Good morning, Chennai!
☁️ Today’s weather: A cloudy day for today.
🧐 Did you know? Madras was the root of the first joint stock company, commodities exchange, and the first cooperative bank in India.
📷 Photos of Chennai
The Chennai Photowalk Group’s exhibition will celebrate amateur and professional photographers.
What’s it about? Eyes Of Madras 5.0 is the fifth edition of the photography exhibition organised by Chennai PhotoWalk (CPW). It aims to showcase the talents of professional and amateur photographers with photos on curated themes.
- This edition saw Eyes of Madras receive 1,200 images from 160 people. A panel selected 150 photos from 98 people to be featured in the exhibition.
- The themes of this year’s exhibition are celebrating elders, Chennai reloaded 2.0, countryside scenes, all about circles, squares, and lines, and “enga area ulle varaadhe-Marina”.
CPW’s history: CPW is now 16 years old and was conceived by a group of passionate photographers. The group comprises people from different backgrounds and age groups, including school students, housewives, and retired officers.
🏗️ Master Plan back and forth
The CMDA’s misinterpretation of a law allows for buildings near waterbodies and agricultural lands.
What’s it about? The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) is in charge of drawing up the city’s master plan and also permits the conversion of waterbodies and farmlands for commercial and residential development. However, by misinterpreting the Town and Country Planning Act, multi-storied buildings are built where they’re not supposed to be.
- The CMDA’s reclassification process isn’t transparent. While the notification gets published in a newspaper sometimes, there’s no information on how many people objected.
- Reclassification adversely impacts the spread of waterbodies. Last year, the CMDA approved the reclassification of six acres in Nandambakkam, a flood plain. This was also the most affected area during the 2015 floods.
Shrinking waterbodies: The CMDA has also been criticised for the city’s shrinking waterbodies due to Eri schemes. A report identified that the built-up area in the Chennai Metropolitan Region increased to 541.14 sq km in 2016 from 90.88 sq km in 1979.
🌊 Containing the oil spill
The NGT has asked local authorities to act swiftly to stop the spread of the oil spill into Ennore Creek.
What happened? An oil spill from a Chennai Petroleum Corporation Ltd (CPCL) refinery has spread. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) stated authorities need to act quickly to prevent it from spilling into Ennore Creek. Any further spread could adversely impact the livelihoods of fisherfolk.
- The Pollution Control Board concluded that the spill originated from the CPCL. The inadequate stormwater management led to the leakage into the Buckingham Canal, reaching Ennore Creek.
- The Board also stated that Toshiba-JSW didn’t properly handle the waste oil and is under investigation. The water samples it took at the Kosasthalaiyar River showed excess oil.
What’s being done? 75 boats have been deployed to duction the oil from the surface and to safely transport it. Four gully sucker machines are being used to absorb the oil from the water’s surface.
🏺 Pottery workshop for a good cause
A pottery workshop and pop-up will help raise money for those affected by Cyclone Michaung.
What’s it about? Nidhi Arun, founder of Studio Pottery Paradise and the Hindustan Trading Company, will organise a pottery workshop and pop-up. A portion of the money raised will go toward Chennai flood relief.
- Studio Pottery Paradise was opened four years ago to increase the awareness of pottery and how it can be therapeutic. Amritha Venketakrishnan of the Hindustan Trading Company wanted to create an open experience in the city.
- The money will be donated to iGiver.org, a platform created by city-based IT professional D Raghavasimha. Along with the Aram Porul Foundation, they’ll organise relief campaigns in Chennai.
Previous work: The Hindustan Trading Company previously organised a similar event to benefit victims of the Kerala floods and raised ₹1 lakh.
✨ Things to do…
Here are some fun and interesting things to do in the city over the weekend!
- Comedian Sumukhi Suresh presents her live standup special Hoemonal, this Saturday.
- For all the cinephiles, the 21st edition of the Chennai International Film Festival begins this weekend.
- Singer Anuradha Sriram comes to Chennai for a live concert this Saturday.
- Duplex – Oru Ticket Rendu Play is a comedy play this Sunday.
- For the bookworms, the Books by Weight Sale is happening this weekend.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll Results:
- I use a screen/scratch guard for my phone: 90.0% 🏆
- I don’t use a screen/scratch guard for my phone: 10.0%
Answers to Yesterday’s Question:
What was your most prized childhood possession?
Suchi: “My pillow”
Shiva: “First ball that I hit for a six”
That’s it for today. Have a great weekend!