Strict lockdown if people don’t follow protocols: Stalin

Strict lockdown if people don’t follow protocols: Stalin

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:15.06.2021

Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin has said that lockdown relaxations, which came into force on Monday (June

14) in 27 districts including Chennai, could be withdrawn any time if people do not follow Covid-19 norms.

If people show restraint, the state could move ahead and permit public transport and reopen schools and colleges, Stalin said. The chief minister is holding discussions with district collectors on Covid measures being undertaken across the state and to check on the possibility of resuming public transport.

In a video appeal released on Monday morning, Stalin thanked the people for following the norms in the past few weeks and helping the state bring down the Covid numbers. In fact, members of the public themselves had demanded extension of the lockdown by another week and it showed their confidence in the steps being taken by his government in containing the spread, he said.

"A few weeks ago, daily Covid cases had crossed 36,000 and experts were expecting it to touch 50,000. That is when we decided to impose full lockdown. Due to the efforts of the government and support of people, we are able to bring down the numbers below 15,000. We have only brought the corona spread under control and not eradicated it completely," Stalin said, while cautioning the public not to relax in adhering to Covid norms.

“We have to break the chain and prevent corona from spreading from one person to another. That necessitated imposing total lockdown and people too were very cooperative and I thank them for their support,” Stalin said.

The relaxations are now being introduced step by step to help the livelihood of the people. People should not crowd at tea shops and salons and should follow Covid norms at all times. Avoid going out unnecessarily, he said. “The priority of the people should be to ensure their own safety. And shopkeepers too should focus on following Covid norms both for themselves and the public. The state government has to care for the public health, while also ensuring that people’s livelihood is not affected,” Stalin said.

"Despite being aware of attracting criticism, the government has permitted reopening of Tasmac outlets. We do not want people to suffer by consuming illicit arrack and smuggled liquor,” Stalin said.

No e- registration is needed to travel from home to Railway station

 

Lockdown extended by a week, Tasmac & salons to open in city

Lockdown extended by a week, Tasmac & salons to open in city

No Relief For 11 TN Dists With High Caseload

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:12.06.2021 

Tamil Nadu government on Friday extended the statewide Covid-19 lockdown by another week till June 21 and introduced further relaxations in 27 districts including Chennai where the caseload is showing a decline.

The new relaxations include permission for schools, colleges and universities to commence administrative work relating to admissions and nod for Tasmac outlets to operate from 10am to 5pm. Beauty parlours and salons will be allowed with 50% customers between 9am and 5pm.

Chief minister M K Stalin said the additional relaxations are not applicable to Coimbatore, the Nilgiris, Tirupur, Erode, Salem, Karur, Namakkal, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam and Mayiladuthurai districts where Covid-19 cases are high. The new relaxations would take effect on June14.

TTV slams govt for opening Tasmac shops

Export and vendor units can c ontinue functioning with 50% workforce, following SOPs. The rest of the industries will also be allowed with 33% workforce.

Workers have already been allowed to travel in four-wheelers. Hereafter, they will be allowed to travel on two-wheelers, provided they take e-registration for the vehicles and carry identity cards, Stalin said. IT/ITES offices have been directed to work with only 20% workforce or with a maximum of 10 employees. Housing finance companies, non-banking financial companies and all insurance corporations are allowed to function with 33% workforce.

Stalin said all shops permitted to operate should adhere to standard operating procedures. Providing hand sanitizer with dispenser and thermal screening are mandatory. The managements should ensure that the staff and customers wear masks. “All shops should function with no air-conditioning and not let in many people. Marks should be drawn for people to maintain physical distance when they queue up before shops,” the CM said.

The state government also extended certain relaxations in the 11 districts where case load is still high. Export units and vendor units can operate there with 25% workforce, following standard operating procedures. Private security services, agencies for maintenance and upkeep of office, and housekeeping in residential complexes are permitted with e-registration. Passengers with e-registration will be permitted in rental vehicles, taxis and autos.

Self-employed electricians, plumbers, motor mechanics and carpenters can work between 6am and 5pm with e-registration. But shops in these categories will not be permitted to open. Cycle and twowheeler repair shops, those selling agriculture equipment, pump set repair shops, optical shops and service centres shall operate from 9am to 2pm. Pottery and handicraft shops can function from 6am to 5pm.

Meanwhile, condemning the state’s decision to open the Tasmac outlets, AMMK leader T T V Dhinakaran urged the government to rollback the decision immediately since the outlets could become a possible Covid-19 spreader. In a series of tweets, hours after the government’s announcement, Dhinakaran said the move was against the state’s intention to save the people from the pandemic. “It is worse that the government, like the previous regime, does not care about the lives of the people but seeks to fill the treasury,” he said. Dhinakaran accused the government of offering Covid relief on one hand and snatching it through the Tasmac outlets.

Implement lockdown strictly, says CJ

Implement lockdown strictly, says CJ

10/06/2021

Mohamed Imranullah S.CHENNAI

Madras High Court Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee on Wednesday expressed disappointment over the police not enforcing strictly the ongoing lockdown in Tamil Nadu to fight COVID-19. He said it appeared as if the lockdown had been lifted and it was “party time” on the roads.

The Chief Justice broached the subject with Advocate General R. Shunmugasundaram and said it was shocking to find people moving about on the roads as a matter of routine, though the lockdown was still in force and only a few relaxations had been provided for the convenience of the people.

“We have just eased a few things for the convenience of the citizens. But if you walk on the streets, it appears that it is party time. There is business as usual. We, the public, must follow what is in our best interest. We must inculcate a sense of discipline in us,” the Chief Justice told the Advocate General.

In reply, Mr. Shunmugasundaram said, “Your Lordship may recall that policemen were beating up people. Now, strict instructions have been given not to beat people and just to ask them about their documents, e-passes, etc. Now, they are handling softly and politely,” he said.

On first day of Unlock, confusion in Chennai as e-registration portal crashes

On first day of Unlock, confusion in Chennai as e-registration portal crashes

"We anticipated four times more applications than earlier but we had ten times more than the registrations we had previously. We received over 60 lakh registrations today," said an official.

Published: 07th June 2021 07:04 PM |

A health worker takes swab sample of a shop keeper, after the lockdown relaxions in Chennai. (Photo | R Satish Babu, EPS)

By Nirupama Viswanathan And B Anbuselvan

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Ambiguity over e-registrations for movement within the city caused a lot of confusion among Chennai residents on Monday. The e-registration portal https://eregister.tnega.org crashed and remained non-functional for over two hours. According to senior officials, over 60 lakh people had applied for e-registrations on Monday.

As part of the relaxation of the lockdown, the government had allowed individual grocery shops, vegetable shops, stationery shops and a few others to function between 6 am and 5 pm from Monday. Select industries and self-employed people including electricians, IT service persons, plumbers, motor mechanics and carpenters were also allowed to function with e-registration.

However, the portal had no option for e-registration of individual skilled labourers, rued electricians and plumbers who tried applying on Monday morning. The portal was later updated in the evening to include them.

"On Monday morning, I tried for nearly an hour to register on the portal. As there was no option for individuals, I filled in details under MSME. But I am unable to fill the PAN and several other details needed for registration,” said S Krishnamurthy, an electrician from Korattur.

Similarly, K Sridhar, a resident of Villivakkam said, “The portal went down by 10 am. I tried for nearly 90 minutes to register online for visiting a hospital, but didn’t receive the OTP. The auto driver refused to carry me without e-registration.”

An auto driver with a ride-hailing company said that customers needed to have e-registrations before booking autos.

"If it's a really close drop, we take rides. Otherwise we ask them to get e-registrations before booking an auto," he said.

A senior official from the Tamil Nadu e-Governance agency told The New Indian Express that the issue has been resolved and the website was running smoothly as of 4 pm on Monday evening.

"We anticipated four times more applications than earlier but we had ten times more than the registrations we had previously. We have received over 60 lakh registrations today," he said.

E-registrations for those travelling by bikes/autos/cars within the district are allowed only for three reasons -- medical emergencies, death and post death rituals and for those leaving TN by road. For this, residents are required to upload their proof of travel reason document and a copy of their identity cards -- Aadhaar, ration card, driving licence, PAN card or passport.

Those traveling for non-medical emergencies do not have the option to apply for e-registrations in the current system.

"My wife's parents are ailing and one of them also broke their spectacles without which they have trouble seeing. We tried to e-register to bring them essentials and sort out their issues but there wasn't an option to do so," said P Radharaman, a resident of Adyar.

E-registration portal crashes on heavy demand, restored

TRAFFIC: 60 LAKH

E-registration portal crashes on heavy demand, restored

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:08.06.2021

The government’s e-registration portal crashed on Monday after lakhs of users logged on to register and facilitate their movement for work. A select category of skilled workers including electricians, plumbers and those engaged in housing keeping and security agencies was allowed to function in the current lockdown period after acquiring e-passes.

While the process was a breeze on Sunday night, it soon became difficult as tens of thousands of people began logging in. With individuals making multiple attempts, the portal crashed and could be restored only in the afternoon.

K Ramesh, vice-president of the Tamil Nadu Air-condition, Refrigeration Engineers & Technicians Union, which is affiliated to the CITU, said he had registered on the portal on Sunday night but that it went blank since Monday morning. “Thousands of self-employed workers were desperate to avail themselves of the facility since their livelihood had been affected for about one month,” he said. Several people who did not come under the category permitted to apply also logged on and that would have increased the pressure on the system, he added.

Minister for information technology T Mano Thangaraj later told reporters that the number of hits for the portal had increased by 10-fold. “The traffic was about 60 lakh users when we expected only six lakh applicants. As soon as the crash became evident, steps were taken to restore the website,” he said. The website, https://eregister.tnega.org/, was made accessible to members of the public by 3pm, he said.

Officials in the state information technology department said that the number of hits on the portal shot up as the same individuals attempted to login multiple times affecting the server. “We were expecting only a few lakh registrations on day one, but the number overshot it,” the official added.

City goes back to old ways as govt eases lockdown norms

City goes back to old ways as govt eases lockdown norms

Arterial Roads Choked With Vehicles

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:08.06.2021

The city crept back to its old ways on the first day of partial lockdown as shops, markets and offices opened up. Anna Salai, GST road and other arterial roads which wore a deserted look for two weeks had bumper to bumper traffic on Monday.

At places such as Kasimedu fishing harbour and vegetable markets, Covid appropriate behaviour was, as usual, not followed. There were hardly any cops to control crowds at Kasimedu.

At Koyambedu, at least 10,000 people commuted by 3,600 vehicles that were meant for ferrying vegetables and fruits for retail shops from the wholesale market, a Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority official said.

Chennai city police conducted vehicle checks at strategic locations in the city. The city cops have booked cases against 4,098 people in the 24 hours which ended at 6 am on Monday and they seized 2,154 vehicles including 2,074 bikes for violating the pandemic lockdown norms. Traders, shopkeepers however welcomed the relaxations. “Our business runs on credit. The situation has been bleak for more than a year and a half now and with two weeks of total lockdown, things became very difficult,” said M Kannabiran, who runs a provision store in Keelkattalai.

Woman booked for lockdown violation

Woman booked for lockdown violation

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai: 07.06.2021

Police on Sunday morning booked a woman for abusing traffic personnel in Chetpet after her daughter was fined for violating lockdown norms. The action came a couple of hours after a video of the woman, who gave her name as Tanuja Kanthulla and claimed to be an advocate, went viral on social media and a head constable lodged a complaint.

In his petition, Rajith Kumar of the Chetpet traffic police said he was on duty with his colleagues Prabhakaran, Anand and Vimalraj when they intercepted a car around 7.45am for not following the protocol. The driver, who identified herself as Preethi Rajan of Kilpauk, said she was on her way to purchase fish on the beach but did not possess an epass. Police took her licence, registered a case and handed over an e-challan.

The woman then made a call on her mobile phone. Within a couple of minutes, Tanuja Kanthulla arrived in a highend car, hurled abuses at the police personnel and threw away the e-challan, the complaint said.

In the video, which runs for nearly 2.17 minutes, Tanuja, who said she was an advocate, threatened to strip the police personnel of their uniform if they did not mend their ways. “She was not wearing a mask, another violation, and grew furious when we asked her to put it on. We asked her to speak politely to which she refused,” said Rajith Kumar.

The woman was booked under Sections 270 (malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life), 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant.), 294 B (sings, recites or utters any obscene song, ballad or words, in or near any public place,), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) and 506 (1) criminal intimidation.

Stating that Sunday’s incident was unpleasant, the city police appealed to the public to cooperate with the law enforcers in implementing lockdown restrictions. Field officers have also been instructed to treat the violators politely.

IN THE NET: The woman and her daughter who were booked

Decision on extension of lockdown today

Decision on extension of lockdown today

Stalin chairs a meeting of officials

05/06/2021

The Hindu 

Taking stock: Chief Minister M.K. Stalin reviewing the COVID situation at a meeting with officials in Chennai on Friday.

Special CorrespondentCHENNAI

The Tamil Nadu government will announce on Saturday whether or not the intense lockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the State will be extended beyond the morning of June 7.

On Friday, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin chaired a meeting of officials to discuss the situation. An official said the decision would be announced formally on Saturday.

Chief Secretary V. Irai Anbu, Director-General of Police J.K. Tripathy, Finance Secretary S. Krishnan, Commissioner of Revenue Administration K. Phanindra Reddy, Revenue Secretary Kumar Jayant, Health Secretary J. Radhakrishnan, Commissioner of the Greater Chennai Corporation Gagandeep Singh Bedi and senior officials were present.```

Vaccine as excuse, people crowd roads, police at sea

Vaccine as excuse, people crowd roads, police at sea

Poonamallee, Anna Salai Choked With Vehicles: Cops

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:01.06.2021

The complete lockdown has been extended till June 7, but motorists continue to hit the streets armed with excuses of going to a vaccination centre or hospital. With no clear instructions given, many field level police personnel are at loss too. The sector-wise checks at 348 places are not being carried out.

On Monday, places like Poonamallee, Anna Salai and Broadway were choked with vehicles, police said. Barricades have been erected at check points, but motorists simply fish out identity cards and are allowed to go. Even the e-registration procedure introduced to curb movement does not appear to be working. “With no mechanism to check if the reason is genuine or not, anyone can do e-registration and proceed. All one has to do is to give a mobile number and enter the OTP. He system accepts whatever documents are submitted,” said advocate V S Suresh.

Everyone has the provision to get e-registration and move anywhere in the city. “Police just let them go once the paper is shown, leading to people not taking lockdown seriously.”

After the government extended the lockdown to June 7, dos and don’ts, as per a May 29 order, were sent to all police personnel in the city. They were forwarded on all police WhatsApp groups.

“Most people travelling in the city either show their official identity card or an e-pass. This can be streamlined only if the institutions get e-passes on behalf of their staff through the Tamil Nadu eregistration website,” said police commissioner Shankar Jiwal.

He said that he had suggested to the Tamil Nadu disaster management authority to direct people in places such as banks, telecom firms, petrol bunks, newspaper offices, private firms as well as state and central government offices to get the e-pass through their HR officials or managers. “This would restrict more people from hitting the road,” he said.

Moreover, the penalty amount levied on violators by the traffic police and the law and order wing differs. While those in the first wing collect ₹100 from the bikers for not wearing masks and ₹500 for venturing out, the law and order wing books people coming out without valid reasons and collects ₹200 from anyone not wearing masks.

NO ESCAPE: Police check motorists if they are carrying valid documents for travel during the lockdown on Poonamalee High Road near Pulla Avenue junction on Monday

Online apps resume delivery of mutton, chicken; fish still scarce

REGULAR MEAT STALLS STAY SHUT

Online apps resume delivery of mutton, chicken; fish still scarce

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:31.05.2021

City residents can access meat and fish at the click of a button as online outlets have resumed operations after nearly a week. But, the price of mutton has been jacked up by ₹150 to ₹300 a kg compared to the first week of May.

Till Saturday, fish and meat were door delivered only by a few local meat shops and service providers, who took orders on messaging apps and delivered within a day. All fish and meat stalls remained shut.

On Sunday, mutton was sold for ₹850 to ₹1,200 a kg through various apps and the same quantity of chicken was sold for a flat rate of ₹240. Only some varieties of fish were available through online apps, but were sold out within an hour on Sunday.

Traders taking orders on the phone said that limited volumes of fish were available for sale as it has to be sourced from other places in view of the 45-day ban on trawling.

Former president of Chennai Poultry Wholesalers Association J Rajkumar said all meat shops are closed in the city.

"We are permitted to offer meat to eateries and restaurants in the current lockdown. Traders with access to online food aggregators and taking orders on the phone also deliver at doorsteps of residents," he said.

Meanwhile, retail chains are delivering vegetables within a couple of days, though people depending on home delivery apps were facing logistical issues due to the intensified lockdown.

P L Muthu, operations head of a city-based online delivery app providing grocery and vegetables, said that the frequency of sourcing vegetables from different parts of Tamil Nadu has been affected by the intensified lockdown.

"Moreover, home delivery apps are facing shortage for manpower, which is delaying the delivery time in Chennai," he added.

புதிய கட்டுப்பாடுகளுடன் முழு ஊரடங்கு நீட்டிப்பு; வாகனங்களில் இன்றுமுதல் மளிகை பொருட்கள் விற்பனை: ஏற்றுமதி நிறுவனங்கள் செயல்பட அனுமதி

புதிய கட்டுப்பாடுகளுடன் முழு ஊரடங்கு நீட்டிப்பு; வாகனங்களில் இன்றுமுதல் மளிகை பொருட்கள் விற்பனை: ஏற்றுமதி நிறுவனங்கள் செயல்பட அனுமதி

full-lockdown-extended

31.05.2021

தமிழகத்தில் தளர்வுகற்ற முழு ஊரடங்கு ஜூன் 7 வரை நீடிக்கப்பட்டுள்ள நிலையில் காய்கறி, பழங்கள் போல மளிகை பொருட்களும் இன்றுமுதல் வாகனங்களில் விற்பனை செய்ய அனுமதி அளிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

தமிழகத்தில் கரோனா வைரஸ் தினசரி பாதிப்பு 35 ஆயிரத்தை தாண்டியதைத் தொடர்ந்து, கடந்த மே 10-ம் தேதி முதல் சில தளர்வுகளுடன் முழு ஊரடங்கு அமல்படுத்தப்பட்டது. அதன்பின், மே 15-ம் தேதி தளர்வுகள் குறைக்கப்பட்டன. தொடர்ந்து மே 24-ம் தேதி முதல் தளர்வில்லா முழு ஊரடங்கு அமலுக்கு வந்தது.இந்த ஊரடங்குக்கான காலம் இன்று காலை 6 மணியுடன் முடிவுக்கு வருகிறது.

இதையடுத்து, இன்று காலை 6 மணி முதல் ஜூன்7-ம் தேதி காலை 7 மணிவரை முழு ஊரடங்கு சில கட்டுப்பாடுகள், தளர்வுகளுடன் நீட்டிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. இதையடுத்து, முழு ஊரடங்கு கட்டுப்பாடுகள் இன்று முதல் அமலுக்கு வருகின்றன.

மளிகைப் பொருட்கள்

நீட்டிக்கப்பட்ட ஊரடங்கை பொறுத்தவரை வாகனங்கள், தள்ளுவண்டிகளில் காய்கறி, பழம்ஆகியவற்றுடன் மளிகைப் பொருட்களையும் அனுமதி பெற்று விற்பனை செய்யலாம் என்று அறிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. இதுதவிர தொலைபேசி மற்றும் ஆன்லைனில் ஆர்டர் பெற்று வீட்டுக்கே காலை 7 மணி முதல் மாலை 6 மணிவரை சென்று மளிகைப் பொருட்களை விற்பனை செய்ய அனுமதி அளிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

நியாயவிலைக் கடைகள் காலை 8 முதல் பகல் 12 மணிவரை இயங்கலாம் என்றும், வங்கி, காப்பீட்டு நிறுவனங்கள், நிதி வர்த்தக சேவைகள், செபி உள்ளிட்ட பங்கு வர்த்தக நிறுவனங்கள் உள்ளிட்டவை மூன்றில் ஒரு பங்கு பணியாளர்களுடன் இயங்கவும் அனுமதி அளிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

ஏற்றுமதி நிறுவனங்கள் தங்கள் ஆர்டர்களுக்கான பணிகளை மேற்கொள்ளும் வகையில் 50 சதவீத பணியாளர்களுடன் பணியாற்றலாம். இந்த நிறுவனங்கள், தங்கள் பணியாளர்களை பேருந்து, வேன், டெம்போ, கார்களில் மட்டுமே அழைத்து வர வேண்டும். தொழிற்சாலைகள் தங்கள் பணியாளர்களுக்கு ஒருமாதத்துக்குள் தடுப்பூசி போடுவதற்கான நடவடிக்கை எடுத்தால் மட்டுமே தொடர்ந்து செயல்பட அனுமதிக்கப்படும் என்று தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. அதே நேரத்தில் கோவை, திருப்பூர், சேலம், கரூர், ஈரோடு, நாமக்கல், திருச்சி மற்றும் மதுரை மாவட்டங்களில் இப்பணிகளை மேற்கொள்ள அனுமதி இல்லை.

முந்தைய முழு ஊரடங்கில் இல்லாத வகையில், வீட்டில் இருந்து விமான நிலையம், ரயில் நிலையம் செல்லவும் அங்கிருந்து வீடு திரும்பவும் பயண விவரம், பயணச்சீட்டு மற்றும் அடையாள அட்டையுடன் கூடியஇ-பதிவு இருந்தால் மட்டுமே அனுமதிக்கப்படும் என்று கட்டுப்பாடு விதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. அதேபோல், மாநிலங்களுக்கு இடையிலும், மாவட்டங்களுக்கு இடையிலும், மாவட்டத்துக்குள்ளும் தனிநபர்கள் மருத்துவ அவசரம் மற்றும் இறப்பு, இறுதிச் சடங்குக்கு செல்வதற்கு இ-பதிவு அவசியம். அதேபோல் வெளிநாடு, வெளிமாநிலங்களில் இருந்து விமானம், ரயில் மூலம் வருவோருக்கும் இ-பதிவு அவசியம் என்ற கட்டுப்பாடுகள் தொடர்கின்றன.

வாகனங்கள் பறிமுதல்

இதனிடையே, நேற்று ஞாயிறுக்கிழமை என்பதால், காவல் துறையினரின் கட்டுப்பாடுகள் அதிகஅளவில் இருந்தன. நகரப்பகுதிகளில் ஓரளவு கட்டுப்பாடுகளை கடைபிடித்தாலும், அதை ஒட்டியுள்ள கிராமங்களில் வாகனங்களில் மக்கள் நடமாட்டம் அதிகமாகவே காணப்பட்டது. தேவையின்றி வெளியில் சுற்றியவர்களின் வாகனங்களை போலீஸார் பறிமுதல் செய்தனர்.

Chennai police to tighten vigil as riders misuse privilege

Chennai police to tighten vigil as riders misuse privilege

Over 13% of motorists are on streets without any proper reason

Published: 30th May 2021 06:53 AM |

Hundreds of two-wheelers seized for violation of lockdown norms parked at Kancheepuram collector office ground on Saturday | Ashwin prasath

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The Chennai city police have identified that over 13 per cent of motorists on the streets during lockdown are out without any proper reason, carrying e-pass or ID cards of essential workers. Chennai police chief Shankar Jiwal has come up with ways to curb unnecessary movement of vehicles and has given specific instructions to the personnel on ground.

While lockdown regulations are being strictly enforced, regulations exempt staff of several government departments in the city along with employees of airport, port, railways, telecom service providers, essential workers and delivery agents.

Police Commissioner Shankar Jiwal

“We were initially in a fix over keeping vehicular movement down. Firstly, apart from raising checkpoints we started sectoral checkpoints where people living in a small area can afford to buy essentials within that limit. Though there were some unpleasant arguments, after a few days, vehicle movement came down,” said Shankar Jiwal, Commissioner, Greater Chennai City Police.

The police placed 10 important junctions around the city under surveillance and while checking vehicles, profiled the motorists under several categories like media, health staff, government employees, delivery agents and so on. The Commissioner said that over 37% of the people were going for medical emergencies or were medical staff.

“However it was evident that people were misusing this privilege on several instances. Once, a motorist stopped by personnel at a checkpost claimed he was going to settle medical fees and that he must hurry. When the police asked the man to dial the person at the hospital, the caller on the other end was surprised to hear that he was at a hospital, because he was at his house,” said Shankar Jiwal.

Similarly, a doctor was caught while on his way to pick up his girlfriend. In some instances, if there is e-registration, the person driving the vehicle and the name on the e-pass is different.

If there is any problem leading to unpleasant arguments at checkpoints, the personnel have been advised to record a video of the motorist and the incident. “Police can start by introducing himself and on record can ask the motorist where he is going. This can be used in the future if there is any problem,” said Shankar Jiwal.

While police are provided an eight-hour shift at checkpoints, the Commissioner has advised to increase the personnel strength so that half of them can take a break of two hours as heat can affect them. “Everyday, we are coming up with new strategies to keep vehicular movement down. Now we have formed two different lanes at important checkpoints. This is because medical vehicles can ply freely without waiting,” said the Commissioner.

Complete lockdown bitter medicine but people have to take it, says TN CM

Complete lockdown bitter medicine but people have to take it, says TN CM

"Please adhere to the guidelines issued for preventing Corona. I make this appeal not only as a Chief Minister but also as your brother," Stalin said in a video message.

Published: 24th May 2021 06:47 PM 

Police check for the e-pass due to the complete lockdown in Coimbatore City on Monday. (Photo | U Rakesh Kumar, EPS)

By T Muruganandham

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Monday renewed his appeal to the people to adhere to government guidelines to help contain the spread of Covid on a day when the weeklong intensive lockdown began in Tamil Nadu from 4 am on Monday.

"People's unnecessary movement is the only reason for the present situation. Due to the complete lockdown with concessions, the infection had come down a little bit but did not come under control. So, lockdown without concessions can alone contain this infection completely.

"This is the only way for everyone in the state and the people should understand this. Please don't come out except for medical needs. The complete lockdown is a bitter medicine but people have to take it. Please adhere to the guidelines issued for preventing Corona. I make this appeal not only as a Chief Minister but also as your brother," Stalin said in a video message.

The CM pointed out that the intensified lockdown is only being enforced to break the chain of Covid-19 transmission since many had loitered around using the concessions granted earlier for getting essential requirements.

"Corona is not spreading on its own but through humans. So, all of you have to take a vow not to spread this infection or to infect others," he added.

Elaborating further, the Chief Minister said the number of people being affected by this infection has reached alarming proportions. The daily new cases have exceeded 35000 at a time when states smaller than Tamil Nadu that had touched 50000 new cases per day are now seeing a fall, he noted.

The Chief Minister said within two weeks of assuming office, the DMK government had begun implementing numerous welfare schemes for the people of the State - Rs 4000 each for rice cardholders, free bus travel for women, reduction of Aavin milk price by Rs 3, payment of compensation for the families of those killed in the police firing against anti-Sterlite protestors, implementation of the scheme for resolving public grievances within 100 days of assuming office and above all, numerous Corona prevention measures being implemented on a war-footing.

He also cited the appeal to the President to release the seven convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case as a significant move.

Restaurants in crisis as grocery stores, veggie shops shut

Restaurants in crisis as grocery stores, veggie shops shut

Yogesh.Kabirdoss@timesgroup.com

Chennai:25.05.2021

The closure of grocery and vegetable shops from Monday has put eateries and restaurants in a fix. Several eateries may run out of essential commodities in the coming days leading to a shutdown later this week and this could impact those depending on food from restaurants, particularly those under home quarantine.

Unlike leading restaurant chains and star hotels with facilities such as cold storage, most standalone restaurants buy commodities on a daily basis. Though many of them have bought a significant quantity of vegetables ahead of the full lockdown, some last a maximum of three days. Besides, the absence of adequate manpower could adversely hit the supply chain from kitchen to delivery of food.

Of the 8,500 eateries and restaurants in and around Chennai, less than 40% are operating now. A chunk of nonvegetarian eateries are unlikely to operate from Tuesday due to the non-availability of meat and fish. With grocery and vegetable shops closed, owners of small time eateries are worried about sourcing essential commodities.

Muthulakshmi, who runs an eatery at Tambaram, said vegetables were available for the next two days. “Later, we have to depend on those sold through mobile mini trucks. If vegetables cannot be sourced, we may have to close down briefly,” she said. The eatery offering breakfast and dinner serves 70-80 parcels daily.

M Ravi, president of The Chennai Hotels Association, said the absence of neighbourhood grocery shops will hit eateries hard. “How can you cook if oil is not available? Moreover, several workers in the hospitality sector have left the city to their hometowns,” he added. Such factors will lead to more number of eateries closing later this week, he said.

On Sunday, eateries and hotels made significant purchases of vegetables at the Koyambedu market where, from Monday, entry for all customers including hoteliers, retail and wholesale traders has been banned.

Stalin urges people to follow all lockdown norms strictly

Stalin urges people to follow all lockdown norms strictly

‘Stringent Lockdown Necessary’

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:25.05.2021

Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin on Monday appealed to the people to comply with the stringent lockdown norms to break the chain of transmission of Corona virus and help the state return to normalcy.

Stalin called the intense lockdown, which came into effect on Monday, a “bitter medicine” and said people should take it in the best interest of the state.

The daily cases have crossed 35,000 and it remains scary. States smaller than Tamil Nadu witnessed more than 50,000 Covid cases per day, but the curve was flattening there, he said. Tamil Nadu is inching towards that, said Stalin in a video message. He emphasised the importance of complying with strict lockdown norms, taking vaccine and taking precautions to prevent the spread of the virus. People should not venture out of their houses except for medical emergencies, he said.

Reacting to criticisms that his government was not acting, Stalin said his government, despite being just two-weeks old, had implemented many welfare schemes and taken efforts to bail out the state from the grip of the pandemic.

He justified the decision to go for complete lockdown without relaxations and said a large section of people misused the lockdown that was enforced from May 10 to May 24 early morning.

“The lockdown with relaxations has resulted in a marginal dip in the number of fresh cases, but the pandemic is not under control. Hence, stringent lockdown is necessary,” he said and noted that if the lockdown norms are adhered to, the state can get back to normalcy and ensure industrial growth and development of infrastructure.

The lockdown with relaxations has resulted in a marginal dip in the number of fresh cases, but the pandemic is not under control. Hence, stringent lockdown is necessary

M K Stalin | CHIEF MINISTER

2,000 tonnes of veggies unsold on Day 1 of intense lockdown

2,000 tonnes of veggies unsold on Day 1 of intense lockdown

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:25/05/2021 

A day after brisk sale, around 2,000 tonnes of vegetables remained unsold at the Koyambedu wholesale market on Monday. Thousands had thronged the facility on Sunday to stock up ahead of the week-long total lockdown that began on Monday. Vegetables were sold only to vendors on minitrucks authorised by Greater Chennai Corporation on Monday and these trucks will be the only source for residents to buy vegetables till the lockdown ends on May 31.

The Koyambedu Wholesale Market Complex (KWMC) received around 3,000 tonnes of vegetables on Monday, 2,000 tonnes less than Sunday’s arrivals. While around 1,000 tonnes of vegetables were sold through the 2,600 designated minitrucks on city streets, the rest remained unsold as customers and retail, wholesale traders denied entry to the facility, which was overseen by Greater Chennai Corporation officials directly.

S Chandran, secretary of Federation of Wholesale Vegetable Market Associations, said Koyambedu will receive around 300 supply trucks bringing in around 3,000 tonnes of vegetables on Tuesday too. “We do not see any drop in supply of vegetables to the city,” he added.

S S Muthukumar, president of the Koyambedu Semi Wholesale Vegetable Traders Association, said the city is unlikely to face any shortage of vegetables till Thursday as people who shopped on Sunday have stocked up enough. “There was substantial sale, both wholesale and retail, on Sunday. So there is no chance of shortage in the coming days,” he said. Demand for vegetables will go up again from Thursday, he said, adding that storing excess vegetables in Koyambedu until then would be an issue.

Cops crack down on bikers out for flimsy reasons

Cops crack down on bikers out for flimsy reasons

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:25.05.2021

Police on Monday cracked down on bike riders and others stepping out of homes for non-essential reasons, registering cases against 1,350 people until 6pm. Separately, 1,250 cases were registered against people not wearing face masks and 150 cases registered for not maintaining social distancing.

Two-wheeler riders with genuine reasons were allowed to go after thorough checks. The numbers for the day are expected to go up, as cases will be registered until midnight.

Following instructions from commissioner Shankar Jiwal, the 138 police stations have been divided into 348 ‘sectors’. Roads have been barricaded, with movement allowed only on a handful of stretches to enable police to verify and allow only frontline workers and those with e-passes out on essential purposes.

While e-passes had been issued until May 24 through https://eregister.tnega.org/, a senior officer said that from tomorrow (May 25), new applications have to be filed for passes to ply through the city. “Modifications have been made on the website, and only people with fourwheelers can apply. Entries for two-wheelers will not be entertained,” he said.

On Sunday, police had registered cases against 38 people for violating lockdown norms, and impounded about 78 vehicles including six autorickshaws for violating rules. Police also slapped 2,137 cases against face mask violations and 273 for not maintaining social distancing norms. At Thiruvottiyur in north Chennai, however, several bike riders launched a flash protest on Saturday and Sunday, demanding that police release their seized bikes. The agitators gathered in front of the Thiruvottiyur police station and stayed there for a long time before senior officers intervened and dispersed the crowd.

STRICT MONITORING: Vehicles being stopped on Poonamallee High Road on Monday for checks of violations

Chennaiites lock themselves indoors day after creating chaos to stock up

Chennaiites lock themselves indoors day after creating chaos to stock up

Only Govt Staff, Those Exempted Are Allowed

TIMES-NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:25.05.2021 

Residents seemed to have finally learned to stay indoors. Most arterial roads in the city and its surrounding areas wore a deserted look for a major part of Monday, in contrast to the chaos on Sunday as people crowded shops to stock up for a week.

Vehicular traffic was witnessed on some roads up to 10am with government staff and those working in other fields exempted from the complete lockdown going to work.

As the day progressed, vehicle movement fell and Anna Salai, Poonamalee High Road, GST Road, GNT Road, Kamarajar Salai, Koyambedu flyover were empty.

On Sunday, Covid-19 response teams of the government were seen in all neighbourhoods warning public that even walkers would be fined. So, on Monday, most residents were holed up in their homes as no shops barring pharmacies and restaurants were kept open in the city. Banks worked with one third of employees.

“There were minor incidents in some neighbourhoods where public moved about casually on interior streets in Royapettah, Mannady, Velachery, to name a few. Our personnel told them politely to stay inside their homes and they obliged,” a police official said.

Apart from law enforcement, civic body teams, food delivery agents and sanitary workers, only a few vehicles were seen on Chennai city roads. Police set up check points along arterial roads like the Anna Salai, Kamarajar Salai to verify if motorists had valid credentials. “The e-registration mechanism should be even more stringent as every other motorist we detained seemed to have availed one. Except for really essential requirements, public should not be allowed epass,” a police official said.

Police warned that those travelling without e-registration or without valid reasons would be fined and their vehicles would be seized. To cater to the needs of public, the civic body has also arranged for mobile vegetable carts. E-commerce firms such as Big Basket, Sunny Bee, Reliance, and Pazhamudir could deliver from 8am to 6pm, the Chennai Corporation said.

STREETS LIE SILENT: A view of Poonamalee High Road near Anna Arch and GST Road near Chromepet on Monday

Panic Buying Leads To Crowded Markets, Congested Streets

CHAOS IN MARKETS

Madness on lockdown eve; protocols go for a six

Panic Buying Leads To Crowded Markets, Congested Streets

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

24.05.2021

Traffic on city roads and crowds at shopping hubs on Sunday resembled a festival-eve experience. While panic shopping drove people in huge numbers to grocery stores and markets a day before another week-long complete lockdown kicked in, it also showed that the newly elected government did not learn from the previous government’s mistakes as far as pandemic management is concerned.

Chaos prevailed in crowded market areas such as Kothaval Chavadi, Ambattur, Thiruvanmiyur, Zam Bazaar, and Koyambedu in Chennai where narrow roads and the population density does not allow for Covid appropriate behaviour.

“The efforts of frontline workers all these days are being negated because of policy decisions like this. To blame everything on public indiscipline is also unfair as the authorities gave only one-and-a-half days for people and naturally panic mode creeps in. The decision makers should have thought better,” said S Srinivasan, a resident of Velachery.

Police personnel and mobile teams of Greater Chennai Corporation made efforts to regulate the crowds at various places, but in vain. Meat and fish stalls, neighbourhood grocery stores, supermarkets and bakeries were all crowded since morning and by early evening, most stores had run out of stocks as people bought in bulk.

It also highlighted the digital divide among the population. “I have never ordered provisions online. So, when the government announces a complete lockdown, is it not natural to stock up on essentials?” said K Santhammal, a resident of Madipakkam.

At shopping hubs and other places, physical distancing went for a toss despite warnings that hefty monetary fines would be slapped on violators. Traditionally crowded places like Ranganathan Street in T Nagar, NSC Bose Road in Parry’s and some of the vegetable markets were packed more than usual.

Traders said that most of those flocking to their outlets were not regular shoppers but owners of retail outlets to buy stocks. “We cannot possibly turn away our customers. We try our level best to ensure physical distancing in and around the premises of our shop, but since the roads are narrow, they get crowded,” said a wholesaler at Kothaval Chavadi.

The trader pointed out that though the complete lockdown will be in place for a week, eateries and restaurants will be functioning and retailers need their supply.

Many residents continued to blame the government. “The whole thing could have been avoided. The government could have either announced the total lockdown a week ago or continued with limited restrictions and announced a complete lockdown from the beginning of June,” said M Damodaran, a resident of Royapettah.