The Hindu 14.06.2013
Construction debris dumped at Valankulam; vehicle seized
A tractor was seized by the Corporation officials here on Thursday for dumping construction debris at Valankulam.
The
officials were alerted by the members of Siruthuli, an NGO based in the
city, that had recently joined hands with Residents Awareness
Association of Coimbatore to desilt Ukkadam Big Tank and Singanallur
Tank.
According to Siruthuli Managing Trustee Vanitha
Mohan, the incident happened in the vicinity of their office. The
practice has become rampant over the past two years and several efforts
to curb the menace had proved futile, she said. Ms. Mohan said that the
organisation had earlier cleaned the banks of Valankulam and planted
trees to prevent dumping. But people continued to dump debris and
garbage. Only with stringent action, this could be stopped, she said.
Corporation
officials said that the tractor was found to be used by a railway
contractor and added that the contractor, vehicle owner and the driver
have been asked to appear before the Corporation.
A
complaint would be lodged with the Regional Transport Office since the
debris cannot be transported without the requisite permission. After
this, a police complaint would also be lodged, he said.
Criminal action
Taking a serious view of these violations,
Corporation Commissioner G. Latha said that a criminal action would be
initiated against those indulging in such acts.
The
Corporation, she said, was going to request the district administration
to convene a joint meeting of all the stakeholders to deal with this
issue. As the civic body lacked the manpower to police all the areas
under its jurisdiction, she said it would try to seek help from other
departments.
“We have given a list of 17 locations to
the builders and tipper lorry associations to dump construction debris
and yet, they continue to indulge in this practice. I have given
instructions to lodge a police complaint and initiate criminal
proceedings.”
Stating that everyone must have a
social consciousness, she said that several meetings have been held with
builders and other stakeholders but to no avail.