Equipment deployed at Palavakkam and other stretches; expected to boost tourism

Chennai Corporation has deployed cleaning machines at a few more beaches in the city.

Chennai Corporation Commissioner G. Prakash has directed civic officials to use the machines for cleaning more beaches in the southern parts of the city. “We have started using beaching cleaning machines at Palavakkam beach, Tiruvalluvar beach and other stretches. We start work at 6 a.m. every day,” said an official.

So far, beach cleaning machines have been used to clean only the Marina beach and Elliot’s beach. “We have also started cleaning the beach near Nochi Kuppam, Dooming Kuppam and Srinivasapuram along Loop Road,” said an official.

The beach cleaning work in more areas is expected to improve tourism along the city’s beaches. After the procurement of eight additional beach-cleaning machines, the civic body started pilot projects at more beaches.

A total of 10 beach cleaning machines are being used for conservancy operations at the city’s beaches.

The beach cleaning machines can pick up all the waste material, leaving the sand clean. However, the beaches in north Chennai are yet to get the machines for conservancy operations.

According to estimates, the beaches in north Chennai require at least five new machines.

The civic body has installed bins at more than 50 locations to prevent littering, public toilets at six locations and seating arrangements at 15 locations.

A few months ago, the civic body developed first-aid kiosks, new toilets and tourist infrastructure along the Marina beach with funding from the Central government. But most of the toilets along the beaches are not cleaned properly, said tourists. Tourists who visited the public toilet opposite TNSCB office near Ice House on Thursday said the facilities were damaged.

Fishermen upbeat

Fishermen associations welcomed the move to keep the beaches clean and said they were cooperating with the civic officials in keeping the beaches clean.

“We have been requesting the Corporation to clean the beach. They have started cleaning the beaches near our houses. But they should also get CRZ clearance before implementing infrastructure projects, including metro rail, road and markets,” said K. Bharathi, a representative of fishermen.