writingonblog uncensored: CBI registers case against senior Income Tax offic...

writingonblog uncensored: CBI registers case against senior Income Tax offic...: Chennai: Central Bureau of  Investigation on Tuesday  registered a case against a  senior Income tax officer for  possessing alleged...

CBI registers case against senior Income Tax official

Chennai:

Central Bureau of Investigation on Tuesday registered a case against a senior Income tax officer for possessing alleged disproportionate assets worth Rs 6.1 crore approximately.

CBI said that a case under Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 was filed against M Krishnaswamy, who is currently posted as director (Investigation) Settlement Commission in Chennai.

A former commissioner of income tax, Krishnaswamy is alleged to have acquired huge assets in the name of his immediate family members and benami holders at Chennai and various other places in Tamil Nadu, including his native place in Palani.

Interestingly, a case was also registered against eight others, including his family members and certain benami property holders. The case was filed after allegations surfaced that the accused had amassed disproportionate assets to the tune of Rs 6.1 crore.

It is learnt that Krishnasamy was allegedly abetted by other accused in committing the offence.

Searches are being conducted at 14 places including residential and official premises in Chennai, Palani and other places of Tamil nadu, said a CBI spokeswoman.

The searches have resulted in recovery of documents relating to property worth several crore of rupees, locker details, investment in shares, investments in private firms and also investments in other companies. Further investigation is on. .

TN starts relocating flood-hit families

Chennai;

The government has started relocating flood-hit families living on the banks of Adyar River by providing them with new homes in Kannagi Nagar and Okkium Thoraipakkam.

A top slum clearance board official told Express that the process has started on Tuesday after the directive from Chief Minister to provide the flood-hit with new tenements..

“We will be relocating 1,115 flood-hit families living on the banks of Adyar River under the first phase. Initially, tenements are being provided to flood-hit in Atma Nagar,” said the official.

It is learnt that on Tuesday a total of 50 to 60 people would be provided with new tenements.

Interestingly, the state government is providing Rs 5,000 as shifting allowance besides Rs 2,500 as subsistence allowance. To a query on whether the government would be providing quality infrastructure for those who have been shifted to Kannagi Nagar and Okkium Thoraipakkam, the official said that the relocation would be overseen by the top slum clearance board officials.

“We will ensure that everything is in place,” said the official.

“We will also ensure that the children are provided with proper schooling,” added the official.

But social activists say the government has to look broadly on the issues of livelihood. “Here the livelihood is at stake. Mere Rs 2,500 is not enough. The government should look at providing alternate livelihood for people or fix a minimum wage as subsistence,” said Independent researcher Vanessa Peter.

She also urged the government to come out with a housing and resettlement and rehabilitation policy so that those who have been relocated have something to fall back on.

writingonblog uncensored: Container traffic on Port access roads to be regu...

writingonblog uncensored: Container traffic on Port access roads to be regu...: Chennai: The congestion at Chennai  Port is likely to ease next  year with port officials and  traffic police planning to  regulate the ...

Container traffic on Port access roads to be regulated next month

Chennai:

The congestion at Chennai Port is likely to ease next year with port officials and traffic police planning to regulate the container trucks entering Chennai Port.

A senior port official told Express that the container trucks would now have to be regulated outside the port possibly at Eranvur village near Ennore Port.

“Chennai Port officials are going to hold discussion with the additional commissioner of police (Traffic) by the middle of next month to stop these container trucks at Ernavur,” said the official.

This came after the busy stretch in North Chennai from Ennore to Chennai :Port was blocked by container trucks causing hardship to commuters and public and private transport.

“This has been a ongoing problem. Whenever, the ships enter the terminal, every truck operator wants a share of teh cargo as a result they park their vehicles on the stretch so that they can export the cargo as well as return with imported cargo,” said the official.

“We do have separate gates for import cargo and export cargo but due to non cooperation from truck operators it is difficult to implement it,” said the official.

Interestingly, it was in 2014, the customs department has issued a notice where a trailer bound to port has to come via container freight station and after proper documentation has to enter the port. But this could not be adhered to due to the indiscipline of Trailer Owners Association.

Meanwhile, Chennai Port is planning to do away with the manual processing methodology to track the container system and are coming up with RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) based container tracking system. Interestingly, this has been tested involving container freight station (CFS), custioms and terminal operators.

The system would be place in February next year,” said the official. While, Chennai Port is optimistic that the traffic congestion would be eased, it has to be seen how effectively the authorities implement it

writingonblog uncensored: Tamil Nadu submits all 12 Smart City Proposals

writingonblog uncensored: Tamil Nadu submits all 12 Smart City Proposals: Chennai: The state government after  failing to adhere to the  deadline due to natural  calamity on Monday submitted  the list of 12 s...

Tamil Nadu submits all 12 Smart City Proposals

Chennai:

The state government after failing to adhere to the deadline due to natural calamity on Monday submitted the list of 12 smart city plans to the Union Ministry of Urban Development.

State Government could not submit list before December 15 as it wa busy with management of floods in Chennai and other parts of the State. 

The State Government has accordingly sought time and submitted Smart City Plans for all 12 cities and towns in the State included in the Smart City Mission to the Ministry on Monday,

The 12 cities are --Tiruchirapalli, Tirunelveli, Dindigul, Thanjavur, Tiruppur, Salem, Vellore, Coimbattore, Madurai, Erode, Thoothukudi and Chennai.

With this, 97 cities out of the 98 included in the Smart City Mission have submitted Smart City Plans to the Ministry of Urban Development. 

At the end of the evaluation, the first batch of Smart Cities to be financed during this financial year would be announced. The Ministry has set a cap of 20 such cities to be financed during this financial year and 40 each during the next two years

Flood-hit along banks of Adyar to be rehabilitated in 10,000 tenements constructed by slum clearance board

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

People living on the banks of Adyar River would be given the first preference while rehabilitating the flood-hit by allotting them new tenements in nine places, according Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board officials.

The state government is planning to allot 10,000 tenements to the flood-hit people and the process could start from either Thursday or Friday.

It is learnt that the process could start from the worst affected areas in Atma Nagar and Thideer Nagar. “We would be initially alloting 1,000 tenements,” said a slum clearance board official.

Interestingly, the tenements have been earmarked at two locations in Okiam Thoraipakkam, three locations in Perumbakkam, one in Navalur, one in Thirumazhisai and two in Thiruvottriyur.

Currently, 8,000 tenements are ready and by Pongal we will have another 2,000 ready before Pongal. Overall, we will rehabilitate 10,000 flood-hit people by Pongal. Ineterstingly, the first batch of people would be shifted to Tenements in Thoraipakkam and tenements.

Interestingly, the flood-hit people have been enumerated by Chennai Corporation through biometric system, the official said.

But independent researcher Vanessa Peter, who had done social audit during the tsunami, feels that biometric process leaves out the tenants who have been really hit hard during the floods.

Since most of the slum dwellers have lost their identity cards, it would be better to cross verify the details by conducting camps, she says. The officials should ensure that the single women, disabled and elderly are also included.

Vanessa also says that it should also be made clear whether the government is using the list prepared by Cooum River Restoration Trust on people living along the banks to rehabilitate the flood hit or the list prepared under Rajiv Awas Yojana.

Slum Clearance Board officials said that the list is prepared by Chennai Corporation using the biometric process. “We have included the tenants also,” said the official.

But social activists feel that under any allotment there is always a seepage. There are always 2 to 3 per cent people who enjoy the benefits even though they are not beneficiaries, says Vanessa.

She also says that many of the areas where the flood-hit will be shifted lacks infrastructure facilities.

Interestingly, Tamil Nadu government is planning to make all resettlement schemes as integrated townships possessing adequate social and physical infrastructure.

The state government has constituted a high level committee chaired by the chief secretary to resolve infrastructural issues in large resettlement schemes implemented by Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board

Trichy to become second city to have UMTA

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

Trichy would become the second city in Tamil Nadu to frame its own urban transport policy after detailed discussions on the structure of Urban Metropolitan Transport Authority was discussed in New Delhi recently.

Trichy, which was selected among the seven cities in India to have UMTA, an umbrella body which co-ordinates the entire transport activities of the city, will now have the power to design networks and routes, assess demand, contract services, monitor performance, manage common facilities like bus stations and terminals,

Interestingly, the meeting in New Delhi focussed on the structure of UMTA in Trichy in terms of power and functions, geographical coverage, legal provisions, organisational structures, funding sources and composition of governing board

During the round-table conference, which was chaired by Union urban development additional secretary Durga Shanker Mishra, it was decided that Union government will plan a single legislation for state to authorise inclusion of any city to establish UMTA within the state

“This would facilitate the process of establishment of UMTA in as much cities as a new Act will not be required every time a city wishes to set up UMTA,” sources added.

Interestingly, Chennai was the first city in the state to have Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority Act in 2010. The salient features of CUMTA include monitoring the implementation of various traffic and transportation measures including promoting the cause of public mass passenger transport systems and regulating their operations besides implementation of traffic and transportation infrastructure in the Chennai Metropolitan Area. 

But the Act has yet to be notified. This has resulted in the delay of integration of all public mass passenger transport modes by means of various measures including routing and scheduling, operating feeder services and combined or common ticketing to facilitate seamless commuting options to the public, sources said

writingonblog uncensored: 5,000 tanks in Chennai to be renovated under 2nd ...

writingonblog uncensored: 5,000 tanks in Chennai to be renovated under 2nd ...: C Shivakumar Chennai: Five thousand tanks in 66 sub-basins in the state would undergo repair and renovation under the proposed World Bank...

5,000 tanks in Chennai to be renovated under 2nd World Bank IAMWARM project

C Shivakumar
Chennai:
Five thousand tanks in 66 sub-basins in the state would undergo repair and renovation under the proposed World Bank’s Second Tamil Nadu - Irrigated Agriculture Modernization and Water-Bodies Restoration and Management project.

A Water Resources Department source told Express that the project would cost around Rs 2,950 crore and would be implemented in six years period.

Interestingly, this project would ensure more water is saved for irrigation purposes besides resolving the flooding issues. The project is likely to cover tanks in Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai districts besides other parts of the state.

The state has a total of 127 sub-basins. Under the First IMAWARM project, 61 sub basins were covered in a period of six years (2007-2013) in four phases with Water Resources Organization (WRO), as the Nodal Agency, said the Water Resources Department official. Rehabilitation of 2,831 tanks in 61 sub basins in 26 Districts were completed, the source added

The first IAMWARM project’s focus was to support investment in improving irrigation service delivery including adoption of modern water-saving irrigation technologies and agricultural practices besides agricultural intensification and diversification . It also focussed on strengthening institutions dealing with water resources management.

Meanwhile, Water Resources Department has already started initiating action in removing encroachments along the water bodies. When Express tried to contact WRD officials on what measures they are undertaking to remove encroachments along water bodies, they refused to comment.

“The matter is sub judice. We have submitted our report to the Madras High Court,” said a Water Resource Department source.

Interestingly, this comes after Madras High Court has asked the government to file a counter explaining steps taken to clear encroachments and also to desilt waterways.

writingonblog uncensored: MFL directed to suspend commercial operations

writingonblog uncensored: MFL directed to suspend commercial operations: Chennai: Madras Fertilizers Limited  has been directed by National  Green Tribunal to suspend its  commercial operation till it  gets cl...

MFL directed to suspend commercial operations

Chennai:

Madras Fertilizers Limited has been directed by National Green Tribunal to suspend its commercial operation till it gets clearance from Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board over discharging its effluents into Cooum River.

The National Green Tribunal gave the direction after state pollution control board has stated that MFL .did not take adequate measure to prevent discharge of effluent. Interestingly, TNPCB has already issued a show cause notice to TNPCB earlier this year.

The TNPCB has stated that the component of effluent treatment plant was not under operation for treating cooling tower blow down effluent

Oen P Edwin Wilson has urged the NGT to direct officials to prevent encroachment along the rivers and the to end sand mining. The tribunal adjourned the hearing to January 27.

writingonblog uncensored: NGT saves Porur lake from being encroached

writingonblog uncensored: NGT saves Porur lake from being encroached: Chennai: The southern bench of  National Green Tribunal (NGT)  has directed that no construction should be made on the Porur  lake and  ...

NGT saves Porur lake from being encroached

Chennai:

The southern bench of National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed that no construction should be made on the Porur lake and the bund built to demarcate the lake be broken.

The tribunal said that in view of recent High Court ruling directing removal of encroachment on water bodies, the PWD is directed to remove the bund. 

The bund was being built by PWD to demarcate the 17 acres of Porur Lake watershed area whose ownership was claimed by a private college.

The National Green Tribunal also directed that no water should be drawn from the lake for private use. “The private college cannot make any construction on the land which they claim to be theirs, said the tribunal.

In a separate judgement pertaining to Cooum restoration, the NGT has directed Madras Fertilizers to stop any commercial production till they comply with Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board norms. 

TNPCB had filed a status report indicating that Madras Fertilizers had still not taken adequate measures to prevent discharge of effluents and a showcause notice was issued to MFL. The tribunal adjourned the hearing to January 27.

writingonblog uncensored: TNHB seeks Rs 6 crore funds to restore flood-hit T...

writingonblog uncensored: TNHB seeks Rs 6 crore funds to restore flood-hit T...: C Shivakumar Chennai: The State housing board has requested the government to provide a grant of nearly Rs 6 crore to restore flood d...

TNHB seeks Rs 6 crore funds to restore flood-hit TNGRHS tenements

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

The State housing board has requested the government to provide a
grant of nearly Rs 6 crore to restore flood damaged tenements under
the government rental housing scheme (TNGRHS) and board scheme.

TNHB sources told Express that assistance has been sought under
National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) to carry out restoration work
for the flood-hit tenements. It is learnt that TNHB has sought Rs 5
crore for repairing the tenements under rental housing scheme and Rs
90 lakh for repairing the tenements under the State housing board
scheme.

Most of the tenements under rental housing scheme and board scheme
were affected in the historic rains. These include the tenements
located in Ayanavaram, Shenoy Nagar, K G Colony, Mogappair East,
Shanti Colony, K K Nagar, Foreshore Estate, SAF Games Village, R K
Nagar, Tod Hunter Nagar CTO quarters in Thiruvanmiyur among others.

Sources said the funds would be utilised to carryout civil and water
supply repairs, dewatering and pump set repairs, electrical repairs,
sewer line and inspection chamber repairs, sump and overhead tank
cleaning and garage cleaning.

Sources said that due to stagnation of flood waters most of the TNHB
tenements were damaged. “The flooring, water closets, brick work,
plastering and doors and windows were damaged. The civil works and
water supply repairs alone would cost Rs 3.50 crore. Even the sewerage
pump sets have to undergo repairs which would cost another Rs 75
lakh,” said TNHB sources.

Some of the tenements electrical panel switch board has also been
damaged and TNHB estimates it to be around Rs 36 lakh for rental
housing scheme.

Even the sump of the tenements has been hit as the sewage water has
entered. It has to be urgently cleaned, said sources.

The source said that the amount provided by the government towards
maintenance of TNGRHS flats was sufficient only to maintain the day to
day essential services only, adding that the State housing board does
not have resources to carry out restoration activities on its own.

CBI searches 4 places in TN to unearth chit fund scam

Chennai:

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) searched four places in
Tamil Nadu on Monday in connection with its ongoing investigation into
a multi-crore rupee chit fund scam.

 A CBI spokeswoman said that the raids were conducted at four places
in Tamil Nadu and four places in Odisha following a chit fund case
registered against the private company Rightmax Technotrade
International Limited.

The searches were carried out on the houses of V Lakhanaya and R
Venkatraman, both functionaries of the company, in Tamil Nadu. The
searches were carried out in three places in Pollachi and one in
Kurichi near Coimbatore, officials said.

The company, which launched its operations in Bangalore and spread its
networks to Odisha and Tamil Nadu has allegedly duped many investors.
Even Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) barred the company
from doing any kind of business.

Aircel customers can now pay postpaid bills at post office

Chennai:

Aircel customers can now pay their postpaid bills at all post offices in Chennai City from next Monday.

Merwin Alexander, Post Master General of Chennai region, said that department of Posts, Chennai City Region, has entered into an agreement with Aircel whereby, Aircel subscribers can pay their Bills (postpaid) through all Post offices in Chennai City. This scheme will be extended to other mofussil Postal Division in Chennai City Region in due course.

Aircel subscribers residing in any part of Chennai and Suburban localities can approach any Post office, produce the postpaid bill at the Post office counter,pay the bill amount by cash, and get the receipt, he said.

The entire process is done through online ePayment facility provided by the Department of Post.

writingonblog uncensored: Tough safety regulations and technology issues del...

writingonblog uncensored: Tough safety regulations and technology issues del...: C Shivakumar Chennai: The 500 Mega Watt Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) in Kalpakkam, which is an important milestone for India&#...

Tough safety regulations and technology issues delay PFBR: Basu

C Shivakumar
Chennai:

The 500 Mega Watt Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) in Kalpakkam,
which is an important milestone for India's three-stage nuclear power
programme, is getting delayed due to tough safety regulations and
technology issues, according to Atomic Energy Commission Chairman
Shekar Basu.



Basu told Express that the project is first of its kind and Indian
scientists have been working on the project for the last 30 years. “We
are facing technology issues as well as tough safety regulations. For
PFBR, the safety evaluation is different as it is totally different
technology,” said the renowned scientist, who vowed that the reactor
would attain criticality before middle of next year.



The fast breeder reactor, which breeds more material for a nuclear
fission reaction than it consumes, is one of the key projects of
India’s three-stage nuclear power programme. India became the sixth
country to have such a technology, way back in 1985.



“We had the technology in 1985 but the reactor which we are building
is a much bigger one and it requires new component which has to be
vaildated,” said Basu.



“We can make it faster but then we ought to have safeguards. The
scientists want to ensure that all safety regulations are in place,”
the AEC chairman said.



PFBR is quite different from the conventional reactor, which are
cooled by light or heavy water. Fast breeder reactors are cooled by
liquid sodium which critics feel is dangerous as it reacts explosively
with both air and water.



But Basu says liquid sodium has advantages. “When water is heated with
high temperature there is chance of corrosion but if liquid sodium is
used there won’t be any corossion. “As for the fear of sodium catching
fire, we have double containment and the piping is deep. We had the
sodium test reactor for the last 30 years and never had any problem,” he
added


On Friday, sodium circulation in the reactor has started and the next
stage is 'criticality'. But to attain it, it has to undergo evaluation
by the safety committee. “There are 10 to 12 stages and each stage has
to get the clearance of safety committee like in the case of
Koodankulam reactor,” said Basu



“I am confident that the reactor will attain criticality by middle of
next year but there will be problems which we will sort it out,” he
added.

CBI conducts surprise checks at Chennai airport following tip off on duty evasion by customs officials

Chennai:

Central Bureau of Investigation conducted surprise checks at Chennai Airport’s Anna International Terminal early Friday morning after getting information that customs officials were evading duties while clearing goods.

CBI sources told Express that surprise checks were conducted by anti-corruption branch after they got a tip off that customs officials evaded duties while clearing goods, including gold.

The raid was conducted by a 12 member team at around 1.30 to 2am and lasted till 5 to 6am.

Airport Authority of India sources said that the routine surprise checks were conducted following a tip off over evasion activities by customs. “It is between CBI and customs and airport authority has no role to play,” said sources.

Interestingly, no arrests were made. “We have collected some documents and after analysing it, we may decide further course of action,” CBI said.

writingonblog uncensored: Chennai Airport’s domestic, International termin...

writingonblog uncensored: Chennai Airport’s domestic, International termin...: C Shivakumar Chennai: Air passengers could heave a  sigh of relief as the  international and domestic  terminals of Chennai Airpor...

Chennai Airport’s domestic, International terminals to be integrated by 2019

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

Air passengers could heave a sigh of relief as the international and domestic terminals of Chennai Airport would be integrated by 2019 under the second phase of modernisation of airport.

Chennai Airport Authority of India director Deepak Shastri told Express that Airport Authority of India has called for global tender to integrate both Anna International Terminal and Kamaraj Domestic Terminal.

“The two new terminals will be merged by revamping the old terminals,” said Shastri. This comes after the development under the first phase was in such a way that the new international terminal and the domestic terminal were on the either ends of the old terminals.

“Now there will be one single terminal with one half being international and another half being domestic airport. This will provide easy access to both international and domestic passengers,” said Shastri.

Interestingly, this would result in increasing the capacity of Chennai airport to 30,000 million passengers per annum. The Phase-I modernisation of Chennai airport has created additional capacity of 14 million passengers per annum. Earlier, the existing passenger handling capacity of 9 million passengers per annum. Now the capacity after the first phase of modernisation has gone up to 23,000 million passengers per annum. 

Shastri said a consultant will be appointed before the start of the next financial and he will provide a holistic assessment on how to integrate the terminals.

“Once the consultant is appointed, it will take three years. Probably by 2019, the second phase would be over,” said Shastri.

This comes as Airports Authority of India (AAI) has taken steps to obtain environment clearance for the Phase II modernisation of the Airport. 

The expansion of Chennai airport was taken up with an investment of over Rs 2,000 crore

Shastri also defended the works carried out during the first phase of expansion of Chennai airport by Airport Authority of India. “There is nothing wrong with the work carried out in the first phase. Of the 7,000 glasses, only 50 broke that too it was due to an human error. Not a single passenger was injured,” said Shastri

He said the comptroller and auditor general, Central Bureau of Investigation and other agencies have given clean chit to AAI. He also said the ceiling of the airport is made of ultra light fibre, which can hardly injure any passenger. 

To a query on the the shortage of air traffic controllers, Shastri said that it is a perennial problem. “The selection process is tough. We can’t compromise on it. Currently, 500 people are undergoing training,” he added

writingonblog uncensored: ED raids Karthi Chidambaram's personal office

writingonblog uncensored: ED raids Karthi Chidambaram's personal office: Chennai: Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday carried out raid on a personal office of Karthi Chidambaram, son of former Union Finance Mini...

ED raids Karthi Chidambaram's personal office

Chennai:
Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday carried out raid on a personal office of Karthi Chidambaram, son of former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram in a case pertaining to Foreign Exchange Management Act.

A Enforcement Directorate source confirmed to Express that raid was carried out in a personal office belonging to Karthi Chidambaram in Nungambakkam.

“We carried a search on a premise which we locked it on December 1 as raid could not be carried out due to rains. We have recovered some incriminating documents from the office,” said the ED source.

To a query on the amount of FEMA violations, the source said that they are analysing file by file. “We have yet to ascertain it. We have launched our investigation case by case,” said the source.

writingonblog uncensored: CII forms special task force to provide relief to ...

writingonblog uncensored: CII forms special task force to provide relief to ...: Chennai: The Confederation of Indian  Industry (CII) has formed a  Special Task Force on Tamil  Nadu Flood Relief and  Rehabilitation to...

CII forms special task force to provide relief to flood-hit

Chennai:

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has formed a Special Task Force on Tamil Nadu Flood Relief and Rehabilitation to bring relief and rehabilitation to lakhs of people affected by the recent natural calamity.

The special task force is chaired by R Seshasayee, past president of CII and chairman of Infosys. CII has till now reached out to 70,000 families in Chennai and suburbs with relief materials in the last six days.

Seshasayee said a partnership has been formed amongst CII, Infosys Foundation, Sri Ramakrishna Mission and Rotary International to carry out relief work in three phases in the identified eight zones covering Madipakkam, Velachery, Medavakkam, Nanganallur, Madhavaram, Manali, Ennore, Okkiyam Thoraipakkam, Old Mahabalipuram Road, Semmenchery, Mudichur, Tambaram, Urapakkam, Perungalathur, Guduvanchery, Chenglepet, Maraimalainagar and Cuddalore.

In the first phase, distribution of the most necessary items like food items, medicines, dry rations, utility items, toiletries, packaged drinking water have been dispatched to the flood victims. Separate teams are being positioned in Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore to procure items based on the assessment by the Chennai team, he added.

In the second phase, CII will be organising medical camps .

The third phase would comprise rehabilitation work and providing livelihood opportunities

writingonblog uncensored: IT professionals yet to log on in many firms

writingonblog uncensored: IT professionals yet to log on in many firms: C Shivakumar Chennai: Inundation at information technology firms has prevented IT professionals from logging on again in the city as...

IT professionals yet to log on in many firms

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

Inundation at information technology firms has prevented IT professionals from logging on again in the city as most of them have been asked to relocate immediately.

Most of the employees working in DLF and Old Mahabalipuram Road were in for a surprise when the IT firms for whom they were working stonewalled them at the entrance.

“I just returned to work after a week. They refused to let us in. We are waiting for further instructions,” said the mother of a two-year child.

The road opposite to DLF was packed with motor bikes and employees both men and women as traffic police was struggling to keep the traffic flowing.

“The three basements are full of water. The power infrastructure has been affected as such the entire DLF, which house Cognizant, Sutherland, L&T Infotech, IBM and many high-profile IT companies is shut,” said a manager of the company who was seen interacting with the employees.

The biggest issue being faced by more than 10,000 employees working in DLF which has about 160 firms is that many of them have been asked to relocate to other centres.

“They have asked me to go to Pune,” said a L&T Infotech employee. “I have children. They have agreed to look into my case,” she said.

But other employees are not too happy with being relocated. Cognizant employees said that some have been asked to go to Sholinganallur. “It is quite far away. We are not happy with this relocation but don’t have any choice,” he said.

“We are more than 1,000 employees and the issue would be ave access to a system,” said another employee of Cognizant.

Similarly, Sutherland is relocating its employees to Hyderabad and Kochi.  “We had offices in OMR, DLF and Velachery. Two of our offices in OMR and DLF are closed and employees have been asked to go to Hyderabad and Kochi,” said a girl.

But most of the employees feel that they employers should have taken measures to clear the water from the basement.

Many of the IT employees bikes are inundated so too their cars. “I don’t know what will happen to them. They should never have built a complex in this area,” said a manager

writingonblog uncensored: Provisional stores in several parts of city runni...

writingonblog uncensored: Provisional stores in several parts of city runni...: C Shivakumar Chennai: Provisional stores in several  parts of the city are running  out of edible commodities as  godowns have bee...

Provisional stores in several parts of city running out of supplies

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

Provisional stores in several parts of the city are running out of edible commodities as godowns have been inundated and supplies are limited due to heavy rains.

Shelves are empty in Nilgiris, Spencers as well as other small provisional stores as customers have to return empty-handed.

Spencers Shopping Mall in Vepery is running out of wheat flour, biscuits and noodles. “We are down with supplies as there is a huge demand of items like noodles and other items for flood-hit areas,” said a manager.

The biggest shortage is of biscuits and other snacks. “There is a huge demand for biscuits in my locality and I am struggling to get it in the market. On Tuesday, I had to travel as far as Padi to get it,” said Vijay kumar, a provisional stores owner in Nerkundram.

More of the store owners are afraid to lose their clientele and like Vijay Kumar are trying to get the supplies through other modes.

Rajesh, owner of Vinayaka Stores near Chinmaya Nagar, blames the panic buying during the heavy rains. “The other issue for shortage is that many residents have started community kitchens and are buying lot of provision from the stores, “On one hand there is delay in arrival of supplies as most of the godowns are submerged and on other hand there is a demand due to panic buying following forecast of heavy rains,” said Rajesh.

“I am getting the stock of wheat flour from Vadapalani. I am also looking at other alternatives,” e says while pointing to the empty shelves.

In Kilpauk on the busy Poonamalee Road, the goods at The Niligiris shopping complex is slowly vanishing as few shelves could be seen lying vacant. Officials said that there is shortage of provisions but refused to divulge further. “you have to contact our Bangalore office,” they said.

Inundation has been a major issue for the supply of provisions as many places the trucks which were supplying the items have been submerged in water and are under repair. Even most of the godowns were inundated and several items have gone wasted