[Reader-list] Reg: Farce or truth : The Indian Media

[Rakesh Iyer]

Hi

Today I am presenting here two articles, on the same story but written in
two different papers. I myself don't know what the truth is. And this seems
too much.

Can anyone advise me on whom to trust?

Rakesh

Links:

http://expressbuzz.com/cities/chennai/dmk-cadre-hijack-public-hearing/182808.html

http://www.hindu.com/2010/06/19/stories/2010061961880300.htm

Article Content:

1)

DMK cadre hijack public hearing

 CHENNAI: The public hearing on the Kondungaiyur dumpyard Solid Waste
Management project on Friday was a complete sham as it was totally
stage-managed by cadre of the ruling DMK.Of the 400 residents, who live
around the dumpyard and were present to voice their opposition to the
project, only four were allowed to speak. The moment Ramachandra Rao, one of
the residents started expressing his opposition, the DMK cadre (the ‘Men in
White’ who carried a postcard picture of Stalin in their shirts) hushed him
up saying, “That is enough, stop it.”Mayor M Subramanian, who was also
present, remained silent. When Naina Shah, an environmentalist, was
expressing her opposition, the councillors belonging to the DMK and others
screamed at her asking her to stop the ‘nonsense’ and snatched away the
microphone from her. Mayor Subramanian’s reaction to her speech was no
different. “You are doing a publicity stunt, and may be you want a contract
of the project,” he said.For every opposition to the project, there were 10
persons who spoke in support of the project. They consisted of local DMK
cadre and others (who were seen complaining at the end of the hearing that
they were not paid the promised Rs 100 and Biriyani packet) ferried from
other corporation zones to talk positively about the project. The
high-handed behaviour of the DMK cadre didn’t end with this.When Nagaratnam,
a resident of Krishnamurthy Nagar and social activist, who was videographing
the proceedings, asked the Mayor why the site was designated as an
‘institutional area’ instead of ‘dumpsite’ in the map, she was asked to
leave and the video footage was forcibly taken by Rohit Kumar, Assistant
Engineer of Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, Kodungaiyur, at the behest
of the DMK men.



2)

*More people support waste management proposal * Staff Reporter * A section
of public hearing participants wants the Corporation to shift the yard from
Kodungaiyur *

CHENNAI: A public hearing on the Chennai Corporation's proposal to set up an
integrated solid waste management facility at its Kodungaiyur dump yard on
Friday saw many participants supporting the project. Those against the
proposal wanted the civic body to shift the yard elsewhere.

Of 70 people who spoke at the public hearing, 60 were in favour of the
proposal. A press release issued by the Corporation said that about 1,300
people attended the meeting. Of them, 300 gave letters in support of the
proposal while 10 opposed it in writing.

Many residents around the dump yard, underscored the need for the integrated
solid waste management facility to be implemented in a scientific manner.

Job opportunities

S. Chandran, a resident of Kodungaiyur, said the facility would not only
provide solution to the long-pending problem of garbage disposal but also
create job opportunities to people in north Chennai.

A. Pandurangan, president of Kaviarasu Kannadasan Nagar Citizen Welfare
Association, suggested that the Corporation implements zone-wise garbage
segregation instead of dumping the entire load of garbage in Kodungaiyur.

Some participants raised doubts about the quality of air and groundwater
mentioned in the environmental impact assessment study. N.S. Ramachandra
Rao, president of Ever Vigilant Citizen Welfare Association, said the air
quality in the dumping yard was deteriorating.

“We doubt whether the smoke or dust from the Kodungaiyur site will stop if
the project is implemented,” he said.

Among heated arguments made for and against the proposal, a group of people
gheraoed the officials, alleging that they did not get an opportunity to
voice their views at the meeting.

Mayor M. Subramanian detailed the Corporation's initiatives to improve
garbage collection and disposal. Nearly 1,800 metric tonnes of garbage is
being dumped at Kodungaiyur every day. Of the 288 acres, about 100 acres
would be used for the proposed project.

A park would be developed in the remaining area.

The State Environment Impact Assessment Authority has cleared the technology
to be used for a similar project in Perungudi dump yard, he said.

Corporation Commissioner Rajesh Lakhoni said the proposal would help in
processing garbage received at the Kodungaiyur yard. While organic waste,
which constituted 44 per cent of the garbage, could be sold, debris and
small metals could be recycled.

About 10-15 per cent of the waste that cannot be recycled would be sent for
burning in cement kilns.