Tamil Nadu Finance Minister PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan published a white paper Monday on the state’s finances and said that there has been “fiscal mismanagement” during the AIADMK regime over the last decade. Thiagarajan said the approach must change if the state had to break out of the vicious cycle of increasing debt and interest rates.
READ | Tamil Nadu publishes white paper on economy, blames AIADMK regime for ‘fiscal mismanagement’
After returning from Tokyo to India, Olympian Dhanalakshmi Sekar broke down into tears upon learning about the death of her sister on Sunday. The 22-year-old, who was a reserve for the 4x400m mixed relay team, returned to Gundur village near Tiruchirapalli in Tamil Nadu from the Olympic Games along with another sprinter, Subha Venkataraman. Within a few minutes after meeting her family, Dhanalakshmi came to know the tragic news: her sister Gayathri had breathed her last on July 12.
READ | Olympian Dhanalakshmi’s sister passes away; breaks down on return to India
For assistance on COVID-19-related queries and mental health support in Chennai, citizens can contact the Greater Chennai Corporation's (GCC) COVID-19 helpline 044 46122300 or 044 25384520 | Citizens can also contact the general helpline 104, the 24-hour helplines 044 29510400 or 29510500 and the 24 x 7 mobile helplines 8754448477 or 9444340496 | Citizens can find the nearest GCC-facilitated COVID-19 fever clinic here | Find the nearest GCC vaccine centre here and book your slots here | For lodging rain-related complaints and assistance during the monsoon, citizens can contact the GCC's monsoon helplines 044 25384530 or 044 25384540 or the control room 1913 (available 24x7)
Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) Tuesday raided 60 properties linked to SP Velumani, the former Tamil Nadu municipal administration minister. In a statement, the officials said they seized Rs 13,08,500/- documents related to land registrations, transport documents of business firms, fixed deposits to the tune of Rs 2 crore. Apart from this, the sleuths added that official records of corporations, electronic hard disks, and other incriminating documents were seized.
Tamil Nadu recorded 1,893 positive cases of Covid-19 on Tuesday, bringing the state tally to 25,79,130. Among these, Chennai reported 209 positive cases, bringing the city’s total to 5,40,063. The state recorded 27 deaths on Tuesday, putting the state toll at 34,367. A total of 1,930 patients were discharged following treatment, taking the total number of recoveries to 25,24,400
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A female elephant was found dead at Kaalakkaal Mokkai coming under Masinagudi in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve in the Nilgiris district on Tuesday, Forest department sources said. The field staff of Mangalaapatti beat on rounds noticed the dead animal and immediately alerted Forest Department officials, who rushed to the spot.
The reason for the death will be known after the post-mortem, Forest department sources said. Meanwhile, an 86-year old farmer Ramasamy was detained for inquiry, following the suspected electrocution of a sloth bear on the fence of his land at Vazhaithottam village in the district. The male animal was found lying dead on the wired fence on the farmland, reportedly connected with power, they said
Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit Tuesday appointed Prof Dr R Velraj as the Vice-Chancellor of Anna University for a period of three years from the date of the assumption of his office.
According to a release by assembly secretary K Srinivasan, Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly revised budget session to be held from August 13 to September 21.
According to reports, former AIADMK Minister SP Velumani's close aid and KCP engineering firm's managing director K Chandraprakash has been admitted to a private hospital after he developed chest pain. Chandraprakash was one among the 17 people against whom the DVAC filed an FIR.
The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) police on Tuesday launched searches at more than 52 places including the residence of former Tamil Nadu municipal administration minister SP Velumani in connection with a corruption case against him. According to reports, close to 35 places have been raided in Coimbatore in areas like Thondamuthur, Vadavalli, etc and 15 places in Chennai and one place apiece in Dindigul and Kancheepuram. The officials reached Velumani’s Chennai residence at around 7 am and hundreds of supporters gathered outside as the searches began.
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A total of 33,60,920 people have been vaccinated in Chennai till date, with 17,694 people inoculated on Monday alone, according to the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC).
A total of 1,02,004 posters have been removed across Chennai by the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) till Tuesday as a part of the civic body’s poster removal campaign.
Here are the details:
North Chennai - 26,027
Central Chennai - 31,735
South Chennai - 44,242
Tamil Nadu Finance Minister PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan published a white paper Monday on the state’s finances and said that there has been “fiscal mismanagement” during the AIADMK regime over the last decade.
Thiagarajan said the approach must change if the state had to break out of the vicious cycle of increasing debt and interest rates. “This is an opportunity to effect once-in-a-generation reforms, many of which should have been undertaken years ago by any responsible government.”
Profound structural reform is the need of the hour, he said.
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The National Human Rights Commission on Monday sought more time to file its counter in response to a PIL from a human rights activist seeking to reopen the 2018 police firing case in Tuticorin, in which 13 persons were killed.
The first bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice T S Sivagnanam, before which the PIL from Henry Tiphagne, the executive director of People’s Watch, an NGO, came up for further hearing today, granted time till September 13.
Tiphagne, also an advocate, had contended the NHRC, after initiating an investigation into the issue, had closed the case in October 2018.
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The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti Corruption police in Tamil Nadu searched as many as 52 places of former Tamil Nadu Municipal Administration Minister SP Velumani on Tuesday morning. As per reports, the raids are in connection with corruption allegations against Velumani.
A case has been registered against 17 people, including the minister and his brother. Meanwhile, supporters of S P Velumani moved barricades and argued with the police over the raids at various places in Tamil Nadu.
The Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IIT-M) on Monday called for applications for its online data science program. Said to be the first-of-its-kind, the program, launched last year, aims at making a data scientist out of anyone who has cleared class XII and studied English and Maths in Class X, according to a press release from IIT-M.
The classes for the new batch would begin in September 2021.
"The program provides a unique opportunity to study at IIT-Madras without having to go through joint entrance examination (JEE). Students can pursue the diploma in programming and data science along with their on-campus courses," the release said.
The last date to apply for the course is August 30, it said. Those interested can apply through the website - https://onlinedegree.iitm.ac.in, the release said. Anyone regardless of his or her geographic location, academic background and profession can apply, it added. (PTI)
After returning from Tokyo to India, Olympian Dhanalakshmi Sekar broke down into tears upon learning about the death of her sister on Sunday.
The 22-year-old, who was a reserve for the 4x400m mixed relay team, returned to Gundur village near Tiruchirapalli in Tamil Nadu from the Olympic Games along with another sprinter, Subha Venkataraman. Within a few minutes after meeting her family, Dhanalakshmi came to know the tragic news: her sister Gayathri had breathed her last on July 12.
However, Dhanalakshmi’s family didn’t inform her about the passing of her ailing sister as they wanted her to focus on the competitive event. While speaking to a local channel, Dhanalakshmi’s mother Usha, a daily wage labourer, said Gayathri had been a pillar of support for the athlete.
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Tamil Nadu is heading towards a milestone in covering more people under the inoculation drive against COVID-19, State Minister for Medical and Family Welfare Ma Subramanian said on Monday.
Soon, a couple of districts of the State would see all the people vaccinated, the Minister told reporters in Chennai.
Among the metros in the country, Chennai tops the list with 33,43,276 getting the vaccines administered.
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A total of 161 flights will be operated between Chennai and major cities today, with 81 arrivals and 80 departures scheduled at the Chennai International Airport.
Tamil Nadu recorded 1929 positive cases of Covid-19 on Monday, bringing the state tally to 25,77,237. Among these, Chennai reported 182 positive cases, bringing the city’s total to 5,39,856. The state recorded 23 deaths on Monday, putting the state toll at 34,340. 19 of them had succumbed due to comorbidities. A total of 1886 patients were discharged following treatment, taking the total number of recoveries to 25,22,470.
As of Monday, the number of active Covid-19 cases in Tamil Nadu is 20,427. Till date, 15,05,408 males, 10,71,791 females and 38 transgenders have tested positive for the virus in the state.
According to a bulletin released by the Health and Family Welfare Department of Tamil Nadu, 3,88,51,889 samples from the state have been tested till date, with 1,54,702 samples having been sent yesterday. There are 283 Covid-19 testing facilities in the state, out of which 69 are government and 214 are private facilities.
Tangedco has announced a power cut in parts of Chennai today from 9 am to 2 pm for maintenance work.
Here are the affected areas:
Tambaram Kadapperi: Durga Nagar Main Road, TNHB Colony, Gandhi Road, Kamatchi Nagar, Vinoba Nagar and Thiruvalluvar Street
Adyar: 3rd and 4th Avenue, 32nd, 34th and 35th Cross Roads; 4th Main Road, Alcottkuppam, Arunachalem Street, Karpagam Garden, Fashion Avenue, Rajajibhavan, Thiruvalluvar Nagar 2nd Street and surrounding areas
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The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has forecast rainfall in parts of Tamil Nadu today. According to the RMC, thunderstorm with light to moderate rainfall is likely to occur at isolated places over Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kanchipuram, Thiruvallur, Vellore, Tirupattur and Ranipettai districts over the next one to two hours.
Citizens in Chennai also woke up to overcast skies as parts of Chennai received light to moderate showers early Tuesday morning.
Vanakkam Chennai!
Welcome to today’s live blog. We bring to you the latest news on Covid-19, politics, features, entertainment, sports, art and culture from across Chennai and Tamil Nadu. Follow our live blog and @ie_chennai to stay up to date with what’s happening in the state.
Tamil Nadu recorded 1,929 positive cases of Covid-19 on Monday, bringing the state tally to 25,77,237. Among these, Chennai reported 182 positive cases, bringing the city’s total to 5,39,856. The state recorded 23 deaths on Monday, putting the state toll at 34,340. A total of 1,886 patients were discharged following treatment, taking the total number of recoveries to 25,22,470.
Bharathi Baskar, a popular speaker and presenter has been admitted to Apollo Hospital in Chennai. Taking to Twitter, actor and politician Kushbhu Sundar wrote that the popular Tamil TV star has undergone surgery on her brain.
“#BharathiBhaskar ma known for her wit and smile, apart from her tamil, has suddenly taken Ill. Every tamilian world over will always have a smile reserved for her. She has undergone a surgery on her brain. Pls pray for her speedy recovery. World needs a beautiful soul like her,” (sic) she tweeted.
Bharathi, who works in a private bank, is one the star speakers of pattimandram hosted by renowned Tamil scholar Padhma Shri Solomon Pappiah. Apart participating in debate shows, Bharathi has also been a motivational speaker and has delivered speeches in several forums.
A 35-year-old employee of a fish-selling unit and his two sons tried to set themselves ablaze at the Collectorate Monday but were stopped by two journalists, police said. The reason behind the extreme step was reportedly due to inaction on a pending petition seeking intervention of the Collector in a family dispute, the police said.
The employee had sought a reunion of his family after his wife walked out on him and their two children, aged between four and five, they said. The 35-year-old man poured kerosene on himself and his two sons, and was about to light a match-stick when the scribes grabbed it thereby preventing self-immolation, the police said. On seeing the commotion, policemen rushed and took the man and his sons to a police station for enquiry
The Madras High Court has ordered maintaining status quo in the matter of recruitment of 'archakas' in Hindu temples. Justice Dr Anita Sumanth granted the interim injunction while entertaining a writ petition from the All India Adi Saiva Sivacharyargal Seva Sangam last week. The last date for receipt of applications was August 7.
"Status-quo be maintained thereafter, until further orders," the judge said and posted the matter to August 25 with a direction to the authorities concerned to circulate the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious Institutions Employees (Conditions of Service) Rules, 2020 to the other parties in the case.
The petitioner sought to quash the advertisements issued on July 6 this year inviting applications for the posts of archakas, odhuvars and paricharakar to the temples in the state. It was proposed to appoint people holding certificate courses as Archakas in temples.
Among other things, the petitioner contended that the impugned order is arbitrary and violative of the principles of natural justice. The state government has failed to see that the qualification for appointment of 'archakas' is no longer res integra, as the same has been settled by the Supreme Court in 2019.
The government is time and again being vindictive towards the members of the petitioner sangam and similar organisations, which testified their malafide intention, it claimed. The order tantamount to a direct assault on the rights of the members of the petitioner sangam and similarly placed persons. The authorities have failed to see that the power to appoint Archakas cannot be relegated or assigned to persons who have no knowledge about the Agamas or functioning of temples.
Temple trustees alone are empowered to appoint Archakas as per this section. Thus, the impugned order ran counter to the provisions of the Act and hence, liable to be repelled, petitioner said. (PTI)
A total of 33,43,226 people have been vaccinated in Chennai till date, with 15,745 people inoculated on Sunday alone, according to the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC).
No religion preaches narrow mindedness or hurting others, the Madras High Court observed on Monday.
Passing strictures against a lawyer for filing a PIL petition seeking to restrain Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin from presiding over the advisory panel of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department, unless he takes a pledge before a Hindu God that he would profess the Hindu religion, the court dismissed the plea.
The first bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice P D Audikesavalu also debarred the petitioner from filing any PILs for five years.
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Tamil Nadu Minister for Finance and Human Resources Management P. T. R. Palanivel Thiagarajan said that the deterioration in the finances of Tamil Nadu in the past seven years will be reformed in the next five years.
The accumulated loss of the State Transport Undertakings (STU) in 2020 to 2021 is Rs. 42,143.69 crores, which was Rs. 871.69 crores in 2011 to 2012. "STUs are making a loss of Rs 59.15 for every kms operated," the state finance minister said.
Grants in aids increased from 8.13% from 2006 to 2007 to 17.10% of revenue receipts in 2020 to 2021 which undermines the financial independence and federalism. "Tamil Nadu lost Rs 2,577 crores since the previous government failed to conduct local body election on time", the minister said.
The State's Finance Minister said that total revenue receipts of Tamil Nadu has declined to 8.7% of GSDP in 2020-21 from the peak 13.35% of GSDP in 2008-09. SOTR has declined from 11.46% between 2006 to 2011 to 4.32% between 2016 to 2021. Zero Budget is beneficial only for financially empowered, he said.
"The worsening deficit situation has led the state to be over-reliant on debts. The public debt is Rs 2,63,976 per family in Tamil Nadu", he said.
Tamil Nadu Minister for Finance and Human Resources Management P. T. R. Palanivel Thiagarajan published the White Paper on the state’s finances to the public at 11.30 am today. The paper was published at 11.30 am in the Conference Hall at Namakkal Kavignar Maaligai at the Secretariat in Chennai.
A total of 1,00,420 posters have been removed across Chennai by the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) till Sunday as a part of the civic body’s poster removal campaign.
Here are the details:
North Chennai - 25,403
Central Chennai - 31,263
South Chennai - 43,754
A total of 181 flights will be operated between Chennai and major cities today, with 90 arrivals and 91 departures scheduled at the Chennai International Airport.
Tamil Nadu Minister for Finance and Human Resources Management P. T. R. Palanivel Thiagarajan will publish the White Paper on the state's finances to the public at 11 am today.
The paper will be published at 11.30 am in the Conference Hall at Namakkal Kavignar Maaligai at the Secretariat in Chennai.
The Chennai police have booked Meera Mithun, a small-time actor who participated in Big Boss Tamil season 3, for allegedly using a casteist slur against scheduled caste people. During an interview with a YouTube channel, Meera said that all the scheduled caste film workers should be chucked out of the industry.
“The members of the SC community face trouble mostly because they are indulged in illegal activities and crime. No one will unnecessarily speak ill of someone without a reason,” she said.
Meera even accused the directors and the members of the SC community for all wrongful activities in the industry. “I think it’s time to chuck out all the scheduled caste people, directors from the industry,” she added. Meera claimed that a director from an SC community had used her picture for a movie’s first-look.
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A meeting of DMK district secretaries chaired by party president and Chief Minister M K Stalin in Chennai on Sunday discussed preparations for polls to rural local bodies in nine districts of Tamil Nadu.
The meeting deliberated on gearing up for polls in the nine districts of Kancheepuram, Chengelpet, Vellore, Ranipet, Tirupathur, Villupuram, Kallakurichi, Tirunelveli and Tenkasi, party sources said.
In view of the welfare measures being taken up by the party-led regime as part of efforts to fulfill polls promises and considering the popularity the DMK government enjoyed, functionaries should reach out to the people and work to win local polls, sources added.
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The Greater Chennai Traffic Police (GCTP) has announced traffic diversions in parts of Chennai today till 11 am due to Phase II works by Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL).
Here are the diversions:
No diversions for vehicles from Porur towards Kodambakkam Bridge
Traffic on Arcot Road from 80 Feet Road Junction to Kodambakkam Power House Junction will be one-way
Vehicles heading towards Porur and Saligramam from Kodambakkam Bridge should take the left at Power House Junction and travel via Ambedkar Salai - Ashok Nagar Police Station Junction right - 2nd Avenue Junction - Straight - P T Rajan Salai - Raja Mannar Salai - 80 Feet Road - Arcot Road and then head to Porur
Vehicles heading towards Vadapalani Junction from Kodambakkam Bridge should take left at Power House Junction and travel via Ambedkar Salai - Ashok Nagar Police Station Junction right - 2nd Avenue Junction - Right - J N 100 Feet Road and proceed towards Vadapalani
Vehicles heading to K K Nagar from Porur will not be allowed to take a right turn at 80 Feet Road Junction. Instead, vehicles should proceed towards Vadapalani Junction, take a right turn and reach K K Nagar via P T Rajan Salai
Vehicles from Ashok Pillar to Kodambakkam Bridge will not be allowed to proceed straight at Ashok Nagar Police Station Junction. Instead, vehicles should take a left turn and then take the right turn at Duraisami Salai and reach Kodambakkam Bridge via Kodambakkam Post Office
Vehicles from Vadapalani Junction to Duraisamy Salai will not be allowed to take a right turn at Duraisamy Salai. Instead, vehicles will be diverted via Power House Junction and Ambedkar Salai
Vehicles bound for 100 Feet Road from K K Nagar will not be allowed to turn right at Raja Mannar Salai Junction. Vehicles should take the left turn and reach 100 Feet Road via 80 Feet Road and Arcot Road
Vehicles from Vannier Street will not be allowed to head straight on Raja Mannar Salai from 80 Feet Road Junction. Instead, vehicles have to take the left turn at 80 Feet Road Junction and reach Arcot Road
Vehicles heading towards Ashok Pillar from Koyambedu will not be allowed to head straight at Vadapalani Junction Service Road. Instead, vehicles have to take the left turn at Vadapalani Junction Service Road and reach Power House Junction, then take right and reach Ashok Pillar via Ambedkar Salai.
Vaccine hesitancy was prevalent among 27.6 per cent of people aged above 60 years while the same was present in 16.9 per cent between the age group of 18 and 44 years, a study by the Tamil Nadu government revealed on Sunday.
As many as 18.2 per cent of people between the age group of 45 and 59 years were also hesitant to receive the jabs, the survey conducted by the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, in July across Tamil Nadu, said.
According to the study, vaccine hesitancy was observed in 19.7 per cent men and 18.4 per cent women, while 17.5 per cent people living in urban and 20.3 per cent in rural areas expressed “unwillingness” to get inoculated.
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Tamil Nadu recorded 1956 positive cases of Covid-19 on Sunday, bringing the state tally to 25,75,308. Among these, Chennai reported 187 positive cases, bringing the city’s total to 5,39,667. The state recorded 28 deaths on Sunday, putting the state toll at 34,317. 24 of them had succumbed due to comorbidities. A total of 1807 patients were discharged following treatment, taking the total number of recoveries to 25,20,584.
As of Sunday, the number of active Covid-19 cases in Tamil Nadu is 20,407. Till date, 15,04,299 males, 10,70,971 females and 38 transgenders have tested positive for the virus in the state.
According to a bulletin released by the Health and Family Welfare Department of Tamil Nadu, 3,86,97,187 samples from the state have been tested till date, with 1,60,229 samples having been sent yesterday. There are 283 Covid-19 testing facilities in the state, out of which 69 are government and 214 are private facilities.
Ahead of the 75th Independence Day celebrations on August 15 at Fort St. George, the Greater Chennai Police has announced traffic diversions in parts of the city today for rehearsals.
According to a press release, there will be traffic diversions on the three days from 6.30 am to 10 am. The road between Kamarajar Salai and Napier Bridge up to RBI Subway North on Rajaji Salai and Flag Staff Road will be closed to traffic.
Vehicles along Kamarajar Salai which are headed towards Parry’s Corner via Rajaji Salai will have to proceed along Swami Sivananda Salai, Anna Salai, Muthusamy Bridge, Muthusamy Road, R A Mandram and NFS Road to reach Parry’s Corner.
Vehicles along Rajaji Salai which are bound for Kamarajar Salai via Rajaji Salai have to proceed though NFS Road, R A Mandram, Muthusamy Road, Muthusamy Bridge, Anna Salai and Wallajah Road to reach their destination.
Those travelling along Anna Salai towards Parry’s Corner and Kamarajar Salai via Flag Staff Road will be diverted along Muthusamy Bridge, Muthusamy Road, R A Mandram and NFS Road to reach Parry’s Corner and via Flag Staff Road will be diverted along Muthusamy Bridge, Muthusamy Road, R A Mandram, NFS Road, Anna Salai and Wallajah Road to reach Kamarajar Salai.
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Vanakkam Chennai!
Welcome to today’s live blog. We bring to you the latest news on Covid-19, politics, features, entertainment, sports, art and culture from across Chennai and Tamil Nadu. Follow our live blog and @ie_chennai to stay up to date with what’s happening in the state.
Vanakkam Chennai!
Welcome to today’s live blog. We bring to you the latest news on Covid-19, politics, features, entertainment, sports, art and culture from across Chennai and Tamil Nadu. Follow our live blog and @ie_chennai to stay up to date with what’s happening in the state.