Budget focuses on SWD development under Singara Chennai 2.0
The Greater Chennai Corporation’s budget for 2024-25 has allocated ₹1,321 crore for constructing stormwater drains in the Kosasthalaiyar and Kovalam basins as part of the Singara Chennai 2.0 initiative. Mayor of Chennai R Priya presented the budget on Wednesday which focused on various schemes and programmes including road development, infrastructure, education, health and solid waste management. For relaying of roads around the city, ₹390 crore has been allocated under the Nagarpura Salai Mempattu Thittam (NSMT) and Singara Chennai 2.0 schemes.
Many initiatives for school children were also announced. These include setting up of Child Protection Committees in all primary and middle schools in the city and ₹7.64 crore allocation for installing CCTV cameras in 255 schools.
Source: The Indian Express
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Illegal mining impacting the environment: Arappor Iyakkam
The city-based voluntary organisation Arappor Iyakkam has alleged that illegal mining has cost the state exchequer as much as ₹700 crore. Holding the government, politicians and the quarry nexus responsible for the loss, Jayaram Venkatesan of Arappor Iyakkam said that the illegal mining was adversely affecting the environment and the livelihoods of people living in these areas. In this regard, the civic rights and anti-corruption organisation has given a complaint to the Director of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption.
Source: The Hindu
North Chennai to get Rs.1,000 crore for development works
Under the Vada Chennai Valarchi Thittam scheme, the Northern part of city has been allocated ₹1,000 crore in the Tamil Nadu budget 2024-25 for carrying out a slew of projects for equitable development. North Chennai is often neglected with flooding during rains and industrial pollution being the biggest problems here. Various development works including sewage infrastructure, water supply and solid waste management initiatives will be kicked off shortly. The Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development has earmarked ₹75 crore to build tenements in North Chennai.
Sources: DT Next | The Hindu Business Line
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ABC centres and mobile veterinary vans to check stray dog problem
To control the increasing stray dog issue in the city and promote dog population control measures, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has decided to procure seven new dog catching vehicles and start animal birth control (ABC) centres all over the city. Mobile veterinary vaccination vehicles will be stationed in different areas to vaccinate the dogs. The ABC centres are being built at a cost of ₹ 2.5 crore.
Source: The New Indian Express
Part of Kodungaiyur dump yard to land to be reclaimed
The largest dump yard in the city, the Kodungaiyur dumping ground has about 66 lakh tonnes of legacy solid waste. After consultation with various experts including those from Anna University and Indian Institute of Technology-Madras, the GCC has decided to reclaim about 252 acres of land within the dump yard through the bio-mining process. This decision was made following National Green Tribunal directives.
Source: The Hindu