Good morning, Chennai!
☁️ Today’s weather: Partly cloudy with some rain.
🧐 Did you know? The idea of movie hoardings in the city was conceived by film director SS Vasan. It began with the movie Chandralekha in the early 1950s.
🎓 IIT Madras goes global
IIT Madras opened its new campus in Zanzibar.
What’s it about? The opening of the new international campus is a milestone for IIT Madras. It’s part of the Centre’s wish to elevate and take India’s education system to international locations.
- Located in the Bweleo district, nearly 15 km south of Zanzibar Town, it’s IIT’s first international campus. The campus has international amenities to meet students’ needs.
- Initially, the campus will offer BS and MTech programmes in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. The inaugural batch includes students from Zanzibar, mainland Tanzania, Nepal, and India, with 40% of them being women.
Conference: Meanwhile, IIT Madras Research Park and the India Energy Storage Alliance will host the second edition of EnVision on December 4 and 5 to explore India’s renewable energy challenges.
🧨 Diwali dos and don’ts
The Chennai Police have issued guidelines and rules on bursting crackers this Diwali.
What’s it about? Citing orders from the Supreme Court and the state government, the city police have issued guidelines that should be strictly adhered to by residents. Police Commissioner Sandeep Rai said people should cooperate with law enforcement authorities for an environment-friendly and safe Diwali.
- The advisory includes the bursting of green crackers with permitted chemicals between 6 and 7 a.m. and between 7 and 8 p.m. on Diwali. Chinese-made crackers are prohibited.
- For safety reasons, the police have advised people to not burst crackers on busy roads and streets. They’ve also released emergency contact numbers 100 and 101 for the police and fire service helpline.
Police safety measures: The Chennai Police have assigned at least 18,000 personnel to monitor areas and catch violators. Last year, they booked 14 cases against shop owners and 271 cases against people bursting crackers beyond the stipulated time.
🚨 Diwali shopping safety measures
The police will monitor crowded shopping areas like T Nagar and Flower Bazaar.
What’s it about? The Chennai Police have introduced several measures to ensure Diwali shoppers are safe in places that are likely to be crowded, like T Nagar, Flower Bazaar, Washermenpet, and Purusaiwalkam. 17 temporary watch towers have been set up at these locations.
- The police have advised women to wear scarves to prevent chain snatching. They’ve also set up five temporary control rooms and ten help desks at the aforementioned locations.
- 42 CCTV cameras in T Nagar and Washermenpet will help keep an eye on crowded spots. Four drone cameras will also be used to monitor public movements and any suspicious activities.
Random checks: On the ground, baggage will be randomly checked through mobile X-ray scanner vehicles at shopping areas and malls.
🌳 Invasive tree species
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An invasive tree species is taking over portions of the Adyar Eco Park.
What’s it about? Called the Subabul, or river tamarind, it’s an invasive tree species that can be spotted at the Adyar Creek near the Foreshore Estate signal.
- The tree was brought from Mexico in the 1970s to be used as fodder for cattle and as manure. However, its usage has decreased over the years as the state has become self-sufficient in fodder cultivation.
- An official from the Chennai River Restoration Trust said they haven’t noticed any spread of the invasive species.
Tree growth: At the locations where the trees were raised, the seeds formed a seed bank under the soil. It becomes difficult to eradicate since the tree’s seeds split and spread fast.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Do you believe the city is better prepared for heavy rains/floods compared to previous years?
- The city is better prepared for heavy rains/floods compared to previous years.
- The city isn’t better prepared for heavy rains/floods compared to previous years.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
What’s your favourite Indian classic movie?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- Kamal Hassan, on the occasion of his birthday, donated a water generator to the Institute of Child Health in the city.
- Tirukazhukundram taluk residents protest against the proposed stone quarry near their residential area.
- Areas near ECR will have better water supply with a piped water line and sewage network.
- Iyyapanthangal residents have asked authorities to resume the bus services between Iyyapanthangal and Kumananchavadi.
- Localities near the airport continue to have poor road connectivity.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- I am following the Cricket World Cup: 77.8% 🏆
- I’m not following the Cricket World Cup: 22.2%
Answers to Yesterday’s Question:
How can pollution in the city during Diwali be curbed?
Suchi: “Ban bursting of crackers”
That’s it for today. Have a great day!