Zoo in Chennai shut for visitors, animals relieved

TNN | Mar 25, 2020, 04.18 AM IST

CHENNAI: The animals and birds at the Vandalur zoo have never been seen in such a relaxed mood, say their keepers.

From K Chellaiah, who is in charge of the white tigers’ enclosure, to M Nagammal, who takes care of the enclosures for deer and the regular tigers, almost every staff member says life for the animals has been most peaceful since March 17 when the zoo was shut over Covid-19 fears.

This is the second time the facility has been closed for a long time. The first time was from January 23 to February 23 in 2002, when a wild leopard strayed into the zoo and the authorities trapped it after a month.

The present situation, though comfortable for the animals, could prove costly for the zoo in terms of revenue, say officials. They, however, admit that the behaviour of the visitors, some of them unruly, causes a lot of strain for the animals.

From 9.45am, when the gates are opened and the first visitors stream in, to when the zoo is closed, the animals are subjected to almost continuous noise. Some try to get as close to the enclosures as possible to take selfies; others shout and clap to draw the attention of the animals. A few others even throw stones at the animals, sometimes hurting them and causing a lot of stress. All this, says

renowned veterinarian N Kalaivanan, leads to loss of natural behaviour for animals and their stress levels go up.

A good example is the Sariska reserve in Rajasthan where the huge number of vehicles affected the reproductive system of tigers and their numbers in Central India fell significantly, he said.

“When animals in captivity are not disturbed, their wild behaviour is restored. Their physiological behaviour is also good and helps in better functioning of their reproductive system,” he said.

Now, Chelliah says, with no visitors to disturb them, the white tigers have been frolicking with their cubs happily.

Nagammal agrees and says the sambar deer, in particular, react instantly to noise and sometimes abandon their feed. No such instances have occurred in the past one week, she says.

It is not only the carnivores such as tigers and leopards that are stressed. Even small mammals such as mongoose and palm civet among a host of animals too get affected badly, Kalaivanan said. That may return when the zoo is ultimately opened, he added.

From chaos to uneasy calm: How city went into curfew

TNN | Mar 25, 2020, 04.50 AM IST

Chennai: Grocery stores, bus stands and Tasmac shops -- that’s where most of the city congregated on Tuesday before the lockdown came into effect. As the day dawned bright and clear, people rushed to neighbourhood stores to stock up on provisions. People crowded stores in Anna Nagar, Choolaimedu, Saidapet, Triplicane, Royapetah, Mylapore and T Nagar.

“I was not planning to stock up but many people were coming and buying things. I realised the seriousness when I found out that the packet of milk powder I picked up was the last one in the shop,” said P Anusuya, a resident shopping at a store on Ellis Road.

The sense of hurry was palpable – whether it was on the busy road or in the shops and small businesses that continued to function. By noon, a few shops started to run out of supplies such as milk powder. Along with noodles, biscuits figured high on the list for customers, who feared stocks may be scarce in the coming days.

Despite the heat and humidity, Zam Bazaar market was bustling with activity at noon and also later in the day when the 6pm deadline drew near. People rushed to buy fruits, vegetables, rice, wheat flour, coconut oil and milk products, with many buying provisions in bulk. They feared that the neighbourhood grocer or supermarket may not get supplies during the lockdown.

“I have stocks but I am not sure whether I will be getting fruits and vegetables from tomorrow. Everything that we sell here comes from Andhra and a few other districts in Tamil Nadu. I do not know how long it will take for the supplies to arrive,” said Mahesh, a fruit shop owner.

With people as well as retail outlets rushing to stock up, vegetable prices in Koyambedu market soared. For the first time, wholesale prices of some of the vegetables were higher than the retail prices. Tomato was sold at Rs 25 per kg in retail outlets while it was priced Rs 40 per kg in Koyambedu. While onions and potatoes sold at Rs 30 and Rs 33 at retail, sellers at Koyambedu charged Rs 10 more.

The Koyambedu bus terminus also saw a lot of activity as people hailing from southern and western districts desperately looked for buses so that they could reach their hometowns before authorities locked the borders. Auto drivers made a killing fleecing passengers who wanted to reach the stand.

Yet another place saw people jostling with one another so that they could stock up for the dry days ahead – Tasmac outlets were crowded from the moment they opened at noon. People with bags in hand waited patiently throughout the afternoon but as the 6pm deadline neared, there was a mad rush. In Choolaimedu, the staff had a tough time dealing with people when it was time to down the shutters. People even prised open the shutters and demanded that they continue to sell booze.

In Zam Bazaar, as the lockdown began, police asked all shop owners, and also restaurants to close. Only medical shops and pushcarts selling fruits were spared. People quickly converged on the vendors to buy the last of their produce.

“They told us in the afternoon that we can function but now they say that it is better to close when the shutdown begins. The police said that we can open in the morning,” said N Mani, who runs an eatery.

Post 6pm, police patrolled the city, asking traders to shut shops. Just as quickly, silence fell over the city, and the main thoroughfares looked deserted. The busy city settled down for the night, and braced for the long fight ahead. 21 days.

(With inputs from B A Raju and A Prathap)

Covid-19 lockdown in Tamil Nadu: Travelling for work in Chennai? Remember to carry these documents

Mar 24, 2020, 08.35 PM IST

CHENNAI: After the lockdown came into force in Tamil Nadu to combat spread of Covid-19, Chennai police commissioner A K Viswanathan and Greater Chennai Corporation commissioner G Prakash on Tuesday evening said people who have to travel for work should carry a proper identity proof and their company's ID card. Section 144 was invoked in the state at 6pm.

However, people going out to buy essential items need not carry ID proof.

"Since this is an extraordinary medical emergency, we have brought these stringent measures into place. Thirty joint teams of corporation and police will be on rounds checking who violates this," Prakash said.

Prakash said only retail shoppers should come to wholesale markets. People should restrict themselves to buying from neighbourhood shops thereby preventing crowds at larger markets.

Prakash said 3,500-4,000 domestic breeding checkers of the GCC have been given full body suits, gloves and boots to be used by them while they conduct door-to-door fever survey.

Passport services suspended till March 31

24/03/2020, STAFF REPORTER,COIMBATORE

Following orders from the Ministry of External Affairs, the Regional Passport Office in Coimbatore said in a communiqué on Monday that the Passport Seva Kendra in Coimbatore and Post Office Passport Kendras at Coonoor, Erode, Salem and Namakkal will not function till March 31. Those who had booked appointments during these days were advised to re-schedule their appointments after April 7. Applicants can contact the following numbers for any doubts: 0422 2301415, 2300250, 2306111.

Teaching, non-teaching faculty continue to work

24/03/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,COIMBATORE

Even as the State government imposed restrictions on people’s movement under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code in its efforts to combat the spread COVID-19, teaching and non-teaching faculty continued to work.

The faculty and administrative staff reported for work even though the government had a fortnight ago closed colleges for students.

Sources in the Department of Collegiate Education said that faculty and non-teaching staff in the 14 government-run and 18 government-aided colleges in the Coimbatore region continued to work as there was no communication from the Department.

The Coimbatore region comprised Coimbatore, the Nilgiris, Tiruppur and Erode districts.

Commenting on the issue, former general secretary, Association of University Teachers, C. Pichandy said the Government should have long ago taken a stand saying colleges were closed for teaching and administrative staff as well.

What was the use of faculty reporting for work in the absence of students, asked N. Pasupathy, State president of the Association.

There was nothing that the faculty could do in the absence of students. And, the government not issuing directions and thereby asking the faculty and administrative staff to work had no meaning.

Instead of treating the faculty and staff like any other government employee, the government would do well to issue instructions asking them to not report for work.

It could ask the faculty and administrative staff to return to work when it reopened colleges.

Department sources said the Government was yet to issue any directions on faculty and staff reporting for duty.

T.N. branch of IMA comes forward to help government

24/03/2020, WILSON THOMAS

The Tamil Nadu branch of the Indian Medical Association has come forward to help the State Government for the management of COVID-19.

Bed strength

IMA informed the government that willing member hospitals were ready to keep 50% of their bed strength reserved for the management of COVID-19 in case of any eventuality.

If any private hospital was ready to convert its entire facility for COVID-19 management, that was also welcomed by IMA.

The decision was taken in a three-hour-long web conferencing held on Sunday in which Health Minister C. Vijayabaskar, Health Secretary Beela Rajesh, and other senior health officials and government officials, as well as the national president of the IMA, State officer-bearers of the IMA, and members of the medial body across the State took part.

The government decided that private hospitals empanelled under the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme could be used for COVID-19 management in the first level, if required.

IMA Tamil Nadu has 4,500 member hospitals and 36,000 members in 166 branches.

Ms. Rajesh said the Department has identified laboratories accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories to be roped in for COVID-19 testing, if required.

IMA State president C.N. Raja requested the Health Minister to consider insurance for medical professionals, in government and private sectors, as they are first in line to get exposed to the virus while handling patients.

“Insuring medical professionals will encourage them to combat the epidemic. It will boost their morale,” said State secretary A.K. Ravikumar.

IMA has shared a PowerPoint presentation to all member hospitals on how to equip their facilities for COVID-19 management as per government protocol.

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Fear grips teachers

24/03/2020, STAFF REPORTER,COIMBATORE

A view of Corporation Primary School in Siddhapudur, one of the schools where teachers come to work despite the school being shut on Monday. M. Periasamy M_PERIASAMY

With the State government shutting down all educational institutions, teachers have been going to schools since March 17 owing to lack of specific instructions from the Department of School Education.

A teacher from a government primary school in the outskirts of Coimbatore city told The Hindu that teachers have been staying in schools from 9 a.m to 4 p.m in the past week.

“There is fear among all of the teachers here,” she said, noting that teachers choose to sit in separate classrooms rather than as a group.

The teachers have been carrying out preparatory works for the next academic year, the teacher said.

Private schools also are no exception to this. R. Visalakshi, president of Tamil Nadu Private Schools Association, said that the teachers are made to come to schools as the public examinations for Class XII and XI are under way. “If [the State Government] ask us to declare holiday for teachers, we will declare,” she said.

“Most of the teachers have been performing only clerical works,” said T. Arulanandam, State Auditor of Tamil Nadu High Higher Secondary School Graduate Teachers Association (TNHHSSGTA). These works, such as entering the particulars of the students and their attendance details, could be done by teachers from their homes, he noted.

Mr. Arulanandam, a Class X teacher in a government-aided school, said that students tend to clarify their doubts through calls or WhatsApp, which also does not require the presence of teachers in schools.

At a time when the Central and State governments are calling for social distancing, teachers must be allowed to work from homes, Mr. Arulanandam urged.

When contacted, Coimbatore Chief Educational Officer P. Usha said that all teachers, who go to schools or for examination duties, have been instructed about the COVID-19 precautionary measures.

Schools and examination centres are regularly disinfected and are equipped with soaps for handwashing. Any teacher feeling unwell will be permitted to take leave, Ms. Usha said.