Latest news with #UGD
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Chaos marks Madurai Corporation council meeting
It was a free-for-all during the first 10 to 15 minutes of the council meeting at Madurai Corporation on Tuesday. Soon after Mayor Indrani Pon Vasanth began the session by reading out a Thirukkural couplet—a customary practice before council proceedings — AIADMK members, led by their floor leader Solai Raja, rose from their seats and shouted slogans demanding her resignation. Dressed in black shirts and sarees as a sign of protest, the AIADMK councillors alleged that the public was outraged by a 'mega scam' (related to property tax computation and collection) allegedly orchestrated by the ruling DMK. They claimed that the Mayor had no moral right to continue in office, as her personal assistant was implicated in the scandal. Rejecting the allegations as baseless, Ms. Indrani instructed the police to remove the protesting AIADMK councillors from the hall and urged DMK members to remain calm. A brief commotion ensued, and after police intervention the AIADMK councillors walked out, raising slogans. Mayor responds strongly Responding to the allegations, the Mayor explained the matter — the alleged property tax scam — was already before the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, and a senior police officer of DIG rank was conducting the investigation. She contended it would be inappropriate to discuss the issue during the council meeting. She further pointed out Chief Minister M. K. Stalin had already directed all five zonal chairpersons and two standing committee members involved to step down. She urged the AIADMK to refrain from creating disturbances. Escalating the counterattack, the Mayor questioned the AIADMK's moral standing, citing the case of several crores of rupees allegedly missing from the house of former minister Sellur K. Raju. She also referred to allegations of fund misappropriation during the AIADMK regime in projects such as the Smart City and Underground Drainage (UGD) schemes, demanding an investigation into those cases as well. DMK-CPI (M) clash Soon after calm appeared to return, the meeting again descended into chaos — this time over remarks made by DMK councillor Jayaraman about Madurai MP Su. Venkatesan. Mr. Jayaraman criticised the MP for his recent comments that Madurai city was unclean and that the Chief Minister should intervene. He said such public criticism was uncalled for, especially after the DMK had supported the MP's Lok Sabha candidacy twice. His remarks led to a verbal clash with Deputy Mayor T. Nagarajan of CPI(M) and two CPI(M) councillors. The Deputy Mayor defended the MP, saying it was due to his efforts that the Union Government had sanctioned funds for Madurai. Mr. Jayaraman retorted that as an ally, the MP should not publicly criticise the DMK dispensation. The CPI(M) councillors, in turn, told the DMK member to moderate his tone, especially with Assembly elections approaching. This triggered another round of shouting before order was restored after appeals from both the Mayor and Deputy Mayor. Background In 2024, then Madurai Corporation Commissioner Dinesh Kumar had filed a complaint with Madurai City Police alleging irregularities in property tax collection. After about seven months, police registered a case and arrested several officials including a retired Assistant Commissioner (Revenue) and Bill Collectors. An AIADMK councillor subsequently filed a writ petition in the High Court, which directed the police to form a special panel and submit a report.
The Hindu
19-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
MLA directs Udupi CMC to take action against those letting untreated sewage into public spaces
MLA for Udupi Yashpal Suvarna on Saturday directed the Udupi City Municipal Council (CMC) to enforce waste management rules to prevent contamination of water sources in the city and take action against those letting untreated sewage into public places. Mr. Suvarna said that a proposal has been sent to the government to lay underground drainage (UGD) network in Santhekatte area. Speaking at a meeting organised to address complaints of residents over discharge of sewage from residential apartments and commercial complexes, Mr. Suvarna said that the CMC is looking for 50 acres to construct a new sewage treatment plant. It is searching for land in Athrady, Parkala, and Hiribettu areas. However, it will have to face opposition from local residents, he said. Mr. Suvarna instructed apartment residents without UGD connections to use cesspool suction vehicles to empty their septic tanks. He said that the CMC has ordered three advanced cesspool suction vehicles, which can even clear sludge from a distance of 100 metres. Residents from Moodusagri, Perampalli, and Indrali complained that several apartments, especially in Manipal town, were releasing untreated sewage into public spaces, leading to contamination of several wells. They sought immediate action, and flat owners who attended the meeting appreciated the CMC for reducing cesspool suction vehicle charges by 50% where no UGD network exists, as per the resolution passed in the CMC's general body meeting on February 25, 2025. A resident from Santhekatte pointed out that the UGD connections currently extend only till Ambagilu and urged authorities to expand the network till Santhekatte.
Time of India
15-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Rs157cr spent, but Trichy roads riddled with potholes
Trichy: Trichy corporation has spent Rs157.4 crore, or 37% of its total spending in the last financial year, on road development projects but none of the widely used arterial roads are in good shape. Unscientific and shabby patchwork on roads damaged to rectify pipe bursts in drinking water networks and arrest seepage in underground drainage (UGD) pipelines has left prominent roads uneven and riddled with potholes and craters. Most roads connecting commercial streets in Thillai Nagar, Salai road, Thennur, Puthur, and Cantonment areas are partially damaged, with potholes visible every 500 metres on major roads. "Pattabiraman street in Thennur is a nightmare for two-wheeler riders as the patchwork was unprofessional, causing scooters to skid. Proper restoration work is needed," said C Balasubramanian, former member, district road safety council. Roads for a length of 1,423.5km are maintained by Trichy corporation, including 53km-long major roads, while the state highways department manages 117km of roads in the city. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cách giao dịch ETH/USD mà không cần nắm giữ Ether IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo In the last two years, as the local body expedited installation of pipelines for drainage as well as drinking water, major roads in the city were dug open. Soon after the work was completed, the roads were relaid, some without waiting for the ideal resting time for the soil to set. Later, recurring seepages on the UGD network and pipeline bursts in the drinking water network damaged many roads. The corporation had to cut open the roads to identify the problem. However, appropriate patchwork was not ensured while restoring the damaged roads, hampering smooth accessibility for residents. Between Oct 2024 and Jan 2025, multiple roads with patches bore the brunt of the monsoon, and deteriorated further. Since patchwork fails to restore the original condition even as new work to install telecommunication cables is progressing in parts of the city, residents said that special funds have to be allocated to relay the roads end to end without increasing the height. However, it is pointed out that roads relaid under Tamil Nadu Urban Road Infrastructure Funds (TURIF) and Ambient Air Quality (AAQ) improvement scheme in recent months should wait another 3-5 years to get the next tranche of funds. "We should repair the road damages with our own revenue. Some roads that were repaired had caved in during the last monsoon, attracting another layer of patchwork. We will survey such roads to take up a comprehensive work before monsoon," mayor Mu Anbalagan told TOI.
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
GTD urges govt to fulfil demands of MCC employees
Mysuru: Former minister and JD(S) MLA GT Devegowda on Wednesday urged the state govt to fulfil the demands of the employees of the Mysuru City Corporation. He asked the govt to fulfil the demands of pourakarmikas, civic workers in various divisions of civic bodies, including UGD, drivers, and others on priority. He was speaking after extending support and participating in an indefinite strike undertaken by members of Mysuru City Corporation Pourakarmika Federation members held outside the office of MCC in the city. As the cleanliness and removal of garbage across the city will aggravate if the pourakarmikas continue their protest, he appealed to the govt to respond immediately to their demands. Chief minister Siddaramaiah, DyCM DK Shivakumar, and state urban development minister Byrathi Suresh must consider their demands, he said. Welcoming Siddaramaiah's announcement of direct recruitment of pourakarmikas working in all civic bodies, the MLA also asked the govt to set right the disparity in wages as well as bring all civic workers, including those working in underground drainage work, drivers, and other workers involved in the disposal of waste activities in civic bodies, under the direct recruitment process. The state govt must also extend govt benefits, including KGID, insurance cover, and other facilities for all pourakarmikas recruited under the direct payment system in line with its employees. Meanwhile, JD(S) MLA K Vivekananda also extended his support and participated in the protest.
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
DGP pins neighbourhood watch on cops' kin
Mysuru: Karnataka DGP MA Saleem, who visited Chamundi Hills and held a meeting with city police officers, suggested that family members of police personnel living in police quarters at Jyothi Nagar form an association similar to those in apartments to improve the condition in the neighbourhood. The police top brass toured all five police quarters' blocks and personally assessed the living conditions of police families at the facility provided by the department. During his half-hour inspection, Saleem, who earlier served as the Mysuru city police commissioner, interacted with family members and children of constables, head constables, and assistant sub-inspectors working in various units in Mysuru city and the district. He listened to their grievances about the facility. Almost everyone the top cop interacted with informed him that water was seeping through the walls and floor tiles were coming off. They even complained about the frequent blockage of the UGD. Promising to address their concerns, the DGP advised the women to form associations in each block to improve the surroundings at the apartment quarters. He also inspected single house quarters and expressed that the department created assets to provide facilities for its personnel. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Family members also urged the top cop to appoint adequate teachers and improve the police public school so that their wards could be sent there instead of private facilities, where they charge exorbitant fees. An officer said the DGP suggested identifying and listing all the dilapidated houses and sending their details to his office for demolition and the construction of a new facility. DIG (Southern Police Range) MB Boralingaiah, commissioner of police Seema Latkar, and superintendent of police N Vishnuvardhana were present.
