Date:11/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/11/stories/2009011159030300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Drive to ensure smog-free Bhogi

Staff Reporter

TNPCB kick-starts campaign against burning of tyres, plastic, rubber waste

— Photo: M.Karunakaran

Highlighting the evil: A skit on the ill effects of burning tyres and plastics was organised by TNPCB in Chennai on Saturday.

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) on Saturday kick-started its campaign against burning of tyres, plastic and rubber waste to ensure a smog-free Bhogi.

Minister for Environment T.P.M. Mohideen Khan, who flagged off the campaign from the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board tenements in Kotturpuram, urged the residents of the city not to burn such articles as it resulted in the release of harmful noxious gases. He said that a massive awareness campaign had been planned by the State government involving the TNPCB, Directorate of Environment, Chennai Corporation, Fire and Rescue Services, residential associations and volunteers.

The campaign would be conducted in all 10 zones of the Corporation till Monday. Pamphlets detailing ill effects of burning tyres and plastics would be distributed. A total of 20 teams consisting of staff of the Board along with police personnel would be deployed across the city and its suburbs to prevent the burning of tyres and plastics.

TNPCB Member Secretary R. Ramachandran said that air quality would be monitored at Anna Nagar, Kilpauk, T. Nagar, Vallalar Nagar, Royapuram, Besant Nagar, Vyasarpadi, Triplicane and Mandaveli. TNPCB Chairman R. Balakrishnan said that such initiatives during Bhogi had helped in the past.

A skit on the ill effects of burning tyres and plastics was performed on the occasion.