GCC to build new council hall at Ripon Buildings

Chennai: The Greater Chennai Corporation is to build a new council hall on the Ripon Buildings campus itself, taking into account the space constraint in the existing haill within the heritage building.The council hall at the 110-year-old Ripon Buildings was designed only for 155 councillors. As there are 200 councillors now, it is too crowded during council meetings.Mayor R Priya told TOI: “Women councillors are unable to sit in the congested space and they have repeatedly raised this as an issue.” The corporation has now identified space within its campus where it would demolish two old non-heritage structures to build this new council hall. “The work should begin soon,” the mayor said.Further, all the senior officers will be shifted from Ripon Buildings to the new green building that's under construction in Chennai Smart City funds.City corporation commissioner Dr J Radhakrishnan said once officials are shifted, ground floor of the Ripon Buildings will be converted into a library with books depicting Chennai's history. The waiting hall for the commissioner's office is small and the corporation has put chairs in corridors for people to wait. Further, there is no waiting room for any of the deputy commissioner's offices.Radhakrishnan said the changes would be done in accordance with rules, as Ripon Buildings is a heritage structure.

Building needs repair; campus is encroached

The government-run Satellite Hospital in Jaipur is in poor condition and has been encroached upon by people living in hut-like structures on the campus. The building, constructed in 1995, shows signs of seepage and has experienced incidents such as concrete slabs falling from the ceiling. Temporary structures called chhapar bada were previously built on the campus for housing patients with contagious diseases, and some retired employees' families still live there. The hospital management has written to the government and the public works department for repair and expansion of the hospital. A proposal of Rs 1.7 crore has been sent for repair.

Sivankutty inaugurates new school buildings

The General Education Minister of Kerala, V Sivankutty, inaugurated a new three-storey building at Government Higher Secondary School, Elamkunnapuzha. The government aims to invest more money and attention into general education to improve the sector. The Rs 2-crore building includes classrooms, office rooms, and toilets. Additionally, construction is underway for another building for the lower primary section at a cost of Rs 1 crore. The minister also inaugurated a special platform called SPACE for bedridden children at Government Vocational Higher Secondary School, Njarakkal, which includes advanced technology and services for special needs students. Other inaugurations included new buildings at Government HSS, Manjapra, and Parakkadavu LP School.

Chennai Corporation commissioner inspects mosquito control work in Sholinganallur

The commissioner of the Greater Chennai Corporation, Dr J Radhakrishnan, conducted an inspection of mosquito control measures in Sholinganallur. The inspection included identifying areas where mosquito breeding was occurring, such as canals, ponds, and houses. GCC officials and local councillors accompanied Dr Radhakrishnan during the inspection.