Four months on, no progress on green belt project

COIMBATORE: Four months have passed since the National Textile Corporation Limited proposed to offer 25 acres of vacant land for the corporation’s green belt project. Though a green city committee was formed for this purpose and machinery was also bought, no step has been taken to implement any of these proposed plans.
While officials cite absence of senior officials and transfer of S Ganesh, former corporation commissioner, as reasons for the delay, sources said the project has been put in the backburner due to the current political scenario in the state.“With officials busy with several other celebrations and elections, it is very difficult for us to implement any new scheme or project,” said one official.
When members of the green city committee were contacted they said that only one auger machine (a machine that can dig holes for saplings to be planted) was purchased, but has not been put to use.
“We are yet to use the machine. If the machine works well, we will purchase more. And we are working on the projects,” said Jayalakshmi who heads the Green City committee.
On October 19, 2014, the corporation made a decision to use vacant land available at various mills for the green belt project. NTCL had also agreed to give 25 acres of vacant land across its 7 mills located in the city. With many of their closed mills located within city limits, the corporation felt it was an ideal for the project.
“After S Ganesh, former corporation commissioner was transferred, no one has contacted us regarding the project. Officials had conducted an inspection during his tenure but after that no steps were taken,” said an NTCL official.