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Blackout at Ripon to curb global warming

Thursday, 10 September 2009 09:31 administrator
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The New Indian Express 10.09.2009

Blackout at Ripon to curb global warming

Express News Service


A class eight student Suman, who drummed non-stop for nine hours as part of the campaign.
CHENNAI: It was September 9 and 9 in the evening, and lights went off in the 2000-odd Corporation buildings in the city for nine minutes in support of the global campaign to reduce effects of global warming.

In Chennai, the civic body led the ‘Lights Out’ campaign along with Exnora International, an NGO working on environmental issues, at Ripon Building. By sharp 9 pm, Mayor M Subramanian switched off the lights in the building thus signalling the nine-minute darkness to the civic body’s 2000-odd building located in the city limit. An array of 99 celebrities, including CPI leader R Nallakannu, cine director Vasanth, M B Nirmal, founder of Exnora International and Nina Reddy, executive director, Savera Hotels attended the culminating ceremony at the lawns of the historic Ripon Building.

Besides number of councillors from different parties, representatives of reputed NGOs also participated in the function and lit candles in support of the campaign. At the end, Mayor Subramanian gifted saplings to all invited dignitaries and appealed them to contribute for reducing global warming effects.

Last Updated on Thursday, 10 September 2009 09:39
 

Corporation to ban incandescent lamps

Thursday, 10 September 2009 00:32 administrator
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The Hindu 10.09.2009

Corporation to ban incandescent lamps

 

Staff Reporter

Awards will be given to offices which are successful in reducing power consumption

CHENNAI: As part of its efforts to reduce global warming, the Chennai Corporation will implement a ban on the use of incandescent lamps in all its buildings.

Mayor M. Subramanian announced this after British High Commissioner Richard Stagg met him and sought the civic body’s collaboration in preparing a roadmap for low carbon development pathway for the city.

The Mayor said that four lakh red and green bins had been distributed among residents of slums for source segregation of garbage.

The civic body would conduct a competition among its offices and give awards to those that are successful in reducing power consumption.

Planting saplings

He said the civic body had planted around 10,000 saplings every year.

Mr. Stagg said that with its attractive plan to reduce impact on climate change,

India could pay a major role in the Copenhagen Conference on Climate Change in December by explaining to the world what it is doing.

The country’s per capita emissions were less than two tonnes, as against 10 tonnes in Europe and 24 tonnes in the U.S.

The U.K. was very clear that the developed world should share the bulk of the burden so that India can ensure the economic growth developed economies enjoyed in the past.

Fergus Auld, First Secretary, Climate Change and Energy at the British High Commission, New Delhi, said that ICLEI, a membership association of local governments for sustainability, was working with more than 40 cities from India in addressing climate change.

The project has completed detailed energy and carbon emission inventory for all the participating cities and identified sectors where respective Municipal Corporations can take lead.

Participating civic bodies have identified action plans to reduce energy consumption in municipal services and its operations, he said.

Last Updated on Thursday, 10 September 2009 00:33
 

City Corpn opens night shelter for rag pickers

Wednesday, 09 September 2009 10:29 administrator
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The New Indian Express 09.09.2009

City Corpn opens night shelter for rag pickers

Express News Service

 

CHENNAI: Showing its humane face to street children and rag pickers wandering near the Kodungaiyur dumping yard, Chennai Corporation on Tuesday inaugurated its first night shelter for them at its primary school located in the same locality.

Operations of the night shelter have been assigned to Madras Christian Council of Social Service (MCCSS), an NGO, who was selected by the civic body through tendering process.

As per the agreement between the NGO and the civic body, corporation will provide four spacious rooms with 24-hour electricity and other amenities for children, besides giving Rs 2 lakh as ‘expenditure fund’ to the NGO for the first two years of operation.

After inaugurating the shelter for rag pickers, the Mayor said, “Rag pickers and street children often fall prey to sexual harassment and insecurity in the society.”

The project aims at providing necessary security to these street children and rag pickers and to imbibe them with an idea of formal education to become accepted citizens in the society while staying in the shelter in nights later, Subramanian added.

He announced that the night shelter would also accommodate street children wandering in other areas also.

Isabel Richardson, director of the NGO told Express, “We have identified 35 such street children and rag pickers (in the age group of 5 to 18) in the locality and the MCCSS staff will persuade and bring them to the night shelter.”

When asked about their food while staying at the shelter, Isabel said, “Since rag pickers earn around Rs 200 a day, we will collect Rs 10 from each for providing food.”

Last Updated on Wednesday, 09 September 2009 10:32
 
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