CHENNAI: Announcing more concessions for the flood-affected families in Cuddalore, Chennai, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur, Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Tuesday said domestic consumers in these districts need not pay their electricity bill immediately and that they could pay it by January 31. No penalty would be collected from them for the delay in payment.
Stating that she had come to know that some private schools were of the opinion that her earlier announcement on postponement of half-yearly examinations would not apply to them, the Chief Minister clarified that the postponement of half-yearly examinations would apply to all government, government-aided and private schools. Jayalalithaa said she had directed the School Education Department to issue a circular in this regard to all private schools. The Chief Minister made these announcements after chairing a high-level meeting at the Secretariat.
Recalling that the sanitary workers had been working on a war footing to clean garbage, she said with a view to protect their health, authorities have been directed to administer them vaccination immediately. Besides, these workers would be given face masks, hand gloves, raincoats and gumboots. “To ensure sanitation in the houses located in flood-affected areas and to prevent spread of any epidemic, half kg bleaching powder and 20 chlorine tablets would be given through the local bodies concerned immediately. In all, 2,000 tonnes of bleaching powder and chlorine tablets worth `1 crore would be given. Besides, 1,105 medical camps being conducted by the Health department would continue,” the CM said. She said already 90 Farm Fresh Outlets and 13 mobile outlets have been selling vegetables at a reasonable prices in Chennai. Though potato had been sold at `23 per kg in these outlets, the price of potato seemed to be `45 per kg. As such, 100 tonnes of potato and 75 tonnes of onion would be procured from other states.