Minister for Municipal Administration and Water Supply, K.N. Nehru, has instructed municipal officials to implement advanced mechanical cleaning solutions across the city’s beach infrastructure. During an inspection of Marina Beach on Saturday, the Minister emphasised the urgent need for technological intervention to maintain the city’s renowned coastal environments.
Effective from Sunday, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) will deploy state-of-the-art robotic excavators to tackle plastic pollution in waterbodies, thereby mitigating the risk of plastic waste reaching the ocean. These machines are expected to revolutionise the waste management process, offering a high degree of efficiency in cleaning operations. Additionally, all-terrain vehicles will be introduced to provide real-time surveillance of Chennai’s beaches, specifically targeting Marina Beach and Edward Elliot’s Beach. These vehicles will be tasked with detecting and reporting any instances of encroachment and violations of waste management regulations. This move comes in response to a notable increase in the number of beach vendors, which has surged from 1,400 to 2,000, highlighting the growing need for stringent regulatory measures.
To prevent encroachments, the GCC will implement a round-the-clock monitoring system along the six-kilometre stretch of Marina Beach, extending from the Cooum River mouth to the Adyar estuary. Staff members will be assigned to oversee this extensive area, ensuring that no unauthorised establishments are set up and that existing vendors comply with the rules. The all-terrain vehicles will also be deployed to Edward Elliot’s Beach to further strengthen enforcement efforts. In parallel with these measures, the GCC has announced plans for a comprehensive deep cleaning of the Marina Beach swimming pool. The concessionaire’s tenure has ended, and the civic body will assume responsibility for its maintenance, including the introduction of an online booking system to streamline access.
These initiatives represent a significant leap towards more sustainable and efficient beach management, leveraging technology to enhance the quality of public spaces and uphold environmental standards.
