CHENNAI | April 6, 2016: Citizens Platform, a forum of civil society groups advocating people’s right to determine how natural resources should be managed, has written to major political parties in the State to incorporate their demands, including a ban on river sand mining, which, it says, was a major cause of devastating floods in Chennai and its neighbouring districts in December 2015.
Citizens Platform is an initiative of the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL).
In a detailed plan of action sent to manifesto drafting committees, the forum emphasised the need for evicting large-scale encroachment on water bodies that block and obstruct the drainage of water, preventing recharge of groundwater.
The forum called for an immediate ban on the production and use of plastics, since many drainage systems were blocked by non-biodegradable wastes, mainly plastics during Chennai floods.
“We have made an appeal to political parties to give a careful consideration and incorporate our demands while preparing the election manifesto,” PUCL national general secretary V. Suresh said.
(Source: http://www.thehindu.com/)