Latest news with #JKumaragurubaran
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
North Chennai Waste Privatisation Delayed After Urbaser Pulls Out from Race
Status: Not Approved Byline: None Chennai: The Rs 2,300 crore project to privatise waste management in the Royapuram and Thiru Vi Ka Nagar zones is now stuck for nearly four months, more than a year from the day of the announcement. The latest hindrance for the project is that solid waste management giant Urbaser, a Spanish firm that came as L1 in the tenders, pulled out from the race, officials said. Urbaser Company CEO Mahmood Sait said they pulled out from the race as the company is getting new international investors. "The new investors do not want to participate in the tenders at this moment," he said. Now, GCC is negotiating with the second lowest bidder, Ramki Enviros, to match the lowest bid. Ramki, which is handling the waste in the Thiruvottiyur, Manali, and Madhavaram zones, will handle the entire north Chennai, with the beaches from Thiruvottiyur to Marina. GCC Commissioner J Kumaragurubaran said they encashed the earnest money deposit. "We are negotiating with the second bidder. It will be finalised within this month," he told TOI. Due to these delays, residents are daily grappling with poor quality service in these areas, which generate about 1,000 tonnes of waste daily. Permanent staff have been absent for weeks now in these zones. "The streets are filled with uncollected waste. The staff turn up only once a week. They are not working as it's a matter of time before they will be shifted to Anna Nagar or Ambattur zones managed by GCC," said R Avinash, a resident of Old Washermenpet. ENDS MSID:: 121520927 413 |
Time of India
3 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Special wheelchairs, two more play areas for Marina beach
1 2 3 Chennai: Greater Chennai Corporation plans to procure mechanized wheelchairs for individuals with disabilities as part of the Blue Flag initiative at Marina beach. These wheelchairs are specially designed to move with ease on sand. Apart from that, two more children's play areas will soon be added under the initiative. "Although a ramp is already there, it does not extend all the way to the sea. These mechanized wheelchairs, which can move on sand, would be a welcome addition, especially for children who have never had the chance to visit the beach," said GCC commissioner J Kumaragurubaran. The civic body first plans to purchase two beach wheelchairs at an estimated 1.15 lakh each. More wheelchairs would be procured as the number of beachgoers grows in the future. In addition to this, facilities such as a meditation room, changing room, breastfeeding room, and a clothing storage area will also be built. The beach is expected to be opened for the public by the end of June. "Once the project is completed, it will be handed over to an operations and maintenance contractor. It will be a maintenance-based scheme and free for the public to visit. A dedicated worker will be assigned to maintain cleanliness," added Kumaragurubaran.
New Indian Express
22-05-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Disabled suggest mobi-mats on Thiruvanmiyur beach in Chennai
CHENNAI: With plans to lay a wooden pathway for persons with disabilities at Thiruvanmiyur beach facing opposition from local fisherfolk, the Disability Rights Alliance (DRA) has urged the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) to withdraw the proposal and consider mobi-mats as a non-intrusive alternative. Fisherfolk from three nearby villages said the permanent structure would disrupt their traditional shore seine fishing practices, which involve dragging long nets over the sand. Addressing these concerns and the beach's narrow layout, DRA has suggested a revised accessibility plan. The recommendations include portable mobi-mats, beach wheelchairs with balloon wheels, a marked drop-off zone, reserved parking, and retrofitting the existing public toilet to make it accessible. 'Mobi-mats are rollable surfaces that can be laid on sand and removed after use. They allow inclusive access without disturbing the environment or livelihoods,' said DRA's Vaishnavi Jayakumar. In February, GCC floated tenders worth Rs 1.2 crore to construct a wooden ramp at Thiruvanmiyur, similar to those at Marina and Besant Nagar. The proposed structure included handrails, tactile paving, and resting spaces. On April 8, DRA held a stakeholder meeting with civic officials, residents, and persons with disabilities. However, fisherfolk couldn't attend. Environmentalists later informed DRA that the beach is heavily used by artisanal fishers and any permanent structure would affect their work. A follow-up meeting on May 14 confirmed that fishers cast their nets across the beach and cannot be confined to specific areas. GCC Commissioner J Kumaragurubaran said the request would be examined.
Time of India
11-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
GCC to launch mass vaccination drive for stray dogs from July
Chennai: Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) will launch a mass vaccination drive from July targeting the city's estimated 1.8 lakh stray dogs. The campaign will go beyond the routine rabies shot and cover four other diseases — canine distemper, parvovirus, adenovirus, and commissioner J Kumaragurubaran said the civic body is awaiting delivery of 20,000 doses of a multi-disease vaccine from Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation. Priced at around 200 per dose, the vaccine offers protection against all five diseases."This will be the second time we are administering non-rabies vaccines to stray dogs," said GCC veterinary officer Kamal Hussain. The vaccination will be administered alongside annual rabies shots and sterilisation procedures."Parvovirus and distemper are especially common and deadly among strays, with a 90% fatality rate if not treated early," said veterinary doctor R support the expanded vaccination drive, GCC has established two new animal birth control (ABC) centres — one at Kallikuppam in Ambattur and another at Otteri burial ground in Kodambakkam. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Mother's Day wishes , messages , and quotes !
New Indian Express
06-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
GCC to form internal complaints committees in all 15 zones to address POSH complaints
CHENNAI: GCC Commissioner J Kumaragurubaran has issued orders to all 15 zones to establish Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 at the zonal level. The decision comes in response to a TNIE report exposing alleged sexual harassment of sanitary workers in Ward 84 of the Ambattur zone. Currently, ICCs function only at the head office and regional-level offices in the north, central, and south regions. The new directive mandates setting up of similar committees at the zonal level to ensure grievances are addressed closer to where they occur, including for frontline workers and sanitary staff. The directive states that each ICC must have at least four members, with a minimum of 50% being women, and should be chaired by a senior female officer of the respective zone. Members must include individuals committed to the welfare of women. The committees will be responsible for addressing complaints filed by women employees from all offices within their jurisdiction, including zonal, divisional, and ward offices. The GCC has also instructed that details of ICC members-names, designations and contact numbers must be displayed on notice boards in all above-mentioned offices.
