writingonblog uncensored: Afghan women get wings to fly as Taliban fear lurk...

writingonblog uncensored: Afghan women get wings to fly as Taliban fear lurk...: C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI:  Second Lieutinant Hassiana Najibi, the trainee pilot of Afghan Air Force, is confident of making a mark in her ...

Afghan women get wings to fly as Taliban fear lurks

C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI: 

Second Lieutinant Hassiana Najibi, the trainee pilot of Afghan Air Force, is confident of making a mark in her flying career. Taking a cue from Hollywood films, she chose her career in Afghan Air Force.

With her hair covered and sporting the Afghan uniform at Officers Training Academy, one of India’s only premier institute’s that trains women officers, Najibi has the confidence of conquering the male bastion with the words ‘I Can.”

Interestingly, she is not the lone Afghan trainee pilot who is trained on war tactics and leadership in OTA. She is accompanied by Zuhra Nabizadi and Nassema, who is a flight engineer. They are among the batch of 19 Afghan women who are being trained in combat, leadership and other aspects.

Although the influence of Taliban in the Afghan society could be felt as both women don’t want to reveal more details about the family. “It is a totally well knit society and women have to adhere to the tenets of Islam as such they don’t want to reveal any more details,” says Captain Sirajulhaq Safi. However, women like Zuhra and Hassiana have overcome the fear of not joining the military despite facing restrictions which pertain to religion and culture.

However, the Afghan women envy the freedom given to Indian army officer. “They have more facilities and freedom,” says Zuhra when queried about how they feel about Indian women in armed forces.

Interestingly, the trainee pilots take pride that they are among the five selected for being a pilot in the Indian Airforce among the 3,000 girls, who wrote the exam.

However, the women have faith that the society is also changing as women are being given opportunities.

Major Thejassmitha from Indian Army, who is coordinating with the Afghan army personnel, said that the training schedule has been altered based on request from Afghan National Army. “Now the training programme has been extended by a week more and there have been two interpreters who are specialized in two dialects of Afghans,” she says.

“This year apart from the IAF officers, we have women from Infantry, Logistics and Special Forces who are being trained in OTA,” said Thejassmitha.

Interestingly, Officers Training Academy has become the hub for training women and men officers from various countries. This year lady cadets from Bhutan, Uganda, Syechelles, Maldives and other countries are undergoing training in the acdemy. It is learnt that more batches from Afghan national Army is expected in Officers Training Academy

writingonblog uncensored: Will toilets in hotels and restaurants be opened f...

writingonblog uncensored: Will toilets in hotels and restaurants be opened f...: C Shivakumar @ Chennai: Could Tamil Nadu emulate the Delhi model where in it will be made mandatory for hotels and restaurants to allo...

Will toilets in hotels and restaurants be opened for public access!

C Shivakumar @ Chennai:

Could Tamil Nadu emulate the Delhi model where in it will be made mandatory for hotels and restaurants to allow any member of public to use their toilet?

It is learnt that the state government is considering a plan for making it mandatory to keep toilets open for women and children in restaurants, petrol pumps and hotels.

The issue was raised during the Conference of Governors and Lt governors held on June 4 and 5 at New Delhi and official sources say that the Municipal Administration and Water supply department is actively considering it.

Officials told Express that in Delhi, toilets are kept open for ladies and children in restaurants, petrol pumps and hotels. “It is mandatory while giving licence to the hotels,” said sources.

It is learnt that Municipal Administration and Water supply department is looking at the feasibility of making amendment in the act to make the provisions for giving licence to hotels and restaurants.

Sources believe this would allow the public to access additional toilets in Chennai but hotels and restaurants are not happy with it. Usually, restaurants only allow customers to use their toilets.

Dr M Venkadasubbu, President Tamil Nadu Hotels & Restaurants Association told Express that on humanitarian grounds hotels and restaurants are allowing women and children to use the toilets.

But then this can’t be made mandatory especially in the crowded areas like bus terminals or stations. “It could create hygiene issues. Already the toilets used by public in bus terminus are not maintained properly. How would hotels and restaurant main it when it is thrown open for public use,” he questioned.

The move is aimed at combating the lack of restrooms in public spaces and curbing people from relieving themselves in public.

writingonblog uncensored: CPCB orders Manali Petrochemicals plant to be shut...

writingonblog uncensored: CPCB orders Manali Petrochemicals plant to be shut...: C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI: Central Pollution Control Board has ordered Manali Petrochemicals (Plant I) to close down operations for non-c...

writingonblog uncensored: CPCB orders Manali Petrochemicals plant to be shut...

writingonblog uncensored: CPCB orders Manali Petrochemicals plant to be shut...: C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI: Central Pollution Control Board has ordered Manali Petrochemicals (Plant I) to close down operations for non-c...

CPCB orders Manali Petrochemicals plant to be shut down; Directs Tangedco to disconnect power

C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI:

Central Pollution Control Board has ordered Manali Petrochemicals (Plant I) to close down operations for non-compliance of environmental norms with immediate effect.

It has also sent in a mail to state electricity board requesting it to disconnect electricity supply of the unit and allow supply only for domestic and security reasons.

According to information available with Express, the plant, which was inspected by the regional directorate of Central Pollution Control Board from Bengaluru, was found to be non-complaint while releasing effluents.

The report by CPCB states that analysis of treated effluent samples collected from Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) outlet of Manali Petrochemicals found that Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) level is 114 milligrams of oxygen consumed per litre which is greater than the 100 milligrams of oxygen consumed per litre.

Similarly, the study also found that Chemical Oxygen demand (COD), the total measurement of all chemicals (organics & in-organics) in the water or waste water, is 476 milligrams of oxygen consumed per litre which is greater than that of 250 milligrams per litre prescribed by CPCB.

Similarly, during the stack monitoring in boiler of the plant, the concentration of particulate matter (PM) parameter was alarmingly high. The CPCB reported it as 474 mg per cubic metre which exceeds the parameter of 100mg per cubic metre.

Particulate matter contains microscopic solids or liquid droplets that are so small that they can be inhaled and cause serious health problems. Some particles less than 10 micrometers in diameter can get deep into lungs and some may even get into your bloodstream.

Any exposure to above 250mg per cubic metre is very hazardous. It would cause serious aggravation of heart or lung disease and premature mortality in persons with cardiopulmonary disease and the elderly. It also poses serious risk of respiratory effects in general population.

Similarly, the suphur-dioxide (SO2) parameters was also found to be alarmingly high of 3,457 milligrams per cubic metre which is double than the prescribed 1700 milligram per cubic metre. This is considered as severe level of pollution .

Petrochemical industries comes under one of the 17 categories of highly polluting industries which have been discharging environmental pollutants directly or indirectly into the ambient air and water having potential threat to cause adverse effect on the air and water quality.

A spokesperson of Manali Petrochemicals told Express, "We are in the process of addressing the concerns of CPCB.”

Interestingly, this direction from CPCB comes after they have issued showcause notice to their other plant last month for failing to comply with the environment norms.

It is learnt that during the inspection by regional directorate of Central Pollution Control Board officials in Bengaluru on September 25, 2018, the Online Continuous Emission/Effluent System (OCEMS) found that the carbon monoxide (CO) exceeded the parameter during the month of July and August 2018.

Factfile:

1.  CPCB directs Manali Petrochemicals (plant I) to shut down operations.

2.  Analysis by CPCB found that Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) level is 114 milligrams of oxygen consumed per litre which is greater than the 100 milligrams of oxygen consumed per litre.

3.  Concentration of particulate matter (PM) parameter was reported as 474 mg per cubic metre which exceeds the parameter of 100mg per cubic metre.

4.  The suphur-dioxide (SO2) parameters was also found to be alarmingly high of 3,457 milligrams per cubic metre which is double than the prescribed 1700 milligram per cubic metre.

writingonblog uncensored: NHRC urged to reopen case on killing of anti-Sterl...

writingonblog uncensored: NHRC urged to reopen case on killing of anti-Sterl...: EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ CHENNAI: Two months after the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) closed the case pertaining to killing of 13...

NHRC urged to reopen case on killing of anti-Sterlite protesters

EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ CHENNAI:

Two months after the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) closed the case pertaining to killing of 13 anti-Sterlite protesters by Tamil Nadu police personnel in Thoothkudi, human rights groups have urged the commission to re-open the case after the post-mortem reports of the victims was leaked to the media.

The autopsy reports of 12 out of 13 protesters killed, show they were hit by bullets in the head or chest, and half of them were shot from behind.

Urging the National Human Rights commission to reopen the case pertaining to killing of anti-Sterlite protesters, Henri Tiphagne, founder and executive director of Madurai-based human rights organisation People's Watch, has urged NHRC chairperson H L Dattu that families of those killed in the firing were denied the post-mortem reports for seven months despite Tamil Nadu government assurance to Madras High court that it will be handed over to the victims' families.

Alleging that Justice Aruna Jagadeesan Commission of enquiry has till now examined 90 witnesses and needs to examine 450 more witness which will take a minimum of one more year, Henri said NHRC before closing the case should have insisted on asking for details of the disciplinary action initiated against those senior officers whose command was responsible for the actions that followed leading to the killings and several hundred being injured.

“Till date there is no FIR that names any police personnel or officere responsible for the deaths that have occurred and the several hundred injured persons,” said Henri.

“The Commission while putting the onus on the Judicial Commission formed by the government of Tamil Nadu has failed to use its own powers under the protection of Human Rights which is more wide and powerful that the Terms of Reference of the Judicial Commission formed by the government of Tamil Nadu,” he stated.

Narendra Modi inaugurates Bogibeel bridge that will provide connectivity to nearly five million people residing in Upper Assam and Arunachal Pradesh

Mumbai:

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today dedicated the Bogibeel bridge to the nation. Built on the Brahmaputra river in Dibrugarh district of Assam, it is the first fully welded steel bridge and the longest rail-cum-road bridge in India. HCC constructed the entire 4.9 km-long superstructure.

Bogibeel bridge will provide connectivity to nearly five million people residing in Upper Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. The project boasts of multiple benefits such as strategic and speedier access for defence forces to the Indo-China border, seamless access for medical facilities to remote north-eastern states, and most importantly reducing by nearly 10 hours the transportation distance between NH-37 and NH-52, saving transportation cost, time and fuel.

Arjun Dhawan, Director & Group Chief Executive Officer, said, “HCC has time and again undertaken complex infrastructure projects that are benchmarks in India’s infrastructure journey. Bogibeel Bridge is an engineering masterpiece which has many technical firsts to its name. It is India’s first fully welded Warren truss girder type steel bridge. Not only has an incremental launching technique for superstructure erection been used for the first time in India, it is also the world’s longest incrementally launched steel bridge. HCC is proud to create such marvels for the nation.”

The HCC team through its sheer determination and grit completed this project, as bridging the mighty Brahmaputra has always been a daunting task. The river is extremely difficult to bridge due to various reasons including its ferocious and unpredictable behaviour, high currents and turbulent waters, widespread erosion of the banks, short working period, high seismicity and the sheer remoteness of the area. With the width ranging from 1.2 km to 18 km, the Brahmaputra has been bridged only four times in the past; HCC holds the distinction of building two of these bridges and has now constructed the fifth.

The superstructure of the Bogibeel bridge has been constructed using special copper-bearing steel plates in order to reduce corrosion. Furthermore, due to excessive humidity in the area, a complex Corrosion Protection System specific to different components of the bridge has been implemented. To offer good stability to the heavy spans (1700 MT), seismic restrainers are provided. The bridge is designed to withstand earthquakes with magnitudes in excess of 7.0.

writingonblog uncensored: Tender for Chennai Command and Control Centre unde...

writingonblog uncensored: Tender for Chennai Command and Control Centre unde...: C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI: The tender to implement and manage Command and Control Center (CCC), one of the core initiatives under the Chen...

Tender for Chennai Command and Control Centre under smart city initiative sparks row

C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI:

The tender to implement and manage Command and Control Center (CCC), one of the core initiatives under the Chennai Smart City, sparked a row after Larsen and Toubro alleged discrepancies by Tender Evaluation Authority stating that Tamil Nadu Tender Transparency Act was not followed.

After the Letter of Award has been placed on Keltron, Larsen and Toubro has alleged that TN Tenders still show the status of financial evaluation and award of contract still in progress.

“The Tender Evaluation Authority did not follow the Tamil Nadu Tender Transparency Act by not mentioning the Letter of award to Keltron to other bidders without declaring the technical scores of the qualified bidders,” Larsen and Toubro has alleged.

Interestingly, state government officials said that the website now has all the details pertaining to bids and rejected the allegations of Larsen and Toubro. “The tender was awarded as per Tender Transparency Act. Larsen and Toubro has quoted more than 100 per cent of what Keltron has quoted as such they would not have got the tender,” the official on condition of anonymity stated.

It is learnt that Larsen and Toubro has written letters to various departments in both Centre and state and sources say that they have yet to get any reply.

Interestingly, while Larsen and Toubro has alleged that Keltron’s bid was incomplete and non-compliant, Greater Chennai Corporation official rejected the allegations and said it does not hold ground.

Interestingly, the Centre plays a pivotal role in seamlessly synthesizing various departments’ data and dissemination of predictive & real-time analytics leveraging Internet of Things (IoT) and Big Data management.

Taking inspiration from the Rio de Janeiro’s Centro de Operacoes (Operational Control Centre), this has become a central project in smart city plans throughout the country.

Rio has elicited widespread private participation, especially from tech giant IBM to bring this system online, which is being emulated elsewhere too.

Some of the projects to be taken up include the integration of traffic management, disaster management and e-governance under one roof which will create greater efficiency.

Other projects like the smart signalling, intelligent transport system, disaster management, parking management system and city surveillance will be connected on the single-platform established in the Greater Chennai Corporation. Additionally, the mapping of underground utilities will further assist the construction of a real-time three-dimensional map of various networks in the city.

What is Chennai Control and Command Centre:

--- 24 civic agencies of Chennai, including Chennai Corporation, Metrowater, Meteorological Department and the Police, will come together for setting up of an integrated command and control centre.

--- The centre will be build at a cost of Rs 180 crore and will provide effective delivery of services.

--- It will be similar to that of 911 helpline implemented in the United States.

---- The centre will be a confluence point for data to facilitate such coordination under smart city projects.

---- The city will also have its own surveillance system with 100 locations with 400 fixed box camera, 100 PTZ camera, and facial recognition system.

--- A solid waste management system covering 50 locations will soon be commenced.

writingonblog uncensored: Uzbekistan launches its first nuclear power plant ...

writingonblog uncensored: Uzbekistan launches its first nuclear power plant ...: Chennai: Uzbekistan has commenced the exploration studies to select the construction site for its first nuclear power plant project. ...

Uzbekistan launches its first nuclear power plant project with Russia

Chennai:

Uzbekistan has commenced the exploration studies to select the construction site for its first nuclear power plant project. It envisages the construction of two latest Generation III+ VVER-1200 power units of Russian design.

The President of Uzbekistan ShavkatMirziyoyev and the President of Russia Vladimir Putin participated in the event via a video conference from Tashkent. The Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan AlisherSultanov and Director General of Russia’s ROSATOM State Atomic Energy Corporation Alexey Likhachev were present at the ceremony.

“The latest development in the nuclear power sector, initiated by the decision of the President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, marksthe beginning of a new era for Uzbekistan’s energy industry and stimulates stable economic development and increased quality of life for the citizens,” said AlisherSultanov.

“We are proud that Uzbekistan chose Russian technologies for the construction of its first nuclear power plant. We will build the most advanced Generation III+ nuclear power plant with two VVER-1200 power units that meet all the international safety requirements,” said Alexey Likhachev.

On December 29, 2017 Uzbekistan and Russia signed an Agreement on the use of atomic energy for peaceful purposes. The first nuclear power unit in Uzbekistan is scheduled to be commissioned in 2028.

writingonblog uncensored: Chennai residential yield higher than Delhi, Mumba...

writingonblog uncensored: Chennai residential yield higher than Delhi, Mumba...: C Shivakumar @ Chennai: Chennai's residential yield, a component of net return a landlord can get by investing in property, is muc...

writingonblog uncensored: TN among top 10 priority states for Australia

writingonblog uncensored: TN among top 10 priority states for Australia: Chennai: Tamil Nadu is among the top 10 priority states for Australia in India for increased engagement as Australia charts out a strategy ...

TN among top 10 priority states for Australia

Chennai: Tamil Nadu is among the top 10 priority states for Australia in India for increased engagement as Australia charts out a strategy to invest $100 billion in India in the next two decades.

Australian High Commissioner to India, Harinder Sidhu while launching a roadmap for deepening Australia-India economic ties for the next two decades, said that the report ‘An Indian Economic Strategy to 2035: Navigating from Potential to Delivery’ was prepared as Australian business making decision was based on outdated information.

She said that the report asks Australians not to look India as another China as India’s economy is different from that of China and is consumption driven one. “India should be treated on its own terms and not as next China,” she said.

Highlighting the report’s recommendation to deepen Australia-India research and innovation partnership, she said that Tamil Nadu provided a strong base for further growth. “This included 83 active institutional partnerships between Australian and Tamil Nadu Industries, 21 Australian-India strategic Research Fund (AISRF) grants, and two Centres of Excellence at IIT (Deakin and Swinburne).

V Arun Roy, additional secretary, industries and Special Officer for Global Investors Meet who was present on the occasion along with Tamil Nadu Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan and G S Sameeran, director of Fisheries department, urged the Australian High Commissioner to ask Australian businessmen to invest in Australia.  Former Coast Guard Commander (East) S P Sharma, in his new avatar as director of Indo-Australian Chamber of Commerce along with IIT director Bhaskar Ramamurthi were also present.

This comes as Australian government has stated to engage actively with Tamil Nadu at the upcoming Global Investors Meet to be held on January 23-24 to pursue sectoral opportunities in education, road safety technology, urban infrastructure, fisheries and agribusiness.

writingonblog uncensored: TN to amend Industrial Township Act to pave way fo...

writingonblog uncensored: TN to amend Industrial Township Act to pave way fo...: C Shivakumar @ Chennai: Tamil Nadu government will amend the Tamil Nadu Industrial Township Area Development Authority Act, 1997 (TNIT...

TN to amend Industrial Township Act to pave way for Chennai Kanyakumari Industrial corridor project

C Shivakumar @ Chennai:

Tamil Nadu government will amend the Tamil Nadu Industrial Township Area Development Authority Act, 1997 (TNITADA) within the next one month to pave the way for implementation of the Rs 6,448 crore Chennai Kanyakumari Industrial Corridor Project, according to a state industry department official.

“Currently, the only hitch is to amend the Act to create the special purpose vehicle,” the official said.

Once the act is amended then the industrial townships will be notified and a dedicated authority will be established for each proposed nodes, the official said.

The project has six nodes. They include Madurai-Virudhnagar-Dindigul-Theni, Thoothkudi-Tirunelveli, Cuddalore-Nagapattinam (the proposed Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemicals Investment region), Ariyalur and Perambalur, Tiruchirapalli-Pudukottai-Sivaganga and Ramanathapur (proposed National Investment and Manufacturing Zone).

The official told Express that once the act is amended then project will be put before Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion when is then pass it on to Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (DMICDC) to prepare a masterplan, the official said.

To a query on whether German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) will prepare masterplan for CKIC, the official said that it will be decided by DMICDC.

The proposed Chennai-Kanyakumari Industrial Corridor project is likely to generate more than 4.7 million additional jobs driven by annual manufacturing output of $222 billion, according to a Comprehensive Development Plan prepared by Asian Development Bank.

The first phase of Chennai-Kanyakumari Industrial Corridor (CKIC) project, which will have Madurai-Virudhnagar-Dindigul-Theni and Thoothkudi-Tirunelveli nodes, would require an investment of nearly Rs 91,000 crore.

The corridor influence area, which will cover 23 of 32 districts of Tamil Nadu accounting for 64pc of Tamil Nadu’s area and 70pc of total population. The focus of the corridor will on manufacturing. he urban strategy for CKIC will be combination of anchor cities and growth centers. Anchor cities are the crucial initial-state requirement to attract targeted industries.

Thoothkudi, Tirunelveli, Madurai, Trichy, Cuddalore, Thanjavur, Pudukottai, Manaparai Premabalur and Kariakudi have been earmarked as anchor cities.

Factfile:

1.  Tamil Nadu Industrial Township Area Development Authority Act, 1997 (TNITADA) within the next one month to pave the way for implementation of the Rs 6,448 crore Chennai Kanyakumari Industrial Corridor Project

2.The proposed Chennai-Kanyakumari Industrial Corridor project will generate more than 4.7 million additional jobs.

3. Manufacturing sector output in CKIC is estimated to increase from about $41 billion to between $163 billion and $222 billion by 2035.

4.  The 23 districts in the corridor influence area cover 58% of all registered manufacturing enterprises in state.

5.  The entire project has investment requirement of $43.19 billion (Rs 281,000 crore)

writingonblog uncensored: Chennai residential yield higher than Delhi, Mumba...

writingonblog uncensored: Chennai residential yield higher than Delhi, Mumba...: C Shivakumar @ Chennai: Chennai's residential yield, a component of net return a landlord can get by investing in property, is muc...

Chennai residential yield higher than Delhi, Mumbai, says report

C Shivakumar @ Chennai:

Chennai's residential yield, a component of net return a landlord can get by investing in property, is much higher than cities like Delhi and Mumbai, according to a report by IDFC Institute, an independent, economic development-focused think tank to investigate the political, economic and spatial dimensions of India's ongoing transition from a low-income, state-led country to a prosperous market-based economy.

According to the Institute’s India Infrastructure Report 2018: Making Housing Affordable, which uses data available on Numbeo, a crowd sourced data platform of the costs of living in cities around the world, states that Chennai’s residential yield is 2.38 which is higher than Delhi (2.28) and Mumbai (2.18).

According to the report, Indian cities have residential rental yields between 2 to 4% which is much lower when compared to  cities across the world. Interestingly, cities like Hyderabad (4.37), Ahmedabad (4.33), Bengaluru (3.47pc), Kolkata (3.33pc) and Pune (2.83pc) have better rental yields than Chennai.

The report states that higher the house price, the lower is the rental yield for that city.

“Low rental yields contribute to overall low returns on property investments, especially relative to alternative market investments with similar risk profiles,” the report states.

Citing pro-tenant legislations that have prevented market based increases in rent, the report states that in 2016, 66.2 per cent of all civil litigation in India was related to land and property matters

“Landlords choose to hold onto their real estate assets primarily for capital appreciation rather than steady rental incomes.  At the same time, landlords also face substantial hurdles in evicting tenants and securing property rights for their house. The slow pace with which tenancy disputes are redressed creates strong disincentives for owners of vacant properties to rent them out,” it adds.

Interestingly,  the State Urban Housing and Habitat Policy (SUHHP) being drafted by German agency GIZ along with the state housing board, states that Tamil Nadu is facing a shortage of 1.5 million homes in the urban areas and there is an urgent need to regulate and streamline private urban rental housing to enable access to urban poor.

 It is learnt that through the new policy, the policy and government subsidies towards housing will undergo a significant change with focus being more on streamlining private urban rental housing.

The state will be looking at housing supply intervention in the state as an integrated market rather than sub-markets for different income groups as failure in any sub-market will have ramifications across the city.

Residential yields of Indian cities:

1.  Hyderabad (4.37)

2.  Ahmedabad (4.33)

3.  Bengaluru (3.47pc)

4.  Kolkata (3.33pc)

5.  Pune (2.83pc)

6.  Chennai (2.38)

7.  Delhi (2.28)

8.  Mumbai (2.18).

writingonblog uncensored: 30 TN departments have 6,170 audit inspection repo...

writingonblog uncensored: 30 TN departments have 6,170 audit inspection repo...: C Shivakumar @ Chennai: Thirty Tamil Nadu government departments have high pendency of 6,170 audit inspection reports, including 26,140 ...

30 TN departments have 6,170 audit inspection reports, 26,140 paras pending

C Shivakumar @ Chennai:

Thirty Tamil Nadu government departments have high pendency of 6,170 audit inspection reports, including 26,140 paras, dating as far back as 1991-92, according to data from Principal Accountant General (General & Social Sector Audit), which functions under the control of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India.

According to information available with Express, Revenue department has the highest pendency of 1525 audit inspection reports, which includes 5714 paras (observations made by principal accountant general) ranging from as far as 1991-92 which is more than 25 to 26 years.

Top officials from the revenue department could not be contacted for their response. Similarly, the health department is ranked second and has 686 pending inspection reports, which include 3,148 paras dating as far as 2004-05 followed by rural development department having 521 pending inspection reports, including 2,425 paras since 2009-10.

It is learnt that the state finance (audit) department is now seeking a detailed note from all the departments for a discussion at the state level apex committee meeting.

Usually, all audit observations are sent to concerned ministry, department or Public Sector Units or state government companies for a response. The ministry or state government departments  has to respond to such ‘draft paragraphs’ as each observation is called, within a fixed time frame and may also discuss them with officers of the CAG.

Following the response, unresolved issues are included in an inspection report issued to the head of the audited entity (as well as the administrative head) with the most important issues being compiled into the audit report released to the public.

The final audit reports are then submitted to the Finance Ministry (or the state finance department) which then submits it to Parliament or the Governor of the State. All CAG reports are public documents. All state departments are also required to prepare ‘action taken’ notes on the various observations and recommendations made by the CAG and submit them to the Public Accounts Committee (a parliamentary committee which oversees government finances) or the Committee on Public Undertakings (which oversees the finances and functioning of government companies).

However, 30 state departments have high pendency of inspection report and paras or observation made by the Principal Accountant General (General & Social Sector Audit).

It is also learnt that a total of 1,250 action taken notes (ATNs) are pending from eight departments as on March 31, 2018. It is learnt that Public accounts committee (PAC) recommendations are awaiting finality due to want of ATNs from the departments. The highest pendency is from Revenue and Disaster management (182) followed by Finance department (175) and health and family welfare department (152).

Factfile:

Inspection reports (IRs) pending:

1.  Health: 686

Paras pending: 3,148

Earliest year of pending: 2004-05



2.  Revenue: 1525

Paras pending: 5714

Earliest year of pending: 1991-92



3.  Rural Development: 521

Paras pending: 2425

Earliest year of pending: 2009-10



4.  Education: 506

Paras pending: 1806

Earliest year of pending: 2007-08



5.  Municipal Administration: 404

Paras Pending: 2,044

Earliest Year of Pending: 2010-11

DRI seizes cigarettes worth Rs 4.23 cr smuggled from Dubai

CHENNAI:

Foreign origin Cigarettes worth Rs. 4.23 Crore, which were smuggled in three containers from Dubai, were seized at a Container Freight Station here and four persons were arrested in this regard by sleuths of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence.

Working on a tip-off that foreign origin Cigarettes are being smuggled by a syndicate in an import consignment of “Calcium Carbonate”,  DRI sleuths intercepted that consignment imported in three 20 feet containers after it was transshipped to Container freight station from Kattupalli Port.

On examination of the consignment on Thursday, the DRI officials found carton boxes concealed inside the declared “Calcium Carbonate” bags which contained “Gudang Garam” cigarettes of Indonesian origin. A total of 30.24 Lakh sticks of cigarettes were found upon inventorization.

The market value of the seized cigarettes is about Rs. 4.23 Cr., and these cigarettes do not bear statutory health and pictorial warnings mandated under Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labelling) Rules, 2008 as amended effective from September 1, 2018.

The cigarettes, calcium carbonate bags and the three containers were seized under provisions of Customs Act, 1962 and four persons including the importer who permitted the syndicate to import through his firm are arrested.

Cigarettes fall under Section 123 of the Customs Act, 1962 by which burden is cast upon the persons who are in possession of cigarettes to prove that those cigarettes are not smuggled in to India.

Earlier in January 2018, about 70.56 Lakh sticks of same brand of cigarettes were seized at Chennai Port by Special Intelligence and Investigation Branch (SIIB) of the Chennai Sea Port Customs Commissionerate.

writingonblog uncensored: Hollande’s statement could impact international re...

writingonblog uncensored: Hollande’s statement could impact international re...: Chennai: Defence Minister Nirmala Sithraman rejected a joint parliamentary committee probe into inter-governmental agreement with France ...

writingonblog uncensored: Hollande’s statement could impact international re...

writingonblog uncensored: Hollande’s statement could impact international re...: Chennai: Defence Minister Nirmala Sithraman rejected a joint parliamentary committee probe into inter-governmental agreement with France ...

Hollande’s statement could impact international relations, says Defence minister

Chennai:

Defence Minister Nirmala Sithraman rejected a joint parliamentary committee probe into inter-governmental agreement with France in 2016 to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets at a cost of Rs 58,000 crore and said that former French president Francois Hollande’s allegations that that the Indian government had recommended Reliance Defence as an offset partner could have an impact on international relations.

 “Why should I order a probe. The statement is given in parliament,” the defence minister told a press conference while answering a flurry of questions on the Rafale deal.

This comes in the wake of Congress demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the Rafale deal.

On former French president Francois Hollande’s allegations that that the Indian government had recommended Reliance Defence as an offset partner, Sitharaman said the statement will have an impact on international relations.

She also said that former president is facing an allegation that his associate having received funds for some purpose. “I am not in a position to elaborate on the allegations. In such a situation, he is saying this,” she said.

Hitting out at Congress President Rahul Gandhi, she said that everything the former French president was to say was predicted by the Congress president.

On reports that joint secretary-level officer in the Ministry of Defence objected to the deal's benchmark price and had written a dissent note that was overruled.

Sitharaman said that the same officer was a signatory to the final note on the agreement that was sent to the Cabinet.

Under the UPA's deal, India would get 18 Rafale jets in a fly-away state while the remaining would be manufactured in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

That deal wasn't completed by the UPA government. “There is now working agreement with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and Dassault,” she said.

Under the offset rules, it is for the original equipment manufacturer (Dassault in this case) to decide whom it wants to partner within India for its offset obligations, Sitharaman said.

On the 2016 “surgical strikes”, Sitharaman said such an action will deter Pakistan from training and sending terrorists. “My action will continue at the border irrespective of whether they have learnt a lesson or not,” she said.

On the negotiation on the S-400 air defence systems, she said is at a stage where it can be finalised. “We have a big legacy of buying defence equipment from Russia,” she said.

The S-400 is a military system comprising radars, command post, different types of missiles and launchers that can track several dozen incoming objects simultaneously from hundreds of kilometres away and launch counter-missiles.

Hitting out at the Congress, she said the party was restless because it could not make money. She accused the previous Congress government of negotiating with "brokers" and not buying important equipment required for the defence forces.

"With brokers and dalal they were still buying time, not buying important equipment. But we are buying now and that's where I think the Congress is being restless as they couldn't make money," she said.

writingonblog uncensored: Wake up Kumbakarnan, says Madras HC after TN delay...

writingonblog uncensored: Wake up Kumbakarnan, says Madras HC after TN delay...: EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ CHENNAI: Madras High Court has slammed the Tamil Nadu government for 17 years delay in framing Ad Hoc rules aft...

Wake up Kumbakarnan, says Madras HC after TN delays framing ad hoc rules to rationalise services of library officials

EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ CHENNAI:

Madras High Court has slammed the Tamil Nadu government for 17 years delay in framing Ad Hoc rules after it took a policy decision to rationalise the service of the local library authorities and to bring them into one single unit.

A division bench of Justice K K Sasidharan and Justice R Subramanian said, “A policy decision to rationalise the service of the local library authorities and to bring them into one single unit was taken by the government as early as December 11, 1989. But the Adhoc Rules were framed only in 2006, nearly after a lapse of 17 years.” 

This exhibits the callous indifference shown by the officials of the state. In 1995, the state administrative tribunal had observed that the framing of the Rules should not be unduly delayed. It had specifically observed that administrative decisions which involve change in service Rules should be followed up by necessary changes by way of amendment without any unduly delay, the bench pointed out.

The Madras high court observed that it is high time for the state to wake up from ‘Kumbakarnan's sleep’ and follow court directions without any further delay while pulling up the officials of the Tamil Nadu government for their ‘callous’ attitude in making administrative decisions, leading to long-drawn litigations and waste of judicial time.

The judges made the observations on a batch of appeals challenging a government order issued by the school education department on January 12, 2015 and a consequential order of the director of public libraries dated January 13, 2015 by which the petitioners who were appointed through direct recruitment were reverted from the posts of district library officers. The appointments were made during 2002 to 2005.

Allowing the appeals, the bench said, “Once it is found that the appellants appointment was pursuant to direct recruitment, they cannot be reverted to a lower rank…”

“Despite the direction the government has taken 17-years for framing Rules, because of which the appellants had been running from pillar to post right from 2007 to till date. We are pained at the attitude exhibited by the state machinery in not even framing the Adhoc Rules for 17 years. In our considered opinion, this failure on the part of the state to do its duty has led to this long-drawn litigation resulting in waste of court hours on trivial issue of promotions and seniority,” the court said.  

writingonblog uncensored: PSLV-C42 launches 2 foreign satellites

writingonblog uncensored: PSLV-C42 launches 2 foreign satellites: Chennai: The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C42) of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched two satellites...

PSLV-C42 launches 2 foreign satellites

Chennai:
The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C42) of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched two satellites -- NovaSAR and S1-4-- from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota on Tuesday.

The PSLV-C42 lifted off from the First Launch Pad of SHAR at 10.08 pm (IST). Both satellites were injected into the Sun Synchronous Orbit, about 17 minutes later, at an altitude of 583 km.

The satellites belong to UK-based Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL), which has a contract with Antrix Corporation Ltd, the commercial arm of ISRO. NovaSAR carries S-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and an Automatic Identification Receiver payloads. The satellite applications include forestry mapping, land use and ice cover monitoring, flood and disaster monitoring and maritime missions. It will be operated from SSTL’s Spacecraft Operations Centre in Guildford, UK.

S1-4 is a high resolution earth observation satellite meant for surveying resources, environment monitoring, urban management and disaster monitoring.

This was the 44th flight of PSLV and the 12th flight of the Core Alone version of the vehicle. Core Alone is its lightest version without the six strap-on motors. It is used for launching smaller payloads.

The PSLV launch vehicle consists of four stages, each of which is a self-contained vehicle capable of functioning independently with own propulsion systems.

During the previous launch (PSLV-C41, April 12, 2018), the ‘XL’ version of PSLV with six strap-on motors was used. The vehicle successfully launched the IRNSS-1I navigation satellite to a Sub-Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit.

Preparations for the PSLV-C42 began at Sriharikota in mid-July with the process of vehicle integration setting the tone for the launch. Many centres of ISRO contributed to this mission with the vehicle being designed and developed by Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram. The second and fourth stage liquid engines came from Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre, Thiruvananthapuram and ISRO Propulsion Complex, Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu.

The vehicle’s guidance system is from ISRO’s Inertial Systems Unit, Thiruvananthapuram, while SDSC SHAR was responsible for solid motor preparation, vehicle integration and launch infrastructure. ISRO’s Telemetry Tracking and Command Network provided tracking support.

ISRO Chairman Dr K. Sivan congratulated the team soon after the successful mission.

“I am extremely happy that the PSLV-C42 precisely launched two of our customer satellites at 583 km orbit. This was unique night mission executed for the first time by us. The PSLV has proven yet again as a user-friendly vehicle in all aspects. The credit goes to the entire ISRO team and industries. This success will give added energy for industries to make PSLV by themselves. We are going to have 18 missions in the next six months, virtually one launch every two weeks,” Dr Sivan said.

Thousands of skilled personnel from ISRO and industries, including many youngsters, played a crucial role in this mission. The Project Director of PSLV is Shri R. Hutton, who was also the Mission Director.

“The PSLV-C42 marks the latest technology and commercial collaboration between India and the UK with the launch of the combination of high resolution optical and radar (SAR) satellites from us,” says Sir Martin Sweeting, Group Executive Chairman, SSTL.

As on date, ISRO has launched 239 foreign satellites of 28 countries

writingonblog uncensored: $500m World Bank aid to fund 40,000 homes for urba...

writingonblog uncensored: $500m World Bank aid to fund 40,000 homes for urba...: C Shivakumar @ Chennai: World Bank is likely to provide $500 million in assistance to Tamil Nadu government in building 40,000 homes f...

$500m World Bank aid to fund 40,000 homes for urban poor

C Shivakumar @ Chennai:

World Bank is likely to provide $500 million in assistance to Tamil Nadu government in building 40,000 homes for urban poor.

The move comes after state government had made the announcement in the floor of the house to build homes for urban poor.

A top housing department official told Express that World bank has accepted ‘Tamil Nadu Sustainable and Resilient Housing and Habitat Development for Urban Poor’ project and Department of Economic Affairs in the Union government has cleared it.

It is learnt negotiations are on with the World bank officials who to accord final sanction to the project. The World Bank officials are in the city and high-level meetings have been organized with them where in the concept note of the project prepared by the state government and cleared by DEA are discussed.

“The value of the entire project is $715 million of which World Bank has sanctioned $500 million,” the official said.

It is learnt that the World Bank officials will be visiting housing development projects on September 4 and inspect households which have been relocated and resettled from the rehabilitated waterways.

Sources said the negotiations had been on with the World Bank officials since May when a delegation of World bank undertook a scoping missionfor affordable housing project from May 16 to May 18. At that time, they held meetings with Tamil Nadu Infrastructure Fund Management Company, Slum Clearance Board and Chennai River Restoration Trust.

Interestingly, Tamil Nadu government has already taken Rs 4,145 crore loan from World Bank in 2015 for storm water drain network, water supply, solid waste and underground drainage network.

The aid from World Bank comes after Tamil Nadu has carried a demand assessment of 8.30 lakh houseless households under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) in urban areas of the state under PMAY’s four components --- Insitu rehabilitation, Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme, Beneficiary led Construction (BLC) and Affordable Housing in Partnership (AHP).

According to State Urban Housing and Habitat Policy (SUHHP) being drafted by German agency GIZ along with the state housing board, Tamil Nadu is facing a shortage of 1.5 million homes in the urban areas and there is an urgent need to regulate and streamline private urban rental housing to enable access to urban poor.