The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Marina to be plastic-free

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Wednesday, Jul 01, 2009
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Marina to be plastic-free

Staff Reporter

Ban will come into force from August 15

— Photo: V.Ganesan

IN DISCUSSION: The Corporation Council meeting in progress on Tuesday.

CHENNAI: The Chennai Corporation on Tuesday announced that the ban on plastics on the Marina Beach, as announced in the civic body’s budget for this fiscal, will come into force from August 15.

Speaking to reporters after the Council meeting, Mayor M. Subramanian said that the civic body would discuss the issue of shops being allowed on the beach with the Public Works Department and take a decision. “They have taken up a large chunk of the beach. Earlier, during a drive we had removed around 500 shops,” he added.

A sand cleaning machine was being operated every day. The civic body was in the process of buying another machine.

Mr. Subramanian said that beach beautification work was almost over and the civil works completed. The greening work is under way.

The Council also adopted a resolution requesting the Collector to transfer a portion of government land on Queen Mary’s College campus for setting up a bus bay and a splay at the junction of Dr. Radhakrishnan Salai and Kamarajar Salai.

In response to Opposition leader Saidai P. Ravi’s question, he said that the Corporation planned to float tenders calling for artists to paint walls of government property on Kamarajar Salai and Anna Salai, where it had banned posters and banners.

The civic body had earlier planned to let students of Government Arts College paint the walls. However, as the rate of Rs.80 per sq.ft. quoted by the college was found to be high, it decided to invite bids.

Mr. Subramanian also clarified that digital banners could be put up with the permission of the civic body and police for three days before and two days after any function. If the persons concerned do not remove the banners on their own, the Corporation and police would take steps to do so.

Notice to Neel Metal Fanalca

The Chennai Corporation would issue a show cause notice to private conservancy agency Neel Metal Fanalca (NMF), asking it why its contract should not be terminated. The notice comes following complaints about the performance of the agency, the Mayor said.

Responding to a question raised by PMK floor leader M. Jayaraman, he said the civic body would consult Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and officials, including the Secretary to the Department of Municipal Administration and Water Supply, before issuing the notice. After the discussions, the Chennai Corporation would also consider taking over the operations in one of the four zones in which the company operates.

Mr. Jayaraman complained that the company was not adequately staffed and in many places deployed only half the required number of personnel. “The company is not abiding by the terms of the contract. It does not sweep the roads and has not implemented source segregation,” he said.

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