GCC issues guidelines for Area Sabhas in Chennai
On March 23, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) issued guidelines for holding Area Sabhas across the 200 wards in Chennai. Each ward has 10 Area Sabha with the city having a total of 2,000 Area Sabhas. The guidelines were issued during the orientation conducted for the Area Sabha secretaries and Ward Committee secretaries. The meeting was presided by Corporation Commissioner Gagandeep Singh Bedi.
The functions of the Area Sabha secretaries and Ward Committee secretaries have been defined in the guidelines and the Councillors have also been directed to convene these meetings at the earliest.
Source: The Hindu
Read more: Area Sabhas and Ward Committees: Power to the people or power with the officials?
North Chennai Development Scheme to get Rs 1,000 crore
During the Tamil Nadu Budget announcement made on March 20, Finance Minister Dr Palanivel Thiaga Rajan said that Chennai was one of the fastest-growing cities in the country and ranks high in the ‘Ease of Living Index’ published by various agencies. However, there are some pockets in the city, particularly in the North Chennai region, which are deficient in infrastructure and basic amenities.
In a bid to ensure balanced development, he said that ‘Vada Chennai Valarchi Thittam’ will be implemented at Rs 1,000 crore. This comes alongside the announcement for the construction of a four-lane elevated flyover on Anna Salai from Teynampet to Saidapet at an estimated cost of Rs 621 crore and the restoration of the Adyar river at the cost of Rs 1,500 crore.
Source: The Hindu
Read more: What does the latest Tamil Nadu budget have in store for Chennai?
CMWSSB issues license to sewage lorries to prevent pollution
According to the Septage Management Regulations and Operative Guidelines, only registered operators can remove sewage from the septic tanks in houses and commercial establishments. Based on the guidelines issued earlier this year, the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) has started issuing licences to private sewer lorries clearing sewage.
These lorries are mostly used to clear the sewage from the peripheral areas that do not have underground drainage networks. Warning that stern action will be taken against lorries operating without licences, the board has expedited the process and fixed March 31 as the deadline for obtaining the licences.
As many as 120 lorries have been identified so far which takes nearly 950 to 1,000 trips daily to decant sewage collected from peripheral areas to 22 identified decanting points.
Source: The Hindu
Read more: Why CMWSSB’s Dial for Water scheme may not be the right solution for Chennaiites
Kodungaiyur incinerators cause breathing issues for residents
Smoke emanating from the incinerator technology introduced to treat solid waste in the Kodungaiyur dump yard has been causing breathing issues for the residents.
According to news reports, Krishnamoorthy Nagar, Ezhil Nagar and Nethaji Nagar are some of the worst affected residential areas due to the smoke emanating from the incinerators in Kodungaiyur dump yard.
Meanwhile, the officials from Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board have assured that an inspection of the locality will be carried out to ascertain the situation on the ground.
Source: DT Next
Anna Nagar Tower opened to the public after 12 years
The iconic 133-foot tower at the Anna Nagar Tower Park, also known as the Visvesvaraya Tower Park in Chennai was opened to the public after a gap of 12 years on March 20. The tower was renovated at Rs 97.60 lakh.
As part of the renovation works, the grills have been installed on all 12 floors of the tower in a bid to ensure visitors’ safety in addition to decking up the tower with lights, relaying the pathway, providing proper fencing around the pond, decorating the tomb on the top and surrounding the wall with cultural paintings.
Source: The Indian Express
[Compiled by Shobana Radhakrishnan]