News Analysis India

Tag: Tamil Nadu

  • After CAPF exam, TN CM Stalin urges all central govt exams be held in regional languages

    By ANI

    CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has demanded to conduct all central government examinations in regional languages and said that students from all states of the country should get equal opportunities.

    The Chief Minister also welcomed the Centre’s decision taken in April this year to conduct the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) exams in 13 regional languages besides Hindi and English.

    “We have to raise our voice demanding to conduct all Central Government exams in all regional languages,” Stalin said on Monday in a video series ‘Ungalin Oruvan’ in which Tamil Nadu Chief Minister answered questions relating to various political developments in the state.

    “It should happen soon. It is a long pending demand of DMK in Parliament, State Legislative and people forum. With this not just the youth of Tamil Nadu but the youth of many other Indian States can write the exams in their respective languages. Opportunities should not be reduced to one’s fluency in Hindi and English alone,” he added.

    The Chief Minister said that their demand bore a positive result when the Centre decided to conduct the CAPF exams in 13 regional languages and said that there is a need to conduct all central exams in the respective languages of the aspirants.

    “India is a Union of States. So youth from all States should get equal opportunities. As a first, we have had a positive result to our demand. Let’s raise our voices to conduct all Central Government exams in all regional languages. We will win this”, he said. 

    CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has demanded to conduct all central government examinations in regional languages and said that students from all states of the country should get equal opportunities.

    The Chief Minister also welcomed the Centre’s decision taken in April this year to conduct the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) exams in 13 regional languages besides Hindi and English.

    “We have to raise our voice demanding to conduct all Central Government exams in all regional languages,” Stalin said on Monday in a video series ‘Ungalin Oruvan’ in which Tamil Nadu Chief Minister answered questions relating to various political developments in the state.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “It should happen soon. It is a long pending demand of DMK in Parliament, State Legislative and people forum. With this not just the youth of Tamil Nadu but the youth of many other Indian States can write the exams in their respective languages. Opportunities should not be reduced to one’s fluency in Hindi and English alone,” he added.

    The Chief Minister said that their demand bore a positive result when the Centre decided to conduct the CAPF exams in 13 regional languages and said that there is a need to conduct all central exams in the respective languages of the aspirants.

    “India is a Union of States. So youth from all States should get equal opportunities. As a first, we have had a positive result to our demand. Let’s raise our voices to conduct all Central Government exams in all regional languages. We will win this”, he said. 

  • Bihar youth arrested for spreading rumours about migrant’s death in Tamil Nadu

    By Express News Service

    PATNA: A youth was arrested from Bihar’s Gopalganj district on Friday allegedly for spreading rumours about the death of a migrant worker in Tamil Nadu.

    The accused Umesh Mahto was arrested after he uploaded a fake video on social media about the death of a worker Ravindra Mahto in the southern state.

    Gopalganj superintendent of police (SP) Swarna Prabhat said the accused confessed to the crime and said that he had circulated a fake video about the alleged murder of Ravindra Mahto in Tamil Nadu. Ravindra was a resident of Madhopur village in the Gopalganj district.

    According to police, Ravindra Mahto died after being run over by a train near Bengaluru in Karnataka on March 7. Police had received a tip-off about Ravindra Mahto’s body lying on the track between Chansandra and Yalhanka railway stations in Karnataka. The deceased’s relatives told police that Ravindra had gone to Karnataka in search of a job early this year.

    As migrant workers were agitated over reports of thrashing of their colleagues in Tamil Nadu, the incident gained alarming proportions. Migrant workers from Bihar’s Gopalganj and Siwan districts started protests over the incident.

    SP Prabhat said that Ravindra Mahto’s family was shocked over his murder and demanded a fair investigation. “We contacted our counterparts in Karnataka who revealed that Ravindra died after being hit by a train. It has nothing to do with the incident in Tamil Nadu,” he added. 

    “We registered a case against Umesh Mahto under relevant sections of the IPC and IT Act and arrested him,” SP Prabhat said.

    ALSO READ | BJP spread rumours about attacks on Bihari migrants in Tamil Nadu: JD(U)

    Earlier, another youth identified as Aman Kumar was arrested from Jamui on the charges of spreading rumours about the thrashing of Bihar’s migrant workers in Tamil Nadu. He was arrested by the anti-terrorism squad of state police on March 7.

    Meanwhile, additional director general of police (ADGP) J S Gangwar said that four FIRs have been lodged against people for spreading rumours and uploading fake videos related to the Tamil Nadu incident on social media platforms.

    In a related development, a four-member team of officials, who had gone to Tamil Nadu to assess the situation, returned to Patna on Friday. Talking to media persons, one of the members of the team D. Balaji Murugan said that situation in Tamil Nadu was quite normal. “All the videos circulated on social media were fake. The fact came to light after holding several rounds of discussions with officials of the Tamil Nadu government and also migrant workers from Bihar,” he added.

    The government has already set up a helpline to provide information related to migrant workers staying in the southern state. On March 4, altogether 740 calls were received at the helpline number released by the government.

    The members of the visiting team also submitted a report to chief minister Nitish Kumar, who had earlier ordered an inquiry into the matter at the request of a delegation of BJP leaders. The government has already made it clear that stern action will be initiated against offenders.

    PATNA: A youth was arrested from Bihar’s Gopalganj district on Friday allegedly for spreading rumours about the death of a migrant worker in Tamil Nadu.

    The accused Umesh Mahto was arrested after he uploaded a fake video on social media about the death of a worker Ravindra Mahto in the southern state.

    Gopalganj superintendent of police (SP) Swarna Prabhat said the accused confessed to the crime and said that he had circulated a fake video about the alleged murder of Ravindra Mahto in Tamil Nadu. Ravindra was a resident of Madhopur village in the Gopalganj district.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    According to police, Ravindra Mahto died after being run over by a train near Bengaluru in Karnataka on March 7. Police had received a tip-off about Ravindra Mahto’s body lying on the track between Chansandra and Yalhanka railway stations in Karnataka. The deceased’s relatives told police that Ravindra had gone to Karnataka in search of a job early this year.

    As migrant workers were agitated over reports of thrashing of their colleagues in Tamil Nadu, the incident gained alarming proportions. Migrant workers from Bihar’s Gopalganj and Siwan districts started protests over the incident.

    SP Prabhat said that Ravindra Mahto’s family was shocked over his murder and demanded a fair investigation. “We contacted our counterparts in Karnataka who revealed that Ravindra died after being hit by a train. It has nothing to do with the incident in Tamil Nadu,” he added. 

    “We registered a case against Umesh Mahto under relevant sections of the IPC and IT Act and arrested him,” SP Prabhat said.

    ALSO READ | BJP spread rumours about attacks on Bihari migrants in Tamil Nadu: JD(U)

    Earlier, another youth identified as Aman Kumar was arrested from Jamui on the charges of spreading rumours about the thrashing of Bihar’s migrant workers in Tamil Nadu. He was arrested by the anti-terrorism squad of state police on March 7.

    Meanwhile, additional director general of police (ADGP) J S Gangwar said that four FIRs have been lodged against people for spreading rumours and uploading fake videos related to the Tamil Nadu incident on social media platforms.

    In a related development, a four-member team of officials, who had gone to Tamil Nadu to assess the situation, returned to Patna on Friday. Talking to media persons, one of the members of the team D. Balaji Murugan said that situation in Tamil Nadu was quite normal. “All the videos circulated on social media were fake. The fact came to light after holding several rounds of discussions with officials of the Tamil Nadu government and also migrant workers from Bihar,” he added.

    The government has already set up a helpline to provide information related to migrant workers staying in the southern state. On March 4, altogether 740 calls were received at the helpline number released by the government.

    The members of the visiting team also submitted a report to chief minister Nitish Kumar, who had earlier ordered an inquiry into the matter at the request of a delegation of BJP leaders. The government has already made it clear that stern action will be initiated against offenders.

  • BJP spread rumours about attacks on Bihari migrants in Tamil Nadu: JD(U)

    By PTI

    PATNA: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) on Thursday charged the BJP with spreading “rumours” of attacks on migrant workers in Tamil Nadu with an eye on “electoral gains.”

    JD(U) national president Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan also said that though his party did not favour criticising the country on foreign soil, it felt that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was well within his rights to express his anxieties about “threats to democracy in India” during his Cambridge tour.

    “It has turned out that nothing had happened in Tamil Nadu. And just look at the people who have been booked and arrested for spreading rumours,” said the JD(U) chief, referring to cases being lodged against a number of BJP leaders by the DMK government in the southern state.

    “So, this is the character of the BJP. Rumour-mongering, and coercion of parties opposed to it, all for electoral gains. But it is making a mistake. People of the country are now conscious enough to see through their designs,” said the JD(U) president, whose party snapped ties with the saffron party less than a year ago.

    ALSO READ | Bihar officials satisfied with migrants’ safety in Tamil Nadu

    Asked about the controversy triggered by Rahul Gandhi’s remarks abroad, Lalan, whose party is now aligned with the Congress, said “we believe the problems in the country are best discussed on the home soil, which offers a very large stage. We do not think one’s own country should be criticised on foreign soil,” said the JD(U) national president, however, hastened to add “we also hold that Rahul Gandhi is well within his rights to express his anxieties about the threats to democracy in India. And the threats are, indeed, real. This is a fact borne out by the Supreme Court’s recent judgement on the appointment of Election Commissioners.”

    He also sought to make light of speculations that Chirag Paswan, a known detractor of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, and Upendra Kushwaha, who recently rebelled against the JD(U) supreme leader and quit the party, were likely to join the BJP-led NDA.

    “Just recall the 2015 assembly polls when these people were very much with the BJP. They performed dismally,” Lalan said referring to the high-decibel elections which saw the NDA being trounced by the ‘Mahagathbandhan'(Grand Alliance) that had come into being with Nitish Kumar, RJD chief Lalu Prasad and the Congress joining hands.

    He also said that the BJP’s ‘jod tod’ (attempts to split other parties) was at work in Nagaland where the lone JD(U) MLA ended up offering support to the newly formed government of which the saffron party was a part.

    “Since we hold that we can have no relationship with the BJP, we held the Nagaland unit guilty of gross indiscipline and decided to dissolve it. The BJP had earlier broken away our MLAs in Arunachal, too. In Bihar, they wanted to do to us what they had succeeded in doing in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. But we got wind of their plans in time”, alleged Lalan, referring to last year’s upheaval.

    “The BJP has no scruples. Its sole concern is power. Just look at Meghalaya where they had been accusing the government of being the most corrupt. Now the same dispensation has returned to power and the BJP’s top leaders flew down to attend the oath-taking ceremony,” said the JD(U) chief.

    “The BJP has had no achievement to showcase despite having been in power at the Centre for so many years. Everywhere it keeps talking about the Ujjwala Yojana, which has been a failure as expensive gas cylinders make it impossible for beneficiaries to go in for a refill. Another scheme they rave about is the Ayushman Bharat. They should release data of how many people have benefited from the promise of Rs five lakh health insurance cover,” demanded the JD(U) president.

    The BJP is also trying to shy away from the demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee to look into allegations against the Adani group which is being accused of the biggest corporate fraud in history, the JD(U) chief said.

    “On the other hand, it keeps harassing its opponents through vindictive use of agencies like CBI, ED and Income Tax department,” he alleged.

    PATNA: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) on Thursday charged the BJP with spreading “rumours” of attacks on migrant workers in Tamil Nadu with an eye on “electoral gains.”

    JD(U) national president Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan also said that though his party did not favour criticising the country on foreign soil, it felt that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was well within his rights to express his anxieties about “threats to democracy in India” during his Cambridge tour.

    “It has turned out that nothing had happened in Tamil Nadu. And just look at the people who have been booked and arrested for spreading rumours,” said the JD(U) chief, referring to cases being lodged against a number of BJP leaders by the DMK government in the southern state.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “So, this is the character of the BJP. Rumour-mongering, and coercion of parties opposed to it, all for electoral gains. But it is making a mistake. People of the country are now conscious enough to see through their designs,” said the JD(U) president, whose party snapped ties with the saffron party less than a year ago.

    ALSO READ | Bihar officials satisfied with migrants’ safety in Tamil Nadu

    Asked about the controversy triggered by Rahul Gandhi’s remarks abroad, Lalan, whose party is now aligned with the Congress, said “we believe the problems in the country are best discussed on the home soil, which offers a very large stage. We do not think one’s own country should be criticised on foreign soil,” said the JD(U) national president, however, hastened to add “we also hold that Rahul Gandhi is well within his rights to express his anxieties about the threats to democracy in India. And the threats are, indeed, real. This is a fact borne out by the Supreme Court’s recent judgement on the appointment of Election Commissioners.”

    He also sought to make light of speculations that Chirag Paswan, a known detractor of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, and Upendra Kushwaha, who recently rebelled against the JD(U) supreme leader and quit the party, were likely to join the BJP-led NDA.

    “Just recall the 2015 assembly polls when these people were very much with the BJP. They performed dismally,” Lalan said referring to the high-decibel elections which saw the NDA being trounced by the ‘Mahagathbandhan'(Grand Alliance) that had come into being with Nitish Kumar, RJD chief Lalu Prasad and the Congress joining hands.

    He also said that the BJP’s ‘jod tod’ (attempts to split other parties) was at work in Nagaland where the lone JD(U) MLA ended up offering support to the newly formed government of which the saffron party was a part.

    “Since we hold that we can have no relationship with the BJP, we held the Nagaland unit guilty of gross indiscipline and decided to dissolve it. The BJP had earlier broken away our MLAs in Arunachal, too. In Bihar, they wanted to do to us what they had succeeded in doing in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. But we got wind of their plans in time”, alleged Lalan, referring to last year’s upheaval.

    “The BJP has no scruples. Its sole concern is power. Just look at Meghalaya where they had been accusing the government of being the most corrupt. Now the same dispensation has returned to power and the BJP’s top leaders flew down to attend the oath-taking ceremony,” said the JD(U) chief.

    “The BJP has had no achievement to showcase despite having been in power at the Centre for so many years. Everywhere it keeps talking about the Ujjwala Yojana, which has been a failure as expensive gas cylinders make it impossible for beneficiaries to go in for a refill. Another scheme they rave about is the Ayushman Bharat. They should release data of how many people have benefited from the promise of Rs five lakh health insurance cover,” demanded the JD(U) president.

    The BJP is also trying to shy away from the demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee to look into allegations against the Adani group which is being accused of the biggest corporate fraud in history, the JD(U) chief said.

    “On the other hand, it keeps harassing its opponents through vindictive use of agencies like CBI, ED and Income Tax department,” he alleged.

  • Bihar’s special team to Tamil Nadu for assisting willing migrants to return

    Express News Service

    PATNA:  A four-member special team is leaving for Tamil Nadu today to assist those migrant workers hailing from Bihar who wanted to return to their native places in the wake of an alleged attack on them. The team has been constituted on the directive of chief minister Nitish Kumar.

    The team consisting of Alok Kumar, labour department’s secretary, E.L.S.N. Bala Prasad, secretary of the rural development department, P Kannan, DIG, CID, will visit trouble-affected areas of DMK-ruled state and meet the migrant workers. Both Bala Prasad and Kannan are stated to be natives of Tamil Nadu.

    On Friday, chief minister Nitish Kumar gave a direction to send a special team to Tamil Nadu after a delegation of BJP under the stewardship of the leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly Vijay Kumar Sinha called on him, seeking the CM’s intervention in view of alleged attacks on migrant workers hailing from Bihar in Tamil Nadu.

    Nitish directed state chief secretary Amir Subhani and director general of police Rajvinder Singh Bhatti to send a special team to Tamil Nadu for helping migrant workers, willing to return to the state and ascertain the truth behind the alleged attack.

    Meanwhile, deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav said that the opposition was perturbed over two viral videos showing the assault on some people over the last two days. He said that the chief minister by taking cognisance of the matter asked senior officers to talk to their counterparts in Tamil Nadu.

    ALSO READ| Bihar to send team to probe ‘attack’ rumours; TN says migrants safe here

    On it, Tamil Nadu’s DGP C Sylendra Babu clearly said viral videos were related to old incidents that took place in Tiruppur and Coimbatore and also stated without any ambiguity that these videos were not related to any clash between locals and migrants. No such clash has taken place and if anybody has such information, he should inform the government, Tejashwi quoted TN DGP as saying.

    Launching a scathing attack on BJP MLAs in the House on the issue, Tejashwi said, “These people have only one work of spreading canard. BJP leaders only do negative politics and claim themselves to be patriots by chanting ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’.

    “Now, they should tell whether Tamil Nadu is not a part of India and if it is, why they are spreading hatred between the people of two states,” he added. 

    “Viral videos are fake and if you do not believe them, you can get it verified by the Union Home Minister,” Tejashwi remarked while sharpening his attack on BJP. On the other hand, the leader of the opposition in Bihar Vijay Kumar Sinha told media persons that migrant workers from the state were scared after the videos had gone viral. He said that migrant workers were returning to their home state even asTamil Nadu DGP was suppressing facts. 

    PATNA:  A four-member special team is leaving for Tamil Nadu today to assist those migrant workers hailing from Bihar who wanted to return to their native places in the wake of an alleged attack on them. The team has been constituted on the directive of chief minister Nitish Kumar.

    The team consisting of Alok Kumar, labour department’s secretary, E.L.S.N. Bala Prasad, secretary of the rural development department, P Kannan, DIG, CID, will visit trouble-affected areas of DMK-ruled state and meet the migrant workers. Both Bala Prasad and Kannan are stated to be natives of Tamil Nadu.

    On Friday, chief minister Nitish Kumar gave a direction to send a special team to Tamil Nadu after a delegation of BJP under the stewardship of the leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly Vijay Kumar Sinha called on him, seeking the CM’s intervention in view of alleged attacks on migrant workers hailing from Bihar in Tamil Nadu.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Nitish directed state chief secretary Amir Subhani and director general of police Rajvinder Singh Bhatti to send a special team to Tamil Nadu for helping migrant workers, willing to return to the state and ascertain the truth behind the alleged attack.

    Meanwhile, deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav said that the opposition was perturbed over two viral videos showing the assault on some people over the last two days. He said that the chief minister by taking cognisance of the matter asked senior officers to talk to their counterparts in Tamil Nadu.

    ALSO READ| Bihar to send team to probe ‘attack’ rumours; TN says migrants safe here

    On it, Tamil Nadu’s DGP C Sylendra Babu clearly said viral videos were related to old incidents that took place in Tiruppur and Coimbatore and also stated without any ambiguity that these videos were not related to any clash between locals and migrants. No such clash has taken place and if anybody has such information, he should inform the government, Tejashwi quoted TN DGP as saying.

    Launching a scathing attack on BJP MLAs in the House on the issue, Tejashwi said, “These people have only one work of spreading canard. BJP leaders only do negative politics and claim themselves to be patriots by chanting ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’.

    “Now, they should tell whether Tamil Nadu is not a part of India and if it is, why they are spreading hatred between the people of two states,” he added. 

    “Viral videos are fake and if you do not believe them, you can get it verified by the Union Home Minister,” Tejashwi remarked while sharpening his attack on BJP. On the other hand, the leader of the opposition in Bihar Vijay Kumar Sinha told media persons that migrant workers from the state were scared after the videos had gone viral. He said that migrant workers were returning to their home state even as
    Tamil Nadu DGP was suppressing facts.
     

  • Trust board with retired Madras HC judges not possible in all temples: TN to SC

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu Govt has informed the Supreme Court that it is impossible to appoint trust board comprising retired judge  for each of the over 38,000 temples managed by HR&CE. The state added that the process of appointment of trustees in temples has commenced for 1,045 temples all over state and will be completed within six months.

    “The trust board is formed to run day-to-day administration of religious institutions and also to implement welfare schemes, renovations and development activities. Fit persons appointed under the Act are functioning,” the affidavit states. 

    The response was filed by HR&CE commissioner, in a plea by Hindu Dharma Parishad seeking appointment of Arangavalar Committee (Trustee Committee) headed by Retired Judge in all Hindu Temples with a social activist, a devotee, a Scheduled Caste person and a woman as its members.The Madras High Court had dismissed Parishad’s writ seeking similar relief. It was argued before the HC that several temples in TN were not maintained well.

    Emphasising on the fact that over 38k temples in the state are administered by individual and separate trust boards, the state told the apex court that it is impossible to appoint a trust board for each temple consisting a retired judge. 

    “Ground raised that ruling political parties are being appointed as trustees are denied. The applications received for appointment of trustees are duly scrutinized and antecedents are verified through the (police) inspector. The persons who are suffering disqualification prescribed under Section 26 of the Act are not considered for appointment,” the affidavit states. 

    While terming the grounds raised in the plea as “baseless” the state has also called as erroneous the conclusion that all temples have properties and ornaments running into lakhs and crores. “Only a very few hundreds of temples alone having hundreds of Acres of lands and few hundreds of buildings. Only a very few temples are having much valued Gold ornaments,” the affidavit states. 

    The affidavit further added that even though the Trust Board is not yet formed, the work of renovation and development is conducted periodically and Kumbabishegam is also held at temples where ever necessary.

    NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu Govt has informed the Supreme Court that it is impossible to appoint trust board comprising retired judge  for each of the over 38,000 temples managed by HR&CE. The state added that the process of appointment of trustees in temples has commenced for 1,045 temples all over state and will be completed within six months.

    “The trust board is formed to run day-to-day administration of religious institutions and also to implement welfare schemes, renovations and development activities. Fit persons appointed under the Act are functioning,” the affidavit states. 

    The response was filed by HR&CE commissioner, in a plea by Hindu Dharma Parishad seeking appointment of Arangavalar Committee (Trustee Committee) headed by Retired Judge in all Hindu Temples with a social activist, a devotee, a Scheduled Caste person and a woman as its members.
    The Madras High Court had dismissed Parishad’s writ seeking similar relief. It was argued before the HC that several temples in TN were not maintained well.

    Emphasising on the fact that over 38k temples in the state are administered by individual and separate trust boards, the state told the apex court that it is impossible to appoint a trust board for each temple consisting a retired judge. 

    “Ground raised that ruling political parties are being appointed as trustees are denied. The applications received for appointment of trustees are duly scrutinized and antecedents are verified through the (police) inspector. The persons who are suffering disqualification prescribed under Section 26 of the Act are not considered for appointment,” the affidavit states. 

    While terming the grounds raised in the plea as “baseless” the state has also called as erroneous the conclusion that all temples have properties and ornaments running into lakhs and crores. “Only a very few hundreds of temples alone having hundreds of Acres of lands and few hundreds of buildings. Only a very few temples are having much valued Gold ornaments,” the affidavit states. 

    The affidavit further added that even though the Trust Board is not yet formed, the work of renovation and development is conducted periodically and Kumbabishegam is also held at temples where ever necessary.

  • 423 km of TN coastline eroding, says report

    Express News Service

    CHENNAI: It seems that the Tamil Nadu government’s efforts in the past two decades to address the problem of coastal erosion by building hundreds of hard structures like groynes, seawalls and breakwaters haven’t yielded desired results as the latest shoreline changes assessment report released on Tuesday throws up alarming facts. Of the 991.47 km of Tamil Nadu’s mapped coastline, a whopping 422.94 km (42.7%) continues to experience 

    erosion and now the state policy makers are grappling for more nature-based soft or hybrid solutions.The shoreline changes assessment along Tamil Nadu coast was conducted by the National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR) as part of the National Shoreline Assessment System. The report was released by EV Velu, Minister for Public Works, Highways and Minor Ports Department at a workshop on “Marine Spatial Planning for Tamil Nadu”, which was attended by multiple stakeholders.

    According to the report, Tamil Nadu ranks fourth in India experiencing worst coastal erosion after West Bengal (60.5%), Puducherry (56.2%) and Kerala (46.4%). Overall during 1990 and 2018, Tamil Nadu has lost 1,802 hectares of land due to erosion. The worst affected district is Ramanathapuram, which lost 413.37 ha, followed by Nagapattinam 283.69 ha and Kancheepuram 186.06 ha. On the other hand, Chennai lost just 5.03 ha.

    NCCR director MV Ramana Murthy, who is also a member of Expert Appraisal Committee (CRZ) of Union environment ministry, said in recent years, the hard structures due to their negative impacts are discouraged, instead ‘soft’ alternatives like beach nourishment are becoming favourable. Hybrid solutions with a combination of hard and soft solutions are implemented to minimise the impact of these man-made structures. The artificial reef project, which brought back the Puducherry beach to life, is a standout example.

    Another NCCR analysis shows Tamil Nadu has already built 251 hard anti-erosion structures in 134 km, which is 13.5% of its total coastline. Pradeep Yadav, Additional Chief Secretary, Highways and Minor Ports Department and Sandeep Saxena, Additional Chief Secretary, Water Resources Department, who participated in the technical sessions, have called for synergy among the policy makers, administrators and the scientists for scientific management of the coastline. Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary, Environment, Forests and Climate Change Department, said: “We understand the problem of coastal erosion is real and going to aggravate due to projected sea-level rise and climate change.” 

    CHENNAI: It seems that the Tamil Nadu government’s efforts in the past two decades to address the problem of coastal erosion by building hundreds of hard structures like groynes, seawalls and breakwaters haven’t yielded desired results as the latest shoreline changes assessment report released on Tuesday throws up alarming facts. Of the 991.47 km of Tamil Nadu’s mapped coastline, a whopping 422.94 km (42.7%) continues to experience 

    erosion and now the state policy makers are grappling for more nature-based soft or hybrid solutions.
    The shoreline changes assessment along Tamil Nadu coast was conducted by the National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR) as part of the National Shoreline Assessment System. The report was released by EV Velu, Minister for Public Works, Highways and Minor Ports Department at a workshop on “Marine Spatial Planning for Tamil Nadu”, which was attended by multiple stakeholders.

    According to the report, Tamil Nadu ranks fourth in India experiencing worst coastal erosion after West Bengal (60.5%), Puducherry (56.2%) and Kerala (46.4%). Overall during 1990 and 2018, Tamil Nadu has lost 1,802 hectares of land due to erosion. The worst affected district is Ramanathapuram, which lost 413.37 ha, followed by Nagapattinam 283.69 ha and Kancheepuram 186.06 ha. On the other hand, Chennai lost just 5.03 ha.

    NCCR director MV Ramana Murthy, who is also a member of Expert Appraisal Committee (CRZ) of Union environment ministry, said in recent years, the hard structures due to their negative impacts are discouraged, instead ‘soft’ alternatives like beach nourishment are becoming favourable. Hybrid solutions with a combination of hard and soft solutions are implemented to minimise the impact of these man-made structures. The artificial reef project, which brought back the Puducherry beach to life, is a standout example.

    Another NCCR analysis shows Tamil Nadu has already built 251 hard anti-erosion structures in 134 km, which is 13.5% of its total coastline. Pradeep Yadav, Additional Chief Secretary, Highways and Minor Ports Department and Sandeep Saxena, Additional Chief Secretary, Water Resources Department, who participated in the technical sessions, have called for synergy among the policy makers, administrators and the scientists for scientific management of the coastline. Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary, Environment, Forests and Climate Change Department, said: “We understand the problem of coastal erosion is real and going to aggravate due to projected sea-level rise and climate change.” 

  • Jallikattu can’t be culture just because some people call it so, SC told

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court was told on Tuesday that bull-taming sport jallikattu and bullock cart races cannot be a culture just because a group of citizens calls it so and this has been adopted by the legislature. 

    “Mere activity or an assertion cannot be said to be culture just because the legislature has adopted it,” senior advocate Siddharth Luthra told a five-judge bench headed by Justice KM Joseph.

    Luthra said that when the Constitution recognises prevention of cruelty to animals, it means the Constitution recognises the right of animals and the amendments passed by Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Maharashtra must be read in consonance with Part III of the Constitution, which deals with fundamental rights.

    “There’s (the) doctrine or principle of necessity. That exception cannot be treated on a par or as a sport for the purpose of human enjoying. When the legislation and legislative entry talks about prevention of cruelty and amending act perpetuates cruelty, the two cannot go together,” Luthra added.

    For the petitioners, senior advocate Shyam Divan added that the amendment acts were contrary to the separation of power, and said issues regarding jallikattu had attained finality in the A Nagaraj judgment.

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court was told on Tuesday that bull-taming sport jallikattu and bullock cart races cannot be a culture just because a group of citizens calls it so and this has been adopted by the legislature. 

    “Mere activity or an assertion cannot be said to be culture just because the legislature has adopted it,” senior advocate Siddharth Luthra told a five-judge bench headed by Justice KM Joseph.

    Luthra said that when the Constitution recognises prevention of cruelty to animals, it means the Constitution recognises the right of animals and the amendments passed by Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Maharashtra must be read in consonance with Part III of the Constitution, which deals with fundamental rights.

    “There’s (the) doctrine or principle of necessity. That exception cannot be treated on a par or as a sport for the purpose of human enjoying. When the legislation and legislative entry talks about prevention of cruelty and amending act perpetuates cruelty, the two cannot go together,” Luthra added.

    For the petitioners, senior advocate Shyam Divan added that the amendment acts were contrary to the separation of power, and said issues regarding jallikattu had attained finality in the A Nagaraj judgment.

  • Tamil Nadu reports highest Omicron BA.5 cases in India

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Over 300 cases of the extremely contagious Omicron BA.5 have been recorded in India. One of the sub-variants driving the increase of Covid in India and around the world is Omicron BA.5. With 150 cases, Tamil Nadu has reported the most cases in India until July 17, followed by West Bengal, with 45 cases.

    The Omicron BA.4 sub-variant was found in 68 samples received by the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG). At least 20 such cases were reported in Telangana, according to the Union Health Ministry.

    India, like other nations, is witnessing a recent increase in Covid cases. The nation also reported cases of Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants, which are more contagious. An 80-year-old man in Telangana was diagnosed with the BA.5 in May while a 19-year-old girl in Tamil Nadu was the first person to contract BA.4.

    According to information provided by the ministry in Lok Sabha, 68 cases of BA.4 and 331 cases of BA.5 were found in India till July 17. The BA.5 sub-variant has been reported from 14 states so far, including Maharashtra, Telangana, and Delhi.

    NEW DELHI: Over 300 cases of the extremely contagious Omicron BA.5 have been recorded in India. One of the sub-variants driving the increase of Covid in India and around the world is Omicron BA.5. With 150 cases, Tamil Nadu has reported the most cases in India until July 17, followed by West Bengal, with 45 cases.

    The Omicron BA.4 sub-variant was found in 68 samples received by the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG). At least 20 such cases were reported in Telangana, according to the Union Health Ministry.

    India, like other nations, is witnessing a recent increase in Covid cases. The nation also reported cases of Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants, which are more contagious. An 80-year-old man in Telangana was diagnosed with the BA.5 in May while a 19-year-old girl in Tamil Nadu was the first person to contract BA.4.

    According to information provided by the ministry in Lok Sabha, 68 cases of BA.4 and 331 cases of BA.5 were found in India till July 17. The BA.5 sub-variant has been reported from 14 states so far, including Maharashtra, Telangana, and Delhi.

  • No inputs from Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Bengal on school curriculum: Centre 

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana and West Bengal are yet to send feedback on revising the National Curriculum Framework (NCF), the Centre said.

    The NCF will be the bedrock of the new NCERT syllabus, and the textbook authority has sought input from the states to include changes. 

    The Ministry of Education in a written reply in the Lok Sabha said all states had sent inputs, barring three southern governments and West Bengal. 

    This is the fifth revision of NCF, incorporating suggestions from a large number of expert groups nationally and smaller panels at the state level.

    The process is controversial as some BJP-ruled states have been charged with promoting saffronisation. The Karnataka government stands out as it was claimed that passages on Bhagat Singh were removed from the Kannada books. 

    The Centre claimed that the Karnataka government has clarified the chapter on the revolutionary freedom fighter has not been dropped.

    NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana and West Bengal are yet to send feedback on revising the National Curriculum Framework (NCF), the Centre said.

    The NCF will be the bedrock of the new NCERT syllabus, and the textbook authority has sought input from the states to include changes. 

    The Ministry of Education in a written reply in the Lok Sabha said all states had sent inputs, barring three southern governments and West Bengal. 

    This is the fifth revision of NCF, incorporating suggestions from a large number of expert groups nationally and smaller panels at the state level.

    The process is controversial as some BJP-ruled states have been charged with promoting saffronisation. The Karnataka government stands out as it was claimed that passages on Bhagat Singh were removed from the Kannada books. 

    The Centre claimed that the Karnataka government has clarified the chapter on the revolutionary freedom fighter has not been dropped.

  • Madras HC orders notice on plea to quash govt order proposing to send rice to Sri Lanka 

    By PTI

    CHENNAI: Alleging Rs 54 crore estimated loss in the purchase of 40,000 tonne rice to be sent to Sri Lanka in lines with a Tamil Nadu government decision, a PIL petition has been filed in the Madras High Court to scrap the proposal and consequently direct the authorities concerned to take steps to purchase the rice through the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and the Food Corporation of India (FCI) in New Delhi.

    When the public interest litigation petition, also praying for a direction to the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) to conduct an inquiry into the matter, came up for hearing on Thursday, a vacation bench of Justices G R Swaminathan and Senthil Kumar Ramamurthy posted it after summer vacation, so as to enable the authorities concerned to file their counter-affidavits.

    According to petitioner A Jaishankar of Tiruvarur, Chief Minister M K Stalin announced in the state Assembly on April 29 that 40,000 tonne of rice will be provided to Sri Lanka to help the citizens who are facing acute hardships due to economic crises in that country.

    Pursuant to this, the Tamil Nadu Civil Supply Corporation on May 5 submitted a proposal to the Finance and Consumer and Co-operative departments to grant permission to purchase the rice.

    It was stated in the said proposal that the Corporation had conducted a meeting with various rice millers and they have agreed to supply rice at the rate of Rs 33 per kg, including all expenses except transportation cost.

    After negotiations, the rice millers agreed to supply 40,000 tonne of any one of three varieties of par-boiled rice–Co-51, ADT-45 and Andhra Ponni at the rate of Rs 33.

    50 net per kg including transportation, loading, unloading, handling, toll charges, bag with printing and all other relevant expenditure up to delivery point at Chennai/Tuticorin Ports.

    The total cost has arrived at Rs 134 crore and the government on May 9 granted the financial sanction.

    Petitioner contended that the authorities concerned had taken a hasty decision to purchase such a huge quantity of rice without approaching the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and the FCI, from where the rice can be purchased at a subsidised rate.

    The provisions of the Tamil Nadu Transparency in Tenders Act were given a go-by. The way in which they had acted raised a lot of suspicions, he submitted.

    Petitioner pointed out that the price of rice per quintal (100 kg) is Rs 2,000 in the open market sales scheme for 2022.

    If the authorities concerned had opted to purchase the rice under the said scheme, it would have brought down the expenditure from Rs 134 crore to just Rs 80 crore, resulting in a saving of about Rs 54 crore.

    Following criticism on the social media, the government had issued a press release later, wherein it was stated that the central government was supplying rice only for the public distribution scheme (PDS) under the subsidised rate of Rs 20 per kg and it cannot be purchased from them and sent to any other country.

    The State wanted to project as if the government had taken a decision to purchase high-quality rice and it cannot be compared with the one supplied by the FCI under the PDS scheme, the petitioner contended.

    The government indirectly stated that the PDS rice supplied by the FCI was low quality and hence, it decided to purchase on a nomination basis.

    The government had also warned that if anyone raises the issue, he/she will face appropriate legal action.

    The authorities concerned had completely failed to either enquire with the Union government or the FCI for the supply of rice and there was no mention in the GO or in the press release that the Centre had rejected their request.

    The state government had taken a ‘hasty’ decision without verifying this aspect and without analysing the other modes of purchase and thereby committed a serious error, which would amount to Rs 54 crore loss to the exchequer, the petitioner contended.