writingonblog uncensored: Local fishermen were the first to jump to the resc...

writingonblog uncensored: Local fishermen were the first to jump to the resc...: Chennai: The local fishermen were the first to rescue the crewmembers of Pratibha Cauvery when they tried to take a lifeboat to reach...

Local fishermen were the first to jump to the rescue of drowning crewmembers

Chennai:

The local fishermen were the first to rescue the crewmembers of Pratibha Cauvery when they tried to take a lifeboat to reach ashore after their ship ran aground 3.7 nautical miles south of Chennai Port near Adyar Creek on Wednesday.

Eyewitness sources said the sea was rough and it was pitch dark. Even the fire service department officials were mere bystanders but the local fishermen risked their lives and jumped into the sea.

The sea was choppy and the fishermen managed to rescue about four to five crewmembers. They brought them to the beach and 108 ambulance rushed them to the nearby hospital, said an eyewitness who refused to be quoted.

He said that had it not been for the fishermen, it would be difficult for some of the crewmembers to swim ashore. He said there were still some crewmembers stranded in the ship. An Indian Navy officer also confirmed that it local fishermen rescued some of the crewmembers. Interestingly, an argument also broke out between fishermen and Coastguard who alleged that the response from the Coastguard was bit delayed

writingonblog uncensored: Rough seas pose a hurdle in discharge of canal wat...

writingonblog uncensored: Rough seas pose a hurdle in discharge of canal wat...: Chennai: The rough seas may pose a hurdle in discharge of canal water into the sea, according to PWD sources. PWD sources said due to...

Rough seas pose a hurdle in discharge of canal water into sea

Chennai:

The rough seas may pose a hurdle in discharge of canal water into the sea, according to PWD sources.

PWD sources said due to high tide it will take time for the canals to get the water discharged in the sea. Currently, water is blowing backwards. Once the sea subsides, the water will drain into the sea.

Interestingly, the canals like Otteri Nullah and Virugambakam Canal are flowing smoothly after it was cleared of silt and weeds.

PWD sources said after the cleaning up the tail end of Otteri Nullah 15 years after the waterway was blocked by silt and weeds, areas like Pulianthope in North Chennai are free from flood waters.

He said officials from PWD are monitoring the canals to check whether the flow is mooth or not. He said the flow is nearly 60 to 70 per cent in Otteri Nullah and Virugambakkam Canal and has not exceeded the alarming level.

The original capacity of the Otteri Nullah was 600 cusecs and after desilting and clearing of weeds, it now has been improved to 1,000 cusecs.

writingonblog uncensored: MAPS withstands fury of Cyclone Nilam

writingonblog uncensored: MAPS withstands fury of Cyclone Nilam: Chennai; Madras Atomic Power Station withstood the fury of Cyclone Nilam as both the reactors are functioning and will continue to...

MAPS withstands fury of Cyclone Nilam

Chennai;

Madras Atomic Power Station withstood the fury of Cyclone Nilam as both the reactors are functioning and will continue to operate, according to Dr M Sai Baba, associate director, Resources Management group, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam.

Speaking to Express after the cyclone hit the Chennai coast on Wednesday, he said both the reactors besides a test reactor are functioning as usual and will continue to operate.

Earlier Station director of MAPS K Ramamurthy said that Kalpakkam being a coastal site all the structures and equipments were designed to withstand the wind velocity of 160 km per hour.

“If the cyclone intensifies, problem may hardly arise with the transmission towers,” he said.

Saibaba told Express that a cyclone protection committee was formed to take stock of the situation in the plant and the township.

Meanwhile, there has been a change of guard in Madras Atomic Power Station. T J Kotteeswaran, who is the station director of Kaiga Generating Station – 3 and 4, Karnataka will take over the charge of Station director, MAPS from K Ramamurthy, a release said.

writingonblog uncensored: Uncertainty hangs over the fate of five crew membe...

writingonblog uncensored: Uncertainty hangs over the fate of five crew membe...: Chennai: A crew member of ship Pratibha Cauvery, which ran aground 3.7 nautical miles south of Chennai Port near Adyar Creek on Wedne...

Uncertainty hangs over the fate of five crew members of Pratibha Cauvery which ran aground near Adyar Creek

Chennai:

A crew member of ship Pratibha Cauvery, which ran aground 3.7 nautical miles south of Chennai Port near Adyar Creek on Wednesday, died and the fate of five others is uncertain when they tried to reach ashore using lifeboats just prior to Cyclone Nilam striking the Chennai coast.

The ship, which came to Chennai Port on September 28^th from Kolkata, was anchored outside the port after it discharged light diesel oil, port officials said. On 29^th the ship left for Mumbai and on October 8, it returned to Chennai and was anchored outside the port. It was on Wednesday, when wind velocity of nearly 80kmph hit the vessel, it dragged its anchor and ran aground around 2.21 pm. It had no cargo and weighs 29,000 DWT (dead weight Tonnage)

With the fear of Cyclone Nilam, which was expected to hit the Chennai Coast in the evening, 22 of the 37-member crew stranded in the ship tried to escape using lifeboat. However due to the rough seas they could not reach ashore. Indian Navy, Coastguard and Mercantile Marine Department launched a rescue operation. Sixteen of the crew were rescued of which nearly seven to eight have been rescued by the Indian Navy, a Indian Navy official overseeing the search and rescue operations said. however, Fortis Malar Hospital sources said 17 peop1e were brought to hosp1ital of which one person was brought dead. Search is still on for those who are still missing.

Deputy Conservator of Chennai Port Trust M K Sinha said the crew lacked basic knowledge and did not know that at the time of bad weather, staying in the ship is best to weather the storm. The 15-crew members who stayed back are safe and sound in the ship.

When Express tried contacting Coastguard, they said they are in the midst of emergency operations and would get back shortly.

writingonblog uncensored: National Green Tribunal sets up bench in Chennai

writingonblog uncensored: National Green Tribunal sets up bench in Chennai: Chennai: The southern bench of National Green Tribunal in Chennai will start hearing cases from November 2. The two- member bench...

National Green Tribunal sets up bench in Chennai

Chennai:

The southern bench of National Green Tribunal in Chennai will start hearing cases from November 2.

The two- member bench will consist of Justice M Chockalingam as a judicial member and Dr R Nagendran, as expert member. Before assuming their office in Chennai they were serving at the principal bench in New Delhi.

Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, Justice Chockalingam and Dr Nagendran said that the jurisdiction of the southern bench would extend to four states and two union territories. These include Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu besides union territories of Puducherry and Lakshwadweep.

The bench started functioning from Tuesday and it will start hearing cases from November 2 afternoon onwards, said Dr Nagendran.

Justice Chockalingam said the green tribunal has got original and appellate jurisdiction on matters pertaining to seven acts. These include The Water (Prevention and Copntrol of Pollution) Act 1974, The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977, The Forest (Conservation) Act 1980, The Air (Prevention and Control of pollution) Act 1981, The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991 and The Biological Diversity Act, 2002 related to environment.

Interestingly, the tribunal is receiving a large number of cases for adjudication which involve major infrastructure projects of national importance such as thermal power plants, hydroelectric projects, mining projects apart from coastal regulation zone issues, forest conservation matters, pollution related cases invoking the provisions of Air Act and Water Act. Besides, a number of transferred cases from High Courts and Supreme Courts are being heard by the tribunal.

“We will be taking up cases on the fast track mode,” said Chockalingam. Interestingly, the tribunal is expected to hear high profile cases, which include new legislative assembly cum secretariat complex constructed at Omanthurar Estate, Chemplast Sanmar, Alfa Infraprop thermal power plant at Vizianagar in Andhra Pradesh, Udupi Power corporation at Yellur and Chemfab Alkalis Limited versus Government of Puducherry.

writingonblog uncensored: Think tunneling if Port-Maduravoyal elevated link ...

writingonblog uncensored: Think tunneling if Port-Maduravoyal elevated link ...: Chennai: As the row between National Highway Authority and Tamil Nadu government over the Chennai Port – Maduravoyal elevated link r...

Think tunneling if Port-Maduravoyal elevated link road row fails to get resolved: expert

Chennai:

As the row between National Highway Authority and Tamil Nadu government over the Chennai Port – Maduravoyal elevated link road project is yet to get resolved, an expert suggested that NHAI should think of building a tunnel link to ease congestion.

Speaking during a panel discussion on ‘Infranomics and Indian Growth story: What ails the Indian Infrastructure Development’ former chairman of National Highways authority Brijeshwar singh said since the deadlocks between the state government and NHAI persists for more than seven months, NHAI should look into other alternatives like building a tunnel.

“This is three times costlier than the elevated project but NHAI has to think of an alternative to ease port congestion,” said Brijeshwar Singh.

Singh said as the government is facing problem over land acquisition, time has come to look for underground structures. “Although the investment will be huge but there is a huge scope for underground development,” he added.

I G Reddy, NHAI Chief General Manager (Technical), Tamil Nadu and Kerala who was present on the occasion ruled out tunnels being the solution and said Rs 1,800 crore project would soon start. The project is lying idle for the last seven months and is resulting in loss of crores of rupees to the exchequer. The Water Resources Department on March has directed NHAI to stop work on the elevated road project stating that that pile caps constructed for the project obstructed the free flow of water in the Cooum. It also stated that the alignment of the elevated road was not along the bank of the river but on the waterways.

Interestingly, the panel discussion focused on the challenges for the Indian government in raising $1 trillion for building Indian infrastructure. The other panelists, which included L Krishnan, chief executive officer IL&FS Urban Infrastructure Managers, M Sivanandam, chief transport planning manager and chief safety officer Southern Railways, A L Sekhar, executive vice president band head heavy civil infrastructure SBG L&T Construction and AK Jain, general manager, Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited, highlighted land acquisition, rising inflation and current account deficit as major roadblocks for infrastructure development.

Krishnan said that such huge amount of money ($1 trillion) could only come from the government instead of private sector as it is the only credible agency which can borrow the money. Sekhar and Singh stressed on the need for projects to be taken up only after 100 per cent land acquisition is over. “If the land acquistion is not being done it will result in cost overruns,” said Sekhar.

writingonblog uncensored: SSC workshop to update question bank hit by rains

writingonblog uncensored: SSC workshop to update question bank hit by rains: Chennai: Heavy rains delayed Staff Selection Commission’s third workshop on English Language and Comprehension as only half of the part...

SSC workshop to update question bank hit by rains

Chennai:

Heavy rains delayed Staff Selection Commission’s third workshop on English Language and Comprehension as only half of the participants turned up to update the question bank.

The workshop started nearly 30 minutes late and only half of the expected 40 professors turned up at the event.

A SSC official said that around 50 participants attended the preliminary workshop held earlier. The workshop was to update the question bank of SCC on English language and comprehension. The question banks on relevant subjects are updated periodically with the active involvement and cooperation of expert item writers from the respective academic fields.

“We will be validating the questions and accepting it during the workshop,” he said. Interestingly, Staff Selection Commission chairman N K Raghupathy could not make it to the workshop and deputy secretary of SSC T M Skaria was conducting the event.

“A total of 6,000 questions were to be screened, with each professor presenting 150 questions. Due to rains we would be getting only half of the questions. But then this will not affect the question bank as we expect other professors to join or mail in the remaining questions to be validated,” the SSC official said. However, he did not answer to the query on how many questions will be validated during the workshop.

Meanwhile, the number of candidates appeared, selected and nominated by southern region has been drastically increasing, according to a SSC release.

As per figures available, a total of 5.63 lakh applications were received till October this year against a total of 5.41 lakh last year (2011-12). Among those 4.13 lakh candidates were allowed to write exams against 3.74 lakh last year. The release also stated that last year a total of 4,687 candidates were selected and this year by October itself, a total of 2,702 candidates were selected from the southern region.

writingonblog uncensored: Cyclone Nilam to strike AP, TN on Wednesday aftern...

writingonblog uncensored: Cyclone Nilam to strike AP, TN on Wednesday aftern...: Chennai: Cyclone Nilam will hit the Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu   by Wednesday afternoon. MR Ramanan, the IMD director   said Cyclon...

Cyclone Nilam to strike AP, TN on Wednesday afternoon

Chennai:
Cyclone Nilam will hit the Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu  by Wednesday afternoon. MR Ramanan, the IMD director  said Cyclone Nilam will hit the area between Nellore and Nagapattinam by Wednesday evening."
Chennai, Kancheepuram, Cuddalore and Villupuram received heavy rains in the morning, inconveniencing office-goers.
The Met department official earlier had informed, "The deep depression over southwest Bay of Bengal moved westwards, and lay centred at 1800 UTC of yesterday over southwest Bay of Bengal near latitude 9.00N and longitude 82.00E, about 500 km south-southeast of Chennai and 100 km east-northeast of Trincomalee (Sri Lanka)."
"The system would intensify further into a cyclonic storm and move westwards for some more time and come very close to Sri Lanka coast and then move northwestwards and cross north Tamil Nadu and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nagapattinam and Nellore by tomorrow afternoon," added the official.
It forecast "heavy to extremely heavy rainfall" up to 25 cm or more besides squally winds reaching up to 45-55 kmph of speed and gusting up to 65 kmph off north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts during next 12 hours, it said.
"The wind speed would gradually increase thereafter as the system comes closer to the coast. Sea condition will be very rough to high along and off north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts during next 48 hours.

Agencies

writingonblog uncensored: State sanctions eight posts for TN biodiversity bo...

writingonblog uncensored: State sanctions eight posts for TN biodiversity bo...: Chennai: The state government has sanctioned eight posts for the Tamil Nadu Biodiversity Board. In a government order, the environme...

State sanctions eight posts for TN biodiversity board

Chennai:

The state government has sanctioned eight posts for the Tamil Nadu Biodiversity Board.

In a government order, the environment and forest department has sanctioned the posts of administrative officer, superintendent, console operator, assistant (three) and office assistant (two).

The GO has permitted the principal chief conservator of forests and chief wildlife warden to employ retired officials as office assitants. Interestingly, the Forests Minister K T Pachamal opposed the appointment of retired officials during the Tamil Nadu Biodiversity Board meeting stating that youth should be appointed to these posts.

writingonblog uncensored: TN set to notify biodiversity rules as state biodi...

writingonblog uncensored: TN set to notify biodiversity rules as state biodi...:   Chennai: The state government is planning to have biodiversity management committees at the panchayat level and is set to notify its...

TN set to notify biodiversity rules as state biodiversity board convenes after four-year hiatus

 

Chennai:

The state government is planning to have biodiversity management committees at the panchayat level and is set to notify its biodiversity rules after getting the clearance from the law department soon, according to Forests Minister K T Pachamal.

Chairing the Tamil Nadu Biodiversity Board at the secretariat here on Monday, the minister said the draft Tamil Nadu Biodiversity rules is before the law department for its approval and once it is cleared it will be notified soon.

Interestingly, this is the second biodiversity board meeting convened after four years. The earlier one was convened on October 2008. The minister urged the Environment and Forests Department secretary to convene meeting every three months and that too in different locations to take stock of biodiversity issues across the state. The next meeting will be held in Tirunelveli on January 2013.

Meanwhile, the draft which stressed the formation of biodiversity management committee (BMC) at block level was opposed by board members Dr V Arivudai Nambi, principal scientist, M S Swaminathan Research Foundation and Dr D Narasimhan, associate professor, Centre for Floristic Research, department of Botany, Madras Christian College, stating it should be localized further to make it more inclusionary. As a result, the minister agreed to make changes stating that BMC would be formed at panchayat level instead of block level.

Interestingly, BMC is key to preparing a people’s biodiversity register which is necessary in eco-restoration of local biodiversity besides regulation of access to the biological resources and associated traditional knowledge for commercial and research purpose.

During the meeting it was also decided to initially focus on five places in each district, which are rich in biodiversity before expanding it across the state. These include the coastal as well as forest areas also.

The meeting also discussed the allotment of one hectare of land for National Biodiversity Authority and 1.5 hectare of land for Tamil Nadu Biodiversity Board in Chemmenchery village in Sholinganallur taluk for construction of offices.

Factfile:
--- A sub-committee has finalised the formation of 10 biodiversity management committee in areas rich in biodiversity.
--- Four BMC in Ramnad is formed and Rs 32.25 lakh funds from National Biodiversity Authority in Chennai is sought
--- A corpus fund of rs 5 lakh has been deposited in Tamil nadu Biodiversity Board account sanctioned by National Biodiversity Authority, Chennai and Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden is operating the account
--- Government has been urged to change the account in the name of member secretary, Tamil Nadu Biodiversity Board as per the Act.

writingonblog uncensored: VC funding for wind sector in third quarter was $5...

writingonblog uncensored: VC funding for wind sector in third quarter was $5...: Chennai: Venture Capital (VC) funding for the wind sector during the third quarter amounted to $57 million in six deals compared to...

VC funding for wind sector in third quarter was $57m: Report

Chennai:

Venture Capital (VC) funding for the wind sector during the third quarter amounted to $57 million in six deals compared to a weak second quarter where $17 million went into three deals, according to a report by Mercom Capital Group, a global clean energy communications and consulting firm.

The disclosed venture capital deals this quarter included $21.5 million raised by Mainstream Renewable Power and $15.3 million raised by Trishe Developers, both wind project developers, the report stated.

The large-scale project funding announced in third quarter totaled $1.1 billion in 11 deals, all going to onshore projects.

Top large-scale project funding deals announced in the third quarter included $350 million raised by Nareva Renouvelables and Kharabel FZE for its 300 MW Tarfaya Wind Project in Morocco, $165 million raised by Alto Holding for its 120 MW Karaburun Wind Farm in Turkey, and $141 million raised by NuPower Renewables for its 150 MW onshore wind farm in India.

Other top deals were $86 million raised by InfraVest and wpd for its 53 MW Tongyuan Wind Project in Taiwan and the $85 million loan to Newcom for its 50 MW Salkhit Wind Farm in Mongolia.

Corporate Merger and Acquisition (M&A) activity in third quarter amounted to $53 million in 11 transactions compared to $93 million in five transactions in second quarter. Mergers and acquisitions transactions disclosed this quarter were the $33.2 million acquisition of Shear Wind, a developer of wind energy properties in Canada by Sprott Power Corp, and the $20 million acquisition of certain assets of Otter Tail Corporation’s DMI Industries, a manufacturer of wind towers, by Trinity Industries.

There were four debt funding deals announced in third quarter totaling $359 million. Suzlon Energy raised $281 million in short-term loans to repay holders of its foreign convertible bonds, signing an 18 month loan facility with 11 lenders.

Mainstream Renewable Power secured a credit facility of $51 million from Macquarie Group. Finally, Broad Wind Energy closed on a $20 million credit facility with AloStar Business Credit, and Wind Power Energia received a $7 million loan from Inter-American Investment Corporation.

writingonblog uncensored: Nokia expands Asha Touch range to offer consumers ...

writingonblog uncensored: Nokia expands Asha Touch range to offer consumers ...: Chennai:  Reinnovating consumer experiences at attractive price points, Nokia India ushered in two new smartphones - Nokia Asha 308 and No...

Nokia expands Asha Touch range to offer consumers smarter Internet experiences

Chennai:
 Reinnovating consumer experiences at attractive price points, Nokia India ushered in two new smartphones - Nokia Asha 308 and Nokia Asha 309, the latest additions to the Asha Touch family of smartphones - to accelerate the consumer journey of connecting the next billion to the internet.

Nokia Asha 308 and 309, the most affordable capacitive touch screen device come equipped with the cloud accelerated Nokia Xpress Browser and are optimized for faster and cheaper browsing experience, Nokia Maps, Nokia Music, Apps, 40 premium EA games and integrated social networking experience offering smartphone experience to consumers at newer price points.


Additionally, the new devices also come preloaded with the Nokia Nearby app that allows consumers to discover, search and share places of interest around them. The app gives access to over 7 million places of interest in India. Specifically in Chennai, consumers have access to over 16,821 shopping destinations, 3,627 tourism places, over 2,682 places to eat and more!

Commenting on the launch T.S. Sridhar, Regional General Manager(South), Nokia India “The launch of Nokia Asha 308 and Nokia Asha 309 portray our conviction towards our strategy of connecting the next billion and showcases our success towards delivering on this strategy. We are constantly innovating our devices and experiences to bring the new age hyper-social and aspirational consumers closer to the great smartphone experience at unique price points. With Nokia Asha 308 and Nokia Asha 309 embedded with Nearby application, Nokia Maps, Nokia Music will set new benchmarks in offering differentiated experiences to our consumers.”

The dual SIM Nokia Asha 308 and single SIM Nokia Asha 309 give consumers fast web access at low cost. To create this smarter Internet experience, Nokia released a new version of Nokia Xpress Browser, which enables up to 85% more efficient mobile browsing and faster access to rich web applications compared to conventional browse

writingonblog uncensored: Chennai to host CII Young Indians Regional Summit

writingonblog uncensored: Chennai to host CII Young Indians Regional Summit: Chennai: Confederation of Indian Industry - Young Indians (CII-Yi) is organising two-day Young Indians Southern Regional Summit on ...

Chennai to host CII Young Indians Regional Summit

Chennai: Confederation of Indian Industry - Young Indians (CII-Yi) is organising two-day Young Indians Southern Regional Summit on  October 26 in Chennai.

The summit would focus on the theme 'Standing Tall: Connected Values & Disconnected Youth' providing an opportunity for the Indian youth to take responsibilities on the values that connect them and the country and to be part of the generation that ought to be part of this change.

Jay Galla, Chairman, Yi Southern Regional Summit, Past National Chairman, Young Indians & Managing Director, Amara Raja Batteries Ltd said, "Young Indians Southern Regional Summit is an attempt by the Young Indians of CII to talk about various issues, interact with people who have found solutions for problems and get the youth to initiate collective action on issues of national importance."

"Education, entrepreneurship, corruption, governance, infrastructure, healthcare and energy were amongst many other  issues, the youth of our country  need to stand tall, united, connect with values for achieving the common goal of socio-economic prosperity".  The summit would deliberate on these important topics with reference to the role of youth in arriving consensus on key developmental issues.

The summit would also deliberate on the role media in shaping up  youth. As media becomes an inseparable part of today's life, their impact needs to be equally significant in shaping the future of India, through the generation next. The Young India summit would also attempt to keep the spirit of Indian culture alive, to those who have strived to engage people through their passion and commitment and to those who have embraced the Indian culture in their lives and work.

M Sivaramakrishnan, Co Chairman of the summit, Chair, Young Indians (Chennai Chapter) & Managing Director, UCAL Group said that this summit had all the ingredients to address the youth in standing tall for connected values and informed that this summit would be attended by the members of Young Indians from across the country through its 26 chapters and students from institutions that Yi works with in the Southern region.

Eminent speakers drawn from various walks of life who would be addressing the 2-day summit include; R Seshasayee, Executive Vice Chairman, Ashok Leyland Ltd;  C K Ranganathan, Chairman & Managing Director, CavinKare Pvt Ltd;    Krishnamachari Srikkanth, Former Captain, Indian Cricket Team; Vandana Gopikumar, Founder, The Banyan; Suhas Gopinath, Founder, CEO & Chairman, Globals Inc;  Aruna R Krishnan, Editor & Publisher, Ritz Magazine; Andrea Jeremiah, Playback Singer & Actress, Harish Hande, Ramon Magsaysay Award Winner and Co Founder & Managing Director, SELCO India, K S Sripathi, Chief Information Commissioner, Tamil Nadu Information Commission, G K Mahantesh, Founder Managing Trustee, Samarthanam Trust for the Blind, Anand Natarajan, Director, Indian Sports Promotion Academy and Hanne M de Bruin, Director, Kuttu Kalai Kudam - Centre of Performing Arts  amongst others.

writingonblog uncensored: Su-Kam Power Systems enters into a strategic Joint...

writingonblog uncensored: Su-Kam Power Systems enters into a strategic Joint...: Chennai: Su-Kam Power Systems Limited, the leading player in the power back-up industry in India and Gamatronic, world leader in cutti...

Su-Kam Power Systems enters into a strategic Joint Association with Gamatronic

Chennai: Su-Kam Power Systems Limited, the leading player in the power back-up industry in India and Gamatronic, world leader in cutting-edge modular power protection solutions and technology, on Monday, entered into a joint association to manufacture and market Gamatronic products in India. An exclusive agreement to manufacture Gamatronic’s state-of-the art Modular UPS Systems was signed by Kunwer Sachdev, Managing Director, Su-Kam and  Joseph Goren, Managing Director, Gamatronic.

Under this agreement Su-Kam, will manufacture and market Multiplexer series of modular UPS under the technical guidance of Gamatronic in its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility at Gurgaon. The Multiplexer  Series will be marketed under Su-Kam Gamatronic brand in India. The company is targeting an initial business volume of Rs. 50 crores.

Speaking on this significant tie-up, Kunwer Sachdev, Managing Director, Su-Kam said, “At Su-Kam we have always believed that uninterrupted power solutions could hold key to the progress for an emerging economy like India. We have experienced over the years that only cutting-edge technological innovations can offer long-term solutions to the power problems.

 Keeping up with our commitment of empowering the world with technological excellence; this tie-up with Gamatronic is yet another initiative from Su-Kam to offer highly advanced technology in power solutions to support sectors like IT, banking & finance, health, telecom, automation, metro rails, defence, railways etc. Backed by world class Gamatronic technology; Su-Kam’s robust manufacturing facility, round the clock service and a wide distribution network, we are confident of offering a powerful solution for diverse industries.

Joseph Goren, Managing Director, Gamatronic said “We are delighted to partner with Su-Kam who has redefined the power solutions market in India with innovative products and technology. This agreement will enable us to offer our cutting-edge products to the fast evolving power solutions sector in India

Indian UPS market is a highly competitive and growing at a fast pace with both multinational and Indian players competing for space. According to a Frost & Sullivan report, Indian UPS market is expected to witness a CAGR of 13.4% with projected market size of $ 828.2 million by 2017. This growth is driven by demands from major sectors like banking, financial services and insurance, telecom, retail, IT/ITES, manufacturing, infrastructure and others.

Modular UPS Systems market size in India is estimated to be around 15% of standalone three phase markets, growing at the rate of 25% per annum.  Modular UPS Systems offer immense benefits like- Scalability, Efficiency, Reliability, Low MTTR. Modular UPS is a Green Product as this is highly efficient, space saving UPS uses less energy in manufacturing and transportation. Modular UPS Systems have a long-term usage, augments with the growth of business needs and offers healthy return on investment. The Initial additional cost can be recovered within one and a half year.

Power protection solutions from Su-Kam Gamatronic under Multiplexer  Series are based on green, clean, and globally responsible energy technology that meets and exceeds power requirements - while minimizing environmental impact.

writingonblog uncensored: Clear construction debris from Srinivasapuram beac...

writingonblog uncensored: Clear construction debris from Srinivasapuram beac...: C Shivakumar Chennai: The National Green Tribunal has directed Public Works Department to remove the construction debris, which it d...

Clear construction debris from Srinivasapuram beach and submit status report, says Green Tribunal

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

The National Green Tribunal has directed Public Works Department to remove the construction debris, which it dumped in the Foreshore Estate and dispose it off as per solid waste rules besides submitting a status report on the same by November 2.

The directive on Thursday came after The New Indian Express brought to light that PWD while adhering to earlier directive of the tribunal to clear the construction debris dumped near the Adyar Estuary dumped it on the beach near Srinivasapuram.

K Saravanan of Urur Kuppam, on whose petition the Green Tribunal passed the earlier order, objected to the move by PWD and approached the tribunal again. He said that PWD after removing the debris from Adyar Estuary, are dumping the same in another area also within the coastal regulation zone.

Contractors carrying out the operation at that time defended the move saying it was done to level the beach for Ganesh idol immersion sparking protest from Green activist Nityanand Jayaram, who 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 had stated.

The tribunal also directed PWD to file another status report before the next hearing on November 2 indicating the actions taken by them to remove the debris. It also directed PWD to enforce scientific methods to clean the site. The tribunal observed that it is being learnt that PWD is not cleaning the debris properly and are using Earth Moving Equipment instead of adopting Beach Cleaning Machine. “Without entering into any controversy, we direct the Opposite Parties to use scientific methods to clean the site,” the tribunal observed.

The controversy had earlier erupted after Public Works Department allegedly dumped construction material to build a dirt road 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, barely a metre away from the hatchery for Olive Ridley turtles. The Green Tribunal ordered the removal of all the debris dumped to create the dirt road within a period of three months from the order delivered on August 7.

writingonblog uncensored: Rains secure water for next three months in Chenna...

writingonblog uncensored: Rains secure water for next three months in Chenna...: Rains enhance Chennai’s water security C Shivakumar Chennai: Heavy rainfall during the last two days has proved a blessing for Chenn...

Rains secure water for next three months in Chennai

Rains enhance Chennai’s water security

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

Heavy rainfall during the last two days has proved a blessing for Chennaites with dwindling water level in reservoirs soaring again and enhancing the capacity to provide adequate supply of drinking water for the next three months.

Public Works Department sources told Express that the rains had been a blessing in disguise for the reservoirs supplying water to city with its capacity expected to go up to 3.5 tmc of water following the rains predicted in the next 24 hours.

Sources also believed that the storage level of water could go up to 8 tmc following a good monsoon this season. The total storage capacity of reservoirs supplying water to the city is 11tmc.

The city gets water mainly from Poondi, Cholavaram, Chembarambakkam, Red Hills and Veeranam reservoirs.

PWD sources said that Poondi reservoir is getting 850 cusecs of water following the rains and its current capacity has increased to .6 tmc as against the capacity of 3.2 tmc.

Red Hills is getting 1,025 cusecs of water and its current level is 1.67 tmc as against the capacity of 3.3 tmc. Similarly, Chembarambakkam reservoir is getting 474 cusecs of water and its current capacity is 1.07 tmc as against 3.6 tmc total capacity.

Meanwhile, Poondi is also getting 195 cusecs of Krishna Water from the Kandaleru reservoir as such the rains have boosted the capacity of the reservoirs in the city, said PWD sources.

The sources also said that Metro Water would soon be drawing 75 cusecs of water from Veeranam to supply drinking water to the city. “Now the city has adequate water and with more rains to come the storage capacity is set to increase,” the official predicted.

writingonblog uncensored: Kejriwal asked to provide proof to substantiate al...

writingonblog uncensored: Kejriwal asked to provide proof to substantiate al...: Chennai: Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) V Narayanswamy on Saturday hit out at anti-corruption activist Arvind ...

Kejriwal asked to provide proof to substantiate allegations against Khursheed, Vadra

Chennai:

Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) V Narayanswamy on Saturday hit out at anti-corruption activist Arvind Kejriwal and said the allegations against Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid and son-in-law of UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi Robert Vadra lacked evidence and were made to garner publicity.

Comparing Kejriwal with a bull in a China shop, he said the anti-corruption activist is providing half-baked information to garner publicity. He should first provide proof before making such wild allegations, the minister added.

On allegations of misappropriation of funds by Union Law minister Salma Khursheed’s NGO, he said the case is before the court as the minister has filed a defamation case against a television channel. He also hit out at Kejriwal for using Anna Hazare’s movement for his own popularity.

writingonblog uncensored: UPA trying to win back DMK on FDI in retail issue

writingonblog uncensored: UPA trying to win back DMK on FDI in retail issue: Chennai: The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government is trying to convince its Tamil Nadu ally DMK on the issue of allowing foreig...

UPA trying to win back DMK on FDI in retail issue

Chennai:

The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government is trying to convince its Tamil Nadu ally DMK on the issue of allowing foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail, according to Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) V Narayanswamy.

Addressing a press conference here on Saturday to highlight the success of Union government schemes in the state and across the nation, the minister said that the allies are apprehensive about allowing FDI in retail but it is necessary to attract foreign direct investment.

He said the UPA would win the confidence of allies over the issue and ruled out mid-term elections. “We will be in power till 2014,” said the minister to a query on whether UPA has started its preparation for mid-term elections by highlighting its various schemes to people.

 Interestingly, this comes in the wake of DMK chief M Karunanidhi, stating that if the Opposition moved a resolution in Parliament against Foreign Direct Investment in multi-brand retail sector, the DMK would support it.

The minister said that FDI in retail would create two crore jobs besides ensuring better price for farmers.

The minister also hit out at Karnataka for not releasing the water despite the directive from the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. However, when a query was posed on his opinion on External Affairs Minister S M Krishna writing a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to stop the release of Cauvery water from Karnataka to Tamil Nadu, the minister ducked the issue by saying he is from Puducherry and can’t react to the query.

Narayanswami also said that Koodankulam plant will soon go critical after the inspection of Atomic Energy Regulatory Board which will give permission to close the reactor pressure vessel.

On whether Tamil Nadu will get the full power produced at Koodankulam nuclear plant, the minister said that he and other MPs from Tamil Nadu have urged the prime minister to allocate more power to Tamil Nadu. On the protest in Koodankulam, he blamed some NGOs for instigating it.