Traffic Cops LeaRn SKILLS
CHENNAI: Thankless, stressed out and over-worked - while these can be a common template for most professions, it describes perfectly the role of a traffic policeman toiling on city roads. Regulating the mindless traffic that infests our roads is no mean task and the men bestowed with that duty most of the time feel doing a thankless job. At least, that’s what the traffic policemen shared during a ‘skill development training’ held on Monday. The month-long workshop is to train a batch of 75 personnel each day. City-based psychologist Dr Abilasha, resource person for the programme, said most of the policemen were forthcoming and aired their grievances, especially with regard to the helmet rule. “They (public) don’t understand it is for their own good...we want them to ride safe,” she quoted a policemann as saying.
SanD Lorry STir May HIt ConstructionS
Chennai: The construction sector may face scarcity of river sand with the Tamil Nadu State Sand Lorry Owner’s Federation going on an indefinite strike from Monday protesting the excess carriage of sand against the norm. The demand for river sand in Chennai, Kanchipuram and Tiruvallur districts everyday is anywhere between 9,000 and 10,000 loads. S Yuvaraj, president of the federation, said about 10,000 lorries supplying river sand in three districts were on strike. “Contractors store sand, which are mined from riverbeds, in stock yards. We collect sand from the yards for distributing it to the construction sites,” he said. Alleging that contractors were forcing them to ferry more sand against the stipulated norms, he said a 10-wheeler truck should carry only three units of sand each measuring 4.5 tonnes. “Instead we are forced to carry five units of sand and end up paying fine,” he said.
Marine Fisheries Census-2016 Begins
Chennai: The Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) commenced the National Marine Fisheries Census-2016 in maritime states and union territories of the country from Monday. Inputs from this exercise would be analysed by scientists of CMFRI, a research organisation under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), to develop a comprehensive database on coastal fisher population. The database would help in facilitating information on fisheries-related plans and policies in the marine sector. The census is for a duration of 30 days from Monday to March 1, with a total expenditure of `3.38 cr, funded by the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairy and Fisheries (DAHDF) of Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. The exercise includes collecting information about fishermen families, fishing crafts and gear.