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Chennai Corporation launches initiative to recycle beverage cartons

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The Hindu    

Chennai Corporation launches initiative to recycle beverage cartons

Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner G. Prakash launched the ‘Take Me Back’ initiative to recycle beverage cartons into useful items.

According to a press release, the initiative is expected to create consumer awareness about recycling of used beverage cartons.

Collaborative effort

Dunzo will be the logistics partner by providing free doorstep pick-up of used cartons.

Used cartons will be sorted by women at the non-governmental organisation Arpanam Trust, which will help them with their livelihood. The collected cartons will be recycled into useful items and donated to less-privileged communities, in consultation with the Greater Chennai Corporation.

Special bins have been placed at all drop-off points across the city.

As part of this city-wide campaign, consumers will now have over 20 deposit points for their used beverage cartons at various retail stores across the city.

All collection centre details will be available at http://www.takemebackcampaign.com, according to the press release.

 

Greater Chennai Corporation plans to dredge Pallikaranai marshland

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The Times of India         30.11.2020

Greater Chennai Corporation plans to dredge Pallikaranai marshland

 

 

An expert on the Pallikaranai marsh, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said it is like a giant sponge.Chief minister J Jayalalithaa declared the Pallikaranai marsh a protected area in 2005, but now her party’s government has decided to dredge one of the last refuges of migratory birds in the city. The Greater Chennai Corporation believes the move will prevent flooding in the nearby residential areas, but naturalists and water experts are shocked and warn the ecosystem could be damaged.

A Chennai Corporation source said about Rs1,000 crore is the budget for this work, which is expected to be launched on Monday by chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami with a visit to the marsh.

An expert on the Pallikaranai marsh, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said it is like a giant sponge. It will absorb, retain and slowly discharge the water. It acts as a natural drain that carries flood water to the Oggiyam Maduvu and to Buckingham Canal and on to the Bay of Bengal.

Former PWD assistant executive engineer S Thirunavukkarasu said the marsh is in the shape of a bowl. It absorbs flood waters from more than 55 lakes in and around South Chennai and its suburbs. Dredging this marshland eco-system will have a negative impact on its eco-system, he warned.

Conservationist T Murugavel asked whether the dredging proposal was based on any study. Now is the time migratory birds, waders and raptors visit the marsh. Dredging will destroy the nests of the migratory birds, he said.

Top Comment
Why don't this stupid Duplicate Dravidian parties listen to environmental scientists before taking up a foolish stand. it was 7000 hectares of land shrunk to 700 hectares. Actual reason is something ...Read More
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In 2005, Jayalalithaa declared the marsh a protected area after an aerial survey of flood-hit Velacherry and its surroundings. The declaration was announced on November 12 to coincide with the birthday of the father of Indian ornithology Salim Ali.

Biodiversity researchers have recorded 155 species of birds, 100 species of fish and 141 plant species in the marsh. Originally pread over 7,000 hectares, the marsh has shrunk to 695.85 hectares as a result of encroachments over the years. Conservationists fear dredging could spell the beginning of the end for the marsh that remains.
 

Stormwater drain work in Southern parts of Chennai to start soon

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The Hindu       30.11.2020

Stormwater drain work in Southern parts of Chennai to start soon

The Chennai Corporation will start work on stormwater drains in southern parts of the city in two weeks.

The work is expected to start next year on the development of stormwater drains in the northern parts.

At least ₹2,600 crore is expected to be spent on the development of stormwater drains, the eco-restoration of waterbodies and he interlinking of tanks in the Tiruvottiyur, Manali, Madhavaram, Ambattur, Sholinganallur, Perungudi and Alandur zones.

However, residents have started a campaign to stop the development of stormwater drains in areas like Sholinganallur.

Officials of the Corporation are planning to conduct a meeting with residents associations, explaining the significance of the development of stormwater drains.

Multilateral agencies such as the Asian Development Bank and KfW have funded the project to develop stormwater drains in various parts of the city. The work is expected to be completed in two years.

The World Bank has already funded the construction of stormwater drains in the Adyar and Cooum basins. More than 95% of the work has been completed.

 


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