New health and wellness centres to be launched in Chennai
Around 140 health and wellness centres will be opened in different zones of the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) in June. They will function from 8 am to 12 pm and from 4 pm to 8 pm.
According to the officials of the civic body, the urban primary health centres will be linked to the health and wellness centres in Chennai.
Prior to the opening of the centres, 140 staff nurses, 140 medical officers, 140 health inspectors and 140 support staff have been appointed. GCC hopes to see a footfall of around 150 patients per day.
Around 120 health and wellness centres are ready for inauguration while work on 20 more is underway. The public has requested the local body expedite the work in the areas where the centres are yet to be completed.
Source: The Hindu
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Illegal packaged drinking water units sealed
Around 19 packaged drinking water units across Chennai and neighbouring districts were subject to raids by authorities over the past week. Officials from the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and the Chennai Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) carried out the operation.
Of the packaging units inspected during the raids, six were found to be functioning illegally without the necessary licenses. Officials found issues with hygiene and condition of maintenance of units, absence of proper quality control measures in the labs attached to the units and even a dead pigeon in one of the labs in a unit in North Chennai.
Officials urged residents to check for FSSAI, ISI and BIS licence details along with information on manufacturing and expiry on the water cans they purchase.
Source: The Indian Express
GCC to upgrade infrastructure in Chennai schools after merger
Following the merger of a total of 139 schools in the added areas to the Greater Chennai Corporation, the civic body plans to upgrade the infrastructure in these schools. An inspection was carried out by Mayor R Priya in schools in wards 181, 186, 189 and 191.
An allocation of Rs 50 crore will be made to improve 300 classrooms in schools in both the core city and added areas. Classroom improvement in added areas is estimated to cost around Rs 35 crore while Rs 15 crore will be allocated for schools in the core city.
A total of 419 schools will be under the purview of the civic body after the merger. The total number of students enrolled in the schools is 1.35 lakh.
Source: The Hindu
Read more: Inadequate infrastructure and lack of personnel affect learning in Corporation schools in Chennai
Assessment for Chennai shoreline renourishment project
The first board meeting of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) constituted by the Tamil Nadu state government for the Chennai Shoreline Renourishment and Revitalization project took place in the past week. The SPV has been constituted for the implementation of the project.
The board members went over the progress of the preparation of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the project. The project will cover 51 km of the shoreline, from Kovalam to Ennore Creek. The total cost of the project is Rs 100 crore.
The entire length of the project will be divided into sections based on themes such as water, environment, art and culture, health and lifestyle and entertainment. Work on two pilot projects has commenced as part of the larger scheme.
Source: DTNext
Opening of Kilambakkam bus terminus to be delayed
The opening of Kilambakkam bus terminus that will cater to all south-bound buses from Chennai is facing further delays. The inauguration has been postponed multiple times since last year, with the bus terminus expected to be operational only by the end of July. The original deadline for the project was March 2021 but the pandemic and other delays have pushed the date back by months.
The Chairman of the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) Minister P K Sekarbabu has assured that the terminus will be operational soon. He blamed delays on poor planning on the part of the previous government with respect to considerations around bus traffic in the area and basic amenities.
The Rs 393.74 crore project will now see the expansion of roads, the creation of a roundabout and idle parking space for omnibuses. A skywalk will also connect the bus terminus to the railway station.
Source: The New Indian Express
[Compiled by Aruna Natarajan]