The Hindu               15.02.2014

Thin plastics seized in Salem

The Salem Corporation officials seized 450 kg of plastic items that were less than 40 micron in thickness, in a drive carried out in the city on Friday.

City Health Officer K.V. Arjun Kumar, who led the drive, said that a total of 750 kg of thin plastic items were seized during the drive that was carried out on Monday and Tuesday. On Friday, the teams inspected about 150 shops in Kondalampatti Rountana, Ammapet Gandhi Stadium, near Muniappan Temple in Sooramangalam and near the New Bus Stand.

He added that a fine of Rs. 10,000 was imposed on the shopkeepers who used the thin plastic items.

“The seized items have been kept in a safe place. They will be used for laying plastic roads and for recycling,” Mr. Kumar added.

The Hindu              14.02.2014

More sanitary complexes soon

To prevent open defecation and ensure hygiene within the corporation limits, the civic body has proposed to construct more Integrated Sanitary Complexes.

The one constructed at a cost of Rs. 9.95 lakh at Anna Nagar Chellakuttikadu in Ward 58 was opened on Thursday by Mayor S. Soundappan.

The complex would have uninterrupted water supply with toilets, and washing facilities.

Officials said that in the absence of individual toilet facilities, open defecation prevails at many areas under the corporation limits.

Though subsidy is given to individuals to construct toilet, many hesitate to undertake the work, and continue to defecate in the open. Hence to prevent it, new sanitary complexes are being constructed.

Toilets in deplorable condition will be renovated. Toilet facilities will be made available in all schools, anganwadi centres, and in residential areas, so that defecating in the open would stop.

The Mayor laid the foundation stone for construction of a sanitary complex in Kondalamapatti zone at a cost of Rs. 15.50 lakh.