Good morning, Chennai!
☀️ Today’s weather: High: 36 ℃ | Low: 26 ℃ | Hot and sunny weather for today.
🧐 Did you know? The Madras Race Club is the oldest race course in India. While it was officially constituted in 1837, its origins date back to 1777 when 81 cawnies of land were granted by the government to conduct races.
💸 Gold prices increase
The price of gold in the city has reached an all-time high, affecting consumer purchases.
Let’s talk money: Six months ago, the price of gold was ₹43,000 per sovereign. It’s currently at over ₹53,000. Sellers expect the rate to increase in the coming months. On Wednesday, the rate per gram was ₹6,670. The prices are further increased by a 10% making charge and 3% GST.
- The retail sales in the city are affected due to the model code of conduct. The high demand has been sustained thanks to online trade and wholesale trade by NRIs.
- For some consumers, their financial planning has been affected due to higher rates. They’ve been forced to pay more apart from their savings.
External factors at play: Weak indices in the US stock market and low interest rates for cash deposits in banks are some reasons. There have also been increased purchases of gold by Central banks in China and Russia.
🐕 “No-pet” rule scrapped
The Madras Race Club scrapped its no-pet rule after facing backlash.
What’s the story so far? In a circular issued on February 29, the Madras Race Club introduced a no-pet policy, especially for dogs, on its premises. It gave the staff an April 10 deadline to relocate all animals. Any staff member residing in the staff quarters was prohibited from owning pets within the premises. Following a backlash, the circular was withdrawn.
- The rule didn’t have any legal backing. The Tamil Nadu Animal Welfare Board (TNAWB) sent a notice to the Club requesting it to scrap the rule.
- It asked the Club to undertake Animal Birth Control (ABC) measures and then build a fence to prevent more dogs from entering the premises.
What does the law say? Relocating would’ve violated the 2023 Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules. No one can restrict pets, and the by-laws of the association can’t be superseded by the laws of the land.
🍉 Fruity concerns
Food safety officials in the city warn of vendors coating watermelons to enhance their taste.
What’s it about? Officials are concerned about vendors coating cut watermelons with sugary syrups to enhance their taste. Apart from altering their natural taste, it means people add unnecessary additional sugar to their diets.
- Officials are also concerned about how these cut melons are handled. They’re sometimes left in the open for several hours. Eating cut fruits in an unhygienic environment can be harmful.
- There have also been instances of vendors using unsafe water and ice to make juices. The blenders and utensils used aren’t washed in running water.
Be vigilant: A best practice is to look for melons that are whole and uncut and ensure the cut pieces aren’t coated in any syrup. One good development, according to officials, is there has been a decrease in vendors injecting watermelons with artificial colours to make them look ripe.
🗳️ Work on EVMs begin
Election officials began registering the names and symbols of political parties on EVMs.
What’s it about? The District Election Office (DEO) has begun to affix the names and symbols of political parties into the electronic voting machines (EVMs) across the city. The entire process is expected to be completed in three days.
- For the three parliamentary constituencies in Chennai, over 11,800 ballot units, 4,469 control units, and 4,842 Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines have been allotted.
- In Central Chennai, which has 31 candidates competing, two EVM units were allotted for each booth. For Chennai North and South, three EVM units each were allotted.
Special attention: Over 700 polling booths were identified that need special attention. The DEO appointed micro-observers at these booths, where 611 are deemed vulnerable and 23 as critical.
✨ Things to do…
Here are some fun and interesting things to do in the city over the weekend!
- Embark on a musical journey with Isai Thirai featuring Manjal Veyil Band this Saturday.
- Enjoy the festivities at the 2024 Slate Carnival this weekend.
- Backstreet Boys fans can catch a tribute by the Medium Rare Band this Saturday.
- Take a stroll in the heritage walk through the history and ecology of T Nagar this Saturday.
- For budding musicians, the MUSE Musical Open Mic is the perfect destination this Saturday.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll Results:
- I have stage fright: 75.0% 🏆
- I don’t have stage fright: 25.0%
Answers to Yesterday’s Question:
What’s your favourite fruit juice?
Suchi: “Mango juice”
That’s it for today. Have a great weekend!