Latest news with #S.Kumararaja
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
21-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Station Service Road in Velachery set for a major revamp
The pockmarked Station Service Road in Velachery which has turned into a nightmare for motorists will soon undergo repairs, as the Chennai Corporation is all set set to take up improvement work on the stretch. The service road which was originally constructed by the Southern Railway and runs parallel to the Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) from Velachery to Taramani railway station is a boon for motorists to escape the heavily-congested Taramani Link Road to reach Rajiv Gandhi Salai at Taramani. The service road was paved to create access road to Perungudi and Taramani railway stations for the residents of East Velachery. Southern Railway handed over the 3.20-kilometre service road to the Chennai Corporation last year after it faced difficulties in maintaining the road. The civic body had, in the initial stages, installed the street lights for the road more than two years ago. The Station Service road had become unmotorable after it was dug up a few years ago for installing high tension underground power cable from the Taramani substation to Guindy substation for improving the electricity network by Tantransco. S. Harshvardhan, a resident of Madipakkam, said the road has become busy during morning and evening peak hours as hundreds of motorists bound to Rajiv Gandhi Salai use this stretch. However the condition of the road is bad with the concrete poured over the gravel to patch up the dug-up portion of the road having worn out. Half the two-lane road cannot be used. The road becomes slushy with water stagnating in puddles whenever there is even a drizzle as the storm water drain network constructed on both sides of the road has been damaged in several places. Social activist S. Kumararaja said the road was also once used by pedestrians who are now avoiding the uneven stretch riddled with potholes. The macro canal constructed to prevent flooding of residential colonies and help drain into the Pallikaranai marshland has been clogged with construction debris. A senior official of the Chennai Corporation said a Detailed Project Report (DPR) was in the final stages of preparation as the entire upgradation and improvement works are to be executed at a total cost of Rs. 26 crore excluding the road relaying work. For the road repavement component, which is to be executed by Bus Route Road division, the cost comes to Rs. 8.09 crores. While the tender has been opened the work order for identifying the contractor was yet to be finalised. The senior civic official pointing out the road improvement project to be carried out under 'MRTS Sammoga Cholai cum healthwalk' similar to pedestrian plaza would have the following components of well paved footpath, dedicated cycling track, road markings with walkway and kerb paintings, open gym, toilet block and waiting shelters, would completely transform the road. New street lights along with high mast lamps at all the junctions have been proposed. Both the macro and micro drains running along the road would be fully renovated, tge official added.
