The Hindu 11.04.2013
Places identified to dump debris
Defunct wells also selected for the purpose.
Days after announcing that it would identify and
designate places for dumping debris, the Corporation has come up with a
list of places, a good number of which are wells. A release from the
Corporation identified the places where people could dump debris.
It
reasoned that with rapid urbanisation, the city saw demolition of old
buildings and construction of new buildings. This generated a lot of
debris, dumping of which had remained a problem in the city. Left with
little choice, members of the public had resorted to dumping debris on
tank bunds and alongside roads.
To overcome the
problem, the Corporation had identified places, the release said and
added that those found dumping debris outside the designated places
would be fined and the vehicle they used would be seized.
The
Corporation’s recent move is only the second after the administration
under former Commissioner Anshul Mishra identified quarries to dump
debris. Though welcomed, the initiative did not succeed as people
returned to old ways.
Another former Commissioner,
T.K. Ponnusamy, announced that those found dumping debris on tank bunds
would be fined heavily. The latest attempt, however, has raised
concerns. C.R. Jayaprakash, an environmentalist, said that it was not a
well thought out move because the wells would not accommodate enough
debris and the debris would affect groundwater recharge.
The
Corporation Commissioner G. Latha explained that the civic body had
taken adequate precaution in announcing the wells in that only defunct
wells were chosen for the purpose.
K. Mylswamy of
Siruthuli, an NGO, said that dumping debris would not affect recharge as
water would still percolate. By way of caution the Corporation could
place perforated casing pipes to ensure such percolation.