Urban News

The Hindu 23.04.2010

Solid waste plant: panchayat, municipalities directed to environment authority

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Thursday directed a panchayat and five municipalities to approach the Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (EIAA) with full particulars of the proposed common Solid Waste Management Plant (SWMP) in Kuthambakkam village of Tiruvallur district.

A Division Bench, comprising Justices Elipe Dharma Rao and K.K. Sasidharan, gave the direction in its common judgment on writ petitions and an appeal pertaining to the decision taken by the State government to allot 70 acres and the consequent entry permission given to Ambattur, Maduravoyal, Thiruverkadu, Valasaravakkam and Poonamallee municipalities and Porur Town Panchayat for establishing the SWMP.

In a petition, S. Nandakumar, president of Kuthambakkam panchayat, stated to be a model village and nominated for the UN Habitat Award, said the livelihood of the people of the village was agriculture.

Most of them solely relied on livestock. The cattle depended on common grazing lands where the government had decided to set up the SWMP.

Disposing of the appeal and writ petitions, the Bench said though it was of the view that no interference was called for in the order passed by the government as well as the order of the District Collector, it would make the legal position clear — before taking action under Section 134 (3) of the Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act (Village panchayat to regulate the use of certain porombokes in ryotwari tracts), the concerned panchayat should be consulted.

The Bench also indicated the importance of public hearing and the need to ascertain the views of the affected persons by authorities before giving environmental clearance.

The court directed the EIAA to give a copy of the application by the municipalities and the panchayat for granting environmental clearance for establishing the facility, to the Kuthambakkam panchayat so as to enable the petitioner to submit the views or objections in the matter.

The Kuthambakkam panchayat and the local affected persons should be given an opportunity to offer their comments during the public hearing.

The court said that in case the EIAA rejected the application for environmental clearance, liberty is given to the Kuthambakkam panchayat to approach the government for cancellation of allotment to the local bodies, in view of the statement made by the Advocate-General.

The Hindu 20.04.2010

Rs.3.75 crore allotted to develop Tranquebar

Staff Reporter

Display:Collector C. Munianathan looking at the display of exhibits on solid waste management organised by INTACH at Tranquebar on the occasion of World Heritage Day on Sunday. A. Annadurai, District Revenue Officer(extreme right), is also seen.

THARANGAMBADI: Tranquebar, lyrically called the land of singing waves, marked the site for World Heritage Day observation here jointly under the aegis of the district administration and at the initiative of INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage) on Sunday.

This is the first time the World Heritage Day has been marked at this site, an erstwhile Danish settlement in the district. Speaking on the occasion, Collector C. Munianathan pointed out to the symbolism of the event, and implied that this ought to trigger off significant observations in the future. The domestic and the foreign tourist traffic was about 61,000 the previous year and the target for the forthcoming year was 1 lakh. This would fructify by joint initiative of the government along with the local community, Mr.Munianathan said. According to him, this was possible only through creation of awareness amid the local population. Rise in tourism would ensure growth of ancillary services that thrive on influx of tourists. Awareness among auto drivers about the significance of the Danish heritage of Tranquebar was as much important for tourism as that of other institutional initiatives, the Collector stated. Additionally, the Central government has funded Rs.3.75 crore for development of Tranquebar. This envisages development of lawns inside the Dansborg Fort without compromising on its historical significance among other proposals. A week-long concessional entry is allowed in observance of the World Heritage Day.

Terracotta community

Further, a terracotta community workshop was organised by the Tranquebar Crafts Resource Center, and an exhibition on solid waste management initiatives involving over 2,000 households was on display at the House of Dr.Van Theiliegn, reportedly the last Danish settler and doctor to resettle to Denmark from Tranquebar.

“The initiative has been conceived to create awareness among students and people alike on the importance of the site, where they live,” Aasai Thambi, Senior Architect with INTACH said . INTACH has been involved in restoration of Danish architecture here and through its other initiatives has engaged the locals in conservation efforts.

The World Heritage Day celebration here marked by drawing and painting competitions for students would create a shared sense of conservation of heritage architecture, believes Mr.Aasai Thambi.

A rally was flagged off here by Mr.Munianathan with school students marching from Tranquebar market street up to the Dansborg Fort.