Good morning, Chennai!
🌤️ Today’s weather: High: 32 ℃ | Low: 21 ℃ | A foggy morning with partly cloudy skies for the day.
🧐 Did you know? The Koyambedu market replaced the older market at Kotwal Chavadi, which served as the city’s primary vegetable market for over 200 years.
🎨 Celebrating Indo-Korean relations
An art exhibition celebrates the 50th anniversary of Indo-Korean relations.
What’s it about? The exhibition is called Tagore and Nature: A River and showcases the work of 20 artists from India and South Korea who participated in last year’s Nami Island Korea-India artist camp.
- Each artist interpreted the theme Tagore and Nature: A River in their own way. Some focussed on Tagore’s views on the subject, while others depicted hopes for future relations between both countries.
- The artist camp was held at the Nami Island in Chuncheon City, South Korea. It brought together a diverse group of artists across different backgrounds and techniques.
Importance of connecting: For these artists, the exhibition is a chance to showcase their work and connect with fellow artists. It’s a way to transcend cultural and language barriers.
Details: The exhibition is on display at the InKo Centre till February 20.
🖥️ Go-to for data centres
Chennai has emerged as a preferred destination for data centres due to its strong undersea cable network.
What’s it about? Chennai and Mumbai are seen as the top picks for companies to set up data centres. However, Chennai has an edge due to its undersea cable network, IT and non-IT talent, and diversified business ecosystem.
- Chennai’s growth in this space is expected to be about 22% in the next 2-3 years. Chennai has a larger pool of available land. The state also wants to attract companies looking for sustainable growth.
- The city is already home to Sify Technologies, ST Telemedia, and Airtel’s Nxtra, to name a few. Reliance and Adani will be the newest entrants. Chennai, it seems, has the right ingredients to lead the way in data centre technology.
Recent challenges: The recent floods have complicated things for the industry. Ambattur and OMR were badly affected. The city needs to upgrade its infrastructure and ensure companies feel Chennai is the right spot for them.
🌊 Report on flood mitigation
A citizen-led audit report was released to highlight the measures needed to mitigate flood disasters in the future.
What’s it about? The report was prepared by Makkal Medai, a collective of citizens and resident welfare associations in Chennai. The report was released during the ‘Kelu Chennai Kelu’ public meeting at Valluvar Kottam. Tambaram MLA SR Raja participated and assured the public of action.
- 17 of the worst flood-affected areas were surveyed with inputs from residents. Among the issues mentioned were encroachments along waterbodies, unmilled roads, and a lack of desilting stormwater drains.
- In Thiruverkadu, the increased height of the main road led to flooding. In Perumbakkam, the conversion of marshlands for residential and industrial purposes was the main cause.
Calls for action: Activists called for building a special high-powered committee to tackle encroachments. They also talked about restoring canals and desilting water bodies.
🤝 Smart ammunition
IIT Madras has partnered with Munitions India to develop 155mm smart ammunition.
What’s it about? The institute and Munitions India Limited will team up to make India’s first indigenously-designed 155mm smart ammunition. The goal is to combine IIT Madras’ expertise in developing a guidance system and Munitions India’s prowess in conventional ammunition manufacturing.
- The objective is to increase the accuracy of a 155mm shell within a circular error probable (CEP) of 10 metres. Currently, ammunitions developed in India have a CEP of 500 metres.
- The components will include smart ammunition for 39 and 45-calibre artillery guns without changing the gun system and canard-controlled guided shells. The Special Purpose Shell will have a navigation, guidance, and control system.
Make in India: Munitions India comes under the Ministry of Defence and is the country’s biggest manufacturer and market leader in a range of ammunition. This partnership with IIT Madras will help achieve the goal of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Do you watch reality television programs?
- I watch reality television programs.
- I don’t watch reality television programs.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
What are your favourite kinds of animals to see at a zoo?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- Stray dogs continue to run wild in Tambaram due to a staff shortage and delay in the Animal Birth Control shelter.
- A modern bus terminus will come up at a cost of ₹50 crore at the tourist spot Mahabalipuram.
- A technical committee has asked the state government to fine Coromandel International Limited for the Ennore gas leak.
- City schools showcase art exhibits to help students engage with visual and sensory stimuli.
- The Lighthouse to Poonamallee corridor of the Chennai Metro’s second phase is on track.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- I like doing yoga: 80.0% 🏆
- I don’t like doing yoga: 20.0%
Answers to Yesterday’s Question:
What was your favourite pastime as a child?
Suchi: “Listening to the radio”
That’s it for today. Have a great day!