Chennai Buzz: Phase-II vaccine trials to begin | Award for SWM practices | Mega streets in six locations…and more

Latest updates on the COVID-19 front in the city and news of other developments during the week that went by.

COVID: Collector recovers from COVID, phase-II of vaccine trials to begin soon

On August 20th, Chennai recorded 1,177 fresh COVID cases, 1,132 recoveries and 22 deaths. The total number of active cases stand at 12,287.

Infographic representation of total number of COVID cases in Chennai as on August 21st. Graphic: GCC/Twitter

Thirty-three officials from Chennai Collectorate including Collector R Seethalakshmi who were infected with COVID have reportedly recovered. To ensure the frontline workers remain safe, the civic body has begun testing all the workers. Samples from volunteers and frontline workers are part of the 13,000 tests carried out every day.

Zone-wise COVID cases in Chennai as on August 21st. Graphic: GCC/Twitter

As many as 30 people volunteered in the phase-1 trials of Covaxin, an indigenously developed vaccine for the coronavirus. According to experts at SRM Hospital, the ICMR-approved centre for developing vaccine, the volunteers showed no symptoms. The second phase of the trials will begin by the end of August or early September.

Source: The Times of India | The Hindu

Chennai ranks 312 in Swachh Survekshan Survey

Chennai secured rank 312 in the annual cleanliness survey, Swachh Survekshan 2020, released by the central government. Out of 6,000 points, Chennai secured only 2,010. Out of 47 cities cities with a population of above 10 lakhs, Chennai ranked 45th in the survey.

But the civic body has bagged an award for ‘Best innovative practices in Solid Waste Management’ by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. 

Door-to-door collection, source segregation practices and proper disposal of waste to ensure minimal waste goes to landfills are some of the factors that have helped Chennai’s make its case for the award.

About 140 tonnes of wet waste was processed at the 162 decentralised compost yard in the city in 2019. The civic body has plans to set-up Bio-CNG plants and incineration plants at seven points in the city.

Source: The Times of India | The Hindu

Mega street project to be implemented in six locations

In a bid to improve the pedestrian infrastructure and decongest parts of Chennai, the civic body will soon kickstart the mega street project in two months.

Anna Nagar (New Avadi Road), Tondairpet (Broadway), Nungambakkam (Cathedral Road), Mylapore (C.P. Ramaswamy Road), Velachery (Velachery Main Road) and Adyar (Ramachandra Aadithanar Road) are the six locations selected for implementing the project.

The project is also aimed at preventing sea erosion along the beach in Tondiarpet. The selected locations will also have metro rail connection to promote public transportation. As part of the plan, bicycle lanes will be exclusively developed for the selected roads.

Source: The Hindu

Swiggy employees strike over new wage policy

Demanding a roll-back of the new wage policy, Swiggy delivery personnel were on strike since last Thursday. Striking employees stated that they would be eligible for Rs 15 per order if the new wage policy is implemented as against the previous wage of Rs 35. The service was partially resumed from Wednesday after talks with the management.

Swiggy issued a statement which read, “We would like to assert that most active partners have made over Rs 45 per order in the last week with the high performing partners making over Rs 100 per order.”

The workers reported to work after the company promised to bring back the old incentives. However, employees allege that the promises are yet to be enacted.

Source: The New Indian Express | The Hindu

Upskilling corporation school students

In a bid to upskill students, the civic body and National Council of Vocational Training (NCVT) has introduced skill development training for children studying in the city’s corporation schools free of cost.

Computer operation, plumbing, fitting, motor mechanics, electrical and electronic repairs are the chosen areas of training. A number of seats are allocated in each field and students of corporation schools and children of civic body staff will be prioritized for admission. 

Applications can be accessed at: www.chennaicorporation.gov.in or gccapp.chennaicorporation.gov.in/cciti/ 

Source: The New Indian Express

(Compiled by Bhavani Prabhakar)

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