Karunanidhi to contest from Tiruvarur

CHENNAI: The following is the list of 119 candidates released by Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president M. Karunanidhi on Thursday:

Tiruvarur – M.Karunanidhi, 

Villivakkam – K.Anbazhagan, 

Kolathur – M.K.Stalin, 

Egmore (R) – Parithi Ellamvazhuthi, 

Dr. Radhakrishnan Nagar – P.K. Sekar Babu, 

Chepauk – Thiruvallikeni – J. Anbazhagan, 

Thousand Lights – Hasan Mohammed Jinnah, 

Virugampakkam – K. Dhanasekaran, 

Saidapet – M. Mahesh Kumar, 

Ponneri (R) – A. Manimekalai,

Thiruvallur – E.A.P. Sivaji, 

Ambattur – B. Ranganathan, 

Madavaram – Kanimozhi, 

Tiruvottiyur – K.P.P. Sami, 

Pallavaram – T.M. Anbarasan, 

Tambaram – S.R. Raja, 

Uthiramerur – Pon Kumar, 

Katpadi – Durai Murugan, 

Ranipet – R. Gandhi, 

Kilvaithinankuppam (R) – K. Seetharaman, 

Gudiyattam (R) – K. Rajamarthandan, 

Tiruppathur – S. Rajendran, 

Thiruvannamalai – E.V.Velu, 

Kilpennathur – K. Pitchandi, 

Arni – R. Sivanandam, 

Vandavasi (R) – S.P.J. Kamalakannan, 

Vanur (R) – S. Pushparaj, 

Viluppuram – K. Ponmudy, 

Vikravandi – K. Radhamani, 

Tirukkoilur – M. Thangam, 

Sankarapuram – T. Udayasuriyan, 

Panruti – Saba. Rajendran, 

Cuddalore – Ela. Pugazenthi, 

Kurinjipadi – M.R.K. Panneerselvam, 

Thiruvidaimarudur (R) – Kovi. Sezhiyan, 

Kumbakonam – K. Anbazhagan, 

Thiruvaiyaru – Kallanai S. Chellakannu, 

Thanjavur – S.N.M. Ubayadullah, 

Orathanadu – T. Mahesh Krishnasami, 

Kilvelur (R) – U. Mathivanan, 

Mannargudi – T.R.P. Raja, 

Nannilam – R. Elangovan, Srirangam – N. Anand, 

Tiruchi (West) – K.N. Nehru, 

Tiruchi (East) – Anbil Periyasamy, 

Thiruverumbur – K.N. Sekaran, 

Lalgudi – A.Soundarapandian, 

Manachanallur – N. Selvaraj, 

Thuraiyur (R) – S. Parimaladevi, 

Perambalur (R) – M. Prabhakaran, 

Kunnam – S.S. Sivasankar, 

Aravakurichi – K.C. Palanichami, 

Krishnarayapuram (R) – T. Kamaraj, 

Kulithalai – R. Manickam, 

Gandharvakottai (R) – Kavithaipithan, 

Viralimalai – S. Reghupathy, 

Pudukkottai – Periyannan Arasu, 

Gangavalli (R) – K. Chinnadurai, 

Yercaud (R) – C. Tamilselvan, 

Sankari – Veerapandi S. Arumugam, 

Salem (South) – S.R. Sivalingam, 

Salem (West) – R. Rajendran, 

Veerapandi – Veerapandi A. Rajendran, 

Rasipuram (R) – V.P. Duraisami, 

Senthamangalam (R) – K. Ponnusamy, 

Kumarapalayam – Veppadai G. Selvaraj,

Pennagaram – P.N.P. Inbasekaran, 

Pappireddippatti – V. Mullaivendan, 

Veppanahalli – T. Senguttuvan, 

Thalli – Y.Prakash, 

Mettuppalayam – B. Arunkumar, 

Kavundampalayam – T.P. Subramanian, 

Coimbatore (North) – M. Veeragopal, 

Coimbatore (South) – Pongalur N.Palanisamy, 

Kinathukadavu – M.Kannappan, 

Dharapuram (R) – R.Jayanthi, 

Tiruppur (North) – C.Govindasami, 

Madathukulam – M.P.Saminathan,

Erode (East) – S.Muthusamy,

Anthiyur – N.K.K.P.Raja, 

Bhavanisagar (R) – Lokeshwari, 

Gudalur (R) – M.Dravidamani,

Coonoor – K.Ramachandran, 

Melur – Rani Rajamanickam, 

Madurai East – P.Murthy, 

Madurai Central – S.S.Ghouse Batcha, 

Madurai West – K.Thalapathy, 

Thirumangalam – M.Manimaran, 

Usilampatti – S.O.Ramasamy, 

Palani – E.P.Senthilkumar, 

Oddanchatram – R.Chakrapani, 

Athoor – I.Periasamy, 

Natham – K.Vijayan, 

Andipatti – L.Mukkaiah, 

Periyakulam (R) – V.Anbazhagan, 

Bodinayakanur – S.Lakshmanan, 

Cumbum – N.Ramakrishnan, 

Tiruvadanai – Suba Thangavelan, 

Mudhukulathur – V.Sathyamurthy, 

Tiruppattur – K.R.Periakaruppan, 

Manamadurai (R) – Tamizharasi Ravikumar, 

Rajapalayam – S.Thangapandian, 

Srivilliputhur (R) – R.K.V.Durai, 

Sattur – A.Kadarkarai Raj, 

Sivakasi – Vanaraja, 

Aruppukkottai – K.K.S.S.R.Ramachandran, 

Tiruchuli – Thangam Thennarasu, 

Sankarankovil (R) – M.Uma Maheshwari, 

Tenkasi – V.Karuppasamy Pandian, 

Alangulam – Poongothai Aladi Aruna, 

Tirunelveli – A.L.S.Lakshmanan, 

Ambasamudram – R.Avudaiappan,

Palayamkottai – T.P.M.Mohideen Khan, 

Tuticorin – Geetha Jeevan, 

Tiruchendur – Anitha R.Radhakrishnan, 

Ottapidaram (R) – S.Raja, 

Kanyakumari – N.Suresh Rajan, 

Nagercoil – R.Mahesh and Padmanabhapuram – Pushpaleela Alban.

New deposits of graphite, lignite found in Tamil Nadu

The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has recently found occurrences of lignite, graphite, molybdenite and low-grade limestone in the state. This is in addition to the discovery of platinum deposits in the region, said director-general of GSI A Sundaramoorthy on Monday. He was speaking on the mineral scenario in Tamil Nadu during the inauguration of the refurbished economic geology gallery at the government museum in Egmore.

The GSI has established the presence of a 130-km long and 5- to 10-km wide lignite belt between Mannargudi and Bahur in Puducherry. Neyveli and Jayamkondan are located in this belt. "Recently we discovered the occurrence of lignite deposits in Ramanathapuram district. Our team will continue the investigation for another five or six years, and drilling is in progress in Misal area in Boalur panchayat. Lignite in this area occurs at a depth of 325 to 400 m in Neyveli formation, which lies below the Cuddalore formation. We have submitted a report in this regard to Coal India, who will take over the work from here. The GSI has established the occurrence of 1,100 million tonnes of lignite in Misal area," Sundaramoorthy said.

He said the platinum group of elements occurring in Sittampundi and Mettupalayam area are under investigation by the GSI. India imports about six tonnes of platinum annually. The GSI has estimated a reserve of 0.252 million tones of platinum ore in Karungalpatti, Chettiyampalayam, Tasampatti blocks of Sittampundi area and Solavanur, Mallanaikanpalayam and Karappadi blocks in Mettupalayam area. Drilling is going on in both the areas.

The GSI has established an additional graphite reserve of 0.72 million tonnes from Sivaganga area, where it is being mined and processed for some timenow. About 7.91 million tones of graphite reserve with 13% of fixed carbon occurs there, Sundaramoorthy said. GSI has also established resources of molybdenite in Dharmapuri district. "This is the only source of primary ore of molybdenum in the country. A 23-km long belt from Harur to Uttankari has been extensively explored and reserve of 9.96 million tones has been proved. Tamil Nadu Minerals has taken up further work in this belt. GSI will continue to explore this prospect," he said.

Recently, the GSI established the occurrence of about three million tones of low-grade limestone in Sengurichi area in Villupuram district. This is expected to supplement the large deposits of limestone mainly around Ariyalur, which is not able to meet the demand. The state's reserve of limestone has been estimated at 1,282 million tonnes. The recently discovered low grade limestone can be blended with high grade limestone and used in cement industries. After mapping the entire nation geologically, the GSI is concentrating on locating metallic minerals, industrial minerals and coal. A national project for collecting and analysing geochemical samples at 1-km grids is in progress.

The economic geology gallery at the Egmore museum, refurbished at a cost of Rs 1.5 lakh, includes exhibits on paleontology, climatology, environmental geology and planetary geology, said curator of the geology section R D Thulasi Brinda.

Villupuram tops crime list -

  I really feel ashamed to post this news....effielstar

Villupuram is the most unsafe district in the state, recording the maximum number of rapes, kidnappings and riots in 2009. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data for the year shows that though the district recorded fewer incidents of theft, robbery, burglary and cheating, it registered 62 rape cases, 80 kidnappings and 223 incidents of rioting.

"One of the main reasons for this is the high population of Villupuram. Being one of the largest districts in the state with a population of 30 lakh, the region has a high incidence of crime. Districts like Ariyalur have only one third the population of Villupuram," district collector Dr R Palanichamy said. He said that the geographical location also contributed to the high crime rate in the district.

Human rights activists, however, said enforcement of law and order was poor in the state, with cases of rape getting almost no response from the police. "Often, police try to pacify the victim, persuading him/her to withdraw the complaint. Even when a case is filed, there is a delay of five days in registering an FIR," said P V Ramesh, head of Makkal Padhukaapu Kazhagam, an NGO. He said the actual number of crimes could be much higher as the NCRB data takes into account only cases registered. There could be many cases where the victims were forced to take back their complaints, he said.

"If you were to record atrocities against scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, Villupuram would have the maximum number of cases. The upper castes dominate the district and the police are unable to do anything about it," he said. The number of incidents would come down drastically if strict punishment is given to those found guilty in cases of rape and kidnapping.

Vijayakanth dares Karunanidhi

CHENNAI: Actor-turned-politician Vijayakanth has thrown a challenge at chief minister M Karunanidhi, saying he would contest in the same constituency as the DMK chief for the forthcoming assembly election. Participating in a Pongal function in Villupuram on Saturday, the actor, who heads the DMDK, said, "If need be, I will contest against the chief minister himself."

The actor who is likely to align with the AIADMK, said he would contest in whichever assembly constituency Karunanidhi chose to fight. Vijayakanth's challenge could throw up an interesting electoral contest. In most assembly elections, the DMK chief has contested from the Chepauk assembly constituency that falls within Chennai.

Of late, there has been some talk that the party patriarch is likely to choose a constituency outside the city. Chennai has for long been a DMK citadel. But rival AIADMK stormed its bastion both in the 2006 assembly election and the 2009 Lok Sabha election making considerable gains.

As for Vijayakanth, he has given enough indication that his party would choose the AIADMK over the DMK for the assembly election. At the party's recent Salem conference, Vijayakanth, while declining to make an announcement about the party's decision for the assembly election, merely said no party can come to power in Tamil Nadu without aligning with his DMDK.

His priority, he said was to oust Karunanidhi's "corrupt regime", making it clear that his party would not have any truck with the DMK.

At the Villupuram function, Vijayakanth said he had visited the town after floating his party for the first time in 2005. Stagnant drainage water continued to mess up the ground even now. "This clearly shows that the administration has done very little," he said.

Mega science city in Chennai

New medical & engg colleges for backward districts.
A world-class mega science city would be established in Chennai by the Tamil Nadu government, which would bring over 69 institutions involved in advanced research, and Indian Institute of Technology.

Besides, the state government is also planning to set up new medical colleges in three more districts as part of its one medical college per district plan.
In his customary address to the state Assembly, the Tamil Nadu Governor Surjit Singh Barnala said that the mega science city would bring together more than 69 institutions of advanced research like Anna University and the Indian Institutes of Technology.
“This will flourish as a pristine centre facilitating higher scientific research to encourage the younger generation in advancing their knowledge, leading to scientific inventions in future,” he added.
He added, the state government has started Anna Universities of Technology at Tiruchirapalli, Coimbatore, Tirunelveli, Madurai and Chennai.
With the objective of having at least one engineering college in each district, the government has established 12 new engineering colleges apart from setting up 12 new Arts and Science colleges.

He said apart from this, Government Arts and Science colleges would be established in Kancheepuram district between Rajiv Gandhi Salai and East Coast Road at Nemeli, at Nagalapuram in Thoothukudi district, at Harur in Dharmapuri district, at Kallakurchi in Villupuram district and at Thiruchuli in Virudhunagar district.
The Governor said, the Government has established new medical colleges in Thiruvarur, Dharmapuri and Villupuram districts. Works were in progress at new medical colleges in backward districts like Sivaganga, Perambalur and Thiruvannamalai.
“Further, new medical colleges will be opened in Ramanathapuram, Cuddalore and Dindigul to fulfill the objective of having ‘one medical college per district’ as envisaged by this government,” said the Governor.
As a result of this, the number of qualified doctors in Tamil Nadu will increase significantly in the coming years. With a view to developing the traditional system of Indian medicines and Homeopathy a University of Indian medicine and Homeopathy will be established in Kanyakumari district this year covering existing six government colleges of Indian medicine and Homeopathy along with 26 similar private colleges, said the Governor.

For the benefit of students in Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam districts, which were predominantly agrarian in nature, a new agricultural college would be set up at Kivelur in Nagapattinam district.
''As announced by the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, M Karunanidhi in the agricultural officers conference recently, the government which has the distinction of starting the first Veterinary University in the country and also for starting Agricultural University at Coimbatore, will establish a separate Horticulture University at Krishnagiri this year'', said the Governor.

1.5 lakh dictionaries to be distributed to students

KRISHNAGIRI: As part of the Learning Enhancement Programme of Sarva Siksha Abiyan (SSA), as many as 1,48,620 students belonging to SC, ST and girl students in Government Middle Schools in the state will get English-English-Tamil dictionaries, said Dr. S. Kannappan, Joint Director, SSA, Education Department.
Dr. Kannappan told The Hindu on Friday that the scheme was introduced in 37 blocks in 14 districts where literacy rate among girls was found to be very low during the last academic year. The dictionary brought out by Tamil Nadu Text Book Society, priced at Rs. 150, would be distributed to bright SC, ST students and girl students belonging to all communities who could not afford to buy it.
The Chairperson of the dictionary project is Mr. S. Gomathinathan, Special Office ELT/Reader (Retired), Directorate of Teacher Education Research and Training, Chennai. The dictionary has 11,000 words with definitions in English and Tamil, synonyms and antonyms, information about word class and derivations, usage, phrases, 600 proverbs and an appendix.
Copies of the 700-page dictionary have already been delivered to all 30 educational districts in the state for distribution to the students. According to the SSA, each district was allotted 4,954 dictionaries.
The dictionaries would be distributed to students of Standard VI this year.
The students eligible for the scheme would be identified by the heads of the institutions based on their academic performance and economic status, Dr. Kannappan said. .
As many as 37,000 dictionaries were distributed to SC, ST students and girl students of Standard VI in 37 blocks in 14 districts, which were identified under National Programme for Education of Girls at Elementary Level (NPEGEL) as districts having low literacy among girl children. Fifty Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBV) run under SSA in the district exclusively for dropout girl children are included in it. The districts and blocks (in brackets) where the scheme was introduced last year are: Salem (Edapadi, Kadayampatti, Kolathur, Konganapuram, M. Chavadi, Yercaud, Nangavalli, Panamarathupatti, Sankari, Veerapandi), Villupuram (Kallakurichi, Rishivandiyam, Thirukkovilur, Thirunavlur, Thiruvennainallur, Thiyadurgam, Ulundurpet), Cuddalore (Mangalore, Nallur, Panruti), Perambalur (Ariyalur, Senthurai, T. Palur, Veppur), Sivagangai (S. Pudur), Namakkal (Kolli Hills, Mallasamudram), Dharmapuri (Pennagaram, Karimangalam, Palacode), Dindigul (Gujiliamapari, Natham), Erode (Ammapet, Andhiyur, Kundadam, Mulanur, Nambiyur, C.N. Palayam, Vallakkoil), Karur (Kadavur), Krishnagiri (Veppanapaplli, Shoolagiri, Kelamangalam), Tiruchi (Marungapuri), Tiruvannamalai (Thandrampattu, Javvadu Hills) and Virudhunagar (Narikudi).

Voters swell around industrial hubs in TN

CHENNAI: Voters enrolment has seen a substantial increase in more than five districts of Tamil Nadu with Chennai on top of the table with nearly one lakh new voters figuring in the latest electoral list.

Vellore has recorded the second largest enrolment of voters followed by Villupuram, Kancheepuram, Madurai, Cuddalore, Tiruvannamalai, Coimbatore and Tirunelveli. Many of the districts that have seen an increase of upto 50,000 voters include industrial belts that attract migrants in large numbers.

According to the Election Commission's fresh voters' list as on January 2011, nearly one lakh new voters have enrolled themselves in Chennai alone. In 2011, the total number of voters in Chennai stands at 30,27,197 compared to last year's figure of 29,31,203 which means 95,994 individuals have newly enrolled themselves, an increase by 3.27%.

In Vellore, which comes next in number of new voters enrolled, total number of voters enrolled in 2011 stands at 24,54,160 compared to last year's count of 23,87,682, thereby registering a growth of 2.78%. In Vellore, 66,478 new voters' applications had been accepted and enrolled in the list.

Chief electoral officer Praveen Kumar told TOI that the substantial increase in new voters in these areas was basically due to migration of people from rural to urban regions apart from increase in political awareness. "Especially in Chennai, more people have enrolled because industrial development and job opportunities are high here compared to other districts."

The statistics further show that after Chennai and Vellore, Villupuram recorded 53,972 new voters, followed by Kancheepuram (51,997), registering a growth of 2.51% and 2.14% respectively.

The official said the surge in numbers may be attributed to migration by youths from rural areas to the industrialised regions such as Vellore, Coimbatore and Kancheepuram in search of employment.

In Cuddalore district, a growth of 2.9 % has been witnessed in number of new voters (47,616) and Tiruvannamalai (43,337, a growth of 2.16%). Interestingly, Coimbatore, which is considered to be an industrial hub next to Chennai, recorded 43,207 new voters and in Tirunelveli the number stood at 42,662.

Praveen Kumar said the Electoral ID card is very important to an individual since it is considered as the main source of identity of a person after the ration card.

Ariyalur district recorded the least growth in terms of new voters registering only 6,044 new voters followed by Perambalur (7,068) and Nilgiris (8,500).

Women voters are majority in 16 districts

CHENNAI : Women power will hold sway in the forthcoming Tamil Nadu assembly election in at least 16 districts in the state where they outnumber the men. Of the 16 districts, Virudhunagar tops the chart with 11,000 more women voters. This is followed by Thoothukudi, Sivaganga, Karur, Perambalur, Tiruchi, Thanjavur, Vellore, Namakkal, Chennai, Nilgiris, Tirunelveli, Ariyalur, Theni, Pudukottai and Madurai where the number of woman voters are more.

The overall trend shows that out of the total 32 districts in the state, both women and men voters were leading in 16 each. And, of the total 45.96 lakh voters in the state, the men squeak past with a difference of just about two lakh. According to the final electoral rolls for 2011, of the 12,32,651 voters in Virudhunagar, 6,22,014 were women and 6,10,637 men. Which means women voters exceed men by 1.9 %.

Chief electoral officer Praveen Kumar said apart from political awareness, many women are empowered in cities like Chennai, Tiruchi, Thanjavur and Madurai. "If one can see the overall indicators of Tamil Nadu, female participation is very high," he said.

"We also organised more than 29,000 programmes across the state to mark the National Voters Day, which falls on January 25 and created awareness."

Virudhunagar collector Dr VK Shanmugam said a high number of men migrating to other districts in search of better paid jobs resulted in more number of women in some districts. Though fireworks and match factories and printing units crowd the district, the men go to western Tamil Nadu and other bigger cities for jobs that are better paid and less hazardous. Shanmugam told TOI that the district administration with the help of ngos, self help groups and chamber of commerce conducted various awareness programmes among women about the importance of joining the electoral process.

The new electoral rolls also indicate that the gender ratio in Vidudhunagar increased from 1,015 to 1,018. (for thousand men, 1,018 women). Virudhunagar thasildar (elections) S Arumugam said most of the women, particularly those in most backward areas of Tiruchuli, Kariapatti and Aruppukottai, are poor. Almost all the women in that area, who are from poor families, are employed. "Moreover, a voter's ID is necessary for them to avail themselves of all government schemes that are currently available. Besides, men mostly migrate to nearby districts such as Madurai, Tirupur and other towns for better jobs, leaving their families behind," he added.

Tuticorin district (5,45,781) followed by Sivaganga (4,28,765) have the next largest number of women voters. In both the districts women outnumber men by 9,826 and 8,159. Interestingly, Chennai is not far behind in terms of high number of woman voters -- 15,14,621 women and 15,12,275 men. The city also has the largest number of constituencies after delimitation -- 16. The number of voters in the district is 30.27 lakh. Interestingly, the figures last year for Chennai show that the number of male voters was marginally high compared to women.

Villupuram district has largest number of male voters, 11,48,077 as compared to 11,14,382 woman voters. The district is followed by Salem, Tirupur, Krishnagiri, Cuddalore, Dharmapuri, Tiruvallur, Kanyakumari, Kancheepuram, Coimbatore, Erode, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Tiruvannamalai, Ramanathapuram and Dindigul.

New railway station building for Ariyalur

TIRUCHI: A new railway station building has been proposed for Ariyalur as part of the 273-km Villupuram - Tiruchi - Dindigul doubling project to be executed by the Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), a Government of India enterprise.
The Tiruchi divisional railway authorities have planned to engage a consultant to aesthetically design the station building and landscaping with optimum utilisation of the existing area.
Some of the old structures in the station's vicinity that have outlived its utility will be demolished to make way for more area. As part of the doubling project, the railway authorities have also planned to improve the infrastructure facilities in the ‘C' and ‘D' category stations in the Villupuram - Tiruchi chord line section, wherever the existing facilities had outlived their purpose.
Railway authorities told The Hindu here that tenders were in the last stage of finalisation to lay the second railway track between Ariyalur and Valadi as part of the Rs. 1,200-crore Villupuram – Tiruchi- Dindigul doubling project. The works were expected to start soon.
Funds to the tune of Rs. 60 crore had been sanctioned in the 2010-11 financial year to lay the second broad gauge line in the crucial 50-km stretch between Ariyalur and Valadi that falls under Villupuram - Tiruchi section.
The Ariyalur - Valadi stretch had been chosen for doubling first since it was a crucial one in the chord line section. Double tracks here would ease congestion, especially at night when rail traffic was heavy, besides reducing journey hours.
The real advantage would come about once the doubling project is completed in total as this would not only enable in operating additional long distance trains but also reduce travelling time, the authorities say. The massive work had been awarded to the RVNL, a Special Purpose Vehicle to implement rail infrastructure projects across the country.Kindle Wireless Reading Device, Wi-Fi, Graphite, 6" Display with New E Ink Pearl Technology

Defamation complaint filed against Junior Vikatan

Tamil Nadu government today filed a criminal defamation complaint against Tamil bi-weekly "Junior Vikatan" for publishing an article on Chief Minister M Karunanidhi.
The complaint was filed against the author of the article and Editor, Printer and Publisher of the bi-weekly.
In its complaint, the government submitted that the bi-weekly in an article dated August 21 last year had published an article in connection with a bomb blast on a railway track near Perani Railway Station in Villupuram District 'causing to harm the reputation of the Chief Minster, in the discharge of public functions".
It was submitted that the article has charged the Chief Minister 'with malicious and per se defamatory words and the bi-weekly had committed offences under section 499 punishable under sections 500 and 501 of IPC'.
Principal Sessions Judge P Devadoss adjourned hearing in the case to January 10.
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Silent processions mark tsunami 6th anniversary

Dec. 26: Silent processions and tearful homage marked the sixth anniversary of tsunami strike in Nagapattinam, Cuddalore and Villupuram coastal districts, and Puducherry on Sunday. In Nagapattinam, the tearful family members of the victims remembered those swallowed by the deadly tsunami six years ago that left over 6,000 dead.
Candlelight processions and ceremonies to offer prayers to the deceased were held in all the fishermen hamlets. Minister for dairy development U. Mathivanan and Rajya Sabha members A.K.S. Vijayan and E.G. Sugavanam placed wreaths at the memorial pillar erected at the collectorate.
On behalf of the district administration, district revenue officer Rajendran paid homage. DMK workers took out a silent procession led by Mr Mathivanan from old bus stand to Nagapattinam port. The AIADMK procession was led by Ma

CBI questions Raja for over eight hours

NEW DELHI: As part of its investigations into the 2G spectrum allocation scam, the CBI on Friday questioned the former Communications Minister, A. Raja, for over eight hours.

Mr. Raja appeared at the CBI headquarters here at 10.30 a.m. after he was summoned under Section 160 of the Criminal Procedure Code. He had flown in from Chennai on Wednesday.

He was “questioned in relation to the case registered into the allocation of unified access service licences,'' CBI DIG and spokesperson Bineeta Thakur told reporters.

Mr. Raja was questioned on the circumstances leading to spectrum allocation that has been criticised by the Central Vigilance Commission and the Comptroller and Auditor- General of India (CAG).

The CBI also quizzed him on the tapped conversation he had with corporate lobbyist Niira Radia about allegedly favouring certain telecom companies, informed sources said.

Mr. Raja was forced to resign on November 14 in the wake of the CAG report, which held that the spectrum allocation at undervalued prices resulted in a notional loss of Rs.1.76 lakh crore to the exchequer.

Several other crucial aspects such as the issue of advancing the dates for allocation of spectrum and on the role of his relatives in some of the companies that allegedly acted as a front for certain telecom firms which got spectrum between September 2007 and January 2008 also formed part of the grilling, the sources added.

“I gave full cooperation to the investigating agencies. I cannot say anything further because investigations are on,'' Mr. Raja told reporters.

1,000 students crammed into 52 rooms

CHENNAI: Several students of the MC Raja Adi Dravidar Hostel at Todhunter Nagar in Saidapet, some of whom held up traffic on a part of the arterial Anna Salai for nearly five hours on Tuesday, say frustration led to the protest.

Talking to TOI at the hostel on Wednesday, some of them said: "We tried to speak to every official, including the collector, about the state of affairs here but nothing was done. We tried protesting earlier on the road but were chased away. This time we just could not bear it anymore."

"At least now, let us see if the authorities will listen to us," some said.

The hostel, which has ground plus two floors, has 52 rooms to accommodate 400 students but over a thousand are crammed in them.

Some of the residents who did not wish to be identified said two groups of students, numbering 22 and hailing from Tindivanam and Villupuram, were creating trouble there. "The student leader of the hostel and a few vested interests, including functionaries of a particular party, are making life miserable by coming in here and drinking and creating problems,'' they said.

They said though the government had allocated funds for food the quality of the fare and the quantity served was so bad that some thought the Puzhal jail served better food.

This reporter was shown the food served. "We manage with the rice and buy curry from roadside shops since the one served here is not fit for consumption,'' one student said.

The toilets were stinking and so were the rooms that contained only the bare necessities. "There is no entertainment for us excepting our mobile phones on which we listen to music. The state government has given away thousands of TV sets to many people. Can it not give us a couple of them?'' wondered another.

The students, all from poor backgrounds and hailing from all parts of the state, said "our parents are farm workers and involved in other menial jobs. It was their dream that we become graduates and do well in life. But when you are treated like this you don't become a graduate. You will end up as a criminal."


Read more: 1,000 students crammed into 52 rooms - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/1000-students-crammed-into-52-rooms/articleshow/7147814.cms#ixzz193g2lwMZ

Karunanidhi urges Centre to set apart sufficient funds for railway projects

Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Monday expressed his regret that a number of railway projects in the State, announced in the Railway Budget, have not been taken up.

Inaugurating a broad gauge line between Nagapattinam and Velankanni through videoconferencing at the Secretariat here, Mr. Karunanidhi said the projects such as Athipattu-Puthur, Erode-Palani and Chennai-Cuddalore through Mamallapuram, the conversion of Madurai-Bodinayackanur meter gauge into broad gauge, third line for Chennai Beach-Korrukkupet, fourth line between the Beach and Athipattu, another such line for Tiruvallur-Arakkonam and Villupuram-Dindigul double line were announced in the budget earlier. He also referred to the slow progress of projects such as Tindivanam-Gingee-Tiruvannamalai and Tindivanam-Nagari new lines and the conversion of meter gauge lines into broad gauge lines in the stretches of Manamadurai-Virudhunagar, Dindigul-Pollachi-Palakkad-Coimbatore and Mayiladuthurai-Tiruvarur-Karaikudi-Thiruthuraipoondi besides doubling of Chengalpattu-Villupuram line.

He urged the Union government to set apart sufficient funds for all these projects and ensure expeditious implementation.

At the same time, the Chief Minister gave an account of the execution of several railway projects that had been taken up since 2006. The projects included the conversion of meter gauge lines into broad gauge lines for Virudhunagar-Rajapalayam-Tenkasi and Tiruchi-Pudukottai.

Recalling that the Union government gave its approval in 2002 for laying new broad gauge lines for Nagapattinam-Velankanni and Nagapattinam-Karaikal, he said that the present government, after its formation in May 2006, had speeded up the process of land acquisition that was proceeding at a slow pace till then.

After the completion of land acquisition, the work on laying the lines began in 2008. The 10.3 km Nagapattinam-Velankanni line was laid at a cost of Rs. 58 crore that included the cost of the Velankanni railway station. The Velankanni Church had contributed Rs.1 crore. The 10-km Nagore-Karaikal rail line would be completed within one or two months, and the works on the Rs.90-crore project was progressing satisfactorily.

In response to the State government's request for Nagapattinam-Thiruthuraipoondi via Thirukuvalai, the Minister of State for Railways had written to the government, informing its approval of the proposal, the Chief Minister added.

Union Minister of State for Finance S.S. Palanimanickam, State Dairy Development Minister U. Mathivanan, A.K.S Vijayan, Member of Parliament, and Rector Michael of Velankanni shrine participated in the function held at Velankanni railway station.