A sum of Rs.10 lakh has been sanctioned by Rajya Sabha MP N.Siva of the DMK towards repair and renovation works at Vannarapettai dhobi ghat.
The fund has been sanctioned under Member of Parliament Local Area Development Fund (MPLAD) in response to a report, ‘Community at crossroads struggles to wash its woes’ published in The Hindu on July 8, highlighting the plight of the dhobis and the condition of the dohbi ghat that is in a state of disrepair. The dhobis had mentioned that the clothes were getting robbed and that they were not able to control the trespassers due to the lack of a compound wall.
Discretion
“In order to address these issues, the funds will be used to construct a compound wall around the ghat, a shed for folding and ironing clothes and 20 additional water tanks and washing stones,” Mr.Siva told The Hindu on Monday. Adding that he had already sent a letter to the District Collector in this regard, he said that the fund would be used at the discretion of the Collector.
Once the fund is received by the Collector, work is likely to be taken up by the Tiruchi Corporation.
“The media, in this case, has played a significant role in highlighting an issue of the grassroots level ,” said Mr.Siva, who also promised additional funds from the MPLAD scheme should the estimate exceed Rs.10 lakh.
