Have a special team to keep Marina clean, says Madras HC

CHENNAI: The Madras high court has suggested that Tamil Nadu government consider appointing a dedicated team headed by an IAS officer for proper upkeep of Marina beach. “The beach is not properly maintained and is often littered, and nobody cares about it,” a division bench of Justice N Kirubakaran and Justice T V Thamilselvi said on Thursday.
Therefore, why shouldn’t the government appoint a dedicated team consisting of officials from the city corporation, public works department, police, local councillor, environmentalists, social workers and representative of traders, all headed by an IAS officer, the bench observed. The team could look after cleanliness and maintenance of Marina since it is one of the main tourist spots of the state, it said.
The court then directed the state government and Greater Chennai Corporation to file a report with details of the amount of garbage generated on the beach every day and the steps taken to remove the same. The authorities have also been directed to inform the court about the number of toilets and mobile toilets available on the beach for visitors.
This apart, the court wanted the authorities to explain about the revenue generated from the beach and the budget spent for its maintenance annually. The report should also contain details of the schemes and measures being taken or going to be taken by the corporation to maintain the beach or to enhance its beauty, the court added.
The judges have also directed authorities to explain steps taken to construct an exclusive fish market near Loop Road to prevent fish vendors and the public from encroaching upon the street space. The court then suo motu impleaded the zonal officer, vending committee of the corporation and the city commissioner of police (CoP). It directed the CoP to explain as to whether proper police protection is being provided on the beach and if police booths were available at different points to prevent crime, considering that the beach had visitors even after 10pm in pre-Covid days.
The authorities have been directed to file the report by July 22.
The court then passed an interim order on a plea seeking a direction to the corporation to allot vending carts to ice cream vendors on the beach.