Chennai discussions II

[Mad 4 Madras]

Originally Posted by ChennaiIndian

Friend, ignore stevanpaul and move on. Please don't entertain his ridiculous comments.

Repeat!

[satchitananda]

Originally Posted by neohistoryman

Chennai, India being used as e-waste dumping ground

http://www.techeye.net/business/chen...dumping-ground

India's Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has intercepted five huge containers of old computer parts being dumped illegally in Chennai in just two months. Altogether it has found 127 tonnes of e-waste, much of which contains nickel, mercury and lead and could be linked to environmental damage as well as health concerns for locals.

According to The Times of India, Chennai has become a favourite spot for areas which find it costly to dispose of or recycle electronic material - including Korea, Brunei, Australia and Canada. While the countries who flog off their old bits and pieces aren't directly in the wrong, they must be in the know: they ship out their waste to importers which gets sold on to smaller companies, who harvest metals and dump the rest.

In Chennai the most recent find by the DRI was from Brunei. It was declared as switch board scrap, but actually the container was full of garbage including 166 dead computer monitors, 89 control panels, broken printers and keyboards, circuit boards and electrical motor parts.

Classic example where cheap temporary profit can blind the long term disasters. All these in the name of development and business. It gives a bad rap to both. If the central government is not taking active role then state agencies like TNPCB must take a proactive role. If no one makes noise on these issues then it slowly becomes an acceptable norm. We dont want another version of Alang, Gujarat in Chennai. Besides these heavy metal wastes have long term consequences.

[cofee]

Originally Posted by satchitananda

Classic example where cheap temporary profit can blind the long term disasters. All these in the name of development and business. It gives a bad rap to both. If the central government is not taking active role then state agencies like TNPCB must take a proactive role. If no one makes noise on these issues then it slowly becomes an acceptable norm. We dont want another version of Alang, Gujarat in Chennai. Besides these heavy metal wastes have long term consequences.

Add to that used Tyres, Asbestos and Medical waste.

Many company pay top dollars for removing such waste.

Some local TN social conscious entrepreneurs agree for the deal, receive large payments for clearing the hazardous waste and import to India and dump it on our land fill.


Any one interested in collecting asbestos waste (asbestos is not banned india like it is in 99% of developed countries)

Excellent money guys and free cancer for workers (Mesothelioma) No worries guys already many TN workers have them due to there work with asbestos mixed cement sheets.

you don't have to break the law (as there is none), Make excellent money and dont have to worry about mammoth proposition of Asbestos Cancer ( as Gov doesn't worry) so you haven't done any thing wrong (just made millions for yourself like Ramco)

The best part is Canada dumps most of their asbestos to India and openly advertise in leading news papers.

India is the only market that is open for them as it is banned in their own country and many others

We have people would even drink poison if offered with a quid and we have people would poison the whole country for few quids.

[cofee]

Asbestos for India: France considers aircraft carrier's fate
The ghost ship nobody wants

Imagine you're the State of France. What do you do with a 27,000-ton warship full of asbestos, PCBs, lead, mercury, and other toxic chemicals, which you don't want and no European country is willing or able to scrap for you? Why, you send it off to India to be broken up by hand in a scrapyard where impoverished workers are injured and die every day.

[jaish]

Originally Posted by satchitananda

If as an individual one is free to immigrate or worship some queen or even for that matter compare two cities or people, I have no issues. If they still have a problem they can leave the country and no issues. But when someone says that this country should be ruled by another country, I have a big problem. Not because it make become a reality, but because of the sick thinking which is worser than slavery.

Every place has its flaws. You may go far and wide you will never come across a nation so steeped in richness in all aspects like India and I do not take it lightly. Thank you.

My dear friend do you think India is being ruled by an Indian now. Presently whole indians are electing the foriegn rule.

[ChennaiIndian]

http://www.thehindu.com/arts/history...icle588012.ece



The centenary of a Madras airplane

That e-mail out of the blue from Jefferis Donald Evans D'Angelis in Chile about a seven-year-old story of mine (Miscellany, August 9) has led to a long and enjoyable correspondence and a treasure trove of pictures, two of which I publish today. I had last Monday made reference to one of them, the biplane, but letting my Olivetti once again race away from my thinking, I got left behind with this thought I should have included last week, namely, that this year is the centenary of the first aeroplane manufactured and flown in India.

My aircraft picture today is from that famed Royal Aero Club magazine Flight's March 26, 1910 issue which published a letter from E. and A Levetus, and Co which stated: “We are posting you what we believe is the first aeroplane in India, which has been constructed by one of our customers, Mr. G. D'Angelis of Madras. The machine has been built by our friend entirely from his own design, and we understand that although upto the present he has been experimenting with a small horse-power engine, the results given by this are so satisfactory that with a higher horse-power he anticipates being able to make long and consecutive flights.” Reading between the lines it would appear that Levetus supplied the engine.

The India Weekly of the same period mentioned that the biplane had been built by Simpson's. Samuel John Green, who came out as a “motor engineer” to Simpson's in 1902 — he was later to become a partner — would have had much to do with this manufacture and assembly. An outstanding engineer, he was responsible for the first built-in-India car, a steam car he unveiled in Madras, and which the Press prophetically greeted with the headline “New Industry for Madras”.

D'Angelis, it would appear, had been inspired by Bleriot, a Frenchman who was the first to fly across the English Channel a few months earlier. D'Angelis first tested his aeroplane in Pallavaram (the probable site of today's picture) and then arranged a public viewing at the Island Grounds in March 1910, charging entrance fees to the demonstration. The local newspapers reported the exhibition widely, but did not predict aircraft manufacture as another industry for Madras.

...

[ChennaiIndian]

http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/...icle592296.ece

The Koyambedu market complex will be closed on the last Friday of every month, from August 27, to facilitate full-fledged maintenance.

The decision was taken at a recent meeting of the Market Management Committee with the concurrence of representatives of traders' association. Committee officials said the market would be shut between 10 p.m. on Thursday and 10 p.m. on Friday to carry out maintenance, including garbage removal, fogging to curb mosquito menace, repairing of roads and electrical work.

The decision, however, would not apply to flower market as the produce would have to be sold within a stipulated time.

Moreover, the flower market is comparatively small and hence it is easy to maintain.

Though regular maintenance is scheduled daily, it does not seem enough. Setting aside a full day would help in executing various works without hindrance.

...

[ChennaiIndian]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...ow/6428637.cms

CHENNAI: Minutes after an Indian's heart started beating inside a 65-year-old American, Ronald Lemmer, last month, there were celebrations at the 25-year-old Apollo Hospital. Not just because the heart transplant was a success the hospital had, symbolically, achieved something much greater.

"I built this hospital after I lost my first patient due to heart disease. He was just 39 years old and could not go to the US in time for treatment. I promised myself that I will bring international care to Chennai. Now, the heart we transplanted will beat in the US," said Dr Prathap C Reddy, chairman of Apollo Hospitals. "But this could not have happened if the state did not push for an organ registry and promote cadaver organ donations. Our city is truly the capital of cadaver organ transplant in the country," he adds.

When a patient is declared brain dead, mostly following heart disease, he/she is clinically dead. But vital organs like heart, kidneys, lungs and liver function with the help of life support system. In September 2008, when the parents of A Hitendran (19) Dr Ashokan and Dr Pushpanjali were told that their son was brain dead, they agreed to donate all his organs. "My house has never been the same after he left us. His death changed us for ever. We learnt that we can prolong the life of organs and help several others," said Dr Ashokan. The ailing heart of a nine-year-old girl, Abirami, was replaced with Hitendran's heart. She lived for almost a year with the heart.

...

[ChennaiIndian]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...ow/6428627.cms

CHENNAI: In Chennai's backyard, about 35 km away, a medical equipment manufacturing unit of Trivitron is making efforts to slash the cost of healthcare since January. The company indigenously manufactures medical equipment on a part of the 23.5-acre land it had acquired.

According to GSK Velu, managing director of the Trivitron group of companies, "Import of equipment and diagnostic kits increases the cost of care. One way of cutting cost is to manufacture them locally."

The company, with an investment of Rs 250 crore, has signed up with at least seven manufacturers, including from Spain, Germany and Japan, to set up shop in the special economic zone. "Trivitron has already started its manufacturing unit. By next year, others will also kick off. We hope to cater to at least 50% of the Indian market by 2011-end. We will also be exporting equipment," he said.

...

[Samaritan]

(Chennai Airport could be only place in this world to provide affordable last mile connectivity)

My thought is that the government should have planned for an integrated transport hub (SETC,MRTS,Metro rail,Subarban rail,Other trains,MTC) just near the chennai airport itself instead of st.thomas mount. This would allow domestic/international passengers reach any parts of the city/state using public transport at an affordable cost. A number of air passengers are arriving from dubai/singapore/srilanka and other parts of india using economy airlines and if they are introduced to this sort of hub they will be more than happy to use it. This would be the first of sorts for any international airport. Forum users ... your comments pls ..

[Mad 4 Madras]

We may have to compromise security for that.

[Samaritan]

Consider these facts:

The new integrated terminals will have a passenger traffic of 24 million/year.
Around 10000 employees are expected to work round the clock in the airport.
Atleast 70% of the passengers/employees will use the public transport.
Tamilnadu/Chennai/Temple tourism could be promoted with LCC's and TTDC by introducing affordable packages.
Many more things could be achieved out of this integrated transport hub at chennai airport.
Arrive from anywhere to Depart anywhere with ease and at affordable cost will be right selling caption for any airport in this world to be profitable !

[Balah]

Originally Posted by Samaritan

Consider these facts:

The new integrated terminals will have a passenger traffic of 24 million/year.
Around 10000 employees are expected to work round the clock in the airport.
Atleast 70% of the passengers/employees will use the public transport.
Tamilnadu/Chennai/Temple tourism could be promoted with LCC's and TTDC by introducing affordable packages.
Many more things could be achieved out of this integrated transport hub at chennai airport.
Arrive from anywhere to Depart anywhere with ease and at affordable cost will be right selling caption for any airport in this world to be profitable !

10000 employees are expected to work..??? OMG, 3rd largest employer in the country :-)

[pdykid]

Originally Posted by cofee

Asbestos for India: France considers aircraft carrier's fate
The ghost ship nobody wants

Imagine you're the State of France. What do you do with a 27,000-ton warship full of asbestos, PCBs, lead, mercury, and other toxic chemicals, which you don't want and no European country is willing or able to scrap for you? Why, you send it off to India to be broken up by hand in a scrapyard where impoverished workers are injured and die every day.

Coffe,

That ship was broken up in UK for 4 million euros.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...r-Britain.html

When people work with uranium safely, one can break an asbestos ship safely.
Govt of India should regulate and guarantee the safely of its own workers and people.
Blame our govt and people who put profit before safety.
You can not just blame a foreign country.

Our leather tanneries are more toxic than asbestos. Still our people working with their bare hands in cocktail of toxic chemicals and the waste water directly join in the river.

My point: We (govt , people) should take the responsibility than blaming others. Foreigner doesn’t come overnight and dump the toxic waste and go way, one among us (Indians) choose to import or get contract for that work.

[bonoslack7]

Parotta master in Chongqing
http://news.ifeng.com/society/2/deta...325993_0.shtml

[Subra]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...ow/6435166.cms

CHENNAI: Among the flashy sports convertibles and jazzy concept cars at the 2003 Frankfurt motor show was a tiny hatchback that didn't get the flashes popping but was still a car to take a second look at. The Atos Prime, known to most of us here as the Santro Xing, was being unveiled for the European market for the first time. The then president of Hyundai Motor India, BVR Subbu was proudly showing off the Made in India' tag that the car carried.

"Isn't it a matter of pride that India is designing and building cars for the toughest and most quality-conscious markets in Europe?" he said to journalists. The car he was showing off was built in the Hyundai factory at in Irrungattukottai in Sriperumbudur near Chennai.

Since then, Hyundai has exported one million cars (across the four models of Santro Xing, Accent, i10 and i20) to over 110 countries, apart from supplying the huge domestic demand. Hyundai's success has spurred other car makers to join the export bandwagon.

Earlier this year, Ford began exporting its first completely-made-in-Chennai compact car, Figo, to South Africa. Next month, the Nissan Micra, a car that used to be made in the UK, will be shipped from here to London. "We'll be sending the same global Micra to London, this time made here in Chennai," a Nissan spokesperson said. Renault, Daimler and other big names in the global automotive space are also set to export cars made in their local factories.

The real reason why most car manufaturing giants have rolled into Chennai is the presence of high-quality auto component manufacturers. Chennai is home to a third of the country's auto component businesses. "The TVS group, Amalgamations and Rane, among others, are supplying high quality auto components to us and rest of the world," the head of manufacturing of a car company said. Most of these tier-I component makers have won the prestigious Deming Prize, one of the highest awards for quality management in the world, or have received other well-known awards for strict quality control.

The city's formula for succcess se ems to be innovate-imitate-replicate. First, it innovates and creates the ecosystem that is required to attract global giants. This involves everything from setting up special economic zones to easing procedural norms for main and ancillary industries. Then, it imitates to achieve scale, and finally replicates the model across industry verticals. An example to illustrate this idea is the entry of electronic manufacturing services (EMS) units in the Sriperum-budur belt. Nokia was the first company to set up a large factory in Sriperumbudur, taking advantage of the low costs and high quality labour in the area, and began exporting handsets. Motorola, Flextronics, Foxconn and others followed once they saw the economies of scale that the Finnish company enjoyed.

Catering to world markets means global manufacturing practices are now the norm. Quality consciousness has percolated small and medium enterprises (SME) units. "Today, the state has among the highest number of SME units in the country, which are making high-quality products," said S Sivagnanam, director, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Institute.

Japanese terms such as kaizen continual improvement, heijunka smoother production flow, and poka-yoke preventing mistakes are commonplace on the shop floor now. Such Japanese manufacturing processes are considered effective and companies are embracing them.

High-end manufacturing is not restricted to the auto industry alone. The leather business too has made its mark. "We are not low cost mass manufacturers. We compete with high fashion leather brands from Italy and other parts of the world," said Ali Ahmed Khan, executive director, Council for Leather Exports, the apex trade body for the leather industry. Tamil Nadu produces about 70% of the country's leather, and acounts for over 50% of the exports of finished leather and leather products such as shoes and garments.

Judging by the current scenario and future projections, the city is set continue on this path. However, industry has expressed concerns about attracting employable human resources on the back of archaic labour laws as well as the problems of inadequate power.

The growth of manufacturing has brought more jobs for people too 11.14 lakh people work in 40,703 factories, according to the industries depatrment's guidane bureau. "High quality people and processes makes high quality products. People are our biggest asset," said another head of a company.

"It is not just high quality that is the differentiator. It is high quality coupled with cost efficiency that determines the success of the city," an auto component manufacturer said.

[georgenadar]

Stupid car drivers

image hosted on flickr

Shreya Gadepalli (ITDP) doing a bit of civil activism - showing cars off of the cycle track in Chennai.

[stevanpaul]

I have read all the comments on "when will we have a seperate tamil nation?". I do receive all your comments open heartedly; but did feel sad to see some asking me to stop etc... Its my view and you have all the right to question me on it. Leaving this apart I do see lots of comments which states not compare states/cities; why do you think it should not happen?? you could always feel free to ignore any thing that does not interest you. I do stand by my comments and i did put them with development/economy/history in my mind. I did see some comments on why i have raised such a question; my only answer would be development & history. Thanks for all your responses. unmmai vellum!!!!!

[Balah]

Originally Posted by georgenadar

Stupid car drivers

image hosted on flickr

Shreya Gadepalli (ITDP) doing a bit of civil activism - showing cars off of the cycle track in Chennai.

Btw, which part of chennai is this..??? any idea...

[stevanpaul]

Originally Posted by Balah

Btw, which part of chennai is this..??? any idea...

Front of Tidel park