Articles by News Desk

'Poison in the Air', a study by Chennai Climate Action Group (CCAG), has revealed that six major industries in the Ennore-Manali region have been contributing to pollution during 59% (215.35 days) of the previous year (2019). The study analyzed over 18 lakh hours of the stack emissions data of TANGEDCO’s North Chennai Thermal Power Station (NCTPS) Stage I, NTECL Vallur power plant, Chennai Petroleum Corporation Ltd (CPCL), Tamil Nadu Petroproducts Ltd (TPL), Manali Petrochemicals Ltd (MPL), and Madras Fertilizers Ltd (MFL) obtained from Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board's (TNPCB) Care Air Centre through the Right to Information (RTI) Act. According…

COVID-19: One-third of the population did not wear masks correctly; only one active containment zone in the city On November 6th, Chennai recorded 612 fresh COVID cases and 13 deaths. The day also witnessed 650 recoveries.  A study jointly conducted by the National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE) and the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) revealed that only one-third of the population within the GCC limits wore masks correctly. The survey, which was conducted from October 16 to 19, covered 3,600 persons from 60 random streets in slum and non-slum localities. The survey found that 28% people wore masks correctly in slum…

Power tariff hiked, water tariff hike likely The KERC (Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission) has approved an average increase in power tariff by 40 paise per unit. The new rates will come into effect from the first meter reading date falling on or after November 1. The FKCCI (Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industries) warned that many industries would shut down due to the tariff hike. The Kassia (Karnataka Small Scale Industries Association) said the hike would be particularly disastrous for MSMEs as they struggle to revive operations amid the pandemic and a severe slowdown in the economy. The…

Mini transfer stations to process waste To strengthen decentralised waste collection, BBMP will set up 50 mini transfer stations. Waste collected by auto-tippers and push carts, instead of being loaded onto compactor trucks, will be brought to the mini transfer stations. The stations will process waste from two wards each. According to BBMP, this system will reduce garbage transfer points as well as black spots in the city. It will also ensure there is no leakage of garbage residue from compactor trucks. Besides, fewer garbage vehicles will be required, which in turn will reduce air pollution. Only four waste processing…

COVID-19: Step test to assess patients' tolerance level, mobile ICU inaugurated for treatment On October 30th, Chennai recorded 723 cases and 1047 recoveries. The day also saw 13 deaths. The Government Medical College Hospital, Omandurar, has devised a method to assess the lung and heart functions of discharged COVID patients. The doctors ask patients to take a six-minute walk. The walk, known as Harvard step-test, assesses the patient’s effort tolerance. At the outpatient department, patients who had 20% and higher lung involvement over the course of their illness are administered a CT scan of the chest after six weeks of…

The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) and Chennai Smart City Limited (CSCL) conducted a 'cycling preferences survey' with an aim to understand the challenges faced by cyclists, improve the roads and make them cycle-friendly and promote cycling. It was done as part of the Cycles4Change Challenge, an initiative of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, to inspire and support Indian cities to quickly implement cycling-friendly initiatives in response to COVID-19. A total of 1968 participants took part in the survey. Here are the results: Interestingly, the Greater Chennai Traffic Police Police (GCTP) experimented with a Dedicated Bicycle Lane (DBL) on Kamarajar…

The Technical Advisory Committee of the Government of Karnataka gave clarifications on the use of masks, on October 27. Following is a press release from the BBMP based on this. Use of masks in public places Whether a person driving alone in a four-wheeler with the window glasses closed should wear a mask?Answer: Wearing a mask is mandatory. (a) Whether an individual driving alone in a four-wheeler without any fellow traveller in the car should wear a mask If the window glasses are open and the car is parked near the traffic signal? (b) If he opens the window glasses…

2021 deadline for 100% waste segregation, collection The state government approved a new SWM (Solid Waste Management) policy and strategy, which sets 2021 as the deadline for segregation of waste at source and for 100% door-to-door collection, as well as laying out guidelines to protect the health and dignity of pourakarmikas. The Karnataka State Urban SWM Policy-2020 lays out a road map for Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), including BBMP, to implement time-bound measures. The burning of waste should be stopped by December 2021 and ULBs should ensure that less than 30% of their waste reaches landfills. ULBs should also ensure…

COVID-19: 32% developed antibodies, hospitals resume outpatient services On October 22nd, the city recorded 833 new COVID cases while 13 patients succumbed to the disease. The total number of active cases in Chennai stands at 11,107. The results of the second serological survey have been published. It revealed that of 6,389 samples tested, 2,062 (32%) were positive for the presence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 virus. As the total number of cases is seeing a downward trend in the city, the number of containment zones has come down. There current number stood at 18 as on October 23rd. The city had…

COVID positivity rate drops even as cases surge COVID cases in the city have been shooting up at a very fast rate in the last two weeks. On three occasions, there were more than 5,000 cases per day. Despite the rising number of cases, most of the city’s eight zones have reported a drop in both positivity rate and fatality rate over the last four weeks, according to BBMP sources. Bommanahalli, Mahadevapura, Dasarahalli and Yelahanka zones have recorded a very sharp drop in positivity rates, some nearly dropping by half in four weeks. Only the East zone recorded a slight…