1. Cultural Extravaganza in Store for Chinese President at Airport
Ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping's scheduled arrival here on Friday to take part in an informal summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Mamallapuram, the Tamil Nadu government has put together a grand reception for the visiting guests. As per the current plan, Governor Banwarilal Purohit and Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami are likely to receive the Chinese President on his arrival at the Chennai international airport on Friday afternoon. Chinese Ambassador to India Sun Weidong will also be present.
Assembly Speaker P Dhanapal and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam may also be among the dignitaries receiving the guest. Officials have hinted at the possibility of a senior Union Minister being present for the reception.
(Source: The Hindu)
2. Tenders Floated for Phase 1 of Smart Meter Project
TANGEDCO has floated tenders for smart meters in Chennai’s Thyagaraya Nagar at a cost of Rs 120 crore, sources said. "Consumers can choose between prepaid and postpaid connections just like mobile connections. Once the balance gets over, power will be disconnected after a warning message," the official said.
It can be recalled that the Union Minister of State (Independent charge) Raj Kumar Singh had said all meters in the country would be smart meters in a span of three years and instructed discoms in the state. However, according to sources TN is yet to initiate the system.
(Source: The New Indian Express)
3. Woman Held For Killing Stepchild
The Selaiyur police have arrested a 38-year-old woman for killing her six-year-old stepdaughter, by throwing her from the third floor of their apartment complex in Sembakkam. The police have identified the victim as Ragavi, daughter of Parthiban, a resident of Sembakkam, near Tambaram. He was working at a private firm in Thoraipakkam. The girl was born to his first wife and was studying in Class I of a private school in the area.
After his first wife died due to ill-health a few years ago, he married Suryakala. They have a son. According to the police, Suryakala was initially fond of her stepdaughter, but developed a strong aversion for the girl after the birth of her son. The girl was in the care of her grandmother, the police said. But as she had gone out of town, the child was left with Suryakala.
(Source: The Hindu)
4. No Helmet, Tribunal Cuts Compensation by Half
Three years after a 50-year-old businessman was killed in a bus accident, a Motor Accident Claims Tribunal directed the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation to pay a compensation of Rs 9.62 lakh to the family members of the deceased. However, the tribunal also decreased the compensation by 50 percent since the deceased had not worn helmet during the time of the accident.
According to a petition submitted by P Suganthi, her husband V Prakasam, who was earning Rs 6.51 lakh a year, was travelling on the pillion of a motorcycle near Kanathur on 7 September 2016. Then, a TNSTC bus hit the two-wheeler killing Praskasam on the spot. Suganthi sought a compensation of Rs 1.25 crore from the TNSTC.
(Source: The New Indian Express)
5. Medical Waste Adds to Thiruneermalai Lake Woes
Activists are concerned at the gradual deterioration of the Thiruneermalai lake with the constant inflow of sewage and dumping of garbage. The recent dumping and burning of medical waste has only added to their worries. A group of activists was shocked to see a fire near the lake on Tuesday night and on visiting the lake on Wednesday morning, they found burnt medical waste dumped there.
Immediately, residents lodged a complaint with the Chromepet police station. N Maran, a resident of Lakshmipuram, said a large quantity of medical substances including medicines were found dumped in the Thiruneermalai Periya Eri near Durga Nagar. A member of the Veeraraghavan Lake Protection Committee, Maran rued the lack of preventive steps by either officials of the Water Resources Department or the Thiruneermalai Panchayat to stop waste water from the MEPZ flowing into the lake.
(Source: The Hindu)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)