As part of efforts to inoculate all citizens in Nilgiris district, authorities have made it compulsory for those who want to buy liquor in state-run TASMAC outlets to produce vaccination certificates to show that they have taken two doses against Covid-19. Nilgiris is the first district to come up with such an initiative in Tamil Nadu. The drive had commenced from September 1.
READ | Two doses of COVID vaccine mandatory to buy liquor in Nilgiris district
Tamil Nadu Minister for Public Works EV Velu said Thursday that the government will take measures to close down 32 toll plazas functioning across the state. Replying to a calling attention motion moved by Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK) leader MH Jawahirullah, the minister said the neighbouring state of Kerala has reduced the number of toll plazas to three as per provisions of the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules 2008, but there are 48 toll plazas in Tamil Nadu when ideally it should have only 16.
READ | Minister EV Velu promises measures to shut 32 toll plazas in Tamil Nadu
The Tamil Nadu government is planning to establish a population Health Registry and a Unique Health ID (UHID) will be assigned to all the residents across the state, Health Minister Ma Subramaniam said on Thursday. Speaking at the State Assembly, the Health Minister said the Health ID will improve the state health index and will help in achieving sustainable development goals. Subramaniam announced the project along with a number of decisions taken by the Health Ministry.
READ | Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramaniam announces plans to create Unique Health ID for all
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 | 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)
Tamil Nadu textile trade bodies have welcomed the govt's decision to withdraw one percent cess on purchase of cotton and cotton waste. The scrapping of cess would benefit cotton farmers and the industry, T Rajkumar Chairman of Confederation of Indian Textile Industry. Southern India Mills' Association also praised the govt's decision. CM M K stalin had announced the scrapping of one percent cess levied on cotton and cotton waste in the assembly on Saturday. PTI
Tamil Nadu Saturday reported 1575 new covid cases, 1610 recoveries, and 20 deaths today. With today's numbers, the state's total active toll has reached 16,315. While Coimbatore registered the highest number of cases with 244 people testing positive, Chennai has 167 cases.
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Tamil Nadu CM Saturday congratulated India's Paralympics badminton medalists Pramod Bhagat and Manoj Sarkar on their victories. India’s Pramod Bhagat won gold medal in the Men’s Singles SL3 event at the Tokyo Paralympics today. This is India’s first medal in badminton at the Paralympics Games. Manoj Sarkar clinched a bronze medal in the same category.
"#Badminton is being played for the first time at #Paralympics and our players Pramod Bhagat and Manoj Sarkar win #Gold and #Bronze, respectively. Congratulations on this historic achievement & I also wish Pramod all the best for his Bronze medal match in mixed-doubles category," CM Stalin tweeted.
Setting up helipads, promoting adventure and camping, creating facilities for paragliding, rock-climbing and conducting a study on the potential of boat and cruise ship trips were among the announcements made by Tamil Nadu Minister for Tourism M Mathiventhan in the Assembly on Saturday. Steps would be taken to get the blue flag certification for beaches in the State, he said. (PTI)
A one per cent market levy on cotton and cotton waste would be withdrawn and the relevant legislation shall be suitably amended to give effect to it, Chief Minister M K Stalin announced in the Assembly on Saturday.
Citing representations from weavers and entrepreneurs, Stalin said the levy of one per cent fee by the market committee "is cancelled," and an amendment Bill would be passed in the ongoing Assembly session. (PTI)
Few days after Tamil Nadu decided to ban Ganesh Chathurthi processions to curb the covid spread, Puducherry govt granted permission for Ganesh Chathurthi festival citing decline in covid cases on Saturday. "If people want to worship the deities following restriction, then I think there is nothing in government paying heed to their request," said Lieutenant Governor Dr Tamilisai. The Union Territory of Puducherry recorded 120 new cases of coronavirus on Friday taking the overall tally to 1,24,049. Ganesh Chathurthi festival is marked on Septmeber 10.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted heavy rainfall in parts of Tamil Nadu over the next few days. Here is the forecast:
HEAVY RAINFALL WARNING:
Day 1(04.09.2021): Heavy to very heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places over Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu. Heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places over Erode, Coimbatore, Krishnagiri, Tirupattur, Vellore and Salem districts of Tamil Nadu.
Day 2(05.09.2021): Heavy rainfall is likely to occur at isolated places over Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Krishnagiri and Tirupattur districts of Tamil Nadu.
Day 3(06.09.2021): Heavy rainfall is likely to occur at isolated places over Nilgiris and Coimbatore districts of Tamil Nadu.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy to very heavy rain at isolated places over Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu. Thunderstorm with heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places over Erode, Coimbatore, Krishnagiri, Tirupattur, Vellore and Salem districts of Tamil Nadu. Thunderstorm with moderate rain is likely to occur at a few places over Delta districts, coastal Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal area. Thunderstorm with light to moderate rain is likely to occur at a few places over rest Tamil Nadu, the department said.
There are 1,720 active Covid-19 cases in Chennai, as of September 4, a post by the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) showed. Over 5,34,523 people recovered from the disease till date.
The Madras High Court on Friday ordered notice to the Sholurmattam police in the Nilgiris on a plea to examine former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami and expelled AIADMK leader and close aide of late CM J Jayalalithaa, V K Sasikala, in connection with the 2017 Kodanadu heist and murder case.
Justice M Nirmal Kumar later adjourned the matter for September 27.
Though the prayer in the criminal revision petition from Deepu, M S Satheesan and A Santosh Samy of Kerala, all accused persons in the case, was to set aside a partially dismissed portion of the April 30 order this year of the Sessions Judge at The Nilgiris, they had contended that the judge had passed the order in a hurried manner without considering their pleas in their original petition.
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The Member of Parliament of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Kuldeep Rai Sharma has demanded that the Union Territory administration operate passenger vessels between Chennai-Port Blair and Kolkata-Port Blair to bring back islanders, who are stranded on the mainland due to high airfares.
In a letter to the Chief Secretary of Andaman and Nicobar administration, the Congress MP said that many islanders stranded in Chennai and Kolkata have informed him that due to high airfare between Chennai-Port Blair and Kolkata- Port Blair sectors, they are unavailable to reach Port Blair from mainland.
He said that when cross-checked by his office staff, it has been found that the airfare from Chennai to Port Blair, in the month of September, ranges from Rs 8,000-Rs 29,000. Similarly airfare between Kolkata and Port Blair ranges from Rs 10,000-Rs 28,000, which is unaffordable for a lot of people, especially people from low-income groups and islanders, who have gone to the mainland for medical treatment.
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With local body polls round the corner, the DMK government in Tamil Nadu has announced the construction of a memorial in Villupuram to people killed in police firing and clashes in 1987, during a movement demanding reservation for the Vanniyar community.
A look at the movement of the community, its significance in Tamil Nadu politics, and what the ruling DMK’s move means when the party is represented by its powerful rival PMK, an ally of the AIADMK-BJP alliance.
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Bollywood actress Kanangana Ranaut Saturday paid tribute to former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalaithaa at her memorial in the Marina beach in Chennai. Ranaut is in the city for the promotions of her movie Thalaivii, which is a biopic on the late chief minister.
The Madras High Court on Friday rejected a plea against the use of Tamil language while performing 'archanai' (pooja/chanting of mantras) in Hindu temples throughout the State.
Citing the judgement of a Division Bench of the High Court delivered in 2008, the First Bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice P D Audikesavalu today dismissed at the admission stage itself a PIL petition from Ranganathan Narasimhan of Srirangam in Tiruchirappalli district.
The petition sought to restrain the State Tourism and Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Departments from interfering with the religious affairs and altering the religious practices of Hindu religious institutions in any manner and a direction to the departments to withdraw the Annai Tamizhil Archanai Scheme. (PTI)
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Friday urged the Centre to 'reconsider' its decision to 'privatise' Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), saying they play a key role in the country's industrialisation and self-reliance goals.
The chief minister's missive to Modi came a day after he informed the Tamil Nadu Assembly that he will write to the PM on the matter.
An official release, quoting from Stalin's communication, stated he told Modi that to establish such units, people's lands, besides those ofthe government, had also been allotted. "Therefore, people have a pride and right over such undertakings," he was quoted as saying.
Referring to Centre's National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP), Stalin said it was not clear what kind of impact it will leave on small and medium industries and the employees therein. The release further quoted Stalin as saying that irrespective of the nomenclature, considering the country's present economic scenario, such a 'large privatisation' will result in government assets going into the 'control' of a few 'groups' or large corporations. (PTI)
Three days after schools in the state reopened for classes IX-XII, the Covid-19 test results of two students and a teacher have come back positive in separate cases reported from Cuddalore, Namakkal and Ariyalur districts.
Speaking to Indianexpress.com, Cuddalore district collector K Balasubramaniam said a government secondary school teacher who had taken both doses of the Covid vaccine has tested positive. “She reached school at 9 am on September 1. She wasn’t feeling well and went to the waiting room without interacting with any student and was later sent home. Her test results came back positive on Thursday night,” he said, adding that the entire campus was sanitised and that all other teachers and students have tested negative.
In Namakkal district, a Class X student of a government school near Tiruchengode was found to be Covid-positive in a test randomly conducted by the district administration on the reopening day, said Health Department officials. The girl’s parents were informed and she was immediately taken to a hospital, they said. The student’s classroom and other areas she visited have been closed. Other students and teachers at the school are currently awaiting the results of their Covid tests.
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The Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco) has announced that power will be suspended in parts of Chennai today for carrying out maintenance work in the city.
Parts of Chennai will face a power shutdown from 9 am to 2 pm, with supply expected to resume before 2 pm if the work is completed.
As per a press release given by the company, the following neighbourhoods in Chennai will be affected:
Tambaram:
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Minister for Medical and Family Welfare Ma Subramanian earlier on Friday called on Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandviya in New Delhi along with top officials and discussed various issues pertaining to Tamil Nadu, including allocating vaccines based on the size of the state's population, expediting construction work to set up the All India Institute of Medical Sciences hospital near Madurai and setting up of 11 medical colleges in the state.
Briefing reporters later, Subramanian said that during the previous meeting with the Union minister in June, the state had requested allocation of more vaccines, based on which the Centre increased supply in June, July and August.
The Minister said Mandviya was also requested to step up vaccine supply to nine districts bordering Kerala as that state had been reporting high number of cases and added that all the residents in these areas would be inoculated.
Subramanian said during the meeting with Mandviya, a request was also made to set up an AIIMS Medical College in Coimbatore, which he said he would consider. Noting that new Primary Health Centres had not been sanctioned to Tamil Nadu in the last three years, Subramanian said 'we reiterated our earlier demand that we need 25 new PHCs in Tamil Nadu'. (PTI)
Tamil Nadu recorded 1,568 fresh Covid-19 infections for the second consecutive day and 19 deaths on Friday. The overall caseload is now 26.19 lakh till date. With over 1,657 people getting discharged over the last 24 hours, the recovery stood at 25,68,161. Coimbatore reported 239 cases, while Chennai recorded 162 Covid-19 cases.
Vanakkam Chennai!
Welcome to today’s live blog. We bring to you the latest news on Covid-19, politics, features, entertainment, sports, weather, 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.
The inflow of water into the Lower Bhavani Project (LBP) Reservoir located at Bhavanisagar has been increased. According to the Public Works Department (PWD) on Friday, the dam storage was 30.31 TMC feet of water against the full capacity of 32.80 TMC feet in the last one week. (PTI)
To honour freedom fighter V O Chidambaranar on his 150th birth anniversary, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Friday announced a 14-point programme which includes refurbishing his memorials and instituting an award in his name to recognise his contributions to shipping. Making a statement in the Assembly, Stalin, recalling his Independence Day announcement that the anniversary would be observed as a government event, said a new research chair would be instituted in VOC's name in the State-run Manonmaniam Sundaranar University. (PTI)
The Madras High Court has directed the State government to create/establish within six months, a separate office of Epigraphy Branch (Tamil) here, on the lines of a similar facility for Arabic and Persian Inscriptions at Nagpur in Maharashtra. This would facilitate the transfer of the Tamil inscriptions and estampages to Chennai from Mysuru, a bench of Justice N Kirubakaran (since retired) and Justice M Duraiswamy said in a recent order. (PTI)
Tamil Nadu reported 1568 fresh covid cases on Friday taking the total active cases to 16,370. The state recorded 19 covid fatalities. 1,657 patients discahrged from hospitals following treatment today.
DMK nominee M Mohamed Abdulla was on Friday declared elected unopposed in the byelection for a Rajya Sabha seat from Tamil Nadu which fell vacant due to the death of AIADMK member A Mohammedjan. With his election, the DMK's strength in the RS would go up to eight while the AIADMK has six members which includes its Puducherry MP.
Abdulla, who hails from Pudukottai in Tamil Nadu was the only candidate from a political party to file his papers and his nomination paper was the only one found to be valid and it was duly accepted by authorities. (PTI)
The Tamil Nadu government is planning to establish a population Health Registry and a Unique Health ID (UHID) will be assigned to all the reisdents across the state, Health Minister Ma Subramaniam said on Thursday.Speaking at the State Assembly, the Health Minister said the Health ID will improve the state health index and will help in achieving sustainable development goals. Subramaniam announced the project along with a number of decisions taken by the Health Ministry. Read More
A memorial would be built in honour of social reformer Ayothidasa Pandithar (1845-1914), Chief Minister M K Stalin announced on Friday in the Tamil Nadu Assembly. Reformist leader Thanthai Periyar had hailed Pandithar as a pioneer in social reforms and rationalism, the Chief Minister said and recalled the quote of the 19th century reformist that divisions like caste and religion were the stumbling blocks to India's progress. (PTI)
A teacher and a student tested positive for covid on Friday, two days after schools reopened in the state.
An investigation is in progress at Telangana’s Abdullapurmet police station to find out the circumstances that led to the death of a horse during a film shoot. A case was registered based on a complaint from Prevention of Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India on August 18.
The horse died on August 11 on the sets of Ponniyin Selvan, a historical drama being directed and co-produced by filmmaker Mani Ratnam. The film stars Vikram, Aishwarya Rai Bachan, Trisha, Prakash Raj, Karthi, and others.
Detective Sub-Inspector G Veerabhadraiah of Abdullapurmet police station told indianexpress.com that a complaint regarding the death of a horse during a film shoot was received a week after the incident. According to him, PETA India has alleged that two horses collided head-on during the film shoot and one of them died.
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53, 699 shots of covid vaccines were administered in Chennai on September 3, according to Greater Chennai Corporation. With this Chennai's total covid vaccination has reached 40,89,381.
Proof of Covid vaccination will be mandatory to buy alcohol in Nilgiri, said J Innocent Divya, Udhagamandalam District Collector.
Parts of Chennai are currently receiving light to moderate showers, even as the city had experienced overcast skies during the day.
Tamil actor Siddharth took to Twitter on Thursday to share that he has been subject to “targetted hate and harassment” since the death of actor Sidharth Shukla. He shared, “Targetted hate and harassment. What have we been reduced to?” along with a screenshot of a tweet that showed his image with the caption ‘RIP Siddharth’.
While one might think that this was just a case of fans getting confused, the replies on his Twitter timeline showed that this was not a case of fans mistaking one actor for the other. A now-deleted tweet by a troll allegedly brought out some really mean comments that have been “targetted” at Siddharth.
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Tamil Nadu Minister for Public Works EV Velu said Thursday that the government will take measures to close down 32 toll plazas functioning across the state.
Replying to a calling attention motion moved by Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK) leader MH Jawahirullah, the minister said the neighbouring state of Kerala has reduced the number of toll plazas to three as per provisions of the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules 2008, but there are 48 toll plazas in Tamil Nadu when ideally it should have only 16.
Read more
Tangedco has announced a power cut in parts of Chennai on Saturday from 9 am to 2 pm for maintenance work.
Here are the affected areas:
Tambaram:
Porur:
Enjambakkam: 1st and 2nd Avenue, Brindavan Nagar, Enjambakkam Vetuvakeenni Link Road, Selva Nagar, Thomas Avenue, Karpaga Vinayagar Nagar, Olive beach and surrounding areas
Thoraipakkam:
Guindy:
Thirumudivakkam: Thirumudivakkam Village, Erumaiyur, Thirumudivakkam Industrial area, Valuthalambedu, Thiruneermalai Main Road, Perumal Nagar, Nandhavanam Nagar and surrounding areas
Perambur: V.P colony, Ayanavaram, Ramanathan Street, Mettu Street, Thiruvalluvar Nagar, Ambedkar Nagar, Solaiamman Koil Street, Kellys Road and surrounding areas
Four industrial estates will be established across Tamil Nadu to ensure balanced growth across the state, Minister for Rural Industries TM Anbarasan said Thursday. The industrial estates will be developed by the Tamil Nadu Small Industries Development Corporation (Tansidco) at Manapparai in Tiruchirappalli district, Kaverirajapuram in Thiruvallur district, Kodur in Chengalpattu district and Sakkimangalam in Madurai district across a total of 394 acres at a project cost of Rs 218.22 crore.
“These industrial estates will generate 7,000 jobs,” Anbarasan said in the Assembly during a debate seeking grants for his department.
The minister also announced several measures to boost the MSME sector which he said is the chief driver of job creation. “While the budget allocated Rs 280 crore for the sector in the current fiscal, a subsidy of Rs 168 crore has been disbursed to 1,975 MSMEs as of July 31,” he said.
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The Madras High Court has kept in abeyance, its order mandating “bumper-to-bumper” insurance for five years for motor vehicles, following a submission from the General Insurance Company (GIC) that the direction could not be implemented without the approval of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) and that it would require 90 days to do so.
Justice S Vaidyanathan, who passed the order on August 4, kept it in abeyance on Wednesday.
Last month, the Madras High Court ruled that “bumper-to-bumper” insurance should be mandatory whenever a new vehicle is sold, from September 1. This must be in addition to covering the driver, passengers and owner of the vehicle, for a period of five years, the court had held.
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The Madras High Court has declared Sellappapa, the wife of late Pulavar Keeran, as the sole owner of the copyright of her husband’s literary works.
Justice R Subramanian made the declaration, while allowing a civil suit from Keeran’s wife on Wednesday.
Rejecting the claims of S Vijayaraghavan, proprietor of Vani Recording Company, the defendant in the case, the judge pointed out that there is no evidence to show that the recordings were made by Pulavar Keeran under any contract of service or during the course of his employment with the firm.
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An official committee has suggested enactment of a law by the state to provide for admission to professional degrees like medicine on the basis of marks obtained in the qualifying exam, the Tamil Nadu government said on Thursday in the Assembly.
The President’s assent should be received for the proposed Bill following passage in the House, which would ensure social justice and this also indicated the need for elimination of NEET, the government said.
A policy note (2021-22) tabled by Health Minister Ma Subramanian in the Assembly for his department said, this initiative would ensure social justice and protect all vulnerable student communities from being discriminated in admission to medical education programmes.
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Privatisation of Public Sector Undertakings is not in national interest and the Tamil Nadu government would oppose the Centre's bid to privatise PSUs which are public assets, Chief Minister M K Stalin informed the State Assembly on Thursday.
The PSUs of India are public assets that are designed to nurture economic growth and provide job opportunities and these are also the bedrock of small and micro enterprises, Stalin said. "It is our view that selling or leasing PSUs are not in national interest," he said.
The public sector units functioned considering larger public good and welfare and an objective of profit alone is not the goal of such enterprises, he added. Hence, the Chief Minister said he would write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to express his government's opposition to the union government following a trend towards privatisation of PSUs, he said.
Prime Minister Modi had months ago said that the "government has no business to be in business." Barring four strategic areas, the Centre had said that it was for privatisation of PSUs in all the other sectors. (PTI)
The Madras High Court has directed the State government to permit native breeds alone to participate in the bull-taming sport of Jallikattu.
Imported/hybrid/cross bulls should not be allowed in the events, a division bench of Justices N Kirubakaran (since retired) and P Velmurugan said in a recent order.
On artificial insemination of cattle, the court said it would amount to meting out cruelty to the animals. The bench was passing orders on a PIL from city resident E Seshan, praying for a direction to this effect.
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Utilising the 15th Finance Commission fund of Rs 4,280 crore, block-level hospitals and urban hospitals will be upgraded in the next five years. Equipment will be provided to primary health centres, urban primary health centres and health sub centres and these centres will be upgraded as health and wellness centres, said Tamil Nadu Health and Family Welfare Minister Ma Subramanian in the assembly Thursday.
“The Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam Programme will be extended to all village and town panchayats, municipalities and corporations in the state at a total cost of Rs 258 crore,” said Subramanian during a debate on demands for grants for his department.
Subramanian said, as announced in the Budget speech, in a first in the country, a separate Siddha Medical University would be set up near Chennai for all Indian Systems of Medicines. He added, “Siddha Geriatric Health and Wellness Centres will be established in 100 block primary health centres at a cost of Rs 3.25 crore at the rate of Rs 3.25 lakh per centre.”
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Hindu Munnani Tamil Nadu president Kadeshwara Subramaniam said that Ganesh Chaturthi will be celebrated as usual, as planned earlier and condemned the state government's decision to impose restrictions on public celebrations of Vinayaka Chathurthi citing COVID-19.
Subaramaniam said in Tiruppur that Munnani workers organised prayers in front of temples across Tamil Nadu Thursday seeking blessings for the conduct of the festival. He demanded that Government immediately should talk to the Munnani and withdraw the curbs.
The future course of action will be decided in a few days, he added.
Munnani workers organised prayers in front of temples at more than 200 places in Tirupur and Coimbatore districts. (PTI)
A pastor and Chairman of St Pauls College of Arts and Science in Coimbatore was arrested on Thursday on a complaint from the Hindu Munnani that he was trying to fan communal tension, police said.
The pastor V David allegedly made some remarks in the context of the Vinayaka Chathurthi processions, sources said, adding he has been remanded to 14 days judicial custody and lodged in the Central jail. (PTI)
A total of 200 flights will be operated between Chennai and major cities today, with 100 arrivals and 100 departures scheduled at the Chennai International Airport.
Aimed at preventing fraud, forgery and impersonation in registration of immovable properties, a Bill was adopted in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Thursday that provides for refusal to register a forged document, cancelling it and a maximum of three year imprisonment for violations by officials.
According to the State Amendment Bill to the Registration Act, 1908, (a Central legislation), a registering officer shall refuse to register a forged document.
Certain other document types including those related to transactions that are prohibited by any Central or State Act shall also be refused to be registered.
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As part of efforts to inoculate all citizens in Nilgiris district, authorities have made it compulsory for those who want to buy liquor in state-run TASMAC outlets to produce vaccination certificates to show that they have taken two doses against Covid-19.
This step was part of the drive to vaccinate the residents, Collector Innocent Divya said on Thursday.
Stating that almost 97 per cent of the population in the district was administered vaccine doses, either first or second, she told reporters that the administration wanted all the citizens to take the second jab also and decided on such a step to reach the target.
Aadhaar cards are also required to be submitted along with the vaccination certificates to purchase liquor at the TASMAC outlets. (PTI)
A month after clearing the implementation of 10.5 per cent reservation for the Vanniyar community in admissions and government jobs, Chief Minister M K Stalin on Thursday announced construction of a memorial in Villupuram for those killed in police firing during an agitation to demand separate quota for the community in 1987.
In his statement, Stalin said it was a promise he made during the Vikravandi by-election of 2019. The government will be spending Rs 4 crore for the memorial construction.
S Ramadoss, founder of the PMK, which is an AIADMK-BJP ally and has the backing of the Vanniyar community in northern Tamil Nadu, welcomed Stalin’s announcement. He termed the 1987 movement as a major struggle for social justice in India. The latest decision of the government was a recognition for those who sacrificed their lives, he said.
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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:
Taramani: Parts of OMR, Church Main Road, Kurinji Nagar, Church Road, CBI Colony, MGR Road and Apollo Hospitals
Thoraipakkam: Sakthi Garden, Madha Koil Street, OMR, Bridhavan Garden, Prabanjan Apartments and surrounding areas
Adyar:
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Tamil Nadu recorded 1,562 positive cases of Covid-19 on Thursday, bringing the state tally to 26,17,943. Among these, Chennai reported 166 positive cases, bringing the city’s total to 5,44,489.
The state recorded 20 deaths on Thursday, putting the state toll at 34,961. A total of 1,684 patients were discharged following treatment, taking the total number of recoveries to 25,66,504.
As of Thursday, the number of active Covid-19 cases in Tamil Nadu is 16,478.
The Southern Railway on Thursday announced further relaxations of restrictions for travelling public in the suburban trains, with immediate effect. All types of tickets will be issued to all category of travelling public including students, an official release said.
"The general male category that was earlier restricted to travel during peak hours (7 am to 9.30 am and 4.30 pm to 7 pm) is now permitted to travel if they produce a two dose covid vaccination certificate along with any ID card to prove their identity at the time of purchasing tickets. They will be issued with all tickets (single/return), including season tickets," it said.
Moreover, for male passengers, excluding students, without authorisation letter/ID card from their workplace and who do not produce the two doses vaccination certificate, the restriction to travel during peak hours will continue.
During non-peak hours they will be issued single journey tickets only, the release added. (PTI)
Vanakkam Chennai!
Welcome to today’s live blog. We bring to you the latest news on Covid-19, politics, features, entertainment, sports, weather, 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.