on the occasion, the Mayor said the project, covering a length of 100 km, would be completed in a year. “Besides overhauling the existing underground drainage system, new drainage connections and links on the roadside will be provided,” he said. The contract awarded to a Hyderabad firm was cancelled since it failed to execute the work within the stipulated time, Mr. Chellappa said.

Areas which were being covered under the project included Santhaipettai, Periyar bus stand, Tamil Sangam Road, West Perumal Maistry Street, Dhanappa Mudali Street, Thaikkal Street and Arapalayam.

The Mayor said several civic infrastructure projects were being implemented in the city under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.

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