Chennai, Tamil Nadu News July 12 Highlights: SP Velumani addresses delay of water train; POCSO Act 2012 amended

Alexander the Comic will be staging a musical stand-up show at Sir Mutha Concert Hall in Chennai on July 13. The show, which will be played in India for one last time will begin at 2 pm and end at 10 pm. 

The Union Government amended the Protection of Children against Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 on July 10 in a bid to reduce crimes against children which had taken a turn for the worse in recent months. 

READ in Tamil | POCSO Act Amendment Bill 2019 has enhanced the maximum punishment

According to the amendment, the maximum punishment has been enhanced to death penalty, while mimimum punishment has been change to 20 years of imprisonment.

The Union Government made amendments to the POCSO Act, 2012 on July 10 in a bid to reduce crimes against children.

Watch the video to learn all about the amendment to the Act. https://t.co/aMeYBQS4tA

— Express Chennai (@ie_chennai) July 12, 2019

RS Mugilan, the environmental activist known for protesting against Sterlite, Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant, Jallikattu, Hydrocarbon Project in Neduvasal, Neutrino, was spotted at Tirupati railway station on July 6, almost 140 days after he went missing. Mugilan went missing mysteriously from onboard a Chennai to Madurai train at Egmore station. Opposition parties subsequently demanded that the government find the missing activist. 

Workers from the Communist Party of India (M) held protests in Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu today to protest against erratic power supply in the region. 

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami distributed tricycle wheelchairs for the handicapped at a ceremony in Thoothukudi district in Tamil Nadu today.

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— Edappadi K Palaniswami (@CMOTamilNadu) July 12, 2019

L K Charitable Trust, in association with Jusdrums - School of Percussion will be hosting Taalathma, a fusion music concert series today from 06:45 pm to 08:45 pm at the Mylapore Fine Arts Club in Mylapore, Chennai. 

Weather forecast channel, Skymet Weather has predicted rains in a few districts of Tamil Nadu over the next few hours, following the break monsoon phenomenon in the country. The districts of Dharmapuri, Kancheepuram, Krishnagiri, Tiruvallur, Tiruvannamalai, Vellore and Villupuram are expected to receive rain.

#TamilNadu #AndhraPradesh: #Rain and thundershowers with gusty wind will occur over Chittoor, Prakasam, Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore, Y.S.R., Dharmapuri, Kancheepuram, Krishnagiri, Thiruvallur, Tiruvannamalai, Vellore and Viluppuram during next 2-3 hours

— SkymetWeather (@SkymetWeather) July 12, 2019

The Greater Chennai Traffic Police conducted an awareness programme at the Jaigopal Garodia National Higher Secondary School at Tambaram in Chennai today, to sensitize the students about road safety and the importance of adhering to traffic rules.

A Road Safety Awareness Programme has been conducted with Jaigopal Garodia National Higher Secondary School Students at Tambaram, to sensitize them about importance of traffic rules and road safety. pic.twitter.com/iJefgldlBf

— ChennaiTrafficAlert (@CCTPolice_Alert) July 12, 2019

Arappor Iyakkam, an NGO in Chennai will be carrying out a social audit of the Kallukuttai lake in Perungudi, Chennai on July 13 at 7 am. The audit aims to analyze the water level in the lake, the findings of which will be reported to the Tamil Nadu Government.

Six Tamil Nadu fishermen were arrested Friday by Sri Lankan navy personnel for allegedly straying into the island nation’s waters, a Fisheries Department official said here. The fishermen from Nambuthalai in Ramanathapuram district, who had put out to the sea in a country boat on Thursday, were detained near Nedhuntheevu for crossing into the Lankan waters, Deputy Director of Fisheries E Kathavarayan said.

With the Chennai-Jolarpettai scheme taking off today, the first train from Vellore reached Chennai in the afternoon, successfully delivering 2.5 MLD of water to the parched city.

S P Velumani, the Minister for Municipal Administration, Rural DEvelopment and Special Projects; D Jayakumar, the Fisheries Minister; P Benjamin, the Minister for Rural Industries and K Pandiyarajan, the Minister for Tamil official language and Tamil culture inagurated the scheme at the Villivakkam Railway Station in Chennai today.

Tamil Nadu: The first train carrying water from Jolarpet railway station in Vellore district reaches Chennai. The state government had announced to bring in water from Vellore by rail wagons as Chennai is facing water crisis. pic.twitter.com/W1dJTHw1Bo

— ANI (@ANI) July 12, 2019

The President of India, Ram Nath Kovind landed in the old airport at Meenambakkam in Chennai today, ahead of his visit to Kancheepuram. The President is expected to leave by helicopter to Kancheepuram, where he will offer prayers to Athi Varadar at the Varadaraja Perumal temple from 3 pm to 4 pm.

The President is expected to fly back to Chennai by 5 pm, following which he will stay at the Governor's residence, Raj Bhavan for two days. 

Goethe-Institut, locally known as the Max Mueller Bhavan will be hosting MusiX, a space to immerse in music and musical experiences with a performance by the Madras String Quartet today from 7 pm to 9 pm at their centre in Thousand Lights, Chennai. 

Uthiramerur DMK MLA Sundar has requested the state government to change the railway stations in Kanchipuram and Thiruvarur and name it after former TN Chief Ministers and DMK leaders, CN Annadurai and M Karunanidhi at the Assembly today. Similarly,  DMK MP Kanimozhi requested the Central Government to change the name of the railway station in Erode and name it after Periyar E V Ramasamy at the Lok Sabha Yesterday. 

Over 7700 aspiring engineering students were given tentative allotment in the first round of counselling for the Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions (TNEA) 2019 on Thursday. The candidates were allotted the seats based on their choice and have been direcetd to confirm the allotment by 5 pm today. 

Theo who do not confirm will be moved to the second round of counselling while the students who have confirmed will be given the final allotment.

The Southern Railway announced a change in the timings of trains bound for Yeswantpur and Ernakulam, travelling through the Arakkonam - Jolarpettai section on Thursday, due to track maintenance work and Simple Quick Relaying System being carried out at the section between Mukundarayapuram and Tiruvalam from July 5 to July 16.

The Madras High Court cancelled the petition filed by the Tamil Nadu Government challenging the fine imposed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) against the government in court today. The NGT had slapped a fine of Rs. 100 crore against the government for being negligent towards the state of the water bodies in Tamil Nadu.

National Lok Adalat to be held on July 13 in Tamil Nadu. Compensations for road accidents, Electricity usage, Water tax, Road tax, Pension related writ petitions will be taken up for disposal at the adalat.

The Southern Railway announced on Thursday that booking for special trains which were introduced to clear the extra rush at the Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M G Ramachandran Central Railway Station in Chennai will commence from today. The trains will ply in July, August and September.

Special Trains pic.twitter.com/drmlwkkbv1

— @GMSouthernrailway (@GMSRailway) July 11, 2019

Tangedco has announced that power will be suspended in parts of the city today to carry out maintenance work from 9 am to 4 pm. Neighbourhoods in and around Rajakilpakkam and Porur will be affected. 

Water from Jolarpettai to Chennai, which was expected to be transported today commenced its journey with the first train starting from the station in Jolarpettai, Vellore in the morning. About 2.5 million litres a day (MLD) of water will be transported today.

Tamil Nadu: The first train carrying water from Jolarpet railway station in Vellore district to Chennai, started from the station this morning. The state government had announced to bring in water from Vellore by rail wagons as Chennai is facing water crisis. pic.twitter.com/uepfcYNegt

— ANI (@ANI) July 12, 2019

The father of Kollywood Director Pa Ranjith, who was recently granted anticipatory bail by the Madras High Court for his comments on Raja Raja Chola passed away due to deteriorating health in Chennai early today morning. The last rites of Pandurangan (63) will be held in his hometown, Karlapakkam in Tiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu today evening. 

President Ram Nath Kovind will commence his visit to Tamil Nadu today and will visit the Athi Varadar festival at the Varadaraja Perumal temple in Kacheepuram today to pay obeisance to the deity during the 44-day festival in the state. Over 3000 policemen have been deployed as a part of the President's visit to the temple from 3 pm to 4 pm. 

The President is also expected to visit The Lord Venkateswara temple at Tirumala in Andhra Pradesh on Sunday. 

The Regional Meteorological Centre has predicted light rain in parts of the city today, with the minimum and maximum temperatures expected to be 29C and 35C respectively. The sky will remain partly cloudy today. 

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