The Deccan Chronicle 17.07.2009

Rs 22 crore more for river project

Chennai
July 16: The government will take up additional works to the tune of Rs 22.16 crore under the Chennai city river conservation project this fiscal. The important component of this centrally assisted project of pollution abatement is to intercept the sewage discharge polluting the six Chennai city waterways and pumping it into the sewage treatment plants at Perungudi, Koyambedu, Nesapakkam and Kodungaiyur.

The Pallikaranai wetland, a unique fresh water swamp and nesting ground for wading birds and waterfowls in the city would be protected from encroachment by constructing a compound wall at a cost of Rs 1.18 crore.

The state government has also proposed to produce organic tea by establishing an organic tea plantation in an area of 7.5 hectares in Coonoor this year. Natural and organic inputs would be used to improve the health of the soil, environment and to sustain the yield and quality of the product.

The organic tea would be raised in the Coonoor tea division of the Tamil Nadu Tea Plantation corporation (TANTEA) on an experimental basis, according to the policy note on environment and forests departments tabled in the Assembly on Thursday by state forest minister N. Selvaraj.

Also, a new zoo would be established on a 200-hectare land in M.R. Palayam reserve forests in Tiruchy and the work would begin this year.