City: Chennai

Summers are getting hotter in Chennai. The mean average temperature in the city has increased 1.3°C in the time period between 1951 and 2010, according to a study conducted by Anna University in 2012. The number of hot days in a year have been spiking too, according to various reports from the Regional Meteorological Centre.  Studies apart, Chennaiites also feel the heat. Most admit to using long hours of air-conditioning to battle the scorching summer days. “At the risk of high electricity bills, I have installed an air conditioner in the living room this year. The heat is getting unbearable,”…

With Chennai witnessing the second wave of the Coronavirus pandemic, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has roped in 10 FOCUS (Friends of Covid Persons Under Surveillance) volunteers have been deployed in each division. Their responsibilities include monitoring patients under home isolation, helping them with daily needs, distributing kabasura kudineer and clarify queries regarding vaccines. Along with the volunteers, each division-level team monitoring the pandemic in Chennai includes sanitary inspectors, assessors, conservancy inspectors and police sub-inspectors.  The corporation has formed several zonal-level coordination teams headed by the Zonal Officers for COVID containment and safety measures. Executive engineers, health officers, assistant revenue…

The recent TN Assembly Elections saw the lowest voter turnout in the state in the past three elections. Chennai’s overall voter turnout stood at 59.06%, with only four constituencies registering turnout higher than 60%.What could explain the low turnout is that many eligible voters chose to sit it out on polling day and also that the inaccuracies in the voter rolls contributed to the issue. There have been instances of unexplained deletion of names of voters who found themselves unable to exercise their franchise in the assembly elections. Names of entire families who voted as recently as the Lok Sabha…

Chennai breached the 2000-case mark on April 11th, with the city registering 2124 cases. The second wave of COVID-19 is spreading fast across the city. All residents have been advised to be vigilant and follow masking, social distancing and avoid unnecessary gatherings. A fresh set of restrictions have been imposed on use of public spaces in a move to curb further spread of infection.Here is the latest testing protocol, containment strategy, vaccination specifics and restrictions in the city that we must all be aware of: On testing and hospitalisation: Where can one get tested for COVID-19? COVID-19 testing can be…

Updated on December 6, 2021 In April 2021, in the backdrop of the alarming COVID scenario across the country, as well as rising numbers within the state, the Tamil Nadu Health and Family Welfare Department had introduced a number of rules to be followed for travel to Chennai and the state. Responding to various questions from our readers, we had compiled a list of the travel protocols in place then. This article replaces our older curation with details of the current travel protocol in place, as on December 6 2021. As 2021 progressed and the pandemic situation eased, the rules…

Penalty reintroduced for violation of COVID norms On April 8th, Chennai saw 1,520 new COVID cases and 515 recoveries. There were six deaths. Currently, 11,633 patients are under treatment.  In view of the rise in the number of cases, the Greater Chennai Corporation has reintroduced penalties for violation of COVID-19 safety norms. The civic body has set a target of Rs 10 lakh every day to be collected from those who violate rules of masking, social distancing and other protocol. Among the 15 zones, Royapuram and Teynampet have the highest target of Rs 1.5 lakh a day, followed by Kodambakkam…

On April 6th, a humid day, Zaitoon Begum, a 87-year-old resident of Kottivakkam went to the nearby polling station to cast her vote. Presently a Sholinganallur constituent, Zaitoon Begum has been voting for more than six decades now — she voted first at the then Madras Presidency.  Zaitoon Begum's polling experience was smooth — social distancing was maintained at the booth, masks and gloves were mandated for all voters. But she is still a little disappointed, having had to visit the polling booth at a time when COVID infections are rising across Chennai. “Given the circumstances, the ballot box should…

It's one of the less discussed fall-outs of the pandemic. One year of COVID-19 has reversed all the small victories and legitimised the usage of plastic and single-use products in Chennai, dealing a huge blow to the efforts at fostering a more sustainable lifestyle among its citizens. Immediately after the state government announced the plastic ban in June 2018, the city had started taking sincere steps towards minimising the use of single use plastic (the ban was implemented from January 2019), and in the months that followed Chennaiites appeared to be adapting to a more sustainable, plastic-free lifestyle. Retail and…

The much anticipated Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections 2021 is here. The political landscape of the state has undergone drastic changes since the last election, with both major parties losing their leaders in M Karunanidhi and J Jayalalitha. New entrants such as Kamal Hassan's Makkal Needhi Maiam have found their footing in the scene. The Bharatiya Janata Party is hoping to make inroads in the state with a popular ally. TTV Dhinakaran's Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam attempts draw voters away from the ruling Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. Friends have turned foes and foes have turned allies as parties attempt to form…

Perambur is one of the constituencies in the northern part of the city. Much like other localities in North Chennai, it is a constituency primarily dominated by the working class.  Some of the areas that fall under Perambur Constituency are Vyasarpadi, parts of Kodungaiyur, parts of Perambur, Erukkancherry, Chinnandimadam, Lachumiamman Nagar, Kaviarasu Kannadasan Nagar, M.K.B Nagar and New Kamaraj Nagar.  Representative image. AIADMK candidate Vetrivel was elected as the MLA of Perambur constituency in the 2016 polls with 79,974 votes. Following the death of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, however, the party was split and Vetrivel joined TTV Dhinakaran’s Amma…