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Chennai makeover gathers pace as civic body steps on the pedal

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The Times of India      02.08.2021

Chennai makeover gathers pace as civic body steps on the pedal

Anna Nagar roundabout junction renovated with a tower lock and fountains
 
CHENNAI: The cash-strapped Greater Chennai Corporation is on a beautifying spree under the ‘Singara Chennai 2.0’ programme that will be unveiled later by chief minister M K Stalin.

At least nine different projects including the mass cleaning drive that began nine weeks ago and has so far removed 17,500 tonnes of garbage and debris have been taken up.

About 77,000 posters have been removed from walls at 2,100 locations and artwork and painting of walls projects ordered on three stretches. About 300 public toilets have been cleaned. Commissioner Gagandeep Singh Bedi goes on regular inspections, ordering zonal engineers to plant flowering plants on the pavements and road sides. A total of 99 medians and traffic islands will sport fountains, plants, art work and statues made out of scrap. New parks are being planned, too.

Comprehensive meetings are held every week with zonal officials and regional deputy commissioners to finalize ideas to beautify major junctions such as Madhya Kailash and city square. Powerpoint presentations are being made for each zone on how major streets and junctions can be beautified including by setting up water ponds, fountains and colourful lights.

Unlike earlier, when just one stretch like Pondy Bazaar was chosen for beautification, the civic body wants to give the entire city an aesthetic look. About 15 statues made of scrap have been placed at prominent places like the Kathipara flyover, Indira Nagar, Besant Nagar and the Marina.

Since end-May, when the mass cleaning programme – the chief minister’s dream project – was taken up, workers have been diligently at work in slums and on roads and pavements. Posters are going from walls and the plan is to adorn them with artwork, but funding is a problem. “We are looking to tie up with major IT companies and other industries for CSR funds,” said chief engineer (roads), S Rajendiran.

As part of the plan to bring colour to streets including beautifying 99 medians, residential welfare associations are being roped in. Regional deputy commissioners and zonal officials have held meetings to find people who can fund, repair and maintain them. “It has to be a citizen centric movement. We will allow them to set up boards or advertise,” said RDC (central) Sharanya Ari. In the next two weeks, work on revamping at least 30 junctions/traffic islands in each region on the lines of the Anna Nagar Roundabout will begin.

The ultimate aim, says Bedi, is to change the look and feel of the city. “When people ride or drive around, they should be able to see the greenery, artwork and experience beauty. More projects including renovating parks and setting up new ones will be taken up. Once it is finalized, we will share all details,” he said.
 

Minister wants storm drains to be completed by November

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The New Indian Express    02.11.2019

Minister wants storm drains to be completed by November

Construction of all storm water drains (SWD)  in the city must be completed by the end of November, Municipal Administration Minister S P Velumani has told the Chennai Corporation.

Minister SP Velumani presents rescue equipment to those trained for disaster operations at the Tamil Nadu Commando School | special arrangement
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Construction of all stormwater drains (SWD)  in the city must be completed by the end of November, Municipal Administration Minister S P Velumani has told the Chennai Corporation.
At a monsoon preparedness review meeting held at Ripon Building on Friday, Velumani said the Rs 441 crore worth SWD project, which runs for 171 km has to be completed by November 30.“Severe action will be taken against officials of corporation and metro water, who don’t attend to complaints received in the grievance redressal centres,’’ said the minister.  

Under the National Aapda-Mitra scheme for training volunteers for disaster rescue, the minister presented rescue equipment worth Rs 5,000 each to 200 individuals in the city, who were trained at the Tamil Nadu Commando School.

During the meeting, the minister reviewed a wide range of projects, facilities and measures taken by the corporation and metro water board. It ranged from SWD, rainwater harvesting, dengue prevention, extra food stock for monsoon and completion of recharge well construction.

The ongoing projects the minister reviewed, were the  SWD desilting project (Rs 12 crore), Renovation projects (Rs 17 crore), 406 km-long SWD construction along Adyar and Cooum Rivers (Rs 1261 crore), and the 763 km-long SWD construction along Kosasthalaiyar River (` 2000 crore).

Further, the minister enquired about the technology used to remove water hyacinth and silt from canals and lakes. Enquiring about the status of the restoration of 210 waterbodies by the corporation, the minister told officials to hasten the restoration work and deepening of lakes. Officials present said around 37,000 metric tonnes of silt were collected from the drains so far.  

Minister D Jayakumar, R B Udhayakumar and officials from corporation and metro water were present in the review meeting.

‘681 places identified’
As part of the flood prevention preparations, the minister enquired about the high horsepower motor pumps, super sucker to remove excess flood water, and generators. The officials said 681 locations of water stagnation had been identified and measures will be taken to remove the water clogging.

Last Updated on Friday, 08 November 2019 11:24
 

Civic body chief calls for active participation

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The Hindu    24.05.2018  

Civic body chief calls for active participation

Participants at a workshop on solid waste management organised by Tiruchi Corporation on Tuesday.A.Muralitharan

Participants at a workshop on solid waste management organised by Tiruchi Corporation on Tuesday.A.Muralitharan  

In enforcement of new rules on solid waste management

Tiruchi Corporation Commissioner N. Ravichandran has called for active participation of all stakeholders in enforcing the revamped rules on solid waste management.

Inaugurating a one-day workshop on Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, organised by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and the Ministry of Forests and Environment in association with Tiruchi City Corporation here on Tuesday, he said that as per the revamped Municipal Solid Waste (Management and Handling) rules, 2016, every citizen had a duty to segregate waste at source, store them separately and hand them over to sanitary workers.

As mandated by the rules, Tiruchi Corporation had already made source segregation compulsory. Sanitary workers were reaching more than 2.5 lakh households and commercial establishments daily in the city to collect solid waste. The system had begun showing expected results.

Mr. Ravichandran said the participation of various stakeholders, including citizens, officials, sanitary workers, civic activists and environmentalists, was important for success. The main waste generators, including markets, industrial houses, hotels, restaurants, hostels and marriage halls, should develop on-site composting system to produce organic manure from biodegradable waste. They should also explore the possibilities of converting waste into energy.

Preeti Dinesh kumar, Assistant Director, National Productivity Council, who coordinated the workshop, said civic bodies had to take time-bound actions to implement the revamped solid waste management rules. They had been communicated the methods and best practices of handling and disposing six categories of solid waste including e-waste.

It had so far conducted workshops in Chennai and Madurai. It would conduct a similar workshop in Coimbatore soon.

 
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