Two new COVID clusters identified in Chennai
Two new clusters recording over 20 COVID cases have been identified in Chennai. On August 2nd, a religious gathering near Kilpauk turned out to be the first cluster that led to around 20 infections out of 275 samples.
An apartment complex in Sholinganallur has emerged as the second major cluster where 23 out of 398 samples tested positive. It was identified that the security personnel at the apartment were unvaccinated.
According to the civic body, there were three index patients who led to the formation of two new clusters. The sources of infection are temple function, a shop at Sowcarpet and VHS Hospital. State Health Secretary Dr J Radhakrishnan sent directions to district Collectors and Commissioner of GCC to implement micro-containment measures and ramp up masking campaign.
Source: DT Next | The Times of India
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Finance Minister allocates funds to upgrade infrastructure in Chennai
While presenting the revised budget for 2021-22, Tamil Nadu Finance and Human Resource Minister PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan announced the construction of three flyovers in the city, estimated at a cost of Rs 335 crore. While the first one is above the Ganesapuram subway, the second is at the junction of Konnur High Road and Strahans Road and the third flyover at South Usman Road.
The city also gets Rs 2,056 crore for the underground drainage scheme. To prevent sewage inflow into waterways, the Finance Minister has allocated Rs 2371 crore to implement a scheme across the city. The Minister also allocated Rs 150 crore for the upgradation of Kasimedu Fishing Harbour.
In his announcement, the Minister also stated that the metro rail phase-II will be completed in five years. Under corridor 4, the metro rail stretch from Kodambakkam to Poonamallee stretch will be commenced by June 2024. Besides this, the state government will also focus on the extension of the metro rail project from the Airport to Kilambakkam Bus Terminus via Tambaram.
The Minister also announced that he will urge the Union to rethink the shareholding proportion with a pattern of 50:50 under the second phase. It is to be noted that the Union had suggested giving 10% cost as the grant, instead of 15% as share capital.
Source: The News Minute | The New Indian Express
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Dog shelters to be revamped
The civic body has planned to refurbish the three Corporation shelters at Lloyd’s Colony, Kannamapettai, and Pullianthope.
The shelter at Lloyd’s Colony would be brought down to construct a pre-surgery room, post-operation room, surgery theatre, kennels for accommodating 100-150 dogs. The corporation plans to refurbish the Kannamapettai and Pullianthope facilities and make it equipped to handle 100 sterilization surgeries a day.
In the next 2.5 years, the civic body plans to sterilise 80,000 dogs under the ABC programme to control the stray dog population.
Source: The Times of India
Read more: How to care for and help stray dogs in Chennai
Streetlights contract terminated, fresh tender to be floated
The civic body had passed a council resolution to terminate the contracts for the operation and maintenance of streetlights in Tiruvottiyur, Manali, Madhavaram, Tondiarpet, Thiru Vi Ka Nagar, Ambattur, Valasaravakkam, Alandur, Perungudi and Sholinganallur zones.
The contract, issued to four contractors, was to manage the operation and maintenance till February 2022. However, the corporation found out that the contractors were not able to provide the required number of electricians qualified with an ITI degree and instead unskilled workers were employed. Additionally, some contractors were unable to provide tools and equipment and support staff.
The civic body has decided to float fresh online tenders for the project and has also increased the fine amount for nonperformance where the corporation will deduct the amount from the monthly bills to be paid to the contractors. The total cost of the tender has also been revised and Rs 20.57 crore will be paid to the new contractors.
Source: DT Next
[Compiled by Bhavani Prabhakar]