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Time of India
2 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Another eco-friendly stretch mulled near proposed Blue Flag beach
Chennai: The proposed Blue Flag beach near Marina swimming pool is set to be inaugurated in the first week of Aug. Meanwhile, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has announced plans for another eco-friendly beach just a few hundred metres away. Spread across 22 acres, the new beachfront will feature similar sustainable infrastructure, aiming to replicate the success of the Blue Flag model. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai It will include bamboo recliners, shaded seating, watchtowers, children's play areas, open gyms, selfie points, and surveillance systems, along with accessible features such as beach wheelchairs and eco-toilets. "The new one will come up beyond the Kannagi Statue. We are relocating the hawkers to the borders of the blue flag limits. This is to ensure that their livelihood is not affected. The entry to the beach will be free even after obtaining the certification," said a GCC official. The one which has already been set up has 40 bamboo recliners with 20 umbrellas, four watchtowers, two selfie points, 20 CCTV cameras, gym equipment, and 24 pairs of bamboo dustbins. Key attractions at the beach stretch include a 40x30-ft bamboo arch, a 30x30-ft meditation zone, and a 16x16-ft reading space. "The blue flag will be raised once we get the certification. But we decided to open the area as public have already started using the play area and other spaces," said J Kumaragurubaran, GCC commissioner. Once the Blue Flag certification is obtained, the GCC will appoint lifeguards to ensure safe swimming experiance for the visitors. "There will be staff monitoring from the watchtower on a shift basis. Supervisors will be appointed in the play area too," added a GCC official. Bharat V, a regular to Marina, said the eco-friendly concept was impressive. "But I hope maintenance doesn't become an issue like with other public spaces in the city. It's beautiful now, but both public and the GCC should ensure it stays this way," he said.
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
1 lakh silt catch pits mapped; to be cleaned by July 31
Chennai: Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has mapped one lakh silt catch pits that trap and collect solid debris, sediments, and other pollutants from runoff rain water before they enter the drains, and is geo-tagging each pit after it is cleaned. More than 67,000 pits were cleared in the past few days, and the remaining be completed by the end of this month, officials said. To complete the process before the onset of monsoon, the civic body has procured additional vehicles and deployed workers in two shifts. "Cleaning silt catch pits will prevent inundation during monsoon. Plastic waste and sludge clogged the pits stop excess rainwater from draining. This leads to waterlogging on the roads," said GCC Commissioner J Kumaragurubaran. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai "Mapping, cleaning and geo-tagging each of them will help us maintain them better," he said. While 90,000 pits were identified and uploaded to the app used by corporation officials. A target was set to photograph and upload 100 percent of the catch pits to the app by July 31. Once mapped, a unique code will be generated for each catch pit. "Once the mapping is done, the catch pits are cleaned in parallel. We receive daily reports through the app, and zonal-level officials are instructed to upload before and after photos of the cleaned pits. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Secure your family's future! ICICI Pru Life Insurance Plan Get Quote Undo As of July 2, 67,270 silt catch pits were cleared, and work is in progress on 8,544 more. Officials were directed to complete the task by the end of this month," added the commissioner. Due to a shortage of vehicles, both mechanical and manual cleaning methods are still being GCC is geo-tagging each pit after it is cleaned, with a target to photograph and upload 100% of mapped pits to their app by July 31. Additional vehicles have been procured, and workers are deployed in two shifts to expedite the cleaning process.
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Legacy waste processing nears completion at Perungudi landfill
Chennai: At least 26 lakh metric tonnes of legacy waste were processed out of a total of 30 lakh metric tonnes through the biomining process at the Perungudi dump yard. The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) plans to complete the entire project by the end of September, before the onset of the Northeast monsoon. A proposal will be submitted to the state govt to set up an integrated waste processing facility in the Tambaram Corporation area, which will serve both the GCC and the corporation. "Of the total 30 lakh metric tonnes of waste at the landfill, approximately 26 lakh metric tonnes of legacy waste were processed. Although it was initially expected to be completed by the end of this month, there was some delay on the contractor's part. Therefore, it is now expected to be completed by the end of Sept. Technical inputs were also obtained from Anna University and IIT Chennai for subsurface biomining," said GCC commissioner J Kumaragurubaran. The Chennai Corporation will soon appoint a consultant to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) for subsurface biomining and will then submit a proposal to the govt to seek funds under the Swachh Bharat Mission. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo "As per the budget announcement of the state govt, a comprehensive integrated waste processing facility will be established at Vengadamangalam panchayat, within the limits of Tambaram Corporation. This facility will support both GCC and the corporation," added the commissioner. Meanwhile, residents of Perungudi and nearby areas claim that the local body plans to set up a bio-CNG plant and incinerator on the reclaimed land at the dumpyard, and they oppose the project. "The groundwater was already contaminated due to the legacy waste dumped in the landfill over the years. If the reclaimed land were maintained as a marshland, it would help store excess rainwater during the monsoon. Instead, the corporation has proposed facilities that would further threaten the livelihood of residents," said A Francis, of the Federation of Thuraipakkam Residents Welfare Association. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai However, the civic body has clarified that no project will be constructed on the reclaimed land at the Perungudi dump yard.
India Today
09-07-2025
- India Today
Madras High Court fines Chennai civic body chief Rs 1 lakh for ignoring order
The Madras High Court came down heavily on Chennai Corporation Commissioner J Kumaragurubaran for failing to act against illegal constructions in Royapuram despite its earlier directions. The court, pulling up the official, questioned if he thought being an IAS officer placed him above the court.A bench of the High Court imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on Kumaragurubaran for his inaction, ordering that the amount be deducted from his salary and handed over to the Adyar Cancer Hospital. The order was passed while hearing a contempt of court petition filed by Chennai-based lawyer lawyer alleged that the commissioner had failed to comply with the court's April 2022 order directing action against illegal buildings in the fifth zone of Royapuram. The court also noted that action was to be taken in other zones as well. Observing that the IAS officer had intentionally chosen not to provide adequate details of the action taken against such violations, the bench held him responsible for contempt and directed the penalty May, the Madras High Court sentenced a senior IAS officer to one month of simple imprisonment in a contempt case for wilfully and wantonly disobeying an order passed by the court in Mishra, former member secretary of Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) was also directed by the court to pay a compensation of Rs 25,000 from his salary to two aged petitioners, R Lalithambai and KS contempt plea was filed by two siblings regarding a case where 17 cents of their land adjacent to Nesapakkam Road in Chennai was acquired in 1983 for constructing Tamil Nadu Housing Board tenements. When the land was not utilised for many years, the petitioners initiated a legal battle seeking reconveyance of the land in 2003.- EndsMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Chennai
Time of India
07-07-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
GCC floats tenders for two more multi-level parking lots
Chennai: To tackle growing traffic congestion and reduce on-street parking, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) will build two new multi-level parking (MLP) facilities in Thiruvottiyur and Kodambakkam. In Thiruvottiyur, the proposed MLP will come up on a 1,563 sqm site next to the municipality dispensary complex. With a capacity of containing 1,052 two-wheelers and a commercial complex, the project will cost 15.98 crore. In Kodambakkam, the facility is planned on a one-acre GCC-owned land near the Kodambakkam Bridge in division 132. The 1,667 sqm structure will accommodate 422 two-wheelers and 75 four-wheelers at an estimated cost of 17.86 crore. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai Both structures will be fully automated and equipped with surveillance systems, security staff, drinking water facilities, toilets, and digital display boards showing real-time slot availability. Entry and exit points will have direct road access and will include automated fee collection systems. Both projects will be developed under the design, build, finance, operate and transfer (DBFOT) model — a public-private partnership, wherein a concessionaire will fund and manage the facility for 25 years before handing it back to the govt. GCC commissioner J Kumaragurubaran confirmed that tenders have been floated, and construction will begin shortly. However, concerns remain over the underutilisation of the existing MLP in T Nagar. Built under the Smart City mission at 40.79 crore, it remains largely idle with an average of just 70 vehicles using it daily — despite having a capacity for 222. Four of its six floors are reportedly non-operational, and one of three lifts is out of service. The ground floor has become a dumping yard for scrap and debris due to lack of supervision. Officials said lessons will be learnt from T Nagar's shortcomings. Stricter monitoring and private sector accountability will be ensured for the new projects, they said. Deputy mayor M Mahesh said additional MLPs are also being planned for Marina, Anna Nagar, and T Nagar as part of the city's long-term parking strategy.
