GCC sacks temporary workers amid pandemic

Around 500 temporary sanitary workers deployed for COVID-19 duty were sacked by the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) last week. The termination of jobs comes after the civic body’s decision to outsource waste management in 11 of the 15 zones in Chennai.

Due to the outsourcing, all the permanent sanitary workers and National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM) workers were transferred to Tondiarpet, Royapuram, Thiru Vi Ka Nagar and Anna Nagar zones, zones managed by the Corporation. Of this, the excess staff have been made redundant.

There is an ongoing case on the issue at the Madras High Court. Following the termination of the workers, the Madras Corporation Red Flag Union (MCRFU) has sent a legal notice to GCC Commissioner G Prakash.  

Source: DT Next

Vaccine doses reach Chennai

Tamil Nadu received 5,12,200 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covishield vaccine from the Centre. The vaccine rollout commences on January 16th. Chennai is set to get 1,18,000 doses of Covishield in the initial phase.

The distribution network comprises 359 cold chain storage points across the city. Greater Chennai Corporation will be receiving 63,700 doses of Covishield for distribution. Additionally, Tamil Nadu also received 20,000 doses of Covaxin, manufactured by Bharat Biotech, from the Central government. 

Although there are two different brands of vaccines available, the State Health Department has pronounced that beneficiaries cannot choose between the two. State Public Health Department Director Dr T S Selvavinayagam stated that whichever vaccine is available at the vaccination centre will be administered. 

Source: The Hindu | The New Indian Express

Suburban residents unhappy with garbage tax

The GCC recently rolled back a move to levy garbage tax within its limits after protests by citizens. Following this move, the residents in the suburbs are now up in arms against charges paid by them for garbage collection. According to the residents, the collection of garbage is irregular in their localities. They are also upset with the differential treatment meted out to them.

Garbage tax in the suburbs was rolled out as part of Swacch Bharat Mission. The rules mandate residential buildings to pay from Rs 10 to 100 per month based on the built-up area.

Source: The New Indian Express

Integrated airport terminal work to begin in 2022

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has stated that Chennai Airport’s new integrated terminal will be commissioned in December 2022. The new terminal will be constructed after demolition of terminals 2 and 3 and will cost Rs 2,467 crores.

According to AAI, the new integrated facility will have a total area of 2,18,000 sq m and will act as one large terminal for both international and domestic operations. The facility will also cater to the needs of 35 million passengers per annum, an increase from the current 21 million. 

The project will be completed in two phases. In the first phase in June 2021, the second terminal will be demolished. In the second phase, the third terminal will be brought down and the new facility will be constructed. 

Source: Hindustan Times | Business Standard

[Compiled by Bhavani Prabhakar]