Urban News

The Hindu 05.05.2010

Plan to give a facelift to Marudamalai foothills

Special Correspondent

COIMBATORE: Going a step beyond its clean environs movement titled Azhagana Kovai, the Residents' Awareness Association of Coimbatore has taken upon itself the task of initiating a facelift to the foothills of Marudamalai. The temple of Lord Muruga is located atop the hill.

RAAC has prepared an action plan for re-laying roads, carrying out improvements to the bus stands and public toilets and ensuring enough drinking water facility.

The Rs.1.08 crore plan includes: two bus shelters at Rs.5.7 lakh, two toilet blocks at Rs.21 lakh, a dining block at Rs.7.3 lakh, bitumen road at Rs. 41 lakh, landscaping at Rs. 21 lakh and improvements to parking lot for tourists at nearly Rs.10 lakh.

RAAC began this effort a couple of months ago when the district administration and various Government agencies began gearing up for the World Classical Tamil Conference to be held here from June 23 to 27.

The association held meetings with the temple authorities and the panchayats of Vadavalli and Somayampalayam to hammer out a solution to the problem of accumulating garbage at the foothills and the deteriorating conditions of the roads and other amenities. In order to provide an impetus to the entire exercise, the association carried out a mass cleaning drive at the foothills on April 3, in association with the local bodies and students of some colleges.

A row of shops and eateries on either side of the approach road only points at the possibility of reckless dumping of garbage. Plastics and paper waste and discarded tender coconut shells litter the entire area.

But, the mass cleaning drive was no permanent solution. A good waste collection and disposal system is necessary at this pilgrimage centre in order to ensure cleanliness. Besides, the road surface in the bus stands and parking lots are in such bad a condition that rain turns it slushy.

The association says the road surface in the stands for the town buses and private tourist buses must be levelled and bitumen flooring provided to prevent soil erosion during rain. There are no toilets and drinking water facility for pilgrims at the foot hills. People coming in tourist buses throw away food packets all over the place as there is no garbage bin. Besides, there is no dining space for them.

RAAC vice-president R.R. Balasundaram says association president C.R. Swaminathan represented this matter to District Collector P. Umanath.

The Collector then organised a meeting of the temple authorities and heads of the local bodies with RAAC to chalk out a plan for a facelift. The Collector also called upon the local bodies and the temple authorities to take necessary action, Mr. Balasundaram says.

The Hindu 05.05.2010

Now garbage dump turns shooting spot

Deepa H Ramakrishnan and K. Lakshmi

— FILE PHOTO

New locales:Portions of Rajinikanth's ‘Enthiran' are said to have been filmed at Perungudi dumping yard.

CHENNAI: Film crews have left no stone unturned when it comes to identifying shooting spots in and around the city. Of late, garbage dumping yards in Chennai have caught the attention of many in Kollywood.

Some portions of ‘Endiran,' the film starring Rajinikanth, were shot in the Perungudi dumping yard recently. Sources from the film unit said the crew had taken scenes involving the villain at the site for five days. Many portions of the movie have been shot in and around Chennai.

According to Chennai Corporation officials, a garbage transfer station belonging to Neel Metal Fanalca, the private agency involved in waste collection, the Velachery dumping ground, the Thiru Vi Ka and Napier bridges were most sought after locations in recent years. A few scenes of ‘Tamizh Padam' were shot at the Kotturpuram park.

In demand

The Corporation gets nearly 25 requests every week to shoot in its areas, including the burial grounds at Moolakothalam, Besant Nagar and Anna Nagar, playgrounds and Tower Park at Anna Nagar and Sivan Park in K.K.Nagar. Some of the other popular shooting places include beaches along the East Coast Road. “We do not permit shootings on holidays and Sundays. The companies also have to give a CD of what they shot,” said S.Selvaraj, Public Relations Officer of the civic body.

Similarly Metrowater's Kilpauk water works and the reservoirs in Red Hills and Chembarambakkam are occasionally used for shooting. The Corporation, Chennai Metrowater and Public Works Department provide no-objection certificates and the payment is made at the Directorate of Information and Publicity. “The number of companies seeking permission has been on the rise ever since the State government reduced the rates of shooting in the city in 2006. School and college students also seek permission for making films,” said Mayor M.Subramanian.

Officials of the PWD said Rajaji Hall, Valluvar Kottam, Marina beach, Koyambedu Market and Vandalur zoo are also some of the most preferred destinations. The rate for television shooting is almost half of what is charged for films.

Rates

While shooting at Rajaji hall used to cost Rs.1 lakh per day a few years ago, it now costs Rs.10,000. Those using the sands of the Marina for films pay Rs.3,000 a day. Permission is needed even to take an outside shot of a public building, an official said. The departments collect a fine if there is any damage to their property during the course of the shoot.

Film shooting companies said that the decrease in shooting fee has helped in reducing their expenditure. Sundar K.Vijayan, a television serial director, said outdoor shooting was more appealing to the audiences as they could relate to the places.

“Officials of the departments concerned ask for the storyline and the scenes that would be shot on the day before giving permission. We are expected to shoot without causing hindrance to the public,” he said.