Urban News

The Hindu 30.04.2010

Corporation seeks ban on sale of water sachets

Staff Reporter

CHENNAI: The Chennai Corporation Council on Thursday passed a resolution seeking a ban on drinking water sachets in the city.

Coliform bacteria, faecal matter

Mayor M. Subramanian said the drinking water sold in polythene sachets in the city had been found to contain coliform bacteria and faecal matter.

The absence of non-touch technology in 22 units led to their closure.

Diarrhoea, typhoid

A large number of cases of diarrhoea and typhoid in the city have been caused because of the consumption of substandard water, he said.

The Corporation has requested the government to slap a ban on sale of drinking water sachets and other products such as unhygienic juices.

The civic body has also said that readymade packets of food should have the printed details of ingredients, address of manufacturer, date of manufacture and expiry date in Tamil.

The Tamil Nadu Packaged Drinking Water Manufacturers' Association has voiced concern at the decision of the civic body to seek a ban on water sachets.

Standards

According to a press release from the association, the Bureau of Indian Standards had introduced standards for flexible pouches for selling drinking water.

It clarified that the pouches were recyclable and had a thickness of more than 65 microns.

The Pollution Control Board had banned carry bags less than 20 microns, the press release said.

The ISI certified water pouches were safe for consumption as they were packed and sealed by automatic machines, the press release added.

The Hindu 29.04.2010

Stern action against illegal suction of water

Special Correspondent

PHOTO:R.M. RAJARATHINAM

ACTION WOMAN: Mayor S. Sujatha and Corporation Commissioner T.T. Balsamy at a Corporation Council meeting in Tiruchi on Wednesday.

TIRUCHI: The Tiruchi Corporation would crack down on the illegal use of motors for drawing water from the drinking water distribution mains of the civic body, Mayor S.Sujatha has cautioned.

Speaking during the zero hour at an ordinary meeting of the Corporation Council meeting here on Wednesday, Ms.Sujatha said that motors used for such purposes would be seized and urged Corporation Councillors not to interfere when such action was initiated by the officials.

A section of the councillors complained of inadequate supply of drinking water in their respective wards and Commissioner T.T.Balsamy instructed officials to ensure that minor problems in distribution be rectified immediately. “Inspect the places along with the respective councillors and rectify the problems,” he told officials.

Earlier,V.Jawahar of the Congress urged the Corporation officials to shift the bus halt at the narrow EVS Street in Srirangam as it was turning an accident prone zone. With buses lining up one behind another and the competition among private operators, the place has become a dangerous spot. Recently, a child was fatally run over by a bus, he said and urged the Corporation officials to shift the bus halt after demolishing a nearby public toilet. He also demanded that a proper bus stand be built in Srirangam.

J.Senthilnathan of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam complained of a similar problem near Anna Statue in Chinthamani and urged the Corporation officials to take steps to build a flyover in the area.

O.R.Sriraman of the Communist Party of India and his party colleagues, V.Puspham and D.Thangaraj, called upon the Corporation to introduce a free breakfast scheme in all Corporation schools.

The scheme was being successfully implemented in a few schools with the help of donors.

The Corporation should implement the scheme in all Corporation schools by allotting funds from the Education Cess.

Referring to the recent clash between a city lawyer and some personnel of the 117 Infantry Battalion, over the issue of parking vehicles on the roadside in front of the battalion campus near the Central Bus Stand, Mr.Sriraman alleged that motorists who park their vehicles on the roadside to visit the bus stand or the commercial establishments were being subject to abuses. He called upon the Corporation officials to take steps to prevent such incidents.

Pattas

J.Srinivasan, AIADMK floor leader, urged the Corporation to publicise the norms for issuing house pattas to living on poromboke. Referring to an official resolution seeking the council clearance for issue of no-objection certificate (NOC) for issue of pattas in a few places, Mr.Srinivasan said that pattas were being issued to people only in a certain wards. However, Mayor Sujatha denied that there was any partiality or political consideration in issuing pattas. The pattas were issued by the Revenue Department and the Corporation was only required to give NOCs, Mr.Balsamy said.