Good morning, Chennai!
🌤️ Today’s weather: High: 37 ℃ | Low: 26 ℃ | Partly cloudy for the day.
🧐 Did you know? The Round Tana on Mount Road once had a fountain sponsored by the Maharaja of Vizianagaram. It was demolished during World War II to build an underground shelter.
🎓 MIT turns 75
MIT’s 75th birthday is marked by the announcement of new campus infrastructure.
What’s it about? The Madras Institute of Technology (MIT) marked its 75th anniversary with a valediction ceremony attended by the state minister of higher education, K Ponmudy. He interacted with alumni and students and spoke about the institution’s growth from its humble beginnings.
- 75 saplings were planted, and an open house exhibition was held to mark the occasion. The state government also allocated ₹75 crore for a new auditorium and classroom complex.
- A proposal has also been sent to Anna University to renovate the alumni house into a training centre for students with automation labs.
History: The institute opened on July 18, 1949, with 96 students. It currently has over 4,000 students enrolled in 9 undergraduate and 15 postgraduate courses.
🐕🦺 City’s first pet park
Chennai could soon get its first pet park in Teynampet.
What’s it about? With calls from residents for a dedicated park for pets, the Chennai Corporation plans to open a pet park at Demonte Colony Street in Teynampet. With multiple incidents of dogs biting people, a proposal has been finalised for dedicated spaces for pets as a solution.
- The first one will come in the existing Corporation park on Demonte Colony Street. A separate area will be developed to accommodate about 30 dogs with a walking and play area.
- The location was chosen since it’s far away from busy roads and has many licensed pet owners living in the area. Based on feedback from people, other locations will be identified.
Previous attempt: The idea for a pet park was first floated in 2018. However, it was deferred by the Smart City board of directors, stating there was no immediate need.
🍲 Educating street food vendors
Civic officials brought street food vendors together to educate them about food safety practices.
What’s it about? Designated food safety officer Dr P Sateesh Kumar and food safety experts addressed over 400 street food vendors on the importance of proper hygiene and ingredients in cooking their food. The food safety department also organised health camps to screen vendors for infectious diseases.
- Vendors were told that repeatedly using cooking oils can lead to oxidation, which generates toxic compounds. Some of these compounds can be cancerous, cause obesity, and increase blood pressure.
- Experts showed vendors the right way to prepare food, the correct temperature to store wet and dry ingredients, pest control measures, water management, and personal hygiene.
Obtaining a license and checkups: The meeting had registration counters for street vendors to get licenses. Vendors with health issues were referred to government clinics and hospitals for further treatment.
🦟 Protecting against dengue
In the wake of the intermittent rains, state and city officials have increased dengue mitigation efforts.
What’s it about? Neighbouring states saw an increase in dengue cases and fatalities. The State Health Department has increased its surveillance of cases. Until July 1, the state recorded 5,554 cases and 1 death. Since this summer has seen more rainfall than usual, health officials have asked everyone to be on guard.
- Residents across the city have complained about the abundance of breeding sites where debris and garbage are dumped. Places like Mylapore and along the railway tracks in North Perambur are examples. The Chennai Corporation has done little to address this.
- Due to increased urbanisation, dengue cases have now spread to the rural areas. These infrastructure project sites have become breeding grounds.
What’s being done? City health officer Dr M Jagadeesan said that breeding checkers have undertaken regular field inspections and educated locals about the disease and ways to protect themselves.
📊 Today’s Poll
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Do you grow plants at home?
- I grow plants at home.
- I don’t grow plants at home.
❓ Today’s Question
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Which was your first mobile phone?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- WIMCO Nagar station passengers lament the lack of a subway or foot-over bridge.
- Udavum Karangal in Chennai helps reunite a mentally ill man with his family.
- Chennai Airport operations returned to normal as systems returned online following a global Windows outage.
- A private company will be hired to operate and maintain the trains and stations of the metro’s phase 2.
- Tambaram residents complain about their drinking water supply being contaminated with faecal coliform bacteria.
That’s it for today. Have a great day!