Commercial establishments in T.Nagar sealedsen-currentaffairs.weebly.com/uploads/1/3/4/5/13450496/tamil_nadu... · Mullaperiyar dam, comprising the main dam and baby dam. In May 1882,

Current Affairs Tamil Nadu November 2011

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Commercial establishments in T.Nagar sealed The Chennai Corporation and the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) took action against 25 commercial establishments in Ranganathan Street and Usman Road in T.Nagar. The move follows a directive of

the Madras High Court to the CDMA, the Corporation, Metrowater and the TNEB to file affidavits reporting compliance of an earlier order on taking action against unauthorised constructions. Commercial establishments had failed to respond satisfactorily to the notices issued by the CMDA and the Corporation. The Corporation locked and sealed as many as 20 buildings. When some of the shop owners said they would not let the officials to

seal the store, police personnel got ready for a possible arrest and brought their vans into the lane. CMDA officials finally sealed the office. 1% of world population is in Tamil Nadu With 7 crore population, Tamil Nadu accounts for 1% of the world population. Tamil Nadu is the most urbanised state in India. The population of the state rose by 15.6% during the 2001-2011 decade.

Population growth in TN for the last 10 years Top 5 Bottom 5

Kancheepuram (38.69%) The Nilgiris (3.55%) Tiruvallur (35.24%) Chennai (7.76%) Tirupur (28.69%) Ariyalur (8.18%) Krishnagiri (20.66%) Pudukottai (8.38%) Coimbatore (19.06%) Nagapattinam (8.41%)


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Districtwise Decadal

Growth # District 1 The Nilgiris 2 Chennai 3 Ariyalur 4 Pudukkottai 5 Nagapattinam 6 Thanjavur 7 Thiruvarur 8 Tuticorin 9 Vellore 10 Virudhunagar 11 Kanyakumari 12 Erode 13 Tiruchirappalli 14 Dindigul 15 Ramanathapuram 16 Tiruvanamalai 17 Tirunelveli 18 Theni 19 Cuddalore 20 Perambalur 21 Karur 22 Namakkal 23 Salem 24 Dharmapuri 25 Sivaganga 26 Villupuram 27 Madurai 28 Coimbatore 29 Krishnagiri 30 Tiruppur 31 Tiruvallur 32 Kancheepuram

TN Vital Statistics Current population of Tamil Nadu: 7, 21, 38, 958 (5.96% of India’s population; 7th

most populated State in India) Current population of Chennai City: 46, 81, 087 Density of Chennai city: 26, 903 persons per sq km Maternal Morality rate: 0.9 / 1000 live births Death rate: 7.6/1000 Birth rate: 15.3/1000

Districtwise Population # District 1 Chennai 2 Kancheepuram 3 Vellore 4 Tiruvallur 5 Salem 6 Coimbatore 7 Villupuram 8 Tirunelveli 9 Madurai 10 Tiruchirappalli 11 Cuddalore 12 Tirupur 13 Tiruvanamalai 14 Thanjavur 15 Erode 16 Dindigul 17 Virudhunagar 18 Krishnagiri 19 Kanyakumari 20 Tuticorin 21 Namakkal 22 Pudukkottai 23 Nagapattinam 24 Dharmapuri 25 Sivaganga 26 Ramanathapuram 27 Thiruvarur 28 Theni 29 Karur 30 Ariyalur 31 The Nilgiris 32 Perambalur


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125th anniversary of Mullaperiyar dam October 29, 2011 marked the 125th anniversary of the signing of an agreement on the Mullaperiyar dam between the erstwhile Madras and Travancore governments,

but the matter still remains a bone of contention between their successor States, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. As part of the agreement, about 8000 acres was leased by Travancore to Madras for execution of the Periyar project. In pursuance of the agreement, a water reservoir was constructed across the Periayr river during 1887-1895. It is known as the

Mullaperiyar dam, comprising the main dam and baby dam. In May 1882, Major (later Colonel) J Pennycuick was entrusted with the responsibility of carrying out the project. He came to be regarded as the architect of the Periyar dam, which was made of lime and surki. Its total cost was estimated at Rs. 84.71 lakh (towards capital expenditure). The full reservoir level of the dam is 152 ft with capacity of 10.56 thousand million cubic feet (tmcft). Nearly 70000 hectares of the composite Madurai and Ramanathapuram districts form part of the irrigation network. (The more significant aspect is the people of theses districts still display their gratitude to Pennycuick who had toiled under extremely adverse conditions to build the dam; there are memorials for Pennycuick in the form of statue or bust) {W. Stuart Sampson, great grandson of Pennycuick and a lawyer by profession was overwhelmed by the reception given by farmers of the Cumbum valley during his visit in 2003}. After the dam construction was over, the dispute between tow States – Travancore and Madras – arose in about 40 years as to whether the principal deed entitled Madras to use the Periyar water for hydro power generation. Initially, Tamil Nadu suffered a setback but the issue was resolved 30 years later. On May 29, 1970, Tamil Nadu and Kerala signed an agreement, under which Tamil Nadu was allowed to generate electricity from the project and it surrendered fishing rights in the leasehold land on favour of Kerala. But within 10 years, another controversy erupted over the safety of the dam. In Nov 1979, a tripartite meeting, chaired by K. C. Thomas (the then Chairman of Central Water Commission) decided that the level should be lowered to 136 ft and Tamil Nadu should undertake strengthening measures. The matter took a new turn when the Supreme Court, in its order in February 2006, permitted Tamil Nadu to raise the water level from 136 ft. to 142 ft. and take up the remaining strengthening measures. This led to the next phase of the protracted dispute. In March 2006, Kerala enacted the law which prohibited the raising of water level beyond 136 ft. as the Mullaperiyar dam was placed under the Schedule of “Endangered Dams”. Subsequently, Tamil Nadu approached the Supreme Court, challenging the validity of the Act. In February 2010, following the Court’s directions, the union government constituted an empowered committee, headed by former CJI, A.S. Anand, to hear the parties on all issues that would be raised before them and furnish a report to the Court. The committee’s tenure has been extended up to February 2012.


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Counterfeit currency influx remains a cause of concern in TN Tamil Nadu topped other states in the list of national figures in the counterfeit currency. In 2008 it was 601 cases, and in last year though it was reduced to 312 cases, the state remains top in the list of counterfeit cases. The number of Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) in the State increased from 1.02 lakh in 2000-01 to 3.98 lakh in 2008-09. MCC gearing to celebrate its 125th year Madras Christian College will launch a community college and an International MBA programme in 2012 as part of its 175th year celebrations. The college, which has nearly 6000 students with almost half of them women, will reach two milestones next year. Founded as a small school on April 03, 1873 in George Town by Rev. John Anderson, a missionary from the Church of Scotland, it will be in its 175 years of service in education. It will be also its 75th year of existence in its 365 acre sylvan scrub campus in Tambaram. Honorary directors for music institutions The government announced appointment of Veena Gayathri and Shoba Sekar as honorary directors for Government Music Colleges and Music Schools. In Tamil Nadu four music colleges are functioning in Chennai, Madurai, Coimabtore and Tiruvaiyar. Ms. Gayathri will provide valuable suggestions to improve the quality of these colleges. Similarly, Ms. Shoba will provide her suggestions to the 17 music schools functioning in the State. Italian delegation hails TN’s investment potential Italian Ambassador to India, Mr. Giacomo Sanfelice di Monteforte said that Tamil Nadu is a land of potential and Italian look at it as a full fledged partner for Italian firms. Addressing the members of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) said they were in the country exploring he investment and business potential that could contribute to the growth of Tamil Nadu and Italian economy as well and how both could benefit from it jointly. The Ambassador said that Tamil Nadu has been the driving force of Indian economy and it is the preferred destination for foreign investors. Tamil Nadu is performing well and its growth rate is close to 15%. It is one of the best states in India. Tamil Nadu is attracting more foreign investment than any other states in southern India and it is one of the clear signs of attractiveness of the State. He also said that Italy viewed Indian as an emerging economic pored in the world and as an important economic in Asia. He added that within India, Tamil Nadu proved to be a safe haven for the Italian firms owing to factors such as ideal business climate and healthy socio-economic reforms.


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Anna Centenary Library to become super speciality paediatric hospital Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Ms. J. Jayalalithaa said that the building housing the Anna Centenary Library (ACL) in Kotturpuram will be converted to

accommodate a super speciality paediatric hospital. The library would be shifted to the proposed Integrated Knowledge Park on the DPI (Directorate of Public Instruction) campus in Nungambakkam. The park would also house all directorates working under the control of School Education Department, a training centre, seminar halls, a sports facility, a studio for school education and Incubation Centre. The nine-storeyed ACL building, costing about Rs. 172 crore, was declared open on Sep 15, 2010by the then Chief Minister, Mr. M. Karunanidhi. It could accommodate 1250 persons. Regard as a large library in the country,

the facility included a huge collection of books in different languages and journals behind an auditorium, a Braille section, an amphitheatre and a food court. In July 2011, U.S. Secretary of State, Ms. Hillary Clinton in her maiden visit to the city, addressed a huge gathering at the ACL’s auditorium and she lauded the library. For this move, several oppose came across the State from several sections of the people. The Madras High Court stayed the shifting. All the magazines barring languages criticised the Government’s move. The magazine India Today said that the political Vedanta is so high in the States of Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh, which can’t be seen anywhere in the world. Lenovo, lowest bidder for free laptop schemes

The Indian unit of Lenovo Group Ltd. Has emerged as the lowest bidder for the Tamil Nadu Government’s laptop scheme, under which 9 lakh students of government and state-aided colleges and high schools would be given free laptops. The government recently floated tender inviting bids from laptop manufacturers worldwide. Lenovo quoted a price of around Rs. 13, 939 per laptop, which is lower than its market price by Rs. 10, 000. The second lowest bid of Rs. 14, 452 was made by HCL Info systems. The lowest bidder is given first preference to supply at least 60% of the total volume. Acer, Wipro, HCL and HP will also be given the order, nut in fewer numbers. In the first phase, HP and Acer won the bid to supply 6600 laptops at an estimated price of Rs. 14, 040.


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Russian honour for Jayakanthan Writer D. Jayakanthan, president of the Indo-Russian Cultural and Friendship Society, Tamil Nadu, will be awarded the ‘Order of Friendship’ by the Russian government. Mr. Jayakanthan was the first writer from South India to receive the award. Film director Mirnal Sen is the other India to bag the award. The writer had translated works of Russian author Pushkin in Tamil. Similarly many of Jayakanthan’s works translated into Russian and Ukrainian languages. Mr. Jayakanthan said that it was a great honour to receive the award from the President of Russian Federation. He said that Russia was very helpful to India during times of need. Mr. Jayakanthan said Kudankulam was a good example of India – Russia friendship. It was a project that could help Tamils. State will achieve premium spot in health sector: Jayalalithaa

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Ms. J. Jayalalithaa said that it is train sufficient medical and paramedical personnel to serve the healthcare sector for ensuring the State’s progress towards a premium position in the country. Addressing the 22nd convocation of Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University, she said that the government of Tamil Nadu is fully confident that the various measures proposed to be undertaken now in the health sector will definitely propel Tamil Nadu into the premium position in the country in the provision of free quality healthcare to the entire population. She gave away awards for lifetime achievement to 10 medical professionals and teachers including V.

Shanta, chairperson, Cancer Institute.


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TN Cabinet reshuffle – 3 The first major reshuffle of the AIADMK Ministry was announced with the change in the portfolios of a couple of senior Ministers, removal of six Ministers and the induction of six fresh faces. (It was the third time there is a change in the Cabinet, since May 2011) Agriculture Minister Mr. K. A. Sengottiyan, ranked third in the order of Ministers, no longer holds the portfolio. Instead, he has been given Information Technology. Dropped Ministers:- Mr. C. Shanmugavelu Rural Industries Minister Mr. R. B. Udhayakumar IT Minister Mr. S.P. Shanmuganathan Hindu Religious and

Charitable Endowments Mr. N. R. Sivapathi Animal Husbandry Mr. G. Senthamizhan Information and Law

Minister Mr. Budhichandran Food Minister # Newly Inducted Post

1 Mr. S. Damodaran Agriculture 2 Mr. R. Kamaraj Food, Civil Supplies, Consumer Protection and Price Control 3 Mr. S. Sundaraj Handlooms and Textiles 4 Mr. M. Paranjothi Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments, Law 5 Mr. Moorthy Milk and Dairy Development 6 Mr. Bhalaji Information & Special Programme Implementation Change in Portfolios: # Minister Previous Portfolio New Portfolio 1 Mr. K. A. Sengottiyan Agriculture Information Technology 2 Mr. T.K. Chinnayya Environment Animal Husbandry 3 Mr. M.C. Sampath Special Program

Implementation Rural Industries and Nutritious Noon Meal

4

Mr. B.V. Ramanna Environment

Ms. Jayalalithaa’s Council of Ministers continues to have 32 Ministers.


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Uthapuram Dalits enter temple The Dlaits of Uthapuram village near Madurai, where ‘untouchability’ wall was demolished in 2008, entered a temple under the control of the upper caste Hindus, with police protection. Though scores of upper caste Hindus received the 11 Dalit persons outside the temple with folded

hands, the scene was marred by the loud wails of women from the nearby streets, who were opposed to the entry of Dalits to ‘their’ temple. The Daits led by their leaders, Mr. K. Ponnaiah and Mr. Sankaralingam offered prayers at the Sri Muthalamman, Sri Mariamman temples. They offered a garland, coconuts and fruits to the presiding deity. With the huge police protection, including, Madurai (Rural) Superintendent of Police, Mr. Asra Garg waiting outside, the priest performed ‘puja’ and ‘deeparthana’. The CPI (M), instrumental in demolishing the wall that divided the Dalits from the upper caste Hindus hailed the temple entry as a ‘historic’ event. After the CPI (M) and the Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front (TNUEF) took up the issue, the district administration demolished the wall. However tension prevailed in the village and a permanent police picket was posted. The temple ‘Kumbabhishekam’ would be performed soon, and the upper caste people would invite Dalits for it. They also planned to hold a common feast on the occasion. Mr. Asra Garg said that more than 50 criminal cases booked against members of both parties would be withdrawn. He also added that, the police picket would continue.

“Dalits are entering the temple premises for the first time after 1989”

“This is only a symbolic entry. Things are not going to change overnight. But it is good that people from both sides have come to a meeting point” – Mr. Asra Garg, Madurai (Rural) Superintendent of Police.


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Mettur level crosses 100 feet The water level in the 78-year-old Mettur Dam crossed the 100 feet mark for the 61st year on Nov 06, 2011. Dam officials said that last year the level of water in Mettur Dam reached 100 feet during the last week of November and it reached its full capacity of 120 feet on the second of December. This year, it has reached 100 feet in the first week of the month itself.

Tirupur flood: 14 people dead 14 persons, including five of a family, were washed away in flash floods in Tirupur town. Chief Minister convened a meeting with officials at the Secretariat to review the situation and enhanced compensation for victims. As many as 6500 persons belonging to 2100 families were brought to 10 relief camps and food was arranged for them. The tributaries of river Noyyal – Sangilipallam and Jamunaipallam was the reason for the flood havoc.


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All Staff for People’s Welfare sacked The government of Tamil Nadu sacked over 12000 Makkal Nala Paniyalargal

(Staff for People’s Welfare) appointed by the previous DMK government to oversee the development activities in villages and supervise work under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. In an order passed by the Rural Development department, the government said the Commissioner of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj and District Collectors were ‘directed to ensure that all the posts of Staff for People’s Welfare are disbanded immediately’. The order said that it was found that there was enough staff at the level of panchayat unions and village panchayats to look after the work presently being handles by these workers. Similar orders were passed by the AIAIDMK regime in 1991 and 2001 to undo the appointment of these workers made earlier by the DMK government. In the past, the government had appointed two workers – a man and a woman – for each village to look after development work, adult education programmes and to safeguard

village assets. Subsequently, it was decided to have only one worker per panchayat. There are a little over 125000 village panchayats in the State. They are appointed for two-year tenures at a time. The government was paying them a monthly honorarium of Rs. 5000. WORKERS SUFFERS AS DMK & AIADMK FIGHT 02.07.1990 25000 welfare workers appointed (DMK Government) (Rs. 200/month) 13.07.1991 AIADMK government dismisses all of them suddenly 15.09.1996 DMK reinstates the sacked workers at Rs. 500/month 31.05.2001 AIADMK government sacks them again 27.06.2006 DMK restores the workers at RS. 1000/month 08.11.2011 AIADMK government dismisses all 12000


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Supreme Court unhappy over sacking of welfare workers The Supreme Court expressed its displeasure at the Tamil Nadu government’s decision to sack 15000 Makkal Nala Paniyalargal (MNPs), observing that there should be ‘some rule of law’ in the State. Diabetes day November 14 will be no more Children’s Day. It will be the Diabetes Day only hereafter. India, with the largest number of Diabetes patients in the world needs

several ‘sincere’ steps to be taken. The SITE (Screening India’s Twin Epidemic) study was conducted in 8 States – Tamil Nadu Karnataka Andhra Pradesh Maharashtra New Delhi West Bengal Gujarat Madhya Pradesh

In Tamil Nadu, close to 2000 patients from Chennai, Madurai and Coimbatore were studied. Diabetologists once again

emphasise the concept of bringing in lifestyle modifications to prevent non-communicable diseases and/or complications. Studies in the US and Finland have shown that with lifestyle moderations, about 58% of persons with pre-diabetes stop their progression into diabetes. The Indian equivalent is about 30%. MRTS to Adambakkam likely by mid-2012 The MRTS (Mass Rapid Transit System) services are likely to be extended to Adambakkam by mid-2012. This emerged following a high-level coordination committee meeting.


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State may have to rely on imported coal for new projects The Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO) is mulling over the option of using imported coal alone for five of its upcoming thermal projects. The power utility has been compelled to study the option as Coal India, the major supplier to the TANGEDCO, has pleaded helplessness in providing coal linkage to new projects in view of ‘acute shortage’. Environmental clearance, the most important approval for a power project, will be given by the Union government normally after coal linkage is firmed up. The five projects are awaiting other clearances at various levels are,

Ennore Thermal Power Station (ETPS) Annexe (600 MW) North Chennai Thermal Power Station (NCTPS) Stage 4 (2 units of 800 MW each) NCTPS Stage 3 (800 MW) Tuticorin Thermal Power Station (800 MW) Uppur Thermal Power Project (2 units of 800 MW each)

The combined installed capacity of the five projects is 5400 MW. In fact, ETPS Annexe (600 MW) has received environmental clearance after Mahanadi Coalfields, subsidiary of Coal India, agreed to supply coal. But now, the coal company is dragging its feet, forcing the TANGEDCO to seek its imported coal. CM asks police to strengthen intelligence network Delivering the inaugural address at the conference of Collectors and Police officers, Chief Minister, Ms. J. Jayalalithaa said the police intelligence network in the

State should be strengthened to keep a constant vigil on extremism and fundamentalism. She said that while enforcing the law, one should not underestimate even small incidents, as such incidents may have the potential to create communal or caste disturbances. Ms. Jayalalithaa said top priority would be given to periodical training of police personnel and equipping them with sophisticated arms, communication and logistic equipment for quick and accurate

response. She said the corruption was the biggest hindrance to achieving the goal of good governance, as district heads, Collectors had the onerous task of cleaning up the system and improving the service delivery. They have to live up to the expectations of the people as their efficiency or lack of it reflected on the government. She said that her government was resolved and committed to giving a clean, transparent, efficient and responsive administration. Government to accord highest priority to agriculture: Speaking at the conference, Chief Minister said that despite the implementation of several programmes and spending


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crores of rupees on the agriculture sector, the income level of farmers has not registered any perceptible improvement. The GDP contribution of the agriculture sector is still low, compared to the percentage of population depending on agriculture. She said that the focus must be on improving productivity by adopting scientific agronomic practices, popularising better water use, farm mechanization and strengthening the post-harvest infrastructure and agro-based industries. Stating that these initiatives would certainly ensure a second green revolution, she asked the Collectors to play a pivotal role by working closely with the farmers and ensure the government’s goal of tripling their income in five years. Agriculture, local body administration, health, education and minority backward classes would continue to be the prime focus of the State government. Ms. Jayalalithaa said her government had formulated several innovative schemes to reduce dropout rates among school students even at the higher secondary level. The government supplied educational aids and laptop computers so that rural and poorer urban children were not deprived of the facilities that were available to well off children. On the health sector, she said universal healthcare was possible only if the district administration was responsive and ensured the delivery of services effectively and added that a new health insurance scheme would be launched soon. Chennai to get integrated traffic management system Chief Minister, Ms. J. Jayalalithaa said that an integrated traffic management system for Chennai will be introduced under the BOT (build, operate and transfer) mode and under the PPP (public-private partnership) annuity model. This is to upgrade the traffic management in the city to international standards. 3 platoons for Ariyalur: The Ariyalur district did not have an Armed Reserve of its own and had to depend on Perambalur District Armed Reserve for its requirements. Three platoons would be sanctioned for Ariyalur, apart from diverting one platoon from Perambalur. Totally, Ariyalur would have four platoons for Armed Reserve. Rs. 47.49 cr for police modernisation Chief Minister Ms. Jayalalithaa ordered the release of Rs. 47.49 crore for the modernisation of police, including construction of new buildings for police stations and residential flats for police personnel, purchase of vehicles, modern equipment, communication facilities and forensic equipment.


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Best collectors and police officers awards Chief Minister, Ms. J. Jayalalithaa distributed awards to best performing Collectors and police officers. The award was given to District collectors for best disposal of petitions referred by Chief Minister’s Special Cell for 2011.

I place Ms. Jayashree Muralidharan, Dt. Collector, Tiruchi II place Mr. Darez Ahamed Dt. Collector, Perambalur III place Mr. C. Munianathan Dt. Collector, Tiruvarur &

Mr. U. Sagayam Dt. Collector, Madurai In respect of police officers, the award had been given to,

Mr. P. Kannappan, Police Commissioner, Madurai

Mr. M. Annadurai, Superintendent of Police, Tiruvarur

The award for best Collector in eradication of child labour 2009 had gone to Mr. K. Maharabhushana, Dt. Collector, Salem. The award for services to differently abled persons was presented to,

I place Mr. A.C. Mohandoss, former Vellore Collector (2003)

II place Mr. R. Venkatesan, former Kancheepuram Collector (2004)

III place Mr. Gopalakrishnanan, former Vellore Collector (2006) and Mr. M.

Vallalar, former Dindigul Collector (2011) Various announcements by CM in IAS/IPS Conference Chief Minister, Ms. J. Jayalalithaa made several announcements at the Collectors’ conference in Chennai. The announcements were based on requests of the Collectors which were all agreed to in principle. Secretaries concerned, the Chief Minister said in her concluding address at the Collectors’ Conference, would ensure that the orders were issued quickly. The number of her announcements was 43.

Establishment of an institute of fisheries technology in Tiruvallur district Declaration of Chitra Pournami as a religious festival in Tiruvanamalai

district Provision of solar energy system in new government hospitals Fishermen in Ramanathapuram district would be permitted to go for multi-

day fishing in deep seas against the present arrangement of permitting only single-day fishing. The token system would be adopted in this regard.


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When fishermen were reported missing in the high seas, helicopters would be hired on need basis for effective search and rescue operations

Sophisticated high-speed boats would be provided to coastal security and marine police for search and rescue

To enable the removal of silt from channels in the Cauvery basin area before the release of water from the Mettur dam in June, administrative sanction would be given in January every year instead of May as done now. All maintenance works of tanks and channels would be taken up in January immediately after the dam was closed for irrigation. Integrated operations of silt removal and hyacinth would be carried out in Tiruvarur district.

Action would be taken to include small onions in the National Horticulture Mission.

For helping horticulture farmers of Krishnagiri, Aavin would examine the option of purchasing excess mangoes and processing them as mango milk shake and supplying them to noon meal centres.

SMS- based attendance system would be introduced for school teachers all over the State.

The post of PA to Collector (legal matters) would be create din all districts. Laptops with printers would be supplied to all village administrative officers. The Tourism Department would develop Vathal Hills as a tourism spot, for

which a 12-km-long link road would be laid under the scheme of Tamil Nadu Village Habitation Improvement (THAI)

The formation of an anti-naxalite wing in Theni Revenue staff tops the list of corruption cases The Revenue Department has topped in the number of corruption cases booked by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption in the last two years. This pertains to traps laid by the police relying on complaints from the public against government employees demanding bribe. Of the total 319 trap cases registered by the agency between April 2010 and October 2011, Revenue Department officials were involved in 69.

69

29 28

193

0

50

100

150

200

Revenue TNEB Police Others

No of cases


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Children in TN can now claim right to education The State government has finally notified the rules under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009. While the notification was published in the Government gazette dated November 12, 2011 the rules were displayed in the government website. With this, the State has taken an important milestone in ensuring education for all children between 6 and 14 years of age. Education activists and civil society were worried about the long delay in notifying the rules and this announcement was a cause for celebration as key provisions of the land mark legislation can now be implemented.

There was some disappointment , however that he rules for not specify the manner in which schools ought to select students from the disadvantaged groups and weaker sections in their neighbourhood, to the extent of 25% of the strength of their Class I or pre-school, as required under Section 12 of the Act. At least 20 States have already notified their draft rules, including Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Delhi. The notification of the rules would mean that there would be more control over private schools. Selection of 3 Information Commissioners quashed The Madras High Court upheld the appointment of Mr. K.S. Sripathi as the State Chief Information Commissioner (CIC), but quashed the appointments of three Information Commissioners. Chief Justice M.Y. Eqbal and Justice T.S. Sivagnanam said the process of appointment of Mr. Sripathi adopted by the selection committee was transparent and was in accordance with the Section 15 (3) of the RTI Act. The Bench said unless it was found that the act by the earlier government was either contrary to the constitutional provisions or unreasonable or against public interest, the State should not change its stand merely because another political party had come to power.


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Expanded Chennai Corporation to be divided into 3 regions The expanded Chennai Corporation will be divided into three regions – North, South and Central. The government has given an in-principle approval to divide the city covering 426 sq km into three regions. Each of the three regions would be headed by an IAS officer with executive and financial powers. Files pertaining to regular maintenance works would be approved by the officials at the regional level of the corporation. The Corporation Commissioner would be in charge of all three regions with headquarters at the Ripon Buildings. There would be Assistant Commissioners to carry out routine civic jobs at the zonal level.

Corporation Zone Region Area Population Tiruvottiyur Manali Madhavaram Tondiarpet Royapuram

North Chennai 142.07 sq. km 16.5 lakh

Thiru-Vi-Ka Nagar Ambattur Anna Nagar Teynampet Kodambakkam

Central Chennai 128.31 sq. km 29.31 lakh

Valasaravakkam Alandur Adyar Perungudi Solinganallur

South Chennai 158.84 sq. km 10.8 lakh

Coast Guard’s “no fishing zone suggestion outrageous: Jayalalithaa Chief Minister Ms. Jayalalithaa termed ‘illogical, preposterous and absolutely outrageous’, the Indian Coast Guard’s suggestion that Tamil Nadu proclaim a ‘no fishing zone’ within five nautical miles of the Indo-Sri Lankan International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and impose strict punitive measures on defaulters. Expressing ‘total disagreement’, Ms. Jayalalithaa urged Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to instruct the authorities concerned to rectify the stand before the court at the earliest before irredeemable damage is done. Political parties in the State DMK, PMK and MDMK also strongly condemn the Coast Guard’s actions.


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Metro train in Chennai Deadlines Work December, 2011 11 Tunnel Boring Machines are being shipped from China to Chennai

Port for carrying out underground station work January, 2012 Tunneling expected to start for the 14.25 km long underground section March, 2012 Track laying will begin on elevated corridors December, 2012 Air-conditioned Metro rakes would arrive from France. Trials would

commence on an 800-metre test track inside the upcoming depot at Koyambedu

November 2013 The 10.7 km elevated stretch from Koyambedu to St. Thomas Mount will be commissioned

December 2014 Trains would start shuttling through the 10 km elevated segment of Corridor-I from Saidapet to Airport

December 2015 The entire 45-km Metro network, comprising to corridors, would become operational

A single six coach metro train is expected to remove 16 buses or 300 cars or 600 two-wheelers form the road during the peak hours. Chennai’s future as a sustainable urban area looks bleak unless some major interventions are made on the urban planning front. Munificent monsoon for the eighth year in row Chennai has already received 170 cm rainfall this year, which is 30 cm more than the annual average.


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Rs. 150 cr sanctioned for repair of roads Chief Minister, Ms. Jayalalithaa announced an immediate allocation of Rs. 150 crore has been sanctioned towards repairs of roads in the State. She conducted an aerial survey of the flood-hit areas in Chennai and neighbouring areas. After the visit, she held a detailed review meeting with senior officials. Also, the officials were directed to discuss with concerned District Collectors to assess the extent of crop damage.

New building complex Chief Minister Ms. Jayalalithaa inaugurated the Rs. 7.50 crore new building complex of Tamil Nadu Medical Council at Arumbakkam through video conferencing from the Secretariat. Jobs for firing victims’ family members Chief Minister, Ms. Jayalalithaa has ordered the appointment of one member each from the families of six persons, who were killed in the Paramakudi firing in September 2011, on compassionate grounds. Chief Minister also directed the authorities to release Rs. 4 lakh more to each of the families of the deceased. (This was apart from the payment of Rs. 1 lakh). Those injured in the incident would get another Rs. 15000 each. The announcements were based on the findings of the interim report submitted by the one-member Commission of Inquiry, headed by K. Sampath, former High Court Judge.

Documents

Commercial establishments in T.Nagar sealedsen-currentaffairs.weebly.com/uploads/1/3/4/5/13450496/tamil_nadu... · Mullaperiyar dam, comprising the main dam and baby dam. In May 1882,