Chennai cops prepare to tackle biochemical threats

With technical support from Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), the Chennai Police are equipping themselves to detect any type of sabotage attempts using chemical, radioactive or biological materials. The Mobile Radiation Detection System (MRDS) devices fitted in the patrol vehicles will sound an alarm with red light and a message will be directly sent to a control centre to be set up with the help of BARC. Their teams will then sanitise the locality.

The device has been fitted in 60 patrol vehicles initially. The machines have been installed across the country in police vehicles to thwart terrorist attacks.

Source: The Hindu

Treated water makes its way to industries

The two Tertiary Treated Reverse Osmosis (TTRO) plants at Koyambedu and Kodungaiyur will soon supply 90 million litres of treated water for industrial use. This will ease the pressure on the reservoirs that supply water for residential use adding 50 million litres of water through the piped water supply.

The 550 million litres of sewage that is generated in the city every day is being treated in the four plants at Koyambedu, Nesapakam, Perungudi and Kodungaiyur. In the two new plants, the water undergoes an extra treatment process using the reverse osmosis process. Once these two plants become fully functional, Chennai will be the first in the country to recycle and reuse 20% of the treated sewage water.

Meanwhile,  soil tests are being conducted simultaneously to facilitate construction of modular water treatment plants along Ayanambakkam, Retteri and Perumbakkam lakes. The three lakes will supply 30 million litres of water a day to meet Chennai’s water demand.

Source: The Times of India | The Hindu

Citizens fight to save Panagal park and Natesan park

An online petition signed by around 3000 people to save Panagal Park and Natesan Park from being taken over for metro rail construction has gone in favour of the park. The petition pointed out that the city had previously witnessed three of its parks being destroyed to facilitate phase-1 Metro Rail construction and called for saving these two parks

Metro Rail has made a few changes in the design pertaining to these parks so that the green lungs of the city face the least damage.

Source: The New Indian Express

Third eye to ensure safety in suburban trains

Southern Railway has adopted several new measures to make the suburban trains safe and passenger friendly as it refurbishes the trains that are over 25 years old. From installing CCTV cameras to fans to smoke detectors, the new trains will have adequate safety measures for the passengers.

Furthermore, the ladies, first class and general coaches have been given pink, green and blue colour codes.  The flooring has been elevated and made stainless steel to avoid being slippery.

Source: The Times of India

[Compiled by Sandhya Raju]