Urban News

The Hindu 07.09.2009

Poster, graffiti ban on two more major roads in Chennai

Staff Reporter

— Photo: M.Karunakaran

Women checking messages received on their mobile phones at a function organised by the Chennai Corporation to launch the system of sending SMS alerts on immunisation schedule for children, in Chennai on Saturday.

CHENNAI: Posters and graffiti will be banned on Dr. Radhakrishnan Road and Tiruvottiyur High Road from September 10. A similar ban, imposed by the Chennai Corporation, is in force on Anna Salai and Kamarajar Salai.

Addressing a function at the Kodambakkam Maternity Hospital of the civic body on Saturday, Mayor M. Subramanian said, “Corporation workers will start removing posters and cleaning the walls on Dr. Radhakrishnan Road and Tiruvottiyur High Road on September 9.

This is part of the city beautification drive and we will ensure that the walls remain free of posters.”

The civic body will initiate criminal action against those who deface the walls, he said.

Earlier, he inaugurated a system of sending SMS to women, informing them about the immunisation schedule for their babies. The text messages would be sent to mothers who had registered with the Corporation’s healthcare facilities.

Initiative

Around one lakh babies are born every year in the City Corporation limits and the system will be useful in timely immunisation, said Mr. Subramanian.

It was part of the e-governance initiative of the disease-tracking system installed by the civic body.

The system was the first such initiative by a Municipal Corporation in the country.

For those without a mobile phone, the message would be sent to the mobile phones of health workers covering their localities.

Deccan Chronicle 04.09.2009

Garbage remains a burning problem

Chennai
Sept. 3: While the city is yet to discover an environment-friendly method for the effective disposal of plastic wastes that choke Chennai, the metropolis and its suburbs are largely facing a more critical problem in the form of garbage burning — a crisis, which, according to health officials and civic activists, will have long-term health and ecological effect.

Despite repeated complaints and even a Madras high court ruling to restrain it, burning of garbage continues at dumping yards for which Chennai corporation and municipalities blame rag-pickers and miscreants.

“Though we have built walls to prevent outsiders from coming in, they will find some entry point to get in and set fire. Their objective is to salvage iron and aluminium which they could sell to scrap dealers,” said a corporation official.

Residential colonies and schools in the vicinity are the most affected due to the practice. Motorists passing by also have to endure its effects.
Mr M B Nirmal, Exnora International founder, says 10 to 20 sq km area near a dumping yard is directly affected by garbage burning. “The practice continues unabated at Kodungaiyur, Pallikaranai, Perungudi, Otteri and it is not a hidden fact that residents here have respiratory problems, being exposed to soot and dust. The quality of air and water has drastically come down in these areas. Unless and until the government implements strict monitoring, the practice will continue,” he said.

“It is a fact that people living near these yards are susceptible to chronic bronchitis, the fourth largest disease in the world after heart and brain, simply because they breathe in polluted air. Children, senior citizens and those diagnosed with asthma are more prone to this lung disease,” Dr R P Illango, chest specialist of Apollo hospital, told this newspaper.

Dr Illango added that the only option available to prevent the disease is to adopt a scientific approach to garbage disposal and stopping the practice of burning.