writingonblog uncensored: Indian Army wooing unemployed engineers in TN with...

writingonblog uncensored: Indian Army wooing unemployed engineers in TN with...: Vellore tops the list for preference of career in army Chennai: Indian Army is wooing engineering graduates in Tamil Nadu to join its ...

Indian Army wooing unemployed engineers in TN with better pay

Vellore tops the list for preference of career in army


Chennai:

Indian Army is wooing engineering graduates in Tamil Nadu to join its
flanks as jawans with much better pay and perks than in private
sector.



Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday Brigadier Sangram
Dalvi, deputy director general, Headquarters Recruiting Zone, said
that the army is wooing engineering graduates in Tamil Nadu to join in
the technical cadre as most of them are unemployed and are working for
a very low salary.



“They are working for a much less salary. Why not they join the Indian
army. On an average, a jawan gets a starting salary of Rs 24,000.
Where in a private firm in Chennai would a engineering graduate get a
salary of 24,000,” he reasoned.



He said the unemployment rate among the engineering graduates is high.
“They can join the rank of jawan and can write the test to later
graduate into a officer,” said Brig Dalvi.



Interestingly, the five southern states --- Tamil nadu, Karnataka,
Telengana, Kerala and Andhra constitute 21 per cent of the Indian
army, he said.



Interestingly, it is Vellore in Tamil Nadu that has a huge attraction
for Indian army. On an average 12,388 people from the region vie to
join Indian army.

Vellore is followed by Tiruvanamalai which on an average attracts 7,455 youth.



Interestingly, the attraction to join the army as a jawan is
negligible in Chennai. Brig Dalvi says this is due to the rapid
industrialisation. “We don’t get enough people from the cities. We
target the backward regions. We are having recruitment in Adilabad,
which is a naxal infested area,” he said.



Brig Dalvi said that the numbers that are recruited from each state
each year depends upon the Recruitable Male Population of the States
(10pc of total male population) and as per wastages due to retirement,
casualities, additional requirements and so on.



This year a total of 6,000 would be recruited from the three states of
Andhra, Telengana and Tamil Nadu. “In Tamil Nadu we will be recruiting
2,413 jawans,” he said.



Brig Dalvi also said that they are trying to make the recruitment
process free from the influence of touts on prospective candidates and
individuals in the recruiting organisations.



He also advised the youth that the main criteria for selection is that
one has to run 1.6km within six minutes besides write a test based on
10th standard syllabus.



Factfile:

Average footfalls in recruitment centres:

Vellore: 12,388

Tiruanamalai: 7,455

Madurai: 6514

Theni: 5,100

Krishnagiri: 4,500

Kanyakumari: 3,200

Tirunelvelli: 2,200

Virudhnagar: 1800

Dindigul: 1500

Dharmapuri: 1500

Thoothkudi: 1300

Chennai: 260

86 pc children in TN face risk of Vitamin D deficiency

Chennai:

Parents now have to think twice before locking up their children
indoors during the summer.



While it may be feasible to keep the children indoors to protect them
from the scorching sun and rising temperature, a study reveals that
denying children a little sunshine could prove detrimental to their
health.



A Pilot Study of Iron Deficiency Anemia, Vitamin D Status and Health
Awareness in children of Tamil Nadu, which was conducted by Kanchi
Kamakoti Childs Trust Hospital and The Childs Trust Medical Research
foundation, and sponsored by state planning commission, reveals that
despite abundant sunshine in the state there is a high prevalence of
Vitamin D deficiency as children do not spend time playing outdoors.



The study of 1,010 children from Chengalpet, Thiruvannamalai,
Cuddalore, Thiruallur and Kanchipuram, Arakkonam, Kumbakonam, Vellore
and Chennai peripheral area found that 86 per cent of children had
inadequate sunlight exposure which is indicative of changing lifestyle
and could be a significant risk factor for Vitamin D deficiency.



The Vitamin D deficiency is likely to play an important role in the
very high prevalence of rickets, osteoporosis, cardiovascular
diseases, diabetes, cancer and infections such as tuberculosis in
India.



According to another study ‘Vitamin D Deficiency in India: Prevalence,
Causalities and Interventions’, published in scientific journal
Nutrients, a minimum of 45 minutes of “direct sun exposure” is
required daily to bare face, arms and legs.

However, with the exception of those who perforce need to work
outdoors in the sun, most Indians do not get adequate exposure to
ultra violet rays.



The study by Kanchi Kamakoti Childs Trust Hospital says that most of
the children had inadequate sunlight exposure (less than 30 minutes
per week).



“Most of the children have negligible sunlight exposure only between
3pm to 5pm during which cutaneous production of Vitamin D is
inefficient,” the study stated.



“The best time for ultra violet light exposure for cutaneous synthesis
of Vitamin D is between 10am and 2 pm. But most school children are
unfortunately in their shady classrooms than outdoors on school days
and in front of TV screens indoors on holidays at home,” the study
stated.



The study has urged the schools to implement outdoor physical
education sessions to be held between 10am to 2pm ensuring at least 30
minute sunlight exposure per week to prevent Vitamin D deficiency in
children.



The big issue of lack of sunlight exposure is also blamed on
urbanisation. Most of the dwellings in the city lack proper sunlight.
Besides there is limited options for outdoor actiities. Even the
undying desire of most Chennaites to attain a fairer skin complexion
instantly extinguish any desire for sun exposure, and a person’s
primary focus is on finding ways to avoid the sun, at all costs.



The current solution could be that children should be allowed to play
outdoors exposing them to sun rather than relaxing indoors and
watching television.



Factfile:

-- 86 per cent of children have inadequate exposure to sunlight and
are at risk being Vitamin D deficient

--- Physical education sessions in schools are held during afternoons
thus limiting efficient sunlight exposure between 10am to 2pm

--- A minimum of 45 minutes of “direct sun exposure” is required daily
to bare face, arms and legs.

-- Most of the children have inadequate sunlight exposure (less than
30 minutes per week).

-- most of the multi-storeyed buildings lack proper sunlight

--- Lack of outdoor facilities for children in cities

writingonblog uncensored: Central Excise supdt jailed in disproportionate as...

writingonblog uncensored: Central Excise supdt jailed in disproportionate as...: Chennai: A CBI court has sentenced superintendent of Central excise in Trichy to undergo three years rigorous imprisonment with a fine of R...

Central Excise supdt jailed in disproportionate assets case

Chennai:

A CBI court has sentenced superintendent of Central excise in Trichy to undergo three years rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs one lakh in a disproportionate assets case, a CBI spokesperson said.



The Special Judge for CBI Cases, Madurai has convicted S X Jayaraj, then Superintendent of Central Excise, Trichy in a disproportionate assets case and ordered for confiscation of the disproportionate assets, both movable and immovable to the State.



CBI had registered a case against Jayaraj, the then Superintendent of Central Excise, Trichy Commissionerate on the allegations that during the checking period from June 1987 to February 21, 2006,  he acquired assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.



The Investigation established that during the period, Jayaraj had acquired assets worth Rs 37.03 lakh as against his  known sources of income of Rs 23.50 lakh and incurred expenditure of Rs16.58 lakh.



The disproportionate assets, both movable and immovable in his name and in the names of his family members were calculated as Rs 30.10 lakh. After completion of investigation, CBI filed charge sheet against him under sections 13(2) r/w 13(1)(e) of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 before the Special Judge for CBI Cases, Madurai.

writingonblog uncensored: TN vows to impart skill development training to 2...

writingonblog uncensored: TN vows to impart skill development training to 2...: Chennai: Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation would be imparting training to enhance the skills of two lakh youth in the state durin...

TN vows to impart skill development training to 2 lakh youth

Chennai:

Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation would be imparting training
to enhance the skills of two lakh youth in the state during the
current financial year, according to Tamil Nadu Labour and Rural
Industries Minister P Mohan.



Speaking during a programme organised by Tamil Nadu Skill Development
Corporation here on Tuesday, the minister said that the state
government has increased the quantum of fund to impart skills training
to youth from rs 100 crore to Rs 150 crore this financial year.



“We are working towards realising the goal set by Vision 2023 to
impart training to enhance the skills of two crore youth” the minister
said.



He said Tamil Nadu is emerging as a hub for skilled workforce in the country.



He said during the last three years, a total of 3.21 lakh people were
imparted training to enhance their job skills in 32 sectors at a cost
of rs 140 crore.



Interestingly, Tamil Nadu is also trying to nurture a well trained
security force for private institutions. “Tamil Nadu Skill Development
Corporation in collaboration with Tamil Nadu police has trained 4,500
people who would be posted as security guards in private
institutions,” Mohan said.



The minister also said that the $12.5 billion leather industry is
facing challenges due to shortage of raw materials as well as
manpower.



He said that leather goods manufactured in the state is worth Rs
15,000 crore and it contributes 6 per cent to world market.



Speaking during the event, M Rafeeque Ahmed, chairman of Council for
Leather Exports urged the state government to form a special purpose
vehicle (SPV) for establishment of Mega Leather Cluster in Tamil Nadu.
He also urged the state government to provide nearly 200 acres of land
free of cost or at a subsidised cost to the special purpose vehicle to
facilitate establishment of Mega Leather Cluster.



He also urged the state government to provide grant for construction
dorminatories for women workers in major leather production clusters.



He said the industry would submit a detailed project report once the
in-principle approval is given by state government.

writingonblog uncensored: CMDA seeks suggestions from George Town building o...

writingonblog uncensored: CMDA seeks suggestions from George Town building o...: Chennai: The High Court appointed monitoring committee on Monday discussed the ways to streamline Chennai Metropolitan Development Auth...

CMDA seeks suggestions from George Town building owners for framing guidelines

Chennai:

The High Court appointed monitoring committee on Monday discussed the
ways to streamline Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA)
even as the planning body sought suggestions from building owners in
George Town to frame guidelines for regularising their buildings.



The meeting was held in the wake of Madras High Court set to pronounce
its verdict on the relevance of Section 113 C of Tamil Nadu Town and
Country Planning Act and also the monitoring committee during its
hearing after vacation in the month of June.



An official who attended the meeting told Express that the issue
focused on the ways to make CMDA more relevant to curb unauthorised
constructions.



“The suggestion would be given to Madras High Court”, the official said.



Interestingly, this also comes after the non-official monitoring
committee had difference of opinion over the Action Taken Report which
was to be submitted over to the High Court. “The issue was such that
the ATR could not be submitted as per the High Court deadline as there
was difference of opinion between both official and non-official
members,” a source said.



The Action Taken Report was to be filed by monitoring committee after
Madras High Court, hearing a petition filed by non official member of

monitoring committee M G Devasahayam, ordered for a detailed summary
of what happened till now in pursuance of the directions passed by the
High Court in 2006 to stem the problem of unauthorised constructions.



A official source said a clearer picture on unauthorised structures in
the city would emerge only after the High Court judgement.



Meanwhile, CMDA is seeking suggestions for framing guidelines for
regularisation of unauthorised or deviated constructions in George
Town that were constructed before July 1, 2007.



A committee has been constituted under the chairmanship of former High
Court judge S Rajeswaran to frame appropriate guidelines and rules for
effective implementation of Section 113 C.



It is learnt that the committee has observed that in the older parts
of the city like George Town, the guidelines have to be worked out
considering the age of the building, soundness of the building in
terms of stability and structure

writingonblog uncensored: PWD’s 43 hectare lake in Avadi shrunk to eight ac...

writingonblog uncensored: PWD’s 43 hectare lake in Avadi shrunk to eight ac...: C Shivakumar Chennai: A 43 hectare Palaeripattu lake in Avadi has been shrunk to five to eight acres in the last 10 years with bulldoz...

PWD’s 43 hectare lake in Avadi shrunk to eight acres as realtors make merry

C Shivakumar
Chennai:

A 43 hectare Palaeripattu lake in Avadi has been shrunk to five to
eight acres in the last 10 years with bulldozers being used to level
the water spread area.



The irony is that despite knowing it is a water body the realtors have
been encroaching the land blatantly and officials have been turning a
blind eye to a series of petitions, says RTI activist and Satta
Panchayat district coordinator M Mohammed Ilyas.



When Express visited the site, it was found that four people were in
discussion to take over the remanants of the lake. They were shocked
to see the Express photographer there and rushed out immediately after
quizzing him.



A Public Works Department official said Palaeripattu Lake, which is
one of the 10 lakes in the Poonamallee lake, that has been encroached
upon has yet to be demarcated.



Interestingly, PWD is the keeper of the water body. “The boundary has
to be demarcated by revenue department,” he said when queried about
the encroachment of the lake.



Interestingly, the encroachment of the lake was bought to the notice
of officials by Ilyas. A top government official immediately sought
action on Friday when it was brought to his notice that people have
prepared a layout on the lake and are selling it to people.



“We immediately took action and cleared of encroachments in 30 cents.
We can’t remove the structures as it would result in law and order
problem,” said the tahsildar of the region.



To a query on why the authorities failed to initiate action when three
petitions were submitted earlier, the Tahsildar said that this was
brought to her notice only now.



“We will initiate action against the encroachments. We will be issuing
notices to the residents to submit their objections within 15 days
following which Form 6 will be issued,” she said.



The PWD official said that PWD would later enumerate the encroachers
once Form 6 is issued to evict the people by Tahsildar.



Interestingly, the official says that 10 water bodies in the
Poonamallee taluka has been encroached upon and efforts are on the
clear the encroachments.



“Currently, action is being taken to clear of encroachments in one of
the water body. We are holding regular meetings to clear
encroachements,” he said.



“But the issue is why it takes too long for the government to wake up
and protect is property. Why aren’t the properties being fenced? And
why no action has been taken against all those officials who are hand
in glove in the whole episode,” Ilyas said.



“Atleast they have to wake up and protect whatever is remaining now
before initiating action against the encroachers. They are not even
fencing the lake. How will they protect it,” he wondered

writingonblog uncensored: Chennai shook by the seismic waves of Nepal earthq...

writingonblog uncensored: Chennai shook by the seismic waves of Nepal earthq...: C Shivakumar Chennai: The impact of the powerful earthquake in Nepal with a magnitude of 7.9 was felt in Chennai triggering panic amon...

Chennai shook by the seismic waves of Nepal earthquake

C Shivakumar
Chennai:

The impact of the powerful earthquake in Nepal with a magnitude of 7.9
was felt in Chennai triggering panic among residents in Kodambakkam,
Nandanam, Anna Salai and several other parts of the city.



T R Vaidya, a senior scientist of the seisomology department in Indian
Meteorology Department told Express that high rise buildings in
Chennai would have felt the seismic wave.



"Chennai would have experienced the intensity of three seismic wave.
Seismic waves are generated by the release of energy during an
earthquake. They travel through the earth like waves travel through
water," he said.


He said the seismic wave of the such a huge magnitude of earthquake
around eight would be felt upto the circumference of 1500 to 2,000km.
In Delhi the intensity of seismic wave was around five, he said.

Interestingly the quake created panic among people in Chennai.
Residents living in a 10-floor building in Turnbulls Road in Teynampet
rushed out of the building as they experienced mild tremor. Even
people working in offices in Teynampet rushed out.



“The tremor was felt around 11.20 am,” said a resident. Interestingly,
residents in Anna Salai, Ashok Nagar, Vadapalani, Kodambakkam,
Mylapore. Even private hospitals and several buildings experienced the
seismic waves.





A duty officer of regional meterology centre confirmed that seismic
waves was felt in the city and this could have caused panic among the
residents.



When Express contacted the seismic observatory, they said that they
are currently studying the impact of Nepal earthquake on Chennai.
They, however, did not give out the locations as well as the intensity
of the seisimic wave felt across the city.





Sundaramoorthy, former director general of Geological Survey of India,
told Express that the city have felt the waves of the massive
earthquake in Nepal.



“Nepal lies in a seismic active zone 5. This zone passes from
Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Northern Indian states, North Eastern
States, Andaman Nicobar Islands and Indonesia. However, the three
southern states don’t come under the zone as they are stable crete,”
he said.



“However, they will experience the waves as the quake was a huge one.
In Chennai, the shock was felt here and there,” he said.



“If the quake had taken place in the sea then we would have had
another tsunami,” the geologist said.

writingonblog uncensored: IAF likely to get four more LCA by March 2016, say...

writingonblog uncensored: IAF likely to get four more LCA by March 2016, say...: C Shivakumar Chennai: Indian Air Force is likely to get four more light combat aircraft Tejas between December to March from Hindustan Aero...

IAF likely to get four more LCA by March 2016, says NAL director

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

Indian Air Force is likely to get four more light combat aircraft
Tejas between December to March from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited,
according to director of National Aerospace Laboratories Shyam Chetty.



Chetty told reporters on the sidelines of 68th CSIR-Central Leather
Research Institute Foundation Day Celebrations here that the IAF had
some concerns with Tejas end to end accuracy and we have tried to
rectify it.



“The four aircraft may adhere to international end to end accuracy and
further research is on to meet the exact parameters of what IAF
requires,” said Chetty, who was one of the 45 member team that worked
on the project for the last 22 years.



“The Indian Air Force wanted eight aircraft every year. We will be
handing then four more aircraft by the end of this financial year,” he
said. HAL had already handed over one aircraft on January 2015 this
year.



He also highlighted manufacturing issues relating to Tejas. “There are
lot of manufacturing problems and they are working on the tooling
technology to raise it to international standards,” he said.



Interestingly, 4,500 test flights is necessary to to get final
operational clearance. Interestingly, LCA underwent more than 3,000
test flights. “The aircraft handed over was ready to take off only
with restricted set of weaponry and sensors and a test with full range
of weaponry was yet to be done,” Chetty said.



Interestingly, Tejas will also have added armoury from Israel and
other countries. Currently, scientists are conducting trials for Tejas
at the sea based test facilities at INS Hamsa in Goa.



We have built a facility for the Naval version of Tejas, he said.



Chetty also said that it was Council for Scientific and Industrial
research institution that worked in developing the carbon composites
for the aircraft, which has 70 per cent of parts being indigenously
produced. He said that 13 major components of the aircraft was made in
NAL.



“We conducted 26,000 model tests for the aircraft so that the
deficiency could be corrected,” Chetty said.



However, he ruled out NAL’s role in the fifth generation aircraft.
“Most likely, we would be buying the fifth generation aircraft or it
would be developed by HAL. We are not in the project till now,” he
said.

writingonblog uncensored: TN’s link to port an advantage over Rajasthan to w...

writingonblog uncensored: TN’s link to port an advantage over Rajasthan to w...: Chennai: Tamil Nadu has an advantage over Rajasthan as it has large number of engineering colleges as well as dedicated port, according ...

TN’s link to port an advantage over Rajasthan to woo investors, says Rajasthan Minister

Chennai:

Tamil Nadu has an advantage over Rajasthan as it has large number of
engineering colleges as well as dedicated port, according to Rajasthan
Industries Minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar.



Khimsar is heading a delegation to woo Tamil Nadu-based companies to
expand operations in Rajasthan during a roadshow here on Thursday to
promote Resurgent Rajasthan Partnership Summit to be held in Jaipur on
November 19-20.



Addressing reporters along with Industries secretary and managing
director of Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment
Cooperation, Veenu Gupta and PWD secretary D B Gupta, the minister
said that the biggest challenge before Rajasthan in wooing investment
is that the state is a land-locked one.



Setting his eye on the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor, the minister
hoped that it would help address the shortcoming. “Initially it takes
three to four days. With the frieght corridor being set up it will
take only 20 hours to transfer it to port,” Khimsar said.



Industries secretary and managing director of Rajasthan State
Industrial Development and Investment Cooperation, Veenu Gupta said
that the other challenge Rajasthan is facing is the shortage of
skilled workforce unlike Tamil Nadu which has a large number of
engineering colleges.



“Southern Indian states are more progressive. They have large number
of private engineering colleges. Now Rajasthan is catching up and we
have around 500 technical institutions,” she said.



She said that Tamil Nadu is a advanced industrial state and is a
manufacturing hub for electronic hardware, consumer durables and
automobiles. “We wish to explore the possible economic synergies
between Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu,” she said.



“We are looking at healthcare, renewable energy, automobile,
pharmacies and health care,” Gupta said.



To a query on Rajasthan seeking the cooperation of the migrant
prosperous Rajasthani community in Tamil Nadu for Rajasthan
Partnership Summit, the minister said that he will be having a
separate meeting with the community.



He also said that the Resurgent Rajasthan summit was a brainchild of
Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje Scindia in 2007. It has been revived
now and we are keen to generate jobs in the state and attract
investments, he said.



Interestingly, Rajasthan is looking at linking its airport to
Singapore and Bangkok besides other domestic airports. Rajasthan is
also looking at reducing the timeline to acquire land, Veenu said.

writingonblog uncensored: TN too rigid to decide on inter-caste marriage

writingonblog uncensored: TN too rigid to decide on inter-caste marriage: Only 3 per cent chose partners from other caste, says study Chennai The Dravidian movement did not make any impact on inter-caste mar...

TN too rigid to decide on inter-caste marriage

Only 3 per cent chose partners from other caste, says study

Chennai

The Dravidian movement did not make any impact on inter-caste
marriages in Tamil Nadu as a national study found out that only three
per cent chose a life partner from other caste.

Revealing the findings of his study “The Golden Cage: Stability of the
Institution of Marriage in India’ here on Wednesday, K Srinivasan,
former director and senior professor of International Institute of
Population Sciences (IIPS) and national fellow of Indian Council of
Social Science Research said that it is surprising that inter-caste
marriage is as low as three per cent despite strong Dravidian movement
in Tamil Nadu for over six decades and the Dravidian parties also
holding power for over four decades.

Te figures are really surprising as Dravidian parties officially
promoted and rewarded inter caste marriages, he said.

He said that Tamil Nadu, with  97.04 per cent, leads the southern
States of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala in the preference for
same caste marriages. “In fact, the ratio of inter-caste marriage in
south India is only 8.62 per cent,” he said.

The study by Srinivasan also found that about 10 percent of the total
marriages in India takes place between different castes while only 2.1
percent marriages are inter-religious.

The study also revealed that girls of backward castes marrying boys of
lower caste, SCs, is just 1.66 in Tamil Nadu as against the national
average of 5.58 per cent. However, Kerala girls marrying men of lower
castes account is much higher at 12.24 per cent.

Interestingly, this could also be the saving grace for marriage as an
institution which is crumbling in Western societies, he says. “A
strong contributing factor behind the stability in the institution of
marriage is that marriages are still taking place within the same
caste and there is a strong caste support behind every marriage,” says
Srinivasan.

“This is rather unfortunate because the social evils and economic
impediments of the rigid caste structure are well known and many
leaders including Mahatma Gandhi and Narayana Guru and Periyar in the
south have fought relentlessly against it for over many decades,” he
says.

Indian marriages are deeply rooted in religion and caste. The marital
breakdown which faces social and economic costs has made the
institution of marriage strong in India and it is unlikely to show any
signs of deterioration in the near future, he says.

writingonblog uncensored: Tributes paid to Defence ministry PRO Andavan

writingonblog uncensored: Tributes paid to Defence ministry PRO Andavan: Chennai: The mortal remains of N Andavan, Public Relation Officer of the Defence Ministry in Chennai, who passed away on Wednesday, was lai...

Tributes paid to Defence ministry PRO Andavan

Chennai:
The mortal remains of N Andavan, Public Relation Officer of the Defence Ministry in Chennai, who passed away on Wednesday, was laid to rest at Perumuchi village (near Arakkonam) cemetery on Thursday in the presence of his family members, relatives, Armed Forces Officials and directorate of public relations.

Natesan Andavan passed away on Wednesday, succumbing to a grievous injury he had suffered in a road accident on Monday. He was 52.

Andavan had joined the Directorate of Public Relations set up of MoD in 2009 and in a very short time, he endeared himself to the media fraternity for his professionalism, amiable personality and an abiding interest in defence related issues.

During his tenure, he had travelled to almost all defence establishments in South India and provided publicity to their activities and achievements. He took active interest in Recruitment Rallies held at various locations in his area of responsibility and his contribution in generating enthusiasm among the youth for a career in the Armed Forces will be remembered for long. 

He also worked for the publicity of several editions of Aero India, held in Bengaluru, the premier aero show of Asia. With an academic bent of mind, Andavan had earned an M.Phil Degree in Mass Communication. He belonged to the 2009 batch of the prestigious Defence Correspondents’ Course conducted by the Directorate of Public Relations, Ministry of Defence.

He was a regular contributor to the fortnightly Sainik Samachar, the oldest defence journal of the country. Before joining the DPR, he had worked with various media units of Ministry of I&B, including AIR, Doordarshan, DAVP, PIB and DFP.

Andavan is survived by his wife S Joy, a News Editor with All India Radio, Chennai, a son and a daughter.

Chennai Port coming up with proposal to handle dusty cargo with nil pollution

Chennai:

Chennai Port is coming out with a comprehensive proposal and necessary technical inputs to show that the Port can handle dusty cargoes like coal with nil pollution. 



The proposal will be submitted to the apex court by the first week of July this year, according to Chennai Port.



This comes after the Supreme Court during its hearing of the Special Leave Petition on the coal and iron ore handling case urged Chennai Port to come out with such a proposal.



Prior to the ban on dusty cargo imposed by Madras High Court, Chennai Port was handling around 10 million tonne of iron ore and around eight million tonne of coal and earning around Rs 226 crore of revenue. The ban has hit hard the Chennai Port which posted a a loss of 173.76 crore in 2013-14. Interestingly, this year, Chennai Port managed to post a net profit of rs 4 crore.



Meanwhile, the Request for Qualification for the ambitious Outer Harbour Project is being formulated afresh after discussions with prospective bidders.  The Project will cater to a cargo mix comprising containers, dry, break bulk and liquid cargoes over the long term.  When commissioned, the capacity of the Port will exceed 100 Million tonnes per annum.



Chennai Port has also launched an aggressive marketing strategy to showcase its strengths vis-a-vis the neighbouring private and government ports.  Consultations with various Trade Associations and Chamber of Commerce are being held and Trade Meets organized at key industrial centers in the State to create awareness of the Port’s facilities and locational advantages among exporters and importers.

 

writingonblog uncensored: Second phase of safety audit limited to five stati...

writingonblog uncensored: Second phase of safety audit limited to five stati...: Chennai: Chennai’s wait to get the final approval of Commissioner of Rail Safety (CRS) is likely to get longer with the second phase o...

Second phase of safety audit limited to five stations

Chennai:

Chennai’s wait to get the final approval of Commissioner of Rail
Safety (CRS) is likely to get longer with the second phase of two-day
safety audit being limited to five stations.



Commissioner of Rail Safety (CRS) S K Mittal, who landed here on
Monday, inspected five stations and the Receiving Sub Station (RSS),
Operation Control Centre (OCC) and the Metro Rail Depot in Koyambedu.



During the first day he visited Koyambedu, CMBT, Arumbakkam,
Vadapalani and Ashok Nagar stations. He checked the platforms,
viaduct, stations and the overhead wires.



Interestingly, he restricted his visit to the five stations on Monday
and on Tuesday he visited Receiving Sub Station, Operation Control
Centre and Chennai Metro Rail depot. The safety audit for Alandur and
Ekatuthangal would be conducted at a later date, a Metro rail
spokesman said.





Mittal also took the Metro Train from Koyambedu to Ashok Nagar Metro
station. Interestingly, Mittal is also in town for a function at
southern railway. Officials did not disclose where the event is being
held.



The metrorail project, which has been going on for more than five
years, has been facing a issue with the deadline with Metro man E
Sreedharan terming the project as being shoddily implemented.



Interestingly, officials are not committing on whether there will be
any further phase of inspections for getting the clearance. A metro
rail source told Express that the completion of safety audit would
take more time. Earlier, Metro rail officials had said that they
wanted the safety audit to be over by the end of the month.



“Even if it gets over by the end of the month or by the first or
second week of May, the state has to give dates for inauguration
besides fix the fare for metro between Koyambedu to Alandur stretch,”
said a source.



Interestingly, even the underground stretch work between Koyambedu and
Egmore station is progressing slowly. The tunnels between Nehru Park
to Kilapuk Medical College is yet to get over. “We are in the final
stages and it would soon be completed,” a Metro Rail source said.

Two new Postal ATMs installed in city

Chennai:



Two new Post Office Savings Bank ATM were installed at St Thomas Mount Head Post Office and Mylapore Head Post office on Tuesday.



Post Master general of Chennai City Region Merwin Alexander said that the remaining two ATMs would be Anna Road HPO and Tambaram will be installed in the next two days.



The postal department is planning to have 20 such ATMs across the state by this month and the city was to get its quota of four ATMs. This comes as the postal department is migrating to core banking solutions. Alexander said that customers could obtain ATM card applications from the POs.

 

writingonblog uncensored: BSNL employees go on stir

writingonblog uncensored: BSNL employees go on stir: Chennai: BSNL employees belonging to 16 trade unions and associations on Tuesday launched their two day protest seeking revival of Bharat S...

BSNL employees go on stir

Chennai:

BSNL employees belonging to 16 trade unions and associations on Tuesday launched their two day protest seeking revival of Bharat Sanchal Nigam Limited besides payment of pending Rs 60,000 crore spent on rural telephony.



The convenor for forum of BSNL Unions and Associations, Chennai Telephones, K Govindraj said the employees would resort to indefinite stir as the telecom secretary has not invited the forum leader for discussion to evolve a smooth settlement.



“We had given them four month notice on our launching the stir but they have not yet called the forum leader for discussion,” Govindraj said.



Interstingly, the stir by BSNL employees across India would cost a loss of Rs 100 crore a day as even the customer service centre and call centres remain shut. “All administrative offices, telecom exchanges, technical offices would remain shut during the two days,” Govindraj said.



In Chennai alone, the loss could be anywhere around Rs 15 crore. “The issue is regarding procurement of required materials like cable, modem and drop wire due to lack of funds,” said Govindraj.



He said that the government has yet to provide the balanceof Rs 60,000 crore which BSNL spent on proving rural telephony to villages. “For the last 14 years, BSNL spent rs one lakh crore on rural telephony. The government paid us Rs 40,000 crore. A amount of rs 60,000 crore is still pending,” he alleged.



The Union members also hit out at the government for allowing private operators to provide connectivity for PSUs, state and Central government departments while ignoring state-owned BSNL.

writingonblog uncensored: Global Investors Meet postponed to Sept 9

writingonblog uncensored: Global Investors Meet postponed to Sept 9: Chennai: The Global Investors Meet organised by Tamil Nadu government, which was scheduled to be held on May 23-23 has been postponed to S...

Global Investors Meet postponed to Sept 9

Chennai:
The Global Investors Meet organised by Tamil Nadu government, which was scheduled to be held on May 23-23 has been postponed to September.

A state government release stated that the Meet will now be held on September 9 and 10 at Chennai.

Price of Land parcels along Chennai Metro Rail corridor will shoot up by 15 to 20pc once commercial run begins

Chennai:
The realty sector may undergo a total change once Chennai Metro Rail
starts functioning in the city, according to a senior official of
Jones Lang La Salle (JLL).


Shankar Arumugham, national director-Strategic Consulting, JLL, said
that land prices along the Metro line corridors would shoot-up by 15
to 20 per cent once Chennai Metro Rail starts functioning.


He said the land along the Metro Rail corridor would be used for
commercial utilisation. “The land parcels along the corridor would go
up significantly as it has happened in Delhi and other places,” he
said.


Shankar, who heads the strategic consulting business for Chennai,
Coimbatore and Colombo, told Agrtatrade, an initiative taken for
growth and development of Agarwal Samaj, said that unlike other
cities, Chennai should have gone for additional FSI once a transport
corridor is being developed.


He said that Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority is looking
into it. It is likely that CMDA may agree to only .5 rise in floor
space index and may be increase it once the infrastructure is in
place.


He said that Chennai and Bangalore are coming out of the unsold
residential stock problem due to infrastructure projects.


He also stated that 50 per cent of the residential real estate
projects are coming up in South Chennai where there are lot of growth
corridors. However, in North Chennai it is only 7 per cent but the
absorption rate is much higher than south Chennai.


He also said that the real estate investment trusts (REIT) are more
like mutual funds are likely to take off only three or four years
after they start operations.


He also highlighted that small time developer can benefit from REITS
as the minimum requirement is Rs 2 lakh

writingonblog uncensored: JICA draft report to make Ponneri smart is ready

writingonblog uncensored: JICA draft report to make Ponneri smart is ready: C Shivakumar Chennai: The draft report to develop Ponneri in North Chennai as one of the three smart cities in Chennai-Bengaluru Industrial...

JICA draft report to make Ponneri smart is ready

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

The draft report to develop Ponneri in North Chennai as one of the three smart
cities in Chennai-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor has been completed by
Japan International Cooperation Agency.



“We have prepared the draft report by the end of March. Now we are
seeking the comments from all stake holders. Once, we get the comments
then it will be incorporated in the report. The final report could be
ready before June,” said senior representative of Japan International
Cooperation Agency Ichiguchi Tomohide.



He also said the masterplan for both Chennai Bangalore Industrial
Corridor as well as the smart city in Ponneri is likely to be ready
before June, said Tomohide.



He said the stakeholders of the smart city project are Central
government agencies, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion and
Tamil nadu government.



JICA is looking at developing around 3,00 hectares in the area. The
masterplan would include industrial parks, residential area besides
commercial space.



Interestingly, JICA is planning to conduct a seminar on Chennai
Bangalore Industrial Corridor to gain the feedback from industry and
policy-makers once the master plan is ready. It is likely to be held
in Chennai in the next few months.



Although Tomohide ruled out Ennore Port’s role in developing the smart
city, he said the role of Ennore Port could be considered while
looking at the import and exports from the industries which would be
housed in the smart city.



A top Ennore Port official told Express that developing Ponneri as
smart city is Union government’s ambitious plan to have a smart cities
along its 12 major ports. He had said that the plan of the Union
government by linking Ponneri to Ennore Port is to help grow the smart
city. He told Express that shipping ministry is playing a major role
in augmenting smart city.



The plan of JICA is also to develop Ponneri as one of the industrial
hubs for Japanese companies.  The other two nodes are planned at
Vasant Narasapur at Tumkur in Karnataka and Krishnapatnam near
Nellore, in Andhra Pradesh.

On JICA's participation in Global Investors Meet, Tomohide said that
Japan External Trade Organization is taking part but did not rule out
JIC’s participation.

writingonblog uncensored: Medical quota of Dalits in private colleges not fi...

writingonblog uncensored: Medical quota of Dalits in private colleges not fi...: Chennai: The quota for dalit students in private medical colleges could not be filled during the last four years due to the delay in pro...

Medical quota of Dalits in private colleges not filled up for last four years

Chennai:

The quota for dalit students in private medical colleges could not be filled during the last four years due to the delay in providing post-matric scholarship for the eligible students, according to former bureaucrat and dalit activist Christodas Gandhi.

Hailing the government decision to grant Rs 334.76 crore as
post-matric scholarship on Saturday, former additional chief secretary of Tamil Nadu Gandhi said that the delay in granting the funds by officials to the eligible dalit students has resulted in 30 medical seats getting wasted every year.

“These vacant seats are being filled up by the private medical
colleges who demand hefty donations for them. Each seat would have cost Rs 3 lakh for a dalit students but now they are being sold more than 25 lakh,” Gandhi alleged while addressing a press conference organised by Dalit Panchayat Presidents Association.

Interestingly, last year the officials did not release any amount for the post-matric scholarship. The total outlay under the scheme is Rs 696 crore. “This has affected the studies of many poor dalits who are dependent on the scholarship amount,” he said.

The worst affected are those dalits aspiring to be engineers and
doctors. “We urge the state government to ensure that all those 120 seats that have not been filled up due to the scholarship issue be filled up,” said Gandhi.

He also said that since the government has cleared the amount of Rs 334.76 crore for the year 2015-16, it should also ensure that the pending last year’s sum of Rs 696 crore under post-matric scholarship is cleared.

He hailed the role of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa for her
welfare schemes supporting the downtrodden and blamed the officials for failing to release the amount at the right time.

The federation also urged the government to ensure that the funds under scheduled caste sub plan are not diverted to other popular schemes. The federation also urged the government to spend additional Rs 4,000 crore allocated under SCSP in new schemes rather than the usual schemes.

Nidhi Singh of National Foundation of India urged the state government to have people’s participation in state budget so that it could ensure transparency. She also wanted improved government spending under specific social sectors and for vunerable groups.

She also stressed the need for Gender Responsive Budgeting which should integrate gender in planning, budgeting and auditing cycle and institutional mechanisms and procedures for mainstreaming gender in public policies.

writingonblog uncensored: First phase of Kamarajar Port container terminal t...

writingonblog uncensored: First phase of Kamarajar Port container terminal t...: Chennai: The first phase of Rs 1270 crore Kamarajar Port Container Terminal is likely to be ready by March next year earlier than the targe...

First phase of Kamarajar Port container terminal to be ready by March next year

Chennai:

The first phase of Rs 1270 crore Kamarajar Port Container Terminal is
likely to be ready by March next year earlier than the target date of
January 2017, according to Capt Ramnath Vaidyanathan, the project head
of the container terminal.



Speaking during 3rd Trade Meet organised by Madras Chamber of Commerce
and Industry (MCCI) and Kamarajar Port, Capt Ramnath said that the
terminal will be one of the few container terminals which will operate
paperless. “It could be the second e-container terminal in the country
after Hazira Port,” he said



“it will be a e-container terminal and we will be completing the first
phase ahead of the given deadline,” said Ramnath.



Interestingly, 32 per cent of work has already been completed as
against the planned progress of 14 pc till March 2015,” said Capt
Ramnath.



In the first phase, Adani group is spending 780 crore for the project
and the remaining Rs 500 crore would be spent in the second phase.
Initially, the container terminal would cater to .7 million TEUs
(twenty feet equivalent unit). It will have four Quay crane and 12
rubber-tyred Gantry crane.



Interestingly, the Kamarajar Port Container terminal would be
different from Chennai Port’s container terminal which is handled by
Concor. “Here it will be handled by the terminal besides the terminal
will also have two dedicated rail lines,” he said.

The container terminal would also have radio frequency identification
(RFID) of trucks. The container terminal would also link to ICEGATE, a
e-commerce portal of Central Board of Excise and Customs, he said.

writingonblog uncensored: Removal of JICA from list of multilateral lenders ...

writingonblog uncensored: Removal of JICA from list of multilateral lenders ...: C Shivakumar Chennai: The removal of Japan International Cooperation Agency from the list of multilateral lenders is going to hit Tamil Nad...

Removal of JICA from list of multilateral lenders may escalate the cost of key TN projects

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

The removal of Japan International Cooperation Agency from the list of
multilateral lenders is going to hit Tamil Nadu government more as the
costs of the new projects, including second phase of Chennai Metro
Rail, are likely to escalate.



A senior representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency
Ichiguchi Tomohide told Express that there will be a cost escalation
of new projects as the removal of JICA from the list of multi-lateral
lenders will deny deemed export benefits to projects funded by the
agency.



Deemed Exports refer to those transactions in which goods supplied do
not leave country, and payment for such supplies is received either in
Indian rupees or in free foreign exchange. The legal agreements
provide for tender evaluation without including customs duty

on the supply of goods to projects financed by multilateral agencies.



“This should concern the project implementing agencies,” said Tomohide
while denying that the projects like Ponneri satellite township and
Chennai Bangalore Industrial Corridor will face any impact.



He said that JICA is currently examining the impact the new projects
will have due to the levy of duties.



“We will not be affected. The Indian side which is borrowing will have
to bear the financial burden,” he said.



It is likely that projects like the second phase of Chennai Metro Rail
may be hit due to cost escalation, said a Chennai Metro Rail source.
However, he ruled out that the first phase of Chennai Metro Rail
project would be affected.



However, he said the detailed project report is still being worked out
for the second phase of Chennai Metro Rail and it is too early to
comment on that.



Interestingly, then chief minister of Tamil Nadu J Jayalalithaa has
urged Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to join her
government as a partner in implementing nfrastructure projects under
‘Vision Tamil Nadu 2023’.



JICA has also played a key role in formulating Tamil Nadu Investment
Promotion Programme. The major projects implemented with the Agency’s
assistance in the State include Tamil Nadu Afforestation Project-II,
Hogenakkal Water Supply and Fluorosis Mitigation project, Tamil Nadu
Urban Infrastructure Project, Tamil Nadu Biodiversity Conservation and
Greening project, and Chennai Metro Rail project.

writingonblog uncensored: Five Japanese cos plan huge investments in TN

writingonblog uncensored: Five Japanese cos plan huge investments in TN: C Shivakumar Chennai: Five Japanese companies are planning huge investments in Tamil Nadu during the Global Investors Meet as Japanese ...

Five Japanese cos plan huge investments in TN

C Shivakumar
Chennai:

Five Japanese companies are planning huge investments in Tamil Nadu
during the Global Investors Meet as Japanese companies are planning to
expand their footprint in Chennai, according to Hidehiro Ishiura,
director general of Japan External Trade Organisation.



Speaking to Express on the sidelines of 3rd Trade Meet organised by
Kamarajar Port and Madras Chamber of Commerce and Industry here on
Thursday, Ishiura refused to give details about the size of investment
by the five Japanese companies.



“I can say that the investment is huge. Five companies are keen to
invest in Tamil Nadu. It is up to the state government to give its
clearance for the project,” he said while refusing to give specific
details on where the Japanese companies investment would be in the
state or the name of the five companies.



He said that currently there are 577 companies operating in Chennai
and the footprint of Japanese companies is likely to grow further this
financial year.



He said that the state is the investment destination for Japanese
companies and the Global Investors Meet would offer huge opportunity
for Japanese companies.



The state expects Rs one lakh crore worth investments during the
Global Investors Meet.



Meanwhile Ennore Port is expanding the parking parking space to cater
to 17,500 more cars. The decision was taken after Japanese companies
faced congestion during the end of the month due to large export
orders. “This is a big challenge for us. As the parking space will lie
empty for every 20 days of the month,” said R Senthil Kumar, general
manager, operations, Kamarajar Port.



“But we have agreed to take it up after the request of JETRO director
general. Interestingly, Kamarajar Port is being patronised by Japanese
companies for its efficiency in handling cargo. Companies like Toyota
and Nissan are dependent on Kamarajar Port. The addition of 5,000 more
car park space will make Kamarajar Port as one of leading ports in
India having a car park space of 17,500

writingonblog uncensored: Three-month Operation Sesha to bust international ...

writingonblog uncensored: Three-month Operation Sesha to bust international ...: Chennai: Union Minister of State for Shipping Pon Radhakrishnan on Wednesday said that truth behind who hired the 20 wood cutters to sm...

Three-month Operation Sesha to bust international Red Sanders Trade to end on April 30

Chennai:

Union Minister of State for Shipping Pon Radhakrishnan on Wednesday
said that truth behind who hired the 20 wood cutters to smuggle red
sanders should be revealed by Andhra Pradesh government.

Refusing to drag Prime Minister Narendra Modi into the controversy, he
said the issue is between Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. “Why do you
want to involve the prime minister into this. He will make statement
when it is needed,” Radhakrishnan said.

He also demanded that the policemen who shot dead the 20 Tamils be
punished immediately while questioning the role of Andhra Pradesh in
Red Sanders smuggling.

He also demanded white paper on the killing of wood cutters.
Interestingly, the comment by the minister also comes in the wake of
directorate of revenue intelligence launching Operation Sesha earlier
this year. The operation has been launched by Indian Customs and it is
going to end by this month. However, barring the killing of 20 wood
cutters, there has been no information on who their handlers or even
the port of destination for Red Sanders.

Interestingly, the operation was to bust organised syndicates,
unravelling the financial trial, tracing the forward and backward
linkages an sharing of intelligence.

It is learnt that despite Red Sanders which comes under the endangered
plant species, it is still being smuggled to China and other
countries, despite being named on the Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

writingonblog uncensored: Kamarajar Port now can monitor cyclones, oil spill...

writingonblog uncensored: Kamarajar Port now can monitor cyclones, oil spill...: Chennai: Kamarajar Port will now have information about the cyclones as well as a mechanism to detect oil spill with the launch of Vess...

Kamarajar Port now can monitor cyclones, oil spill along coast through VTS

Chennai:

Kamarajar Port will now have information about the cyclones as well as
a mechanism to detect oil spill with the launch of Vessel Traffic
Service (VTS) by Union Minister of State for Shipping Pon
Radhakrishnan.

The facility installed at Kamarajar Port at a cost of Rs 14.10 crore
will provide safer shippin movements at Port as well as anchorage
areas and comes at a time when the port is planning major expansion
moves.

Addressing Port officials after inaugurating VTS, Radhakrishnan
highlighted the rapid growth of the port and hoped that Ennore would
be converted into a small Singapore while urging the port to also help
develop North Chennai region under corporate social responsibility
initiatives.

On the Ennore Manali Road Improvement Project, he said that the
project is likely to have 100 metres alteration. He also said that
talks will be on with the state government to resolve the
Maduravoyal-Chennai Port elevated corridor project.

He said that Vessel Traffic Service is an integrated service combining
many sensors, including Radar, Meteorological and other sensors to
provide an overall image of shipping movements in port and the
adjacent coastal waters.

“It will help port authority to take decision in berthing, navigation
in restricted waters and improves security environment,” he said.

The Safety of Life at Sea 1974 regulations of International Maritime
Organisation (IMO) which was later amended, stressed on the need to
establish VTS in waters. Interestingly, a port official said that once
the port related information will be linked to VTS it will be known as
VTMS.

writingonblog uncensored: Chennai to have four more postal ATMs this month

writingonblog uncensored: Chennai to have four more postal ATMs this month: Chennai: Chennai will have four more Post Office Savings Bank ATM as postal department is migrating to core banking solutions after i...

Chennai to have four more postal ATMs this month

Chennai:

Chennai will have four more Post Office Savings Bank ATM as postal
department is migrating to core banking solutions after its financial
revenue generated through money orders have been eaten away by net
banking and ATMs.



The city, which became the first to have a ATM, would have another
four in Tambaram, St Thomas Mount, Anna Road and Mylapore by this
month. The first ATM was being set up in T Nagar on February 2014.





“We are planning to have 20 more ATMs across the state and the city
will have four of them,” said Post Master general of Chennai City Region Merwin Alexander.



Talking about Money orders, Alexander says Tamil Nadu is the leading
state in India where around 15 lakh money order transactions happen.
It is followed by Karnataka, said Alexander.



He said Chennai region accounts for 40 per cent of such transactions
per month. “On an average Rs 80 crore worth of money order
transactions happen in Chennai region,” said Alexander.



He said that money orders are still relevant in Tamil Nadu as the
state government sends social security related transactions through
money orders. “The old people, the widows and the differently-abled
would face difficulty in accessing the ATMs so the state is using
money order services through which the cash is delivered at their door
step,” he said.



Alexander says that the social security transactions usually happens
with the tahsildar sending in the list of beneficiaries to the post
office who then send in the money orders to addresses mentioned in the
CD. He says that Washermenpet post office alone has 15,000 of such
transactions.



He said the age-old money order form has been done away with. “We now
send MOs electronically. “Instead of usual message section being
delivered by the postman, the electronic version has pre-formatted
message which is delivered electronically,” said Alexander.



Interestingly, the post office still has a clientele which is
dependent on ordinary money orders. “This is around 10 per cent,” says
Alexander.

He also highlighted that the religious agencies and charitable trusts
are also dependent on money orders,” he said.

writingonblog uncensored: TN seeks Navy's Help to dock Vagli on Mamallapuram...

writingonblog uncensored: TN seeks Navy's Help to dock Vagli on Mamallapuram...: C Shivakumar Chennai: Will Indian Navy help Tamil Nadu government in transferring Vagli, the decommissioned submarine of Indian Navy, ...

TN seeks Navy's Help to dock Vagli on Mamallapuram heritage site

C Shivakumar
Chennai:

Will Indian Navy help Tamil Nadu government in transferring Vagli, the
decommissioned submarine of Indian Navy, to the 30 acres of land
abutting the beach near the UNESCO declared World Heritage site in
Mahabalipuram?



With Tamil Nadu Tourism Development struggling to get the submarine on
to the beach site for setting the maritime heritage museum, TTDC
sources said that the state is mulling on seeking help from the Indian
Navy.



TTDC said that the biggest issue is whether to break the submarine and
assemble it on the site or go for other alternative.



A Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation source said that the
proposal to break the 1400 tonne submarine and carry it either through
land and sea and assemble it on the site has not gone too well with
Indian Navy who have stated that it won’t be a feasible idea.



The proposal to break the submarine was initially taken and a study
was done Bharat Heavy Electricals in this regard. It was found out
that since the height of the submarine was too much to be shipped
through the road.



“Even if is being shipped through the sea, the challenge would be how
to get it to the shore,” the TTDC source said. There was also an idea
to break it into three peices vertically and ship it through barge.
But Indian Navy has objected to breaking the vessel.



“Indian Navy feels it will be difficult to restore it back in shape to
be used as museum. We are still deliberating on it,” the TTDC source
said.



“We are now planning to seek Indian Navy’s help to transfer the
submarine to Mahabalipuram, the TTDC source said.



“Since this is a policy decision, the chief secretary has to take a
call on this regard,” the TTDC source said

writingonblog uncensored: Housing board scheme conceived 25 years ago cancel...

writingonblog uncensored: Housing board scheme conceived 25 years ago cancel...: Chennai: A housing board scheme conceived 25 years ago has been shut down after Tamil Nadu Housing Board cancelled land acquisition for...

Housing board scheme conceived 25 years ago cancelled

Chennai:

A housing board scheme conceived 25 years ago has been shut down after
Tamil Nadu Housing Board cancelled land acquisition for 65.34 acres in
Sornajeri village of Poonamalee taluk in Thiruvallur  district.


A Government Order to this effect was passed on March 25, 2015.

It is learnt that the government has issued orders for land
acquisition measuring 65 acres in Soranjeri Village on September,
1989, for a Tamil Nadu Housing Board Scheme.

But the scheme never saw the light of the day as dispossession stay
was granted to an extent of 32.6 acres by the High Court.

As such only 32.74 acres of land was awarded but this was not handed
over to TNHB.

As such in 1993, TNHB recommended to the government to withdraw the
land acquisition proposal as it will be difficult to implement the
housing scheme in that area due to large number of constructions.

Interestingly, Madras High Court has directed the commissioner of land
acquisition in its order dated 11 November 2013 to send suitable
remarks to housing secretary besides the resolution passed by TNHB and
pass final orders.

Following which the Commissioner of Land Acquisition sought the land
acquisition proceedings to be withdrawn under section 48 of Land
Acquisition Act 189.

The government following the recommendation of commissioner of land
acquisition as well as law and revenue department, cancelled the land
acquisition measuring 65.34 acres on March 25, 2015, the GO stated.

A TNHB source said that the real issue is lack of adequate planning
before acquiring the land. “It is not only with this project. There
are numerous other projects which are facing litigation as the
government has been sleeping over the projects and hardly aware that
it had been encroached upon,” he said.