Nagercoil corporation to shift street vendors to alternative spots: Mayor

The Valampurivilai dumping yard, located in the hotspot of the city, has always been a major concern among the public due to foul smell and occasional fires. Does the corporation have any future plans to relocate the yard from the centre of the city?

Currently, there are no alternative plans to relocate the dumping yard, primarily due to public agitation in the proposed alternative sites and the regulatory constraints laid out by the National Green Tribunal. However, we are actively working on processing the legacy waste that has accumulated for more than 30 years.

The dumping yard now houses five biomining machines, with a combined capacity of processing up to 400 tonnes of waste daily. We aim to clear the accumulated waste within this year, and in future the wastes will be segregated at Micro Composting Centres and only the residual waste will be sent to the dumping yard.

The Nagercoil Corporation promised 24x7 water supply, but the project is yet to be fully implemented. Could you elaborate on the reasons for the delay in implementation?

The delay is mainly due to ongoing work of installing water connections across various wards. Out of over 18,000 proposed connections, more than half have already been completed, and the remaining will be completed soon. Currently, the water is being sourced from the Puthan dam for Nagercoil corporation, as the water level in Mukkadal dam has significantly depleted.

There is rising concern over the rampant discharge of sewage into Pazhayar river. Is the corporation planning any proactive measure to curb this discharge, at least within the corporation limits?

We do have certain plans in cards to address this issue. The areas which are discharging sewage into the Pazhayar river are densely populated places with small houses and limited places to construct individual soak pits. To tackle this, the corporation is planning to establish a common soak pit system in those areas, where sewage from each house can be connected to the centralised pit. Since the Pazhayar river is a vital water body of the district, we are committed to protecting it and will be implementing this project soon.

Could you explain the ongoing eviction of encroachments and corporation’s plans to enhance the infrastructure facilities?

We are actively working on evicting encroachments to improve public infrastructure. One of the major initiatives underway is the relocation of street vendors who have encroached upon pedestrian pathways and public spaces. We have 14 small stretches within the corporation limits where alternative places have been allotted to these vendors ensuring minimal disruption to the public.

Additionally, another major project is the construction of a new bus stand adjacent to the Christopher bus stand in Vadasery. This facility spread across five acres in the market area, is being developed at a cost of Rs 55 crores with multilevel parking facilities. Furthermore, a proposal has been submitted for the construction of pedestrian pathways along the major roads to ease traffic congestion and improve safety for pedestrians.

The DPR for restoration of Chemmankulam and establishment of park at the site and restoration of Parakkai-Suchindram tank, an important heronry in the district has been submitted. Are there any updates on these projects?

For the Parakkai-Suchindram tank restoration, ₹1 crore has been allocated under the Environmental Agency of Tamil Nadu and work is set to commence shortly. The project includes the removal of overgrown weeds and water hyacinth, and the development of a walking path around the tank to aid in its maintenance and ecological conservation.

As for the Chemmankulam project, the delay is due to an ongoing assembly session. The proposal has been sent for administrative sanction and further developments are expected soon.