QChennai: Stalin Says Raj Bhavan’s Statement Intimidating & more

QChennai: Chinese City’s mention in Green Corridor Document Was Inadvertent

“Won’t be cowed down,” says Stalin.

(Photo Courtesy: The News Minute)

1. ‘Reference to Chinese City in Green Corridor Document Inadvertent’

Feedback Infra Pvt Ltd., the consultant for the Salem-Chennai green corridor, which found itself at the centre of a controversy after making a reference to the Chinese city of Xi’an in its feasibility report for the multi-crore project, has described the reference as an “inadvertent error”. The firm has said it would address the concerns of all stakeholders of the project.

In a telephonic interview, RS Ramasubramaniam, Co-chairman of Feedback Infra, said, “To be perfectly frank and honest, we were doing some research on what the typical impact of highway projects was, both in India and worldwide. So, that [Chinese] reference had been inadvertently put into this [document].”

(Source: The Hindu)

2. PWD, Civic Body in Blame Game Over Lake Restoration

The Federation of Pallavaram Residents Welfare Association found layer after layer of plastic waste up to a depth of 12 feet.

When residents of Pallavaram decided to restore the 13-hectare Nemilichery lake, little did they know that they would find layer after layer of plastic waste up to a depth of 12 feet.

“We decided to deepen the lake so that it would hold water after the monsoon and recharge groundwater levels,” said S Meenakshi Sundaram, a resident involved in the restoration.

“We had no clue that the plastic waste would have penetrated to such levels,” he said,  explaining how the lake was once a dump site for Pallavaram Municipality. Taking note of the extent of the pollution the dumping has caused, the Public Works  Department (PWD) issued a notice to the Municipality on Wednesday,  ordering it to remove the garbage.

(Source: The New Indian Express)

3. 20% More Students Allowed in Govt Colleges

Representational image of students. 

The Higher Education Department has issued a government order permitting government arts and science colleges to admit more students from this academic year.

The order signed by Higher Education Secretary Sunil Paliwal states that government colleges can admit 20% more students in arts streams. As for science streams, colleges with laboratory facilities could consider admitting up to 20% more students if they wish. The order follows a request from the Director of Collegiate Education, Paliwal said.

(Source: The Hindu)

4. Man Dies in Apartment Fire in Chennai

Workers from the serviced apartment claim the victim’s neighbours alerted them of “smoke smell” at 5.45 am.

A 24-year-old native of Telangana, who recently landed in Chennai from Germany, was charred to death after his third floor serviced apartment room at Saidapet caught fire early Sunday morning.

S Bharathwaj, the victim, lived with his parents in Germany. The purpose of his visit to Chennai is not clear yet.

Fire and rescue services personnel said smoke could be seen from the Saidapet bridge which is two kilometres away from the Mount Kailash apartments, where Bharathwaj was staying.

(Source: The New Indian Express)

5. Solar Pumpsets a Boon for TN Farmers

Farmers are increasingly opting for solar pumpsets.  

In 2006, P Anandan, an agriculturist from Valathur village near Kancheepuram town in Tamil Nadu, applied for an electricity connection under the conventional free power supply scheme. Ten years later, when local officials briefed him about the solar-powered pumpset scheme with 80% subsidy, the farmer had no hesitation in applying, as he had grown tired of the almost interminable wait.

Anandan is happy with the choice he made. “For the last two years, I have been using a solar-powered pumpset of 10 horsepower (HP) capacity without any hitch. It is a boon,” he says.

(Source: The Hindu)

6. ‘Raj Bhavan’s Statement Intimidating’: Stalin

Stalin accuses Governor of attempting to play direct politics; says won’t be cowed down.  

Opposition leader MK Stalin on Sunday condemned the statement issued by the Raj Bhavan warning of legal action against any attempt to lay siege to its campus, calling it an “intimidating” tone.

“The Governor has sought to play direct politics by going beyond and against the Constitution,” Stalin said in a statement, adding that the DMK would not be cowed down by such threats and would continue its fight to protect the State’s autonomy.

Reacting to the Raj Bhavan’s claim that he had used the word “review” [undertaken by the Governor] in an attempt to mislead the people, Stalin questioned as to what would be the meaning of the meeting chaired by the Governor and attended by the district Collector and officials of other departments.

(Source: The Hindu)