Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Monday announced a three-month mass cleaning programme to remove garbage and stagnant water in the various localities of Chennai city and the suburban areas.

Making a suo motu statement in the Assembly, Ms. Jayalalithaa said the purpose of the mass cleaning programme in the first phase was to provide immediate relief to the people. “Garbage has piled up in Chennai and the suburban areas and many localities are surrounded by rainwater and stagnant water,” said Ms. Jayalalithaa, who conducted an aerial survey of these areas, including the composite yards in Perungudi and Kodungaiyur, on August 5.

She said the mass cleaning programme would be followed by a comprehensive project for solid waste management aimed at providing a permanent solution to Chennai and its suburban areas and gain carbon credits.

An announcement to this effect has already been made in the budget and a sum of Rs. 500 crore has been provided for the Chennai Mega City Development Mission in the Revised Budget Estimates.