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Public Health / Sanitation

Pallikaranai dumpyard now smoke-free

Tuesday, 29 September 2009 09:56 administrator
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The New Indian Express 29.09.2009

Pallikaranai dumpyard now smoke-free

V Gangadharan


CHENNAI: After years of living around a dense cloud of smoke emanating from the Pallikaranai dumpyard that was perennially on fire, the area recently became livable.

Full credit to the Alandur Municipality for taking a series of steps to check smoke pollution, albeit on the prodding of NGOs and the Madras High Court.

Residents of the area around the suburban Velachery-Tambaram Road where the dumpyard exists are now happy. “Though dumping continues, there is no smoke or burning and we are happy,” says K Kumaresan a resident of Mayilai Balaji Nagar.

The Alandur Municipality’s initiatives include erecting powerful lamps all along the dumpsite as burning had happened after sundown in the past. Construction of a compound wall, deployment of security personnel and stationing a water tanker are the other steps taken by the local body to curb burning.

So far, more than a dozen 500-Watt sodium lamps have been installed throughout the 15-acre dumpyard. A watchtower with focus lamps is also in place besides an approach road for authorised municipal trucks to unload garbage. The building of a compound wall is almost over and 10 security personnel man the site round the clock.

According to a municipal official, the steps are aimed at completely stopping burning by unscrupulous elements. The works were taken up at an estimated cost of Rs 90 lakh. “The dumping of garbage will be permanently shifted to Vengadamangalam dumpyard near Vandalur by next year. Till such time the litter is dumped here, we are committed to ensure absolutely no burning.”

Principal Secretary to the government (Municipal Administration), Niranjan Mardi and the Director of Municipal Administration, P Senthil Kumar, recently conducted an inspection of the dumpsite and instructed officials to complete works soon.

Navin Shushant, Company Secretary, California Software Company Ltd (the company is one of the petitioners in the garbage burning case), which is located adjacent to the dumpsite, wants the local body to take more steps to ensure nil smoke and burning.

A writ petition on the garbage burning issue is still pending in the Madra High Court in which the Alandur Municipality is a respondent.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 29 September 2009 10:02
 

Mosquito density comes down in city

Tuesday, 29 September 2009 01:43 administrator
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The Hindu 29.09.2009

Mosquito density comes down in city

Deepa H. Ramakrishnan

Intensive fogging and spraying operations undertaken by Chennai Corporation

— Photo R.Ragu

Preventive measure: Corporation workers spraying larvicide on the Cooum river recently to prevent mosquito breeding.

CHENNAI: Following intensive fogging and spraying operations by the Chennai Corporation, the mosquito density in the city has come down from 80 to the sub-40 level per ten man-hours.

An official of the Corporation’s Health Department said that mosquito density was arrived at by dividing the total number of mosquitoes caught by the number of minutes taken to catch them. The result so obtained is multiplied by 600 minutes (10 man-hours).

The mosquitoes are caught using suction tubes. The official added that if the density was below 50 it was considered low, between 50 and 83 medium and 84 and beyond, high.

According to data provided by the civic body, in Tondiarpet, Stanley Nagar in Washermenpet and M.G.R. Nagar and Kutcheri Road in Mylapore the density was 80 during a survey on September 12 and 13. In Anna Nagar it was 72, Spurtank Road 48, G.N. Chetty Road 64 and Lloyds Road 72.

A similar survey on September 19 and 20 found that the density had come down to sub-40 levels in all areas except Anna Nagar, where it was 48.

Corporation Health Officer P. Kuganantham said: “The civic body started fogging and spraying operations on August 31. We are concentrating on the breeding and resting places of mosquitoes. Anti-larvicide is being sprayed in canals, slum areas, parks and stormwater drain networks in the mornings and these areas are fogged in the evenings.”

Mayor M. Subramanian said that unlike in the past, this year, the civic body was conducting intense fogging and spraying operations. “We are also undertaking de-silting operations in canals to prevent breeding of mosquitoes.”

Residents of several localities, however, say there is little change in the situation. Krishnamurthi, a resident of Abhiramapuram, said: “We did not see any fogging or spraying operation taking place in our area.”

Annathurai of Moolakothalam said his locality, located between a garbage dump and a graveyard and the Cooum river in the neighbourhood, was infested with mosquitoes. “Though the Corporation undertakes regular fogging operations, it is of little use.”

Last Updated on Tuesday, 29 September 2009 01:44
 

Mosquito density in Chennai down

Sunday, 27 September 2009 00:20 administrator
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The Hindu 27.09.2009

Mosquito density in Chennai down

 

Deepa H. Ramakrishnan

Intensive fogging, spraying operations undertaken by Corporation

 

Mosquitoes’ breeding, resting places targeted

Residents say the menace is continuing

CHENNAI: Following intensive fogging and spraying operations by the Chennai Corporation, the mosquito density in the city has come down from 80 to the sub-40 level per ten man-hours.

An official of the Corporation’s Health Department said that mosquito density was arrived at by dividing the total number of mosquitoes caught by the number of minutes taken to catch them. The result so obtained is multiplied by 600 minutes (10 man-hours).

The mosquitoes are caught using suction tubes. The official added that if the density was below 50 it was considered low, between 50 and 83 medium and 84 and beyond, high.

According to data provided by the civic body, in Tondiarpet, Stanley Nagar in Washermenpet and M.G.R. Nagar and Kutcheri Road in Mylapore the density was 80 during a survey on September 12 and 13. In Anna Nagar it was 72, Spurtank Road 48, G.N. Chetty Road 64 and Lloyds Road 72.

A similar survey on September 19 and 20 found that the density had come down to sub-40 levels in all areas except Anna Nagar, where it was 48.

Corporation Health Officer P. Kuganantham said: “The civic body started fogging and spraying operations on August 31. We are concentrating on the breeding and resting places of mosquitoes. Anti-larvicide is being sprayed in canals, slum areas, parks and stormwater drain networks in the mornings and these areas are fogged in the evenings.”

Mayor M. Subramanian said that unlike in the past, this year, the civic body was conducting intense fogging and spraying operations. “We are also undertaking de-silting operations in canals to prevent breeding of mosquitoes.”

Residents of several localities, however, say there is little change in the situation. Krishnamurthi, a resident of Abhiramapuram, said: “We did not see any fogging or spraying operation taking place in our area.”

Annathurai of Moolakothalam said his locality, located between a garbage dump and a graveyard and the Cooum river in the neighbourhood, was infested with mosquitoes. “Though the Corporation undertakes regular fogging operations, it is of little use.”

Last Updated on Sunday, 27 September 2009 00:23
 
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