Chavakachcheri development board to be inaugurated

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 14 January 2004, 03:30 GMT]
The Chavakachcheri Town Development Advisory Board is to be formed on Thai Pongal Day, which falls on Thursday, with a view to formulating a development plan to be implemented with the funds available with the Chavakachcheri Urban Council. The Secretary of the Chavakachcheri UC has invited representatives of all civil groups in the town for the inaugural meeting of the advisory board, which is scheduled to be held Thursday afternoon at the UC office, sources said.

"This step has been taken as the government has not provided any financial assistance to the development of war-ravaged Chavakachcheri town although two years have passed since the resettlement of the internally displaced families," said the Secretary of the Urban Council in an appeal to all civil associations in the area.

"The Chavakachcheri town has been in ruins following iots destruction by the Sri Lanka Army in intense fighting during the war in 2000. As the government has not provided financial assistance to reconstruct the war-ravaged town, the urgent need has arisen for the UC administration to utilize its available fund for the reconstruction of the town. The Secretary is now administering the council, as it has no elected administration since the expiry of the life term of the council in 2003.

"We have to adopt several procedures when implementing a development project. Identifying the project, preparing a plan and monitoring the progress are to be adhered when launching a development project. As the UC administration cannot take all these responsibilities and also to ensure people's participation it has been decided to form a body with representatives of volunteer organizations in the area. The body has been named Chavakachcheri Town Development Advisory Board.

" We welcome written suggestions from all civil organizations in this regard and solicit the wholehearted co-operation of these institutions to reconstruct the Chavakachcheri town," said in the appeal.