Good morning, Chennai!
☀️ Today’s weather: High: 30 ℃ | Low: 21 ℃ | Clear skies for the day with a misty morning.
🧐 Did you know? The city’s first flyover, the Gemini flyover, was first mooted by Haji Meeran Sahib in 1948.
👨👩👦 Displacing tribal community
The Medavakkam flyover beautification project will result in the displacement of the Narikurava tribal community.
What’s it about? The 2.3 km flyover was opened in May 2022 and facilitates travel from Tambaram to Velachery. The area under the flyover will be beautified as part of the Singara Chennai initiative after the ongoing metro rail work is complete. This will displace members of the Narikurava tribal community living under the flyover.
- For the past two decades, this community has made this space their home. They earn a living selling papers and bead ornaments and working at hotels.
- Many came from different parts of the city and state to find work. If the government can’t provide them housing, rental housing boards are an option. Chennai has 47 shelter homes divided by gender, preventing people from using them.
About the Narikurava tribe: Narikuravans were added to the Scheduled Tribes list by a Government of India order in 2023. Nomadic communities face difficulties in accessing services despite having valid voter ID and Aadhaar. They’ve historically relied on hunting for their livelihoods but the Wildlife Protection Act banned hunting.
♿ Book Fair accessibility
Persons with disabilities have demanded better accessibility for the Chennai Book Fair.
What’s it about? While the ongoing 47th edition of the Chennai Book Fair has garnered interest from the public and bookworms, persons with disabilities have lamented the lack of accessibility in a space designed only for able-bodied people.
- Apart from the space, accessing books and stalls by blind people is an ordeal since the information is in a PDF. K Raghuraman, a visually impaired professor, said the organisers should have electronic books at the Fair.
- The location chosen, the YMCA Grounds, isn’t accessible for wheelchair users. The ramps are steep, and the steps are inaccessible.
Diverse authors: There’s also a demand to include books from authors who are disabled across the Fair rather than putting them under one stall.
🌊 Adyar River pollution
A new report highlights high pollution levels of the Adyar River despite cleaning efforts.
What’s it about? According to a Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) report, the Adyar River had 10 times higher faecal coliform concentration than permitted levels. Total coliform is all species of coliform bacteria. Faecal coliform refers to species found in animal and human intestines. The water has become septic with no dissolved oxygen content near the Adyar Eco Park.
- In October, it had 1,026 most probable number (MPN) of faecal coliform per 100ml. It’s higher than the standard of 100 MPN per. In June, it had 241 MPN.
- The dissolved oxygen level was zero compared to the required level of 4mg per litre. The water quality was also poor since the level of biological oxygen demand was 30mg/litre against the standard 3mg/litre.
Inspections: Following concerns about sewage being discarded into the river, officials inspected Lock Street, Pondicherry Road, and Adyar Creek in June. The TNPCB asked the Chennai Corporation to set up a sewage treatment plant to prevent discharge.
🛣️ Potholes persist
Potholes are still commonplace despite the Chennai Corporation relaying over 2,000 roads.
What’s it about? Damaged roads and potholes still persist despite the civic body spending over ₹400 crore to relay 2,051 roads last year. Residents across the city have complained about bad roads in interior streets and main roads. Among the worst affected are areas with ongoing metro rail work.
- 1,076 Bus Route Roads (BRR) and Interior Route Roads (IRR) have been completed, with 29 in progress and 44 cancelled as of December 30.
- Among the locations are Thoppai Vinayagar Koil Street in Kodungaiyur, with incomplete patchwork, Shaik Maistry Street in Royapuram, with road cuts and City Link Road in Adambakkam which lost its top layer.
What’s being done? The Chennai Corporation will float tenders by the end of this month to relay roads and acquire 15 mobile jet patchwork machines to repair potholes.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Have you set any New Year’s resolutions?
- I have set New Year’s resolutions.
- I haven’t set New Year’s resolutions.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
What common New Year’s resolution would you consider?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- Chennai’s culinary scene for 2025 as told by experts and chefs.
- Anna University announced new security measures following a sexual assault incident.
- Inadequate community toilets at Thideer Nagar and SS Puram affect the health and hygiene of residents.
- MTC’s Singara Chennai Card was officially launched for seamless mobility.
- Rajan Eye Care Hospital organised a session to showcase advancements in eye care.
That’s it for today. Have a great day!