Latest news with #A.Francis
The Hindu
12-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Residents to launch a campaign to protect Pallikaranai marshland from risk of pollution caused by PPP projects in Perungudi dumpyard
Residents will launch a campaign against the Perungudi dumpyard, demanding the State government to shift the dumpyard and prevent pollution of Pallikaranai marshland caused by Public Private Partnership projects. president of the Thoraipakkam Residents Welfare Associations, said the residents' associations want the State government to stop polluting the Pallikaranai marshland. 'Ahead of the Assembly elections next year, residents have planned to launch a campaign urging the State government to stop dumping waste in the Perungudi dumpyard. The residents are concerned about the Pallikaranai marshland as the pollution is expected to increase because of Public Private Partnership Projects in the Perungudi dumpyard.' Meanwhile, the Chennai Corporation is planning to expedite several PPP projects for solid waste management and has started conducting meetings with the contractors and various stakeholders. Save Pallikaranai Marshland coordinator said the residents will launch a campaign against PPP projects that have been proposed inside the Pallikaranai marshland. 'We permitted biomining in Perungudi dumpyard because the solid waste pollution will be reduced. But we will not allow any PPP projects after biomining is completed. We will not allow parks, brick making units, incineration plants or waste to energy plants. We want Pallikaranai marshland to be restored to its original condition. Officials said they will conduct a public consultation about PPP projects. But we do not have any information about the list of PPP projects in the Pallikaranai marshland.' The Chennai Corporation had planned to shift the Perungudi dumpyard to the city outskirts during the AIADMK regime. Officials identified two land parcels for the waste management projects. However, the project was shelved owing to protest by residents on the outskirts. Therefore, the Chennai Corporation continues dumping waste in the Perungudi dumpyard. Chennai Corporation officials said the PPP projects will be implemented only after public consultation with the residents.
The Hindu
03-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Rising concern over garbage mounds in Perungudi dump gradually advancing towards Thoraipakkam-Pallavaram Radial Road
Residents in the southern zone of Chennai Corporation have expressed concern over the garbage mounds in Perungudi dumpyard gradually advancing towards the arterial road connecting Pallavaram and Thoraipakkam, causing health issues to motorists and people living in nearby areas. A. Francis, president of the Federation of Thoraipakkam Residents' Welfare Associations, said residents were worried about the pollution caused by the mounds of garbage that have moved towards Thoraipakkam-Pallavaram Radial Road, leading to serious public health issues. 'The garbage mounds which were around 400 metres away from the boundary wall along the Radial Road, have moved closer, at just 100 metres away from the road. The stench is bad, and senior citizens who cross the stretch have complained on social media. The sedge grass in the area has also been burnt recently. So the residents are worried that the GCC was planning new projects to pollute the marshland,' he said. D. Raman, president of confederation of residents' welfare associations of Sholinganallur Constituency, said worried residents have sought information under the RTI. The officials were refusing to provide details about the dump yard. 'The GCC refused information under RTI yesterday. And we will appeal,' he said. Residents have planned to launch a campaign to stop dumping of waste in the dumpyard in Perungudi and save the Pallikaranai marshland. 'Residents are determined to protest against the new waste management projects in the marshland by the Chennai Corporation. They want the marshland to be restored to its original condition. We will oppose the move of the GCC to utilise the marshland for waste management. Once the biomining is completed in Perungudi dumpyard, the marshland should be restored, instead of implementing new projects,' he said. Pointing to the 13,600 acres of marshland in 1972, residents stressed the need for protecting the remaining 2,980 acres in the Pallikaranai marshland.
The Hindu
04-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Residents seek measures to expedite road cuts for resolving civic problems
: Owing to frequent disruption of power supply in zones such as Sholinganallur, where roads are being dug up for laying underground drainage network, residents have demanded faster processing of requests for road cuts to prevent a delay in restoration of services. V. Parthiban, general secretary of the Confederation of Residents' Welfare Associations, Sholinganallur, demands that civic agencies find a solution to prevent such delay in road cuts. Around 50% of the civic issues that require road cuts in various zones of the Chennai Corporation are related to electricity, water, and sewage, according to data complied by the GCC. Though a large number of service departments, more than 20 in number, carry out road cuts for resolving civic issues and implementing infrastructure projects, the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board alone accounts for around 25% of them, and Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB), more than 25%. Residents have urged the civic agencies to develop a system to expedite road cuts. 'When there is disruption of power or water supply, we request officials to give permission for road cuts instantly, without any delay,' they say. A. Francis, president of the Federation of Thoraipakkam Residents' Welfare Associations, said work on digging a cement concrete road, which was laid only a few months ago, is under way. 'The residents want the dug-up roads to be restored immediately. But this has not always been the case. There has been a delay in the restoration of the new road after the sewer network was built. We request that a new system be formed for improved coordination between all the line agencies,' he said. AIADMK councillor J. John said, in the past, the AIADMK government had initiated work to build sewer network in close proximity to all houses so that sewer connection could be established without digging up roads. 'The scheme to provide connection to all houses should be strengthened, similar to that of the previous regime,' he said. DMK councillor T.V. Shemmozhi said residents had demanded permission for road cut along Anna Nagar Second Avenue to resolve a sewage-related civic issue in the area. Following an overwhelming demand from residents in various parts of the city, the Chennai Corporation has proposed to expedite the work, and introduce a seamless system for granting permission for road cuts. An official said the new system would be implemented in one or two days, and the guidelines issued shortly. 'We have decided to expedite approvals for pending road cuts across the city. The online system will be altered. Under the new system, the residents will be able to raise claim charges after applying for Metrowater connection. Additionally, the No Objection Certificate from the traffic police can be obtained online,' another official said. At a meeting attended by more than 20 service departments on Tuesday, GCC officials decided to take measures to resolve issues with the departments. On the CMWSSB work under way in zones such as Manali, Madhavaram, Sholinganallur, and Perungudi, an official said they would expedite the road cut and restoration work.
