QChennai: Deepa Claims Jaya’s Home; Water Supply to Be Disrupted

Here’s your roundup of news from Chennai.

1. Next Hearing on Petitions by Disqualified AIADMK MLAs on 2 Nov

For the third time on 9 October, the Madras High Court heard the petition of 18 rebel AIADMK MLAs against their disqualification. The High Court has now adjourned the hearing on the individual writ petitions filed by the 18 disqualified MLAs backed by TTV Dhinakaran to 2 November.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami’s counsel has sought time to file the counter documents in the case. The Quint learnt that the court hearing is to be followed by the DMK’s plea for a floor test to be conducted.

Read the full story on The Quint.

Also Read: AIADMK Drama: How the Wait for HC Verdict Could Alter TN Politics

2. Deepa Jayakumar Approaches Madras HC over Jayalalithaa's Residence

The niece of late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Monday approached the Madras High Court to file a writ petition opposing the decision of the Palaniswami government to turn Amma’s Poes Garden residence, Veda Nilayam, into a memorial.

“This is a private property. The government can't enter the property. Despite that, revenue officials have surveyed the property, which is wrong and that's why we have filed a written petition. Jayalalithaa has only 2 legal heirs – Deepa and Deepak. It is an internal dispute and the government cannot interfere,” J Deepa’s advocate Sai Kumaran told The Quint after filing the writ petition.

Read the full story here.

Also Read: ‘Two Leaves’ Case: AIADMK Delegation Meets EC Officials

3. State Blames IIT-M for Death of 517 Wild Animals in Its Campus

The Tamil Nadu government on Monday blamed the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras for large-scale death of animals, including the endangered blackbucks, and poor solid waste management disposal on its campus. Filing an affidavit with the southern bench of the National Green Tribunal, Md Nasimuddin, Principal Secretary, Environment and Forests Department, said data available with the Forest Department indicated large-scale mortality – 517 deaths of wild animals, including spotted deer and jackals, on the campus since 2010.

The government said the issue had been brought to the attention of the institute’s management by the Forest Department on several occasions. “The Forest Range Officer, Guindy National Park, has been undertaking weekly inspections inside the IIT campus and has been advising the authorities on appropriate action to be taken,” the affidavit said.

(Source: The Hindu)

4. Two-Day Truckers' Strike Affects Cargo Movement

With just a few days to go for Deepavali, truckers went on a two-day token strike from Monday affecting the transportation of goods across the State. Nearly three lakh of the 4.5 lakh trucks operated in Tamil Nadu stayed off the roads, according to lorry operators.

Several lorry operators associations took part in the nationwide strike called by the All India Motor Transport Congress to oppose the Goods and Service Tax, escalating fuel price and exorbitant toll charges. P.V. Subramani, Vice President (South Zone) said, “Cargo movement across the State has been affected. Lorries transporting essential commodities are not part of this token strike. We plan to go on an indefinite strike if the Union Ministry of Surface Transport does not hold talks with us.”

(Source: The Hindu)

5. FIR in Gutkha Scam Has No Mention of Minister, Two DGP-Rank Officers

The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) has registered an FIR in the gutkha scam naming 17 middle-level officials belonging to various departments in the State. After preliminary investigation, it has been concluded that there is prima facie evidence of bribery in the case, according to sources.

While there was no mention of a State Minister or two Director-General of Police (DGP) rank officers who allegedly received payments from the gutkha manufacturer, the agency had sent a detailed questionnaire to the then Principal Director of Income Tax (Investigation) BR Balakrishnan, former Chief Secretary PS Rama Mohana Rao and former DGP Ashok Kumar seeking details of the case. The accused have been booked under Section 109 [dealing with punishment of abetment] of the IPC and Section 13 (1) (a) and (d) and 13(2) [dealing with “criminal misconduct by a public servant”] of the Prevention of Corruption Act, an official handling the case said, adding that “detailed investigation” was on.

(Source: The Hindu)

6. Water Supply to Be Disrupted in South Chennai

Water supply to parts of south Chennai will be disrupted on Thursday and Friday as the desalination plant in Nemmeli undergoes maintenance work. Production at the plant, which has the capacity to treat and produce 100 million litre of water per day, will be stopped from 6am on October 12 till 6pm the next day.

The areas that are likely to be affected are Adyar, Velachery, Besant Nagar, Sholinganallur, Injambakkam, Neelankarai, Kottivakkam, Perungudi, Palavakkam, Thiruvanmiyur, Mandaiveli and Mylapore.

(Source: Times Of India)

Also Read: Chennai Water Crisis: City’s Major Water Reservoir Has Dried Up

7. TN Govt Announces Bonus, Ex-gratia for PSU Employees

Chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Monday announced festival bonus and ex-gratia of Rs 489.26 crore to Tamil Nadu government employees. This will benefit 3.69 lakh employees and contract labourers of various public sector undertakings and departments.

In an official statement, Palaniswami said the employees of Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation, transport corporations, Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation, Tamil Nadu Plantation Corporation, Arasu Rubber Corporation, Tamil Nadu Forest Plantation Corporation, Sugar Cooperatives and Aavin would get a bonus of 8.33 percent and ex-gratia of 11.67 percent.

(Source: Times Of India)