The Hindu : Kerala News : Briefly

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 29, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Briefly

Board dissolution flayed

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM Dec. 28. The Leader of the Opposition, V.S. Achuthanandan, has criticised the dissolution of the democratically-elected director board of Matsyafed. In a statement here today, Mr. Achuthanandan said the present director board had been dissolved citing the irregularities committed by its predecessor. The present board had ordered a Vigilance inquiry into the irregularities. The director board had approached the High Court against the move to dissolve it, but the Government informed the Court that it had no such proposal. The dissolution of the board was, therefore, a naked violation of the promise given to the Court, he said.

Reject Kurien's papers: CPI

The CPI deputy legislature party leader, Benoy Viswam, who is also the agent of the LDF candidate in the Rajya Sabha election, C. Divakaran, has requested the Returning Officer to reject the Congress candidate, P.J. Kurien's nomination as he has been charged for criminal offence. In a letter addressed to the Returning Officer, Mr. Viswam has accused Prof. Kurien of having suppressed facts in his nomination paper. In the annexure to the nomination papers, Prof. Kurien has mentioned two cases. With reference to one of these, he has stated that he had been fined Rs. 1,000, but has said nothing about the fact that in the second case, he has been charged under Section 376 of IPC, which can entail punishment up to 10 years, Mr. Viswam pointed out. Although Prof. Kurien has filed an appeal before the Supreme Court, the offence charged against him came under moral turpitude, but this fact has not been mentioned in the nomination papers. This being the case, Prof. Kurien's nomination should be rejected, Mr. Viswam said.

SAC sends more aircraft

The Southern Air Command (SAC) has pressed more aircraft into service for relief operations in Port Blair, Pondicherry, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. One more Avro plane left Thiruvananthapuram for Male this afternoon with food and water. Two aircraft were despatched to the island nation on Monday. Three MI- 8 helicopters were sent to Sri Lanka with emergency consignments of medicine. Three more helicopters will be sent soon. The SAC group captain R.S. Tahlan said here today three AN- 32 transport planes were enagaged in relief operations in Port Blair. The SAC has also sent one helicopter to Pondicherry. Two MI- 8 helicopters stationed at Sulur were despatched to Kanyakumari on Sunday for rescue operations. All SAC forces have been put on full alert and pilots were given a quick briefing on rescue and relief operations.

Trains diverted

Several trains passing through the tsunami-hit coastal belt of Alappuzha in Kerala have been diverted as a precautionary measure.

A Railway release said today that trains were diverted to run via Kottayam instead of Alappuzha. Train No 2431 Thiruvananthapuram-Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express, Train No 5012 Gorakhpur-Thiruvananthapuram Raptisagar Express and Train No 6127/6128 Chennai Egmore-Guruvayur-Chennai Egmore Express of today, in both directions, would be diverted. However, other train services in the Kayamkulam-Alappuzha-Ernakulam section would continue as per schedule. - UNI

NCC opens relief camp

The National Cadet Corps (NCC), Kollam group, has opened a relief camp for the families affected by the tsunami attack at Karunagappally. One officer, two ANOs, one GC and 75 NCC cadets are running the camp at the Higher Secondary School in Ochira.

The NCC cadets are also helping the affected families in Alappuzha and Cherthala. The NCC Director General of Kerala, Lakshadweep region, has issued instructions to all NCC groups to help people affected by the calamity.

SDA media centre opened

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM Dec. 28. The media centre of the South Kerala section of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church was opened at Dhanuvachapuram near Neyyattinkara today by P.K. Vasudevden Nair. The function was inaugurated by the Deputy Speaker, N. Sundaran Nadar, who applauded the humanitarian services of the Seventh-Day Adventists. The meeting offered silent prayers for those who died in the tsunami that lashed the coast of the State on Sunday.

Prayers offered

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM Dec. 28. The Sree Narayana Dharma Sanghom Trust has decided to restrict the 72nd Sivagiri pilgrimage to a symbolic ritual without fanfare in view of the human tragedy wrought by the tsunami waves in the State, according to a press release quoting the general secretary, Sampoornananda. The rickshaw used by Sree Narayana Guru would be taken around the `mahasamadhi' in a symbolic procession. On December 31, the sanyasis and the pilgrims would conduct a day-long prayer for the disaster victims, the press release added.

Exhibition

deferred

KOZHIKODE DEC. 28. The exhibition being planned by the Kozhikode Corporation and the District Industries Centre at the Kandamkulam Jubilee Hall here from December 29, has been deferred on account of the tsunami tragedy and the evacuation of people in coastal areas.

Hotel's gesture

Hotel Hyson Heritage in the city has decided to cancel its New Year eve programmes in the wake of the tsunami havoc. The management and staff of the hotel will donate Rs. 25,000 towards the Prime Minister's Relief Fund, says a release.

Workshop

A two-day workshop for adolescent girls organised by Anweshi got under way here today. As many as 60 select participants from Anganwadi clubs are attending the classes being addressed by social activist Seema Bhaskaran.

Mass marriage

PALAKKAD DEC. 28. The Sri Kurumba Trust of Kizhakkenchery near here will organise mass marriage ceremonies at the Sri Kurumba Kalyana Mandapam on December 29 and 30. A total of 31 couples will get married on these days, according to the directors of the Trust, V.K. Balan and A.R. Kutty. The trust will meet all the marriage expenses in addition to gifting the girls with gold ornaments, dresses, utensils etc. A feast will follow the ceremonies on both days.

Temple fete

The Thulasiamman Pooja and Sasthapreethi festival of the Nurnani Agraharam will be held on December 31 and January 1. As part of the festival, Mandalabhishekam to Azhaku Perumal and Dharmasastha, Yajurveda Karma Parayanam (Varam) and Ardhayama Poojas are being held since November 16. A nine-day Carnatic music festival is also going on as part of the festival.

Media centre

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM Dec. 28. The media centre of the South Kerala section of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church was opened at Dhanuvachapuram near Neyyattinkara today by P.K. Vasudevden Nair.

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