1. Will Sterlite Reopen? Final Hearing on 7 Dec
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) will be holding the final hearing in the Sterlite case on Friday, 7 December. Though the Tamil Nadu government is on the back foot after an independent expert committee observed that the closure order was unjustifiable and against the principles of natural justice, there were some glaring violations established by the Justice Tarun Agarwal committee.
The 205-page full report, which tells in detail how the company flouted norms over the years and Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) allowed it to have a free run before things turned ugly in Thoothukudi. The subsequent killing of 13 protesters in police firing had forced the government to issue a closure order on 28 May 2018 citing public interest.
(Source: The New Indian Express)
2. TN Condemns Centre's Permission for DPR for Mekedatu Dam
Tamil Nadu on Thursday, 6 December, condemned the central government for permitting the Karnataka government to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for building a new dam across the Cauvery river at Mekedatu. At a special session convened, the Tamil Nadu Assembly adopted a unanimous resolution to this effect.
The resolution urged the central government to revoke the permission given by the Central Water Commission to the Karnataka government. Leaders of various parties said that the dam, if constructed, would affect the livelihood of farmers in Tamil Nadu.
(Source: IANS)
3. 100 Chennai Corporation Contractors Allege Graft, Commissioner Assures Probe
Around 100 Corporation contractors have alleged that contractors are forced to pay 18 percent of the total project cost as bribe to receive the work orders from the civic body. While the contractors did not disclose the details about the palms that have to be greased, they suggested corruption exists at both, political and bureaucratic, levels.
The contractors alleged that they haven’t been getting any work over the last four years because of clubbing of tenders as packages and bidder collusion arranged by mid-level bureaucrats. While the corporation has justified packaging of tenders by saying it helps monitor work and maintain quality, contractors claimed that it was just an excuse to benefit 20 ‘chosen’ contractors.
(Source: The New Indian Express)
4. Avadi Double Murder Case: Police Release Suspects’ Images
The Chennai city police have released the images of the prime suspects in the Avadi double murder case, where two people – reportedly from Andhra Pradesh – murdered an elderly couple in Chennai’s Avadi. Podilappu Suresh Kumar and his wife Bhulakshmi, natives of Andhra Pradesh, have been named as the accused in the double murder of retired government press employees Jagadeesan (68) and his wife Vishalini (61).
The couple was found murdered in their farmhouse in Chennai’s Sekkadu, near Avadi, on 28 November. Police stated that 50 sovereigns of gold jewellery too were missing from the property.
(Source: The News Minute)
5. Plan to Hold Art of Living Event at TN Heritage Temple Site Triggers Opposition
An enormous temporary structure that has been set up in the 25 acre Brihadisvara temple, a UNESCO world heritage site, in Thanjavur district has irked a section of residents, political parties and heritage enthusiasts. The structure on the temple lands, has been built to host a two day event being conducted by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's Art of Living Foundation.
Sources in the temple have said that setting up a structure disrupting the path taken by devotees to pray is disrespectful to the place of worship. The ASI, however, maintains that the Art of Living received the required permission to conduct the event at the site."Giving away temple lands for a private event is unprecedented in my 20 years of service here. It is very wrong and we don't know how they got permission," said the priest.
(Source: The News Minute)
6. Class 8 Girl Mowed Down by Water Lorry
A Class 8 girl headed to school was run over by a rashly-driven Metro Water's lorry, just 100 metres away from her house on New Avadi Road, Kilpauk on Thursday, 6 December. Police said the water tanker, plying on contract for the Metro Water board, was speeding when it hit from behind the motorbike in which the 12-year-old Jemima Achu Mathew was riding along with her uncle Jino Alex and 4-year-old cousin.
While the Jemima Achu's uncle and cousin fell on the other side, the girl, who was riding pillion, fell on the lorry's path. “The lorry’s wheel ran over the girl’s head instantly killing her. The other two suffered minor injuries and are now undergoing treatment at a private hospital,” said a police officer.
(Source: The New Indian Express)
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