No respite from inundation for Iyyapanthangal residents

No respite from inundation for Iyyapanthangal residents

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:01.12.2021

About 5000 residents in Iyyappanthangal village panchayat have been under four feet deep water for over two weeks now, thanks to a private person who encroached upon a canal that takes excess rainwater from Porur lake to Adyar river. The panchayat administration has done little to resolve their flooding issues that they are facing for over ten years now.

Close to 45000 people reside here and about 10000 live in flood-hit areas alone such as EVP Prabu Avenue, Dhanalakshmi Nagar, Sri Sai Nagar, Kumaran Nagar, Maduram Nagar. They have to walk through hip deep water every time they need to purchase essentials or go for work. Boats have been deployed but not everyone can access them. The residents have been cut off from the main roads for the last two weeks with water level showing no signs of receding.

Pattabiraman, Vice president of Maduram Nagar welfare association said that excess water from Chembarabakkm lake when let out comes to the area via a canal and reaches Porur lake. Once this lake is filled up, the water must go to Adyar river via various disposal points. However, there is a reverse flow from Porur lake causing heavy inundation in the area due to blocked canals.

“A culvert that was an outlet from the lake on the eastern side has been blocked which is why our area is getting flooded now. We didn’t have any problem in 2008. The surplus water from Porur lake would exit at 13.895 km from Perungalathur NHAI toll road. This was not functional as a private person from Moulivalkam village sealed the outlet on both sides with cement concrete. The canal that goes up to Kundrathur road is enchroached. Multistoried buildings have also been built upon canal path,” he said.

Senthil Kumar, an RTI activist, said that while it was true that the area is low-lying, it had enough canals and drains carrying excess rainwater to Porur lake. “Why should residents pay the price for government inaction on encroachment,” he said.

The panchayat residents have also opposed the government’s decision to join it with Mangadu municipality. “We are not even half a kilometre away from Chennai corporation. We should be added to the corporation. Only then, our civic woes will reduce,” said Senthil.

An official said that the public works department had constructed a check-dam to store water from Porur lake.

MONSOON EFFECT: Residents use makeshift boats to move around in Dhanalakshi Nagar near Iyyappanthangal where water has not receded for the last two weeks

Tamil Nadu resident docs to go on strike today

Tamil Nadu resident docs to go on strike today

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

Chennai:01.12.2021

Protesting the delay in NEET PG counselling and admissions, residents doctors at medical college hospitals in Tamil Nadu will be withdrawing from outpatient department services on Wednesday. New doctors are unable to join hospitals because of the delay in counselling. As a result, the existing batch of resident doctors are overburdened and are made to work up for 18-hour long shifts and without adequate leaves. The primary reason for the delay in NEET PG counselling is the union government's indecision over the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) seats. The counselling was originally scheduled to begin on October 25. But the government recently told the Supreme Court that it has decided to postpone the PG admission process by another four weeks as it was reconsidering the Rs.8 lakh annual income criteria for EWS quota seats.

This leaves the new batch of 4,500 resident doctors in a lurch as they will not be able to join the state's health force anytime soon. And the existing resident doctors, who are already under severe stress and fatigue in the middle of the pandemic, must continue work without adequate breaks.

These doctors, who have worked without juniors, claim to do the bulk of work in medical college hospitals. They prepare case sheets, investigate patients in wards, perform bedside duties, dressings, assist surgeries in operation theatres and ready health insurance related documents.

Soon, the final year students will also be leaving the colleges. So, the workload will fall on the single batch of PG students, said V Vignesh from TN Resident Doctors' Association. "Covid-19 has taught everybody to take doctors for granted. There is no respite for us. With inadequate sleep and fatigue, our health has taken a beating," he said.

At present, 80% of the resident doctors are in conventional treatment wards and the rest are assisting covid patients. This could change if the new variants of the virus are detected here. So, TNRDA has requested the state health department to take up the issue with the union government and stress to get the new batch of doctors on duty at the earliest possible.

Resident doctors in other Indian states have already begun the strike stressing similar demands.

The doctors, who will withdraw from outpatient services on Wednesday, are protesting against delay in NEET PG counselling, admissions

'பேட்டரி' இல்லாமல் 1,500 பஸ்கள் முடக்கம்

'பேட்டரி' இல்லாமல் 1,500 பஸ்கள் முடக்கம்

Added : நவ 29, 2021 23:29

சென்னை : தமிழகத்தில் 'பேட்டரி' இல்லாமல், 1,500 பஸ்கள் நிறுத்தப்பட்டுள்ளன.

தமிழக அரசு போக்குவரத்து கழகங்கள் பெரும் நிதி நெருக்கடியில் சிக்கித் தவிக்கின்றன. இதனால், ஊழியர்கள், ஓய்வூதியர்களுக்கான பணப் பலன்களை வழங்குவதிலும், பஸ்களை பராமரிப்பிலும் பெரும் சிக்கல் நிலவுகிறது. குறிப்பாக, உதிரி பாகங்கள் வாங்க பணம் இல்லாததால், பழுதடைந்த பஸ்களில் இருந்து கழற்றி மாற்றும் நிலை உள்ளது.

ஆனால், காலாவதியான பேட்டரிகளை அதுபோல மாற்ற இயலவில்லை. ஒவ்வொரு பணிமனையிலும், ஒன்றிரண்டு பஸ்கள் என பேட்டரி இன்றி, தமிழகம் முழுதும் 1,500க்கும் மேற்பட்ட பஸ்கள் முடக்கப்பட்டு உள்ளன. இது போன்ற பிரச்னைகளை சரி செய்து, 100 சதவீத பஸ்களை இயக்க, பட்ஜெட்டில் நிதி ஒதுக்க வேண்டும் என, ஊழியர்கள் வலியுறுத்தி உள்ளனர்

சென்னை டூ- சிங்கப்பூர்; மீண்டும் விமான சேவை

சென்னை டூ- சிங்கப்பூர்; மீண்டும் விமான சேவை

Added : நவ 29, 2021 23:27

சென்னை : சென்னை - சிங்கப்பூர் இடையேயான விமான சேவை, ௨௦ மாதங்களுக்கு பின் மீண்டும் துவங்கியுள்ளது.

கொரோனா தொற்று பரவ துவங்கியதும், 2020 மார்ச் 25ல், சர்வதேச நாடுகளுக்கான விமான சேவைகள் ரத்து செய்யப்பட்டன. பின், அதே ஆண்டு மே 9 முதல், சில குறிப்பிட்ட நாடுகளுக்கு மட்டும், 'வந்தே பாரத்' திட்டத்தின் கீழ், மீட்பு விமானங்களும், சிறப்பு விமானங்களும் இயக்கப்பட்டு வருகின்றன.

இந்நிலையில், டிசம்பர் 15 முதல், அனைத்து சர்வதேச விமான சேவைகளும் இயங்க, மத்திய அரசு அனுமதி அளித்துள்ளது. அத்துடன், சிங்கப்பூர் - இந்தியா இடையேயான விமான சேவைக்கும் அனுமதி தரப்பட்டுள்ளது. இதையடுத்து, சென்னையிலிருந்து சிங்கப்பூருக்கு நேற்று முதல் தினசரி விமான சேவையை, சிங்கப்பூர் ஏர்லைன்ஸ் நிறுவனமும், இண்டிகோ ஏர்லைன்ஸ் நிறுவனமும் துவக்கி உள்ளன.

சிங்கப்பூர் ஏர்லைன்ஸ் விமானம், இரவு 10:00 மணிக்கு சிங்கப்பூரிலிருந்து சென்னை விமான நிலையம் வந்து சேரும். மீண்டும் இரவு 11:15 மணிக்கு சென்னையிலிருந்து புறப்பட்டு சிங்கப்பூர் செல்கிறது.இதேபோல, இண்டிகோ ஏர்லைன்ஸ் விமானம், சென்னை சர்வதேச விமான நிலையத்திலிருந்து, இரவு 9:45க்கு சிங்கப்பூருக்கு புறப்படுகிறது.

தற்போது, 20 மாதங்களுக்கு பின், சென்னை -- சிங்கப்பூர் - இடையே, நேரடி பயணியர் விமான சேவை மீண்டும் துவங்கி உள்ளது.இந்த விமானங்களில் பயணம் செய்யும் பயணியருக்கு, இரண்டு தவணை தடுப்பூசி செலுத்தியதற்கான சான்றிதழ் மற்றும் 48 மணி நேரத்திற்குள் எடுக்கப்பட்ட கொரோனா நெகடிவ் சான்றிதழ் அவசியம்.

Adhere to guidelines from WHO to the letter: V Irai Anbu

Adhere to guidelines from WHO to the letter: V Irai Anbu

Chief Secretary V Irai Anbu on Monday held detailed discussions with collectors, health officials, and police through a video-conference call from the Secretariat.

Published: 30th November 2021 06:58 AM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Chief Secretary V Irai Anbu on Monday held detailed discussions with collectors, health officials, and police through a video-conference call from the Secretariat. The chief secretary urged the collectors and other departments to strictly adhere to the guidelines issued by the World Health Organisation (WHO) with regard to Omicron. Since vaccination is the best weapon to counter the virus, the collectors were told to intensify measures for spreading awareness on vaccination.

Though Omicron is yet to be detected in Tamil Nadu, RT-PCR test is being done at international airports in the State on those coming from South Africa, European countries, Botswana, Hong Kong, China, Israel, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Singapore, Brazil, Bangladesh, and Mauritius.

Those who test negative in the RT-PCR test are advised to be in home quarantine for a week. After that, they have to undergo another RT-PCR test and continue to monitor their health for another week. If any passenger tests positive, further tests will be done to find out which variant it is. Whole genomic sequencing of samples taken from those arriving from other countries is also being carried out.

Passengers note!

Those who test negative in the RT-PCR test are advised to be in quarantine for a week. After that, they have to undergo another test and continue to monitor their health for another week

NEET-UG 2021 : Supreme Court Issues Notice On Plea Alleging Rigging Of OMR Sheets, Discrepancy In Final Results

NEET-UG 2021 : Supreme Court Issues Notice On Plea Alleging Rigging Of OMR Sheets, Discrepancy In Final Results

Shruti Kakkar29 Nov 2021 3:59 PM

The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice in a writ petition preferred by 6 NEET-UG candidates who allege rigging of their OMR sheets after the publication of the answer keys by the National Testing Agency.

Alleging widespread discrepancies in NTA's scoring process, the petitioners challenge their marks and ranks secured in the test which was conducted on September 12, 2021 by the National Testing Agency.

The matter was listed before the bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and AS Bopanna.

It has been argued that there was a huge difference between the marks which the petitioners had calculated based on the answer keys published by the NTA and the final marks declared by the NTA on November 1, 2021. One of the petitioners allege that his score as per the answer key was 584 but the final result showed 164. According to another petitioner, his score based on the answer key was 675 but the final result showed 52 marks. Another petitioner's final score was zero, though his estimate as per the answer key was 545 marks.

"It appears that to be massive rigging in the screening of the OMR sheet soon after the publication of the answer keys and consequent uploading of OMR sheet for self assessment and before the actual declaration of result and score card on NTA's website which has resulted in glaring discrepancy in the marks obtained by the petitioners," the petition states.

Referring to the comparative tabulation of marks, the petitioners have contended that it is "manifestly evident" that there has been a huge margin in the scores obtained by them.

It has further been averred that something is utterly wrong on NTA's part which needs to be addressed by instituting investigations against the authority.

Petitioners in their petition have referred to the news for leaking the question paper and criminal conspiracy to sabotage the fair process of exam in regards to which several FIR's were registered at different places in India.

The sum and substance of the initial investigation in these FIR's had established rampant use of unscrupulous means and unfair practices to manipulate the results for benefiting the rich and non merit candidates, the petitioners have stated.

In light of this background it has been stated in the petition that,

"There are malpractices and corrupt practices which are undergoing on at the levels which the innocent, deserving and meritorious petitioners cannot imagine which has resulted in arbitrariness and rejection of meritorious candidates and as such is violative of their rights under Article 14 of the Constitution of India."

The matter will be next heard on December 13, 2021.

Senior Advocate Manoj Swarup with Rajan Kumar Singh (AOR) and Rakesh kumar Singh Advocate appeared for the Petitioners

The petition is filed through Advocate on Record Ranjan Kumar Singh.

Case : WP(C) 1286/2021

Expert: Covishield, Covaxin may offer protection against Omicron

Expert: Covishield, Covaxin may offer protection against Omicron

Umesh.Isalkar@timesgroup.com

Pune:30.11.2021

Covishield and Covaxin jabs can prevent hospitalisation and death of patients infected with the new Botswana variant Omicron (B.1.1.529), novel coronavirus’s most mutated version as yet, a noted infectious diseases expert has said.

“Theoretically, it is possible that the new variant of concern (Omicron) may challenge vaccines’ efficacy. But, we know that our vaccines prevent hospitalization and death, and the same may be potent against the Omicron variant. People must take two doses of the vaccine — either Covishield or Covaxin — and adhere to Covid-19-appropriate behaviour, especially that of wearing a mask, to ward off infection from such variants,” said senior scientist Raman Gangakhedkar, former head of the epidemiology and communicable diseases division of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

Gangakhedkar is one of the 26 members of the WHO team appointed to examine the origins of pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2 that cause pandemics. “There is not enough data yet to understand Omicron’s ability to evade vaccine or a natural infection-induced immune response. Hence, we should continue to enhance coverage in vaccine rollout, so that hospitalisation does not increase. Unvaccinated people must take two doses of the vaccine and those who have taken one dose must take the second dose at the earliest,” Gangakhedkar said.

The second dose boosts not only virus-specific antibodies but also the T cells (T-lymphocytes), which are memory cells and part of the broader immune response against the virus, Gangakhedkar said, advising strict adherence to the two-dose regime.

Disease-causing properties of this variant, like transmissibility, potential to cause severity and immune evasion either from vaccination or previous infection with other variants, are unclear as yet.

“More studies are needed to delineate whether previous exposure to the Delta strain or currently available vaccines will shield us against severe illness due to Omicron,” infectious diseases expert Sanjay Pujari, a member of the National Covid Task Force, told TOI. India’s advantage lies in the knowledge that a majority of the population has encountered the virus and acquired immunity, senior clinical epidemiologist Amitav Banerjee said.