QChennai: TN Bus Strike Continues Affecting Commuters & More

Here is your roundup of the top stories from Chennai.

1. Tamil Nadu Bus Strike Continues Despite Madras HC Orders

The Federation of Tamil Nadu State Transport Employees Trade Union (Federation) has decided to continue its strike despite a strict direction by the Madras High Court ordering all the protesting staff to return to work or face action, including termination.

Transport Minister MR Vijayabhaskar on Friday night urged the crew to resume operations as people were put to extreme hardship due to their flash strike. Opposition party DMK has slammed the ruling party AIADMK for being lethargic regarding the bus strike which has resulted in a chaotic situation for the public.

Read the full story here.

2. Sasikala Files Application Before Jaya Probe Panel

VK Sasikala, jailed aide of former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, on Friday, 5 January, filed an application before the Justice Arumughaswamy Commission of Inquiry through her lawyers, requesting copies of the testimonies against her by various witnesses. The commission is probing the late CM’s hospitalisation and death. The Commission had summoned her to depose before it.

Sasikala also sought copies of documents submitted as evidence against her, along with details of the Commission’s witnesses.

(Source: The Hindu)

3. State Seeks Time to Probe Amrutha's Claim

The State government on Friday, 5 January, sought a fortnight’s time from the Madras High Court for conducting a “factual investigation” into a claim made by Bengaluru-based S Amrutha, 37, that she is the biological daughter of former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, who died on 5 December 2016.

In her affidavit, Amrutha claimed that she was born to Jayalalithaa but was brought up as the daughter of the latter’s sister Shyalaja. Stating that the secret was revealed by her father Sarathy only at the time of his death on March 20, she claimed to have visited Jayalalithaa at her Poes Garden residence in June 1996 presuming the former Chief Minister to be her maternal aunt.

(Source: The Hindu)

4. Curbs on Direct Import of Sand

The State Public Works Department (PWD) has been made the sole authority to deal with imported river sand as well as sand brought from other States. It alone shall have the powers of storing and selling such river sand, a Government Order issued said, thereby banning private players from storing or selling imported sand.

Any consignment of sand coming to the State for construction purposes will have to be sold only to the PWD at the rates fixed by the department on a case-to-case basis, according to the government order issued on December 8.

(Source: The Hindu)

5. TN Gets ₹632 Crore as GST Compensation

Tamil Nadu has so far received ₹632 crore as compensation on account of revenue loss following the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), according to data presented on the last day of the Winter Session of the Lok Sabha.

The revenue loss to States due to the implementation of the GST has been estimated at ₹24,500 crore for the period from July to October 2017.

(Source: The Hindu)

6. IIT-Madras Offers Glimpse into Its Research Labs

For the first time, Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M), has opened the doors of its research laboratories to the outside world. More than 10 departments, including mathematics, chemistry, aerospace engineering, applied mechanics and computer science and engineering, pulled up the shutters of their hi-tech laboratories inside the campus and showed the research work that has been happening here over the years.

At the department of computer science and engineering, research students were taking up innovative studies that will help the defence, IT, healthcare and telecommunications sectors.

(Source: The Hindu)

7. Sleek Metro Trains a Possibility in MRTS

In future, Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) trains could transform into the sleek, sophisticated Metro trains with upgraded stations. On Friday, 5 January, PricewaterhouseCoopers, the consultant, submitted the final draft report and suggested a host of recommendations on various issues, including models for diversification and transfer of assets of MRTS, sources said.

The priority will be to bring about this merger without causing any disruption, officials said. “The schedule will remain the same for MRTS and whatever their existing works are, we will take over that as well. This will mean quite a heavy capital investment,” a CMRL official said.

(Source: The Hindu)