For a change, when it rained heavily in the city over the past weekend, the regular sight of people wading through knee-deep water in Thampanoor or trains being cancelled after the Central railway station was waterlogged was missing.
Though some officials were quick to say that this was because of recent works taken up on canals passing through the area, the situation at the Putharikandam grounds, not too far away from Thampanoor, cast a shadow on this. The Supplyco’s Onam People’s Bazaar bore the brunt of the nearby canal overflowing, with essential goods to the tune of nearly Rs.5 lakh being damaged.
The situation in several other low-lying areas in the city too was not different.
Every year, one government department/agency or the other comes up with projects to clean up the canals and rivers passing through the city.
So far, no project has seen completion, neither has the city’s monsoon misery ended.
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The playing of the national anthem in a few city theatres before every show had a few unintended consequences this week, after the arrest of a youth for allegedly ‘disrespecting’ the anthem. After the arrest, even a small section of film buffs who used to sit during the anthem, citing court rulings to support their individual freedom, has started standing up, fearing a complaint by the extra-patriotic among the audience.
Before a show in one of the theatres this weekend, a group of men were seen standing outside the door to the hall, taking a peek at the screen inside whenever the door opened. When the security asked why they were not getting inside, one of them said.
“We are waiting for the anthem to finish. We do respect the anthem but believe that it should not be played in places like theatres. It is better to stand outside so as to avoid uncomfortable situations.”