The spread of fire at Vendipalayam garbage dumpyard was controlled by the Fire and Rescue Services personnel in the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday.

Smoke was found emanating from garbage at a few places during the course of Thursday.

The spread had been averted, said Corporation Commissioner Seeni Ajmal Khan.

Presence of workers at a solid waste management unit operating out of the dumpyard helped in early detection of fire and follow up measures, the Commissioner said.

He added that a few borewells would be dug at the site to maintain wetness of the garbage mounds during summer.

Twice in recent years, there were major fires at the dumpyard. Release of combustible methane gas from decomposing organic garbage had caused the conflagration.

Development of an administrative and a commercial complex at Swedeshi Mill, a multi-level parking lot at Old Jail, modernisation of new bus stand, setting up of a desalination plant, remodelling of underground sewerage system, improvement of streetscapes and extension of the beach promenade are the highlights of the Rs. 2,000-crore project proposal prepared by the Local Administration Department for bidding to get included in the Centre’s Smart City programme.

The Local Administration Department, which is in the final stages of preparing the report with assistance form consultant, JLL India and French Development Agency, would submit the report to the Ministry of Urban Affairs in the next two weeks to participate in the third round of Smart City selection process in April.

As part of the preparations, the LAD held a final consultative meeting, which was attended by Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy, top officials and representatives of 15 French companies, here on Thursday.

According to a note circulated at the meeting, 62 projects covering departments such as Electricity, Public Works, Tourism, Transport, Traffic, LAD, and Puducherry Urban Development Authority were considered for funding under the Smart City project.

The re-worked project proposal concentrates on retrofitting format to take up development works in several areas. Tourism being the main attraction, the project managers had given thrust to projects such as restoration of government-owned heritage building, improvement of historic temples, cultural and wellness centre, improvement of Botanical Garden, beach nourishment, sea walk, retrofitment of the Old Pier and development of a hotel at Old Distillery.

The other key projects envisaged under the Smart City project included construction of an administrative complex on a built-up area of 2.5 lakh square feet at Swedeshi Mill, a commercial complex on 5 lakh square feet on the mill premises, development of Mairie building, setting up of an advanced integrated system to operate and manage multiple city service operations, enhancing power distribution system and waste to energy project at Kuruvanpet.

Participating in the meeting, Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy said he was hopeful of the UT finding a place in the Smart Cities list in the upcoming bidding process.

Speaking on the Consul-General of France to Puducherry and Chennai, Philippe Janvier-Kamiyama said the French government would partner with the Union Territory in the project by providing financial and technical expertise.

Minister for Public Works A. Namassivayam, Chief Secretary Manoj Parida, LAD Secretary P. Jawahar and Minister Counsellor and Head of the Regional Economic Department for South Asia, Embassy of France, Jean-Marc Fenet, attended the meeting.