writingonblog uncensored: TTDC pins hopes on Indian Navy to transfer submar...

writingonblog uncensored: TTDC pins hopes on Indian Navy to transfer submar...: C Shivakumar Chennai: Tamil Nadu Tourism Department  is expecting a positive  response from Indian Navy by  next month to help tra...

TTDC pins hopes on Indian Navy to transfer submarine to Mahabalipuram shore next month

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

Tamil Nadu Tourism Department is expecting a positive response from Indian Navy by next month to help transfer Vagli, the decommissioned submarine of Indian Navy, to the 30 acres of land abutting the beach near the UNESCO declared World Heritage site in Mahabalipuram.

More than 20 months have passed since efforts were taken to bring the submarine ashore in Mahabalipuram and convert it into a museum but all the plans have backfired due to rough seas.

TTDC in a last resort is now seeking Indian Navy’s help which was against the plan to break the submarine and transfer it to the coast. Interestingly, the submarine was towed free of cost from Visakhapatnam to Chennai port by Indian Navy.

“We have written to the Indian Navy but have yet to get any response from them. They have all the infrastructure to help transfer the submarine to the coast” said a TTDC source.

Indian Navy has barges through which the submarine can be transferred near the coast. “Once it is less than 100 metres from the coast then we can even use crane to help transfer the submarine to the site,” said the TTDC official.

The TTDC official said that they have terminated the contract with Tradex Shipping Corporation which was initially hired to transfer the submarine, a Foxtrot class vessel Type 641B, which was commissioned on August 10, 1974 by the then-Lieutenant Commander Lalit Talmar at Riga in Latvia, a republic of the erstwhile Soviet Union.

Initially, various measures were planned to transfer the submarine and help was also sought from Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited. But then none of the measures fructified.

To a query on whether TTDC is paying huge rent to Chennai Port Trust for docking the submarine, the official said that they are paying a nominal fee. “It is less than Rs 4,000 a day,” he said.

writingonblog uncensored: HC directs CB-CID to re-investigate gang rape case...

writingonblog uncensored: HC directs CB-CID to re-investigate gang rape case...: Chennai: Madras High court has ordered  a re-investigation by CB-CID  into the alleged gang-rape of  speech and hearing impaired  minor ...

HC directs CB-CID to re-investigate gang rape case

Chennai:

Madras High court has ordered a re-investigation by CB-CID into the alleged gang-rape of speech and hearing impaired minor girl on December 25 last year and quashed the final report of offences filed before special court.

Turning down the plea of the girl’s father M Veerabatharappa for a CBI probe, the judge observed that the petitioner’s conduct is suspect and prima-facie it appears that he has trumped up false charges of rape against his neighbours who are still languishing in jail.

The father has alleged that his minor girl was allegedly gangraped by four persons on December 25 evening. 

The judge observed that the local police investigation appears to be swayed by public opinion and re-investigation is imperative.

“This is not a fit case to transfer the investigation to the CBI but it will serve the interest of justice if the final report is quashed and re-investigation is ordered.

“When once final report is quashed, the accused will be entitled to be released on statutory bail under section 167 (2) as they are in jail for the last nine months,” the judge observed.

Rejecting all reliefs claimed by petitioner, the judge in his order has stated that the court was constrained to smell the rat after medical examination by Dr Girija, assistant surgeon, government Dharmapuri Medical College, on February 1, 2015 found abrasions over the victim’s body and found conditions favouring sexual assault. “The doctor has observed that this could be possible a week before her investigation of the victim,” the judge stated. 

“The girl was examined twice once by Dr S P Nandini (January 1, 2015) and another time by Dr B Poornima (January 7, 2015) who found there were no injuries found on the body of the girl and there were no signs of sexual assault,” the judge observed. “Even the chemical examination of the dress did not detect semen or blood in the garments worn by the victim, he observed.

“The girl was examined by five persons and to none of these persons, the girl has complained of rape but the petitioner is insisting that his daughter was subjected to rape and has been crying from the rooftop for justice,” the judge said.

“This court cannot blame the Press, NGOs or the members of the political parties or the lawyers who appeared for the petitioner, because, when a father goes and complains that his deaf and dumb daughter is raped, anyone’s heart will naturally bleed. But neither police investigation nor judicial enquiry can in any way be influenced by extraneous factors, for, they are required to perform their statutory duties passionately,” the judge said.

The court also observed that before preening through the records, several probablities occured in its mind and after going through the records it was found that the accused are relatives and ordinary peasants both ekeing out their livelihood by working in the fields. “The quarrel was trigerred after the urination by petitioner’s dog in the house of the accused. It is true that the petitioner took his daughter to hospital and at the time of admission told the doctor that his daughter was assaulted by three persons but there was no rape allegation,” the court stated

writingonblog uncensored: TN asked to submit status report on whether 22 sta...

writingonblog uncensored: TN asked to submit status report on whether 22 sta...: Chennai: Tamil Nadu government has  been directed to file a  status report on whether 22  state universities are  complying with Univers...

TN asked to submit status report on whether 22 state varsities comply with UGC guidelines on appointing VCs

Chennai:

Tamil Nadu government has been directed to file a status report on whether 22 state universities are complying with University Grants Commission guidelines.

The first bench of Chief justice S K Kaul and T S Sivagnanam passed the order after hearing a petition filed by former vice chancellor of Anna University and xurrent chairperson of IIT Kanpur Prof Anandakrishnan and Change India director A Narayanan challenging the advertisement for vice chancellor post in Madurai Kamaraj university.

The petitioners have submitted that a collective of activists and renowned educationalists made a representation to the governor that the model of search committee of Annamalai University be followed by Madurai Kamraj University for shortlisting candidates for vice-chancellor.

However, two clauses --- minimum of 10 years experience as professor in University or 10 years experience in reputed research or academic organisation and no criminal case is pending agaist the applicants --- have been diluted or eliminated.

The petitioners alleged that there is a glaring difference of qualification and the post between professor and associate professor cant be equated with for the purpose of prescribing qualification for the post of vice-chancellor.

The petitioners contended that the state government, state higher education secretary, UGC chairman and Madurai Kamaraj University should have considered that the UGC regulations 2010 in prescribing qualifications for vice-chancellor would be binding on state universities keeping with a view to forge uniform pattern to prevent any disparities.

“The state universities cannot be allowed to take advantage of lacuna of prescribed qualifications under their statute more particularly in the appointment of vice-chancellors in the light of proposition of law laid down by supreme court that a person will have the right to enter a profession only if he holds the requisite qualification that is laid down before his entry into a profession,” the petitioners stated.  

The petitioners urged the court to stay all proceedings pursuant to advertisement dated May 31, 2015 given by MKU besides directing the state education secretary to comply with the provisions of UGC Act

writingonblog uncensored: PSUs biggest violators of environmental norms, sa...

writingonblog uncensored: PSUs biggest violators of environmental norms, sa...: Chennai: Public Sector Units in the  state are the biggest  violators of environmental  norms as an audit report  found out that sta...

PSUs biggest violators of environmental norms, says CAG report

Chennai:

Public Sector Units in the state are the biggest violators of environmental norms as an audit report found out that state transport undertakings, cement and mining companies have failed to obtain consent of state pollution control board to operate their units.

The report of the Controller and Auditor General of India on Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) found out during the test check of the adherence to pollution control norms by state public sector units that the emission and gaseous discharges of cement and graphite units of PSUs were in excess of the limits prescribed by state pollution control board.

Not only that a sugar company discharged trade effluents in habitat area and an industrial development company failed to prevent polluting industrial units in its industrial estate from discharging hazardous effluent in neighbouring areas. Surprisingly notices were issued to these companies but no remedial measures were taken.

The audit report stated that of the total 291 units of state transport undertakings, 161 were operated without TNPCB consent and 196 units (67pc) were handling hazardous waste.

Similarly, two cement plants of Tamil Nadu Cement Corporation in Ariyalur and Alangulam, which has been classified under Red category, was functioning without the consent of TNPCB.. 

writingonblog uncensored: Ponneri to emerge as CBIC’s engine of growth

writingonblog uncensored: Ponneri to emerge as CBIC’s engine of growth: Chennai: Ponneri Smart City could  emerge as engine of growth  for Chennai Bangalore  Industrial Corridor as it is  being developed by...

Ponneri to emerge as CBIC’s engine of growth

Chennai:

Ponneri Smart City could emerge as engine of growth for Chennai Bangalore Industrial Corridor as it is being developed by Japanese Investment Cooperation Agency in an area which is largest when compared to three other cities being developed along CBIC.

Ponneri node is being developed in an area of 21,966 acres of land while Tumkur is being developed in 13,293 acres and Krishnapatnam in 12,274 acres of land.

Interestingly, even the size of investment in developing Ponneri Smart city along CBIC is worth Rs 32,713 crore which is huge when compared with Tumkur (13,716 crore), Krishnapatnam (18,548 crore).

As JICA has predicted that Ponneri Smart City would cater to a workforce of 8.8 lakh, it would be interesting to note that the master plan has taken into account the external connectivity being planned for swift movement of workers and goods.

The master plan has taken into account the widening of Northern Port access Road (linking Ennore Port to Tacchur) to six lanes besides the 62km Outer Ring Road (Vandalur to Minjur) and 129 km Chennai Peripheral Ring Road (Mamallapuram to Ennore).

Interestingly, the rail link from Avadi to Guduvancherry via Sriperumbudur and Oragadam to be built at an estimated cost of Rs 1,295 crore is also on the master plan besides the Chennai Port-Maduravoyal elevated road to boost the connectivity of Ponneri.

Interestingly, the Nemelli and Perur desalination plants are also being taken into account to provide adequate water supply to the smart city.

There are also plans to enhance the capacity of Kamarajar Port in Ennore. This include development of container terminal as well as additional multi-cargo terminal development at a cost of 1,410 crore and they are under construction. 

Of the 32,000 crore required to develop Ponneri smart City, it is believed that a 41 per cent of total funds (Rs 13,509) will be spent on land acquisition. Ther remaining 19 per cent (Rs 6,175 crore) will be spent on water and effluent treatment, 17 per cent (Rs 5,633 crore) will be spent on land development and nine per cent (Rs 2,933 crore) will be spent on creating power infrastructure).

Interestingly, Tamil Nadu would have to develop a Special purpose vehicle like it is doing for developing its 12 smart cities. This SPV will come under the state nodal agency (Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation). The SPV will constitute of National Industrial Corridor development Authority (NICDA), which would be an apex authority of CBIC development, and would directly come under PMO, TIDCO, a chief executive officer, state goernment owned public sector units, Chennai, Ennore and Katpulli Ports and private sector developers or co-developers.

writingonblog uncensored: India a step closer to realising the dream of hyp...

writingonblog uncensored: India a step closer to realising the dream of hyp...: Model of Re-usable launch  vehicle to be tested by year- end C Shivakumar Chennai: Could the demonstration of a  model of re-usabl...

India a step closer to realising the dream of hypersonic aircraft

Model of Re-usable launch vehicle to be tested by year-end

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

Could the demonstration of a model of re-usable launch vehicle by Indian space research organisation boost India’s dream of building a hypersonic aircraft?

Space scientists feel so. India is testing a model of re-usable launch vehicle where the hypersonic flight characterstics and guidance systems of the vehicle are tested.

Dr K Sivan, director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre said that India’s mettle in space exploration would be unravelled during the demonstration of a model of re-usable launch vehicle by the end of this year.

Talking about the launch of the model of re-usable launch vehicle, Sivan said that it will be one-sixth of the size of aircraft. The model will be a hypersonic flight experiment where the hypersonic flight characterstics and guidance systems of the vehicle are tested. “We will be testing the aerodynamics of hypersonic speed vehicle,” said Sivan.

Talking to Express on the sidelines of All India Federation of Master Printers-RICOH National Awards for Excellence in Printing here on Friday, Sivan said that the re-usable launch vehicle is crucial for Indian space research and would reduce the cost drastically.

He said that usually the cost of launching a satellite is Rs 300 crore. “Of the total satellite vehicle only 20 per cent is the propellant cost and rest is hardware which falls into the sea,” said Sivan.

What we are planning is that the launch vehicle which will return back and land like a aircraft rather than falling into the sea. “If successful this would reduce the cost of space exploration as we can reuse the same hardware again to launch the satellite,” said Sivan.

“If successful, the cost of launching space missions would come down by 80 per cent,” he said.

However, to develop a re-usable launch vehicle, India would need 20 to 30 critical technology breakthroughs. Some of these include thermal protection system, mission management where the aircraft can be flown pilotless, said Sivan

$181bn investment required to develop CBIC

Chennai:

A total of $181n billion worth of investment is required over the 20 year period to develop the infrastructure of Chennai Bangalore Industrial Corridor, according to a master plan prepared by Japanese Investment Cooperation Agency.

These include Chennai-Bengaluru High Speed Rail link, railway line upgradation of some sections along CBIC, Chennai-Bengaluru Express Way and Tumkur-Davangere New line and a dedicated frieght corridor.

As per the master plan a total investment of $26,890 million is required i the transport sector of which a total of $6,423 million is required before 2018. This include airports, ports, railways, roads and logistics.

Similarly, the power sector along CBIC requires a total investment of $1.09 billion while industrial infrastructure requires $32,270 million. The public utilities like solid waste managemet as well as water require an investment of $13,038 million.

Interestingly, CBIC constitutes 90,059 square kilometres, which is nearly 3 per cent of India. It has a population of 47.5 million that 3.73 per cent of India with a urbanisation of 51 per cent. The literacy rate in the area is 78 per cent while the workers ratio is 50.8 per cent, according to the master plan.

The projects along CBIC will be monitored by Prime Minister’s Office and Japanese Embassy. Key central agencies National Highway Authority, Shipping Ministry and Railway board will be represented in the National Industrial Corridor Development Authority.  

Factfile CBIC:

Area: 90,059 square km

(2.9pc of India)

Population: 47.5 million

(3.73 pc of India)

Urbanisation: 51 per cent

(India is only 31pc)

Literacy: 78pc

(Across India 73pc)

Workers ratio: 50.8pc

(Across India 46pc)

Growth rate: 6pc of National GDP

writingonblog uncensored: Ponneri Smart City to be developed at a cost of R...

writingonblog uncensored: Ponneri Smart City to be developed at a cost of R...: Chennai: Do you know the smart city of  Poneri being developed by  Japanese Investment  cooperation agency at a cost  of Rs 32,713 crore...

Ponneri Smart City to be developed at a cost of Rs 32,000 crore

Chennai:

Do you know the smart city of Poneri being developed by Japanese Investment cooperation agency at a cost of Rs 32,713 crore will have a population of four lakh by 2025?

This is what the master plan prepared by JICA has predicted that the smart city, which would require equity funding requirement is Rs 12,249 crore to develop it, would also have a working population of 8.88 lakh. 

And the residents could avail quality infrastructure in a city which would be known for industry competitiveness, sustainability as well as good quality of life, which includes responsive governance, civic services, affordable housing, public facilities, parks and recreation, leisure and retail facilities.

The master plan states that the focus will be on economic and environmental sustainability, waste management, recycled water, renewable energy, skill development and organic growth. The city will have industrial parks, residential area besides commercial space.

The idea for developing Ponneri, which is an engineering hub for automobile and machinery, is to realise the vision of Chennai Bangalore Industrial Corridor (CBIC) to attain a growth of 15 per cent per annum in manufacturing to meet National Manufacturing Plan target, says the master plan.

The blueprint for development of Ponneri states that besides equity funding, funds would be generated through loans and acccruals. 

Interestingly, Ponneri has been shortlisted among the eight prospective areas which come under CBIC as it was ideally located near Katpulli and Kamarajar Ports to serve both domestic and international markets.

While the traditional strength of Ponneri has been identified as automobiles and auto components, chemicals and petrochemical machinery besides computers, electronic and optical components, the master plan has identified metallurgy, electrical machinery, textiles and apparels, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment as potential areas of growth.

But how will the smart city or the node of CBIC will be developed? It is learnt that Ponneri would be developed in three phases. The first and second phases would focus on 7,000 acres of land. 

The first phase will involve 4,448 acres of land available with government agencies while the second phase would involve 2,718 acres of existing port area. The third phase will involve 5,667 land area with existing development around coastal regulation zone. Interestingly, 9,133 acres of land has yet to be acquired.

Ponneri Smart city Factfile:

-- Located in Tiruvallur District

-- 36 km from Chennai

--- Adjacent to Katpulli Port and Kamraj Port

Total area: 21,966 acre

Total cost: Rs 32,713 crore

Goals of CBIC (focussing on three nodes of Ponneri, Tumkur and Krishnapatam):

Growth: 12 to 15pc GDP growth for next 20 years

Jobs: 22 million manufacturing job creation

Manufacturing: 25 per cent to GDP

Chennai Port no more an apple for trade due to DGFT clamp

Imported apples in Southern states to cost more

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

Imported apples in Tamil Nadu will cost more following the notification by director general of foreign trade (DGFT) to ban import of apples from Chennai Port.

A Chennai Port official told Express that the move would affect the revenue of Chennai Port as well as large network of wholesale and retail sales involving the fruit business.

Interestingly, Chennai Port imports 5,000 cartons of apple every year and it is the second largest port when compared to the volumes of containers.

“We will be taking up the issue through Shipping Ministry with Union Commerce Ministry,” said the official.

Sources said the Union Commerce Ministry took the decision to protect the domestic apple trade. However, port sources said that the domestic apple trade is seasonal while the import of apples through Chennai Port happens regularly. “There is no reason why Commerce Ministry resorted to such a decision,” said the official.

Interestingly, the notification of DGFT to import apples into India only through Nhava Sheva Port has also irked apple importers in Chennai Port.

Chozha Naachiar Rajasekar, president of Tamil Chamber of Commerce has urged Commerce Minister Nirmala Seetharaman to allow Chennai Port for import of apples through fresh DGFT notification or else it will involve huge freight amount in transporting the containers to southern states.

“The apples are imported in refrigerated containers from countries like US, Australia and Fuji Island. If the consignments are to be imported only at NhavaSheva, then the goods should be transported in refrigerated container or trucks to Chennai and other places involving huge freight amount pushing the price of apples and adding to food inflation, which is avoidable,” said Rajasekhar.

He said that apples are not grown in Tamil Nadu and it has to be procured from states like Himachal Pradesh and even there sufficient quantity is not available.

“There appears to be no public interest in sudden restriction of port of import and the move may result in cartelisation of the trade to the detriment of consumers and to prevent monopoly of particular port in the West coast of the country,” he stated.

He said the large network of wholesale and retail sales involving businesses and trade activities connected with fruit business will be affected

writingonblog uncensored: ‘Recycled' water should be the new mantra to quenc...

writingonblog uncensored: ‘Recycled' water should be the new mantra to quenc...: Chennai: Water managers in the city should now think about reuse of waste water rather than focusing on alternative resources, accordin...

‘Recycled' water should be the new mantra to quench thirst of Chennai

Chennai:

Water managers in the city should now think about reuse of waste water rather than focusing on alternative resources, according to an expert.

Delivering Dr NG Anuthaman memorial endowment lecture on 'Science and Technology for sustainable water supply' at the Alumni Association  of College of Engineering in Anna University here, S Mohan, professor, department of Civil Engineering, IIT Madras, said that of the total water supplied to residential areas nearly 80 per cent ends up as sewage water.

“Why not the government treat it and use it rather than hunt for alternative sources of water which is located hundreds of kilometer away,” said Mohan.

His comment comes when the water managers are struggling to provide adequate supply of water to the city as the water supply in the reservoirs reservoirs have dipped to a 10 year low.

Citing the example of Singapore and The Netherlands, he said the thought of using the sewage water after being treated is unpleasant but then one has to save our water resources.

He also highlighted that the fresh water resources in the country has come down from 6042 cubic metres during the years 1947-50 to 1548 cubic metres in 2011. “We have less than 1700 cubic metres of water which puts us in the UN list of water stressed nations,” he added.

He also stressed that the city has to survive on desdalination plant but in the longer run it is not advisable. “Rather going in for desalination, the state should look into alternative technologies like nanotechnology to make desalination cheaper,” he said.

Usually, 2.5 kilowatt per hour of power consumption results in production of one cubic metre of water which is too costly. Now, there is lot of research going on nanotechnology membranes to make desalination plant cheaper, he said.

He also stressed on the need for decentralized waste water treatment plant in every building to treat the sewage water besides focusing on local reuse and recycle.

He said besides recycling of waste water, the city should also look at Orange County model where waste water is injected into the ground and from where it is treated and supplied to people.

He also expressed concern that the lack of thought process while laying the sewage lines in the city. The sewage lines are right above the drinking water lines unlike other countries where the sewage and drinking water pipes are kept five metre apart horizontally

writingonblog uncensored: Could the MRTS Phase II project cost escalate if c...

writingonblog uncensored: Could the MRTS Phase II project cost escalate if c...: C Shivakumar Chennai: The cost to complete the Rs 495 crore Phase II Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) between Velachery and St Thomas Mount...

Could the MRTS Phase II project cost escalate if compensation has to be paid under new land acquisition act?

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

The cost to complete the Rs 495 crore Phase II Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) between Velachery and St Thomas Mount is likely to escalate after Madras High Court has ordered the state government to compensate the petitioners as per the new land acquisition Act.

Sources told Express that efforts are on to disburse the compernsation and take over the possession of the land to complete the project.

 Interestingly, officials are still hopeful that the project is likely to be completed by December 2016. The project commenced on 2008.


It is learnt that the total outlay of the project is Rs 495.74 crore. Of this the share of union government is Rs 165.24 crore and the the state government is Rs 330.50 crore.


Sources said that till August 2015, a total of Rs 320.10 crore has been already spent. “This financial year till August 2015, a total of 10.97 crore has already been spent,” sources 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 has been pending over acquisition of 500 metres of land.
Interestingly, there was much hope last year immediately after the
Madras High Court Madras High Court cleared the way after dismissing the petitions challenging the acquisition of land and deviation in the project.

However, compensation has been an issue as the landowners sought to be compensated under the new land acquisition act. Sources revealed that a total of 28 beneficiaries have been identified and the work would resume after they are compensated.

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.



Interestingly, it was the new land acquisition act which has delayed the Vandalur satellite bus terminus as the land acquisition of agricultural land proved too costly for the government at the current market rate that it started scouting for another tract of land to implement the project. It is learnt that the government is focussing on promboke land which is also involved in legal tangle.



The MRTS 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.

writingonblog uncensored: Groundwater only hope to quench city’s thirst

writingonblog uncensored: Groundwater only hope to quench city’s thirst: Metro Water evaluating ground  water potential of 30 water  bodie s  C Shivakumar Chennai: As  the  water  level  in the  reservoirs...

Groundwater only hope to quench city’s thirst

Metro Water evaluating ground water potential of 30 water bodies 

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

As the water level in the reservoirs have dipped to a 10-year low, Chennai Metro Water is looking to ground water resources to ensure city gets sustainable water supply.

Official sources told Express on Tuesday that Metro Water has identified 30 water bodies in Chennai Metropolitan Area (CMA) to assess their potential for ground water.

“We are planning to tap ground water from these water bodies. Currently, a hydrological survey is being conducted. Once the potential is ascertained, then bore-wells would be dug to tap the groundwater,” said the Metro Water official.

This comes at a time when all the four reservoirs have nearly dried up. Currently, the water level is 365 million cubic feet which is way low when compared to 2,338 million cubic feet of water available during this period last year.

Interestingly, Chennai Metro Water is also planning to tap additional 80 agriculture well for supply of water to the city. 

“We are currently tapping 250 agriculture wells and plans are on to tap 80 more wells to provide adequate supply to the city, including the added areas,” said the official.

Interestingly, Chennai Metro Water has also increased the lorry trips. “We have increased the lorry supply from 4,500 trips to 6,000 trips a day,” the official said.

However, the optimism has not waned and officials still have faith on the north east monsoon. “We are optimist about the north-east monsoon this year. The meteorology department officials have informed us that the monsoon this year would be normal. We are now pinning our hopes on the monsoon,” the official said.

With the reservoirs drying up, the only hope is desalination plants, Veeranam lake as well as the underground water resources for the city. “We hope the Rain God answers our prayers,” said the official who is witness to the three years of scanty rainfall.

Death of CMDA official at Manjambakkamtruck terminal sparks controversy

Chennai:

The Rs 20 crore Manjambakkam Container Truck Terminal was mired in controversy with the death of a CMDA official after an emergency gate fell on him.

The truck terminal, which had kicked up controversy after a CMDA engineer alleged poor quality of work, erupted into another controversy when junior engineer K Seshadri died in a freak accident while trying to close the emergency gate of the truck terminal.

A CMDA official said that it was a side gate towards the back side of the truck terminal. “He and the security persons pulled the gate which came off the railings and fell on Seshandri around 9.30am,” said the official.

Interestingly, CMDA will be conducting an enquiry on the whole incident. 

“Usually, the emergency gate should be kept locked as the main entrance gate is functioning. The main gate is the only gate where the entrance fee is collected,” said a CMDA source.

What is puzzling officials is why the emergency gate was left open when the entrance fee is being collected at the main entrance. "It is really puzzling as to what made Seshadri take up the task of closing the emergency gate,” said another CMDA official, while rejecting allegations over the poor quality of work being carried out in Manjambakkam

HUDCO agrees to back 20,000 green homes project of TN

　　

C Shivakumar

　　

Chennai:

Housing and Urban and Development Corporation has agreed to back Tamil Nadu government’s scheme of building 20,000 green house units in town panchayats for economically weaker sections.

This was decided during a meeting between officials of housing and urban development department and HUDCO.

HUDCO sources told Express that they have agreed to fund the project. “The loan payment is for a period of 15 years and the houses will built for the category of economically weaker sections,” the sources said.  

　　

This comes after the Housing and Urban Development department in a Government Order released recently decided to sanction financial assistance of Rs 2.1 lakh each to 20,000 economically weaker families in the town panchayats under Phase I to convert huts or mud houses　　into green houses with a concrete roof and solar power.

Sources said the Solar powered lighting system in the green houses shall be installed by Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency (TEDA). Each house will have a living room, Bedroom, kitchen and toilet besides rain water harvesting structures. The designs proposed are flexible and the plinth area of the house will not exceed 360 sq.ft.

Sources told Express that Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board (TNSCB) would repay the loan and interest charged through sale of Tranferrable Development Rights accrued due to the construction of Economic Weaker Section (EWS) houses at periodic intervals as per the loan repayment schedule. The loan will also be backed by a government guarantee.

The scheme is likely to be implemented from November. “Once the beneficiaries are identified they have to construct the house till the basement level following which the first instalment of the amount would be credited in their bank account. There is no third party or mediator. This would bring in transparency,” official sources added. 

Interestingly, the eligibility for the applicant under the scheme is that he should be poor and should not own a concrete house. The assistance will be provided to construct a house with a plinth area of not less than 300 square feet.

The scheme envisages stage wise completion certificate by respective assistant executive engineers. While the scheme is an attractive one but it still remains as to how slum clearance board would repay the loan amount through proceeds from sale of TDR. But sources said that if the slum clearance board fails to pay through TDR, then the government will intervene to make the scheme successful.

　　

Factfile:

Green House Scheme

Scheduled Caste  - 29%

Scheduled Tribe - 1%

Others - 70%

(3% of the allocation may be reserved for differently-abled persons)