QChennai: DMK, TTV Name Contestants for Thiruvarur & More

Here is your roundup of the top stories from Chennai.

The Thiruvarur seat fell vacant after the demise of DMK Chief M Karunanidhi. 

(Photo: IANS)

1. DMK Names Poondi Kalaivanan as Candidate, AMMK Picks S Kamaraj

The Thiruvarur seat fell vacant after the demise of DMK Chief M Karunanidhi. (Photo Courtesy: The News Minute)

Ending days of speculation over the candidate who will contest from former Chief Minister and party President M Karunanidhi’s Legislative Assembly constituency, DMK announced its district secretary Poondi Kalaivanan as the party’s candidate for the upcoming Thiruvarur bye-elections in Tamil Nadu. With the seat holding emotional and symbolic significance due to Karunanidhi previously occupying it, a few party cadre had even submitted a petition to the DMK headquarters for Stalin's son, Udhayanidhi Stalin to contest.

TTV Dhinakaran’s Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) also announced its candidate on Friday, naming S Kamaraj as its candidate from Thiruvarur.

Read the full story here.

2. Metrowater Plans to Use Recycled Water for Supply

The lakes, which are major resources for city water supply, are heavily monsoon dependent and fail to quench city’s thirst during drought.(Photo: Reuters)

With freshwater resources becoming scarce in the wake of a failed monsoon, Chennai Metrowater plans to use tertiary treated waste water for city water supply on a trial basis. It may not happen this summer though. The agency has called for bids to construct 10 mld capacity tertiary treatment plants each in Nesapakkam and Perungudi and release the recycled waste water into the Porur and Perungudi lakes.

The project is being implemented based on the IIT-Madras model use of reclaimed water. The government recently sanctioned ₹79 crore for various projects to augment water resources infrastructure, officials said.

(Source: The Hindu)

3. Madras HC Directs TN Min SP Velumani to Respond to Corruption Allegations

According to Arappor Iyakkam, 188 tenders worth Rs 67 crore were awarded to a syndicate of six contractors owned and operated by people close to SP Velumani. (Photo Courtesy: Wikipedia/ Suresh.manickavelu)

Madras High Court directed the Tamil Nadu Minister for Municipal Administration SP Velumani to respond to the allegations of corruption levelled against him. In a petition filed by the NGO Arappor Iyakkam, the minister was accused of indulging in corruption and favouritism in awarding contracts pertaining to Coimbatore and Chennai Corporations, thereby violating the Tamil Nadu Tender Transparency Act 1998 and the provisions of Competition Act 2002.

The accusation pertains to the tenders awarded by the Coimbatore Corporation between 2014 and 2015. According to Arappor Iyakkam, 188 tenders worth Rs 67 crore were awarded to a syndicate of six contractors owned and operated by people close to SP Velumani.

(Source: The News Minute)

4. Final Voters List to Be Published in TN on Jan 21

Election Commission of India has extended the time for publication of the final rolls of the special summary revision in Tamil Nadu following requests from cyclone Gaja-affected districts.(Photo: IANS)

The Election Commission of India has extended the time for publication of the final rolls of the special summary revision in Tamil Nadu from January 4 to January 21 following requests from cyclone Gaja-affected districts.

The exercise was underway based on the claims of objections on the claims of objections received from September 1 to October 31, 2018 after the draft rolls had been published. the ECI has excluded Thiruvarur assembly constituency from this where a by-election will be held on January 28.

(Source: The Times Of India)

5. PIL in Madras HC Seeks ‘Safe Blood Policy’ After TN HIV Blood Transfusion Case

The petitioner has called for the state government to bring in a ‘Safe Blood policy.’(Photo: Kamran Akhter/ FIT)

The Madurai bench of Madras High Court issued notices to the Tamil Nadu Health and Family Welfare Department to respond to petitions seeking better treatment and compensation to the pregnant woman who was transfused HIV infected blood in Sattur in Tamil Nadu.

A PIL was filed by M Abbas Mandhiri, a lawyer and organiser of Makkal Needhi Maiyam (MNM), stating that the blood transfusion reported in Virudhunagar district had to be blamed on the lethargic attitude and the lapse in supervision in the blood bank and the hospital. Hence he requested the court to treat the case as one of criminal negligence since the disaster could have been averted if the blood bank staff, who knew that the donor was HIV positive, had acted diligently.

(Source: The News Minute)

6. Residents in Shock as Villivakkam Road Raised by 6.5 Inches Overnight

Despite a Madras high court order last year stating that milling must be conducted before roads are relaid and residents’ demands, the road was laid in violation of norms.(Photo courtesy: The News Minute)

Residents of Agathiyar Nagar extension in Villivakkam were shocked when the road was raised by 6.5 inches overnight by the corporation contractor, lowering the level of all 27 houses on the street. The contractor blamed the engineer who prepared the estimate as he had said milling the road was not possible due to “technical” reasons. Corporation officials said they would look into the issue.

This road is part of a 430 crore package tender — clouded by corruption allegations — as per which 3,800 roads are to be laid. Despite a Madras high court order last year stating that milling must be conducted before roads are relaid and residents’ demands, the road was laid in violation of norms.

(Source: The Times Of India)