Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Thursday announced a Rs.50-crore special development package for Pudukottai municipality on the occasion of its 100 anniversary.
Making a suo motu statement in the Assembly, she said that the assistance would be used for improving the municipality's basic infrastructure. A centenary memorial pillar and arches would also be erected.
Funds sought
The decision followed the adoption of a resolution by the Pudukottai municipal council for celebrating the 100 anniversary of the formation of the municipality in a grand manner. Chairman of the municipality Karthick Thondaiman had written to the State government seeking funds for the improvement of infrastructure.
Though the Pudukottai district was created in 1974, the municipality had been established as early as in 1912. At that time, the local body's extent was 10.82 sq metre. Today, it is 21.95 sq. m.
With the expansion of boundaries, the local body, comprising 42 wards, has 180 km of roads, 6,355 street lights, two parks, a bus terminus, 43 school buildings and other buildings and 10 overhead water tanks.
During the previous tenure of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam regime, an order was issued in February 2006, sanctioning the proposal for underground sewerage under Tamil Nadu Urban Development Mission - III. The work would be completed by June 30, 2012.
As part of the Integrated Urban Development Mission and other schemes for infrastructure improvement, Rs.16 crore was set apart during 2011-2012 for laying roads, construction of stormwater drains, and implementation of drinking water projects and solid waste management in the Pudukottai Municipality, the Chief Minister said.
She also referred to her government's decision to implement two programmes — Integrated Urban Development Mission and Chennai Mega City Development Mission — and set apart Rs.500 crore and Rs.750 crore during 2011-2012 and 2012-2013.
The Pudukottai Assembly constituency is due for a by-election after the incumbent member, S.P. Muthukumaran, died in a road accident a couple of weeks ago.
Collector
Later in the day, the government issued an order, posting V. Kalaiarasi as the new Collector of Pudukottai district. She was till now Regional Deputy Commissioner (Central) in the Chennai Corporation.
The present Collector, B. Maheswari, will take the post of Ms. Kalaiarasi.
