The Hindu 02.03.2010
Corporation to buy 14 vehicles to remove debris
Staff Reporter
| Tenders have been floated, says Mayor |
— Photo: R.Ragu 
Clean sweep: Mayor M. Subramanian inspecting the skid steer loader vehicles on Saturday.
CHENNAI: The Chennai Corporation will soon purchase 14 skid steer loader vehicles to remove building debris from narrow lanes at a cost of Rs.1.24 crore, Mayor M. Subramanian said on Saturday.
Speaking at a function here to inaugurate five hydraulic ladder-fitted vehicles and two skid steer loaders, he said tenders had been floated for procuring the vehicles. With the two new skid steer loaders, at a cost of Rs.17.68 lakh, the number of such vehicles with the civic body had gone up to 13.
The Chennai Corporation has so far collected around Rs.80 lakh as fine from residents for dumping garbage and debris on the roads.
The hydraulic ladders, which can extend to a height of seven metres, would be used to change bulbs and fixtures of streetlights. They have been purchased at a cost of Rs. 46.58 lakh.
Mr. Subramanian said that there has been significant improvement with regard to repair and maintenance of streetlights in the last few years. Only 2 to 3 per cent of the streetlights were not functioning.
Mr. Subramanian said that in the past three-and-a-half years, 313 vehicles had been purchased by the civic body at a cost of Rs. 51 crore.
These include 205 compactors, 16 loaders, 10 electric ladders, 40 vehicles for inspection, four water tankers, 22 big compactors and six mechanical sweepers.
Commissioner Rajesh Lakhoni, Deputy Mayor R. Sathyabhama and Leader of Opposition Saidai P. Ravi were present.
