Feasibility study for mono rail in Coimbatore city, hike in solatium for legal heirs of those who died in “hit-and-run” cases of road accidents from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. two lakh and two low-cost canteens (Amma Unavagams) at the Madurai Rajaji and Sivaganga government hospitals were among the 312 announcements made by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Friday at the valedictory of the three-day conference of District Collectors and police officers here.
In the “hit and run” cases, those who suffered grievous injury were now getting Rs. 10,000. This would be increased to Rs. 1 lakh, the Chief Minister said.
Of the total announcements, over one-fourth pertained to the police department. The provision of a web-based SMS server system for the police department; according magisterial powers to Deputy Commissioners in all cities as done in Chennai; designating a police officer in each police station to liaise with president of the panchayat concerned in collecting information on law and order and providing special identity cards incorporating security features to all police personnel were some of the announcements relating to the police. The Police Standing Orders would be amended, redefining grave offences pertaining to burglary and theft. As per the proposal, burglary involving valuables, worth over Rs. two lakh, and theft of those valued over Rs. three lakh would be regarded as grave offences.
The other announcements included provision of a sedan-type bullet-resistant car for VVIPs; a fishing harbour in Rameswaram; 44 reverse osmosis units in Nagapattinam district and the formation of a cold storage in Vazhapadi taluk (which falls under the Yercaud Assembly constituency that saw by-election about 10 days ago).
Trousers with full sleeve shirts for boys and ‘salwar kameez’ with over coat for girls studying in Standards I to V in The Nilgiris District would be provided. A water supply scheme to Coonoor Municipality with Emerald Dam as source; enhancement of grants under the THAI scheme to village panchayats having over 50 habitations; restoration and preservation of heritage buildings in Pudukottai district; increase in monthly feeding charges for inmates of orphanages from Rs. 450 to Rs. 750; artificial recharge structures in 10 places of Tiruchi district were some other announcements.
Besides, she referred to five issues, which would be examined.
The issues included the proposal to amend Section 167 Cr P.C. (procedure when investigation cannot be completed in 24 hours) and sections of the Explosives Rules, sanction of education loan by cooperative banks, installation of statues in private places and allowing Revenue Department to access the data of the Registration Department.
Ms Jayalalithaa presented prizes to a number of officers of the Indian Administrative Service and Indian Police Service for efficient disposal of Chief Minister’s special cell petitions.
Among districts, the first prize went to Karur (received by S. Jayandhi, Collector); the second prize – Tiruchi (Jayashree Muralidharan) and the third – Tiruvarur (S. Natarajan).
In the case of heads of departments, the first prize went to the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation) and it was received by K. Gnanadesikan, Principal Secretary/Chairman. While Vikram Kapur, Commissioner of Chennai Corporation, received the second prize, B. Chandramohan, Managing Director of Chennai Metrowater, got the third prize.
