Good morning, Chennai!
⛅ Today’s weather: Cloudy weather with some sunshine.
🧐 Did you know? The Kathipara Bridge is one of Asia’s largest cloverleaf flyovers. It accommodates over 2 lakh vehicles a day.
📸 For the love of photography
Chennai Photo Biennale lighthouse is a professional space for artists to connect and exchange ideas.
What’s it about? Opened on July 1, the Chennai Photo Biennale (CPB) lighthouse has a library, a dark room, and teaching rooms. Co-founders Varun Gupta, Shuchi Kapoor, and Gayatri Nair envision the new space as one for photography and art lovers to meet and exchange ideas.
- The library has over 350 books of different categories like photojournalism and portraits. There are also self-published books like ones from Kolkata-based photographer Soumya Shankar Bose.
- The space, located at Kottivakkam, also has a state-of-the-art darkroom. It’s the only one in the city for community use. The lighthouse will host summer camps and photography sessions for kids and adults.
Foundation outreach: The CPB Foundation provides the ‘Kanavu’ fellowship to women from tier 2 and tier 3 cities in the state to help them with their photography skills. The program currently has four fellows.
🏗️ CMDA’s legal bind
The CMDA could be in legal trouble if it fails to resolve the fate of several illegal buildings.
What’s it about? 148 buildings in T Nagar sought an exemption under Section 113-A of the Town and Country Planning Act. It allowed for unauthorised construction before February 1999. The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) needs to resolve this issue or face legal consequences.
- The secretary wrote to the CMDA requesting a meeting two years ago which hasn’t happened yet. A case will be heard on July 12 based on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) against the unauthorised buildings.
- Despite changes in the rules in 2017 for the exemption of unauthorised buildings up to July 1, 2007, they weren’t implemented due to petitions in the High Court.
History: In 2007, the Chennai Corporation and the CMDA surveyed unauthorised buildings in T Nagar and identified 64 as violators. Interim stays were obtained on 25 buildings to be sealed in 2011. The court accepted the recommendations of the Justice Mohan Committee that proposed Section 113-C to regularise buildings up to July 2007.
🌱 Tree ambassadors
City-based Communitree is empowering kids to become champions of the environment.
What’s it about? The NGO Communitree has fostered eco-friendly activities and initiatives for many years. Its latest initiative is The Children’s Urban Forest ‘23 project to encourage children to participate in tree planting.
- The NGO wants kids to become Tree Ambassadors through this project with its second Children’s Urban Forest. The organisation wants kids to become active participants in conservation.
- On November 14, Children’s Day, kids will assemble to plant trees by crowdfunding for each sapling. Each one will cost ₹299, and anyone can become a sponsor, and they’ll be appraised of its upkeep.
Inspiring work: The previous year, 40 kids planted over 1,000 trees. The schools that participate can showcase their involvement with their logos. The organisation hopes this programme will help inspire kids to raise awareness and focus on environmental conservation.
🏢 Another IT park
Prestige Group will develop a new IT park in Chennai in an emerging IT corridor.
What’s it about? Property developer Prestige Group entered into a joint venture with Chennai-based WS Industries for a new 1.1 million square feet IT park.
- The park will be located on seven acres of land on Mount-Poonamallee Road, emerging as the city’s third IT corridor after Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) and Radial Road. The ongoing Metro Phase 2 work will ensure connectivity on this stretch in the future.
- The new park will be almost as big as Tidel Park, which is 1.2 million square feet. The stretch already has the DLF IT Park in Manapakkam and another by L&T, later taken over by CapitaLand.
WS Industries history: The company, which began in 1962, was previously involved in manufacturing insulators and electric equipment. After shutting down in 2010 due to financial issues, new promoters took over last year and is now debt-free.
✨ Things to do…
Here are some fun and interesting things to do in the city over the weekend!
- Jokes on Us presents some of Chennai’s best comics this Sunday.
- Saregama Lets Go Live will showcase handpicked Tamil classics across decades this Saturday.
- Chennai Art Theatre presents the Tamil play Chinnanchiru Kathaigal Peasuvom this Saturday.
- Flac Fest ’23 presents live performances of indie musicians this Saturday.
- Hamley’s Play is a newly-opened kid’s store with fun activities.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll Results:
- My phone has 5G capability: 25.0%
- My phone doesn’t have 5G capability: 75.0% 🏆
Answers to Yesterday’s Question:
What exotic fruit do you wish was more easily available in the city?
Chitra: “Strawberry”
That’s it for today. Have a great weekend!