Urban News

The Hindu 31.08.2009

TNPCB team finds site for waste management not suitable

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: A three-member team of senior engineers of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board has said that a nearly 65-acre site at Kuthambakkam, near Poonamallee, where a Solid Waste Management Facility is proposed, is not a suitable location for establishing the facility. This is because rainwater which collects in this area reaches the Chembarambakkam Lake, a major water source for Chennai.

The reports of the team were shown to the First Bench comprising the Chief Justice H.L. Gokhale and Justice D. Murugesan when petitions by S. Nandakumar and the Kuthambakkam Panchayat, represented by its president P.Geetha, challenging the setting up of the facility at the site, came up for further hearing. Earlier, in its interim order, the court had said that garbage should not be dumped on the disputed land until further orders.

Present order

In its present order, the Bench said notwithstanding the team’s report, it appeared that the Member-Secretary had issued a further communication dated October 2008 which was to the contrary and which permitted a compound wall to be constructed round the site wherein the treatment facility is to come up. In this state of affairs, the Bench said it was of the view that the pollution control board should file an affidavit explaining as to what was the correct position in this behalf and placing on record the report of the Municipal Solid Waste Monitoring team, the decision of the board and the Member-Secretary.

The Bench directed that no quarrying and any other construction activity, including construction of a compound wall, would be permitted on the disputed land until further orders. Grazing of animals would be permitted. Counsel for the pollution control board said a counter would be filed. The matter has been posted for September 2.

The Hindu 31.08.2009

Mixed response from northern, western suburbs

K. Lakshmi and Deepa H. Ramakrishnan

CHENNAI: The proposal to either bring more areas under Chennai Corporation or create two additional Corporations has met with mixed response from residents of northern and western suburbs.

Though many welcome the move, residents want the State government to improve civic infrastructure in the suburbs before merging them into a single entity. Several local bodies have been upgraded from townships to municipalities. However, the change in status has not reflected on the development.

Complaining about the undue delay in providing even basic infrastructure such as underground drainage system, water supply network, roads and bridges, they say that a comprehensive solution must be put in place to finish long-pending works.

Residents of Valasaravakkam feel the locality would get better access to civic amenities if it was merged with Chennai Corporation. S. Srinivasan, a resident, says that as Valasaravakkam was geographically closer to Chennai, it must be clubbed with the present Corporation as it would get more attention instead of joining with either Ambattur or Avadi.

Those living in Madhavaram and Maduravoyal say that the proposal for additional Corporations would result in better administration and development even if it meant more property tax. Madhavaram Municipality Chairman D. Shanmugam says that the creation of a new Corporation would delegate more powers and also generate additional resources, which would help in rapid growth of the area.

R. Karunanidhi, a resident of Tiruvottiyur, says merging with a Corporation would definitely mean an improvement of basic infrastructure. “The supply of water would be with the Chennai Metrowater. Also, there would be more administrative and conservancy staff covering the area.” But elected representatives and residents of Ambattur feel that merging of the locality either with Chennai Corporation or Avadi as headquarters would only aggravate problems. G. Natarajan, a resident of Ambattur, says: “The Corporation already has a vast area to administer and Ambattur may not get enough attention. We have to travel far to submit our demands.”

T. Sadagopan, a consumer activist, says the Avadi municipality does not have a health dispensary or a large enough public library. Unless there is consistent development in all the areas, creation of new corporations would not have any impact.

Areas with a large number of industries need a different kind of treatment, says M. Mahalingam, a resident of Manali. “Though we agree that there will be an improvement in facilities, it remains to be seen how well they are able to handle the needs of industrial areas like Manali, Tiruvottiyur and Ambattur. At present, we have many councillors to address our issues. If we are clubbed with a Corporation, there will be lesser representation.”

Lynal Rajamanickam of Kathivakkam feels that lesser representation would not be an issue. “Many development works remain on paper due to intra-party squabbling. We are almost non-existent. Being at the tail end, Kathivakkam gets very little attention. We hope that things will improve when merged with Chennai Corporation.”