CHENNAI BUZZ

Coronavirus impact: CSK practice suspended, flights cancelled, KG to Class V shut In view of the coronavirus pandemic, Chennai Super Kings suspended their practice matches at the M A Chidambaram Stadium. IPL 2020 has been postponed till April 15. As the government has issued travel advisories, flights are being cancelled and international passenger arrivals have fallen down by 22- 25%. In addition, officials state that arrivals in the domestic terminal have also fallen significantly. Primary schools across the state will be closed from March 16 to 31 to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Additionally, malls and theatres have been ordered…

Chennai gets first confirmed COVID-19 case; quarantine facility to come up As the coronavirus scare grips the country, the State Health Department is preparing to convert the Government Hospital of Thoracic Medicine, Tambaram, into an exclusive quarantine facility to admit persons with symptoms of coronavirus disease in Chennai. As of March 5th, 426 people were home quarantined in Chennai. Meanwhile the first confirmed case of Coronavirus disease in the city surfaced when a man with travel history to Oman tested positive. The patient has been isolated and kept for further treatment at the Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital. All international passengers…

Officials warned for not sealing groundwater tapping units properly A Madras High Court bench led by Justices Vineeth Kothari and R Suresh Kumar expressed disappointment over officials not complying with the rule that mandates sealing firms that illegally draw groundwater. The bench was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) moved by M V Sivamuthu of Neat India organisation against firms that misuse groundwater resources without obtaining license under the Chennai Metropolitan Ground Water Regulation Act, 1987, especially drinking water manufacturers in Chennai. The bench further warned that it intends to take contempt action against the authorities in-charge in Tamil Nadu…

HC cracks a whip on illegal buildings along ECR in CRZ-1 and II A Madras High Court bench comprising Justices M Sathyanarayanan and R Hemalatha have instructed the State Coastal Zone Management Authority (SCZMA) to carry out a detailed survey and identify the total count of unapproved buildings on ECR from Uthandi to Mahabalipuram. The bench had issued lock and seal notices to over 700 building owners a few years ago for violating the norms. Chennai Corporation has been directed to submit a report detailing the action taken against the owners. Further, the Justices ruled that GCC should develop a…

Makeover for city’s streets under the Mega Streets project The Corporation of Chennai has adopted the Complete Streets Framework under which close to 110 kms of the city’s arterial roads are set to get a makeover. The project aims to upgrade the city’s streets to aid better walking, cycling and improve access to public transport. Through these measures the civic body hopes to create accessible public spaces for all. The project will revamp roads spread across 426 sq km of the city. There will be greater importance to various forms of non-motorized transport and making streets fit for the same.…

Treatment for CoronaVirus only at Government hospitals The State Health Department has issued a directive that incidences of coronavirus will be treated only at Government hospitals and no private hospital should admit or offer treatment to patients with symptoms of the virus. The Department has said that this step is being taken to keep a strict vigilance and to avoid the potential risk of the suspected people being exposed to the general public. There are currently 1351 passengers from China who are under surveillance and they have been put on quarantine for 28 days. Source: The Times of India City…

Coronavirus testing centre to be established in the city With Kerala reporting the country’s first case of Novel Coronavirus (nCoV), Tamil Nadu is continuing its surveillance measures.  A Coronavirus testing centre will be established at the King Institute of Preventive Medicine, Guindy, in two days. Director of Public Health K Kolandaswamy said that this forms a part of the plan of the Union Health Ministry to set up 10 more Coronavirus testing facilities in the country. While screening measures are in place at the Chennai airport, the Chennai port has procured thermal scanners, personal protective equipment and N95 masks. The…

Corporation raids commercial units for plastic usage The corporation has seized over 11.6 tonnes of plastic bags, primarily from shops in Alandur, Adyar, Valasaravakkam and Kodambakkam. The civic body also collected ₹19.45 lakh as fine from the violators of the ban, in the 15 zones of the city. Raids were conducted in various locations, covering 20,423 commercial establishments. The civic body seized 72.76 tonnes of banned plastic from commercial units during the period from January 1 2019 to January 22 2020. Source: The Hindu Corporation to levy fee for garbage collection Residents, commercial establishments and event companies will have to…

Traffic diversions announced for Republic Day rehearsals Chennai traffic police have released a directive with the details of traffic diversion on certain routes between January 20th-23rd and on the 26th. Vehicular movement will be completely prohibited from Santhome church to the War Memorial on Kamarajar Salai from 6 am to 10 pm on all the above four days. Besides the change in the bus routes plying on these routes, the bus stand at Anna Square will be temporarily shifted near Walajah road guest house. Source: The News Minute Three bridges in North Chennai to be retrofitted Plans are underway to…

Chennai gets AC buses again After nearly a gap of one and a half years, MTC has re-introduced AC buses in the city again. The AC buses have been launched on two routes: Dr MGR Bus Terminus in Koyambedu to Siruseri via Velachery and Thiruvanmiyur to Tambaram. The minimum ticket price has been fixed at ₹15 and the maximum is ₹60 till Siruseri. The MTC further plans to add five more routes. Source: The Hindu Chennai ranks third highest in the no. of murders in metros Chennai has seen a consistent rise in the number of murders according to the…