Around 10 NGOs under scanner for flouting FCRA

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

Around 10 non-governmental organizations are under scanner of Ministry of Home Affairs for flouting the Foreign Contribution Regulations Act (FCRA), according to Vamlunmang, joint secretary of Ministry of Home Afairs (foreign).

Speaking to Express on the sidelines of FCRA Outreach Seminar organized by Kotak Mahindra Bank here on Friday, Vamlunmang said that around 10 Ngos are under scanner for various violations.

However, he refused to provide any details about the NGOs or where they are located.

Interestingly, Tamil Nadu occupies the second position in the country in terms of influx of foreign funds for non-governmental organisation (NGO) activity in the State, according to information received through the Right to Information Act from Ministry of Home Affairs. NGOs working in the State have received about Rs 1,650 crore from agencies abroad in 2008-09.

The Home Ministry official also said that there are more than 40,000 non-government organizations registered under FCRA but only 20,000 pay their annual returns.

He said the other 20,000 have gone dormant or hardly file their annual returns.

He also said Ministry of Home Affairs is making it mandatory for all non-governmental organizations to renew their registration by May 2016.

“This is also applicable for those who had registered under the old Foreign Contributions Act, “ he said.

He also said that Ministry of Home affairs is streamlining the renewal of registration to make it simpler He also said that Ministry of Hoem affairs would soon seek online submission of FCRA returns. Under the new system, the NGOs would receive electronic acknowledgement, he added.

Ministry of Home Affairs undersecretary A K Dhayani was also present on the occasion.

writingonblog uncensored: France honours Air Asia chief with Commander of th...

writingonblog uncensored: France honours Air Asia chief with Commander of th...: Chennai: The French government has conferred Tony Fernandes, Group CEO of AirAsia with the Commander of the Legion d’Honneur award,...

France honours Air Asia chief with Commander of the Legion d’Honneur award

Chennai: The French government has conferred Tony Fernandes, Group CEO of AirAsia with the Commander of the Legion d’Honneur award, signifying Fernandes’s outstanding contributions towards the economy of France through the aviation industry.

Francois Hollande, President of France conferred the honourable award to Fernandes in a ceremony held yesterday at the Elysée Palace in Paris, France. 

The Legion d’Honneur award was established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802 to recognize outstanding service of individuals to France, and the Commander of the Legion d’Honneur is the highest rank of honour that the French government can award to a non-French citizen.

“As the Group CEO of AirAsia and Co-Chairman of Caterham Group, I am proud that we are positively contributing both directly and indirectly towards many peoples’ lives in France and across the world. This is great motivation for me to continue to steer both Caterham Group and AirAsia to greater heights, and once again, I am grateful for this incredible honour,” said Tony Fernandes.

Fernandes was previously conferred the Officier of the Legion d'Honneur award by the French Government in 2010.

Caterham Group signed a 50/50 joint venture with Renault in November 2012, creating a business that will design, manufacture and sell a brand new range of Caterham Cars and Alpine models throughout the world from 2016. Further models will come from the joint venture which has seen Caterham Group make significant investment in Renault’s Dieppe manufacturing facility, further demonstrating its commitment to the French economy and long-term prosperity.

writingonblog uncensored: Now Chennai has Belgium consulate

writingonblog uncensored: Now Chennai has Belgium consulate: Chennai: In a bid to strengthen its presence in India and boost investments in south, Kingdom of Belgium on Thursday opened the consul...

Now Chennai has Belgium consulate

Chennai:

In a bid to strengthen its presence in India and boost investments in south, Kingdom of Belgium on Thursday opened the consulate general office in Chennai.

Speaking to reporter after the inauguration of the consulate general by Princess Astrid of Belgium here late last night, the ambassador of Belgium Pierre Vaesen said that the move to open the office in Chennai was taken as Belgium sees it as great potential for future growth.

Chennai will be the third diplomatic posting in the country, the other two being Embassy of Delhi and Consulate General in Mumbai.

Vaesen said that the Consulate General will function at Khader Nawaz Khan road in Chennai which was the former trade office of Canada. He said the visas will be temporarily processed in Mumbai and the consul general will be appointed after the approval of Indian government, which is likely any time.

Interestingly, the keenness of Belgium to have a strong presence in Chennai is felt as the city is strategically located and could help Belgium enhance its presence in Myanmar and Bangladesh. In a bid to enhance its ties with the state, Belgium  Princess Astrid, who is sister of King of Belgium, would be meeting Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Friday evening.

Earlier five memorandum of understanding were signed with Belgium companies, including a one between Madras Chamber of Commerce and Port of Antwerp.

Vaesen said that Belgium is planning to diversify its trade of diamonds to other sectors. These include pharma, vaccination, chemicals, cleantech, renewable energy and logistics.

writingonblog uncensored: Google launches Google partners

writingonblog uncensored: Google launches Google partners: Chennai: Google announced the global launch of Google Partners, a comprehensive program designed to support web professionals and agencies...

Google launches Google partners

Chennai:
Google announced the global launch of Google Partners, a comprehensive program designed to support web professionals and agencies who help businesses succeed online. The program is part of Google’s continuing efforts to build an ecosystem to help small-to-medium businesses gain from the Internet.

Many small businesses in India rely on web professionals and agencies to manage their online presence and their online marketing, and Google is invested in helping agencies and web professionals receive the training and access to resources necessary to help their clients succeed on the web

writingonblog uncensored: Horticulture dept plans 40 collection centers to p...

writingonblog uncensored: Horticulture dept plans 40 collection centers to p...:   Chennai: In a bid to ensure continous supply of fresh vegetables to urban markets, the state horticulture department will set up 40 c...

Horticulture dept plans 40 collection centers to provide retail outlets in Coimbatore, Chennai

 

Chennai:

In a bid to ensure continous supply of fresh vegetables to urban markets, the state horticulture department will set up 40 collection centers and 100 retail outlets in Coimbatore and Chennai.

 

Speaking Express on the sidelines of a conference Farm to Fork: Challenges and Opportunities in Indian Agribusiness & Food Processing Industry organized by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry here, Satyabrata Sahoo, state commissioner, Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Agriculture Department said that the state government has sought expressiom of interest for aggregators or private entrepreneurs for setting up 16 collections centers.

The move is to create forward linkages from rural to urban areas.  He said that Chennai and Coimbatore will have 50 retail outlets each under the scheme.

The move by the state horticulture department would ensure assured income to farmers in the rural areas adjoining the cities.  Clusters of farmers will be formed to supply their produce to a society run by the farmers at the District level. Private entrepreneurs or aggregators will be engaged to collect, sort, grade and pack the produce at their location and supply the same to retail outlets in the city. This scheme will be implemented as a public private partnership.

Sahoo also said that the rooftop gardening would soon be implemented in the state in 12,000 places. “We have called for tenders,” he said. Of the proposed 12,000 rooftop gardens, 9,000 would be taken up in the city while 3,000 rooftops in Coimbatore would be converted into gardens.

Earlier, addressing the gathering, Michael Carter, Australian Trade commissioner said that Australia’s Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), Department of Biotechnology, have entered into Rs 148 million partnership to help stamp out iron-deficiency anaemia, a major cause of maternal death during childbirth.  The project will see new strains of iron-rich bananas

writingonblog uncensored: Two more metro trains arrive from Brazil

writingonblog uncensored: Two more metro trains arrive from Brazil:   Chennai: Two more Made in Brazil trains which have been shipped from the Brazilian port of Santos, was unloaded at Chennai port, ac...

Two more metro trains arrive from Brazil

 

Chennai:

Two more Made in Brazil trains which have been shipped from the Brazilian port of Santos, was unloaded at Chennai port, according to a Chennai Metro Rail spokesman.

 

A CMRL spokesman told Express that the eight sealed rakes are expected to be taken to Metro rail depot in Koyambedu in the next two to three days through Namakkal Transport Carriers (NTC) modular hydraulic axles.

 

The two trains were unloaded using a 125 metric tonne mobile crane which had a NTC Spreader Bar, specially designed and approved by structural engineers of IIT Chennai. They will then be delicately shipped into the yard in Koyambedu after the payment of port charges and custom clearances. 

 

Interestingly, this comes in the wake of the arrival of Diesel Shunting Locomotive, which is designed to haul four car or six car trains. This will be used within Koyambedu depot, hauling trains for repairs and for rescue of a train from viaduct and tunnel in case of emergency.

 

Meanwhile, the first metro train is undergoing test run for 1,600 km before going in for a trial run in the elevated stretch.

 

Metro rail officials also said that work on the Koyambedu station, the first station on the elevated stretch is progressing smoothly. This station is connected to the depot and shunting neck and is the only station having foot over bridge on the platform.

 

For accessing the foot over bridge, lift and escalator will be provided.  Provisions for the skywalk have been given to crossover the Poonamalle High Road and access for the people coming from other side of the road.

 A total of 95 per cent of the block work has been completed. Two out of nine roof trusses have been erected besides four out of six escalators have been erected, Ninety per cent of the granite flooring has also been completed, metro rail sources said.

writingonblog uncensored: Weathermen predict revival of North East monsoon f...

writingonblog uncensored: Weathermen predict revival of North East monsoon f...:   Heavy rains in coastal areas predicted C Shivakumar Chennai: Even as Cyclone Lehar failed to bring much anticipated rains in the...

Weathermen predict revival of North East monsoon from Dec 2

 

Heavy rains in coastal areas predicted

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

Even as Cyclone Lehar failed to bring much anticipated rains in the city and state, weathermen are predicting that there will be a revival of North East monsoon between December 1 and 3.

 

Y E A Raj, deputy director general of meteorology, regional meteorological center, Chennai, said as per the weather models the north-east monsoon is expected to revive from first week of December and possibly on December 2.

 

“We are expecting the city would get three to four days of heavy rain but we can’t predict the quantity of rain,” said Raj,

 

Interestingly, the state has recorded a deficit of about 30 per cent rainfall during the north east monsoon and in Chennai it is nearly 40 per cent. Raj, however, refused to speculate on whether the deficit would be bridged during the spell of rains forecasted in December first week. Last year, the rainfall deficit was 16 per cent, he said.

 

Raj says the coastal areas of the state are likely to receive heavy rainfall while the interior parts would get slightly less rainfall.

 

This has also revived some hope among the water managers who are chalking out contingency plans following the less amount of water in the reservoirs.

 

This year the water levels in the four reservoirs --- Poondi, Cholavaram, Red Hills and Chembarambakkam is only 3.5 thousand million cubic (TMC) feet of water as compared to last year’s 4.44 tmc feet of water. This could last for only four to five months.

 

Interestingly, the state is not taking any chances. Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa during a high level meeting held on Tuesday has directed the officials to be ready with contingency plans while reviewing the drinking water situation in Chennai city.

 

Officials said that the issue of water storage level in Veeranam and other reservoirs were also discussed. She also asked officials to pursue with Andhra Pradesh on the release of state’s quota of Krishna water. Chief Secretary Sheela Balakrishnan, Municipal Administration and Water Supply Secretary K Phaneendra Reddy and PWD Secretary M Saikumar and senior officials were present.

writingonblog uncensored: Migration to Gulf nations is slowly picking up

writingonblog uncensored: Migration to Gulf nations is slowly picking up: C Shivakumar Chennai: Gulf nations are now again attracting the migrant workers from the state as migration to the middle-east natio...

Migration to Gulf nations is slowly picking up

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

Gulf nations are now again attracting the migrant workers from the state as migration to the middle-east nations is picking up, according to Protector of Emigrants, Chennai, Jai Sankar.

Speaking to Express on the sidelines of  Dialogue with Protector of Emigrants here, Sankar said that during the recession there was a dip in the migration to Gulf countries, including United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman.

However, now the migration to these countries is picking up, he said.

Interestingly, Sankar also highlighted the plight of the migrant workers who are being exploited by recruitment sub agents. “While the recruitment agents are licensed but they become the hub for exploitation as they are linked to subagents, who are unlicensed, in each district, taluka and villages. As the intermediaries or sub-agents go up so does the transaction cost for getting the jobs which could even run in lakh,” he says.

Interestingly, Sankar does not have any figures on sub-agents across the state but he adds that a total of 3,500 licensed recruitment agents are there in the state.

He says the Union government is planning mechanisms to control these sub agents by bringing them under surveillance.

It is believed the recruitment process by these agents lack transparency as they would never bother to provide information on how many people are required for any post. “They would inflate the demand for workers from the companies abroad in a bid to extract money by charging hefty sum from the jobseeker besides taking over his or her passport,” says an official working with migrant workers.

As a result, for a vacancy for five or six they would have collected about 50 to 100 passports besides huge amount of money as transaction cost. But then the misery does not end here. The jobseeker, who had given the passport has to wait for a long time to get it back and this also at times is returned only when he pays some amount.

Sankar, under whose tenure a number of reforms are being introduced says that when he gets information of any recruitment process, he makes it a point to check with the Indian embassy officials besides the company on whether such recruitment and the company is genuine. “This resulted in a lot of opposition from the recruitment agents association,” says Sankar.

Interestingly, Sankar’s Chennai office is the first to get ISO certification and sets an example to other Protector of Emigrants in others cities.

He also says that the state police also have a larger role to play in tackling illegal migration. “They should know what to look for during the search and seizure at the premises,” he says

writingonblog uncensored: 466 TN migrant workers in UAE faced rights violati...

writingonblog uncensored: 466 TN migrant workers in UAE faced rights violati...: C Shivakumar Chennai: Four hundred and sixty six migrant workers from Tamil Nadu faced right violations in United Arab Emirates in t...

466 TN migrant workers in UAE faced rights violation

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

Four hundred and sixty six migrant workers from Tamil Nadu faced right violations in United Arab Emirates in the last three years, according to a study done by National Domestic Workers Movement and Migrant Forum in Asia.

The study states that maximum rights violations of Tamil Nadu migrant workers happened in the United Arab Emirates. Interestingly, going by the current trend huge number of violations are now happening in Kuwait, said Valarmathi of National Domestic Workers Movement, Migrant Forum India and a member of Migrant Forum in Asia.

Interestingly, the violations of the last three to four months in Kuwait have not been taken into account. The data is obtained as per the cases documented in Migrant Forum in Asia’s Migrants Rights Violation Reporting System (MRVRS), which facilitates the documentation of migrants’ rights violations.

The report states that the Middle-eastern nations top the list if the rights violation of migrant Tamil Nadu workers are taken into account.

The rights of 251 workers were violated in Qatar, 70 in Saudi Arabia, 64 in Oman, 71 in Kuwait, 51 in Jordan, 47 in Iran and 28 in Iraq.

Interestingly, Malaysia is ranked top when it comes to rights violation in East Asia. As per the study, 90 migrant workers rights were violated in the East asian country. Interestingly, this also comes in the wake of reports about 15 Tamil Nadu youth starving in Malaysia after the agents cheated them after posing as recruiters.

All the cases involve violations against low and semi-skilled Tamil Nadu migrant workers, such as dometic workers, construction workers, factory workers and manual labourers, said Valarmathi.

Most of the rights violations pertain to the worker not being paid or underpaid or the payment is delayed. Valarmathi said that 689 workers were affected by this in the last three years. Not only that many were subjected to cruelty besides physical abuse and torture etc.

Countries                             No of migrant workers affected

Bahrain                                       5

Ethiopia                                     23

Iran                                            47

Iraq                                           28

Jordan                                      51

Kuwait                                     71

Malaysia                                  90

Oman                                      64

Maldives                                   2

Qatar                                     251

Saudi Arabia                           70

Singapore                                  1

UAE                                     466

writingonblog uncensored: Four Sri lankan fishing boats apprehended

writingonblog uncensored: Four Sri lankan fishing boats apprehended: Chennai: The Indian Coast guard on Monday apprehended four Sri Lankan fishing boats along 20 crew about 28 nautical miles south east o...

Four Sri lankan fishing boats apprehended

Chennai:

The Indian Coast guard on Monday apprehended four Sri Lankan fishing boats along 20 crew about 28 nautical miles south east off Nizampatnam in Indian waters.

The four fishing boats Ashen Putha (IMUL-A-1061 MTR), Sanath 5- Trincu (IMUL-A-0176 TCO), Kanthi 10 (IMUL-A-1028 MTR) and Kanthi (IMUL-A-0928 MTR) were apprehended by ICGS Rani Avantibai.

The four Sri Lankan fishing boats are being escorted to Kakinada to be handed over to local police.

This also comes in the wake of apprehension of four Sri Lankan fishing boats along with 22 crew that strayed off Krishnapatnam coast by Indian Coast Guard ship Rajveer and Sarang on Saturday and Sunday.

writingonblog uncensored: Thomas Cook sees impressive outbound growth from T...

writingonblog uncensored: Thomas Cook sees impressive outbound growth from T...: Chennai : Thomas Cook (India) Ltd, India’s leading integrated travel and travel related financial services company, concluded its annual R...

Thomas Cook sees impressive outbound growth from Tamil Nadu

Chennai: Thomas Cook (India) Ltd, India’s leading integrated travel and travel related financial services company, concluded its annual Roadshow in Chennai today- aimed at educating and engaging Thomas Cook India’s significant Channel network of Tamil Nadu based Gold Circle Partners (franchisees) and Preferred Sales Agents, and saw a strong participation of approximately 110 Thomas Cook agent partners.

Highlights of Thomas Cook India’s Roadshow included the unveiling of both top favourite and emerging consumer destinations, new product launches for 2014 and interactive product-cum- sales training sessions and best practices conducted by Thomas Cook’s experienced Tour Managers.

The Thomas Cook Roadshow concluded with a felicitation ceremony where top performing agents were presented with a Thomas Cook Excellence Award.  To encourage a diversity of initiatives, besides the Top Performers award, Thomas Cook’s awards also included: the Best Debutant Partner, Best Partner (Store Branding), Best Partner (Sales Promotion) and Best Partner (Processes).

Tamil Nadu State has played a powerful role in Thomas Cook India’s growth story, with its Channel Network contributing to almost 20% of its sales for the state. With YoY growth of 40%, Tamil Nadu’s diversity of holiday consumers ranging from families and HNI-UHNI luxury customers, business entrepreneurs, professionals to honeymooners and ad hoc groups, provides the Company with an optimal focus market for 2014. 

Thomas Cook India’s network in the state extends across 35 locations, including 11 Gold Circle Partners and 13 PSA outlets.

Commenting on the Chennai Roadshow, Jatinder Paul Singh, Senior Vice President & Head, Leisure Travel (Outbound) – Sales & Distribution, Thomas Cook (India) Ltd. said, “Our Tamil Nadu Gold Circle Partner franchisees & Preferred Sales Agent partners, form a key element of our sales strategy. Valuing & rewarding our partner’s contribution and developing their expertise is mission critical to us at Thomas Cook India. Our Annual National Partners Meet and Roadshow has proved to be an impactful initiative in engaging with them, strategizing for the upcoming season and felicitating top performers.”

Thomas Cook Roadshows will continue across India, covering Hyderabad, Delhi, Chandigarh, Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Indore and Kolkata during the months of November and December, 2013.

writingonblog uncensored: Koyambedu traders fear loss of business during Pon...

writingonblog uncensored: Koyambedu traders fear loss of business during Pon...: C Shivakumar Chennai: The festival of lights may not have fetched the traders in Koyambedu Fuits and Vegetable Mar ket enough profi...

Koyambedu traders fear loss of business during Pongal

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

The festival of lights may not have fetched the traders in Koyambedu Fuits and Vegetable Market enough profit this season but the fear of losing out their sizable business during Pongal is causing a lot of anxiety among the community.

During Deepavali, the service roads were clogged as the state government in a bid to clear the festival rush had parked State Transport Corporation buses making it nearly impossible for the trucks carrying vegetables, fruits and flowers to enter the market.

And traders fear that if a similar measure is being repeated in Pongal, it would be chaos.

G S Balasubramanian, a retail trader says that although the traders did not want the market be converted to a bus stand for state transport corporation buses, they agreed because they felt that during the festival the consumption of mutton would be more than the vegetables.

But Pongal is a different ball game. “During this festival it is only vegetables that are consumed,” he says.

The market attracts a huge crowd during the season besides there would be innumerable number of trucks entering the market carrying sugarcane. “There would be anywhere between 2,000 trucks arriving at the market on a single day besides more than thousands of smaller vehicles,” he said.

“If the key service roads are sealed with the parking of state transport corporation buses, the trucks would find it difficult to enter the market thus affecting the businesses worth crores,” said another trader who did not want to be quoted.

“The transport department should start right now looking at alternative site instead of focusing on Koyambedu market which is a commercial area,” said Balasubramaniam.

“If the same traffic arrangement is followed during Pongal, the prices of vegetables will escalate as the arrival of goods to the market would be affected due to traffic chaos,” said another trader.

Interestingly, this year also the Marketing Management Committee is planning to auction space for sale of sugarcanes. “We are expecting nearly 1,000 trucks of sugarcane this season,” a MMC source said.

Interestingly, with Metro rail work going on in one end and with the state transport buses eating away the other part of service road, it seems Koyambedu market will be cut off this Pongal putting to risk the business of the traders.

A trader said that the government now has nearly two months to fix an alternate spot so that business in the market could be carried out as usual.

writingonblog uncensored: Blueprint for land development scheme in TN ready

writingonblog uncensored: Blueprint for land development scheme in TN ready: Land owners to be stakeholders;  to get back 45 pc of developed land C Shivakumar Chennai: The state government is planning to co...

Blueprint for land development scheme in TN ready

Land owners to be stakeholders; 

to get back 45 pc of developed land

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

The state government is planning to come out with a unique land pooling area development scheme to form satellite towns, new ring roads with road grids without resorting to land acquisition, according to sources.

Sources told Express that the blueprint of the scheme is nearly ready. The scheme will involve public participation in infrastructure projects making the landowners a stakeholder in the project.

Under the proposed scheme, it is believed that a minimum area of not less than 100 acres of land would be taken up as project area with public participation. Of the minimum 100 acres, 15 per cent would be reserved for roads 10 per cent for parks and playgrounds, five per cent for public purpose like schools and dispensaries besides 10 per cent for economically weaker sections.

Of the remaining 60 per cent of land, 15 per cent will go to the government and the rest 45 per cent of the developed land will be given back to the landowners. The compensation to the landowners would include giving back proportionate area of land relinquished towards the scheme or cash compensation or Transferable development right or a combination of the three with the total not exceeding 45 per cent of the developed land value.

Interestingly, the scheme also has clauses for mandatory 10 per cent reservation for economically weaker sections unlike the Gujarat model where it is optional. 

These 10 per cent of land reserved for economically weaker sections (EWS) will be given to Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance board in urban areas free of cost with the landowners compensated with transferable development rights (TDR).

In the rural areas, the authority would sell the plots and sale proceeds will be proportionately transferred to the landowners.

Interestingly, the scheme has clauses where the government would be forced to withdraw the scheme on objection from landowners with majority of land extent.

Benefits of the scheme:

People:

--- Proportionate land will be handed over to landowners

--- Developed land will be fit for immediate development

--- Value of proportionate land allotted finally allotted will be higher or equal to original land relinquished

Govt:

--- Less resistance from landowners

--- Lesser litigation due to landowner participation

--- Infrastructural development in-built in the scheme

--- Cost of infra development generated from the scheme

--- lower cost of implementing the scheme

Box2:

Land area development break-up

(Minimum area shall not be less than 100 acres)

Component         percentage              Area

Roads                      15                      10 acres

Parks and                10                      10 acres

(playground)

Public purpose        5                         5 acres

(schools and dispensaries)

Eco weaker sect      10                      10 acres

Saleable land           15                      15 acres

By authority

Developed land to   45                      45 acres

landowner

writingonblog uncensored: Shipping Ministry launches first bulk movement of ...

writingonblog uncensored: Shipping Ministry launches first bulk movement of ...: Chennai: The large-scale commercial navigation on India’s national waterways began with the flagging off coal barges of 2100 DWT from G...

Shipping Ministry launches first bulk movement of coal through national waterways

Chennai:

The large-scale commercial navigation on India’s national waterways began with the flagging off coal barges of 2100 DWT from Garden Reach Jetty 2 of Inland Waterways Authority of India at Kolkata.

Union Shipping Minister G K Vasan flagged off the coal barges, the first such movement of bulk coal on national Waterway-1 (The Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly River system) by inland vessels from Sandheads in Bay of Bengal to Farakka Thermal Power Plant of National Thermal Power Corporation in Murshidabad district of West Bengal.

Shipping Ministry said in a release that with additional supply of coal through inland waterways, an eco-friendly, economical and fuel efficient mode of transport, will augment coal supply to NTPC power plant at Farakka enabling increased power generation.

Kolkata being a transportation hub on the Ganga serve Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and North-Eastern region.

The coal movement has commenced under a tripartite agreement signed between Inland Waterways Authority of India, NTPC ltd and Jindal ITF ltd, Jindal ITF has invested avout rs 500 crore for transhipper at Sandheads, coal carrying barges, inland water terminal at Farakka with state-of-art coal unloading cranes and conveyer system.

writingonblog uncensored: 1 km coastal stretch in North Chennai vanishes, Ch...

writingonblog uncensored: 1 km coastal stretch in North Chennai vanishes, Ch...: C Shivakumar Chennai: The North Chennai shoreline has recessed by about 1,000 metres in the last 125 years and if efforts are ...

1 km coastal stretch in North Chennai vanishes, Chennai-Ennore Port Connectivity road under threat

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

The North Chennai shoreline has recessed by about 1,000 metres in the last 125 years and if efforts are not taken soon the Chennai-Ennore port connectivity road (formerly EMRIP) could face the threat of being washed away due to coastal erosion.

Prof V Sundar, department of Ocean Engineering of IIT Madras, who has submitted a report to Public Works Department on ‘Protection Measures for Tamil Nadu’ says the East Coast is vulnerable to cyclones and preventive measures should be taken up immediately.

He said that although state government is taking up various coastal protection projects across Tamil Nadu more work has to be done on the North Chennai coast.

The Public Works Department should take up the work of immediately constructing a groyne field  between Masthan Koil Kuppam to Popular Weigh Bridge which is vulnerable to erosion. The expressway, industries and fishing hamlets are located along this stretch.

Interestingly, the 15km stretch from Ennore towards its south upto Royapuram, which comprises of fishing hamlets and protected by a seawall and combination of seawall and groins is vulnerable to erosion.

Meanwhile, Public Works Department sources told Express that they have taken up work in Palam Kuppam, Netkuppam and Ernavur Kuppam. These works have been taken up on October 18 to stop coastal erosion.

A report on use of satellite data for detection of violation of land use along the Coastal Regulation Zone and Impact of Port Structures on Shoreline changes by Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) and Ministry of Earth Sciences which has been submitted to Union Ministry of Environment and Forest states that the three ports – Chennai Port, Ennore and Katpuli has affected the shoreline resulting in coastal erosion.

The report states that the shoreline around the Ennore port, which was monitored since 1999 to 2006 regularly, underwent massive erosion ace in 1.5km stretch, north coast of Ennore port and the erosion rate was of 50 metre per year. The Public Works Department based on the continuous monitoring of the levels of the crest of berm have found that the stretch of the coast north of Chennai harbour being eroded at an average rate of about 6.5 metre per year.

National Institute of Ocean Technology director M A Atmanand said that the construction of breakwaters in Ennore and Katpulli has arrested the movement of longshore sediment transport resulting accretion in south Chennai and erosion in north Chennai. He also said that this would make the north Chennai coast vulnerable to cyclones.

Interestingly, the INCOIS report states that in order to prevent erosion in north coast, a submerged reef with sand bypassing is suggested for protection of Ennore Coast since it not only reduces the wave energy but also provides wave rotation which reduces wave energy upto 20 to 40 per cent near coast there by helps in accumulation of sediments due to reduction in wave intensity.

Meanwhile, with a temple and few houses being gobbled up by the sea in the last decade, the issue is also turning out to be a social one. Fishermen in the North Chennai Coast are opposing the government move to relocate them along the coast. Kosu Mani, president of Tamil Nadu Meenavar Makkal Sangam says that if the government force fishermen away from the coast, it would affect their livelihood. “We can’t leave the sea as it is our traditional source of livelihood,” he adds.

Interestingly, a long-term analysis of wave climate and coastal profile has revealed that if no intervention is planned, northern areas of port will have erosion at a rate of 20 metres per year.

writingonblog uncensored: Indian Coastguard seizes four Sri Lankan boats

writingonblog uncensored: Indian Coastguard seizes four Sri Lankan boats: Chennai: In what would be two different coordinated sea-air operations, the India Coast Guard officials rescued 12 Indian fishing crew w...

writingonblog uncensored: Banking operations across nation likely to be hit ...

writingonblog uncensored: Banking operations across nation likely to be hit ...: Chennai: Banking operations across the nation is expected to be hit on December 19 as United Forum of Bank Unions plan to launch a s...

Banking operations across nation likely to be hit on December 19

Chennai:

Banking operations across the nation is expected to be hit on December 19 as United Forum of Bank Unions plan to launch a stir on December 19.

                  

Addressing a press conference to mark XVI Biennial conference here on Saturday, G V Manimaran, general secretary of Canara Bank Officers Association and senior vice-president of All India Bank Officers Confederation, said that the one-day stir is being planned to protest against Union government’s plan to allow foreign banks operating in the country on nearly equal terms with Indian banks.

“Indian banks are performing well what is the need to allow foreign banks to convert their local operations from a branch structure to being subsidiaries. He said the local banks in India would be hit by such move,” reasoned Manimaran.

This comes in the wake of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) rules announcing foreign banks that convert their local operations from a branch structure to being subsidiaries will be treated on nearly equal terms with local lenders.

Manimaran said that the banks in India have a social responsibility to the nation. “If you allow foreign banks in India, the profits would be taken out of India,” he reasoned.

Manimaran, who is also the director of Canara Bank said that the bank aims to reach an aggregate business of over Rs 7 lakh crore  by March 2014. he said the number of branches and ATMs is set to reach 4,500  by March 2014.

He also said that the bank is scheduled to open three branches abroad in south Africa, Dubai and Germany this year besides 11 more foreign branches by March 2015.

He said during the conference, the wage revision due on November 2012 will also be taken up

writingonblog uncensored: Indian Coastguard seizes four Sri Lankan boats

writingonblog uncensored: Indian Coastguard seizes four Sri Lankan boats: Chennai: In what could be two different coordinated sea-air operations, the India Coast Guard officials rescued 12 Indian fishing crew w...

Indian Coastguard seizes four Sri Lankan boats

Chennai:

The India Coast Guard officials rescued 12 Indian fishing crew who went missing in the aftermath of Cyclone Helen besides apprehending four Sri Lankan fishing boats along with 22 crew that strayed off Krishnapatnam coast in  two different coordinated sea-air operations.

Indian Coast Guard spokesman said that four Sri Lankan boats were apprehended by Indian Coast Guard ship Rajveer and Sarang on Saturday and Sunday.

Coastguard said the boats --- Neil Marine Rider (IMUL-A-0723 MTR/MUFAR/MD/165), Kapil Buddha (IMUL-A-CHW), Nethmi Gandara (IMULA 0792 MTR) and Mofar (IMUL 0573 MTR) were apprehended under Maritime Zone of India Act 1981.

All four boats are being escorted to Chennai for handing over to local police, coast guard officials said.

Meanwhile, coastguard rescued two fishing boats along with 12 crew who went missing in the aftermath of Cyclone storm Helen, 55 nautical miles from Kakinada.

Coastguard officials said that after a message was received that five fishing boats along with 30 crew went missing prior to Cyclone Helen hitting the Andhra coast.

On receipt of the message, four Indian Coast Guard ships were deployed to undertake search and rescue mission. Two air sorties were also undertaken for sea and air coordinated search.

A coastguard spokesman said that two mechanized fishing boats along with 12 crew were rescued and they were being escorted to Kakinada by ICGS Rani Avantibai. The crew were provided with logistics and medical aid on embarkation.

The spokesman said that the other three missing boats safely returned back to harbor.

writingonblog uncensored: World Food Programme hails India for National Food...

writingonblog uncensored: World Food Programme hails India for National Food...: NEW DELHI:   At the end of a two-day visit to India, the UN World Food Programme’s Executive Director Ertharin Cousin has congratul...

World Food Programme hails India for National Food Security Act

NEW DELHI:  At the end of a two-day visit to India, the UN World Food Programme’s Executive Director Ertharin Cousin has congratulated the Government of India for the National Food Security Act that has made the right to food legally enforceable.

Despite significant economic progress in the past decade, India is home to about 25 percent of the world's undernourished. Although the country grows enough food for its people, pockets of hunger remain. The National Food Security Act is a rights-based act designed to provide staple foods at highly subsidised prices for more than 800 million people across the country, thereby the largest food safety net in the world.

“Given the Government’s commitment towards the most vulnerable, we are confident that with innovative solutions, together we will be able to reach India’s poorest with better nutrition,” Cousin said after meetings with the Minister for Agriculture and Cooperation and the Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.

WFP can effectively draw from its vast global expertise in food-based social safety nets and stands ready to support the Government of India in their fight against hunger and malnutrition. WFP is strengthening Government capacity to improve the nutritional impact and effectiveness of food based social safety net programmes.

India has the knowledge and expertise to guide other countries dealing with hunger and malnutrition,” Cousin said following her visit to the country.

 “In my meetings with the government, I took the opportunity to thank the Government of India for their support for WFP food assistance worldwide,” she said. “I am enthused by the Government of India’s recent efforts to garner the support of the vibrant private sector in this country in support of development goals in India.