QChennai: Alagiri-Stalin War Begins; TN Moves SC Against Sterlite
Here is your roundup of the top stories from Chennai.
1. ‘Kalaignar’s Loyalists Are With Me’: Alagiri Betrays Cracks in DMK
Karunanidhi's son, MK Alagiri, was ousted from the party and from the post of Minister of Chemicals and Fertilisers by Karunanidhi himself, in 2013. The prodigal son is back to reclaim what he has always felt was his political right. The political rivalry between MK Stalin and MK Alagiri stems from their individual differences as well as party cadres loyal to the respective leaders. Truth be told, the Alagiri faction with the DMK has always existed.
While Alagiri was paying respects at Karunanidhi’s grave, he said, "All of Kalaignar’s “true” loyalists and supporters are by my side, supporting me. Therefore, all I want to say is that time will tell the reasons for this."
Read the full story here.
2. Tamil Nadu Government Moves Supreme Court Against National Green Tribunal's Relief to Sterlite
The Tamil Nadu government on Monday moved the Supreme Court, challenging the National Green Tribunal (NGT) order that provided an interim relief to mining major Vedanta Ltd, allowing administrative access to its Sterlite copper smelter plant in Thoothukudi. Last week, the principal bench of NGT granted administrative access, observing that no environmental damage would be caused by allowing access to this section.
The state government’s plea is likely to come up for hearing later this week. The government’s stand is that Vedanta’s plea is not maintainable as it was created under a statute, which does not give the jurisdiction to entertain the case.
(Source: The New Indian Express)
3. PVR Acquires Sathyam: Will the Popcorn Stay, and Other Questions Answered
On Sunday, Chennaiites woke up to the news that Sathyam Cinemas, south India’s largest cinema chain, was being acquired by PVR Ltd for Rs 850 crore. The deal has evoked mixed reactions from cine-goers across the city. Among other concerns, they wanted the cold coffee and popcorn to be retained without any changes.
The food and the popcorn at SPI will remain, said Nitin Soon, CFO of PVR Ltd. SPI Diners, which is not part of the merger with PVR, includes their popular brand ID, a contemporary south Indian vegetarian brand. It will also include their new project, ‘Open Kitchen-’ a cloud kitchen launched a month ago with Envy, a non-vegetarian equivalent to ID. SPI’s owners, Kiran Reddy and Swaroop Reddy, will continue to run the show.
(Source: The Hindu)
4. Relief Pours in From Chennai for Kerala
To aid Kerala in battling one of the worst floods it has witnessed in nearly a century, Chennaiites have stepped up in large numbers to mobilise relief material to help flood-affected victims in the neighbouring state. “When half of Chennai city was submerged in water in 2015, we received nearly nine tonnes of relief material from Kerala. Now, it is our turn to reciprocate,” said Vikaash Srivatsav, managing trustee of Path, a city-based NGO that has set up collection points in different places.
“Right from the beginning, materials have been pouring in. From homemakers to businessmen, everybody made it a point to donate something. The first consignment including medicines, baby food, sanitary items, water bottles (1,100 kg) and ready-to-eat food was sent on Sunday night,” he added.
(Source: The New Indian Express)
5. Contractor Murdered Outside Ennore Thermal Power Station
In broad daylight, an eight-member gang hacked to death a manpower agent in his car outside the Ennore Thermal Power Station on Monday morning. According to the police, James, 38, a resident of Burma Nagar, Ennore, provided contract workers to various factories and the thermal power plant. Every day, he used to visit the places where his men worked.
On Monday morning, he came to the Ennore thermal power plant stage 1 around 10.45 am. “There were eight men waiting for him in a car. When they spotted his car, they intercepted it and hacked him to death using sharp weapons,” said a police officer.
(Source: The Hindu)
6. Linking Aadhaar with E-Mail Is Dangerous: High Court
Two judges of the Madras High Court on Monday termed as “a very dangerous relief” a plea by a public interest litigant to link either Aadhaar card details or any other government identity proof with the e-mail as well as social media accounts of individuals to keep a tab on fake accounts used to abuse others and indulge in cyber crimes.
The judges doubted whether such a relief could be granted since it would amount to making public personal details such as Aadhaar number. They adjourned the hearing on the PIL petition filed by Antony Clement Rubin to August 20 in order to enable the cyber crime officials to throw light on procedures followed by them to track down individuals using fake accounts to indulge in criminal activities.
(Source: The Hindu)
7. Metro Rail Phase II to Be Extended till Poonamallee
The Chennai Metro Rail plans to extend one of its corridors in the phase II project – from Valasarawakkam to Poonamallee – that will cover a distance of nearly 13 km with 10 stations. This extension from Valasarawakkam to Poonamallee will benefit thousands of people living in the western part of the city.
The areas which will get stations (in this extension) include Karambakkam, Porur Junction, Sri Ramachandra Hospital, Iyyapanthangal Bus Depot, Kaatupakkam, Kumananchavadi, Karayanchavadi, Mullai Thottam, Poonamallee Bus Terminus and Poonamalle Bypass, officials said. This extension will cost nearly Rs 3,850 crore.
(Source: The Hindu)
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