Urban News

  • Increase font size
  • Default font size
  • Decrease font size
Tamil Nadu News Papers

What to do with eight tonnes of seized plastics? Tiruchy corporation to build roads with it

E-mail Print PDF

The New Indian Express        22.11.2019  

What to do with eight tonnes of seized plastics? Tiruchy corporation to build roads with it

The civic body has so far seized more than eight tonnes of banned plastic products this year. Though it had given a few tonnes to cement factories, the rest would be used in road construction.

Plastic bottles
Plastic bottles (Photo | EPS, D Sampathkumar)
Express News Service

TIRUCHY: City Corporation would use seized plastic for road construction and repair works. The civic body has two plastic shredding machines - in Srirangam and Ariyamangalam zones.

These machines would shred seized plastic products. Sources said most road construction works are likely to start only after the end of monsoon.

ALSO READ: Tiruchy Corporation to rope in students in ensuring plastic-free, hygienic city

“We have awarded contracts for starting repair works for most roads. But most of the contractors are planning to start only after monsoon as unexpected rain would affect work,” a source said.

Contractors, it is understood, have been told to use shredded plastic to build roads. “They have to take shredded plastic from the Corporation to repair or build a road.

The quantity would be decided by our engineers after considering various factors,” a senior official said.

ALSO READ: Vijayawada Municipal Corporation, cement firm join hands to recycle plastic waste

The use of shredded plastic would also provide financial benefit to the Corporation. “We would charge about Rs 25 per kg of shredded plastic.

The contractor would give the money to the Corporation. Through this system, we would dispose of tonnes of seized plastic. The remaining plastic would be given to cement factories for use in furnaces,” a source said.

The civic body has so far seized more than eight tonnes of banned plastic products this year. Though it had given a few tonnes to cement factories, the rest would be used in road construction.

Public opined that the civic body should take steps to start road repairs at the earliest. “It does not matter whether they use plastic or other materials in road construction. Residents just want better roads,” said R Ravikumar, a resident.

 

Tiruchy Corporation to rope in students in ensuring plastic-free, hygienic city

E-mail Print PDF

The New Indian Express        21.11.2019 

Tiruchy Corporation to rope in students in ensuring plastic-free, hygienic city

Students have to get an acknowledgement (signature) from their parents every week confirming they were following the directions of the civic body.

Garbage cleaning work at Tiruchy.
Garbage cleaning work at Tiruchy.
Express News Service

TIRUCHY: As some residents continue to flout the corporation’s directions on garbage segregation, plastic ban and dengue prevention measures, the civic body is planning to resume awareness initiatives. This time, the corporation is proposing to ask students to ensure their parents observed plastic ban, garbage segregation and dengue prevention measures at home.

Officials said schools also have to highlight the importance of garbage segregation, plastic ban and dengue prevention in classroom blackboards to educate students. This apart, students have to get an acknowledgement (signature) from their parents every week confirming they were following the directions of the civic body.

“We are planning to request students to ensure their parents are following our directions. They have to ensure that they are not using banned plastic products in their home and give segregated waste to corporation workers. Similarly, students have to take dengue prevention measures at home,” an official said.

Through this initiative, the corporation would be reaching out to about three lakh students. Corporation Commissioner S Sivasubramaian said the civic body would cross-check the claims of parents. “Students can submit the acknowledgements to their schools. Our officials would ensure they are handing over segregated garbage and their premises are not mosquito breeding grounds. If we find they are following our directions, we would upload their details on the corporation website,” he said.

Officials said this plan is in the pipeline and would be launched soon. “We recently talked about an awareness programme conducted in a school and found students welcomed the idea. Currently, we are planning to upload the details of schools with the highest number of students participating in this initiative. We are also considering uploading the details of the students. A final decision on this initiative would be announced soon,” a source said. 

Sanitation workers have welcomed the idea. “Unsegregated waste is a major problem. Though officials had tried to impose fines on those handing over unsegregated waste, it failed to change the attitudes of residents,” a sanitation worker said.

 

Revised property tax to be withheld

E-mail Print PDF

The New Indian Express           21.11.2019  

Revised property tax to be withheld

It has also constituted a committee to examine representations from various quarters on the revised property tax rates. 

real estate, apartments, buildings
For representational purposes
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The State government has withheld its revised property tax, allowing property owners to continue paying taxes at the pre-revision rates. It has also constituted a committee to examine representations from various quarters on the revised property tax rates. 

According to a GO issued by the Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department, the revised tax rates, which were in effect since April 2018, will be withheld until the committee submits its report and a final decision is taken.

The four-member committee comprises the Principal Secretary to Government, Finance (Expenditure) Department, as its Chairman; Commissioner of Municipal Administration as its Member/Convener; Director of Town Panchayats and Commissioner of Greater Chennai Corporation as members. 

Municipal Administration Minister SP Velumani told reporters on Tuesday that those who already paid the revised tax would be compensated.

“WE had received several representations and objections to the revised property tax rates after which it was announced in the Assembly that a committee will be formed. However, we continued to receive complaints and so we have taken this decision,” Minister SP Velumani said. 

Adding to what he called a ‘good news’ for property owners in the State, Velumani said although there was no deadline set for the committee to submit its report, it would be done as soon as possible. 

It had been decided last year that residential buildings may face up to a 50% increase in property tax and commercial buildings, up to a 100%. This move was opposed by various residential welfare organisations which claimed they had to pay exorbitant taxes. 

The Commissioner of Municipal Administration, Commissioner of GCC and the Director of Town Panchayats had requested the formation of a committee to examine the issues relating to the general revision of property tax in all the urban local bodies and the issue of rationalization of property tax in the added areas based on re-measurement.

 


Page 8 of 1640