Minister of Municipal Administration KN Nehru told the media that action will be taken against those involved in corruption and embezzlement of funds in the Coimbatore Smart City Projects.
The minister said that the government was awaiting a report from retired IAS officer PWX Davidar who examined the city recently. Minister Nehru, along with V Senthil Balaji, Minister for Electricity, Prohibition and Excise, inaugurated nine projects finished for Rs 5.59 crore and laid foundation stones for 263 new projects at Rs 49.62 crore at the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation (CCMC) office premises in Coimbatore. Ministers KN Nehru and Senthil Balaji, with CCMC officials, reviewed the Smart City project works in Valankulam. Nehru ordered officials to expedite work. Later, under the Smart City Mission the ministers examined other works across water bodies and drains in Coimbatore. A case has been registered against those involved in the fraud in the CCMC. Action will be taken against the officials and the contractors. Also, the one-man commission has been examining the irregularities, corruption, and embezzlement of funds in the Coimbatore Smart City Projects. Nehru said various works including drinking water facility, sewerage, and garbage disposal are ongoing in the civic body across Tamil Nadu for Rs 24,000 crore. In Coimbatore Corporation, Pillur scheme 3 drinking water project areas will be executed at Rs 750 crore and will be finished in one year. Around 90 million litre per day (MLD) of water must be provided to the CCMC from the Siruvani dam everyday. But the Kerala officials provided only about 20 MLD. Bio-mining work is ongoing to remove the non-biodegradable wastes in the Vellalore dump yard. Further, works to establish plants to develop electricity from the garbage in Coimbatore, Chennai, and Madurai. The underground drainage (UGD) project of Rs 591.44-crore and Namaku Namae project works of Rs 20.50-crore are being executed in the city. The ministers also inaugurated the Knowledge and Study Centre at the Aadis street in the CCMC for around Rs 2.50 crore and laid foundation stones for the 24x7 drinking water supply scheme at Revathy Nagar in Vadavalli. Image Source
