The Hindu : Briefly

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Feb 03, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Briefly

Fuel conservation award

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI FEB. 2. The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation, Tirunelveli, has bagged the best fuel conservation award at the all-India level for 2002-03. The corporation was selected for the award by the Petroleum Conservation and Research Association.

The certificate and the trophy were given at a function held in New Delhi on January 30.

During the year, the corporation reduced the expenditure by Rs. 3.92 crores, conserving 20 lakh litres of fuel. It increased the mileage from 4.30 km per litre to 4.61 km per litre, says a release from the Metropolitan Transport Corporation.

Car dashes against shop, 2 die

By Our Staff Reporter

Tirunelveli FEB. 2. Two persons, including the son of a cinema hall owner of Tuticorin, were killed and three others injured when a car dashed against a roadside shop near Puliyarai in the wee hours today.

The police said P. Gnanadurai (31), son of a cinema theatre owner, and his friends Rajasekar, Balamurugan, Jayakumar and Mahesh, were returning to Tuticorin in the car after visiting some tourist spots in the Western Ghats. At Kattalaikudiyiruppu, the car dashed against the shop, killing Gnanadurai and Rajasekar on the spot. Balamurugan, Jayakumar and Mahesh have been admitted to hospital with injuries.

Two pilgrims killed

By Our Staff Reporter

DINDIGUL FEB. 2. Two pilgrims from Kerala were killed and 11 others were injured when a car collided head-on with a lorry on Dindigul-Palani main road near Chatrapatti today. The lorry then hit a van coming behind the car.

The deceased were Beena (35) and Asupathi (15) of Maranadu near Kollam in Kerala. The pilgrims were returning to Kerala after dharshan at Sri Dhandayuthapani temple at Palani. The injured, including two children who travelled in the car and three persons in the van, were admitted to a private hospital.

The lorry driver, Sampath Kumar, was arrested. The lorry was coming to Dindigul from Tirupur.

Srirangam fire toll up

By Our Staff Reporter

TIRUCHI FEB. 2. The toll in the January 23 Srirangam marriage hall fire today went up to 62 with the death of another person.

The police identified the victim as S. Natarajan (47) of No. 1 Tollgate on the outskirts of Tiruchi. He was admitted to a private nursing home in the city for the burn injuries he sustained during the accident.

`Allot land for Kumaran statue'

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI FEB. 2. The Kamarajar Deseeya Congress has appealed to the Tamil Nadu Government to allot a place in Chennai city for installing a statue of freedom fighter Tirupur Kumaran.

As the freedom fighter's birth centenary year comes to end by October this year, it urged the Government to sanction the land well in advance to put up the statue. It wanted the Government to allot land for constructing a hall to provide accommodation for aged freedom fighters.

Naval ship on goodwill visit

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI FEB. 2. A French naval ship, Latouche-Triville, will arrive here tomorrow on a goodwill visit.

Over the next four days, its crew will interact with their counterparts here and play a football match. On arrival, the ship's commander, Alam Christienne, and the French Naval Attache, will call on the Naval Officer in-charge, Tamil Nadu, T. Hari.

Programme on provident fund

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI FEB. 2. A two-day training programme was conducted for employers to create an awareness of provident fund and pension with reference to their rights and duties. The programme was inaugurated here on January 29 by T.M. Jawaharlal, secretary, Employers Federation of Southern India.

The participants were drawn from establishments in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Similar programmes will be held in the current year.

Employers interested in participating in the programmes may contact the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner-I, Zonal Training Institute (South Zone), Chennai, says an official release.

Raising Day celebrations

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI FEB. 2. A demonstration on anti-terrorist and counter-insurgency operations and handling of sophisticated modern weaponry formed the highlights of the two-day 36th Raising Day celebrations of Recruits Training Centre (RTC)-II, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Avadi, which concluded today.

Cultural and sports programmes were also held. The RTC-II is one among the pioneer training facilities of CRPF which was formed on February 1, 1969. At the institution, newly-enlisted recruits are physically and mentally conditioned into CRPF constables and good human beings. The institution possesses all modern gadgets for advanced and highly effective training in jungle warfare, counter-insurgency operations, handling of modern weapons and explosives, rescue and relief operations, riot control and unarmed combat. About 50,000 constables have been trained at the institution since its inception, says an official release.

Convention of tax executives

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI FEB. 2. The 30th convention of tax executives of the southern region will be organised by the Hindustan Chamber of Commerce, Chennai, on February 6 and 7.

The convention with the theme `Economic Resurgence - impact and challenges' will discuss topics such as investment planning, taxation aspects of e-commerce, foreign exchange laws, export incentives and customs valuation, tax deduction at source and capital gains.

The Madras High Court judge, N. Kannadasan, will inaugurate the convention, which will see the participation of eminent chartered accountants, tax experts and corporate executives.

Members of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal and senior officials of the Income Tax department will also participate in the deliberations, the chamber secretary, N. Kannan, said in a release.

For details Mr. Kannan can be contacted over phone (25393939) or fax (25392929).

Unorganised workers' demand

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI FEB. 2. The Unorganised Workers' Federation today demanded immediate activation of the Agricultural Workers Welfare Board.

``More than seven lakh farmers are registered by the board but as it is defunct they are unable to enjoy any benefits from it,'' said R. Geeta, additional secretary, Nirman Mazdoor Panchayat Sangam, at a press meeting.

The federation also demanded that the newly-constituted Board provide representation for women and trade members.

``More than 50 per cent of agricultural work force is women but they find no representation on the board.''

Another concern of the federation members was the non-implementation of a pension scheme for construction workers announced by the State Government four years ago. The pension of Rs. 200 has still not been approved by the State Government.

In their 18-point charter of demands, the members stressed on the need for ensuring provision of provident fund, minimum wages and housing facilities for beedi workers.

Demarcation of hawking zones as per the Centre's `National Policy on Street Vendors' and provision of space for street vendors were also urged.

A list of their demands will be presented to political parties before the Lok Sabha elections, said Ms. Geeta.

The federation will take out a rally protesting the inactivation of the board here on March 23.

20 injured in `jallikattu'

By Our Staff Reporter

PUDUKOTTAI FEB. 2 . At least 20 persons were injured in a `jallikattu' held at Keezhathaniyam near Ponnamaravathy in the district today.

Over 5,000 people watched the event , in which over 400 bulls took part. Many tamers and some among the spectators were injured.

While two of the injured were admitted to the Ponnamaravathy government hospital, 18 others were treated as outpatients.

More relief sought

By Our Special Correspondent

TIRUCHI FEB. 2 . The Deccan Consumer Rights Protection Council has urged the Government to sanction an increased relief of Rs. one lakh to the victims of the Srirangam marriage hall fire mishap.

The resolution, adopted at a meeting, also demanded that the Government increase the solatium to the injured to Rs. 50,000 from Rs. 15,000.

It also urged the Government to streamline the functioning of marriage halls to ensure safety.

Mettur level

By Our Staff Reporter

TIRUCHI FEB. 2 . The level in the Mettur dam stood at 30.73 feet today. The inflow was 220 cusecs, and there was no discharge.

Man commits suicide

By Our Staff Reporter

VIRUDHUNAGAR FEB.2.

Muneeswaran (36) allegedly committed suicide today, hanging himself after he had inflicted cut injuries on his sister, Muthulakshmi, over a dispute on money-transaction at Sattur.

According to the police, the victim went to Muthulakshmi's residence and demanded her to repay the money she had owed him.

A wordy dual ended up in Muneeswaran gashing with a knife. However, later he killed himself in his house at Pudusooranpatti.

Boy run over

By Our Staff Reporter

MADURAI FEB.2. A two-and-half-year old boy was run over, when he tried to cross the Madurai-Tirunelveli highway at Sivarakottai near here on Sunday.

Kodilingam was walking along with his father, Veluchamy (38), when he was hit by a private bus. The Kalligudi police arrested the driver, Srinivasan.

Robbery bid

By Our Staff Reporter

DINDIGUL FEB.2. There was a robbery attempt in the Adalur branch of the State Bank of India on Sunday night.

According to sources, unidentified persons broke the wall and damaged the gates of the bank. However, they could not enter the bank. Cash and other things were intact. Acting on a complaint, the police have registered a case.

Plea for road

By Our Staff Reporter

NAGERCOIL FEB.2. The Consumer-Human Rights Protection Group of Kanyakumari district has exhorted the Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, Pon. Radhakrishnan, to take up a bypass road project on the Kanyakumari-Thiruvananthapuram National Highway at Parvathypuram.

The road could be laid from Parvathypuram via, Kaliancaud, Putheri, Ozhighinesari and Kodaigrammam and linked with Suchindram near here to proceed to Kanyakumari, the CHRPG said in a memorandum submitted to the Minister recently.

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