Over 1.7 lakh people staying in relief camps in Gaja-hit Nagai
Nagapattinam, Dec 4 : More than 1.77 lakh people, including 29,000 children, are staying in 252 relief camps in cyclone-Gaja hit areas of Nagapattinam district, Tamil Nadu Handlooms Minister O S Manian said Tuesday.
Relief works have been taken up on a war footing in the district, he said.
"A total of 2.32 lakh trees had been uprooted in the cyclonic storm and we have cleared 1.99 lakh trees. Of the 46,000 electric poles that were damaged, 28,600 poles have been re-erected. Over 440 transformers have been replaced," the minister said.
"About 6,200 personnel of the electricity department are working on power restoration works," he said.
More than 12,000 workers from other departments such as PWD, agriculture, horticulture, local administration, animal husbandry and health departments were engaged in relief works in the district, Manian said.
Rural development minister SP Velumani, senior IAS officers J Radhakrishnan and Gagandeep Singh Bedi were among those present at the review meeting.
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No more street vending on B’luru’s main roads, as govt plans to bring new policy for street hawkers
Bengaluru: Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Friday said that the state government has decided to formulate a new policy for footpaths in Bengaluru, under which street vending will not be allowed on main roads and sub-main roads.
Addressing the media after a budget preparation meeting and executive meeting of GBA corporations at Vidhana Soudha, Shivakumar said discussions were held with MLAs from the GBA region regarding the corporations’ budgets and key civic issues.
Leader of Opposition R. Ashok also participated in the meeting and shared his views. Officials from multiple departments, including police, BESCOM, BMRCL, BWSSB and BDA, along with ministers and legislators, were present.
He stated that all five municipalities have prepared their individual budgets, while MLAs have submitted their demands, including calls for ward-wise grants.
“We have decided to bring a new policy for footpaths. Citizens are struggling to walk as footpaths are encroached upon by street vendors,” Shivakumar said.
Highlighting the need to balance livelihoods and public convenience, he added that “a separate space will be provided for street vendors, and specific roads will be designated for their business,” ensuring that pedestrians can use footpaths without obstruction. He noted that there was unanimous agreement among MLAs on this approach.
Issuing a warning to vendors, Shivakumar said that authorities will act against those violating the rules. “If vendors operate during the day and leave their carts on the roadside at night, authorities will clear them. People should be aware of this,” he said.
Providing data on street vendors, he said that around 60,000 vendors have registered so far, of which 30,000 have applied for vehicles, and a tender has already been floated.
“Only those with street vendor identity cards will be allowed to do business. Those without ID cards will not be permitted to operate on the streets,” he added.
