GCC to prepare white paper on stormwater drains
The Greater Chennai Corporation faced a lot of backlash over the state of stormwater drains during the recent floods. In response to that, Corporation Commissioner J Radhakrishnan said in this news report that the GCC will prepare a white paper, which will include an explanation of the much-criticised ‘₹ 4,000-crore-worth storm water drain works’, the status of the project, where the drains worked and where they did not, and why. A flood audit will also be done by the GCC and the reports will be submitted to the government, he said.
Source: Times of India
Oily water removed from Ennore sent to CPCL for treatment and disposal
Following the oil spill incident in Ennore, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had earlier taken suo moto cognisance of the case and asked the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) to submit a report on the pollution. During the recent hearing, Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL), the company responsible for the oil leak, claimed to have cleaned the oil stains in 1,100 houses and shops. Pointing out that the oil stains can be removed only using enzymes, the NGT directed CPCL to adopt a different and effective method to clean the houses and shops in Ennore. Meanwhile, more than one lakh litres of oily water was removed from Ennore and sent to CPCL for treatment and disposal.
Source: Times of India
Read more: Oil spill in Chennai’s Manali area can cause irreparable damage to Ennore Creek wetland
Book fair begins in Chennai
The 47th edition of the Chennai Book Fair organised by the Booksellers and Publishers Association of South India (BAPASI) in association with the Tamil Nadu government was inaugurated on January 3 at YMCA Grounds near Nandanam in Chennai by Youth Welfare Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin. The Book Fair will be held from 2 pm to 8.30 pm on weekdays and from 11 am to 8.30 pm on holidays. It will conclude on January 21. Meanwhile, the international book fair will be held at the Chennai Trade Centre in Nandambakkam from January 16 to 18. As many as 38 countries are to take part in the international book fair.
Sources: DT Next | The New Indian Express
Read more: I went to the Chennai Book Fair, and came back with lots of hope!
Operations at Kilambakkam bus terminus leave the public confused
The Kalaignar Centenary Bus Terminus (KCBT) in Kilambakkam was thrown open to the public by Chief Minister MK Stalin on December 30. Ever since the operations of the bus terminus began, both the residents of the locality and commuters have been facing several difficulties. Alleging that the plying of government buses on the service roads was causing inconvenience, the locals staged a protest. Meanwhile, they also complained that the traffic cops were sending back the school buses as they were no longer allowed to use the same road. Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) and CMDA Minister P K Sekar Babu inspected the Kilambakkam bus terminus on January 4 and assured the protestors that the issues would be sorted out soon.
Source: DT Next
Chennai schools to be open for four Saturdays to compensate for rain holidays
All the private and government schools in Chennai will be open for four Saturdays — January 6 and 20, and February 3 and 17, in a bid to compensate for the holidays declared in the wake of Cyclone Michaung in December, the Chief Educational Officer of Chennai District, S Mars has announced. This is expected to help the teachers cover the syllabus for the annual exams.
Source: DT Next
[compiled by Shobana Radhakrishnan]