2 sanctuaries in T.N. part of study to track diseases
▪ Tamil Nadu is among three States taking part in a first-of-its-kind study led by the Indian Council of Medical Research to build a surveillance model for tracking zoonotic diseases in increased bird-human interaction settings.
▪ It is the inter-Ministerial, first-of-its-kind study will be carried out at select sanctuaries and wetlands in Sikkim, Maharashtra, and T.N. using the One Health approach to monitor health of human populations and migratory bird species.
▪ In Tamil Nadu, the study will be conducted at the Point Calimere bird sanctuary in Nagapattinam and Vaduvur bird sanctuary in Tiruvarur.
▪ This project, involving collaboration between multiple Ministries, including the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and the Ministry of Agriculture will establish an early warning system for zoonotic spillovers.
New Pamban Sea Bridge
▪ PM inaugurates India’s first vertical lift sea bridge built over the Palk Strait at a cost of ₹531 crore
▪ Connects Ramanathapuram with Rameswaram Island.
▪ Replaces the British-era over-a-century-old cantilever bridge (commissioned in 1914).
Technology & Design:
▪ New bridge features a vertical lift span (72.5 metres) – first of its kind in Indian Railways.
▪ Designed by Spanish firm TYPSA; proof-checked by IIT-Madras, altered by IIT-Bombay for added stability.
Make-in-India Highlights:
✓ 97–98% materials sourced domestically.
