Private water tankers withdraw strike
Tamil Nadu Private Water Tanker Lorry Owners Association has withdrawn its strike following assurances for licences to draw water and the release of seized lorries.
The strike was announced over the seizure of water tankers by police, as many operated without licenses. The association members also alleged that many of the water tanker owners were booked under non-bailable sections of the IPC for not carrying a legal permit to draw groundwater and that they were harassed by the police.
The association caters to a major chunk of Chennai’s population who do not get Metro Water supply. Under the association around 4,500 tankers operate across Chennai, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur and 15,000 tankers across the state. Around 20 licences were given to a few tanker owners on Wednesday when two rounds of talks were held between collectors of Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur and Chennai districts, Metro Water officials and members of the Tamil Nadu Private Water Tanker Lorry Owners Association.
Source: The New Indian Express
Chennai under security alert
Following intelligence reports of terrorist infiltration into the state, security in the city has been beefed up. To ensure safety of residents, patrolling has been intensified and police are on continuous vigil, says the city Police Commissioner A K Viswanathan.
Security in Chennai and Coimbatore has been strengthened, with hotels, airports, railway stations, theatres, malls and places of worship under close watch. A red alert has been issued for Coimbatore.
Source: The Hindu | NDTV.com
More payment gateways to be added for Dial for water scheme
Chennai Metrowater has planned to add more payment gateways in a week to stabilize its Dial for Water 2.0 service, following complaints received from residents across the city.
Dial for water scheme was launched a month ago to eliminate duplication of booking from the same premises and reduce waiting time for delivery. But many residents have complained about the difficulty in booking and payment through the existing gateway.
Source: The Hindu
Chennai Peripheral Road project receives CRZ clearance
The Union Environment Ministry has accorded Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance for the Chennai Peripheral Road project. The project will join four national highways and eight state highways that criss-cross Chennai and its suburbs and will help decongest the highways leading to Chennai and its ports.
The proposed road will connect in between Singaperumalkoil, Sriperumbudur, Tiruvallur, Thamaraipakkam, Periyapalayam, Puduvoyal and Kattupalli. CRZ clearance was mandated as the project road will cross two rivers – Cooum and Kosasthalaiyar – and a number of tanks, channels, backwaters, Buckingham canal etc.
The total project is estimated to cost Rs 11,528 crore, which includes the land acquisition cost of Rs 4,855 crore.
Source: The New Indian Express
World Bank to fund Chennai’s mega streets
Following a meeting held last week between the World Bank and Greater Chennai Corporation officials, the World Bank has expressed interest in funding the city’s mega street project.
The project involves redesigning of 100 km of roads in Kodambakkam, Adyar and Teynampet zone covering approximately 70 sq.km. The corporation authorities will submit a project proposal report to the government after which it will be sent to the central government for approval.
Source: The Times of India
[Compiled by Sandhya Raju]