1. State Put on High Alert Ahead of Ayodhya Case Judgment
With the Supreme Court set to deliver its judgment in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title suit case on Saturday, 9 November, high level of alert has been issued across Tamil Nadu to enhance security arrangements at vulnerable areas. Senior police officers have been posted to supervise security arrangements in the four zones and prohibitory orders would be clamped in cities/districts if situation warrants, police sources said.
Commissioners/Superintendents of Police have been told to promulgate appropriate prohibitory orders to regulate demonstrations, processions, etc, by religious organisations. If need be, they could even clamp prohibitory orders to maintain law and order, the sources said.
(Source: The Hindu)
2. Record Pollution Leaves Chennai Gasping
How long can government officials be in denial mode about rapidly deteriorating air quality? Chennai Air Quality Index (AQI) on Friday evening crossed 300, which happens to the worst till date and it’s fifth day on the trot where Chennaites are gasping for breath.
Despite such unusual spike in air pollution, neither Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) nor the health department has issued any public advisory. The Central government’s Sameer application, which calculates AQI, has indicated that city poor air quality would have definite health impact causing respiratory illness on prolonged exposure. The continuous ambient air quality monitoring station at Manali has recorded maximum PM 2.5 concentration level of 451 µg/m3.
(Source: The New Indian Express)
3. Metro to Build Lightrail Between Tambaram & Velachery
Chennai Metro has now a new project in its kitty – a plan to build the first Light Rail project for the city, that will connect Velachery with Tambaram. In a meeting on Thursday, it was decided Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) will construct the stretch. A feasibility study will begin shortly, highly placed sources said. This stretch is likely to cover a distance of nearly 15 km. Unlike the Metro phase I project covering 45 km or the phase I extension project of 9 km, which have elevated and underground stretches, the light rail is likely to be at-grade (built on ground).
“Similar to phase I, phase I extension projects, the feasibility study too will be given to a private firm. This will begin in a few weeks and is likely to take about 6-8 months. The study will look at various route options for the stretch. After that, there will be discussions on which route works out to be the best after which the detailed project report will be prepared,” an official said.
(Source: The Hindu)
4. Chennai Police Reach Out to Child Abuse Victims With 'Thozhi'
Chennai city police has assigned 70 women police personnel to provide counselling to the victims of child abuse. The move comes in the wake of shocking child sexual abuses cases reported in the city recently. Nearly 1,039 cases have been registered under the POCSO Act since 2012 in the city.City police commissioner AK Viswanathan inaugurated the scheme ‘Thozhi’ on Friday, in a bid to reach out to the victims of child abuse.
“These services will be provided from the time the case is registered until the trial is over at the court. Not many victims can afford private counselling, and to bridge this gap, this scheme has been launched,” said a senior police officer.
(Source: The New Indian Express)
5. IIT-M Placements Begin on 1 December
The first session of the placement season at the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IIT-M) will begin on 1 December. Last year, the institute had witnessed an increase in offers in the field of data analytics. Besides, there were at least three major companies that had visited the campus for the first time.
At the end of October, the institute saw 222 companies registering for the 2019-20 placement season. Last year, at the same time, as many as 224 companies had registered, said C S Shankar Ram, advisor (training and placement). So far, 1,240 students have registered for placements, he added. Last year, when the placement session began on December 1, as many as 326 firms and 1,300 candidates had registered.
(Source: The Hindu)
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