Good morning, Chennai!
🌥️ Today’s weather: High: 31 ℃ | Low: 25 ℃ | Mostly cloudy for the day.
🧐 Did you know? The Madras Sappers are the earliest known engineering group of the Indian Army. The first award given by the British Army for service and heroic deeds was to Havildar Chockalingam, of the Madras Sappers, for his bravery in the 1834 Coorg campaign.
🏋️ Power lifter’s world record
12-year-old Anjali Murali from Chennai recently set a new world record in powerlifting.
What’s it about? In September, Anjali participated in the National Powerlifting Competition in Bengaluru, organised by the World Raw Powerlifting Federation (WRPF). She competed in the under-52 kg category for teenagers. She lifted 230 kg – 87.5 kg in squats, 42.5 kg in the bench press, and 100 kg in the deadlift – to win gold.
- Two weeks after the tournament, her father received a call saying her lifts were a new world record. The previous record was held by a Russian athlete at 92 kg.
- Anjana usually competes in the under-16 category. It’s the youngest age division in powerlifting at the global level. That means she often goes up against others older than her.
Journey to get here: Anjana’s father is Biglee Murali, a well-known fitness and wellness coach. Confined to her home during the lockdown, she joined her father in working out and surprised him by lifting a 28 kg kettlebell. She then accompanied him to a powerlifting competition and was interested in the sport.
⚙️ Allison Transmission’s Chennai expansion
The US-based company formalised an agreement to expand its Chennai manufacturing facility.
What’s it about? Allison Transmission Inc. manufactures transmissions for trucks, buses, and military vehicles. The agreement with the state government will expand its advanced manufacturing facility in Chennai with a $92 million investment.
- The agreement was signed with Guidance Tamil Nadu and will help create 167 direct and indirect jobs, doubling its current size. The multi-year investment will double the footprint of the Chennai facility.
- The company’s facility at Oragadam was opened in 2010 and is its regional headquarters. The facility expanded in 2012 to assemble more transmission models.
Ashok Leyland partnership: The company also partnered with Ashok Leyland to launch India’s first low-floor city buses for the southern market. The 12-metre diesel buses are equipped with fully automatic transmissions and designed for persons with disabilities.
🏭 Power plant expansion
A public hearing has been scheduled for the expansion of the Ennore power plant.
What’s it about? The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) has scheduled a public hearing on December 20 for the expansion of Tangedco’s 660 MW Ennore Thermal Power Station Expansion Project.
- The decision to hold a public hearing was taken amid Tangedco’s plan to revive the stalled expansion project under a Public Private Partnership model. SBI Capital Markets Ltd has been tasked with preparing a feasibility report for the project.
- In September 2021, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) mandated a public hearing for the project. It rejected the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF)’s exemption to conduct a public hearing.
Project history: The project’s environment clearance expired in June 2019. The MoEF asked Tangedco to get a fresh clearance for the plant.
⚖️ Tackling student clashes
The Madras High Court demanded the state government take steps to prevent student clashes.
What’s it about? The Madras High Court expressed concern about repeated clashes between students of different colleges in the city. It asked the Tamil Nadu government to take steps to end the clashes. Justice AD Jagadish Chandira made the statement while hearing a bail plea filed by students arrested in connection with the murder of a Presidency College student.
- Citing the murder of the student, A Sundar, the court said no action is taken by authorities despite repeated clashes every year. Previously, they were assaults that now escalated to murder.
- The court also asked the police to submit the details of cases registered by the local authorities and the railway police over the past decade on student clashes. The court wants to know how many cases ended in convictions.
Socio-economic factors: The defence council of the students accused stated that their family came from poor backgrounds since their parents were daily wage labourers. Justice Chandira also noted that the parents of most of the students involved in clashes were daily wage labourers like farm workers or housemaids.
✨ Things to do…
Here are some fun and interesting things to do in the city over the weekend!
- Advance your education at the upcoming Global University Fair this Saturday.
- Enjoy fun and games at the Kids Family Day Out this Saturday.
- Enjoy hit songs at the musical concert of Aniruth and Yuvan Shankar Hits – Vibe Panna Readya? this Saturday.
- Attention One Direction fans, sing along to their hits at the Story of My Life tribute this Sunday.
- Chennai’s best young musicians come together for Symphony of Unity this Saturday.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll Results:
- I have participated in a debate in school or college: 45.5%
- I haven’t participated in a debate in school or college: 54.5% 🏆
Answers to Yesterday’s Question:
What childhood candy/chocolate do you wish was still available?
Suchi: “Kamarkat”
Shiva: “Aasai”
That’s it for today. Have a great weekend!