Date:15/10/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/10/15/stories/2007101567830300.htm

Tamil Nadu

Land allotted for garbage disposal

K. Manikandan

Close to 12 tonnes is generated every day in Madambakkam town panchayat

TAMBARAM: Land spreading across 38 acres in Ottiyambakkam near Tambaram has been allotted for dumping garbage generated in Madambakkam town panchayat.

This is among the initiatives of the Kancheepuram district administration, the Directorate of Town Panchayats and the Revenue Department to address the problem of garbage disposal in town panchayats in the southern suburbs of Chennai.

Chairperson of Madambakkam town panchayat Mallika Mohan said they had received a government circular regarding allotment of land in Ottiyambakkam, a few km away. At present, close to 12 tonnes of garbage is generated every day in the 15 wards of the town panchayat, which has a population of nearly 30,000.

Recently, town panchayat authorities initiated a mass cleaning campaign following instructions from the directorate. Open space near a burial ground was cleaned after mobilising all civic workers.

Thanking the Chief Secretary, government departments and the Kancheepuram district administration, Ms. Mohan said the landfill site was a another step towards a “zero waste town” and ensured implementation of the provisions of the Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling Rules) 2000.

Senior officials of the directorate said a smaller piece of land, measuring about five acres, was identified in Medavakkam near Tambaram, and it was proposed to use this site as a common landfill facility for Pallikaranai, Chitlapakkam and Sembakkam town panchayats.

Officials said the immediate requirement was land where garbage generated could be disposed, so that they could avoid using water bodies and burial grounds. Incidentally, Sembakkam town panchayat authorities started the mass cleaning soon after the local body elections last year.