writingonblog uncensored: Modi govt urged to create pool of learned educatio...

writingonblog uncensored: Modi govt urged to create pool of learned educatio...: Chennai: After Indian universities are being hit by scams and lack of quality teachers, educationalists and social activists are now p...

writingonblog uncensored: Modi govt urged to create pool of learned educatio...

writingonblog uncensored: Modi govt urged to create pool of learned educatio...: Chennai: After Indian universities are being hit by scams and lack of quality teachers, educationalists and social activists are now p...

Modi govt urged to create pool of learned educationalists to usher in quality edn in India

Chennai:

After Indian universities are being hit by scams and lack of quality teachers, educationalists and social activists are now pinning their hopes on the Narendra Modi government to create a pool of learned educationalists from which country can draw resources for regional and national universities.

Addressing a press conference highlighting the illegality of appointment of Kalyani Mathivanan as the vice-chancellor of Madurai Kamraj University, A Narayanan, director of CHANGEindia and editor paadam, said that Modi government should try to work for this to ensure India’s quality of education doesn’t disintegrate.

Narayanan also urged Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa to bring in complete transparency and objectivity in the appointment of Search committees and vice-chancellors as per University Grants commission.

He also urged the Chief Minister to remove Kalyani Mathivanan alleging that she has misrepresented about her qualification in her biodata to search committee besides a First Information Report has named the vice-chancellor as the first accused in the brutal attack of Prof A Srinivasan, convenor of ‘SaveMKU Coalition’.

Narayanan said that he has urged the chief minister in his memorandum for the need for a ‘special fast track court’ and a special investigation and prosecution team to consolidate all alleged cases of corruption and irregularities in various public universities from 2008 till date.

Advocate and notary B S Ajeetha and Fifth Pillar president Vijay Anand also spoke on the occasion.

writingonblog uncensored: Turtle with a missing flipper nurtured back to sea...

writingonblog uncensored: Turtle with a missing flipper nurtured back to sea...: Chennai: Pallavi, a recued sea turtle with a missing flipper, got a new lease of life after it was released by marine biodiversity c...

Turtle with a missing flipper nurtured back to sea

Chennai:

Pallavi, a recued sea turtle with a missing flipper, got a new lease of life after it was released by marine biodiversity conservationists 3km offshore from Periya Neelankarai fishing village into the sea.

Supraja Dharini, chairperson, TREE Foundation said the turtle was released near the rock formation where a wide variety of prey fish are always found, in order to make it easy for her to feed.

The turtle was released amidst the presence of Lakshmi Narayan, Chief Wildlife Warden, Chennai, S Tyagi, Deputy Inspector General-Indian Coast Guard (East), and other important officials besides students and officials.

The female olive ridley turtle was found washed ashore on the Mahabalipuram shore with her left front flipper likely due to an entanglement in a fishing net.

The turtle was brought to TREE Foundations Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre at Neelankarai run with special permission from the Chief Wildlife Warden, Tamil Nadu Forest Department and later taken to Tamil Nadu Veterinary College, Vepery for a thorough examination for any internal injuries. She was named ‘Pallavi’ (as she was found along the beach of the ancient Pallava Dynasty).

The team guided by Dr Jean Beasley, Topsail Turtle Rescue And Rehabilitation Centre, North Carolina and headed on site by Supraja Dharini facilitated the entire recovery over weeks. ‘Pallavi’ was fed with a variety of fresh sea food from the ocean offered by the fishing community volunteers, said Supraja. She was also nurtured by volunteers from WCC (Women’s Christian College), Roots & Shoots, Sea Turtle Protection Force members. The turtle weighed 20.5 kg, gaining 3.1 kg in weight. Its shell has has grown to 65 cms long and 64.2 cms wide, said Supraja.

The Chief Wildlife Warden  said that sustained conservation has resulted in successful species conservation. He vowed support for such NGO’s who are involved in conservation of sea turtles and other marine mammals. “Helping this species is not only protecting a part of our environment but also helping the health of the oceans that we rely on for the fishing trade and to help keep our waters clean,” he said.

writingonblog uncensored: 53 new recruits inducted into CRPF

writingonblog uncensored: 53 new recruits inducted into CRPF: Chennai: It was a moment of joy for 53 newly recruited constables who were inducted into the Central Reserve Police Force on Friday....

53 new recruits inducted into CRPF

Chennai:

It was a moment of joy for 53 newly recruited constables who were inducted into the Central Reserve Police Force on Friday.

Dressed in Khaki, the recruits took a final bow during a passing out parade at the drill nursery of 229 battalion of CRPF in Avadi in Chennai.

The parade was reviewed by deputy inspector general of police, recruit training centre, CRPF Manoj Kumar Dubey.

Speaking during the occasion, Dubey urged the recruits to maintain high standard of discipline while congratulating them for successfullycompleting 44 weeks of rigorous training.

Of the 53 recruits, 52 are from Andhra Pradesh and one from Bihar. Talking about their education qualifications, a CRPF spokesman said that 17 are graduates, 21 are higher secondary and 15 are matriculates.

The crux of the whole training is practiced during their four weeks jungle training in which all the operational exercises are conducted by them under the guidance of able instructors and officers.

They are also being trained on firing mortar bombs besides using rifle grenades and hand grenades and training of other small arms.

They also undergo survival exercises with limited ration for their survival for seven days in the dense forest and made to practice aggressive action drill, counter ambush, identify IED and destroy it and sit in ambush for nights together.

writingonblog uncensored: Chennai has received 2,635 applications under RTE

writingonblog uncensored: Chennai has received 2,635 applications under RTE: C Shivakumar Chennai: The school education department in the city has till now received a total of 2,635 applications for the 6,600 ...

Chennai has received 2,635 applications under RTE

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

The school education department in the city has till now received a total of 2,635 applications for the 6,600 seats available under Right to Education (RTE) quota.

A senior school education department said that there has been an increase in the number of applications when compared to 1600 applications received last year.

However, this did not bring a smile on the faces of parents and social activists who complain that 25 per cent quota in the city schools won’t be filled up as there is no clarity about the act among the people.

With couple of weeks left, parents are running from pillar to post to get the applications and many of them have been turned away from schools.

Director of Thozhamai A Devaneyan, who is helping parents living below the poverty line to access the application forms, says that there is no clarity on the act on whether it is applicable to aided or minority institutions.

He says many of the parents who don’t have identity proof or residence proof may not be able to meet the May 31 deadline. “This is because the delay in getting the documents due to the Lok Sabha elections. The revenue department focus was on elections as a result many parents were unable to get the documents on time,” he said.

But officials said that the deadline to submit applications has been extended to May 31 following the elections. Even the instructions on which all schools fall under RTE has been given, an official said.

The decision to extend the deadline is a wecome step, says P Joseph Victor Raj, state convenor, Campaign Against Child Labour, Tamil Nadu and Pondychery. But he feels that RTE being implemented under different boards makes it complex.

While the state is only monitoring primary, private, elementary and matriculation schools, most of the below poverty line parents who aspire for providing Central Board of Secondary education for their children don’t know where to get applications. “They are uneducated and all they want is to provide quality education for their wards. They even don’t know what an application leave alone filling it up,” says Devaneyan. A state government official said that CBSE applications under RTE is being scrutinised by the regional director.

Meanwhile, there are also conflicting figures of the total availability of seats under RTE in the states and those being filled up. Initially, the figure was given as 56,682 and then it rose by couple of thousands, says Joseph. “There is a need to have a white paper in this regard. It should provide details about the number of seats available in the state as well as those being filled up during 2012-13 and 2013-14 academic year. So that schools are properly reimbursed,” he said.

writingonblog uncensored: Work to complete Rs 495 crore MRTS Phase II extn t...

writingonblog uncensored: Work to complete Rs 495 crore MRTS Phase II extn t...: C Shivakumar Chennai: The work to complete the Rs 495 crore Phase II extension of Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) between Velachery...

Work to complete Rs 495 crore MRTS Phase II extn to start next month

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

The work to complete the Rs 495 crore Phase II extension of Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) between Velachery and St Thomas Mount would be taken up next month.

A CMDA official told Express that the work would resume after the beneficiaries, who had approached the High Court against the acquisition of 500 metres of land is compensated.

A total of 28 beneficiaries have been identified and they have to be compensated under the Union government’s new land acquisition act which came into being from this year.

He said the earlier compensation was based on old land acquisition act and now the compensation is being reviewed under the new act which replaced the 119-year-old obsolete legislation.

To a query on what would be the total reworked compensation, the official refused to provide any details. “It is being worked out,” he said

The proposed alignment and extension of Phase-II took place in the year 2008 and till now 3.7 km out of the 5 km stretch of MRTS line has been completed.

The project envisages development of the elevated MRTS on single pillars along the median of the Inner Ring Road (IRR) from MBL Road to St Thomas Road for a distance of about 5 km.

The state government is sharing the 33 per cent of cost while 67 per cent is shared by Union government. The project envisages construction of two intermediate stations Puzhuthivakkam and Adambakkam.

writingonblog uncensored: New indigenous technology to make landing at India...

writingonblog uncensored: New indigenous technology to make landing at India...: New Delhi: Now pilots can be assured of safe landing during poor visibility conditions at Indian airports with the launch of  a sophistica...

New indigenous technology to make landing at Indian airports safe

New Delhi:
Now pilots can be assured of safe landing during poor visibility conditions at Indian airports with the launch of a sophisticated instrument for assessment of Runway visual range.

Termed as Drishti system, it is being jointly produced by CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (CSIR-NAL), Bangalore and India Meteorological Department (IMD). An agreement in this regard was signed on Thursday.

The agreement which was signed by Dr Shyam Chetty, Director, CSIR-NAL and Dr LS Rathore, Director General of Meteorology, IMD; encompasses a wide range of research & development activities for further development of various meteorological sensors. The agreement paves the way for operational deployment of Drishti system at different airports where IMD provides aeronautical meteorological services. A mega project for installing nearly 70 such systems at various Airports of the country is being jointly undertaken by the two organisations.

The indigenous  production of this high-end instrument will not only result in substantial saving of foreign exchange but will also make the country self-reliant in the field of front-end technology

Drishti Transmissometer, a visibility measuring system is an innovative, indigenous product first of its kind, designed and developed by CSIR-NAL to cover the wide span of lowest to highest visibility (< 25 to > 2000 meters) aiding pilots for safe landing and take-off. 

This cost-effective product is a mandatory system required at all airports as per International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and World Meteorological Organisation (WMO). The system is extremely robust with high mean time between failures. Seven Drishti systems are working in three international airports, viz., Choudhary Charan Singh International Airport, Lucknow, for the last 3 years, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport for the last 1½  years. 

Five systems are working in country’s most stringent CAT IIIB airport, viz., Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, for the last two years. Web enabled health monitoring, remote control of the system from any location in the country for accessing the data and for maintenance are the other important features of this state of the art system. Servicing is made user friendly and cost-effective by modular electronics and virtual instrumentation concepts in the design.

writingonblog uncensored: City School bus safety checks to be over by Friday...

writingonblog uncensored: City School bus safety checks to be over by Friday...: C Shivakumar Chennai: A total of 50 per cent of school vehicles have been inspected by the transport department to ensure the safety o...

City School bus safety checks to be over by Friday

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

A total of 50 per cent of school vehicles have been inspected by the transport department to ensure the safety of school students after the schools get reopened.

A senior transport department official told Express that of the 486 school vehicles, a total of 201 school vehicles have been inspected and the rest would be completed by Friday.

“During the course of inspection, we found out 156 school vehicles were fit and 45 had to undergo repairs,” the transport official said.

He said the inspection would have been over much earlier had there been no elections. Due to elections, there was a delay but then we will complete the inspection of school vehicles in the city by Friday and across the state by Saturday.

To a query on whether the college buses would also undergo inspections, he said the priority now is schools. “They are small children and at a tender age they won’t be able to take care of themselves. We will also be inspecting the college buses also,” he said.

Interestingly, the transport department has also asked the schools to form a school transportation committee headed by a principal or headmaster along with sub inspector, motor vehicle inspector and parent teacher association (PTA) and conduct meetings to discuss the vehicles are fit or not .

Meanwhile, the transport department is also stressing on the need to have bus conductor along with the driver. “This is mandatory for all the school vehicles. The children are small and getting down and crossing the road is difficult for them. The conductor has to ensure that they get down and cross the road safely,” he added.

Interestingly, the rules have been made stringent after six-year-old Shruthi Sethumadhavan fell through a hole in the floor of her school bus and was killed in July 2012.  Some of the norms include bars across windows and individual seats belts, lowering the seats for children, installing emergency exits and hiring a conductor.

writingonblog uncensored: US varsity opens energy harvesting research centre...

writingonblog uncensored: US varsity opens energy harvesting research centre...: Chennai: Virginia Tech’s plan to have a campus in Chennai may have been hit due to the delay in passing the foreign universities bill ...

US varsity opens energy harvesting research centre in Chennai

Chennai:

Virginia Tech’s plan to have a campus in Chennai may have been hit due to the delay in passing the foreign universities bill but this did not deter the university from opening a research centre in the city.

Termed as Institute of Critical Technology and Applied Science (ICTAS) Innovation Centre, it will focus on sustainable energy, nanotechnology, cognitive radio communications and cellular biology.

Launched by Virginia Tech MARG Swarnabhoomi India Trust, the research center is spread over a minimum of 30 acres, with a built in area of 70,000 square feet and located at MARG Swarnabhoomi in Kancheepuram district of Tamil Nadu.

Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, president of Virginia Tech Charles W Steger and chairman and managing director of MARG group G R K Reddy said that initially the memorandum of understanding was signed to set up campuses in India but the educational reforms initiated by the government did not materialise as such the research centre was launched.

Interestingly, both MARG and Virginia Tech have invested $3 million and are planning to raise funds through industry partnership programmes.

Each company which will become a member of the innovation centre will be shelling out $40,000, said Steger. This will give the companies access in directed research, intellectual property, access, influence centre operations and knowledge and industrial participation.

Director of Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science (ICTAS) Roop L Mahajan said that the initial focus of the institute would be on meeting the energy needs. “In the first phase, the centre will focus its research on sustainable energy under the umbrella of Centre for Energy Harvesting Materials and Systems (CEHMS). It is anticipated CEHMS will be a multi-university National Science Foundation-Industry-University Cooperative Research Centre,” Mahajan said.

“The research will become part of our global effort on energy harvesting under the umbrella of National Science Foundation Centre for Energy Harvesting Materials and Systems, United States,” said Mahajan.

The second phase of activities will develop programmes in other research areas incudin Cognitive Radio Network Communications and Nanotechnology.

In the past Virginia Tech had identified India as strategic location for the establishment of one of five Virginia Tech International Centres to foster scientific and technological engagement and graduate education through a model of collaborative research and outreach to address current and future global issues and opportunities.

writingonblog uncensored: WHO-India to prepare action plan to control non co...

writingonblog uncensored: WHO-India to prepare action plan to control non co...: New Delhi: World Health Organization in collaboration with Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is organizing a consultation for developm...

WHO-India to prepare action plan to control non communicable diseases

New Delhi:
World Health Organization in collaboration with Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is organizing a consultation for development of National Multisectoral Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Non Communicable diseases on May 22-23.

The objective of the consultation is to develop a National Multisectoral Action Plan with detailed activities and timeliness based on the endorsed strategies. The main focus is on defining the roles of various stakeholders and discussing the next steps in implementing the action plan for prevention and control of NCDs. It aims to bring together stakeholders at national and sub national levels, research institutes, academia, civil society and international agencies on one platform with regard to National Action Plan.

The burden of Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) is a major barrier to socioeconomic development of country and needs a whole of society to develop a Nation Multisectoral Action Plan to address the growing burden of NCDs through health promotion, prevention of exposure to risk factors and provision of appropriate healthcare. The National Steering committee for NCDs has recently endorsed the core strategies to deal with the NCD epidemic in India.

writingonblog uncensored: AERB gives clean chit to KKNP valve design

writingonblog uncensored: AERB gives clean chit to KKNP valve design: Chennai: Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) has said the failure to drain out hot water before undertaking maintenance work on valv...

AERB gives clean chit to KKNP valve design

Chennai:

Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) has said the failure to drain out hot water before undertaking maintenance work on valves in Unit-I of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant resulted in the mishap in which six were injured last week.

Stating that there was no design deficiency in the construction of the valve, AERB said that preliminary investigations into the incident revealed that hot hold up water spread over the persons during dismantling of the valve of 500 mm size.

“This was due to inadequate draining of the hot water before taking up the routine maintenance work on the valve,” AERB said in a release.

The statement from ARB comes after it reviewed the recent hot water spillage incident at Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) Unit – 1 which occurred on May 14, 2014.

The release stated that based on the investigations of AERB at site as well as review by a high level committee of AERB, it is concluded that the incident of the hot water spillage leading to the hot water burn injuries to three of NPCIL workers and three contract workers was during maintenance of a three-way hot water inlet valve to a heater loop in the turbine building of Koodankulam Unit 1 (which was under shutdown during the maintenance period) due to trapped hot water release.

writingonblog uncensored: India to emerge as leader in pickup truck segment ...

writingonblog uncensored: India to emerge as leader in pickup truck segment ...: Chennai: Pick-up trucks are replacing commercial vehicles in India and foreign players like Japanese automaker Isuzu Motors predict the ...

India to emerge as leader in pickup truck segment by 2023

Chennai:

Pick-up trucks are replacing commercial vehicles in India and foreign players like Japanese automaker Isuzu Motors predict the country is expected to emerge as leader in the segment by 2023.

Launching the global range of India-made range of ‘D-Max’, one of the largest pickup trucks world-over, Takashi Kikuchi, managing director of Isuzu Motors, India and Shigeru Wakabayashi, deputy managing director, Isuzu Motors, India, said that currently Indian pick-up truck segment is one of the fastest growing segments in commercial vehicles accounting for 35 per cent of total commercial vehicle market.

“Currently, the market size in the one tone pickup segment in India is two lakh and we expect it to grow to eight lakh units and become the world’s largest pickup market,” said Kikuchi.

Predicting that India will be one of the top three economies of the world by 2023, Wakabayashi that pick-up truck market size will grow in India as there will be massive movement of goods.

Talking about the car plant in 107 acres of land in Sri City in Andhra Pradesh, he said the plant will commence commercial operations by early 2016 with the initial production capacity of 50,000 units per year.

“The operations will be scaled up to 1.2 lakh units per year with the accumulated investment of Rs 3,000 crore and is expected to generate 200 to 300 jobs,” Wakabayashi said.

Isuzu Motors India plans to achieve 100 per cent localization within three years of commencing production in 2016.

Interestingly, the Mahindra is the leader in the pickup segment in India followed by Tatas and Ashok Leyland. But Isuzu plans to become the leader in the segment.

“There is no global pickup truck in Indian market and D-Max is the first global pickup trucks launched in Tamil nadu,” he said.

Talking about Tamil Nadu, Kikuchi said that Tamil Nadu is an important market for Isuzu. “It is a progressive state in terms of industry growth, infrastructure development and a strong agricultural base. It offers a huge potential for pickup trucks and we look forward to meet the growing demand for world class pickup vehicles in the state,” he said.

Wakabayashi said that Isuzu started to sell imported D-max at Coimbatore from February last year to understand Indian customer’s needs. “During this one year, Isuzu received encouraging response from Tamil Nadu market. Now Isuzu has three outlets in Tamil Nadu – Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai and will one more outlets to meet customers needs in few years,” he added.

The D-Max single cab will be priced at an introductory launch price of Rs 5.99 lakh and DMax  space cab will be priced at Rs 6.19 lakh for the deck variant and rs 7.09 lakh for the arched deck variant respectively

writingonblog uncensored: NCTE plans to regulate teaching in Kindergarten

writingonblog uncensored: NCTE plans to regulate teaching in Kindergarten: Chennai: Now teachers in the kindergarten would be evaluated and monitored as National Council for Teachers Education is working out...

NCTE plans to regulate teaching in Kindergarten

Chennai:

Now teachers in the kindergarten would be evaluated and monitored as National Council for Teachers Education is working out a mechanism to regulate Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE).

Chairman of NCTE Professor Santosh Panda, who was here to participate in the three-day National conference on ‘Building Innovations for Creative Society and generating Employability- Beyond digital Age organized by Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University, told Express that NCTE is planning regulations for ECCE as the kindergarten schools and aanganwadis are not monitored.

“We need to train and regulate the teachers in kindergarten,” he said.

“The early childhood care and program aims at improving the quality of teachers teaching at school levels. Now a day’s both children and teachers have resorted to mugging up the entire syllabus and vomiting it in the exams to score marks. This will help nobody. The teachers have become so used to this method that they fail to realize that education is not confined to books alone.”

Interestingly, Panda’s focus is not only on kindergarten, he also plans to bring in regulations governing teachers training institutes. “This would be in place by June and new applications would be given in July,” he said.

He vows the new regulations would bring in quality in teachers education which is currently lacking. Panda also says NCTE will also make B. Ed and M.Ed a two year duration course. It is currently a one year course.

He also said that a Memorandum of understanding has been signed with National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) to create National Center for Accreditation of Teacher Education Institutions.  

“We are also in negoatiation with University Grants Commission for a refresher programme for teacher educators,” he said.

He said there are plans for national Teacher Education Quality Framework and introduce teacher audit system with the help of various stakeholders including state and UGC.

He also said NCTE is also helping develop a transparent legal database to cut down on litigations.

writingonblog uncensored: Survey to identify unauthorised constructions alon...

writingonblog uncensored: Survey to identify unauthorised constructions alon...: C Shivakumar Chennai: Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority and Chennai Corporation have yet to conduct a survey identifying un...

Survey to identify unauthorised constructions along Chennai coast fails to take offf

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority and Chennai Corporation have yet to conduct a survey identifying unauthorised constructions violating Coastal Regulation Zone notification.

The survey was proposed on August last year as the government sought a report identifying violations under CRZ notification 1991 and details of action taken as per Tamil Nadu State Coastal Zone Management Authority.

The survey was to be conducted by Chennai Corporation, CMDA and local bodies and the focus was to be on colleting details including permission granted and unauthorised constructions or developments.

CMDA sources told Express that a draft Terms of Reference (TOR) was prepared but corporation has yet to zero in on consultants to conduct the study.

As per the draft regulations, the coastal regulation zone comprises of coastal stretches of seas, bays which are influenced by tidal action in the landward side up to 500 metres from the high tide line (HT) and estuaries, creeks, rivers and waters which are influenced by tidal action in the landward side up to 100 metres from the high tide line. The land between low tide line and high tide line have been declared as Coastal Regulation Zone.

Development in these area have to be regulated under CRZ classifications and regulations notified by Union government under section 3 of Environment (protection) Act 1986.

In Chennai Metroplitan Area, the total area covered in CRZ area on the sea coast is 31 square kilometres and areas covered along estuaries, creeks, rivers and backwaters attracting CRZ provisions is 109.89 square kilometres.

The coastal stretch in CMA falls under two categories --- Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) II and CRZ III. The old city limit, Kathivakkam, Thiruvottiyur, Kottivakam, Palavakkam, Neelangarai fall under CRZ-II and Inambakkam, Shollinganallur and Uthandi fall under CRZ-III.

Besides, the development that comes withn 100 metres distance from water course – Cooum and Adyar upto a distance specified from their mouth in the sea coast for each water and throughout the length of Buckingham Canal has to satisfy CRZ regulations.

Interestingly, the entire coastal stretch within Chennai Metropolitan Area is now under Chennai Corporation but it does not have any detail relating to the list of authorised and unauthorised structures. As a result enumeration of buildings within the Coastal Regulations Zone has to be carried out.

CMDA says that it is Chennai Corporation which has to float the tender. CMDA sources say it is likely that after the elections the consultant would be announced and work would begin. “The stretch is a large one, it may take an additional consultant also,” a CMDA official said.

Factfile:

--- CRZ comprises of coastal stretches of seas, bays which are influenced by tidal action in landward side upto 500 metres from high tide line

--- It also includes estuaries, creeks, rivers and backwaters which are influenced by tidal action in the landward side up to 100 metres from high tide line.

---  The land between low tide line and high tide line have been declared coastal regulation zone

--- Chennai Metropolitan Area falls under CRZ-II and CRZ-III

--- Old City Limit, Kathivakkam, Thiruvotiyur, Kottivakkam, Palavakkam, Neelangarai fall under CRZ II

---- Injambakkam, Sholinganallur and Uthandi fall under CRZ – III

--- In CMA, the total area covered in CRZ area is 31 square km and areas covered along estuaries, creeks, rivers and back waters attracting CRZ provision is 109.89 square km

writingonblog uncensored: More than 15,000 buildings likely to be enumerated...

writingonblog uncensored: More than 15,000 buildings likely to be enumerated...: C Shivakumar Chennai: More than 15,000 buildings along the coastline are likely to be enumerated by Chennai Corporation for violatio...

More than 15,000 buildings likely to be enumerated along the coastline

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

More than 15,000 buildings along the coastline are likely to be enumerated by Chennai Corporation for violation of Coastal Regulation Zone notification.

Sources told Express that Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority will furnish maps indicating the Coastal Regulation Zone areas.

Chennai Corporation will mark the CRZ areas in administrative zone map and furnish inventory of streets in each zone that fall in each division under the respective zone.

It is believed that arrangements are also being made to erect stone pillars or other suitable bench marks demarcating CRZ areas in andward side for easy identification of CRZ areas.

It is proposed that once the study is being completed by the consultant, it will be reviewed by coordination and review committee which would have Chennai Corporation Commissioner, CMDA member secretary, chief planner of Area Plans Unit, City engineer, Chennai Corporation, senior planner pf enforcement cell in CMDA and deputy planner (environment).

Source said the study will identify each building by its address, including door number and street with detailed coverage of the study area.

Sources said the need for a consultancy arose as the area to be surveyed was vast. “It is impossible to complete this exercise with in-house efforts of Chennai Corporation and Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority due to lack of manpower in both the organisations.

Sources said the study would provide enumeration of existing buildings constructed after 1991 which will provide base data on the unauthorised buildings in the coastal area and enabe updation as well as enforcement action on a sustained manner.

It is learnt that after the study both Chennai Corporation as well as CMDA will be planning to create public awareness or campaign on different aspects of CRZ and to sensitise the public.

The objective is also to prevent unauthorised development in the coastal areas from coming up in future through sustained watch and vigilance and initiating enforcement action, the sources added

writingonblog uncensored: Industry looks for 6.5pc growth in the first year ...

writingonblog uncensored: Industry looks for 6.5pc growth in the first year ...: C Shivakumar Chennai: The industry as well as the stock exchange reacted positively to the Modi wave that engulfed the nation with C...

Industry looks for 6.5pc growth in the first year of Modi era

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

The industry as well as the stock exchange reacted positively to the Modi wave that engulfed the nation with Confederation of Indian Industry and Madras Chamber of Commerce and Industry predicting that a stable government could take growth to 6.5 per cent to seven per cent..

The Sensex breached the 25,000 mark by shooting up 1,300 points but later calmed at 24,121.74, a rise of 216.14 points thus giving a green signal to pro-reform Modi government at the Centre.

Ajay Shriram, president of CII said that with prudent macroeconomic management by the new government, the economy could recover to 6.5 per cent GDP growth rate in 2014-15 as against an estimated 4.9pc in 2013-14. Continued reforms could take GDP growth rate to 8pc level in three years.”

Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, CII stated that CII expects the government to focus on land acquisition act and the new companies act. A strong reform package is needed at this stage to generate the 150 million new jobs that India needs over the next 10 years.

Madras Chamber president T Shivaraman welcomed  the decisive verdict. This should definitely help in fast tracking the reforms that are badly needed and pending for too long and create a more conducive business environment, boosting up the perceptions and general morale. “We should now quickly work to catch up with some of the opportunities lost, in order to hasten our GDP growth to a higher  trajectory of a minimum of 7-8 pc , which we are definitely capable of ,” he said.

Meanwhile, Federation  of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry President M Rafeeque Ahmed congratulated Tamil nadu Chief Minister for her party’s resounding success in Tamil Nadu.” FICCI TNSC is confident that Chief Minister’s leadership will contribute not only in the state economy but will significantly contribute nationally,” FICCI president ordered.

writingonblog uncensored: TN BJP unit defends alliance, says alliance an imp...

writingonblog uncensored: TN BJP unit defends alliance, says alliance an imp...: Chennai: Tamil Nadu BJP unit defended the alliance with DMDK while stating that the party may not have made any major dent in Lok Sabh...

Lotus in full bloom at BJP office

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

The Lotus was in full bloom at BJP headquarters in Chennai as party cadres celebrated the massive electoral victory of BJP.

The atmosphere turned festive around 9 am itself as the trends indicated of a massive BJP wave in the country.

A band started playing as cadres dressed in saffron burst crackers. The sweltering heat failed to dampen their spirits as they danced and shouted with joy.

A television was kept on and announcements started trickling in about the party’s position in the state as well as nation.

Around 10 am when the writing was on wall about the decimation of Congress, sweets were distributed to all those who had gathered to celebrate the victory of BJP.

Buttermilk and tea was also served to the visitors. Interestingly, there was also a huge presence of police and the road was sealed. People were asked to park their vehicles outside the street.

There was a flurry of party leaders, including BJP state vice president M Chankravarthy, State BJP General Secretary S Mohan Rajulu and BJP national secretary Tamilisai Soundarajan who visited the party office to be part of the celebrations.

 Although the BJP has failed to make any major inroads in the state but cadres are not disheartened by the results. “We have made an impact at the Lok Sabha elections in the state and created our own identity. We contested against two Dravidian parties who were ruling the roost in state politics withour own identity and a winning alliance,” a BJP cadre from North Chennai stated.

writingonblog uncensored: TN BJP unit defends alliance, says alliance an imp...

writingonblog uncensored: TN BJP unit defends alliance, says alliance an imp...: Chennai: Tamil Nadu BJP unit defended the alliance with DMDK while stating that the party may not have made any major dent in Lok Sabh...

TN BJP unit defends alliance, says alliance an impact in the LS polls

Chennai:

Tamil Nadu BJP unit defended the alliance with DMDK while stating that the party may not have made any major dent in Lok Sabha election but its impact was felt in the state.

Talking to Express, vice-president of state BJP unit M Chakravarthy also hoped that the state unit is hoping for four ministerial berths for the state.

“We hope that state BJP president Pon Radhakrishnan may get a cabinet berth. We are also keeping our options open on other candidates,” he said.

To a query over BJP alliance failing to make inroads in Tamil Nadu despite the Modi wave, Chakravarthy said that the election has been good for BJP.

“We were contesting against two major Dravidian parties who have been ruling the state politics. Our performance has been better than DMK who have failed to open an account,” he said.

Chakravarthy rejected that the alliance had been a failure rather he said that if the alliance would have been formed earlier, things would have been different.

Interestingly, the Modi wave across the nation has boosted the spirit of the cadre who are now eying the assembly elections. And Chakravarthy hopes that his party will contest the assembly elections with the same alliance.

He also rejected the theory that the setback was due to DMDK. “The alliance with DMDK was a plus point,” he said.

He said that BJP will try to become an alternative against the two Dravidian parties. “We will be adopting a constituency each besides focusing on younger generation who require a change,” he added.

National secretary of BJP Tamiisai Soundarajan speaking to reporters said that the results can’t be called as debacle for BJP. “The alliance against two Dravidian parties itself is a victory,” she said, adding that the party got a good voting percentage.

writingonblog uncensored: China seeks Indian lesson on urbanisation

writingonblog uncensored: China seeks Indian lesson on urbanisation: New Delhi: A high level Chinese delegation is studying Indian expertise on Urbanisation and related policy issues. The delegation head...

China seeks Indian lesson on urbanisation

New Delhi:

A high level Chinese delegation is studying Indian expertise on Urbanisation and related policy issues.

The delegation headed by Xia Yong, Vice Minister, the Legislative Affairs Office (LAO) of State Council, People’s Republic of China held a bilateral meeting with senior officials of Union Ministry of Urban Development under the chairmanship of Sudhir Krishna, Secretary (Urban Development) here on Thursday.

The Chinese delegation is visiting India to understand the issues of Urbanization including migration, land acquisition, urban slums, resettlement and rehabilitation.

Speaking on the occasion Xia Yong stated that China is facing challenge of land acquisition, resettlement and rehabilitation related to Urbanization. He added that India and China are facing same rates of urbanization in the post-1990 period and this process has been accompanied by important shifts in their economic and social structures. For this reason China would like to understand the Indian process of Urbanization and related policy issues, he added.

Sudhir Krishna pointed out that apart from land acquisition, planning the cities better can help to accommodate more people per sq. km. Measures like high rise buildings, Transit Oriented Development (TOD) and mixed land use can help in augmenting the urbanisation rate without the substantial need to acquire more land .

India has developed several legislative, administrative and financial measures to deal with various aspects of Urbanization, he added. The Secretary said that recently the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in LARR Act, 2013 has been enacted to facilitate land acquisition, rehabilitation and resettlement.

The states have also been given financial aid and policy guidelines for carrying out infrastructure development and slum reforms. He disclosed that the Central Govt. is giving financial assistance to states for constructing 1 mn dwelling units for the poor people during the current five year plan and another 1.5 mn dwelling units during the next five year plan.

The Chinese delegation appreciated the information sharing on slum management and slum reforms being carried out by Central and State Governments in India .

Xia Yong expressed hope that the meeting will be a good start for future cooperation in the area of Urban Development between India and China. 

writingonblog uncensored: Cong ready to sit in opposition, says Gopanna

writingonblog uncensored: Cong ready to sit in opposition, says Gopanna: Chennai: Congress has been in power for 10 years and it is ready to sit in the opposition, according to veteran Congress leader and Tami...

Cong ready to sit in opposition, says Gopanna

Chennai:

Congress has been in power for 10 years and it is ready to sit in the opposition, according to veteran Congress leader and Tamil Nadu Congress Committee executive committee member A Gopanna.

Speaking after releasing the book titled ‘The Ever Fragrant Roses’, written by S D S Rajadhevan, a former Union government standing counsel and retired superintendent of police CBCID, Gopanna said in case Modi becomes prime minister Congress will act as a responsible opposition party.

He said if the results are not favourable for the party that does not mean it is end of Congree party.

“The party has been there for more than 125 years and it will continue to do so,” he said.

writingonblog uncensored: Sugar mills to lose Rs 1,000 per tone of Sugar aft...

writingonblog uncensored: Sugar mills to lose Rs 1,000 per tone of Sugar aft...: Chennai: Sugar mills would be losing Rs 1,000 per ton of sugar exported during April-May period after the Union government in a sudden m...

Sugar mills to lose Rs 1,000 per tone of Sugar after Union govt trims export incentives

Chennai:

Sugar mills would be losing Rs 1,000 per ton of sugar exported during April-May period after the Union government in a sudden move reduced the incentive for raw sugar export from Rs 3,300 per tonne to Rs 2,277 per tonne.

As the industry and exporters are perplexed as how and what basis, rule and whose authority has the rate been been recalculated lower than the Gazette Notification issued on February 28, it is believed that four lakh tonnes of sugar exported or would be exported in April-May will adversely affect the returns of sugar mills.

The new incentive rate was issued by Ministry of Consumer Affairs , Food and Civil Supplies issued on May 7 which overrides the gazette notification issued on February 28, 2014. The rate of incentive was fixet at Rs 3,300 per tone of raw sugar exports payable as per date of shipments.

A Vellayan, executive chairman of Murugappa Group has threatened that unless the move is reversed, the industry will have no option but to go to the court.

“From the moves made, it would appear that there is no respect for the decisions taken by Cabinet committee and any officer can overrule it,” said Vellayan.

He said this move will hurt the credibility if India with foreign buyers who have contracted and will be let down.

Interestingly, Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA)  has questioned the revised figure of Rs 2,277 per tone be calculated.

“The action of the government to reduce the rate of incentive from Rs 3300 per tone to Rs 2277 per tone can’t be appreciated especially when there is more than surplus sugar in the country which needs to be exported, said ISMA.

The ex-mill sugar prices have not only fallen in last one month but continues to be lower than the cost of production leading to losses to the industry as well ass when cane price arrears of farmers continue to be outstanding at highest levels over Rs 12,000 crore, ISMA stated.

writingonblog uncensored: Six injured in Koodankulam nuke plant after water ...

writingonblog uncensored: Six injured in Koodankulam nuke plant after water ...: Chennai: Six persons were injured in Koodankulam Nuclear Plant after hot water spilled from a valve, according to KKNP site direct...

Six injured in Koodankulam nuke plant after water spilled from a valve

Chennai:

Six persons were injured in Koodankulam Nuclear Plant after hot water spilled from a valve, according to KKNP site director R S Sundar.

Sundar said the incident happened when the departmental personnel along with contract workers were carrying out maintenance work on a valve in Turbine Building of

Unit-1, at 1210 hours.

He said the three departmental personnel and three contractor personnel who sustained injuries were immediately given necessary first aid at KKNPP site like cold water bath.

They were shifted to Anuvijay Township Hospital and subsequently to a speciality hospital at Nagercoil for further treatment.

He also rejected reports of steam pipe break or blast at

KKNPP. “Koodankulam nuclear plant reactor is safe and

continues to operates safely. Public need not to have any fear about the safety of the reactor,” he said in a release.