Treatment for CoronaVirus only at Government hospitals
The State Health Department has issued a directive that incidences of coronavirus will be treated only at Government hospitals and no private hospital should admit or offer treatment to patients with symptoms of the virus.
The Department has said that this step is being taken to keep a strict vigilance and to avoid the potential risk of the suspected people being exposed to the general public.
There are currently 1351 passengers from China who are under surveillance and they have been put on quarantine for 28 days.
Source: The Times of India
City to go zero waste by the end of the year
The Solid Waste Department of the civic body has come up with various initiatives like micro-composting, generating biogas, installing incinerators and using plastic waste as fuel for cement industries to dispose of wet and dry waste, all this to enable the city to go zero waste by the end of 2020.
The civic body has already given a work order to a private agency for clearing the garbage pile at the Alandur dumpyard, which was shut down several years ago.
A total of over 5,000 tonnes of solid waste was being generated in the 200 wards, across 15 zones of the city, every day, with a nearly 50-50 ratio of wet and dry waste.
Source: The Hindu
Pallavaram-Thoriapakkam road to become 6 lane
The Pallavaram-Thoraipakkam radial road will soon have a wider passageway with the 9 m riding surface being expanded to 12.5m.
While the work on the expansion is planned to be completed by April, the service lane being laid at either side of the roads is expected to be ready by the end of August.
Source: The Times of India
Lakes in and around Chennai rejuvenated
As many as 8 lakes have been rejuvenated, thanks to the various initiatives undertaken jointly by citizens and industry bodies. Spread across 50 acres, the Puduthangal lake near Tambaram has got a new lease of life. The lake bund was improved for a length of 1,386m. The water-holding capacity of the lake has been improved from 2.83 million cubic ft to 3.83 mcft.
In another such effort, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has rejuvenated seven water bodies in and around Chennai at a cost of ₹2.2 crore, through its Southern Region Water Alliance initiative. The initiative involves mechanised cleaning of lake floor bed, strengthening of bunds, among others. It also includes beautification by laying a pathway, fencing with grill or wall structures and plants around the waterbody.
Source: The Hindu
Madras HC warns corporate hospitals against unauthorized construction
The Madras High Court has issued a stern warning to authorities concerned for not initiating action against corporate hospitals that have unauthorized constructions. The court has sought action taken on the final report of the State Level Experts’ Committee.
The court passed strictures following the submission made by social activist Jawaharlal Shanmugam, who is a member of State Level Experts’ Committee, that the final report of the committee was kept in cold storage, while many hospitals had put up wholly unauthorized structures undermining the safety and welfare of not only the patients but also their employees.
Source: The New Indian Express
Treated sewage water for vertical gardens under the city’s bridges
Around 108 piers under 14 bridges in the city will soon have vertical gardens, and these will be watered with the treated sewage water from the neighborhood.
The sewage treatment plant (STP) will be a small one with a capacity of five kilolitres a day. Treated sewage will also be used from STPs for the corporation parks.
The first such vertical garden is being set up underneath the GN Chetty flyover.
Source: The Times of India
[Compiled by Sandhya Raju]