They will come up at the rear of shopping complexes

The multi-level parking lots the Coimbatore Corporation has planned across the city will form part of shopping complexes. At least that is what the civic body is thinking of. Commissioner T.K. Ponnusamy told The Hindu that the Corporation had asked a designing company to prepare the design in such a way that the front portion of the multi-level car parking building was a shopping complex and the rear parking lot. The design would be applicable to all the parking lots in the city.

Vellalore chosen for reconstruction of the 144 dwelling units

For the reconstruction of the 144 dwelling units at Ammankulam, found structurally unstable, the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board (TNSCB) has identified a new site —Vellalore. Sources in the district administration and the Board say that after a formal approval and go ahead from the latter's headquarters in the Chennai, tenders will be floated for construction.

A terrace spread over 1,000 sq.ft. with rainwater harvesting (RWH) structure can help meet the water needs of two people for a year. Not only that, the structure will also offer surplus water.

Assuming that a family of two uses 80 litres a day, it will require around 29,000 litres a year. Whereas, the yield from the 1,000 sq.ft. terrace in a year will be around 36,000 litres, says K. Mylswami, project coordinator, Siruthuli. This is assuming that Coimbatore's average annual rainfall is 647 mm.

Corporation readying a proposal seeking Rs. 134 crore from Union Government. Singanallur tank may get a fresh lease of life if the Coimbatore Corporation has its way.

The Corporation is readying a proposal seeking Rs. 134 crore from the Union Government under phase two of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission to clean the tank and a few others in the city.

After carrying out anti-plastic bag drive in May and June last year, the Coimbatore Corporation seems to have taken it easy. Sources in the Corporation say that the officials who are supposed to have taken forward the drive have been asked to focus on waste management in added areas.

Contrast the position with May-June 2011. Corporation officials, armed with the new mandate under Plastic Waste (Management and Handling) Rule 2011, went after traders and retails asking them to stop use of plastic bags less than 40 microns.

As the Coimbatore Corporation Mayor and Commissioner take off to New Delhi to attend a conference on the eve of the sixth year of the implementation of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, things on the ground are not all that good.

Almost all the projects the Corporation is implementing with funds under the Central Government-funded scheme remain incomplete even after pushing the deadline more than once. Pilloor Phase II and underground drainage projects are a case in point.

Expansion of area, fewer conservancy workers, increase in quantity of garbage and above all, high expectation from the city's residents – these are a few challenges that stare in the face of the Coimbatore Corporation. At least, as far as solid waste management is concerned.

The Corporation's area has gone up from 105 sq.km. to 256 sq.km. with the amalgamation of 11 neighbouring local bodies and so has the quantity of garbage. Sources in the civic body say that the Corporation will now have to remove more than 750 tonnes garbage – an addition of over 130 tonnes.

They depend on neighbouring areas for water or buy water sold in cans

Residents of Somayampalayam Panchayat receive water supply between nine and 12 times a year. And they are supposed to use the water for 365 days.

This skewed equation with erratic water supply on the left and the constant demand on the right has troubled the residents, who say they are at a loss to balance the sides.

Official sources say that as per the Government of India norms the Corporation has to supply 135 litres per capita per day (lpcd) to residents within the city limit. In keeping with the norms, it will have to supply the same quantity for residents of the three municipalities, seven town panchayats and a village panchayat as soon as they become a part of the Coimbatore Corporation.

200 tonnes more of waste will be generated in future

If all goes well, Coimbatore Corporation will go in for two more transit stations to manage the waste generated in the 11 local bodies that will soon be a part of the city.

The Corporation has at present four transit stations to manage the 650 tonnes waste generated in the city. Two of the four – Peelamedu and Sathyamangalam Road – are functional and the rest – Ukkadam and Ondipudur – are in the process of being completed.