Asian Development Bank organises refresher programme for Tirunelveli Corporation councillors

The Asian Development Bank (ADB), which is funding various development projects being implemented in the city by the Corporation, organised a refresher course for the councillors on Tuesday to sensitise them on a range of pressing issues, including the ineffective drinking water distribution and underground drainage scheme moving at snail’s pace.

The drinking water schemes which have failed to yield desirable results so far due to poor distribution and the inferior quality materials like pipes used for the schemes have earned bad name for the Corporation from the public and the councillors as well. The Corporation is struggling to meet the drinking water needs of the public, especially the residents living on the periphery of the urban civic body.

Moreover, the Corporation’s plans to construct drainage pumping stations at several places in the residential areas before taking the sewage to the Ramaiyanpatti garbage yard, it triggered intense resistance from the public who enjoy the backing of their councillors also. Residents of a few wards have even approached the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court against the move to establish the underground drainage pumping stations in the midst of their houses.

Hence, the Corporation, with the help of municipal administration directorate, organised this refresher course for the councilors for sensitising them and to clear their doubts.

With powerpoint presentations, the ADB representatives explained about social security, rehabilitation, environment conservation, workplace safety, implementing the projects under various climatic conditions, improving drinking water distribution with modern techniques, sewage collection and treatment, drainage system creation, underground sewage system, implementing underground drainage system in the corporation, giving sewerage connection to homes, pumping of drainage, constructing pumping stations at vantage points etc. were explained in detail to the councillors and the senior officials of the Corporation.

Mayor G. Ramakrishnan, Deputy Mayor K.R. Raju, Superintending Engineer Kannan and senior officials of the Corproation participated in the refresher programme.