The Hindu 26.06.2013
“Enough with the polluting of Chennai drains”
To rid the city of illegal sewer connections in
stormwater drains, the Chennai Corporation is set to launch a drive to
screen all 1.5 lakh commercial establishments across the city.
Those
found to be polluting stormwater drains by letting in sewage will be
penalised. A number of hotels including luxury hotels have allegedly
been polluting stormwater drains through illegal sewer connections. Such
establishments could be in trouble this week.
On
Wednesday, the Corporation Council is likely to pass a resolution
directing zonal officers to screen all commercial establishments in the
city. Those units letting sewage into stormwater drains will have their
trade licences cancelled by the civic body.
However, residents who have illegal sewer connections will not be regulated in the first phase of the drive.
Of
the 11 lakh property tax assessees in the 15 zones of the city, 1.5
lakh properties are classified as commercial. The Corporation, however,
has issued only around 25,000 trade licences. The drive therefore, is
expected to only cover business units that come under the trade licence
net. Other commercial establishments will have to be regulated by
invoking the Public Health Act or the Chennai Metrowater Supply and
Sewerage Board Act, an official said.
In January this
year, the council took a major step towards streamlining the system to
issue trade licences. The number of licensed trades under the old city
limits was 194. Trades such as furniture, plastic work, electrical
goods, fruit stalls, pickles, bakeries and tea stalls were among those
included in the original list of the old Corporation limits.
The
new proposal covers 575 trades including flower shops, book binding,
animal skin processing, hair processing, pizza, pollution control
equipment, computer stationery and Thanjavur plates. All such shops will
be under the scanner.