Vellore Corporation to focus on UGD work, community dogs sterilization, road re-lay: Mayor

Early completion of the ongoing Underground Drainage (UGD) work, sterilisation of community dogs, and relaying of key stretches and intersections before the onset of northeast monsoon will be focus areas for Vellore Corporation in the coming weeks, said Mayor Sujatha Anandakumar at the council meeting that was held at its headquarters here on Friday.

Mayor Ms. Sujatha, who chaired the meeting, was responding to councillor R. Rajini of Ward 11 on community dog menace in the town in recent months. She said that the Corporation plans to conduct anti-rabies vaccination and sterilisation for at least ten dogs in each ward in the coming weeks. “Upgradation of the existing lone Animal Birth Control centre near the new bus terminus will be done soon. Zonal level meetings will be held with residents, ward members, and civic officials to address the issue,” she said.

As per estimates, Corporation has identified more than 37,000 community dogs as against 9,000 dogs a decade ago within its four zones, covering all 60 wards in the town.

The Mayor said that the Corporation also focuses on completing ongoing UGD work within its limits before the onset of northeast monsoon. The ₹ 1,000 crore project, which was rolled out in 2019 especially from its phase – II work onwards, covers 750 kms of sewer lines, 16 pumping and lifting stations and two large STPs. “The Corporation has re-laid around 2,500 stretches within its limits where pipeline-laying work for the new drainage system has been completed. Remaining stretches will be re-laid soon,” she said.

Most of the councillors highlighted the need to conduct monthly council meetings as against the existing practice of once in three or four months as such an arrangement will allow them to air public grievances regularly. “As per plan, the new storm water drain on VIT Road especially near Chittoor bus stop in Katpadi is only 1.5 metres in depth, which should be increased at least two metres to discharge excess rainwater during monsoon as these areas are low-lying ones. The re-design of new drains should be done,” said P. Sivasankari, Ward Member 9.

Corporation Commissioner R. Lakshmanan said that efforts have been taken to start water supply to tail-end areas in Gandhi Nagar in Katpadi through newly built OHT there. Testing of water pipelines is being done by TWAD, which supplies water to the civic body.

The three-hour-long council meeting, that was chaired by the Mayor, passed a resolution for 149 works at a cost of ₹ 320 crore.