Posts tagged chennai news
22 killed as boat capsizes in Pulicat lake near Chennai
Dec 25th
Twenty two persons were on Sunday killed after the boat in which they went on a pleasure trip capsized in Pulicat Lake, about 60 km from Chennai, police said.
About 25 persons were in the boat, they said, adding some of them had been rescued.
Initial reports said the victims hailed from different places in and around Chennai and the boat was reportedly operated by local fishermen.
Some of the bodies had been recovered by rescue teams, police said.
Earlier report by The Hindu correspondent:
A boat carrying nearly 25 persons capsized in Pulicat lake on Sunday afternoon. Sources said the boat had members of a family from Gummidipoondi, who had come to Pulicat to visit relatives. Initial reports from fisherfolk at around 5.30 p.m. said over 10 persons were missing and a few were feared drowned. Search and rescue operations are on. Four fire tenders were rushed there, according to sources in the Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services.
Chennai Metro Rail Tunnelling will throw up debris, and challenges too
Dec 22nd
With the city receiving its first batch of Tunnel Boring Machines that will be used to build the Metro Rail network’s underground section, it is only a matter of time before massive subterranean holes begin to take shape beneath the surface.
While motorists would never get to see any of the tunnels for the next 3-4 years, the impact of the construction work would be clearly felt by most residents. Large-scale diversions, such as the one that came into effect in Anna Nagar, would be in place in at least 19 other locations.
Bangalore’s Namma Metro has an underground section that is only 8.8-km long. Yet, ever since construction began in January this year, traffic flow has been severely affected in many parts there. Chennai’s underground corridor, in comparison, is much larger.
Sanjay Arora, Additional Commissioner of Police – Traffic (in-charge) says: “We are preparing for a long-haul scenario. Each location where an underground station is set to come up will be blocked for more than a year after the area-specific diversion plan kicks in.”
He says that all plans would be uploaded on to Chennai City Traffic Police’s Facebook page well ahead of time and pamphlets would be distributed on the spot.
Private traffic wardens are also set to be deployed round the clock in 23 locations. “Given the scenario, we will try our best to minimise the impact on traffic flow,” Mr.Arora adds.
But much of the ‘pain’ would be due to underground station construction. Tunnelling, on the other hand, would have little or no impact at the surface level. Chennai Metro Rail Limited Managing Director K.Rajaraman says that people will not even know that holes are being drilled beneath the surface.
Out of the 11 TBMs that would eventually be in operation, the first one would be launched from Washermenpet.
The tunnelling would be controlled by precision electronic systems. The cutting rotor (shield) of each TBM would also be supported by a 78 metre long trailing assembly, consisting of components that provide mechanical support and help remove the excavated material.
To put it simplistically, the TBM works similar to an earthworm with cycles of digging forward and dragging the rear end afterwards. A series of hydraulic systems push the TBM forward (excavating the soil), while the rear end of it is braced against the tunnel wall. When the TBM head has excavated to its maximum length, the ‘shield’ and the rear end is pulled forward.
Elaborate measures would be put in place for collection, transfer and disposal of an estimated 1.85 million metric cube of excavated soil. Nearly four lakh truck trips would be required in a span of 4-5 years, which translates to 218 trips per day. “We have been allotted several abandoned stone quarries beyond Tambaram,” Mr.Rajaraman says.
At its peak, the Metro Rail tunnelling operation would churn out enough debris to rival the amount of solid waste generated by the city.
Apart from logistical issues, there are also a number of concerns regarding the proposed permanent changes to entry/exit arrangements at major mass-transit systems near underground Metro stations. For example, station floor plans reveal that the Central Metro Station, which would be the largest in the city, would alter approaches to at least four modes of transport – Central railway station, Park MRTS station, Moore Market suburban station and public transit buses.
Experts say that many of these approaches have not been well thought out. Rumi Roy of the Delhi Development Authority says: “In Delhi, for example, the old Delhi railway station is very difficult to access from the nearby Metro station.”
“Once the ground is dug up for an underground Metro, it will stay that way for a long time. Integration has to be well thought out. We have to design systems that would last many decades,” she adds.
DMK Stalin arrested
Jul 30th
M.K. Stalin arrested for resisting the arrest of DMK Tiruvarur District secretary, Poondi Kalaivanan, in Tiruvarur district.
Mr. Kalaivanan was wanted in connection with a case of forcing students to boycott schools demanding implementation of Samacheer Kalvi (Uniform System of School Education). Police say Stalin will be freed later, and charges will not be pressed in this particular case.
Source: The Hindu
Mylapore post office rakes in money by routing hall tickets
Jul 20th
CHENNAI: In the internet era, India Post has over the last one decade learnt the art of survival. At the Mylapore business post centre , over 25 employees are busy completing the task of dispatching five lakh hall tickets for candidates appearing for the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC ) Group-II services exam . The huge mission , to be completed in five days , does not just display the professionalism and commitment of India Post employees . It also brings in an additional. 50 lakh in revenue to the Mylapore post office, considered one of the best in the country.
India Post gets . 10 for each hall ticket dispatched apart from the pre-mailing charges . All these hall tickets have to reach over five lakh candidates in various place in the state before July 25. R Venkataraman , senior superintendent of post offices, city central division , said the department had deployed special staff for the important operation . “These hall tickets have to be dispatched on time and we ensure that there is proper coordination with district officials of India Post,” he said . India Post has over 2,500 delivery offices in Tamil Nadu and the department has already alerted staff at these centres to make sure the tickets are dispatched properly.
The Mylapore post office , recently elevated to the status of a business post centre , provides complete mailing solutions for individual and bulk customers and earns a monthly revenue of . 1 crore in normal times . “In this particular job, we dispatch 80 ,000-1 lakh mails everyday . The TNPSC is paying the charges for pre-mailing activities , including folding and inserting the hall tickets in envelopes ,” said a senior official at the Mylapore centre .
“The department has been giving us frequent training in customer-handling and for efficient services . Despite having a lot of private competitors in the parcel and courier sector , we still maintain the largest mailing network across the state . We have services in even remote villages ,” said an employee
Chennai: traffic police to now issue e-challans
Jun 29th
Chennai: Chennai Traffic Police has found a novel way of tackling the city’s power crisis. It has installed portable traffic signals that are powered by solar energy at key junctions.
Chennai City Commissioner JK Tripathy said, “All the traffic junctions are not covered by the traffic signals right now. So wherever we required a traffic signal, the portable signals will be useful. Apart from that, whenever there are large congregations, festivals, cricket matches, or in case of power failure failure at any signal, these will be useful because they are solar powered.”
Not just the signals, the Chennai traffic police has also introduced an e-challan system. Now all that the traffic policeman has to do is enter the licence number of errant vehicle and the e-challan machine automatically generates the car’s past record.
Both projects were launched by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa herself and are aimed at improving the traffic system in the city. The move has got a thumbs-up from the general public.
A rapidly growing city spells more traffic on the roads and this means the police has to constantly think on its feet. It has come up with new initiatives like the solar powered portable signals to help ease the situation.
Source : http://ibnlive.in.com/news/chennai-traffic-police-to-now-issue-echallans/163464-3.html
Chicken pox spreading in Chennai
May 26th
CHENNAI: The chicken pox virus is on the prowl. Clinics and hospitals across the city have reported the infectious disease caused by varicella zoster virus, characterised by fever, body ache and rashes.
“Being an airborne disease, this can infect anybody, but children are more prone,” says Dr L Venkatesh of Apollo Hospitals. Summer is the season for such infectious diseases. Most children with chicken pox have headache, high fever, tummy ache and loss of appetite. These symptoms last for two to four days before the rashes break out.
Dr Priya Chandrasekar of Indira Child Care says the number of cases may this time is larger than last summer. “I have had about 10 cases in the last two weeks,” she says. Dr M Jayakumar of Apollo Children’s Hospital says he has seen 20 children with the infection in one month.
The viral infection spreads quickly and can affect adults also, generally parents of infected children. Treatment is limited to bringing down the symptoms as chicken pox is essentially a self-limiting disease that runs its course. Preventive vaccines are available in the market.
Dr S Geetha from Muthu Pharmacy says, “Antiviral tablets and vaccination are the two best ways to make sure a child or patient with chicken pox doesn’t suffer major complications.” Dr V Ramasubramanian, senior consultant of infectious diseases at Apollo Hospitals underscores the need for precaution. “Everyone above the age of ten should get vaccinated to prevent chicken pox and such infections during summer,” he says. Dr T Rajagopal, a general physician, says chicken pox, measles and a host of other communicable diseases occur during summer since the viruses find the heat optimum to thrive.
Minor irritations such as prickly heat, rashes, itching, boils are common in summer, but can also be easily avoided by maintaining a good personal hygiene.
Anti-viral drugs administered within 72 hours prevent the formation of scars. Dr Rajagopal says the course of the disease can be shortened with drugs. Treatment and care for the rashes must also be taken as those can cause secondary infections post recovery.
At Rs 51cr, Jaya assets double in 5 years
Mar 25th
CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu’s two chief ministerial candidates – DMK president M Karunanidhi and AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa, are together worth more than Rs 92 crore. While Karunanidhi has declared assets worth Rs 41 crore, his bete noire Jayalalithaa is worth Rs 51 crore, as per the affidavit filed along with her nomination papers for Srirangam assembly segment on Thursday. Jayalalithaa had declared assets worth Rs 24.7 crore in 2006. She has no dependents.
While Karunanidhi himself has assets worth Rs 4.92 crore, his two wives, Dayalu and Rajathi, are worth Rs 17.34 crore and Rs 18.68 crore respectively.
Actor Vijayakanth, contesting from Rishivandiyam segment, has declared assets worth Rs 46.5 crore.
Jayalalithaa has shown an annual income of Rs 15 lakh. Though she has a fleet of five vehicles worth Rs 8.35 lakh, all are old. They include a 1980 model Ambassador car worth Rs 10,000.
Her affidavit gives an overview of the 10 cases registered against her and the valuables seized by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption from her custody after her party’s defeat in the 1996 assembly elections . Since her jewellery is still stuck in court cases, she has not mentioned its value.
Jayalalithaa’s major assets include her Poes Garden residence worth Rs 20.16 crore, four commercial buildings – three in Chennai and one in Hyderabad – worth Rs 6.91 crore, Kodanad tea estate worth Rs one crore, investments in Jaya Publications worth Rs 8.5 crore, in Sasi Enterprises worth Rs 75 lakh and Royalvalley Floritech worth Rs 65 lakh.
She has Rs 11.25 crore worth agricultural lands and cash deposits to the tune of Rs 41 lakh.
Though she has mentioned another cash deposit of roughly Rs two crore in the affidavit, she said details are available only with the DVAC.
Vijayakanth’s assets range from a marriage hall to agricultural lands and investments in various firms. He has agricultural farms worth Rs 12.46 crore at Maduranthakam , Karadiputhur and Irugur in Kancheepuram district. He has nonagricultural lands worth Rs 1.1 crore. His house in south Chennai is worth Rs 1.6 crore. He has three vehicles worth Rs 50 lakh, which includes a Ford Endeavour.
DMK minister’s assets rose 780 times in 5 years
Mar 23rd
CHENNAI: In five years of DMK rule, a state minister has multiplied his assets 780 times. At least that’s what the official figures show.
Tamil Nadu food minister EV Velu, contesting from Tiruvannamalai assembly segment, declared at the time of the 2006 assembly polls that his assets were worth around Rs one lakh. Apart from a 1.1-acre agricultural plot in Pinjur village worth Rs 60,000, Velu had shown cash deposits of Rs 25,000 and jewellery worth Rs 15,000 five years ago. As per his affidavit, his wife did not own any assets then.
Now, five years later, the affidavit filed by Velu on Monday shows his assets have multiplied in every form – land, buildings, jewellery and cash deposits. The 60-year-old minister and his wife are currently worth Rs 7.8 crore. He has bank deposits running into Rs 17.47 lakh, agricultural lands worth Rs 1.75 crore, buildings worth Rs 1.25 crore and a house valued at Rs 4.5 crore. In addition, his wife has jewellery that costs Rs 5.76 lakh and agricultural land worth Rs five lakh.
Asked about the astronomical rise in his fortunes and the source of income that helped him accumulate assets, Velu told TOI, “My assets have gone up primarily owing to the increase in their market value. The new EC guidelines which seek more information is another reason for my showing more assets. My accounts are audited regularly and I am an income tax assessee (in the 2006 affidavit he claimed that he was not an assessee) for the past 10 years. My main source of income is from agriculture. I can only say that my auditor prepared the asset details.”
The Election Commission of India has made it mandatory for all candidates contesting polls to declare their assets as well as those of their spouses, children and other dependents. State labour minister T M Anbarasan, contesting from Pallavaram assembly segment, has also seen a considerable appreciation in wealth during the five years in the state cabinet. His listed assets have increased in value from Rs 91.49 lakh in 2006 to Rs 4.95 crore in 2011. They include those owned by his wife. One of the additions is a Mitsubishi Pajero, valued at Rs 22.9 lakh. He has also bought two buildings worth Rs 25 lakh at Kundrathur in 2008 while his cash deposits have gone up from Rs 10,866 to Rs 20.6 lakh.
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