writingonblog uncensored: Chennai Corporation to take over Manali New Town a...

writingonblog uncensored: Chennai Corporation to take over Manali New Town a...: C Shivakumar Chennai: Manali New Town area will get a fresh lease of life after being handed over to Chennai Corporation. Create...

Chennai Corporation to take over Manali New Town area

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

Manali New Town area will get a fresh lease of life after being handed over to Chennai Corporation.

Created as a satellite township area in the 1980s, the area lacked basic infrastructure services like road facilities, street lights and other amenities as it was yet to be handed over to the local bodies.

Now, Chennai Corporation will take over the roads, drains and other sites meant for civic infrastructure and facilities in Manali New Town area developed by Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority.

CMDA sources said that they have handed over the project to Corporation, which is awaiting the nod of council.

Interestingly, the state exchequer is also losing out on property tax as the scheme area is not vested with local body. The other major issue plaguing the satellite township area is encroachment.

Sources said on approval of the council, CMDA and Chennai Corporation will carry out joint exercise in enumerating the encroachers in the scheme area and carry out joint operation in evicting the encroachers. It is learnt that the 300 residential huts have encroached the road margins of wider main roads, scattered all over the scheme area.

At a meeting held recently under the chairmanship of member secretary of CMDA R Venkatesan with Chennai Corporation chairman D Karthikeyan, it was also decided that CMDA will complete the task of clear demarcation of the sites reserved for various civic and social facilities that are required to be handed over to Chennai Corporation.

The meeting also decided that CMDA would complete the task of clear demarcation of the sites reserved for various civic and social facilities that would be handed over to Chennai Corporation.

The meeting also highlighted non-collection of Rs 82 crore worth development charges and open space reservation (OSR) charges. The issue is likely to be discussed during a separate meeting with corporation officials, CMDA sources said.

Meanwhile, Chennai Metropolitan Development authority is going to develop 20 acres of land in Manali New Town. CMDA sources told Express that, “CMDA will sell those plots. We have given tenders for developing the land.”

It is believed that around 300 residential type plots would be created and sold.

writingonblog uncensored: Ennore Port pays dividend of Rs 12.90 crore to Uni...

writingonblog uncensored: Ennore Port pays dividend of Rs 12.90 crore to Uni...: Chennai: Ennore Port Limited (EPL) paid a dividend of Rs 12.90 crore to the Union government and Rs 6.44 crore dividend to Chennai Por...

Ennore Port pays dividend of Rs 12.90 crore to Union govt

Chennai:

Ennore Port Limited (EPL) paid a dividend of Rs 12.90 crore to the Union government and Rs 6.44 crore dividend to Chennai Port on Saturday.

Union Shipping Minister G K Vasan received a dividend cheque of Rs 12.90 crore from chairman and managing director of Ennore Port S Velumani at a function here on Saturday.

The minister also handed over EPL cheque of Rs 6.44 crore to deputy chairman of Chennai Port P C Parida.

This is the fourth dividend payment to government and Chennai Port by Ennore Port, which has reported pre and post tax profit of Rs 120.96 crore and Rs 96.72 crore respectively as against Rs 69.86 crore and Rs 55.58 crore respectively reported previous year. EPL has declared dividend of 20 per cent on post tax profit which works out to Rs 19.34 crore as against Rs 11.11 crore paid as dividend last year. Of the amount, the union government gets Rs 12.90 crore and Chennai Port gets 6.44 crore as dividend from EPL.

writingonblog uncensored: INS Sudarshini sails off to build naval ties with ...

writingonblog uncensored: INS Sudarshini sails off to build naval ties with ...: Chennai: In a bid to strengthen navy-to-navy ties with Association of South East Asian Nations, INS Sudarshini began its nine nation A...

INS Sudarshini sails off to build naval ties with ASEAN

Chennai:

In a bid to strengthen navy-to-navy ties with Association of South East Asian Nations, INS Sudarshini began its nine nation ASEAN voyage extending India’s hand of trust and friendship.

Launched as India’s goodwill ambassador at sea to cement ties with ASEAN, the ship sailed off from Chennai port as the clouds poured in and the naval band hummed ‘Sara Jahan se Acha Hindustan Hamara’.

Vice-Admiral and director general naval projects, V K Namballa, Ministry of External Affairs joint secretary (ASEAN) Renu Pall, naval-officer-in-charge (Tamil Nadu and Puducherry) Commodore Amar K Mahadevan and heads of missions of ASEAN countries bid adieu to ship and its crew, which began its journey from Kochi on September 15.

During the 127 day sailing odyssey, INS Sudarshini, the latest tall sail training ship (STS) of Indian Navy, will boost the existing defence ties by laying the ground for navy-to-navy ties with Indonesia, Myanmar, Brunei, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand, a ministry of external affairs (MEA) source said.

Manned by five officers, including the commanding officer of vessel N Shyam Sundar, and 31 sailors besides 30 naval and coast guard cadets, the voyage is part of a bevy of events lined up by various central agencies and trade bodies in the build-up to the forthcoming ASEAN-India Special Commemorative Summit beginning on December 21. Sailing through the ancient route undertaken by mighty Cholas to south east Asia, the ship is expected to log 12,217 nautical miles before berthing back to Kochi on March 29 next year.

Named after the Sanskrit word Sudarshini meaning ‘A beautiful lady’, the ship is designed by famous naval architect and British national Colin Mudie and was built in Goa shipyard. It carries a total of 20 sails with a total sail area of 965 square metres.

Admiral Namballa said the ship will take on board two foreign trainees at each port of call who will diembark at the next, laying the ground for enhancement of bilateral relations and joint exercises in future.

The entire voyage will be undertaken on sail, wind permitting. Alongside the transnational voyage, a series of events like a car rally, ministerial-level meetings of ASEAN and India, the fourth Asea-India eminent person’s meet and conferences by industry bodies like FICCI and CII will take place later this year, the MEA source said.

writingonblog uncensored: Metro rail digs up a controversy

writingonblog uncensored: Metro rail digs up a controversy: Chennai: A pit dug up by Chennai Metro Rail as part of their ongoing construction work snapped the water connection of a housing compl...

Metro rail digs up a controversy

Chennai:

A pit dug up by Chennai Metro Rail as part of their ongoing construction work snapped the water connection of a housing complex sparking anger among the residents in Little Mount near the Saidapet-Guindy stretch.

Residents of the Baid Mehta Complex, which houses about 100 families,  came out on road for few minutes allegedly disrupting the traffic in busy mount Road stretch which was restored immediately after police gave assurances that their grievances will be heard.

The residents complained that their water connection snapped and the access road to the complex shrunk after the pit was dug last night by metro rail contractors. Assistant secretary of the housing complex Uday kumar said that barricades were also not erected after the pit was dug putting the safety of residents at risk. “It was only after we protested they installed make-shift barricade which is still not safe,” said T K Arun Kumar, a resident of the complex.

“Live electric power cables lie exposed both at the ground and in these pits posing a risk to residents passing along those passages,” he alleged.

He also alleged that the 33 feet access road has now shrunk to 11.5 feet. This could pose as an obstruction to fire service engines during emergencies, he alleged. “Metro rail should ensure safety of residents are not put to risk as well as basic amenities like water is not disrupted,” Arun Kumar said.

A metro rail spokesman said that water connection to the complex will be restored soon. He said residents were provided with water immediately after the supply was cut. “We provided them with tanker water immediately and the water connection to the complex will be restored soon,” the spokesman said. He also said the safety of the residents will not be compromised

writingonblog uncensored: Indian Navy studying 1,200 islands in Andaman and ...

writingonblog uncensored: Indian Navy studying 1,200 islands in Andaman and ...: C Shivakumar Chennai: In a bid to enhance India’s naval presence in East Coast, Indian Navy is studying 1,200 Islands in the Andaman...

Indian Navy studying Andaman and Nicobar stretch to set up forward operating bases

Chennai:

In a bid to enhance India’s naval presence in East Coast, Indian Navy is studying Islands in the Andaman and Nicobar stretch for setting up forward operating posts, according to a top Indian Navy officer.

Speaking to Express on the sidelines of INS Sudarshini’s voyage to nine nation Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), Vice Admiral V K Namballa, Director General Naval Projects, said that the decision to set up the posts, a secured forward military operation to support tactical operations, following the growing presence of Chinese in the region is to strengthen East Coast as part of India’s Look East Policy.

The decision to set up FOPs in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands comes in the wake of the commissioning of INS Baaz, India’s first naval air station at the Campbell Bay, located in the southern most tip of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, overlooks the crucial Malacca Strait while dominating the Six-Degree Channel.

Indian Navy is also signing memorandum of understanding with private ports in Tamil Nadu coast for fuelling and berthing. “We only had this facility with public sector ports. Now we will be signing MoUs with Karaikal Port, Ennore Port, Katpuli port and other private ports,” Namballa said. This would be crucial for Indian Navy’s operational turnaround facilities along the entire coast to maximize the reach of ships and aircraft on patrol.

writingonblog uncensored: Tambaram air base nurtures global airmen

writingonblog uncensored: Tambaram air base nurtures global airmen: Chennai: After a gruelling training period of nine months, 12 Airmen from Myanmar, Botswana and Cambodia took a final bow at the Tambaram...

Tambaram air base nurtures global airmen

Chennai:
After a gruelling training period of nine months, 12 Airmen from Myanmar, Botswana and Cambodia took a final bow at the Tambaram air base here on Wednesday.
The 12 Airmen from the three countries recalled their memories at the air base and said that the training would enhance their professional skills.
The four Airmen from Botswana were all praise for the rigorous course. “The professionalism is high and the experience was totally different,” said K Modutluwa, an Air Force personnel.
He added that the instructors were exceptional and they had immensely benefitted from the training that they underwent. He also said many other Botswanians were undergoing training in various other parts of India.
For the Myanmar Airmen, the training was different from what they were used to back home. “In Myanmar, we are trained for six months, but here, the training lasts nine months,” said Sergeant  Saw Min Naing.
Naing said that he enjoyed the stint here and his only complaint was lack of language skills. Two Airmen from Cambodia also underwent training at the airbase.
Earlier, 375 air warriors were inducted into the Indian Air force at the Combined Passing Out Parade at the Air Force Station. The air warriors, along with the foreign Airmen, went through intensive training at the two premier institutes of the base, which include the Mechanical Training Institute and Workshop Training Institute.
The parade was reviewed by Air Vice-Marshal Bipin Chandra Pant, Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Metrology). He was received by Air Commodore S Prabhakaran, Air Officer Commanding, Air Force Station Tambaram, Group Captain MH Kekre, Commanding Officer, Mechanical Training Institute, and Group Captain Asheesh Shrivastav, Commanding Officer, Workshop Training Institute.
Later, addressing the newly-inducted air warriors, Air Vice-Marshal Pant said that with the introduction of state-of-the-art equipment and weapon system, the Indian Air Force was witnessing major changes in operational philosophy and was on the path of transforming itself into a strategic force of great caliber.
He urged the air warriors to make sustained efforts towards continuous enhancement of their knowledge by keeping themselves abreast of the changes. He also advised the trainees to maintain exemplary conduct at all times in keeping with the ethos of the service.
The parade culminated with an impressive display of aerobics and American rifle drill, apart from other drills. The best all rounder trophy was awarded to LAC Soumya Ranjan Gowda, Mechanical Training Institute, and LAC Patil Digvijay Ramachandra, Workshop Training Institute

writingonblog uncensored: Maldives first jetliner to land in Chennai on Nov ...

writingonblog uncensored: Maldives first jetliner to land in Chennai on Nov ...: Chennai: Maldives first jetliner is set to land in Chennai on November 15 as the country’s national carrier Maldivian plans to target ...

Maldives first jetliner to land in Chennai on Nov 15

Chennai:

Maldives first jetliner is set to land in Chennai on November 15 as the country’s national carrier Maldivian plans to target the leisure market, medical tourism and the business segment.

Addressing a press conference, Maldivian deputy minister for tourism, arts and culture Mohamed Maleeh Jamal and managing director of Madivian, Abdul Harris said that the country’s national carrier is expanding its regional routes and commencing direct flights to Mumbai, Chennai and Dhaka with the addition of first jetliner A 320 to its fleet of eight aircraft.

“The new route Male-Chennai-Dhaka will open from November 15 and subsequently the Male-Mumbai services will open from November 16,” said Harris.

Interestingly, plans are also on to connect New Delhi and Kolkata. “The New Delhi route is expected to function from next year,” he added.

The minister highlighted the huge potential Chennai holds in medical tourism. “Maldivian flights to Chennai will cater for a number of key markets. Chennai is already a famous medical hub with a number of internationally known hospitals. Maldivian will be working closely with Apollo Hospitals Chennai to promote medical tourism from both Maldives and Bangladesh,” Jamal said.

Harris said there is also a considerable demand for business travel from various parts of Tamil Nadu to Dhaka. Furthermore, Chennai being the capital city of the State of Tamil Nadu, is already a popular tourist destination among foreigners.

Maldivian will be operating three weekly flights to Chennai-Dhaka on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and to Mumbai flights on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

writingonblog uncensored: CII planning to cash in on cloud computing

writingonblog uncensored: CII planning to cash in on cloud computing: Chennai: Cloud computing is soon going to become a reality in the state and Confederation of Indian Industry has formed a IT panel and on...

CII planning to cash in on cloud computing

Chennai:

Cloud computing is soon going to become a reality in the state and Confederation of Indian Industry has formed a IT panel and one of its mandate is to cash in on the platform to boost business in Tamil Nadu.

Speaking on the sidelines of a conference on Cloud Computing and Business Intelligence here on Thursday, Vinod Krishnan, convenor IT, ITES and Electronics panel, CII Chennai Zone told Express that the panel is working on how to create Tamil Nadu cloud in the business.

Cloud computing is putting more of the data online and less on personal computers or servers. This means every piece of data one needs will be at fingertips and ready for use. The data must be mobile, transferable, and instantly accessible.

Interestingly, the growth of the smart phones and tab users in India is one of the main reasons why many firms are targeting the state, says Krishnan, who is also the managing director of TVS Infotech. And he may be right. In March, Microsoft International has sought state government’s help in establishment of cloud computing centres.

According to a report titled ‘The Indian Cloud Revolution’ by CII, KPMG and Amarchand Mangaldas, cloud based services can be leveraged by the government to launch new e-governance initiatives quicker and with lower overhead costs.

A common cloud platform will also enable local governments and other public agencies to adopt e-governance for better citizen services, without requiring the setting up of significant IT infrastructure, the report added.

Interestingly, the state government is also planning to roll out its own cloud computing platform and sources said work is progressing on this front. But the real challenge is the infrastructure and the size of the data centers. “Networking and power are critical factors and uninterrupted power is crucial for the growth of this technology,” says Krishnan. These data centres should also be located in areas where land, electricity and other overhead costs make it relatively cheap.

writingonblog uncensored: Metro Water engineer loses life trying to rescue w...

writingonblog uncensored: Metro Water engineer loses life trying to rescue w...: C Shivakumar/ R Prince Jebakumar Chennai: It was the cries of help that forced joint engineer Venkatraman to jump to the rescue of co...

Metro Water engineer loses life trying to rescue worker

C Shivakumar/ R Prince Jebakumar

Chennai:

It was the cries of help that forced joint engineer Venkatraman to jump to the rescue of contract worker Shankar which cost him his life while clearing the blockages in the stretch of Marianayagam Road at Thiru-Vi-Ka Nagar near Perambur Paper Mills after midnight.

Metro Water sources said 56-year-old Venkatraman, who had already been transferred to Kodambakkam area office of Metro Water but was not relieved from the divisonal office in Thiru-Vi-Ka Nagar, stripped himself off as he saw Shankar gasping for breath.   As he tried to grasp the hand of Shankar who was reaching out for help, Venkatraman was choked by the fumes and fell inside the manhole.

There were allegations that Shankar entered the manhole to clear the blockage manually but Metro Water denied the ellegations. “Shankar did not enter the manhole to  to clear the blockage. He only tripped and fell into the manhole,” Metro Water sources said.

Meanwhile, tributes poured in for Venkatraman, who is survived by wife and daughter. “His valour at the time of duty should be recognized by the top management. It is similar like to that of what our policemen or jawans do while safeguarding the interest of the nation and city,” a senior engineer said.

Tension also prevailed in Kilpauk Hospital over the failure of contractor turning up in time to assure the family of Shankar over compensation amount. Crowd started swelling up with wailing women, children and other contract workers threatening agitation. Later, the issue was sorted out with the contractor agreeing to pay a compensation of Rs 2.5 lakh. His body was later taken away for cremation. Sources said Shankar’s family is entitled to a compensation of Rs 4.5 lakh unofficially.

Later in the evening, Metro Water managing director Apurva Verma paid floral tributes to Venkatraman and consoled the family members. A wreath was placed on behalf of Municipal administration and water supply department secretary Sheela Balakrishnan and municipal administration and rural development minister K P Munnusamy.

writingonblog uncensored: Police link deaths to manual scavenging

writingonblog uncensored: Police link deaths to manual scavenging: By R Prince Jebakumar/ C Shivakumar Chennai: After Supreme Court banned manual scavenging, death of the Metro Water engineer and a co...

Police link deaths to manual scavenging

By R Prince Jebakumar/ C Shivakumar

Chennai:

After Supreme Court banned manual scavenging, death of the Metro Water engineer and a contract worker while clearing a clogged sewer connection at Marianayagam Road at Thiru-Vi-Ka Nagar near Perambur Paper Mills sparked a controversy with police sources linking the deaths to manual scavenging and Metro Water denying it.

Interestingly, the death of the two employees also comes in the wake of Supreme Court pulling up the Centre recently for its callousness in not enacting a law to ban manual scavenging despite giving repeated assurances that it would soon amend the relevant Act. It is believed that more than 15 workers had died in septic tanks and manholes in Tamil Nadu in the last 18 months.

Police sources told Express that said the entire stretch of Marianayagam Road at Thiru-Vi-Ka Nagar was clogged. The attempt to clear the clog with vehicles failed on Tuesday and subsequently three holes had been cleared manually. The tragedy struck when junior engineer Venkatramanan along with temporary contract worker Shankar, field worker Kumar and timekeeper Ravi Das went to clear the fourth manhole.

Police said when Shankar got into the hole manually to assess the blockage, he was engulfed by poisonous fumes and cried for help. Hearing his cries, joint engineer Venkatraman, who was supervising the work, rushed to rescue him after stripping his clothes, police sources said.

However, his valiant effort proved futile and cost him his life dearly as both of them drowned. “It took nearly two hours for the fire service department to retrieve the bodies as they had to clear the toxic fumes from the manhole. The incident was reported at around 2 to 2.30 am and the body was recovered at 4.30 am,” Police Assistant Commissioner R Vijayraghavan told Express.

Interestingly, Venkataramanan had already been transferred to Kodambakkam area office of Metro Water but was not relieved from Zone 6 of Division 68 in Thiru-Vi-Ka Nagar.

The death also sparked anger and tension at the hospital premises with Metro Water engineers who gathered to pay tributes to junior engineer Venkatramanan alleged lack of men and materials.

writingonblog uncensored: Indian Bank enhances card portfolio

writingonblog uncensored: Indian Bank enhances card portfolio: Chennai: Indian Bank on Wednesday enhanced its card portfolio with the launch of MasterCard prepaid gift and travel cards. Addressi...

Indian Bank enhances card portfolio

Chennai:
Indian Bank on Wednesday enhanced its card portfolio with the launch of MasterCard prepaid gift and travel cards.
Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, chairman and managing directoir of Indian Bank  T M Bhasin said that it plans to sell 100,000 travel cards and 200,000 gift cards by the end of this fiscal year.
With the launch of prepaid gift cards, the customers can now gift it to near and dear ones as an ideal substitute to cash, which provides the beneficiary the freedom to choose their own gifts, Bhasin said.
The gift card can be used at any master card affiliated merchant outlet in India and cardholders can access any Indian Bank ATM for balance enquiry. The card are available in denominations starting from Rs1,000 and going up to a maximum of Rs 50,000.
Similarly, the bank is offering prepaid travel cards, which is valid for three years from the date of issue. The travel cards will be available through select foreign exchange authorized branches of Indian Bank and provide facility of multiple reloads.

Bhasin also said that Indian Bank will not be affected much by the restructuring package announced by the Union government for state electricity distribution companies.

He said the bank has already restructured some of the loans to state electricity distribution companies. Indian Bank has an exposure of Rs.5,000 crore which is accounted by the state power distribution companies. Bhasin said that around Rs.2,200 crore have been restructured. As for the remaining Rs 2,800 crore, we have not got any requests. The bank has exposures to power distribution companies in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Haryana, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

writingonblog uncensored: Indian Bank enhances card portfolio

writingonblog uncensored: Indian Bank enhances card portfolio: Chennai: Indian Bank on Wednesday enhanced its card portfolio with the launch of MasterCard prepaid gift and travel cards. Add...

Indian Bank enhances card portfolio

Chennai:
Indian Bank on Wednesday enhanced its card portfolio with the launch of MasterCard prepaid gift and travel cards.

Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, chairman and managing directoir of Indian Bank  T M Bhasin said that it plans to sell 100,000 travel cards and 200,000 gift cards by the end of this fiscal year.
With the launch of prepaid gift cards, the customers can now gift it to near and dear ones as an ideal substitute to cash, which provides the beneficiary the freedom to choose their own gifts, Bhasin said.
The gift card can be used at any master card affiliated merchant outlet in India and cardholders can access any Indian Bank ATM for balance enquiry. The card are available in denominations starting from Rs1,000 and going up to a maximum of Rs 50,000.
Similarly, the bank is offering prepaid travel cards, which is valid for three years from the date of issue. The travel cards will be available through select foreign exchange authorized branches of Indian Bank and provide facility of multiple reloads.

Bhasin also said that Indian Bank will not be affected much by the restructuring package announced by the Union government for state electricity distribution companies.

He said the bank has already restructured some of the loans to state electricity distribution companies. Indian Bank has an exposure of Rs.5,000 crore which is accounted by the state power distribution companies. Bhasin said that around Rs.2,200 crore have been restructured. As for the remaining Rs 2,800 crore, we have not got any requests. The bank has exposures to power distribution companies in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Haryana, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

writingonblog uncensored: Another Guantanamo Bay?

writingonblog uncensored: Another Guantanamo Bay?: (published on July 2009) C Shivakumar and Shiba Prasad Sahu Chennai: It looked like another Guantanamo Bay as inmates, some menta...

Another Guantanamo Bay?

(published on July 2009)

C Shivakumar and Shiba Prasad Sahu

Chennai:

It looked like another Guantanamo Bay as inmates, some mentally ill, some disabled with one hand and one leg, are losing hope disillusioned by their long incarceration in Chengalpattu refugee camp.

Nearly 86 of them are locked in a small campus which has 32 cells without basic amneties. “We live in the 25 cells. Other seven cells are used for other things, including making food and other things.”

“Most of the inmates are sick. There is also a mentally ill patient. The authorities aren’t providing him with any healthcare,” rues an inmate, who doesn’t want to be named.

As most of them squat outside demanding their immediate release, many confide they have lost hope and faith of ever meeting their families, who are ekeing out a living working as labourers in open refugee camps.

Some share their experiences and many bitter. Among those is soft-spoken Sivakaran who shows the photograph of his family and then shares his trauma.

Sivakaran fled war-ravaged Sri Lanka to eke out a living to support his family in January 2007. His family was based in Jaffna. “I didn’t have anything to support them so I escaped to India to find a decent job,” he says. But miseries did not end in India. He was picked up by the police on suspicion and was sent to the refugee camp.

His family which was dependent on the sole breadwinner then shifted to Mulaitivu during the war. It was on March 26 he lost contact with his family. Then came the tragic news. His wife Shymala (32), children --Swarnan, 12, Tulasi, 10, Puvithajini, 5-- all perished in Sri Lankan air raid.

“I am not able to accept their death. I can’t share my grief. Life has been hell for me. I am suffering from TB. It is more than two-and-a-half years I am arrested but the case is being postponed. If there is no solution to this, I will end my life in jail,” he says.

Sivakaran is not the lone one to undergo the tragedy, many have lost their near and dear ones. And they have themselves to console as their link to the outside world is cut off.

Most of the inmates have been shifted from Puzhal, madurai, Trichy, Palayamkotai and other parts of Tamil Nadu to the camp.

“Now the war has ended, why are we detained for so long,” says Vishwa (name changed), who nearly lost the hope of ever seeing his mother and his two brothers who are spending their days in abject penury in an open camp in Tamil Nadu.

“I went to visit the temple in Rameswaram when I was picked up by the cops. I am the eldest in the family. I don’t know how the family is making their ends meet,” says the 21-year-old, who has spent nearly three years in the jail.

writingonblog uncensored: Metro Water opens tap for tankers

writingonblog uncensored: Metro Water opens tap for tankers: Chennai: Spot a queue of private water tanker lorries at a Metro Water filling point? Chances are that they are there because of a formul...

Metro Water opens tap for tankers

Chennai:
Spot a queue of private water tanker lorries at a Metro Water filling point? Chances are that they are there because of a formula Metro Water has just evolved to address concerns of private water tankers over curbs in extracting groundwater.
According to a Metro Water release issued on Saturday, private tankers hired by domestic and commercial consumers could utilise its filling points after paying  Rs 40 per 1,000 litres for domestic and Rs 60 for commercial purposes.
A section of private water tankers had gone on strike earlier this week demanding regularisation of norms for groundwater extraction after two water lorries were seized for transporting non-potable water. Private tankers draw water from borewells areas like Medavakkam, Ambattur and Madhavaram. They had demanded that the government allow them to tap water from licensed borewells to prevent indiscriminate extraction. It is in this context that Metro Water has allowed them to use its filling points.
A Metro Water spokesman said the department is already supplying water to domestic consumers using hired tankers through its ‘dial for water’ scheme at a rate of Rs 400 per load of 6,000 litres and at Rs 600 per load of 9,000 litres. Similarly, commercial consumers pay Rs 510 per load of 6,000 litres and Rs 765 per load of 9,000 litres. The new scheme is over and above the existing one.

writingonblog uncensored: TNPSC mulls encrypted papers to curb leaks

writingonblog uncensored: TNPSC mulls encrypted papers to curb leaks: Chennai: In a bid to curb the leakage of question papers, Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission is working on various measures including ...

TNPSC mulls encrypted papers to curb leaks

Chennai:

In a bid to curb the leakage of question papers, Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission is working on various measures including transmitting electronically encrypted question papers to the examination centres as well as planning computer-based examinations, according to TNPSC chairman R Natraj.

Speaking to reporters after paying tributes to former director general of police K Mohandas on Saturday, Natraj said one of the options include transmitting question papers electronically which will be encrypted and sent to the centres. It will then be decoded at the centre and then printed using high speed printers two hours before exams.

He said this will be a herculean task and is feasible only at the centres where the applicants are less as each question paper contains 60 to 70 pages and printing it will consume huge time.  Secondly for the computer-based test, it is planned to transmit it 10 minutes before the exam. It will be decoded at the centre by students. It depends on infrastructure and all the computers have to be sanitized which is a mammoth task, Natraj added. He said many more options are being considered to conduct fool-proof exams.

He also said Group II examinations, which were cancelled following the question paper leak, would be conducted on November 4.

Earlier, delivering the presidential address to mark the fifth anniversary of B Force, a non-profit charitable trust to provide and facilitate police personnel and their families with medical assistance, Natraj highlighted the challenges police face in taking decisions in difficult times.

The former director general of police, who himself faced numerous challenges while handling the Sri Lankan refugees in the 80s, said that police force face the problem when to administer force during a difficult problem.   

“Police has to take that unpopular decision at the right time,” the former Chennai police commissioner said.

Interestingly, his comments come in the wake of US consulate security being breached after it was attacked by a mob protesting against a controversial film.

The former DGP highlighted how within 10 days he cracked a case relating to Chennai airport blast that claimed the lives of 37 people.

The TNPSC chairman also presented the K Mohandas memorial award, instituted in the year 2011, to V Vaikunt, former DGP of Tamil Nadu, for his contribution to the social causes.

writingonblog uncensored: Indian shipyards lack capacity to meet Indian Navy...

writingonblog uncensored: Indian shipyards lack capacity to meet Indian Navy...: C Shivakumar Chennai: Indian shipyards lack the capacity to meet the Indian Navy and Coastguard warship requirements and this could ...

Indian shipyards lack capacity to meet Indian Navy warship demand

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

Indian shipyards lack the capacity to meet the Indian Navy and Coastguard warship requirements and this could impact heavily on maritime security interests, according to former chief of Naval staff.

Admiral Sureesh Mehta, former Chief of Naval Staff and chairman National Maritime Foundation, said as per Indian Navy’s long term induction plan, a significant amount of ship and submarines are to acquired in next 15 years and the indigenous construction of these assets requires an estimated capacity of over 100 standard ship units.

Interestingly, the combined capacity available in the three defence public sector unit (DPSU) shipyards is presently geared for construction of only 40 standard ship units.

And added to it the requirements of coastguard, the gap in strategic warship capacity building capacity further widens. This is a cause of serious concern, admiral Mehta said during a Confederation of Indian Industry conference on Building the Builder’s Navy.

The former chief of naval staff said indigenous shipbuilding accounts for nearly Rs 9000 crores ($1.9 billion) annually, constituting as it does nearly 60 per cent of the Navy’s total acquisition budget.

Whilst the shipyards have been over-active in pressing for their efforts at grabbing orders, and insisting on nomination without any competition, there has been scant regard towards improving capacity and productivity, which continues to be much below international standards. In terms of build-time trends, it is almost four times more than anywhere in the world, the admiral said.

While ships of 3,500 tonnes are globally built in 30 months, we take as much as 72 months to build Godavari class resulting in tripling of cost, the former navy chief.

“The public shipyards, with a tight form of bureaucratic control, have shown considerable lack of accountability in perspective planning. Yet, the system allows them to bite more than they can chew, and they continue to manage a lion’s share of the Indian defence sector orders,” the admiral said.

writingonblog uncensored: Tata Teleservices plans to target rural TN

writingonblog uncensored: Tata Teleservices plans to target rural TN: T Chennai: In a bid to consolidate its share in the Tamil Nadu market, Tata Teleservices is planning to target the rural market to bec...

Tata Teleservices plans to target rural TN

T

Chennai:

In a bid to consolidate its share in the Tamil Nadu market, Tata Teleservices is planning to target the rural market to become one the leading telecom providers in the state.

Adressing a press conference here, Rajan Gupta, chief operating officer Tata Teleservices, Tamil Nadu circle,   and Ravi Tenety, regional chief operating officer-South, Tata Docomo Enterprise Business, said that the company has 86 per cent coverage in Tamil Nadu.

“Our customer base has grown up in the Rs 12,000 cr telecom sector and we have 40 per cent gain from the rural sector,” Rajan Gupta said. Currently, the company has the largest network in the state having 11,500 towers.

Interestingly, Tata Docomo has launched two new products recently. These include SIP Trunk, first of its kind telephone service for enterprise India and the Cloud enabled Campaign Management Solution.

SIP trunk is a service that would let enterprises make full use of their installed IP-Private Branch exchanges (PBX) for telephone calls.  Ravi Tenety said the solution will help organizations to reduce their operational costs besides improving telephone communications.

SIP trunk allows an enterprise to subscribe from a minimum 20 voice channels to a maximum of 1500 channels on the same physical link.

Tata DoCoMo has also launched Cloud enabled Camapaign Management System thus making marketing campaigns having wider reach and higher frequency at affordable rates a reality.

Tenety said that this is an innovative mass communication platform over cloud that will allow enterprise to communicate to hundreds of customers instantly and simultaneously without investing in infrastructure.

writingonblog uncensored: 13 bonded labourers rescued

writingonblog uncensored: 13 bonded labourers rescued: Chennai: The revenue divisional officer in Kancheepuram district rescued 13 bonded labourers from a rice mill after being tipped off b...

13 bonded labourers rescued

Chennai:

The revenue divisional officer in Kancheepuram district rescued 13 bonded labourers from a rice mill after being tipped off by International Justice Mission.

The workers were released on Thursday night following a rescue operation conducted by the RDO Dr M Veerappan along with IJM activists.

These labourers were brought out of of Mohan Chetty Rice Mill after five to six years of bondage, an IJM spokeswoman said.

The operators of the Mohan Chetty Rice Mill paid the victims approximately Rs 50 to Rs 60 per person, per day, which is below the Tamil Nadu Minimum Wage of Rs 136.02 per day. The labourers were made to work for more than 12 hours each day. The mill owner also denied the labourers freedom of movement and the freedom to work outside of the facility.

The RDO issued release certificates to the 13 bonded labourers, officially identifying them as victims of bonded labour and entitling them to government rehabilitation funds.

writingonblog uncensored: TN Governor urges youth to bring in change in poli...

writingonblog uncensored: TN Governor urges youth to bring in change in poli...: Chennai: Tamil Nadu Governor K Rosiah on Friday urged the youth not to shy away from joining the politics and bring in a change. ...

TN Governor urges youth to bring in change in politics

Chennai:

Tamil Nadu Governor K Rosiah on Friday urged the youth not to shy away from joining the politics and bring in a change.

Speaking after honouring cadets of Indian Naval Academy in Ezhimala in Kerala, the governor said that in the developed countries people fight during the elections but after that concentrate on the welfare of the people.

“In our country, it is not like that. Youth should join politics and try to do their best to bring in a change and help the country,” Rosiah, one of the senior most politicians of the country and former chief minister of Andhra Pradesh said.

The 80-year-old politician also walked down the memory lane highlighting how his life transformed after he joined the student politics.   

Later talking to Express, Lt A Manikandan of Indian Navy said that the 65 trainees, including 10 women, from Coastguard and Indian Navy had come to visit the governor and learn from his experiences.

writingonblog uncensored: Many small traders have no idea what FDI means

writingonblog uncensored: Many small traders have no idea what FDI means: C Shivakumar Chennai: It is a small shop in the corner of a street in Nerkundram but it has all the items like that of supermarket t...

Many small traders have no idea what FDI means

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

It is a small shop in the corner of a street in Nerkundram but it has all the items like that of supermarket to cater to the needs of residents.

Wiping his sweat from his forehead on a humid day just after the Bharat Bandh, Bhaskar proudly says, “Our shop  has everything you want. We even have door delivery,” he smilingly.

But ask him about the foreign direct investment, the face of the 10^th class-drop-out turns grim. “I don’t know what FDI means,” he says then adds, “But from what I gather, If these foreign companies come they will eat away our business.”

He is among the lakhs of small traders or retailers who are unaware of Union government’s move to allow FDI in multi-brand retail. “I joined protest because the association asked us to join it. They say the move by the government to bring in FDI is harmful to our business, so we have launched the stir,” he says.

Vellayan, leader of Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sanigangalin Peravai agrees that most of the traders are unaware of the issue.  “Once the foreign players are allowed the consumers will shift to bigger stores and small stores will soon vanish,” he reasons. He also said these multinational stores would control the market and prices affecting the very existence of these small stores who live on meagre profits.

But another shop-keeper argues, “We have been in the business for ages and know the pulse of the market. When the supermarket chains came, everybody said we would be finished. But we survived and surprisingly, many of the supermarket chains had to close because they could not survive,” he says.

A study by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and India and PriceWaterCopperhouse says that kirana stores have existed since ages and they will continue to be at the beck and call of many households. Their presence in the midst of a residential area is a big advantage,” the study says.

Interestingly, to start a kirana shop, one doesn’t require millions. “It just requires your presence of mind, the location of the shop and the feel of the market pulse,” says Senthil, whose shop in Virugambakkam is doing a roaring business.

“If you lose the confidence of the customer, then it is very hard to gain it again,” the 10^th class dropout says.

Factfile:

          Indian retail sector accounts for over 20 pc of country’s GDP and contributes 8pc to total employment 

   The current estimated value of Indian retail sector is about $500 bn and is pegged to reach $1.3 trillion by 2020.

 The penetration l;evel of modern retail (currently 5pc) will increase six fold from the current $27bn to $220 bn in 2020.

   The Indian retail sector is expected to grow at compounded annual growth rate of 15-20 per cent

writingonblog uncensored: Vasan urges protesters to refrain from Thoothkudi ...

writingonblog uncensored: Vasan urges protesters to refrain from Thoothkudi ...: Chennai: Union Shipping Minister G K Vasan on Friday urged the anti-nuclear protesters to refrain from taking up protest to stop the s...

Vasan urges protesters to refrain from Thoothkudi port blockade

Chennai:

Union Shipping Minister G K Vasan on Friday urged the anti-nuclear protesters to refrain from taking up protest to stop the ship movement in VOC port of Thoothkudi on Saturday.

The minister’s appeal to the protesters comes in the wake of  anti-nuclear activists and fishermen calling for blockade of the Tuticorin port by using boats.

“It is unfortunate that protesters don’t understand that this type of protest would affect the export import trade of the region,” the minister said.

The port contributes highly to the development of economy and provides jobs to millions of people and such act will stall the port activities, Vasan said adding that

Vasan said that he hoped the state government will take all out efforts to contain the protest which affects the overall growth of country in general and Tamil Nadu in particular.

writingonblog uncensored: Mobile VoIP software creator REVE Systems in Red H...

writingonblog uncensored: Mobile VoIP software creator REVE Systems in Red H...: New Delhi : REVE Systems, the Singapore headquartered leading VoIP solution provider with its innovative technology platform, has been...

Mobile VoIP software creator REVE Systems in Red Herring’s 2012 Top 100 Asia list

New Delhi :
REVE Systems, the Singapore headquartered leading VoIP solution provider with its innovative technology platform, has been admitted to the prestigious list of 2012 Red Herring’s Top 100 Asia Award in Hong Kong.
Red Herring Top 100 award recognises leading private companies from Asia, celebrating these startups’ innovations and technologies across their respective industries.
Red Herring’s Top 100 Asia list has become a mark of distinction for identifying promising new companies and entrepreneurs. Red Herring editors were among the first to recognize that companies such as Facebook, Twitter, Google, Yahoo, Skype, Salesforce.com, YouTube, and eBay would change the way we live and work.
“Choosing the companies with the strongest potential was by no means a small feat,” said Alex Vieux, publisher and CEO of Red Herring. “After rigorous contemplation and discussion, we narrowed our list down from hundreds of candidates from across Asia to the Top 100 Winners. We believe REVE Systems embodies the vision, drive and innovation that define a successful entrepreneurial venture. REVE Systems should be proud of its accomplishment, as the competition was the strongest it has ever been.”
Red Herring’s editorial staff evaluated the companies on both quantitative and qualitative criteria, such as financial performance, technology innovation, management quality, strategy, and market penetration. This assessment of potential is complemented by a review of the track record and standing of startups relative to their peers, allowing Red Herring to see past the “buzz” and make the list a valuable instrument of discovery and advocacy for the most promising new business models in Asia.
On receiving this award, REVE Systems CEO Mr. M Rezaul Hassan said, “We are happy to receive the prestigious 2012 Red Herring’s Top 100 Asia Award. The award recognizes technology prowess of Reve’s development team serving 1700 service providers in over 70 countries in the IP communication Industry.”
REVE Systems, a Singapore headquartered, VoIP solution provider offers a complete range of Mobile VoIP platform, Softswitch-Billing and other software applications. Currently, the company is serving 1700 service providers across 70 countries. REVE Systems headquartered in Singapore and has its development center in Bangladesh and India and Sales and Support offices in the UK and USA.
Red Herring is an international media organization which recognizes young companies and startup’s technology innovations around the world. The Red Herring’s Top 100 Asia Award is part of a world series where they look at companies from Asia, America’s and Europe, and the winners have a chance to compete in the Global Top 100 List.

writingonblog uncensored: Daily wage earners feel the pinch

writingonblog uncensored: Daily wage earners feel the pinch: C Shivakumar Chennai: Daily wage earners were robbed off of their earning as shops across Chennai downed their shutters to observe t...

Daily wage earners feel the pinch

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

Daily wage earners were robbed off of their earning as shops across Chennai downed their shutters to observe the day-long protest against allowing foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail.

On any lean day the daily-wage workers, working as push cart drivers, tri-cycle labourers, roadside coconut sellers or flower sellers earn about Rs 100 to Rs 150 a day. Now with the bandh, many have to return empty-handed.

“We are idling without any work due to the bandh,” says Robert, who pedals his tricycle daily to ferry construction materials and cement for hardware shops in Purusaiwalkam.

“I used to earn Rs 100 to Rs 150 to support my family of seven members. Now I have to return empty handed,” he says.

The load handlers in Koyambedu also have to forego their day's earnings as the market remained closed. “These bandhs are very bad for us. It denies us our daily wage,” says Saravanan.

Another rickshaw puller in Virugambakkam says the bandh has  left him jobless. “I don’t know what I will do. I have been waiting for the whole day to get some order. I have none,” says Pandian whose family is living a hand to mouth existence.

“While FDI in multi-brands is expected to harm businesses, bandh is eating away our daily wages,” he says cursing those who have organized the bandh.

  “When the Tamil Nadu government is not allowing FDI in retail business, what is the need for the bandh,” he reasoned.

writingonblog uncensored: Businesses transactions worth crores hit as trader...

writingonblog uncensored: Businesses transactions worth crores hit as trader...: Chennai: Business was hit across the city as an estimated three lakh shops remained losed with traders protesting at various parts of...

Businesses transactions worth crores hit as traders down shutters

Chennai:

Business was hit across the city as an estimated three lakh shops remained losed with traders protesting at various parts of the city against foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail and hike in petrol prices.

The bandh, which is backed by two powerful traders' bodies --- Tamil Nadu Federation of All Traders Association and Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sanigangalin Peravai, has affected businesses worth thousands of crores in the state and city.

General Secretary of Tamil Nadu Federation of All Traders Association Mohan told Express the day-long bandh has affected an estimated Rs 25,000 crore worth of business transactions in the state and a loss of Rs 200 crore to the exchequer as taxes. Traders across the state suffered a loss of rs 1,500 crore, he said.

The association claimed that an estimated total business transactions worth Rs 5,000 crore was hit in Chennai alone with the traders suffering a loss of Rs 300 crore and the state exchequers losing out Rs 50 crore to its kitty.

The fruit and vegetable market in Koyambedu wore a desolate look as traders downed their shutters but business was normal in the flower market in Koyambedu.

Mookaiyan, secretary of Koyambedu Flower Wholesale Market Association, told Express that they had expressed their inability to close the shops during the festival season. “But this does not mean we don’t back the protest.  We support the bandh whole-heartedly,” he said.

Mohan said the associations have agreed to spare perishable goods, medical shops and other small public utilities.

However, supermarket chains like Reliance Fresh, Nilgiris, Spencers and many other groups remained open by keeping their shutters partially open. However, business was dull as housewives and other shoppers preferred to stay indoors rather than go shopping.

Interestingly, many eateries remained open while food chains like Vasantha Bhavan, Sangeetha, Saravana Bhavan and Murugan Idli remained  closed. Surprisingly, many of the shopkeepers also preferred to observe the bandh with shutters half down while conducting their daily business.

Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sanigangalin Peravai Vellayan said that those shops that remained open were not aware of the gravity of the issue.  He said the bandh was a total success.

writingonblog uncensored: Chennai: Green drive goes awry, estuary debris lan...

writingonblog uncensored: Chennai: Green drive goes awry, estuary debris lan...: C Shivakumar Chennai: The Public Works Department is now dumping the construction debris, ordered by National Green Tribunal to be r...

Chennai: Green drive goes awry, estuary debris lands on beach

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

The Public Works Department is now dumping the construction debris, ordered by National Green Tribunal to be removed from the Adyar Creek estuary, in the Foreshore Estate beach near Srinivasapuram.

Truck loads of the debris from the Adyar Creek is now being dumped in the beach near Srinivasapuram to level it so that the Ganesha idols could be immersed, said a contractor, who has been given the licence to clear the debris from Adyar Creek estuary.

When a senior PWD official was contacted by Express, he said he had ordered the clearance of the debris but was unaware it was being dumped on the beach. “We will look into the issue and ensure the debris from the beach is removed,” a senior PWD official said.

Noted environmentalist Nityanand Jayaram said that this alleged illegality is perpetuated every year in the name of God. “Coastal Regulation Zone notification does not exempt divine forces for dumping on the beach,” he said.

The environmentalist said there is a need to educate police, public works department and Chennai Corporation on coastal regulation zone management.

K Saravanan of Urur Kuppam, on whose petition the Green Tribunal passed the order directing the Department of Environment and the Public Works Department to stop dumping construction debris from Adyar Creek estuary, said that PWD is again dumping the same debris on the beach.

“How could they dump the same debris again on beach when the Green Tribunal has ordered it to be removed,” he reasoned.

Saravanan said the road construction began in January 2011 by the Public Works Department allegedly for opening a sand bar in the Adyar river estuary. The road fell within the high tide line, and was being laid nearly up to the river mouth, and barely a metre away from the hatchery for Olive Ridley turtles. He said the Green Tribunal ordered to remove all the debris dumped to create the dirt road within a period of three months from the order delivered on August 7.

Timeline:

29 January 2011:

--- PWD starts work to construct road by opening a sand bar. The road falls within the high tide line.

30 January 2011:

A complaint is filed by Save Chennai Beaches and Reclaim our Beaches against PWD, Ministry of Environment and Forest and state department of environment and forest.

31 January:

Work is stopped

11 Feb 2012:

PWD again starts to construct the dirt road by dumping debris

12 Feb 2012:

Save Chennai beaches and Reclaim our Beaches organizations oppose it. PWD stops work.

Feb 25: PWD starts work again. It is almost completed

March 2012:

A complaint against the road is filed with Green Tribunal

April 2012:

Interim order passed to stop the work

August 7:

Green Tribunal orders PWD to remove all the debris dumped to create the dirt road Adyar estuary creek within a period of three months from the date of order being delivered

writingonblog uncensored: Fifth edition of Jagriti Yatra to chug from Dec 24...

writingonblog uncensored: Fifth edition of Jagriti Yatra to chug from Dec 24...: Chennai: The fifth edition of Jagriti Yatra is set to chug from December 14 and Chennaites are invited to join the nationwide annual...

Fifth edition of Jagriti Yatra to chug from Dec 24

Chennai:

The fifth edition of Jagriti Yatra is set to chug from December 14 and Chennaites are invited to join the nationwide annual train journey to build India through enterprise.

The journey which will begin from Mumbai is open to “highly motivated and entrepreneurial youth in the age group of 20-25.

Supported by Dell India, Cairn India, HSBC and Ministry of External Affairs, the yatra will help growing entrepreneurs in their efforts to start and scale up business with the help of technology.

A total of 450 youngsters in the age group of 20-25 years of age especially from small towns and villages of the country will be selected as participants while others above the age limit will join as facilitators, said a Jagriti Yatra spokesman.

He said the during the 15 day journey till January 8, 2013, the train will stop at 13 locations to personally meet exceptional change-makers who are transforming India. These ‘real-heroes’ are champions of change in multiple fields and have showcased sustained success with high school impact. Arvind Eye Care (Madurai), Anshu Gupta (Goonj, Delhi), Bunker Roy (Barefoot College, Tiloniya, Rajasthan), Joe Madiath (Gram Vikas, Orissa), Narayan Murthy (Infosys, Bangalore), Elaben Bhat (SEWA, Ahmedabad) and R Elango (Kuthambakkam, Model Village, Chennai) are a few among others.

writingonblog uncensored: Arrest Udayakumar plea by pro-Koodankulam nuke pla...

writingonblog uncensored: Arrest Udayakumar plea by pro-Koodankulam nuke pla...: Chennai: Nuclear Energy Generation and Protection Committee on Wednesday demanded the arrest of anti-nuclear activist S P Udayakumar an...

Arrest Udayakumar plea by pro-Koodankulam nuke plant group

Chennai:

Nuclear Energy Generation and Protection Committee on Wednesday demanded the arrest of anti-nuclear activist S P Udayakumar and urged the government to implement the High Court order to commission units I and II of the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) in Tirunelveli.

Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, R Chandran Jeyapaul, coordinator of the committee said that Udayakumar should be arrested for misinformation and creating fear among the residents of Koodankulam against the nuclear power plant.

Jeyapaul also said when the plant has got green light from all the institutions, including the High Court, then why is Udayakumar misleading the people.

Stressing on the need to tide away the power crisis in the state, the committee said that nuclear power is clean, safe and environmentally benign and cheap and the government should implement the High Court order.

The Madras High Court judges recently observed that units I and II do not suffer from any infirmities either for want of any clearance from authorities, including the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), TN Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) and the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), and there is absolutely no impediment for the NPCIL to proceed with the project.

writingonblog uncensored: Christians condemn desecration of Idinthakarai chu...

writingonblog uncensored: Christians condemn desecration of Idinthakarai chu...: Chennai: Thousands of Christians on Wednesday observed a day long fast to condemn the alleged desecration of St. Lourdes Church in Idan...

Christians condemn desecration of Idinthakarai church

Chennai:

Thousands of Christians on Wednesday observed a day long fast to condemn the alleged desecration of St. Lourdes Church in Idanthakarai and urged the government to take action against those involved.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the agitation against the desecration of church, police excesses in Koodankulam and seeking protection of minority Christian community, Archbishop of Madras Mylapore AM Chinnappa said the police in a bid to quell the protests in Koodankulam allegedly violated the sanctity of the church by entering its premises and allegedly desecrating the statue of Mother Mary.

“This act has infuriated us. We urge the Chief Mnister to take immediate action against the erring cops,” Chinappa said.

Christian outfits also demanded action against the policeman who opened fire at Antony John at Manappadu in Tuticorin district. “The family of Antony John should be paid compensation and a government job for one of the family member,” the outfits demanded.  

The outfits also stressed on the need for dialogue and to create awareness among the public on the positive aspects of nuclear energy.

It also urged the government to withdraw cases against all those involved in the protest against Koodankulam nuclear site.