Tamil Nadu - Vellore   

Plea against demolition of zero waste centre building

Special Correspondent

Asks Collector to find another site for Adi Dravida girls hostel

VELLORE : Exnora International has appealed to the Collector of Vellore to intervene immediately and prevent the demolition of the Zero Waste Centre building constructed by the nine Rotary Clubs in Vellore and the Exnora Innovators Club.

The building was constructed with their funds as well as money mobilised from the public on poromboke land provided by the government in Fort Round Road in the 46th ward of Vellore Municipality.

Enquiries show that the Collector has issued orders permitting the partial demolition of the Zero Waste Centre building to a length of about nine metres by the Department of Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare to facilitate the construction of a new building to accommodate the Adi Dravidar Girls Hostel in Vellore. At present, the hostel, housing 50 school students, is functioning in a dilapidated building in the Fort Round Road itself.

In a letter addressed to the Collector, M.B. Nirmal, founder of Exnora International, said that at the request of the Vellore Municipality, Exnora agreed to undertake a pilot project in the 46th ward. The government allotted 3200 square feet of space to construct a Zero Waste Centre.

The building was constructed at a cost of Rs.3.75 lakh with a donation of Rs.75,000 from Sri Narayani Peedam, Thirumalaikkodi, public donations of Rs.75,000 mobilised by former councillor Saira Banu and contributions from the nine Rotary Clubs. But due to a stay by the Madras High Court, the Centre could not be inaugurated. The stay was later vacated.

Mr. Nirmal said that since the building has been constructed with public money, it could not be demolished without a public hearing.He requested the Collector to explore other options for the construction of the Adi Dravida Girls Hostel.

When contacted, Collector Dharmendra Pratap Yadav told The Hindu that the construction of the Adi Dravida Girls Hostel was more important than the Zero Waste Centre, which, anyway, was not being used. No other suitable space was available for the hostel in the town.

However, "We are prepared to find an alternative site and the resources for the construction of the Zero Waste Centre", he said.

Gabriel, District Adi Dravidar Welfare Officer said the existing Adi Dravida girls hostel was in a dilapidated building. The revenue department chose the site after searching for two years, he said.

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