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Mayor, US consul general hold talks for shelter

Thursday, 26 August 2010 11:39 administrator
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The Times of india  26.08.2010

Mayor, US consul general hold talks for shelter

CHENNAI: Applicants for visa to the US standing in sweltering heat or rain on the footpaths along the consulate near Anna flyover may be a thing of the past. Mayor M Subramanian on Wednesday held talks with US consul general Andrew T Simkin and chief of consular services Bryan W Dalton regarding provision of shelter to visiting applicants.

Subramanian, who visited the consulate along with senior Chennai Corporation including commissioner Rajesh Lakhoni, told TOI, "The consulate officials were told about the necessity to provide shelter to the visiting applicants, who brave the heat and rain. More than 800 people from Tamil Nadu and the neighbouring states visit the consulate everyday for getting visas. They need better facilities." This is the first time the local body has held talks with the US consultate for such a facility.

In fact, the civic officials prepared a blueprint for the project, which includes a long stainless steel shelter with adequate number of seaters on the lines of modernised bus shelters the corporation has built in the recent times on Kamarajar Salai.

"But the consul officials suggested something like a automatic roller shelter, which can be rolled up when not required," Subramanian said. It has been decided to widen the footpath by another metre on Anna Salai by shifting the lamp posts near Anna flyover, he said.

Last Updated on Thursday, 26 August 2010 11:40
 

Civic body plans shelter for US visa seekers

Thursday, 26 August 2010 07:30 administrator
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The New Indian Express  26.08.2010

Civic body plans shelter for US visa seekers

File picture of people queuing outside the US consulate in the city. (EPS)

CHENNAI: What proved to be a harrowing time for visa seekers approaching the US consulate near the Gemini flyover who were forced to wait for long under the scorching sun or in the rain, while waiting to be called in all these years is finally going to end.

For the Corporation on Wednesday announced that a shelter would be constructed for them soon.

After meeting the US consul general Andrew T Simkin at the consulate with a proposal, Mayor M Subramanian told reporters, “For the benefit of hundreds of people reaching the consulate from the four southern states for various visa requirements, it has been decided by the Corporation to put up a shelter along the compound wall of the consulate facing Gemini flyover.”

During the meeting, in which Corporation Commissioner Rajesh Lakhoni also participated, the Mayor presented the civic body’s plan to construct a shelter without compromising the security concerns of the consulate.

As per the civic body’s proposal, besides extending the width of the pavement there, the Corporation would also be erecting a steel shelter and provide seating arrangements for the waiting applicants.

The civic body has also planned to put up fencing along the pavement to bar any vehicle from reaching close to its compound wall, to address the security concerns of the consulate due to erection of the shelter.

Corporation and the US consulate officials would meet again to finalise the proposal, Subramanian added.

Last Updated on Thursday, 26 August 2010 07:32
 

Rain ushers in fears of waterlogging in city

Tuesday, 24 August 2010 09:42 administrator
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The Deccan Chronicle  24.08.2010

Rain ushers in fears of waterlogging in city

Aug. 23: Poor monsoon arrangements in the city and suburbs have made living conditions from bad to worse and councillors, cutting across party lines, agree that inundated localities might get marooned if the rain continues. Low-lying areas in Chennai are witnessing water logging as stormwater drains constructed by the city corporation have either clogged or are failing to serve their purpose.

“Despite the city corporation constructing stormwater drains near the Vysarpadi Jeeva railway station and the Perambur flyover, both localities continue to be examples of a neglected north Chennai,” said a DMK Corporation councillor. “Last night my SUV broke down at Jamalia near Perambur after water entered the car and it was a traumatizing experience,” said N. Naryananan, who works for a software firm in Ambattur.

“We have not drowned yet but all the drains are full and the residents are keeping their fingers crossed, waiting in fear for the big monsoon rains,” said Ms Keerthana Kumar, a housewife residing in Kellys.

“Usually the city gets flooded only when there are uninterrupted showers for more than 36 hours and the situation becomes worse when inflow into the Coovum, Adyar river and Otteri Nullah is heavy. At such circumstances the storm water drains will fail to serve their purposes,” said a former chief engineer of city corporation.

When contacted, corporation commissioner Mr Rajesh Lakhoni said after completion, the Rs 1,500-crore micro and macro drain project will provide a permanent solution to Chennai’s flood problems. Whenever the city receives above 4 centimetre of rainfall, the Otteri Nullah overflows thus flooding low lying areas of north Chennai.

Currently the public works department has taken up an interlinking canal work between Otteri and Cooum, the minor canal on completion will divert the excess water from Otteri Nullah to Cooum and this will alleviate flooding in north Chennai, he said. The corporation has pressed about 150 people with high horse power motor pumps to drain the storm water, he added.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 24 August 2010 11:16
 
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