Today’s Chennai News: Jactto-Geo Threatens Strike; Work on 650 Roads Delayed

1. Jactto-Geo Threatens to Strike from 4 DecemberTamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami has appealed to members of the Joint Action Council of Tamil Nadu Teachers’ Organisations and Government Employees Organisations (Jactto-Geo) – the federation of state government employees with over 80 percent staff – to drop their stir as it would hamper relief works in cyclone Gaja-hit districts, even as the members expressed their resolve to go ahead with the indefinite strike from 4 December, Tuesday.A day after the talks with the state government ended in impasse, the chief minister said, “I appeal to the government employees not to go on strike, but continue to work for the people and extend full cooperation to expeditiously complete relief work without any slackness.”He also assured to consider their demands which have scope to be met with, would be fulfilled.The Jactto-Geo is a 11-lakh member strong confederation of 165 government employee associations across Tamil Nadu, which has been staging several protests to press its demands for quite some time now.(Source: Deccan Chronicle)2. Fire Breaks Out in Anna Nagar West High-Rise ApartmentA major fire broke out on the 18th floor of a high-rise residential apartment block in Anna Nagar West during the early hours of Saturday, 1 December.The Fire Service personnel rescued 13 people trapped in one of the building’s upper floors.A few residents and passers-by noticed thick smoke billowing from ‘B’ block of Newry Park Towers, near the Padi flyover. Soon after, residents began evacuating the building. While a majority managed to leave, a few were trapped on the 18th floor of the 20-storeyed building.(Source: The Hindu)3. TN Sets Up Animal Welfare Board, Leaves Out Activists Working for Animal WelfareKeeping up with the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, the Tamil Nadu government has finally set up the State Animal Welfare Board (AWB).In a Government Order (GO) issued on 28 November, K Gopal, Principal Secretary to Government for the Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries Department, said that Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami would serve as the Chairperson of the General Body.“In view of the above, of the prevailing misinterpretations, violations of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 and the conflicting situation that thus arises between animal activists and general public, it has been proposed to constitute the Tamil Nadu Animal Welfare Board.”Government OrderWith its registered office at the Veterinary Hospital Campus in Nandanam, the functions of the Board would include advising the state government for “strict implementation" of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act in letter and spirit of the law.(Source: The News Minute)TN Sets up Animal Welfare Board But Omits Animal Welfare Activists4. Work on 650 Roads to be DelayedThe Chennai Corporation cancelled tenders for road projects in several areas of the city after contractors failed to submit records pertaining to the bids.Work on at least 650 roads in areas such as Tondiarpet, Royapuram, Ambattur, Valasaravakkam and Alandur will be delayed because of the cancellation.The civic body had finalised tenders, issuing work orders for 1,947 roads in 15 packages for zones such as Tondiarpet and Royapuram in September.Package number 1 covered roads in wards in such as Kodungaiyur, Vyasarpadi, Korukkupet, New Washermenpet and Pudupet. This tender has been cancelled by the Chennai Corporation.(Source: The Hindu)5. Chennai Police Nab Criminal Network, Rs 38 Lakh RecoveredChennai Police have busted a criminal network by apprehending a prime suspect, which helped police to retrieve Rs 35.90 lakh more cash from him and also directed investigation officers to solve another robbery case which was pending since March this year.Police arrested three more suspects and recovered Rs 2.75 lakh stolen cash from them.Police team solved a robbery case reported on 1 November at Seven Wells area by arresting D Satish (23) of Ponneri, R Kishore (24) of Gummidipoondi and H Shaik Dawood (42) of Royapuram on 12 November.The personnel registered a case based on a complaint from Rafeeque Khan, (36) when he was taking a bag containing cash containing the day’s collection in the shop he was working to hand over it over at his owner Naseer’s house at Seven Wells.(Source: The New Indian Express)6. Attempt to Kidnap Chennai Doctor Foiled, One HeldAn attempt by a trio to kidnap a doctor was thwarted by people at a clinic at Saligramam on Friday, 30 November, night. One of the suspects was later caught by the public.Karthikeyan, a paediatrician of Valasaravakkam, has been running a clinic on the second street of State Bank Colony at Saligramam.On Friday night, when he was treating the patients, three men allegedly entered the clinic and tried to kidnap him at knife point.When Karthikeyan raised an alarm, the public rushed to his rescue. On seeing the crowd, the trio tried to escape. However, people caught one of them and handed him over to Virugambakkam police.Police identified him as Loga Brahman (22) of Pudukkottai district.The police said that the preliminary investigation revealed that one of his relatives’ child was treated by Karthikeyan eight months ago for some illness when the latter was working at a different hospital. After the child became critical, the doctor had referred the kid to the Institute of Child Health and Hospital for Children at Egmore, where he died.(Source: The New Indian Express)7. Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case: Kollywood Rallies for Release of ConvictsPopular actor Vijay Sethupathi, director Pa Ranjith and music composer GV Prakash are among the many Kollywood celebrities who have joined the speeding twitter campaign, #28YearsEnoughGovernor, which has raised the decibels in the shrill cries of anguish over the continued incarceration of the seven Rajiv Gandhi assassination case convicts."It is not just a Tamil issue. Request for consideration of human rights. Please have mercy Honorable Governor. Kindly Act NOW Sir", said the tweet from Vijay Sethupathi on #28YearsEnoughGovernor.“Enough is enough… let them live a life… share till it reaches friends”, tweeted GV Prakash, while Pa Ranjith said: “Dear Governor, Incarceration is not the solution. Do what is just!”As the hashtag gathered momentum, several twitterati were seen slamming the CBI's Special Investigation Team, accusing it of carrying out a botched probe to frame innocents while letting go, scot-free, the real culprits in the gruesome belt-bomb assassination of Rajiv Gandhi at his election rally in Sriperambudur on 21 May 1991.(Source: Deccan Chronicle)TN Govt Recommends Release of Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Convicts

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QChennai: Jactto-Geo Threatens Strike; Work on 650 Roads Delayed

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1. Jactto-Geo Threatens to Strike from 4 December

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