Good morning, Chennai!
🌤️ Today’s weather: High: 37 ℃ | Low: 27 ℃ | Mostly sunny for today.
🧐 Did you know? Chennai had India’s first automotive component company. India Pistons was set up in 1949 by S Anantharamakrishnan and his Amalgamations Limited.
🏞️ First wetland park
Chennai will get its first wetland park in Porur.
What’s it about? The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) and the Sponge Collaborative are developing a 16.63-acre park at the Sri Ramachandra University, located off Mount-Poonamallee High Road. Part of the initiative includes reviving the 6-acre lake inside the park.
- The site was identified as a remnant of a wetland. The existing stormwater drain was upgraded to improve holding capacity and increase groundwater recharge.
- The park is designed as a community amenity for nature-based recreation. Among the facilities are a 600-metre boardwalk, a pollinator garden, a basketball court, and seating areas.
Climate resilience: The park is part of the CMDA’s efforts to increase the climate resilience of the Chennai Metropolitan Area. It will reduce the impact of flooding by collecting and filtering 90% of the surface run-off, improving groundwater recharge.
🛠️ Nungambakkam subway repair
The 200-metre leaky Nungambakkam subway will soon be fixed.
What’s it about? The subway is notorious for its potholes and leakages on the side walls. The Chennai Corporation asked IIT Madras to study the leakages and understand why the roads get repeatedly damaged. The report was submitted last week.
- The walls will be fixed with Polyurethane grouting. It’s a waterproofing technique where high-pressure chemical spraying is done in cracks and voids in walls. The road will be fixed with micro-concrete.
- The Corporation didn’t get permission from the Police to relay the subway since traffic diversion on such an important stretch isn’t possible.
Long-standing issues: As the water level rises during heavy rains, the subway walls, which are over a decade old, begin to let out water. Despite the 2009 renovation, the leakages continued.
📋 Council meeting resolutions
Councillors adopted several resolutions including treating homes rented out for homestays as commercial properties.
What’s it about? During the Chennai Corporation council meeting, the demand was made to levy property tax. Several residential houses have been converted into resort-like homestays but continue to pay property taxes as “occupants”. It was among the 72 resolutions passed in the meeting.
- Ward 109 Councillor E Suganya requested renovation of the Nungambakkam subway. The Mayor, M Priya, said ₹1.49 crore has been sanctioned for it.
- Other issues raised were a shortage of doctors and nurses in urban health and wellness centres, inadequate staff in schools, and deteriorated stormwater drains.
Staff in schools: To help get more staff in schools, the Mayor said the Teacher Recruitment Board will appoint more people in the next two weeks.
📈 Tax hikes
The Chennai Corporation increased the rates of several taxes and levies.
What’s it about? The Corporation made several upward revisions, including a hike in trade license and professional tax. There was also an increase in fines imposed on cattle owners who let animals roam freely.
- The trade license fee has almost doubled by up to ₹30,000. This applies to businesses ranging from cinema studios to ice cream parlours to other shops.
- For professional taxes, the civic body increased the upper band of 35%. It applies to those earning between ₹21,000 and ₹60,000 per month.
Tackling the cattle menace: With regular incidents of the stray cattle menace across several spots in the city, the Corporation decided to increase the fine on their owners to ₹10,000 per cattle and ₹15,000 if caught for a second time.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Do you think the upcoming airport in Parandur is too far away?
- The upcoming airport in Parandur is too far away.
- The upcoming airport in Parandur isn’t too far away.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
If you were a flavour of ice cream, what would you be?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- Weather forecasters and bloggers predict August will be a wet month with the return of thunderstorms.
- Three roundabouts will be built to alleviate traffic congestion at Madhavaram.
- The AIADMK has opposed the upcoming Formula 4 race in the city, arguing it’s a waste of taxpayer money.
- Sports Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin stated that the government isn’t financing the Formula 4 race, but the sponsors are.
- An expert appraisal committee has recommended issuing Terms of Reference (ToR) to assess the Parandur airport’s Environmental Impact Assessment.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- I try newly opened restaurants and cafes regularly: 25.0%
- I don’t try newly opened restaurants and cafes regularly: 75.0% 🏆
Answers to Yesterday’s Question:
What hobby have you always wanted to try but never did?
Suchi: “Playing the Veena”
Shiva: “Playing Guitar”
That’s it for today. Have a great day!