TN going green as 30pc power generated from renewable energy sources

Chennai:

Tamil Nadu is going green in power generation as nearly 30 to 35 per cent of power supplied to the state is generated from renewable energy sources like wind and solar, according to Tamil Nadu energy secretary Vikram Kapur.

Addressing the 16^th edition of Green Power, organised by Confederation of Indian Industry here on Tuesday, Kapur said that said that against the installed capacity of 29,000MW of power generated, 10,500 MW is from renewable energy.

This also includes 7,800 MW from wind energy and 1,700 MW from solar with rest coming from Biomass and Bagasse cogeneration.

He said the state is planning to add 4,500MW of wind power and 5,000 MW of solar power. A 500 solar power park is now being planned by Tangedco, he said. Kapur said the total demand of power in the state is 13,500 to 14,000 MW.

Kapur also lamented the issue of grid stability when more wind or solar power is evacuated. “A research on this front is required where in more power power can be infused without affecting the grid stability,” he said. He also stressed the need to augment transmission capacity.

Kapur also said that Tangedco is set to break even after suffering huge losses although the cash flow is an area of concern.

Talking about the delay in implementing roof top solar installations, the secretary said that there is a issue of Net metering and pricing. “The regulator has to fix the prices. Once it is done, then the policy will be implemented,” he said.

Ramesh Kymal, chairman of renewable energy council, Confederation of Indian Industry, said that steep reduction in tariffs due to increased competition in solar sector has cut the tariffs by more than 40pc over the last 18 months.

He also said that capacity addition to financial year 2017-18 looks extremely difficult due to stand off in signing of power purchase agreements in several states at Feed-in-tariff (FIT) scheme rates determined by respective commissions with valid control periods.

Karnam Sekar, deputy managing director and chief sustainability officer of State Bank of India said that SBI is floating a green bond worth $500 million. He also questioned the drastic reduction of cost per mega watt in solar energy is for real or is it being diluted

Factfile:

--- Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is looking at 15GW of power generation from renewable energy sources.

--- It has targeted investment worth Rs 10 lakh crore.

--- Many companies and banks are coming forward and issuing green bonds to raise large sums for investment.

-- Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency has raised Rs 700 crore from green masala bond in March this year.

--- SBI has availed loan of $625m from World bank for lending to viable grid connected rooftop solar photo voltaic projects.

writingonblog uncensored: TN to build 2.66 lakh homes for slum dwellers by ...

writingonblog uncensored: TN to build 2.66 lakh homes for slum dwellers by ...: C Shivakumar @ Chennai: Tamil Nadu will be building 2.66 lakh affordable homes for slum dwellers by partnering with private realty devel...

Dalits forced to approach court to register FIRs in cases linked to SC and ST Prevention of Atrocities act

Chennai:

Dalits in the state have been forced to approach the courts to register First Information Reports (FIRs) pertaining to cases linked to Scheduled caste and Scheduled Tribes Prevention Atrocities Act.

As per the Act, police has to conduct the investigation and file charge sheet in the Special Court or the Exclusive Special Court within a period of sixty days, and to explain the delay if any, in writing. This is not under practice, as per information availed under Right to Information Act.

As per the information gathered from RTI, Tamil Nadu Police has registered 441 First Information Reports (FIRs) pertaining to cases linked to Scheduled caste and Scheduled Tribes Prevention Atrocities Act after the intervention of courts.

As per information availed from RTI by activist Aju Arvind, the 441 cases were registered as per the direction of Madras High Court under Section 156 (3) during the period 2011-16 with maximum 95 cases being registered in 2013.

Interestingly, the figures from 2011-16 comes in the wake of state police denying any FIRs being registered on the direction of court under Section 156 (3) during a meeting with National Commission for Scheduled Castes chairman Dr P L Punia on July 2015.

Arvind, who has combined all the RTIs pertaining to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act in a book titled ‘Othukapatavargalin Vallakugalam Marakkapadum Nithiyum’ in Tamil says that FIRs have been registered by police after regular intervention by the courts. He said in 2011, a total of 43 FIRs were registered after orders from the court. This continued in 2012 (89 FIRs), 2013 (95 FIRs), 2014 (82 FIRs), 2015 (79 FIRs) and 2016 (53 FIRs).

Interestingly, the RTIs also revealed that from 2011 to 2016, the state police has dropped 2,719 cases under the SC and ST Prevention of Atrocities Act under ‘Mistake of Fact or Law’. These include four muder cases and five rape cases.

Under the RTI, it was found out that additional director general of police, Social Justice and Human Rights have listed 28 districts as atrocity prone against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Similarly, it has listed 278 villages as atrocity prone villages.

As per the Act, there should be Exclusive Special Courts in all these districts but the state has only six Exclusive Special Courts. Of these two were constructed after a Madras High Court oder following a writ petition filed by Paadam Narayanan. In 2015, Madras High court ordered to build Exclusive Special Court in all the atrocity prone districts but it has yet to be constructed.

The book will be released on Friday by former Madras High Court judge Hari Paranthaman.

Factfile:

Cases registered under Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act:

Year: 2014

No of cases: 1636

Year: 2015

No of cases: 1822

Year: 2016

No of cases: 1476

Total pending cases

Year: 2016

Under Investigation: 740

Trial: 4551

Conviction rate Under the Act: 5.8pc

Acquittal: 94.2pc

Special courts:

Tamil Nadu

Atrocity prone districts: 28

Excusive Special Courts: six

Madhya Pradesh:

Districts: 50

Exclusive special Courts: 43

Uttar Pradesh:

Districts: 71

Exclusive special courts: 40

Andhra and Telengana (before partition)

Districts: 23

Exclusive special courts: 23

Rajasthan:

Districts: 33

Exclusive special courts: 25

Gujarat:

Districts: 26

Exclusive special courts: 19

  

Top four districts with pending cases under the act:

Madurai: 761

Tirunelveli: 560

Sivaganga: 414

Virudhnagar: 331

writingonblog uncensored: TN to build 2.66 lakh homes for slum dwellers by ...

writingonblog uncensored: TN to build 2.66 lakh homes for slum dwellers by ...: C Shivakumar @ Chennai: Tamil Nadu will be building 2.66 lakh affordable homes for slum dwellers by partnering with private realty devel...

TN to build 2.66 lakh homes for slum dwellers by partnering with private realty developers

C Shivakumar @ Chennai:

Tamil Nadu will be building 2.66 lakh affordable homes for slum dwellers by partnering with private realty developers.

Under this scheme, houses will be built for slum dwellers at an affordable rate by using the expertise of private developers.

It is learnt that 22,384 housing units have got approval during the Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee meeting held recently. Another 12,000 dwelling units for slum dwellers is likely to be proposed this year based on availability of land, sources told Express.

Interestingly, there are four components under which Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) Housing for All is implemented across the country. They are In-situ slum redevelopment, Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme, Affordable Housing in Partnership and Beneficiary Led construction.

Tamil Nadu government is looking to implement two of the components under affordable Housing scheme. These include Affordable Housing in Partnership and Beneficiary led construction.

Under the Affordable Housing in Partnership scheme, the Union government will provide a grant of Rs 1.6 lakh for slum dwellers while the state will provide Rs 5 lakh. Sources said that slum clearance board is planning to attract the private developers to develop houses for slum dwellers by marketing special transferrable development rights to private builders.

Under the beneficiary led construction, those living in kutcha or semi-pucca houses in urban areas with land tenure will be provided with Rs 2.10 lakh grant (Union government Rs 1.5 lakh and state government Rs 60,000) to construct houses on their own. The balance cost is to be borne by the beneficiaries.

Sources said that under the scheme 30 square metre carpet area should be constructed and the grant will be deposited directly into beneficiaries bank accounts in four stages or partly completion.

It is learnt that the demand for housing under the component is 3.88 lakh of which approval was obtained for 2.89 lakh dwelling units till May 2017. The balance 1 lakh dwelling units is likely to be proposed during the year itself, sources added.

Factfile:

Tamil Nadu:

Urban Population: 7.21 crore

Urban slum population: 57.98 lakh

PMAY Housing for All launched on: June 25, 2015

Mission Period: 2015-2022

Houses to be built under BLC: 2.89 lakh

Completed: 6,713

In Progress: 1,07,933

Expenditure incured: Rs 533.75 crore

Release of funds:

Union govt sanctioned: Rs 1,874.04 crore

Released: Rs 1,294.36 crore

To be released: Rs 579.68 crore

GOTN sanctioned : Rs 412.85 crore

Released: Rs 412.85 crore

To be released:

Union govt share: Rs 663.93 crore

GOTN share: 323.99 crore

Total funds released to TNSCB: Rs 1,043.29 crore

writingonblog uncensored: Chennai Metro Water targets Kosasthaliyar acquifer...

writingonblog uncensored: Chennai Metro Water targets Kosasthaliyar acquifer...: Chennai: Chennai Metro Water is now planning to tap the acquifer in Kosasthaliyar river basin to supply additional 10 MLD of water to th...

Chennai Metro Water targets Kosasthaliyar acquifer to quench city’s thirst

Chennai:

Chennai Metro Water is now planning to tap the acquifer in Kosasthaliyar river basin to supply additional 10 MLD of water to the city.

It is learnt that a tender worth Rs 78 lakh has been floated to construct 10 bore-wells to tap water from the acquifer in the river, which is one of the three rivers that flow in the Chennai Metropolitan Area.

This comes as reservoirs in Red Hills and Cholavaram have dried up. Poondi (20 million cubic feet) and Chembarambakkam (85mcft) are also on the verge of drying.

Chennai Metro Water sources told Express that they would be tapping the water only for a short period.

Interestingly, Metro water is now trying to identify new sources of water to quench the thirst as the existing sources are also getting depleted. “We have utilised 50 per cent of water from the 22 stone quarries in Sikkarayapuram,” said the Metro water official.

The city is getting 30 million litres of water a day (MLD) from the quarries which is supplied to Mylapore, Aminjikarai, K K Nagar, Valasaravakkam and parts of South Chennai. This is likely to last till the next 50 days. Even the supply of 4MLD water from Porur Lake would not be able to last for a month.

We have tested the water in Eramaiyur quarries in Mudichur. It will soon be supplied to the city, he added.

Metro Water officials said that they have restricted the water supply to the city to 430MLD as rains remain elusive.

However, there is hope in the form of inflow from Cauvery to Mettur Dam. “The inflow is 6,843 cusecs a day. It is a good news. We hope once the water reaches the required level we may get additional water in Veeranam tank,” he said.

Interestingly, a majority of water is also being supplied to the thermal power plants in Chennai. “We can’t have dual crisis. We are ensuring that the power stations are up and running,” he said.

Already plans are there to provide treated sewage water for power plants but the proposal is still being worked out. A thermal power station requires about 3-5 litres of water to produce one unit of power.

The official also said that a tender will be floated on August 31 for setting up a 150MLD desalination plant. This desalination plant would be funded by German funding agency KfW. Similarly, a 400MLD desalination plant in Nemelli, which is financed by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is still being worked as Chennai Metro Water has to submit a revised detailed project report.

However, the only solace for Metro Water to battle the drought is 180MLD of water from the two desalination plants in Nemelli and Minjur. During the water crisis in 2003-04, this was also not there and people were dependent on trains to provide them with water.

With the state expanding the metropolitan area till Arakonnam, the major challenge would be to carry out an audit of water bodies till Arakonnam and protect it from the preying eyes of realtors to ensure the city’s water security is guaranteed for its growth or else the city will come to a grinding halt.

Factfile:

1. Chennai has only 105 million cubic feet of water in its reservoirs. Tow of its reservoirs have totally dried up

2. A total of 50pc water from 22 stone quarries in Sikkarayapuram has already been consumed by the city.

3. Tender for a 150MLD desalination plant in Nemelli will be floated on August 31

4. The city has cut down its supply to 430MLD

5. City is likely to get 1,000 million litres of water from Eramaiyur stone quarries in Mudichur road.

writingonblog uncensored: Appointment of former CMDA officials into RERA spa...

writingonblog uncensored: Appointment of former CMDA officials into RERA spa...: C Shivakumar @ Chennai: The government is slowly filling in the vacancies of Real Estate Regulatory Authority by appointing the ret...

Appointment of former CMDA officials into RERA sparks protest

C Shivakumar @ Chennai:

The government is slowly filling in the vacancies of Real Estate Regulatory Authority by appointing the retired officials of Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority, many of whom were under the scanner of Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-corruption, sparking protest from builders, High Court appointed monitoring committee member as well as planners.

Although corruption charges against the officials have been dropped but builders and developers are cautious over the second stint of these officials, many of whom have been instrumental in making the development regulations a toothless one.

Former National President of the Builders' Association of India R Radhakrishnan has opposed the move. “It is a new system and a new law to benefit the system. It will soon become another conduit for corruption,” said Radhakrishan.

Interestingly, there is no transparency in the appointments for the statutory body, which also controls the Union territory of Andamans.

Madras High Court appointed CMDA Monitoring Committee member M G Deivasahayam said that appointing of retired CMDA officials as RERA office-bearers is like having a ‘Regulatory Catcher’. “This is like a organisation that needs to be regulated will capture the regulator,” he said.

Deivasahayam said that such a regulatory body is a burden on the tax-payer. “the officials who should be appointed as office-bearers of RERA should be totally independent professionals and not related to urban development department.

A developer on condition of anonymity said that it is the situation of a thief guarding the property. However, some of the developers differ stating that the officials from CMDA are knowledgeable about RERA and should be appointed as members.

The Association of Professional Town Planners (APTP) president K M

Sadanandh has said that there should be transparency in the appointment of office-bearers and officials.

“They should infuse fresh blood and not retired officials who have a fixed mindset,” he added. Sadanandh said that CMDA’s role is finished in issuing completion certificate after undertaking all checks. “The role now is to monitor the builder as well as the buyers grievances for which we require a technical, legal and a person with economics background. It is not that only CMDA has technical person,” he added.

Interestingly, CMDA has diluted the powers of Koyambedu Wholesale Market as well as Sathangadu Iron and Steel Market, which were supposed to be separate entities carved out under separate regulations. Now it is being totally controlled by CMDA, said a former planner.

writingonblog uncensored: TN going green as 30pc power generated from renewa...

writingonblog uncensored: TN going green as 30pc power generated from renewa...: Chennai: Tamil Nadu is going green in power generation as nearly 30 to 35 per cent of power supplied to the state is generated fro...

TN going green as 30pc power generated from renewable energy sources

Chennai:

Tamil Nadu is going green in power generation as nearly 30 to 35 per cent of power supplied to the state is generated from renewable energy sources like wind and solar, according to Tamil Nadu energy secretary Vikram Kapur.

Addressing the 16^th edition of Green Power, organised by Confederation of Indian Industry here on Tuesday, Kapur said that said that against the installed capacity of 29,000MW of power generated, 10,500 MW is from renewable energy.

This also includes 7,800 MW from wind energy and 1,700 MW from solar with rest coming from Biomass and Bagasse cogeneration.

He said the state is planning to add 4,500MW of wind power and 5,000 MW of solar power. A 500 solar power park is now being planned by Tangedco, he said. Kapur said the total demand of power in the state is 13,500 to 14,000 MW.

Kapur also lamented the issue of grid stability when more wind or solar power is evacuated. “A research on this front is required where in more power power can be infused without affecting the grid stability,” he said. He also stressed the need to augment transmission capacity.

Kapur also said that Tangedco is set to break even after suffering huge losses although the cash flow is an area of concern.

Talking about the delay in implementing roof top solar installations, the secretary said that there is a issue of Net metering and pricing. “The regulator has to fix the prices. Once it is done, then the policy will be implemented,” he said.

Ramesh Kymal, chairman of renewable energy council, Confederation of Indian Industry, said that steep reduction in tariffs due to increased competition in solar sector has cut the tariffs by more than 40pc over the last 18 months.

He also said that capacity addition to financial year 2017-18 looks extremely difficult due to stand off in signing of power purchase agreements in several states at Feed-in-tariff (FIT) scheme rates determined by respective commissions with valid control periods.

Karnam Sekar, deputy managing director and chief sustainability officer of State Bank of India said that SBI is floating a green bond worth $500 million. He also questioned the drastic reduction of cost per mega watt in solar energy is for real or is it being diluted

Factfile:

--- Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is looking at 15GW of power generation from renewable energy sources.

--- It has targeted investment worth Rs 10 lakh crore.

--- Many companies and banks are coming forward and issuing green bonds to raise large sums for investment.

-- Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency has raised Rs 700 crore from green masala bond in March this year.

--- SBI has availed loan of $625m from World bank for lending to viable grid connected rooftop solar photo voltaic projects.

​

writingonblog uncensored: TN to enact Public Service Delivery Guarantee Act

writingonblog uncensored: TN to enact Public Service Delivery Guarantee Act: Chennai: Tamil Nadu may have to enact a legislation to guarantee time bound delivery of services rendered by the Government to industri...

writingonblog uncensored: Chennai Metro conducts trial in 4km Mount Road und...

writingonblog uncensored: Chennai Metro conducts trial in 4km Mount Road und...: CHENNAI: Commuters hassled by heavy traffic on Mount Road can heave a sigh of relief as Chennai Metro is likely to open the 4km stretch ...

TN to enact Public Service Delivery Guarantee Act

Chennai:

Tamil Nadu may have to enact a legislation to guarantee time bound delivery of services rendered by the Government to industries and businesses in order to comply with Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion’s (DIPP) Business Reforms Action Plan 2017.

The reforms have been mandated by DIPP under Business Reform Action Plan for States and Union Territories 2017. It is learnt that top officials from the state also participated in a meeting to discuss the mechanism to implement the action plan.

Sources said that the state government was keen to pass a Government Order to mandate time-bound delivery of services to industries this month and enact a legislation by September 2017 subject to clearance from relevant authorities.

However, DIPP has informed the state that a single window policy backed by a Government Order alone will not suffice for compliance and wanted a legislation by way of an Act and if there is no time for passing an Act through the assembly, then the government can pass a ordinance.

Sources said that government is looking into the DIPP suggestion and a decision will be arrived soon.

The proposed act also provides mechanism for punishing the errant public servant who is deficient in providing the service stipulated under the statute.

Meanwhile, DIPP has come out with a Guide for implementing the Business Reforms Action Plan.

This guide is intended to strategically discuss objective and end result envisioned in each of the revised 406 action points identified in the Business  Reform Action Plan, that was released last month.

Under the action plan, states have been asked to carry out the approval of plan and permission to  construct or extend or take into use any building as a factory under the Factories Act, 1948, through online process.

“The application has to be made mandatorily online, through a portal where in there will be transparency with no physical touch-points in the application  process,” DIPP has stated.

Under the system, entrepreneurs have to use digital signature certificates to submit their documents through the online system.

Single Window Approal system for Industries:

--- Entrepreneurs should be able to fill out and submit the application form online;

-- The user can pay all associated fees online;

--- Once submitted, the applications are processed and approved by each licensing agency online, and not through a manual or hard copy process;

-- The user can track the status of his applications online using the portal; and

--Once approved, the user can obtain the approval or registration certificate online through the

portal

writingonblog uncensored: Chennai Metro conducts trial in 4km Mount Road und...

writingonblog uncensored: Chennai Metro conducts trial in 4km Mount Road und...: CHENNAI: Commuters hassled by heavy traffic on Mount Road can heave a sigh of relief as Chennai Metro is likely to open the 4km stretch ...

writingonblog uncensored: 10-hour ordeal for cargo ship crew as Indian Coast...

writingonblog uncensored: 10-hour ordeal for cargo ship crew as Indian Coast...: CHENNAI: Eleven crew members of an Indian cargo ship were rescued in a sea-air coordinated search and rescue operation by Indian Co...

Chennai Metro conducts trial in 4km Mount Road underground stretch using a locomotive

CHENNAI:
Commuters hassled by heavy traffic on Mount Road can heave a sigh of relief as Chennai Metro is likely to open the 4km stretch from AG-DMS to Little Mount by the end of this year.
The 4km underground stretch had some movement with the flagging off a locomotive to undertake trials. This could mean that the work on the stretch is near completion.
Chennai Metro Rail said that soon there will be trial run by Chennai Metro trains once the system work gets over.
The integrated trials followed by system integration will be conducted during the trials to get the stretch ready for operation. Interestingly, Chennai Metro Rail officials are tinkering with the possibility of opening this stretch along with the stretch between Nehru park to Chennai Central by the end of this year.
This stretch from DMS to Saidapet comprises four stations — Saidapet, Nandanam, Teynampet and AG-DMS.
Chennai Metro hopes that once the 4km underground stretch is opened, it could boost the ridership significantly and give an option for passengers to skip the busy Mount Road stretch.
The entire stretch is a commercial area and is dotted with government offices, colleges as well as hotels, malls and shopping areas. It would also connect Anna Nagar with DMS as well as DMS with Airport, said officials.
Apart from completion of works by installing systems including tunnel ventilation, signalling, platform screen doors, automatic fare collection gates, the final lap of finishing work on the underground metro stations too is underway in the stretch.

10-hour ordeal for cargo ship crew as Indian Coast Guard rescues them from choppy seas after their vessel sank

CHENNAI:

Eleven crew members of an Indian cargo ship were rescued in a sea-air coordinated search and rescue operation by Indian Coast guard after their cargo ship ITT Panther sank in North-East part of Bay of Bengal, 400km from Port Blair on Thursday.

The 11 crew members were stranded in the rough sea for at least 12 hours after the vessel which left Kolkata on July 15 with a consignment of container cargo and construction material failed to weather the rough seas.

A Coast Guard spokesman said that the vessel, which had 29 containers, that included 500 metric tonnes of sand and 200 metric tonnes of Steel, was to reach Port Blair on evening of July 20. However, the vessel developed dangerous tilt due to shifting of cargo in rough monsoon weather conditions on Thursday morning.

As the situation became critical, the crew raised distress alert and abandoned the vessel and took life rafts.

Hearing the distress signal, the Coast guard launched the rescjue mission launching its aircraft to locate the crew. It also sent in Indian Coast guard vessels Rajkamal and Bhikaju Cama from Digli and Port Blair respectively to rescue the crew.

The aircraft located the crew and directed the ship to position for effecting rescue. “All the crew were rescued by late afternoon and they were provided medical attention and stabilised,” a Coast Guard spokesman said.

The rescue operation was undertaken by the Coast Guard vessels in an inclement weather with waves rising as high as three to four metres.

The ship will arrive with all the rescued crew at Port Blair on July 21.

writingonblog uncensored: ONGC to conduct safety audit of oil pipelines; hir...

writingonblog uncensored: ONGC to conduct safety audit of oil pipelines; hir...: CHENNAI: After the leak in Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) pipeline in Kathiramangalam Villlage near Thanjavur district set off a...

ONGC to conduct safety audit of oil pipelines; hire agency to spread awareness among people living near oil installations

CHENNAI:

After the leak in Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) pipeline in
Kathiramangalam Villlage near Thanjavur district set off a protest
that crossed 60 days, officials are now planning to hire an agency to
spread awareness on safety for people living near oil installations.

Addressing a press conference, Ved Prakash Mahawar, director (onshore)
ONGC along with DD Mishra, director (Human Resources), Kulbir Singh,
executive director (asset manager) and T Rajendran, deputy general
manager, Geology, and Basin Manager (Cauvery), said the agency will
spread awareness about the safety mechanism during a leak in the
pipeline.

Officials said that ONGC would also conduct an audit of the 9.5km
leaked pipeline, which is only seven to eight years old. Dismissing
concerns over the quality of pipeline, Mahawar said that some of the
pipelines are functioning well despite being 50 years old. “The leak
could be due to stress on the pipe while extracting the oil. We are
looking at it,” he said.

Initially, officials dismissed the leak as a minor one, but the delay
in plugging it due to protest by local villagers led to leakage of
2,000 litres of oil into the paddy field. Oil spills on agricultural
locations or grasslands have the effect of choking off plant life. If
a spill occurs in these environments, the highest response priorities
are to prevent oil from leaching into groundwater or entering
waterways as run-off, and to return the soil to productive use as
quickly as possible. At Kathiramangalam, the ONGC is still studying
the impact of the spill.

When prodded on the lack of safety mechanism and awareness among
people in case of a fire following a major leakage of oil in and
around the villages, the officials were in the dark about it. “We
conduct in-house mock drill every month,” they said. But when queried
whether such safety drill are being conducted in and around
Kathiramangalam village annually where in such oil installations are
located, the officials failed to offer a proper response.

This is not the first leakage of oil from the pipeline. There had been
a earlier incident in Tiruvarur also in 2009. However, the report on
Tiruvarur oil leak has not been made public.

Meanwhile, officials cautioned the people not to be misled by rumours
and misinformation campaigns about ground water getting polluted. “A
total of 36 lakh acres is cultivable land in Cauvery basin of which
ONGC is carrying out work in 16,000 acres which is 0.04 per cent of
the land utilised,” said the officials.

Thanks to the oil exploration in the area, Tamil Nadu is getting a
royalty of Rs 2,824 crore in the last seven years and 750 mega watt of
power, officials said.


Factfile:

--- There are 13,000 oil wells in India of which 7,000 are under
operation. In Tamil Nadu, there are a total of 700 oil wells of which
183 are operational.

--- TN is getting royalty of Rs 2,288 crore during the last seven years

--- Oil exploration is happening in 1,600 acres of land. A total of 36
lakh acres of land is cultivable in the Cauery belt region

--- ONGC to restore land affected by leakage. Top soil will be
replaced with fresh soil and adequate compensation will be paid

--- The land required for drilling of one well ranges from four to
five acres taken on lease. A total of rs 63,000 paid for paddy growing
land per acre per annum, Rs 72,000 per acre per annum for commercial
crop

writingonblog uncensored: North Chennai Thermal Power station tweaked data t...

writingonblog uncensored: North Chennai Thermal Power station tweaked data t...: Chennai: North Chennai Thermal Power Station tweaked data to show that emission levels are within norms while actually the Suspended Par...

North Chennai Thermal Power station tweaked data to abide by pollution norms

Chennai:

North Chennai Thermal Power Station tweaked data to show that emission levels are within norms while actually the Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) standard exceeded the norms 46,917 times during 2014-16, according to a Comptroller and Auditor General of India report.  

CAG said that Audit found that the maximum SPM level recorded at every 15 minutes interval in units I, II and III ever exceeded 200 milligrams per cubic metre as the analyser was calibrated to record upto that level.

It was observed by the audit that since the levels were reported with reference to set parameters, the stated interference in recording data led to reporting of misleading results

writingonblog uncensored: Thermal power plants operating without TNPCB cons...

writingonblog uncensored: Thermal power plants operating without TNPCB cons...: Chennai: N orth Chennai Thermal Power Station (NCTPS) Stage I and Tuticorin Thermal Power station (TTPS) are operating without the conse...

Thermal power plants operating without TNPCB consent, says CAG report

Chennai:

North Chennai Thermal Power Station (NCTPS) Stage I and Tuticorin Thermal Power station (TTPS) are operating without the consent of Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, according to a report of Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

The report said that TNPCB has yet to give its consent as the two plants did not revamp existing pollution control systems like Electrostatic Precipitators (ESPs) and not installing and connecting online continuous effluent monitoring systems with TNPCB’s server.

The report also stated that the thermal plants of Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO) are functioning without adhering to the norms for air, water and noise pollution as the Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) levels and carbon emissions remained high due to non-usage of clean beneficated coal, keeping the station heat rate higher than the prescribed level.

It is learnt that a quantum of 69.58 million tonnes of ash remained in the ash dyke in the three power plants which was against the norms of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).

The plants polluted sea and river due to basence of effluent treatment plant and sewage treatment plant, the report stated. Even the green belt areas for controlling noise pollution has not been maintained.

Against the revenue of Rs 625.93 crore earned by disposal of fly ash, Tangedco spent only Rs 61.91 crore on environment management which was against the MoEFCC guidelines.

writingonblog uncensored: A Step of Hope for paraplegics, bed-ridden acciden...

writingonblog uncensored: A Step of Hope for paraplegics, bed-ridden acciden...: C Shivakumar @ Chennai: There is hope for paraplegics and bed ridden patients, who have suffered injurie s  to spinal cord, as they ca...

A Step of Hope for paraplegics, bed-ridden accident victims

C Shivakumar @ Chennai:

There is hope for paraplegics and bed ridden patients, who have suffered injuries to spinal cord, as they can now dream of walking again with the innovation of robotic wearable legs by a Chennai based innovator.

STM Veerabahu, who has earlier been honoured as one of the top 20 technology innovators of India under the age group of 35 by US-based Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s magazine Technology Review, says that the device has cleared clinical trials and a certificate has been issued by Clinical Trial Registry for using the device for treatment of people.

The innovator, who was in need of funds to realise his dream, has now signed up a memorandum of Understanding with Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital where in he will help in setting up a state of the art Rehabilitation Centre for paraplegics and bed-ridden patients.

The dean of Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital D R Gunasekaran said that the technology would be a boon for paraplegics and those with neuron disorders as well as spinal cord injuries. “They can move again. The newly proposed rehabilitation centre will also help the under-privileged get treatment here,” he said.

The commercial launch of his technology is likely to take place this week and once launched, it will provide hope to accident victims as well as soldiers who lost both their legs during security operations across the border.

Veerabahu, who has launched his own start-up Cybernoid Healthcare Private Limited, said that a total of 13 clinical trials were carried out. During the trials, seven patients dropped out while six finished the exercise.

Talking about the success of technology, Veerabahu said that the pleasure of standing again and walking has brought in tears among those who were bed-ridden and could not move their feet.

Interestingly, such devices has been imported from United States and Israel. “Ours is the first Make in India device. I have a small outfit where we can manufacture eight to 10 devices,” he says, while seeking government aid for mass production of such devices.

The device is a four-strap attachment to the body. Once it is fixed to the body, it carries the individual. It also has a rechargeable battery, which can operate for an hour.  It also has a joy stick which the patient himself has to operate to control his movement. The device is designed to hold a weight of 85 kg. ​

Interestingly, the device could also be of immense help to our soldiers, who have lost limbs or have been paralysed below their hips to walk again, says Veerabahu.

Internationally, the device supplied by Israel and united States would cost Rs 72 to Rs 92 lakh. Our product will cost one-seventh of it, he says.

Interestingly, a similar innovation is going on in Berkley University in United States and also by Defence Research Development Organisation for defence purpose. “The idea is to create super soldier who can carry enormous equipment,” said Veerabahu.

How the device works:

--- The wearable robotic leg is like a exo-skeleton.

--- The device is strapped along the body.

-- Once it is fixed to the body, it carries the individual.

--- It also has a rechargeable battery, which can operate for an hour.  

--- It also has a joy stick, which the patient himself has to operate to control his movement.

--- The device is designed to hold a weight of 85 kg. ​

--- The market price of such device, which is usually imported from abroad, is Rs 72 to rs 92 lakh.

--- In India, it can be produced at one seventh of a cost

Chennai’s residential market witness 4pc growth in launches

CHENNAI:

Chennai’s residential market in realty sector is witnessing a four per cent growth in launches when compared with top seven cities across the country, according to International property consultant Knight Frank.

The report states that residential launches in the city which dipped from 5,815 in the first half of 2016 to 4,800 units in second half has shot up to 6,035, a gowth of 4pc.

This is significant when compared with cities like Mumbai, National Capital Region, Bengaluru, Pune, Hyderabad, Kolkatta and Ahmedabad where in the residential launches have failed to outgrow the growth experienced in first half of 2016.

Even the sales in Chennai residential market has picked up when compared with the residential market in six other other cities. As per figures available in the report, residential sales in Pune has gone up from 15,688 units in the first half of last year to 17,480 units this year. The sale of residential units in Chennai had gone up from 8,450 during the first half of last year to 8,850 units in the first half of this year.

Kanchana says that majority of the new launches that took place during the first half of this year was below Rs 50 lakh. “This indicates the shift in the focus of developer who is now cosidering affordable housing projects,” she added.

She said that Pallavaram, Mahindra World city, Siruseri, Pudupakkam, Navalur, Thalambur and Sholinganallur in South Chennai saw maximum development. This was due to proximity to office hubs, well rounded social infrastructure and lastly they were affordable.

Interestingly, South Chennai also has the highest inventory of unsold residential units. As per statistics, the city has 28,110 unsold units of which South Chennai alone has 16,642 unsold units. Kanchana said that the unsold inventory in the city has currently fallen by 30pc during the last two years.

Interestingly, Chennai’s office space is also facing a supply crunch as a result rentals have increased significantly. Kanchana says that Old Mahabalipuram Road business district saw a rental growth of eight per cent.

Despite, new completion of office space projects nearly tripling year on year, it is much below the market appetite. “The supply of office space is 3.7 million square feet of office space when compared to 12.2 million of transcated office space,” says Kanchana.

The vacancy level in OMR during 2015, which was once 50pc has nearly halved. Similarly, OMR witnessed 55pc of transacted office space during first half of 2017 with occupiers taking up space in relatively lower priced business pockets.

Overall the year had continued to be gloomier for the realty housing sector in the eight cities with the residential price index being lower than the price index.

Factfile:

--A significant chunk of new launches took place below INR 50 lakh – indicating an emphasis on the affordable housing sector

-- The share of projects launched with an average ticket size under INR`50 lakh has expanded from 39% in H1 2016 to 69% in H1 2017, while the share of those projects with average ticket sizes under INR75 lakh has grown from 52% to 89% during the same period

-- Pallavaram, Mahindra World City, Siruseri, Pudupakkam, Navalur, Thalambur and Shollinganallur in South saw maximum developments

-- Southern and western Chennai together accounted for a massive 96% of the residential products coming online during H1 2017

--- Unsold inventory levels have plummeted nearly 30% over the last 2 years to 28,110 unit

-- Residential price growth has been weakening in the Chennai residential market and H1 2017 prices were in line with this trend, growing by a modest 1% YoY

writingonblog uncensored: Lankan bid to smuggle precious stones through cond...

writingonblog uncensored: Lankan bid to smuggle precious stones through cond...: CHENNAI: The Air Intelligence Unit of customs department foiled an attempt by a Sri Lankan national to sneak in semi-precious stones by ...

Lankan bid to smuggle precious stones through condoms foiled

CHENNAI:

The Air Intelligence Unit of customs department foiled an attempt by a Sri Lankan national to sneak in semi-precious stones by hiding it in condoms and in his rectum at Anna International Airport.

The Sri Lankan national Mohammed Irfan, who arrived from Colombo by Sri Lankan Airlines flight was intercepted by the AIU, who after searching him in person found 191 semi-precious stones (Rubies, Yellow and Blue Sapphires) worth Rs 10 lakh.

Interestingly, this is one of the five cases of smuggling detected by AIU which seized a total of 76 lakh worth gold, semi-precious stones and foreign currencies during last one week.

Of the five incidents, three cases pertain to gold smuggling, one each for semi-precious stones and foreign currency.

In another case, gold worth 1.15 kg worth rs 31.90 lakh was seized from passenger K Khadar Basha, who arrived from Riyadh by Saudia Airlines. He was intercepted at Green channel and during examination the gold was found to be concealed in an Electric Hot Plate. He was arrested with two others who came to receive him.

Similarly, a Indian national Syed Riyaz Basha, who arrived from Kuwait Airlines flight Ku-343 was intercepted at Green Channel. He concealed 450 grams of gold worth Rs 12.50 lakh in the handle of kid’s scooter. In another incident, 300 grams of gold concealed in a hollow metallic rod was seized from Indian national Syed Mohammed Ali, who arrived from Riyadh by Air Arabia flight.

In a related incident, Abdul Salam Shamsudeen, bound to Singapore by Jet Airlines flight eas intercepted after he cleared immigration. During investigation, it was found that Shamsudeen concealed foreign currencies inside inner wear and checked-in baggage. The baggage consisted of Saudi Riyals valued at Rs 48,000 and 9,900 Euros equivalent to Rs 15.5 lakh.

writingonblog uncensored: Rs 925 cr Ponneri Industrial park layout likely to...

writingonblog uncensored: Rs 925 cr Ponneri Industrial park layout likely to...: C Shivakumar @ Chennai: The Rs 925 crore joint venture Industrial park being set up in Ponneri by Japanese major Sumitomo and Mahindra ...

Rs 925 cr Ponneri Industrial park layout likely to get DTCP approval

C Shivakumar @ Chennai:

The Rs 925 crore joint venture Industrial park being set up in Ponneri by Japanese major Sumitomo and Mahindra and Mahindra is likely to get clearance from Directorate of Town and Country Planning.

The project which was stalled due to clearances from Directorate of Town and Country Planning is likely to get approval after a Empowered Committee has okayed the project.

Sources in DTCP indicated that the layout map will be completed within two weeks. The project was one of those that was signed during the Global Investor’s Meet and was supposed to be completed in two phases.

The project is also facing issues over alienation of 41.765 acres of government land as well as transfer of 19.06 acres of belonging to Hindu Religious and Charitable Establishment.

Mahindra and Mahindra officials refused to comment on the issue.

The industrial park is to be set up near the proposed smart city planned by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

It is learnt that Under the joint venture Mahindra would be holding 60 per cent stake while Sumitomo Corporation would have 40 per cent stake.

Meanwhile, the layout of Rs 3,000 crore Coddissia Industrial Park in Mopperipalayam in Coimbatore has got the approval of DTCP and a Government Order has been passed to change land use from agriculture to industrial use, DTCP sources said,

DTCP also said that the second phase of Industrial Park being set up by KEF, India's only integrated offsite manufacturing company, in Krishnagiri is under scrutiny of DTCP. The first phase has already been approved, sources added.

This comes as the state has received just Rs 29,615 crore in investments of the Rs 2.42 lakh crore promised by various industrialists at the global investors meet in September 2015.

It is learnt that mots of the investments are yet to be realised due to various issues like identification of land and other approvals from different government agencies.

For some of the projects, the delay is due to pending allotment of land while in some projects, the developers were yet to submit the proposals to the planning agencies.

writingonblog uncensored: Now your rental agreements have to be registered!

writingonblog uncensored: Now your rental agreements have to be registered!: Chennai: Now your rental agreements will no longer be a secretive affair between you and your landlord. Under the new Act, each and e...

Now your rental agreements have to be registered!

Chennai:

Now your rental agreements will no longer be a secretive affair between you and your landlord.

Under the new Act, each and every rental agreement will have to be registered with Rent Authority who will provide a registration number and upload it in the website within 15 days of registration.

Not only that the Rent Authority, who will be appointed by district collector, could have a say in fixing or revising of rent, on an application made by the tenant or the landlord. He will also have a power to fix the date from which the revised rent becomes payable.  

In the absence of an agreement between the landlord and tenant on rent payable, the act gives landlord the option to terminate the tenancy.

Under the new Act, the landlord will have to give a signed written receipt for the amount paid to him as rent or deposit or advance towards such rent, under the new act. He will also give a three month notice before revising the rent.

The new act also gives powers for landlord to enter the premises by giving at least 24 hours prior notice to inspect the premises or carry out repairs or any other reasonable reason. The written notice shall specify the reason for entry that too between 7am to 8pm.

Interestingly, the Act states that no landlord or tenant shall cut-off or withhold any essential supply or service like supply of water, electricity, lights in passages, lifts, conservancy, parking, communication links and sanitary services in the premises occupied by tenant or landlord. In case of contravention, it will be restored pending n inquiry by the Rent Authority.

The act specifies that a tenant will not be evicted during the continuance of tenancy agreement. The recovery of possession of premises can be done if both landlord and tenant have failed to agree to the rent payable and that the tenant has not paid the arrears in full of rent payable and other charges for two months.

Factfile:

-- Every rent agreement will have to be registered and a registration number will be assigned and the details will be uploaded in the website

--- If a tenancy for a fixed term ends and has not been renewed, teh tenancy shall be deemed to be renewed on a month to month basis on same terms and conditions as were in the expired tenancy agreement for a maximum of six months

---- After the commencement of the Act, no tenanct without consent of landlord can sublet whole or part of premises held by him as a tenant

--- After the rent of premise has been fixed, if the tenant finds a decrease or dimunition or deterioration of accommodation or housing services in the premises, he may claim reduction in rent

--- The security deposit shall be refunded to the tenant within one moth after vacation of the premises after making due deduction of any liability by the tenant