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Public Health / Sanitation

Two-pronged approach in Coimbatore

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The Hindu       11.12.2018 

Two-pronged approach in Coimbatore

Slow start:Source segregation is yet to catch on in Coimbatore.M. Periasamy

Slow start:Source segregation is yet to catch on in Coimbatore.M. Periasamy  

Civic body in city has decided to take constructive as well as punitive steps to tackle plastics threat

The Coimbatore Corporation has taken a two-pronged approach to implement the ban on one-time use plastic items, which kicks in on January 1, 2019, following a State government order.

The first is the constructive approach involving activists, representatives of various trade bodies that consume plastic in bulk and members of society to raise awareness on the ban, the alternatives available and encourage the use of eco-friendly alternatives, says Corporation Commissioner K. Vijayakarthikeyan.

The Corporation has held a series of meetings with representatives of the hotel industry, traders' bodies, caterers' associations and wedding hall owners to inform them of the ban, how serious the Corporation is about it and how they can play a role in reducing the quantity of plastic that becomes the city's waste. The Corporation followed it up, with help from non-government organisations, by holding two exhibitions to showcase eco-friendly products that can be used as alternatives to plastics.

Second strategy

The second strategy is to take punitive steps after January 1, 2019.

The Corporation has, no doubt, made a headstart in promoting alternatives but the result of it is not as encouraging as expected, says R. Raveendran, secretary, Residents Awareness Association of Coimbatore. The Association works with the Corporation in improving city governance.

“The reason for the not-so-encouraging experience is that the bulk plastic users are confident that the Government will not strictly enforce the ban on one-time use plastic goods, just as it has enforced the rule on compulsory wearing of helmets,” he says.

The cost of alternative products is a factor that the bulk users cite for going slow on moving away from plastics. But this has become a chicken-and-egg story as the manufacturers of the alternative products say that they are willing to reduce the price if the users order in bulk. In the meantime, the Corporation continues to grapple with increasing quantity of one-time use plastic in its waste.

Of the 75-plus tonnes of plastic waste that is generated a day in the city, around 40% is recyclable, says Suresh Bhandari, a waste management expert working in association with the Corporation. The recycling happens at various levels – from conservancy workers segregating high-value plastic times to make money to rag pickers at the dump yard in Vellalore.

But the problem is with the non-recyclable plastic waste and poor segregation, say sources familiar with the development.

Though the Corporation claims that 80% of the waste generated in the city is segregated, the reality is that only around 30% is segregated at source. The result is that the mixed waste lands at the Corporation's dump in Vellalore, adding to the waste lying accumulated over the years.

 

This civic body does not practise what it preaches on public health

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The Hindu          09.01.2018  

This civic body does not practise what it preaches on public health

Water in an open overhead tank that has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes on the terrace of Dindigul Corporation lodge inside Kamarajar Central Bus Stand on Monday.PHOTO: G. Karthikeyan  

Tank in Dindigul Corporation Lodge is a breeding ground for mosquitoes

Even as the district administration has come up with preventive measures to control dengue and other contagious fevers, including severe action against residents who failed to follow guidelines set by the Corporation, the uncovered overhead tanks on the terrace of Dindigul Corporation lodge inside Kamarajar Central Bus Stand has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes, thanks to ill-maintenance and stagnation of water.

Three other tanks on the terrace are not covered properly. The Corporation has been storing water in these open and partially covered tanks to maintain water supply to lodges and shops in the building.

With no proper maintenance for a long time, it has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. The corporation sanitary workers neither clean the tank nor spray anti-mosquito repellents to prevent larvae breeding, alleged shopkeepers.

The Corporation health officials took stern action against residents who did not seal water containers in houses. They often slapped fine on owners of private and commercial buildings within the city limit when they found larvae in stagnated water in the tanks and containers. But no attempt was made to even clean the open overhead tanks in the bus stand and contain mosquito breeding, said S. Murugan, a vendor in the bus stand.

However, shopkeepers state that plastic tanks installed on the terrace are closed properly. Lids meant for cement tanks were either damaged or missing for a long time. No efforts were taken maintain them.

To worsen the situation, the Corporation garbage clearing workers have converted an open space between Karur and Tiruchi bus bays inside the bus stand into a temporary garbage dumping yard, polluting the surroundings and posing grave health threat to passengers. They collect the waste from the bus stand and roads around it and dump them at this spot. Fruit wastes and waste generated from eateries, hotels and tea shops too are being dumped at this spot.

Now the temporary garbage yard attracts stray dogs and pigs and become a breeding ground for flies and mosquitoes. Passengers waiting at these bays to go to Karur, Tiruchi and Palani have a tough time. Hygiene and clean surroundings are still a distant dream. The central bus stand was upgraded into A-grade bus stand last year.

 

Corporation to offer affordable healthcare

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The Hindu       26.12.2017

Corporation to offer affordable healthcare

Thanks to the ‘Smart Hospitals’ initiative

The ‘Smart Hospitals’ initiative of the Madurai Corporation will facilitate delivery of quality healthcare at its hospitals at affordable cost, said Commissioner S. Aneesh Sekhar on Monday.

The Commissioner told The Hindu he would strive to focus on hospitals falling under the ‘area-based development’ zone of the Smart City Mission.

There are currently three hospitals that have been shortlisted for the first phase of smart healthcare delivery.

They are primary health centres and maternity homes located in Baskaradas Nagar, East Veli Street and South Gate. The smart hospital project is set to improve the hospital capacity tracking facility, emergency management, fire detection and tele-health, according to an official of the health department of the corporation.

“Smart hospital aims at improving the user experience and providing infrastructure that matches or beats the private healthcare providers. Waiting areas will be cleaner and inpatient facilities will improve. Special attention will be given to the needs of staff and paramedics too,” said the Commissioner.

“Though the project does not immediately set out to increase the number of hospital beds, it looks to revamp the existing infrastructure. The initiative is currently in the ‘detailed project report’ stage and cost estimates will be available to the public after the reports are approved,” said Dr. Sekhar.

A total of Rs. 334 crore of Madurai’s Smart City Mission fund has gone into heritage conservation and open spaces enhancement. About Rs. 300 crore has been pumped into improving basic infrastructure such as water, sewage and roads.

This initiative would encourage citizens to approach government organisations for healthcare, said the Commissioner.

 


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