In May this year, Masilamani (41), a resident of a housing board colony bang opposite the Kodungiyur dumpyard, woke up with violent coughs and breathlessness.

A study conducted by a Chennai-based environmental group has shown high levels of heavy metal-laden dust in air samples taken from around the Kodungaiyur dumpyard, exposing residents around the area to acute health hazards.

The samples were taken from the house of Perambur MLA A Soundararajan in February 2012 and were sent to a lab in the United States for analysis. Addressing a press conference on Saturday, A Soundararajan said the Respirable Particulate Matter (RPM) in the sample taken was two times in excess of the standards set by the Central Pollution Control Board. A second sample collected from another house during a fire at the dumpyard showed the RPM levels three times higher than prescribed norms.

The vulnerability of buildings designed before Chennai was classified under ‘seismic zone III’ should be reassessed, says an expert.

On a day when the Supreme Court directed the Union and State governments to provide basic infrastructure, including drinking water and toilets, in all schools within six months, a survey conducted among parents (low-income group) in Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore said that “toilets remain the single-most commonly voiced concern for girl students and their parents across India among the lower-income group.”

The secondary data of survey added that only 44 per cent schools covered by the Right to Education Act have separate, functioning girls’ toilets. In the rest, girls either need to risk embarrassment and run to nearby fields, or run back home to use the toilet.

Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd intends to set up a 5 MW solar power plant in its boiler auxiliary plant complex at Ranipet near Chennai.

Tamil Nadu has started using global positioning system and electronic total stations to survey land.

Speaking at the state revenue ministers conference in New Delhi today, Thoppu N D Venkatachalam said the survey using the global positioning system and electronic total station was conducted on a pilot basis in one village initially and then using the experience gained, the scheme had been extended further.

A new system of surveying, using Global Positioning System (GPS) and Electronic Total Stations, is in progress in districts including Chennai, Coimbatore, Tirupur and The Nilgiris, according to Revenue Minister Thoppu N.D. Venkatachalam.

Addressing a conference of State Revenue Ministers in New Delhi on Thursday, Mr. Venkatachalam [the text of whose speech was released in Chennai] said that on a pilot basis one village was chosen and, using the experience gained, the system — Modern Surveying — extended.

India needs to focus on treating waste water from the industries to meet the rising demand for fresh water.

Department of Forestry has begun pilot work, says V-C

Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), along with other stakeholders, will help in executing the State government’s East Coast Development Project, TNAU vice-chancellor K. Ramasamy said here on Thursday. Addressing mediapersons after assuming charge on August 27, the Vice-Chancellor said the five-year project would focus on increasing the green cover on the east coast of the State – a stretch of 1,006 km – from Kanyakumari to Chennai. Speaking to The Hindu later, he said the project involved a multi-pronged approach and included tank modernisation at a cost of Rs. 1,596 crore and increasing green cover at a cost of Rs. 672 crore.

Samudra Paheredar designed to mitigate marine oil spills

Samudra Paheredar, the indigenously built second pollution control vessel, specially designed to mitigate any marine oil spill, received a warm welcome from the Coast Guard fraternity on its arrival at Chennai Port on Tuesday. Receiving the vessel Coast Guard Region (East) Commander Inspector General S.P. Sharma, said the vessel will add marine pollution response capabilities like contain, recover and dispose of 500 tonnes of oil which may be spilled into the seas by accidents or hazards.