1. ‘Mersal’ Gets Record Opening
Despite the state government hiking the ticket prices, actor Vijay’s Mersal had a record opening for a Tamil film.
While the theatre business has only partly recovered from a slump post the introduction of GST, it has brought the focus back on the state government’s logic of putting a cap on the ticket prices for the first few days when the demand is sky-high.
(Source: The Hindu)
Also Read: Mersal Review - Vijay treats fans to a super Diwali laddoo.
2. Deepavali Turns into a Smoke Fest
Statistics released by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) a day after Deepavali reveal that pollution levels, recorded in terms of particulate matter, were nearly 10 times higher than before the festival in certain parts of the city. Many residents complained of allergies and some with pre-existing respiratory conditions even found it difficult to breathe due to the smoke mixing with the seasonal fog.
Particulate matter (dust particles) of 10 microns in diameter or less (PM10) touched 777 microgram per cubic metre of ambient air in the thickly populated neighbourhood of Sowcarpet. The permissible limit for PM10 is 100 microgram/cubic metre for a 24-hour period.
(Source: The Hindu)
Also Read: Diwali LIVE - Firecrackers burst non stop, SC ban fails miserably.
3. Bengaluru Deluge Gives a Fillip to 2 Dams
The spell of rain which recently battered Bengaluru has turned out to be a bonanza for two reservoirs of Tamil Nadu.
The reservoirs in question – Krishnagiri and Sathanur – have been receiving huge inflows in recent days. They have reached almost full level or capacity. Built across the river Ponnaiyar, the dams ordinarily release flood flows during the northeast monsoon following rain in the local catchment areas. “It is very uncommon to find such flows in the Ponnaiyar river well before the onset of the monsoon,” says a senior official of the Public Works Department.
(Source: The Hindu)
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4. Study to Asses Threat From Plastic Waste Under Way
Officials of the Environment Department are currently conducting a study to capture the magnitude of the threat posed by the usage of plastics in the state and the state government is set to decide on tackling the issue soon after the study.
Asked whether the state government would decide against the usage of plastic following the results, Minister KC Karuppannan said: “We would share the findings of the study with Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and consult with him before arriving at a decision.”
(Source: The Hindu)
Also Read: #GoodNews - Maharashtra village harvest water from plastic waste.
5. CJ Wants Lawyers to Use Gender-Neutral Forms of Address
The Chief Justice of Madras High Court Indira Banerjee initiated an interesting discussion when a battery of senior counsel recently argued a case related to beach sand mining before the first Division Bench.
When senior counsel V Krishnan was addressing the judges as Your Lordships, the Chief Justice intervened to say: “In a lighter vein, I would prefer a gender neutral form of address.”
Krishnan asked gently if she was insisting on addressing her as Your Ladyship. Answering it in the negative, Justice Banerjee said: “No. it would be better if you address us as This Court.”
(Source: The Hindu)
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6. Worker Held on Rape Charge
A 23-year-old construction worker was arrested by the Koyambedu police for allegedly raping a 16-year-old girl and making her pregnant.
The victim was studying in Class X in a private school on the city outskirts. Sasikumar, 23, was residing as tenant in her house. Sasikumar and the girl had a physical relationship.
She did not inform her parents about the pregnancy. When she was in the seventh month of pregnancy, parents noticed it and scolded her. In frustration, she consumed acid and fainted.
(Source: The Hindu)
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7. ‘Those Allowing Water to Stagnate Will Be Prosecuted’
The state government has informed the Madras High Court that all those who do not take steps to avoid stagnation of fresh water within their premises and thereby allow it to serve as a breeding ground for aedes mosquitoes, which cause dengue, would be identified and prosecuted under the Indian Penal Code.
A status report filed by Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan in response to the case claimed that mosquito control measures as well as campaigns were being undertaken in the state at an additional cost of Rs 13.95 crore to safeguard people from dengue and other communicable diseases and that approximately 4,000 mazdoors had been deployed for dengue-control activities.
(Source: The Hindu)
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