In a first-of-its-kind initiative in the country, Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Tuesday handed over 34 tablet computers worth of Rs 3.96 lakh to District Environmental Engineers.
According to a press release, the Internet enabled electronic gadgets would be used for accessing realtime online data, relating to quality of fumes and treated effluents released by the industries.
The CM also declared open a new District Environmental Laboratory office in Maraimalai Nagar at Kancheepuram district, through video conferencing on Tuesday.
Constructed by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board on the directions of the Chief Minister, the building came into existence after hassles in sending samples to the lab in Chennai from over 3000 industries in Kancheepuram district came to the notice of the government. The new building has been constructed at a cost of Rs 58 lakh, a release said.
Meanwhile, the CM also provided 86 units of floating equipment of a particular specification worth of 1.28 crore to the laboratories of the TNPCB and five other units of floating equipment, procured at an outlay of Rs 11.33 lakh, to the District Environmental Laboratories.
The CM also distributed Green Awards to 12 industries, in recognition of their compliance to environmental safety standards.