The Hindu : Briefly

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 16, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Briefly

Quota for weaker sections sought

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI MARCH 15. The Thamizhnadu Brahmin Association (TAMBRAS) has demanded reservation for the `economically weaker sections among the forward caste' in educational institutions.

The resolution to this effect was passed in its district conference here yesterday.

In its nine-point charter, the TAMBRAS requested all political parties to support interlinking of rivers. Further, to tide over water scarcity in the State, implementation of a cost-effective desalination project was essential, said its members. Obscene and indecent portrayal of women in the media was also condemned.

Members of the TAMBRAS in a recently-concluded State executive committee meeting unanimously resolved to support the Bharatiya Janta Party and its allies in the Lok Sabha elections, said N. Narayanan, State president.

Magnets, bit papers found

By Our Staff Reporter

THENI MARCH 15. A special flying squad from the Department of Education today caught one student while he was copying in the Higher Secondary Certificate examination at a Government Higher Secondary School at Odaipatti.

The student used magnets to stick bit papers under the steel desk. The squad found him copying from a bit paper. Three magnets and some bit papers were seized. He was not permitted to attend the English second paper examination.

The Chief Educational Officer, S. Nagarajan, said the squad recommended to the secretary of the aided school to initiate disciplinary action against the hall supervisor. Stern action would be taken against the student as per rules and guidelines issued by the Government.

15 kg ganja seized

By Our Staff Reporter

PALANI MARCH 15. The police arrested a couple on the charge of selling ganja near the Andinaickanvalasu bypass near Keeranur yesterday. Fifteen kg of ganja was seized from Anbazhagan (41) and Chandra (35).

2 travelling atop lorry killed

By Our Special Correspondent

VILLUPURAM MARCH 15. Two persons, Radhakrishnan (25) and Venkatesan (27) of Mettathur in Thirunavalur block, travelling atop a lorry, were crushed to death when the vehicle overturned at Madapattu near here today.

The police said the two persons were waiting at Madapattu for a vehicle to transport groundnut bags to Salem. They sought a lift in the lorry carrying iron bars from Pondicherry to Salem. The two loaded the bags on to the lorry and sat on the cargo. After travelling three km, the vehicle fell on its side. The men died on the spot.

Coast Guard motorcycle rally

By Our Staff Reporter

Ramanathapuram MARCH 15. M.A. Warsi, Commanding officer of Coast Guard base at Mandapam, flagged off a `goodwill motorcycle rally' at Mandapam today.

The rally will pass through Tirunelveli, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Munnar, Madurai and finally reach Mandapam in six days. It will cover a total distance of 1,500 km. The 10-member team will visit educational institutions to motivate youngsters to join Coast Guard, he said.

The Coast Guard organised this rally to create an awareness among the fishing community of the do's and don'ts while fishing, the need for preserving the marine eco-system and the risk involved in crossing the international boundary line.

Hall tickets for candidates

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI MARCH 15. Private candidates who are appearing in the SSLC/OSLC examinations (beginning April 1) can collect their hall tickets at the designated centres from March 22.

Students can contact the respective District Educational Officers to know the specific centres from where they can collect the hall tickets. As for candidates writing the matriculation examinations, the Director of Government Examinations, C. Palanivelu, in a release, said the details of centres had been sent to the candidates by post.

Those who have not received the hall tickets should contact the Regional Joint Director of Government Examinations. The Director said no one would be allowed into the examination centres without hall tickets.

Candidates who do not collect the mark sheets (after publication of results) personally from the centres, should tender a self-addressed envelope (with stamps worth Rs. 30) while receiving the hall tickets, said Dr. Palanivelu.

Stupi unveiled in Kancheepuram

By Our Staff Reporter

KANCHEEPURAM MARCH 15. The Kanchi Kamakoti Mutt is rendering yeoman social service to society, R. Venkataraman, former President, said here today.

He was addressing a function after unveiling a 51-foot `stupi' erected on the campus of Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi Viswa Maha Vidyalaya (Deemed University) at Enathur here, to mark the Peetarohohana golden jubilee celebrations of Kanchi Sankaracharya, Sri Jayendra Saraswati.

Mr. Venkataraman said that Sri Jayendra Saraswati was following in the footsteps of the Paramacharya. He had opened schools, dispensaries and hospitals and started several welfare activities to benefit all people. Sri Jayendra Saraswati spread the Hindu dharma throughout the world and was instrumental in renovating temples and performing kumbhabishekam. Sri Vijayendra Saraswati stressed the need to preserve the Hindu dharma, ancient heritage and culture.

Thai delegation to visit Chennai

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI MARCH 15. A business delegation from Thailand will visit Chennai next week for developing business with Indian importers. According to a press release from the India-ASEAN-Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the delegation, under the auspices of the Department of Export Promotion in the Commerce Ministry of Royal Thai Government, will interact with Indian importers dealing in gift and decorative items, furniture, seafood and processing food, kitchenware, water filter and hair cream and hair styling products. Interested importers have been asked to contact the Chamber secretary at Nungambakkam in Chennai.

Man fatally hit by autorickshaw

By Our Staff Reporter

PUDUKOTTAI MARCH 15. A 55-year-old man was fatally knocked down by an autorickshaw at Keelakadu in the district today.

The police said Periaiah of Adhanakottai was crossing road when the autorickshaw knocked him down.

He died on the spot.

The police have registered a case.

Poll information booth set up

By Our Staff Reporter

NAGAPATTINAM MARCH 15 . A box has been kept at the Collectorate here to receive election-related complaints from public.

Complaints can also be filed over phone (04365 - 252500 extension 204) with the Election Complaints Cell at the Collectorate, according to the Collector, M.Veera Shanmugha Moni.

If this, if any voter wants to get information about electoral rolls or the coming Lok Sabha polls can contact a special information booth set up at the Collectorate either in person or over phone (04365 - 252500 extension 221) between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. on all working days, the Collector said in a release.

Developmental works inspected

By Our Staff Reporter

PERAMBALUR MARCH 15 . The Collector, S. Natarajan, inspected developmental works being executed at a cost of Rs.21.69 lakhs in villages including Chinnamutlu and Malayalapatti in the Veppanthattai panchayat union in the district recently.

The works under progress included construction of cement roads at M.V. Puram and Chinnamutlu, construction of sewage pipe laying works at Pannampatti and road improvement works in Vijayapuram Koraiyar.

District officials and local bodies' representatives accompanied the Collector, an official release here said.

During the course of his visit, the Collector inaugurated the Ambedkar Makkal Mandram at Thondamanthurai near Veppanthattai.

Kumbabishekam

By Our Special Correspondent

PUDUKOTTAI MARCH 15 . A large number of devotees participated in the kumbhabishekam of Sri Mazhaimariyamman Temple at Vennavalkudi near Alangudi recently.

Special abishekam and homams were performed. Distribution of free food pockets and devotional music programme formed part of the celebrations.

Power shutdown

By Our Staff Reporter

PUDUKOTTAI MARCH 15 . There will be no power supply in the following areas from 1.30 p.m to 5 p.m on March 16 owing to a monthly maintenance work at Pudukottai Town II Feeder.

The areas are : Rajagopalapuram, Charles Nagar, Periyar Nagar, New bus stand, Santhanathapuram, Kalif Nagar, Thiruvalluvar Nagar, Lakshmi Nagar, Maraimalai Nagar, Ayyanarpuram, Gandhi Nagar, Uslinkulam, Ashok Nagar, Nizam Colony and Sathiyamoorthy Nagar, a release from the TNEB said here.

Mettur level

By Our Staff Reporter

PUDUKOTTAI MARCH 15 . The level in the Mettur reservoir stood at 24.87 feet today.

The inflow was 116 cusecs and discharge nil.

Body found

By Our Staff Reporter

MADURAI MARCH 15 . The body of an unidentified man was found on the Vaigai riverbed here on Sunday.

The police said it bore no injury, and was shifted to the Government Rajaji Hospital for a post-mortem.

Church burgled

By Our Staff Reporter

MADURAI MARCH 15 . Burglars struck at a church at Othakadai on Saturday, and decamped with valuables worth Rs. 10,000.

According to a complaint filed by the priest, M. Johnson (35), the stolen articles included some furniture. The Othakadai police have registered a case.

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