Flood mitigation work to begin soon in Chennai, 13 Tamil Nadu districts

 The flood mitigation work will commence soon in Chennai and 13 other districts of Tamil Nadu after the state highways department accorded sanction for the same

The flood mitigation work is to commence soon in Chennai and 13 other districts of Tamil Nadu after the state highways department accorded sanction for the same. According to the state highways authorities, an amount of Rs 392.16 crore has been allocated.

A government order was issued on Friday and the Chief Engineer of the construction and maintenance wing of the state highways submitted a proposal to conduct permanent flood restoration work in Chennai city and 13 other districts. It may be noted that the cyclones, ‘Nirav’ and ‘Bureri’ wrecked havoc in these areas in November and December 2020. The department will be constructing additional bridges and vents, cross drainage works, replacing pipe culverts, to construct drains and micro drains and reconstruction of damaged protective works..Read More

DMK MLA J Anbazhagan succumbs to Covid-19 in Chennai on his birthday

The condition of 62-year old MLA, who has been fighting for his life with severe Covid-19 pneumonia rapidly deteriorated early this morning

DMK legislator J Anbazhagan who had tested positive for coronavirus and was on ventilator support died of Covid-19 in a hospital in Chennai on Wednesday, a private hospital said. The condition of 62-year old MLA, who has been fighting for his life with severe Covid-19 pneumonia rapidly deteriorated early this morning. “Inspite of full medical support, including mechanical ventilation at our Covid-19 facility, he succumbed to his illness,” Dr Rela Institute and Medical Centre said in a statement. Coincidently, today is the 62nd birthday of the MLA.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus LIVE: Delhi cases cross 31,000-mark; death toll 905“

Anbazhagan representing the Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni Assembly seat in the Tamil Nadu assembly is the first Tamil lawmaker to test positive for coronavirus and die of it. The DMK leader was re-elected from the same constituency in 2016. In 2011, he was elected to Tamil Nadu Assembly from Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni seat. Before serving for his present constituency, in 2001 Anbazhagan was elected from T Nagar Assembly constituency. He served there for five years.

The lawmaker was admitted in the hospital on June 2 with acute respiratory distress syndrome and his Covid PCR test returned positive at the time of admission.Initially, he was managed with oxygen therapy through face mask and later on, he was put on ventilator support as his respiratory distress worsened,” the hospital had earlier said.

Tamil orator arrested for ‘provocative’ remarks against Modi, Amit Shah

Kannan made the alleged remarks at an event organised by the Social Democratic Party of India on December 28

A Tamil orator, who allegedly made provocative remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah last week, was taken into custody late Wednesday night, police said. Nellai Kannan was whisked away by a police team in Perambalur district in connection with complaints against him by the BJP and the ruling AIADMK.

The move comes hours after top Tamil Nadu BJP leaders staged a demonstration near Gandhi statue point on the Marina beach front in Chennai, demanding his arrest over the remarks. The BJP had also petitioned Governor Banwarilal Purohit seeking action against Kannan. Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K S Alagiri in a statement claimed Kannan has been arrested. Alagiri also condemned the move.

Kannan made the alleged remarks at an event organised by the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) on December 28. The BJP on Monday lodged a police complaint seeking his arrest and prosecution. “Such remarks are open threat to the lives of the prime minister and the home minister and are an attempt to incite violence, criminal intimidation, and abetment to murder,” State BJP spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathi had said.

Modi-Xi Summit: The story behind Mamallapuram’s Chinese connection

Mamallapuram, also known as Mahabalipuram, is located on the East Coast Road. The name is said to be derived from the word “Mamallan”, which means great warrior, a reference to King Narasimhavarman I.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping are set to meet on Friday and Saturday for the second informal summit between them after the first was held in in Wuhan, China, in April 2018. The meeting, will not be held in New Delhi, which has been the tradition, but in the coastal town of Mahabalipuram, or Mamallapuram, almost 50 kilometers south of Chennai.

The question is why PM Modi chose this town to be the venue of the meet. While many believe that by choosing Mamallapuram, PM Narendra Modi wants to send a message to other Dravidian parties in the state that the BJP is serious about Tamil Nadu, another reason could be the town’s historical connections with China.

Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram)

After the decline of the Gupta Dynasty, the Pallavas rose to power in South India, ruling from the third century until the end of the 9th century AD. The best period of their rule, between 650 and 750 AD, was called the Golden Age of the Pallavas. The Pallavas were profound thinkers and were very powerful.

Mamallapuram, also known as Mahabalipuram, is located on the East Coast Road. The name is said to be derived from the word “Mamallan”, which means the great warrior, a reference to King Narasimhavarman I of the Pallava dynasty, who ruled the region from AD 630 to almost AD 670, and was also known for his love of art and sculpture. Many of the monolithic rock-cut structures that are now seen in this region were created during his time…

Train carrying 2.5 mn ltr water from Jolarpettai to reach parched Chennai

The train was supposed to reach on Thursday, but leakages in the valves led to the delay

The first train carrying water to parched Chennai is likely to leave from Jolarpet railway station on Friday. “The wagons have been filled. We are waiting for clearance to leave from Chennai Metro Water,”  A function has been planned at  the Villivakkam railway station to receive the first water train. State minister S P Velumani and few other ministers are expected to attend. 

Fifty wagons of this train with a capacity of 50 kilolitres each would transport 2.5 million litres each trip. With two trains available for this purpose, the railway authorities are trying to supply at least 7.5 million litres a day to begin with, though the target is 10 million litres. 

“Based on slots available for movement of these trains the capacity could go up,” said the officer. Southern Railways would charge Chennai Metro Water Rs. 7.5 lakh for each trip. The Tamil Nadu government has allotted Rs. 65 core for this project.

Officials say these trains would take around five hours to reach Chennai’s Villivakkam, 220 km away, from where water would be pumped to the Kilpauk Water Works, the pumping station that distributes water to localities in the city. However, the water supply by train would not increase supply to Chennai. It will only ease the pressure on the state government to ensure a minimum supply of 525 million litres to residents against the requirement of 830 million litres a day…

Read Full Story: Chennai Water Crisis

I-T raids on houses, offices of Sasikala and Dhinakaran across 160 places

Offices of Namadhu MGR, Jaya TV and Jazz Cinemas, residence of Sasikala’s husband Natarajan also raided

Income-tax officials have been raiding homes and companies belonging to the jailed All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) leader VK Sasikala and her relatives, including TTV Dhinakaran. Both Sasikala and Dhinakaran are rivals to the ruling AIADMK faction. (IT raids on Dinakaran)

The raid started at 6 am this morning across 160 places in Tamil Nadu, besides Bengaluru, Puducherry and Delhi. These places included former Jayalalithaa’s house at Poes Garden, Dhinakran’s house at Adyar and residence of other leaders, their relatives and party functionaries, in addition to the offices of Jaya TV as well as Jaya TV’s top official and management houses . Among the companies being raided are the AIADMK mouthpiece Namadhu MGR, Jaya TV and Jazz Cinemas.

Dhinakaran’s faction alleged that this is a personal revenge against him. They also alleged that ruling faction is trying to take control of Jaya TV and Namadhe MGR.

The residence of Sasikala’s husband Natarajan in Thanjavur was also raided.

At the offices of Namadhu MGR and Jaya TV, very few staff members were present when the I-T officials raided. I-T officials also visited the residence of Dhinakaran in Adyar.

IPS officer arrested for cheating in UPSC mains exam with Bluetooth gadget

Safeer Karim, currently an Assistant Superintendent of Police in Tirunelvelli district, was caught talking to his wife during the exam

An Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, aspiring to enter the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), was arrested for cheating in the civil services main exam with Bluetooth equipment, a police officer said on Monday.

Safeer Karim, currently an Assistant Superintendent of Police in Tirunelvelli district, was caught talking to his wife in Hyderabad for answers, according to the officer.

He sent questions to wife over WhatsApp, got answers over his mobile phone headset.It could have been a scene straight out of Munna Bhai MBBS, except that the protagonist was a trainee cop instead of an underworld don.

The officer said being caught for cheating in exams will have a serious effect on Karim's career.

Pictures of living persons can't be used on banners, hoardings: Madras HC

The judge further directed that the photos of persons, who are sponsoring the pictures, shall also not be depicted

The Madras High Court on Wednesday directed the Tamil Nadu chief secretary to ensure that the provisions of a legislation on prevention of disfigurement are complied with to check unnecessary drawings on walls and ensure a clean atmosphere in all wards of the state.

Justice S Vaidyanathan was disposing of a plea by B Thirulochana Kumari of Arumbakkam here seeking a direction to the Chennai Corporation Commissioner to remove a party board, banner and flag put up in front of her house.(economy news)

The judge recorded the submissions of the counsel for the corporation, including the commissioner, and the inspector of police of Arumbakkam station, that all the banners and party flags, if any, not removed, would be removed forthwith.

They will ensure that no such act take place in future in residences of people in the city, the judge said.

"If any banner or party flag post are erected, it should be removed forthwith. Whoever objects to such removal of party flag/banner, etc., the name and address of such person shall be furnished to the police, so that the police shall register a case against such person," the judge said.

The petitioner submitted in April, that a person named Mathi erected a party flag in front of her property and when this was objected to, she was threatened with dire consequences.....Read More

Infosys staffer found dead in firm’s Chennai premises, foulplay suspected

Body moved to Chengalpattu hospital, police registers case of suspicious death

 

A young software employee with Infosys was found dead in the company's office premises on the outskirts of Chennai.

According to police officials, a 30-year old Ilayaraja, hailing from Tindivanam, in Villupuram district, was found dead in the office premises in Mahindra World City, close to Chennai.

The body has been moved to Chengalpattu hospital. The police has registered a case of suspicious death and the investigation is going on, said an official from the Chengalpattu Taluk Police Station. The police also confirmed that no suicide note had been found.

"We are saddened by the loss of our employee in Chennai. Our deepest sympathies and prayers are with the family of the deceased. Infosys will provide all the necessary support to the family in their hour of grief," said a statement from Infosys.

(READ MORE)

LIVE: Sasikala, Ilavarsi sent to jail in disproportionate assets case

She visited Jayalalithaa's memorial before leaving for Bengaluru

Over 500 police officials can be seen a t the Golden Bay resort, wheer the MLAs are staying. The police battalion has reached with Kuvathur village.

Sasikala visits MGR Memorial House before heading to Bengaluru.

AIADMK MLA Saravanan files complaint against Sasikala and Edappadi Palaniswami for allegations including kidnapping, says report

Sasikala and two others have started their journey to Bengaluru to surrender before the court. She will visit Jayalalithaa's memorial at Marina Beach before going to Bengaluru.

Sasikala asked for two weeks time to surrender from the Supreme Court, but apex court turns down.

She has now filed a plea before Bengaluru Special Court seeking two weeks time to surrender citing ill health.

Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker Thambidurai says soon review petition will be filed against the SC order.

He said, "I am sure Chinna Amma (Sasikala) will come back soon and will rule the State."

He also welcomed the appointment of Dinakaran as Deputy General Secretary of AIADMK.

Sasikala will be driven down to Bangalore to surrender.

Pannnerselvam camp led by Minister Pandiarajan planning to visit the private resort, where Sasikala supporting MLAs are staying, to urge them to rethink decisions taken yesterday and stay united. | Read more

Also Read:

Jaya, Sasikala had jewellery worth Rs 2.51 crore: Supreme Court

Sasikala back in jail, AIADMK infighting rages

Sasikala surrenders at Bengaluru court after adverse SC order

Sasikala loyalist vs OPS: Dynasty politics gripped TN in a matter of hours