QChennai: Modi Plays ‘Tamil Pride’ Card; Housing Absorption Dips
Here is your round-up of the top stories from Chennai.
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1. ‘Tamil Echoing in US’: Modi’s Maiden Chennai Visit in Second Term
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, 30 September, said the world has "great expectations" from India, and asserted his government will lead the country to a path of 'greatness' where it will be beneficial to the entire globe. The prime minister is on a visit to Chennai to attend the IIT-Madras Singapore-India Hackathon event and the convocation ceremony on campus.
Referring to his remarks in Tamil in his public addresses during his US tour last week, Modi said he had pointed out that it was an "ancient language" of the world. “Now Tamil is echoing in the US,” he added.
Read the full story here.
2. Chennai’s Housing Absorption Dips by 35% in Third Quarter
As both home buyers and developers remain cautious and risk-averse following the slowdown of economy, housing absorption has dipped drastically by 35 percent in Chennai. The city has added around 2,530 units in third-quarter of 2019 against 3,890 units in second-quarter of 2019 which shows a quarterly decrease of 35 percent, according to a report released on Monday by Anarock Property Consultants.
Similarly, the city also recorded a year on year dip of 48 percent as last year of third quarter, when the city added 4,850 housing units. The real need of the hour was the recent corporate tax cut by the government that will spur investments from both domestic and foreign investors.
(Source: The New Indian Express)
3. Two College Students Killed, Five Others Injured in Road Mishap After Birthday Bash in Chennai
A birthday bash turned fatal for two college students and left five others, including the driver, injured when the car in which they were travelling met with an accident on the East Coast Road in the early hours of Sunday. Police said all but the driver were students of a private college in Vandalur.
Police said the group had celebrated Fahim’s birthday at a resort near Kovalam on Saturday and were returning by a car driven by Musaraf. The accident has highlighted the importance of taking remedial measures at ‘black spots’ where accidents occur repeatedly.
(Source: The New Indian Express)
4. Man Held for Opening Fire to Scare Policeman
The Red Hills police on Monday arrested a businessman who opened fire at police personnel following a heated argument on Sunday. Ramanathan, 55, is the vice-president of the Akila Bharatha Hindu Maha Sabha. He is a resident of Mondiamman Nagar, Padiyanallur, whose business is based in Red Hills.
Vetrivel, 30, a constable of the Armed Police from Solaiamman Nagar, was standing near a vacant plot belonging to Ramanathan and was talking with his friends. Ramanathan questioned Vetrivel about their presence. The police said the conversation escalated into a scuffle between the two men. In a fit of anger, Ramanathan went to his car and brought a gun to intimidate the men and fired into the ground. Vetrivel alerted the police control room.
(Source: The Hindu)
5. Chennai's Relocated Urban Poor Face Livelihood Crisis in Faraway Lands
Last week, about 650 families from the banks of Cooum River in Chennai were relocated to tenements of the Slum board about 30 kilometres away from their earlier residences. The families have picked up what remained of their lives from the city to the Perumbakkam resettlement colony which is located in the city's outskirts. However, the resettlement has deprived their livelihoods.
Most of them, coolies, auto drivers, maids, labourers, construction workers, and street-side vendors, now find themselves to be in the middle of nowhere as employment opportunities in Perumbakkam, an isolated locality, are very minimal. To keep their existing jobs, they have to travel 60 kms every day, which is also not a viable option said residents who have been relocated.
(Source: The New Indian Express)
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