OTA inculcates fighting spirit among young officers

C Shivakumar/ ENS
Hanumanthapuram (Chengalpet):
First the paratroopers jumped from 8,000 feet above and then a nearby mountain was pounded by mortars and guns of Bihar regiment as 700 Officers Training Academy cadets were exposed to a real time warfare scenario.
“We wanted to motivate our cadets and expose them to a real time warfare scenario where they can gauge the real effect of the weapons have on the enemies,” said UM Rajavelu, commandant of Officers Training Academy.
And the exposure had all the ingredients from drama in the high air to firing by medium and light machine guns, INSAS rifle as well as rocket launchers and 51 mm mortars, 81 mm mortars, anti-personal and anti-tank mines.
The event began with 21 paratroopers, eight from Indian Airforce’s  renowned Akash Ganga sky diving team and 13 from Army Parachute Brigade, jumped from AN 32 aircraft at an altitude of 8,000 feet.
Group captain Arun Marwah from Aakash Ganga sky diving team told Express they were falling at 200 feet per second at a speed of 120 mile per hour and while they reached 3,000 feet they used their parachutes. The sky diving team displayed the flag formation as the audience was spellbound.
“It takes five jumps to become a paradropper and the training is a two year cycle,” says Group Captain Marwah, who trains army paratroopers.
Maj Gen Rajavelu said para jumps and para trooping form part of special operations, which have come to characterize a host of counter insurgency operations. The feat will inspire the young officer cadets, he added.
And then the guns boomed as army spokesperson provided information on various kinds of guns used. Crouched on the floor, the jawans of 16 Bihar regiment of Bangalore, displayed the firepower of the Indian army before the future officers. First it was the Insas rifle, then the medium and machine gun followed by rocket launchers and mortars.
 “The aim of this demonstration was to inculcate the spirit of adventure among the cadets of OTA who are slated to join the officer cadre of the Indian army,” said Rajavelu

World Bank’s fuel storage tank proposal gets Completion Certificate despite deviations

C Shivakumar
Chennai:
A World Bank proposal to build diesel storage tank was given a Completion Certificate by the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority’s enforcement cell by turning a blind eye to alleged deviations and then later rejecting the proposal by seeking removal of alleged structures in the setbacks area.

The proposal to construct underground diesel storage tank at an approved site in Taramani in Kottivakkam village was submitted by the World Bank on October 2009 and CMDA had then instructed it to remove Vacuum circuit breaker panel and ring main gear (RMG) erected in the setbacks and relocate the same as it was not covered in the earlier plan.

The proposal was later unapproved in February 2, 2011 as World Bank failed to comply with CMDA’s request. However, World Bank has requested to reconsider the case on June 21, this year, stating that Completion Certificate has been issued for the main building and the alleged structures in no way affects the free movement of the vehicles and they are only temporary structures open to sky with less than four metres height.

Interestingly, it was found that already RMG and VCB structures with the dimension of 5.4m x 8.43m (length of 15 metres) affecting six parking lots shown in the approved plan was existing even at the time of issuance of Completion Certificate and it was noted as allowable deviation and objection was not raised and a completion certificate was given.

“After issuing the Completion Certificate now CMDA is raising objections to remove the structure, which appears to be not sustainable,” said sources, adding that it brings the enforcement cell in bad light.

Highly placed sources in CMDA told Express that the clearance would be given to World Bank If it resubmits the planning permission along with no objection certificate from Department of Explosives and Department of Fire and Rescue Services (DF&RS).

Rs 150 cr Phase II of biotech park to be operational by April 2012

Chennai:

The Rs 150 crore Phase II of TICEL Biotechnology Park will be ready by December 2011, according to additional chief secretary and chairman and managing director of Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation Susan Mathew.



Mathew told Express on Thursday after a presentation on TICEL Bio Park before a delegation from State of Maryland in United states that 70 per cent of the work has been completed in the built up area of six lakh square feet. The building will have 12-storeys and is designed by Taamaesek Engineering Consultants



“The Phase II of the park will be operational by April 2012 and will be providing opportunities for 1,500 scientists with the fresh investment of Rs 500 crore by the units. We are expecting 100 per cent occupancy,” she added.



The TICEL Biotechnology Park-I, built in technical collaboration with Cornell University of US, is in operation from 2004 and has 87 modules of labs established with complete infrastructure for biotech research and development units.



She also said TICEL is also establishing ‘Biotechnology Core Instrumentation Facility’ (BSCIF) in TICEL Biopark II with a state-of-the-art equipments for microbiology, molecular, fermentation, downstream processing, purification, analytical and animal cell culture facilities and training center to provide scientific and incubation support to clients and biotech industries at a cost of Rs 19.30 crore. It shall be completed by 2012, she said.



Dr M D Nair, member of the board of directors, TICEL and chairman of scientific advisory committee said Union government’s department of biotechnology has sanctioned a grant of rs 10.93 crore for equipments besides Rs one crore by state higher education department for conducting training programmes in collaboration with universities

John Hopkins likely to set up R&D facility in Chennai

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

Chennai is likely to be the destination of world-renowned John Hopkins University in setting up a partnership in research and development, according in sources.



Sources from a pre-trade mission from Maryland in the United States, who are laying the groundwork for the Governor of Maryland Martin O Mally’s visit to India in December 2011, said preliminary discussions are on and refused to divulge any details.



But sources revealed that it is likely that John Hopkins may go in for partnership with Apollo. Interestingly, Apollo Hospitals already has a joint venture with Amcare Labs, an affiliate of Johns Hopkins International of the US, to set up a diagnostic laboratory in Hyderabad in 2006.



Meanwhile, the team from Maryland said it has selected five cities including Mumbai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Delhi and Chennai for the visit of the governor. “Three venues will be decided after the feedback from the team but Chennai is likely to be one of the destinations. The US Consulate here wants Chennai as an itinerary in the governor’s proposed visit, ” a source from the team said.



Sources also revealed that the governor will lead a 50 member delegation and strategic partnerships between Tamil Nadu and state of Maryland will be formalized during the governor’s visit.



Meanwhile, it was also revealed that University of Maryland may go in for a tie-up with an academic institution in Chennai. “The details are being worked out,” the sources revealed

Clamp on fancy registration number plates

Chennai:

In a crackdown on fancy registration plates, the state government has issued a deadline to all vehicle owners to comply with norms pertaining to display of number plates by the end of this month or face suspension of their registration certificate.



“Every motor vehicle shall display the registration number on the number plate with the specification of the Rule 50 & 51 of Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989,” the office of the transport commissioner said.



All vehicle owners who have fancy registration plates have to comply with the rule by fixing proper registration number by the end of this month or else action will be initiated to suspend their registration cerificate under section 53 of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988.



The decision to enforce the law comes in the wake of many complaints being received from various parts of the state that some vehicles do not comply with rule provisions and display registration number according to their whims and fancies.



Transport department’s enforcement officials were directed to conduct intensive checks on violation of registration of number plate norms and to ensure proper fixing of registration number plates in accordance with provisions of Rule 50 & 51 of Central Motor Vehicles Rule 1989.

TN plans to become global skills hub by setting up state-of-the art vocational training institutes

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

Tamil Nadu government is planning to set up state-of-the-art hi-tech vocational training institutes across the state in a bid to become global skills hub, according to Santhosh Mishra, member secretary, Tamil Nadu Skill Development Council.



Mishra told Express on the sidelines of a luncheon meeting with Swedish Ambassador Lars-Olof Lindgren that the state is seeking technological expertise from the global majors as well as private sector to set up such institutes across the state.



“We are scouting for partners and the institutes will come up in the remote corners of the state,” said Mishra.



Earlier, at the meeting organized by Confederation of Indian Industry, Mishra sought Swedish expertise to set up a hi-tech vocational training institute in aircraft and aeronautics. Swedish envoy Lindgren said that Swedish companies would provide technological expertise if a model for cooperation is worked out.



He also said the setting of a vocation training institute is good for Swedish companies as they are expanding in India.



Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu government is also seeking Sweden’s help on developing and building its ports. “There will be a meeting with the representative of port of Gothenberg next week,” said Lindgren. Sweden has also approached the state for providing water purifier system as well as recycle technology. Arun Vasu, honorary consul of Consulate of Sweden said Swedish companies have approached the state government but cost of the technology is a hitch.



Lindgren was also hopeful that Sweden will get the defence deal to supply Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) despite Indian Airforce shortlisting Eurofighter Typhoon and Dassault Rafale, both double engine aircraft. “Ours is a single engine aircraft which is light and 10 times cheaper than the two aircraft. The Indian airforce has to upgrade their old MIGs as such there is need to buy affordable aircraft. So we are hopeful that India will come back to us,” he said

Freedom-fighters now train guns on corruption

***Gandhians in 80s to go on fast in solidarity with Hazare

Express News service

Chennai:

After fighting against the British raj, freedom fighters in Chennai have now launched their fight against corruption by vowing to abstain from food on August 16.



Addressing a press conference organized by India Against Corruption, Mahatma Gandhi’s last personal assistant Venkita Kalyannam, who is on his mid 80s, and Lakshmikanthan Bharathi, 85, a freedom fighter turned bureaucrat said the move was in solidarity with anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare’s nationwide protest on August 16.



A frail looking Kalyannam blamed India’s first prime minister Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru for turning a blind eye towards corruption. “The British officials were not that corrupt and corruption came into prominence once India got freedom,” said the Gandhian.



“Now corruption starts from the day you are born and continues till death,” said Kalyannam.



Hailing Anna Hazare for launching the fight against corruption, he said nobody had the guts to fight against the government and Hazare has taken up the cause. We should support him,” he added.



Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as well as Nehru are men of integrity but when it comes to tackling corruption, they have failed badly, said Kalyannam.



Eighty-five-year old Bharathi, who was part of the Quit India Movement in 1942 and belongs to a family where father, mother, son and daughter all went to the jail for the same struggle, compared the present anger against corruption to that of the anger against the British rule in 1945. “This movement is a beginning to end corruption. We have to ensure a powerful Lokpal bill is passed,” said the senior citizen, who belongs to Gandhi Makkal Iyakkam.



The freedom fighters have sought permission to hold protest at SET college at K B Dasan road stating that it is not a political agitation. “I will confirm it when we get the permission,” said Kalyannam.



Meanwhile activists of India against Corruption are planning to stage a rally on Saturday from Gandhi Statue to Labour statue and back in Marina Beach Service Road. A petition to Gandhi will be given at the end of the march, said R Upendran, an activist of IAC. The activists on Friday also burnt a copy of Lokpal bill in front of Gandhi statue.