Civic

Whole-genome lab inaugurated in Chennai In a bid to track vector-borne diseases and superbugs resistant to antibiotics, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin inaugurated a whole-genome sequencing lab at the state public health laboratory in Chennai.  The facility will also help detect SARS-CoV-2 variants. When the virus multiplies, the mutations get accumulated in the genetic code. While the treatment for all variants of COVID-19  has been the same, alterations in the genetic structure have the capability to hasten the spread of the virus.  Until now, the state has sent the samples to the Bengaluru-based Instem (a part of a…

NGT admits petition to stop Versova beach construction Environmentalist Zoru Bhatena's petition filed against renovation of Versova beach has been admitted by the National Green Tribunal (NGT). Bhatena claims the developmental work violates clearances issued under the Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) by Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA). Versova beach is also an important nesting site for Olive Ridley turtles. A two-judge bench found merit in the petition and ordered the Public Works Department (PWD), MCZMA, the state environment impact assessment authority, the municipal corporation and the district collector to respond to the notices served. Source: Hindustan Times Read more:…

96.6% efficacy with one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, says ICMR One dose of COVID-19 vaccine ensures 96.6% efficiency in preventing death while a double dose ensures 97.5% efficiency against death, said ICMR Director General Dr Balram Bhargava. Analysis of data collected between April 18th and August 15th showed that most deaths during the second wave occurred amongst the unvaccinated. Dr Bhargava also informed that protection against death is available for all age groups. Health ministry officials say pace of vaccination is steadily increasing. Average doses per day has increased from 20 lakh in May to 78 lakh in September with…

Festive rules revised On Thursday, many Ganesha Utsava Mandals held a protest with vehicle-mounted idols, at the BBMP head office. The BBMP’s order on just one public installation per ward was widely opposed. After outcry from pro-Hindu groups over restrictions in festivities, BBMP withdrew its guidelines and agreed to permit festivities over five days, not three as the police had advised earlier. Moreover, reversing the earlier ban, idols can now be immersed in some lakes where it’s customary. Only one public installation per ward is permitted, but temples and private religious institutions can install idols following COVID-appropriate behaviour. Organisers are…

Section 144 till September 19th Not more than five people will be allowed to gather at a place in Mumbai till September 19th. Mumbai Police imposed the order to curb Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. According to the new order, praying physically at public pandals has also been banned. However, the guidelines also state that for bringing home Ganesha idols and during their immersion, not more than 10 people will be allowed in public mandal processions and not more than five for household Ganpatis. Mandals falling in Covid-19 containment zones will have to make arrangements for immersion within pandal premises or postpone…

Corporation shortlists 10 themes for Singara Chennai 2.0 With residents’ welfare associations sharing suggestions to transform the city under the Singara Chennai 2.0 project, the civic body has shortlisted 10 themes for the broad changes in store.   The corporation will be allocated Rs 300 crore and the Metrowater Rs 200 crore for executing the project. While a draft of the vision  for the project has been prepared, a government order is awaited to go ahead with the work planned. Residents have sent in their suggestions for revamp under the following themes: heritage and culture, beautification, education, cleanliness, greenery, wellness, safety,…

This June, newspapers carried reports of an apartment resident in Mangaluru throwing newborn kittens out of her flat. Similarly, cat-adoption sites frequently report cases of kittens found in plastic bags in garbage heaps. Earlier, a common, but merciless, approach was to either ignore kittens or drop them in a faraway location. These incidents show people are largely unaware of how to handle stray cats and their litter. Success stories of win-win scenarios for both cats and humans are very rare. I was very impressed by an article in Citizen Matters last year, by Sumana Paul and Kalpita Mane, on how…

Supreme Court raps Centre for delay in framing COVID relief guidelines The SC has set September 11th as the deadline for the Centre to file a compliance report on framing guidelines for issuing death certificates to families who lost a member due to COVID-19. A two-judge bench comprising Justice M R Shah and Justice Aniruddha Bose said that despite the court giving ample time to the Centre, it has failed to take any action. The court also noted that by the time the government frames the guidelines the third wave might well have set in. The court had ordered on…

Mumbai’s costliest flyover shut one month after opening The newly constructed Ghatkopar-Mankhurd flyover has been jinxed since its initiation. Delayed by three years, partly due to the pandemic, the Rs 713 crore flyover was finally inaugurated on August 1st by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. But a spate of recent accidents and breakdowns have led to the flyover being closed for repairs on September 1st. While several two wheelers have slipped and skidded on the flyover, a fatal accident on August 30th involving a bike finally led to the closure. Even though BMC maintains that the accidents were caused due to…

75% have COVID antibodies: Serosurvey Preliminary results of a serosurvey conducted by civic authorities in early August show that more than 75% of the sample population had developed antibodies. The survey was conducted among 2,000 Bengalureans, of whom half were vaccinated and half weren't. Out of 1,800 people, more than 1,400 had antibodies. The results of the remaining 200 people are still being tabulated. The participants included 30% under the age of 18, 50% aged 18-44 years, and 20% aged above 45. They were from various socio-economic groups. The findings seem to suggest that vaccines are creating an appropriate antibody…