Urban News

The Hindu 27.08.2009

Recycled paper bags distributed

Staff Reporter

— Photo: S. Thanthoni

Eco-Friendly: Mayor M.Subramanian distributes paper bags made of recycled paper to shopkeepers on the Marina beach in Chennai on Wednesday.

CHENNAI: Close to 1,500 paper bags made from recycled paper were distributed by Mayor M. Subramanian at the Marina beach to spread awareness about the ‘plastics-free beach’ campaign on Wednesday.

The event was organised by Exnora International as part of its ‘99999 Lights out campaign’ which aims to generate public awareness about the causes, consequences and solutions of global warming.

Talking about the need for the plastic ban, Mr. Subramanian said “Plastics are not bio-degradable and also have the potential to seep into the ground water table. Banning plastics is essential because we owe the responsibility to leave a cleaner environment for the future generation.”

He said a meeting was organised after the ban, which came into force on August 15, in which hundreds of shopkeepers participated and gave assurances that they will do their bit to keep the beach a plastic free zone.

“The amount of plastic waste generated at the beach has dropped by close to 50 per cent. People who come to the beach still carry plastic bags and other items. There is need for more sensitisation,” he said.

According to him, the Rs. 17 crore beach beautification program which was coming to a close required responsible participation from the public also to maintain a clean environment.

Later briefing reporters, he said that a sand cleaning machine will soon be procured to keep the beach sands clean. The machine which costs Rs. 42 lakh will be used to remove cigarette butts, plastic cups, paper and other such waste from the sand, he said.

A spokesperson of Exnora said that about 40 per cent of landfill waste is composed of paper waste and it attributes to 1/4th of greenhouse gas emissions.

Hence using recycled paper has wider benefits beyond the reduction of plastic waste.

Deccan Chronicle 25.08.2009

Velachery lake to get a facelift

Chennai, Aug. 24: Hundreds of families living around Velachery lake can soon heave a sigh of relief as the lake, seen so far as an ugly water body with intolerable stench, is all set to get a new lease of life besides turning residential areas picturesque.

The Public Works Department (PWD) is likely to hand over the lake to the city corporation for beautification (first of its kind in Chennai region), confirmed a senior PWD official.

While the Chennai Metro Water Board once volunteered to beautify the lake but withdrew, red-tapism spoiled the chances of rejuvenating the lake in another instance, wherein experts of the state Water Resource Department suggested a project to re-energise the weak aquifers in Besant Nagar by carrying water from the lake through pipes to more than a dozen open dug wells and temple tanks in Tiruvanmiyur.

According to PWD sources, the proposal was mooted a few years ago but the project continued to remain on paper. But now the city corporation has agreed to rejuvenate the lake. A decade back, the lake served as a major source of drinking water for the residents of Velachery but now industrial waste and unchecked sewerage inflow that drain into the lake have polluted the eco-system of the water body.

Currently, the city corporation is drawing water from the lake to water the plants that are raised in Adyar, Taramani and neighbouring areas. Normally, the water quality improves during the monsoon but otherwise even planktons find it difficult to survive in the water, particularly in summer when the oxygen level depletes due to pollution, PWD sources added.