Tamil Nadu - Salem   

Sanitary conditions poor, say Salem councillors

By Our Special Correspondent

SALEM, NOV 26. Councillors cutting across party affiliations deplored the dismal sanitary conditions in the city and asked the officials of Salem Corporation to tone up its garbage disposal and drainage cleaning mechanism immediately.

Participating in the discussion on the city's sanitary conditions, initiated by the DMK Opposition leader, S. D. Kalaiamudhan, the councillors said that the citizens were facing severe health hazards as mounds of garbage remained uncollected for days together in the city's street corers and roads. Over-flowing drainage canals added to the woes. The underground drainage scheme was yet to be implemented in full swing, they pointed out.

Mr. Kalaiamudhan said that the garbage dumping had become a major problem in the city. The dumping near the new Central Bus stand was causing serious health concern to the people. The sanitary condition of the bus stand also was far from satisfactory. He said that the Corporation should buy adequate number of vehicles and other implements. Sites should be identified to transport the garbage away from the city limits. The residents of Erumapalayam where one of the major composite yards of the Corporation was situated were suffering from various ailments and diseases.

Round-the-clock cell

He also wanted the Corporation to take up the Mettur-Salem water scheme project to meet the future requirements of citizens. The scheme would serve water only to Salem city and hence there would not be any short supply. A round-the-clock cell with adequate technical staff should be opened in the Corporation office so that emergency situations with regard to the drinking water could be attended immediately. The AIADMK floor leader, M. K. Selvaraj said that contaminated water was being used in the manufacturing of ice creams locally. Hence stringent action should be taken against those who resorted to such unfair practices, he insisted.

Responding to the suggestions, Mayor R. Sureshkumar said that on the garbage disposal, a major exercise would be undertaken shortly in the city. A proposal for the Mettur-Salem water scheme also was under preparation.

The Commissioner, T. Paulsamy said that the Salem Corporation would give a thrust to its total sanitation programme, as it had to meet the Supreme Court deadline of 2005 in the area of solid waste management. The Corporation had identified 50 acres of land for garbage collection. He said that steps had been taken to convert the existing dump yards at Erumapalayam, Veeranam and Sooramangalam into transit points and from where the garbage, after getting segregated would be taken into the new yard. A 100 per cent collection at door- steps would be initiated.

He further said that the Corporation had approached the District administration, which had informed that the excavated mine lands of Burn and Co could be used for filling and dumping the garbage.

The lease on land would expire soon, he said and added that Corporation had already taken up the matter with officials concerned.

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Sanitary conditions poor, say Salem councillors

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