Ennore protest against ammonia gas leak continues for more than a month
More than a month has passed since the ammonia gas leak incident happened in Chennai’s Ennore. The gas leak from the Coromandel International Limited (CIL) fertiliser plant led to the hospitalisation of over 50 people, while a couple of them had also undergone angioplasty surgery. Demanding the permanent closure of Coromandel, families from over 30 villages in and around Ennore have been protesting indefinitely since December 27. Following the gas leak incident, the National Green Tribunal (NGT), which took up a suo motu case, has directed the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board to file a detailed report. The next hearing is scheduled for February 6. Meanwhile, the People’s Plan for restoration of the Ennore region was also released on January 27.
Source: The New Indian Express
Read more: Floods, oil spill and ammonia gas leak…what other horrors await Chennai’s Ennore?
Will a flyover bring a solution to traffic congestion in Chennai’s Kilambakkam?
Omni Buses bound to the South via GST road have been fully operational from Kalaignar Centenary Bus Terminus (KCBT) since January 24. However, the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) has received several complaints from the passengers that apart from the authorised staff/booking centres in Omni buses, brokers are charging extra from the passengers in violation of rules. In response to these complaints, CMDA Member Secretary, Anshul Mishra, has warned the violators of criminal action. Meanwhile, vehicular movement has slowed down since the opening of the bus terminus. This is despite the construction of a flyover at Vandalur Junction and widening GST Road into an eight-lane thoroughfare. To ease the congestion, news reports say that the National Highways Authority of India is considering the construction of a flyover. Notably, an elevated corridor from Perungalathur to Chengalpattu is also proposed.
Source: DT Next
Mosquito control operations intensified in Chennai
Source: The Hindu
Read more: Chennai’s mosquito problem needs permanent solutions over temporary fixes
Study reveals over 90% of adolescent school-going girls in Chennai schools aware of sexual abuse
The Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine conducted a study in 2022–2023 to establish the prevalence and determinants of child sexual and physical abuse among adolescent school-going girls and explore the reasons for non-disclosure of abuse. For this, data was collected from 300 students with written consent from their parents. The study revealed that approximately 86% of girls were aware of physical abuse, while over 90% were aware of sexual abuse. Shockingly, 13% of the children revealed that they were subjected to some form of abuse, about 10% of children had suffered from physical abuse and 5.66% had suffered sexual abuse.
Source: DT Next
Flash floods due to pipeline burst irks Perungudi residents
The rupture of an 800 mm drinking water main line at Veera Pandian Kattabomman Street in Perungudi caused the surrounding areas to flood. According to the news report, the GCC workers were carrying out the stormwater drain construction works at VKB Street in front of the headworks during which the drinking water main line ruptured and flooded the whole street. However, this is not the first time such flash floods have occurred in the locality, says the residents, adding that the local body has not offered them a long-term solution to the problem of water seepage. Notably, it has hardly been a month since the residents of this locality faced the floods caused by Cyclone Michaung.
Source: DT Next
[Compiled by Shobana Radhakrishnan]