QChennai: Farmers Plan Protest Over Cauvery Order on 8 May & More
Here is your roundup of the top stories from Chennai.
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1. Losing Faith in the Judiciary: Tamil Nadu Farmers over Cauvery Issue
Terming the Supreme Court’s directive to the Karnataka government to release 4 TMC of the Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu as too little and too late, farmers in the Cauvery delta region of Tamil Nadu on 3 May said they are losing their faith in judiciary.
They said they had already lost their faith in the central and state governments. The farmers associations alleged that the Centre was intentionally delaying its duty to come out with a scheme for water sharing, as directed by the Supreme Court earlier.
The associations said they were planning to hold a massive protest after 8 May targeting central government establishments to convey their displeasure.
(Source: The Times of India)
2. Jayalalithaa Died a Natural Death, Says Sasikala’s Brother
There is no suspicion in the death of former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, V Dhivaharan, brother of Sasikala, said on Thursday, 3 May after deposing before the one-man commission conducting an inquiry into her death.
“There is no suspicion in her death. It is a natural death,” Dhivaharan told reporters. Justice (Retd) Arumugasamy posed a number of questions regarding Dhivaharan’s political life, his family, their role in Jayalalithaa’s life, about her hospitalisation and the treatment given to her. “I gave the judge whatever details I had,” he said.
Dhivaharan said he did not see Jayalalithaa at the Apollo Hospitals, except in her final moments. “The first time when I came to see her, I came late at night. The doctors said she had gone to sleep. So, I left. Then I came on the night of 4 December when she was put on ECMO; the doctors were trying to revive her,” he said.
(Source: The Hindu)
3. Ad in Cinema Halls Hailing Tamil Nadu CM as God Removed
An advertisement that hailed Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami as God, which was being shown at cinema halls, has been removed, Finance Minister D Jayakumar said.
“The issue was brought to the notice of the Chief Minister and orders have already been issued to remove the advertisement from the theatres. Go and see now. You won’t find that playing [at cinemas],” Jayakumar told reporters on Wednesday, 2 May.
The advertisement shows a woman asking a temple priest to do an archana in the name of Palaniswami, who she says is like a God to her. A video of the advertisement playing in a cinema hall went viral on social media, leading to criticism from all quarters.
(Source: The Hindu)
4. Engineer Sets up Tamil Nadu’s First Eco-Friendly Banner Printer Unit
Furthering the green cause, the District Industries Centre (DIC) helped a 24-year-old engineer set up what is touted be Tamil Nadu’s first eco-friendly banner printer unit. District Collector K Rajamani visited the centre at Annamalai Nagar on the Karur by-pass road on Wednesday, 2 May and appreciated A Reuben for his pioneering initiative.
Talking about the venture, Reuben said it cost him Rs 1.72 crore to set up the unit, including Rs 1.60 crore as machine cost. He can now give jobs to at least 14 persons. The unit was set up with assistance from District Industries Centre. Under the New Entrepreneur cum Enterprise Development Scheme(NEEDS), DIC sanctioned Rs 25 lakhs and also facilitated him with 3 percent subsidy on interest on loan.
Having inaugurated the printing unit a month ago, Reuben has already started bagging orders from corporate companies and business firms that want to go green.
(Source: The Indian Express)
5. With Six Lakh Tonnes, Thanjavur Bags Third Spot in TN Foodgrain Production
With food production touching six lakh tonnes last year, Thanjavur district was placed third in the State pointed out District Collector A Annadurai.
Speaking at the farmers welfare workshop held as part of the Union Government’s Gram Swaraj Abhiyan in town on Wednesday, 2 May, he added that Tamil Nadu has been given the Krishi Karman award for three consecutive years.
The Collector thanked the farmers for their contribution in securing this position among the other districts in the State. In the same breath, he exhorted farmers to adopt new technologies in farming for greater yield.
He went on to say that foreigners have paid a visit to Kumbakonam and Swamimalai to acquaint themselves with agricultural practices that were being followed in the area.
(Source: The New Indian Express)
6. Facebook Post Row: Madras HC Pulls up Police over Inaction Against S Ve Shekar
Censuring the police for their inaction on the complaint lodged against actor-turned-politician and BJP leader S Ve Shekar in connection with his recent Facebook post defaming women journalists, the Madras high court on Thursday, 3 May reserved its order on the advance bail application moved by him.
"Why has no action been taken against him so far? When the department takes immediate actions on complaints filed against the public, why partiality in taking action in this complaint," Justice S Ramathilagam asked.
To this, counsels representing various people who wanted to implead in the petition submitted that police were acting biased since Shekar is a close relative of Tamil Nadu chief secretary.
(Source: The Times of India)
7. Woman Run Over by MRTS Train in Chennai
A 45-year-old woman died after being run over by a train when she was crossing the tracks at Perungudi MRTS station in Chennai on 3 May.
The deceased has been identified as Deivanai Govindan, a native of Tiruvannamalai who was staying in Perungudi and working as a housekeeper at Ramanujan IT City in Taramani.
The accident happened when she was returning home after work. She got down at Perungadi station and was crossing the tracks when a Chennai Beach - Velachery train ran over her. The Government Railway Police registered a case under Section 174 (unnatural death) of the CrPC. Further investigations were on.
(Source: The Times of India)
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