Funds allotted to construct houses for slum dwellers

SALEM: The Central Government has allotted funds to the Salem Corporation to construct houses for people living in slums in the city under the Integrated Housing and Slum Development Programme.

The first phase of the programme would cover 12 slums in the city. Over 1,000 houses would be built at an estimated cost of Rs. 15.58 crore. The Central Government would contribute 80 percent of the project cost, Mayor J. Rekha Priyadarshini announced at the Corporation council meeting held here on Wednesday.

She said all the slums in the city would be covered under the programme in a phased manner. Apart from construction of houses, all necessary basic amenities would be created in the slums.

Irregularities

Later, Corporation councillors brought the issue of irregularities thriving in the functioning of shops in the commercial complexes, which were constructed and maintained by the civic body. Councillors, cutting across party affiliations, alleged that persons after getting the shop for rent from the Corporation were giving it for higher rent to others. “The civic officials already knew this issue. But the practice continues unchecked in the city, causing huge revenue loss to the civic administration,” K.S. Palanisamy, a DMK councillor alleged.

Dharamalingam (Congress) urged the Corporation to closely monitor the functioning of shops in its commercial complexes.

Corporation Commissioner K.S. Palanisamy said members of the standing committees on tax and finance would conduct an enquiry on the issue and submit a report to the civic body shortly. The allotment would be cancelled if irregularities were found, he promised.

Burial grounds

The issue of poor maintenance of burial grounds and burning ghats in the city was also raised in the council. Councillors Dhanasekaran (PMK) and A. Ramani (CPI) said wild growth of plants and stagnation of water in the burial grounds and burning ghats had left people to face difficulties while conducting funeral. The Corporation had grossly failed to ensure regular maintenance.

A few councillors also urged the city health department to prevent the industrial units, commercial establishments and weaving units from discharging effluents in the drainage channels. Issues such as delay in the issue of birth certificates and problems in the removal of encroachments were also highlighted during the meeting.