Corporation gives nod to set up ‘semmozhi poonga’ at Madurai Central Prisons

The Corporation of Madurai has given its consent for establishing ‘semmozhi poonga’ at the Madurai Central Prisons on Tuesday.

The council meeting was presided over by Mayor (in-charge) T. Nagarajan. The council secretary said that all the 131 resolutions tabled in the meeting were passed unanimously.

The resolution number 101 stated that Tamil Nadu government has proposed to shift the existing Madurai Central Prisons in zone 3 of ward 56 to Semmur village in Therkutheru village, Melur block.

With the support from the TNUIFSL and with the assistance under the Project Development Grant Fund, the Corporation gave its consent to prepare a detailed project report.

In another resolution, the council gave its consent for hike in the charges for the private agency, which has been removing the garbage and waste from the Corporation limits. From the current charge of ₹3731 per ton, it has been enhanced to ₹4104 per ton. The private firm shouldl include the workers with mandatory provisions like ESI, EPF and other insurance towards health coverage and provide them with safety gadgets while in work.

The sanitation workers in Madurai would get lunch for 5,265 persons daily at ₹50.82 per plate/per person and dinner at ₹42.98 per person per plate for 200 workers.

Ward 94 councillor Swetha told The Hindu that the funds allocated to councillors were inadequate. She said the present allocation of ₹25 lakh per ward was insufficient and should be increased to at least ₹40 lakh, adding that the issue had been raised earlier as well.

Pointing out that Tirunagar was an extended area, she said the funds were not enough to take up all required works, including the construction of stormwater drains, which involved higher costs. With only about a year left in the council’s term, she said an enhanced allocation was necessary to provide better civic facilities to residents.

She also said that the salaries paid to sanitation workers were inadequate and stressed that improving their welfare was essential to bring about visible improvements in civic conditions.