After completing the first phase of the storm water drain project, the Coimbatore Corporation wing executing projects under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission has started taking steps to start the second phase.
According to sources in the civic body, the JNNURM wing had almost completed the first phase of the project. It constructed drains for only 31.12 km to take the storm water to the nearest natural drain and provide linkages at 13 places for the purpose.
The wing would complete this work by January 15.
First phaseThe Corporation had started the first phase of the project sometime in 2008. After initial delays and protests from the residents, the Corporation was able to force the contractors to increase the pace of constructing the drains. The first phase of the project covered portions of the city area — the 60 wards and involved constructing drains for 737 km at a cost of Rs. 180 crore.
The Government of India had financed the project in part. The State Government had contributed 20 per cent of the cost and the Corporation spent the rest — 30 per cent.
Under the second phase, the civic body would construct drains measuring a distance of 1,563 km at a cost of Rs. 800 crore.
ResolutionThe proposal to the Central Government was based on a resolution the Corporation Council had passed sometime ago, the sources said.
The Corporation had also sent a proposal to the Government for Rs. 490 crore to clean and improve the five natural drains that run through the city.
The sources said that the Corporation would remove silt from Sanganoor, Karupparayan, Vilankurichi, Singanallur and Ganapathy drains, provide concrete embankments and also flooring with facility for water percolation, remove encroachments and construct roads on both sides of the Sanganoor drain.
The roads would link Trichy Road with Avanashi Road, Sathyamangalam Road and Mettupalayam Road, providing a short cut to motorists.
The sources added that the Corporation would start the project once the Government granted the funds.
