Tamil Nadu   

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"Jayalalithaa should step down"

CHENNAI: The State executive of the Tamilnadu Congress Human Rights has demanded Chief Minister Jayalalithaa to step down from the post in view of the Supreme Court's indictment of the State Government for its "poor crowd management" during flood relief distribution here recently, which resulted in the death of 42 people.

The committee, which met here on Saturday, by a resolution, said the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Government could not shirk its responsibility by shifting the blame. Ms. Jayalalithaa, like Bihar Governor Buta Singh, should resign following the Supreme Court's observation.

The executive also decided to organise its west regional conference in Coimbatore on February 19 in which human rights wing leaders from all over the country would participate. The conference would plan the strategy of the State Congress Human Rights for the coming Assembly elections. Congress MP E.M. Sudarsana Natchiappan participated in the meet. — Special Correspondent

Lawyers seek house sites

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court Advocates Association has submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Jayalalithaa requesting her to allot house sites for lawyers in Chennai.

The memorandum, submitted by the president S. Prabakaran, said young members of the Bar were finding it increasingly impossible to buy housing plots. Stating that the Chief Minister was known for her "kind-heartedness and generosity," he said if plots were allotted, advocates could construct houses or flats at an affordable cost.

In another letter, he urged the Centre to consult lawyers and associations before notifying the amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). Referring to agitations in 2004-05 and the Centre's commitment that the amendments would be kept in abeyance, Mr. Prabakaran said the Bill had been passed by both Houses of Parliament. "We appeal to the Centre to invite the representatives of lawyers associations throughout and the Bar Council of India for discussions before giving effect to the amendments." — Special Correspondent

Velu, others pay homage to textile baron

TIRUNELVELI: Thousands paid homage to textile baron, Rm.K. Viswanathan, who died in a road accident on the Tirunelveli-Madurai national highway near Kovilpatti on Friday night. Union Minister of State for Railways R. Velu, Minister for Industries Nainar Nagendran, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Vaiko, Mayor A. Jayarani, Palayamkottai MLA T.P.M. Maideen Khan, traders, rotarians and the public paid their last respects.

Son of Viswanathan performed the last rites. — Staff Reporter

BJP ends yathra

VELLORE: BJP workers, who commenced a 90-km-long padayathra under the leadership of their State president, C.P. Radhakrishnan at Gudiyatham on Thursday ended their journey at the Tamil Nadu-Andhra Pradesh border on Sunday with a public meeting. The intension of the yathra was to urge the Central and Tamil Nadu Governments to prevent the Andhra Pradesh Government from constructing a dam across the Palar River in the Kuppam area. Speaking at the culminating point near the Kanaganachiamman Temple, about a furlong into Andhra Pradesh from the border at Pallathur in Vellore district, Mr. Radhakrishnan said that there was a danger of the river turning permanently into a desert if the Andhra Pradesh Government were to go ahead and construct the dam. — Special Correspondent

Enumeration of manuscripts

DINDIGUL : Enumeration of manuscripts in the district would be conducted between February 1 and 5. Fifty field staff would be involved in the project, said the Collector, S. Murugaia. He was addressing a consultative meeting on enumeration of manuscripts held at the Collectorate on Saturday. Seventy-five-year-old manuscripts written on palm leaves, metal sheets, leather and any other materials about art, culture, literature, astrology, medicine and history should be protected. Rural folk dancers and artistes would perform cultural programmes to propagate the enumeration in villages.

Campus interview

Karaikudi : Vetri Impex, a private exports firm of Chennai, conducted a campus interview for B.Com students of Alagappa Government Arts College here. D. Sivaprakasam, Head, Commerce Department, said six students were selected out of 35 appeared for the interview.

Water level

MADURAI : The water level in Periyar dam stood at 130.9 feet with an inflow of 75 cusecs and a discharge of 600 cusecs. The Vaigai dam level was at 67.09 feet with an inflow of 358 cusecs and a discharge of 761 cusecs.

The combined Periyar Credit stood at 7066 mcft. — Staff Reporter

Woman killed

NAGERCOIL : A woman was killed in a road accident on Sunday. According to the police, Thankapazam of Parakkai near Suchindrum was trying to cross the national highway, when a motorcycle hit her. She died on the way to hospital. Similarly, a two-and-a-half-year-old boy was killed in an accident on Sunday.

Jerin of Simon colony near Colachel was playing in front of his house, when a motorcyclist hit him, killing him on the spot.

Welfare aid given

Tuticorin : Anitha R Radhakrishnan, Minister for Housing and Urban Development, distributed welfare assistance worth Rs.15.82 lakh to 386 beneficiaries at a function held at the Collectorate here on Saturday.

He gave away Rs.4.25 lakh to 113 farmers under the Uzhavar Pathukappu Thittam and distributed sewing machines to 10 persons.

Free house site pattas were given to 219 persons and iron (boxes) to 14 beneficiaries.

17 temporary shelters gutted

Nagercoil : A total of 17 temporary shelters, constructed for tsunami-affected fishermen at Pallam near Sankuthurai beach, were gutted on Sunday.

According to the police, a fire broke out in the house of Antony Adimai, owing to a short circuit and it spread to other shelters.

The shelters and other house hold articles were gutted.

Commits suicide

Tuticorin : An unidentified man committed suicide by jumping from an overhead water tank situated near a kalyanamandapam at Tiruchendur on Sunday.

The police said the man aged about 40 years `announced' his decision to end his life after climbing the tank. — Staff Reporter

Govt. urged to build barrages

TIRUCHI: The Cauvery Delta Farmers' Welfare Association has urged the State government to construct barrages across the Coleroon river for optimum utilisation of flood waters.

In a statement, its president, G. Kanagasabai said the government has planned to construct a few bridges across the Coleroon in Tiruchi and Thanjavur districts

Mettur level

Tiruchi: The water level at the Mettur dam stood at 112.35 feet on Sunday. The inflow was 2,303 cusecs while the outflow nil. — Staff Reporter

Fire in spinning mill

ERODE: Several lakhs worth cotton, yarn and other materials were burnt to ashes in a fire accident in a private spinning mills at Choolai area on Saturday night. Fire and Rescue Service personnel doused the fire after struggling for three hours. The cause of the accident is under investigation and the loss is estimated at several lakhs. On seeing the fire in the mill, workers escaped through the emergency gate. - Staff Reporter

Meet on Tamil literature

NAMAKKAL : The PGP College of Arts and Science organised a one-day national level conference on Tamil Literature titled `Suvadukalai Thedi' here on Saturday.

Speaking at the inaugural session, Madurai Adeenam 292nd Guru Maha Sannidhanam Srilashri Arunagirinadha Sri Gnanasampandha Thesigha Paramachariyaar said apart from patronising Tamil, students should start learning other languages to achieve success in a competitive world. The knowledge of various other languages would broaden the prospects of getting better employment.

Presiding, College Chairman, Palani G. Periyasamy asked the students to strive hard to develop language skills. Postgraduate departments in colleges should take up more research activities. Students should identity social problems and try to come up with solutions for them.

A total of 292 papers in different areas of Tamil literature were presented. Scholars from various parts of the country attended. College Principal, S.S. Narayanasamy welcomed the gathering. - Staff Reporter

Road scheme approved

ATTUR : The Attur Municipality had decided to restore the Paithur Road and the Thennakudipalayam Road at a cost of Rs. 25 lakhs under the Attur Town Traffic Management Plan. A proposal would be sent to the State Government shortly. The municipal council had given its nod. - Staff Reporter

Rally

SALEM : Volunteers of the National Service Scheme of the Sarkkar Kollapatti Government Higher Secondary School stage a rally to encourage tree planting at Thalavaipatti village as a part of the Republic Day celebrations of the school near here recently. - Staff Reporter

Prizes distributed

SALEM : The Melakkadu Panchayat Union Primary School in Ayodhayapattinam panchayat union celebrated the Republic Day and its 40th annual day here recently. School Headmaster Arumugam read the school annual report.

Prizes were distributed to winners of various competitions. . - Staff Reporter

Three injured

TARAMANGALAM: Three men were injured when a van in which they were travelling dashed against a stationary tractor on Thuttampatti Bypass Road here recently. The injured, Selvarajan of Nangavalli, Thandavan and Kuppamuthu, both residents of Mecheri, were admitted to the Salem Government Medical College Hospital. - Staff Reporter

Four constables suspended

Krishnagiri: Four Head Constables attached to the Barur Police Station have been placed under suspension on Sunday on charges of conniving with prohibition offenders and failure to take stringent action against them.

They were: Sankar, Shahjahan, Kaliappan and Ananthan. . - Staff Reporter

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