Bounty of jackfruits! In Alwarpet

Report and photo by Kapil

The  jackfruit tree in my backyard in Sriram Nagar, Alwarpet has borne fruit this summer.

My father Naresh and mother Aruna said that this tree has been there for years and gives only three or four huge fruits every season.

This is the one and only tree in my house which gives fruits every summer and ever since it started growing, this is the first time it has produced 21 fruits.

The tree is inside our residence campus at No.33, North Street, Sriram Nagar, Alwarpet.

How K. K. Nagar gets power supply

Report by Sharanya Srinivasan

So how does K. K. Nagar get its power supply?

We are at the TNEB Administration Office in K K.Nagar and meet Ezhilarasan and  Jayakanthan, Assistant Engineers (general) explain how this works. 

Power is received from the power station in Koyembedu at the K K.Nagar Sub Station. Koyembedu generates at 11 K V and during transmission it is stepped up to 750 KV . 

From the Sub Station located in each area, the power is stepped down to 400 KV, 230 K V, 110 K V, 66 K V, 33 K V and finally to 11 KV which is received by the local area transformers. 

From this, power is distributed to each household. 

Poll campaign visuals in Velachery

This melange of photos describes the election campaign scene in Velachery constituency.

Photos by Dhiphti D.

This hospital is studying how it can transplant part kidney

Report by Shakthi Balaji

On May 11, 18 years ago, India test flew its first indigenous aircraft ‘Hansa 3’ at Bangalore. 

To commemorate this achievement, May 11 is celebrated as National Technology Day every year. 

KJ Hospital and Research Foundation on Poonamallee High Road, one of Chennai’s oldest hospitals, celebrated this occasion. The celebration was graced with the presence of Dr. R Jayanthi, Head of Dept. of Medicine, Stanley Medical College. 

 The research carried out at the institute was highlighted, including the study of obtaining clean air from smoke, an oxygen alarm for detecting low oxygen levels in the brain and the possibility of transplanting half a kidney.

The abandoned jail in Poonamallee

By Cherryl Malar

An old rusting watchtower sticks out of a compound in one end of Poonamallee.

Recent residents may not be aware that this tower is inside a campus of the Poonamallee sub-jail.

This jail was used to accommodate all the accused in the infamous Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.

At the end of the trial and verdict, the inmates were moved out to other jails and this camp was converted into a Sri Lankan Tamil refugees camp.

Later, the camp was closed down and now, the campus is a lonely place, closed in by apartments, shops and houses.

Local park in Thiruvanmiyur turns into place to dry clothes

Report by K. Pranav

Summer is sizzling and the heat is intolerable. 

Some families in a Thiruvanmiyur colony called Thiruvalluvar Nagar have started drying their clothes in a public park near the Thiruvanmiyur beach. 

This barren park, which is populated now and then was finally put to good use when people realised that swings and see-saws can become excellent cloth-hangers. 

The park is a playground for local children in the mornings and evenings.  

This Alwarpet bakery trains youths from poor families

Report by Nithyashree Venkataraman

Winners Bakery in Alwarpet is contributing to society.

It not only makes yummy baked products and cakes but also helps economically backward families.

Youngsters from poor families, in the 16 - 25 year age group are provided free training in bakery skills.

This is a joint venture of Chennai Corporation, Rotary Club of Madras East and Chennai Culinary Institute.

During the six-month training, selected students are provided with a stipend of Rs 1500 per month along with food and uniforms. 

Winners' charitable actions further extend to providing 400 food packages during the weekdays and 500 food packages during the weekends to orphanages and old-age homes.

Sri Ramanuja celebrations at Triplicane temple

Reported by M. Pradeep

Sri Ramanuja was a prominent Vaishnavite saint who propagated Vaishnavism among the masses. He combined this with unstinted commitment to  social reforms. 

Every year the ancient Sri Parthasarathy Temple in Triplicane celebrates his birth anniversary with a festival.

 This year, this festival was conducted for 10 days from May 1 to May 10 ( during the Tamil month of Chiththirai). 

The  beautifully decorated idol of Sri Ramanuja seated on different vehicles ('vahanas') daily, was taken in procession through the four 'Mada' streets around the temple as a large number of devotees looked on or joined the procession. 

This year, the festival was very special as it is Sri Ramanuja's 1000th birth anniversary.

The 2016 batch

This is the group attending the 2016 course. 

Photo shot on Day 2 of the course that is held at the office of Kutcheribuzz web site in Alwarpet, Chennai ( www.kutcheribuzz.com, a venture of Mylapore Times newspaper ( www.mylaporetimes.com)

Welcome to the 2016 Course!

Welcome to yet another Course. For 2016.

May 10 onwards for ten days.

This course should offer some challenges and some great classroom lectures and field assignments to those who sign up for it.

The course is conducted by Mylapore Times, the city's leading neighborhood newspaper since 1994.