Surplus Budget tabled in Tirunelveli Corporation

Tirunelveli Corporation has allocated ₹59 crore in its Budget for 2026 – 2027 to tackle pollution of Tamirabharani River.

Tabling the ₹2.40-crore surplus Budget at the council meeting held here on Monday, Mayor G. Ramakrishnan said the amount to be released by German Bank Development Fund would be spent on restoration of the river within the Corporation limits by carrying out ‘river front development’. The German Bank had also agreed to fund ₹102.32-crore sewage treatment plant at Ramaiyanpatti.

Considering the rapidly increasing residential areas in the periphery of Palayamkottai, the Corporation has proposed to set up a water purification unit at Manappadaiveedu headworks at a cost of ₹42.15 crore. The upcoming facility will have the capacity of treating 36 million litres a day water to be pumped from the Tamirabharani. Another ₹91.91 crore has been earmarked for Murappanaadu Drinking Water Project.

Another important step to be taken by the Corporation during this fiscal is the installation of free sanitary napkin vending machines in Corporation schools to ensure personal hygiene of students who are mostly from poor families. However, there is no mention about creation of incinerators in the schools for safe disposal of sanitary pads.

Since the present council meeting hall is ageing, the Corporation has allotted ₹12.50 crore for constructing a new hall with modern facilities.

Digitisation of drinking water distribution infrastructure, using drones for mapping and assessment of properties for levying tax, introducing two robots for removing blocks in the underground drainage system to avoid the banned manual intervention, purchase of ‘super sucker’ vehicle to attend the overflowing underground drainage manholes and digitisation of vehicle parking space in Vaeinthaankulam new bus stand are some of the new initiatives to be taken-up during the upcoming financial year.

For collection of garbage, 20 battery vehicles will be purchased at a cost of ₹1.80 crore. Interestingly, the Corporation has privatised the garbage collection!

When the Mayor announced that the ward development fund for each councillor would be raised from ₹10 lakh to ₹25 lakh and office spaces for councillors created in the Zone Offices at Thatchanallur, Palayamkottai, Melapalayam and Tirunelveli, the members vociferously welcomed it. He also said that apartments for the corporation staff would be built at Old Pettai.

Since the unregulated roadside eateries lined-up along the road east of VOC Stadium cause traffic snarl every evening, particularly during weekends and holidays, the Corporation has proposed to create a dedicated ‘Food Street’ either in Tirunelveli or Palayamkottai.

“This business venture will promote entrepreneurship, popularise the authenticated local foodstuff, strengthen economy and give employment opportunities for the entrepreneurs,” Mr. Ramakrishnan said.

With the stray dog menace going out of control in all 55 wards of Tirunelveli Corporation, the urban civic body, following repeated appeals from the public, has proposed to shift these dogs to a shelter to be created on 10 acres near Ramaiyanpatti garbage yard with the help of a voluntary agency. “We’ll take care of these uncared for dogs at this shelter where veterinarians will be posted,” Mr. Ramakrishnan said.

A sum of ₹60 lakh has been allocated for purchasing vehicles to transport the impounded stray cattle and ₹25 lakh for buying mobile tax collection unit.

While the Corporation’s proposed revenue during the upcoming fiscal stands at ₹404.75 crore, the expenditure will be ₹402.35 crore.