Good morning, Chennai!
☀️ Today’s weather: High: 34 ℃ | Low: 25 ℃ | Clear and sunny weather for the day.
🧐 Did you know? Chennai was once a walled city. The British built the Black Town Wall. It ran for three-and-a-half miles from Cochrane Canal on the north to Poonamalle High Road – Central Station junction on the south.
👮 Keeping the police cool
The traffic police have launched initiatives to keep personnel safe as the summer approaches.
What’s it about? Traffic police personnel will get pith helmets and buttermilk sachets to keep them cool and hydrated during the summer months. Chennai city’s additional commissioner (traffic), R Sudhakar, inaugurated buttermilk distribution at the Labour Statue junction.
- For the next four months, all traffic cops across the city will get free buttermilk. Every day, nearly 5,000 packets of buttermilk will be distributed.
- ₹38 lakh has been allocated for the buttermilk supply. The pith hat will help restrict heat from transmitting to their head and keep them cool.
Continuing the trend: The free buttermilk initiative was introduced in 2012 and has been followed ever since.
🎉 Cultural festivities conclude
VIT Chennai’s Vibrance 2024 festival concluded with sports and cultural festivities.
What’s it about? Over 30,000 students participated in the festivities, including literature quizzes, hockey, football, and badminton competitions. Actor Sonu Sood interacted with students at the valedictory ceremony.
- The festival had over 100 competitions, which was an increase from previous years. This year’s edition witnessed one of the biggest turnouts for Vibrance.
- There were over 40 sporting competitions, including athletics, tennis, and football. Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar College of Engineering (SSN) won the overall championship in sports.
Global event: Apart from students from India, it was the first time the college hosted students from other countries, including Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Brazil, Ethiopia, and Japan, to name a few.
🕵️ Keeping an eye on the money
As election season heats up, special teams will be in place to monitor cash flows.
What’s it about? The notifications for the general elections will be announced in a few days, and the Income Tax (IT) department will have special teams to monitor cash flows. There’ll be a special focus on UPI transactions via GPay and PhonePe.
- If a candidate transfers cash illegally via UPI, the Election Commission of India (ECI) can disqualify the candidate. The teams will begin their work once the model code of conduct is announced.
- In big districts identified as sensitive, quick response teams will be deployed. A round-the-clock control room has been set up in Chennai with five personnel per shift.
Monitoring liquor: There’ll also be separate flying squads from the excise and GST departments to monitor liquor movement, which could be distributed as freebies to voters.
📄 Changes to the environmental study for the Parandur airport
TIDCO has requested to withdraw the application for an environmental impact study due to corrections.
What’s the story so far? The Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation Limited (TIDCO) has asked to withdraw the Terms of Reference (ToR) to prepare an environmental assessment study for the new Parandur airport. The ToR application was filed on February 23.
- Some speculate the application is being withdrawn with an eye on the upcoming elections. The government doesn’t want any backlash as the model code of conduct will be announced and enforced.
- However, a TIDCO official said the application to withdraw was because the proposal needed some changes and corrections.
Current project status: The government has issued a land acquisition notification in Podavur village. It’s one among 13 villages whose land will be acquired. The state will need over 5,300 acres of land, of which 47% is agricultural land.
📊 Today’s Poll
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Have you met a famous person?
- I have met a famous person.
- I haven’t met a famous person.
❓ Today’s Question
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Which historical figure would you like to see a movie of?
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🗞️ In other news…
- The stray cattle menace continues unabated across the city due to several reasons.
- Buy, lease, and operate is the new trend in Chennai’s real estate sector.
- Chief Minister MK Stalin laid the foundation for 8 projects and inaugurated 21 new projects.
- New Vande Bharat trains will be launched next week from Chennai to Mysuru via Bengaluru.
- Passengers are inconvenienced at the Kilambakkam bus terminus with inadequate seating arrangements.
That’s it for today. Have a great day!