Vacant plots Off ECR, OMR breed mosquitoes

Chennai: With realtors and plot owners abandoning construction sites and layout plots mostly located off the scenic East Coast Road and OMR (IT corridor), due to the economic slowdown) these are now an eyesore, promoting breeding of mosquitoes and rodents.

According to Chennai Corporation sources, the civic body’s public health department spends money under eight expense categories to check vector breeding in Chennai. The expenditures include administrative cost, establishment, operations, maintenance, programmes, malaria medical stores, anti malaria operation and urban malaria scheme, but the end result is the prevalence of mosquitoes.

“Sanitation and vector control has been a big failure for Chennai Corporation in the extended areas despite the civic body spending close to Rs 6.76 crore,” a corporation insider admitted.

“Vacant plots pose a serious health hazard and it’s a common issue in the extended parts of Chennai. Several representations have been given to the Chennai corporation, but no concrete steps are taken to address the issue,” rued advocate R. Govindaraj, joint general secretary, Exnora International.

There are also legal provisions under the public health act to impose fines on property owners who promote mosquito breeding through unhygienic conditions, he said.

When contacted, corporation commissioner D. Karthickeyan said he would look in to the issue and added that the corporation is currently serving show cause notices to those who have plots with water stagnation. In this case, neighbours are also to be blamed as they discharge sewage and waste into the vacant plots, he added.

Garbage stagnates in industrial estates

The Guindy and Ambattur industrial estates maintained by the Small Industries Development Corporation (Sidco) are now in a mess with garbage stagnating.
While corporation authorities want to take over road maintenance, Sidco authorities are hesitant on the issue.

Similar is the case with storm water and sewer lines as Sidco lacks technical expertise and manpower to handle civic matters itself. “With complaints of garbage stagnation pouring in, the corporation commissioner had instructed zonal officers to coordinate with Sidco authorities on the waste management issue.” “We have reached out to the Sidco on the issue and are ready to clear the garbage if they permit us,” a corporation official said.