The Hindu                 03.05.2013

Rs. 50-crore project to use plastics in laying of roads

Additional Rs. 50 crore for lake purification in State.

Enthused by the quality and durability of roads laid using waste plastics, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Thursday unveiled yet another project to make use of plastics for the laying of roads at a cost of Rs. 50 crore.

Making a statement in the Assembly, she also announced a Rs. 50-crore scheme for the following: to purify water in the lakes in the State through microbial culture, using non-pathogenic bacteria; to rejuvenate plants in Shola forests and to implement schemes through Ooty lake protection fund and the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve Trust.

The Chief Minister said the government allotted Rs. 153.50 crore in 2011-12 for laying tar roads using plastics in rural areas, covering 1,255 km. So far, 1,002 km distance of road has been laid. This year also 1000 km will be covered.

As far as urban areas are concerned, Rs. 153.61 crore was allotted. Again, in 2012-13, the government released Rs. 219.58 crore for laying 499 km roads. The government has issued orders for laying 100 km in 2013-14.

Besides making use of the Rs. 50 crore from the Environment Protection and Renewable Energy Development Fund, roads covering 446 km were renovated. In 2012-13, about 580 km long roads were covered.

Lake purification

Ms. Jayalalithaa said microbial culture would be used to purify the water in lakes.

“It is a cost-effective method and can increase the Dissolved Oxygen and reduce the Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), nitrogen and phosphorus,” said R. Elangovan, executive engineer of the Public Works Department.

He said the method proved effective in Ooty Lake and the bacteria were available in liquid and powder forms.

“Though there are 10 strains, Bacillus species, Klebsiella species and Pseudomonas species are widely used,” Mr Elangovan explained.

New TNCB buildings

The Chief Minister announced new buildings for Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) offices in Sivaganga, Dindigul, Namakkal, and Virudhunagar districts at a cost of Rs. 12 crore.

She also extended the housing loan facility to the TNPCB workers, which will benefit 700 workers.