The Times of India            25.11.2013

Civic body to procure sweeping machines for battling road dust

MADURAI: The Madurai Corporation has proposed to procure two truck-mounted sweeping machines at a total cost of Rs 90 lakh with the intention of battling dust, a chronic problem on the city roads. The proposal was passed during the council meeting held on Thursday.

Presenting the proposal in the meeting, mayor V V Rajan Chellappa said the fine sand accumulated on the roadsides cause dust pollution and result in accidents as well. In an effort to tackle this specific problem, the corporation has planned to buy two such machines for the city that has 100 wards. The estimated value of the machines is Rs 45 lakh each and the council was asked to give its consent over sanctioning Rs 90 lakh from the general fund of the corporation.

Kannagi Baskaran, chairman of the standing committee (works) however, stated that such machine procured earlier was not useful and was lying waste. She raised doubts about the efficiency of these proposed sweeping machines. But Chellappa said that they have seen a demo of these machines during the exhibition held in Chennai recently and were impressed. They have agreed to show a power point presentation about the machines to the councillors over any doubts raised by the council.

A Mathuram, city engineer (in-charge) later said the corporation procured one sweeper machine in 2004 and it turned out ineffective due to poor suction power. It was an auxiliary unit towed by tractor but the ones they have decided to procure were advanced models. "These machines are mounted on trucks and can be powered by the truck power unlike the previous model. They are far more superior and produce more vacuum power. They can suck even stone weighing nearly 100 g," he said.

In the same way, the corporation passed a resolution on procuring four skid steer robots (a smaller earthmover) - one each for all four zones for the corporation. The smaller earthmovers will be ideal for road laying and maintenance works in narrow lanes where bigger earthmovers cannot navigate, Chellappa told the council. The corporation sought the council nod in sanctioning Rs 76 lakh as the approximate price with each vehicle costing Rs 19 lakh each under the special government rate, Chellappa added.

In another resolution, the corporation decided to procure a sky-lift vehicle to repair street lights in zone three and four. Under the special government rate, each vehicle is priced at Rs 28 lakh and the council has passed the resolution to sanction Rs 56 lakh from its general funds. The councillors meanwhile mentioned that the manpower should be improved in the corporation in addition to vehicles and machineries. The council also discussed the drainage clogging problems, drinking water woes and the delegation of power to zone chairmen during the meeting. As usual, DMK councillors boycotted the meeting on grounds that they were not allowed to address the council.