Coiambatore - The Manchester of South India
Coimbatore, popularly known as the Manchester of South India, is situated in the western part of the State of Tamil Nadu. It is the district headquarters, covers approximately 105.5 square kilometers, and due to its proximity to the Western Ghats, enjoys an excellent climate throughout the year. Coimbatore is well known for its textile industries and has excellent potential for industrial growth.
Coimbatore City became a Municipality in November 1866, having a population of 24,000 and covering an area of 10.88 square kilometers. Coimbatore City's status has since been elevated to a Municipal Corporation (as of 1981), and its present population is approximately 1,300,000, including a floating population of around 150,000.
Urban Services
1. There are two major sources of drinking water for Coimbatore City: Siruvani and Pillur. The city receives about 70 million litres per day (MLD) of water supply from the Siruvani scheme and 35 MLD from the Pillur scheme (1999). The Corporation maintains the distribution of the water supply, and at present maintains the supply of drinking water at 110 litres per capita per day (lpcd). The entire supply of water from Siruvani is delivered by gravity whereas the Pillur scheme requires pumping.
2. The Corporation collects and removes about 800 tones of solid waste (garbage) per day (1999) from the streets of the city using modern collection and transportation methods. The process involves, 100 containers with a capacity of 6 cubic metres, 16 dumper placer vehicles, one primer mover, 80 tractors and lorries, 26 autorickshaws and 300 bullock carts.
Urban Innovations
Coimbatore City became a Municipality in November 1866, having a population of 24,000 and covering an area of 10.88 square kilometers. Coimbatore City's status has since been elevated to a Municipal Corporation (as of 1981), and its present population is approximately 1,300,000, including a floating population of around 150,000.
Urban Services
1. There are two major sources of drinking water for Coimbatore City: Siruvani and Pillur. The city receives about 70 million litres per day (MLD) of water supply from the Siruvani scheme and 35 MLD from the Pillur scheme (1999). The Corporation maintains the distribution of the water supply, and at present maintains the supply of drinking water at 110 litres per capita per day (lpcd). The entire supply of water from Siruvani is delivered by gravity whereas the Pillur scheme requires pumping.
2. The Corporation collects and removes about 800 tones of solid waste (garbage) per day (1999) from the streets of the city using modern collection and transportation methods. The process involves, 100 containers with a capacity of 6 cubic metres, 16 dumper placer vehicles, one primer mover, 80 tractors and lorries, 26 autorickshaws and 300 bullock carts.
Urban Innovations
- Coimbatore Municipal Corporation (CMC) has prepared a corporate plan.
- The city has improved its tax collection system by introducing self-assessment of property tax as well as allowing payment of bills through various branches of nationalized banks within the city limits. Apart from this, 16 collection centers have also been opened to collect taxes, nine of which have been computerized.
- Computerization of Property Tax records and collection.
- The city has developed a management information system to enable monitoring of various activities that are being implemented.
- Improvements in monitoring of the tax collection system has paid dividends, as collection of property tax has increased by more than Rs.100,000,000 during 1997-98 as compared to the previous year.
- Mechanization of garbage disposal by introducing dumper placers and containers.
- Privatization of the maintenance of public toilets.
- The Corporation has partially privatized the removal of garbage by engaging tractors on a cost per trip basis.
- The Corporation has published a Citizens' Charter in hopes of updating citizens about the functioning of the Corporation's services.
