My-Tamil News

Nilgiri Mountain Railway introduces Toy Train

2008-07-14T02:38:00.001-07:00

Nayan: For the first time in its history the Nilgiri Mountain Railway passenger train made its uphill journey well into the dark hours on Sunday. The Nilgiris Passenger fondly called as 'Toy Train' which runs between Metupalayam and Ooty, started its upward journey as usual at 8 am on Sunday morning. But, the steam locomotive developed a technical snag when it was reaching the Hillgrove area. As it could not pull the train up, it had to be stopped at Aderly, nearly an hour after its departure from Mettupa-layam.

For complete coverage, visit http://www.my-tamil.com/n/index.shtml

Fishermen alleges Sri Lankan Navy firing

2008-07-14T02:34:00.001-07:00

Nayan: Tamil Nadu fishermen alleged that the Sri Lankan Navy fired on one of their boats again in the early hours. The incident was reported to have taken place off the village of Kodiakaraia and there is no confirmation yet of any casualties. Three fishermen – Gnanavel (21), Mathivannan (18) and Thamizharasan (18) – are, however, yet to return home. The Lankan Navy personnel are said to have jumped into the boat of one Ramaswamy to open fire in the air to intimidate the fishermen. They were also said to have damaged the nets that the fishermen had cast in the waters of the bay

For complete coverage, visit http://www.my-tamil.com/n/index.shtml

650 medical herbs collected from TN

2008-07-12T02:55:00.000-07:00

Nayan: It is the largest-ever exhibition of medicinal herbs in the country. In addition to 650 fresh medicinal herbs collected from Kolli, Courtallam, Maruthuvazh and Kandarai hills, the ongoing exhibition at the Anna Government Siddha medical college at Arumba-kkam here has nearly 700 photographs of other medicinal plants with details of their curative powers.

For complete coverage, visit http://www.my-tamil.com/n/index.shtml

Arasu Cable TV Corporation launch on July 15

2008-07-12T02:54:00.001-07:00

Nayan: With just three days to go for the launch of the first phase of 'Arasu Cable TV Corporation Ltd' in Thanjavur on July 15, local cable TV operators (LCOs) and a multi system operator (MSO) are at loggerheads on how Arasu's signals should be routed. The corporation, however, has not revealed if the signals would be given directly to the LCOs or through an existing MSO from whom cable operators presently source their signals.

For complete coverage, visit http://www.my-tamil.com/n/index.shtml

National bird peacock in danget

2008-07-11T00:45:00.001-07:00

Nayan: The peacock may be India's national bird and a delight to the eyes but for the people of Ottapidaram taluk in Thoothukudi district, it is merely a delicacy. Villagers in Ottapidaram and Vilathikulam taluk, who had been poisoning the peacocks and peahens, as they destroyed their crops, have now taken to catapults to finish off the birds. Reason – the poisoned birds cannot be eaten and hence a cleaner way of killing them ensures the birds end up as dinner as well.

For complete coverage, visit http://www.my-tamil.com/n/index.shtml

Eight killed in road accident

2008-07-11T00:43:00.001-07:00

Nayan: The spate of road accidents which killed at least eight people in Chennai during the last seven days has raised concerns about safety of Chennai roads and the adequacy of traffic arrangements to tackle quadrupling vehicular population. Malathi (35), a passenger in a speeding auto, was killed when the vehicle overturned on July 6. Two youth were killed while over speeding in their motorbike on Thursday on Sardar Patel Road where the traffic flow is smoother but faster after a long one-way round about was created around the Halda junction and Chinnamalai. The number of accidents involving government buses (MTC, SETC and other government buses) has gone up in the city after traffic changes. In the last five months alone 244 accidents were reported whereas there were only 526 accidents involving government buses during the whole of 2007.

For complete coverage, visit http://www.my-tamil.com/n/index.shtml

Sand mining creates water scarcity

2008-07-08T04:59:00.001-07:00

Nayan: Government-run sand quarries at Pazhaya Seevaram and Vishar in Kancheepuram district arebrazenly breaking rules. Sand mining upto 20 feet is quite common on Palaru riverbed in Kancheepuram and Vellore districts while the depth allowed by the government is only three feet. This was captured in several scenes of the recently-released documentary film, My name is Palaru directed by R.R.Srinivasan. "Sand mining up to 30 feet in Palaru creates water scarcity in the surrounding villages. Good water is available only up to 15 feet. Indiscriminate sand quarrying up to 30 feet depletes ground water," said Mr P. Durai, state convenor, Water protection movement, Mamandoor in Kancheepuram district.

For complete coverage, visit http://www.my-tamil.com/n/index.shtml

Gold Quest International agent arrested

2008-07-08T04:57:00.001-07:00

Nayan: The CB-CID police arrested one of the highest performing agents of Gold Quest International, Padma (42) from Kilpauk, on Monday. According to the police, Padma had amassed over Rs 22 crores by way of commission from Gold Quest International. "She was the main organiser of the multi-level-marketing scheme in India and abroad and had enrolled about a lakh members into the scheme," the police said. The police have also recovered two cars from the accused and seized some of her property.

For complete coverage, visit http://www.my-tamil.com/n/index.shtml

Left opposes SEZ at Hosur

2008-07-08T04:56:00.001-07:00

Nayan: The ruling DMK's allies CPI (M) and CPI have opposed the acquisition of cultivable land for the proposed 3300-acre multi-product special economic zone (SEZ) in a joint venture by Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation Limited at Hosur, According to the government order issued by the secretary of industries department dated June 2, 2008, administrative sanction had been accorded for acquiring 2930.575 acres of patta dry lands and for alienation of 382.7 acres of poramboke lands, totalling to 3313.275 acres in Achettiapalli and Onnalvadi villages of Hosur taluk and Bairamangalam and Kundumaranapalli villages of Denkanikottai taluk in the district. But the Left parties allege that the wetlands are being acquired as dry lands for the proposed special economic zone. CPI state secretary D. Pandian said, We are against acquiring cultivable and cultivated land for the proposed special economic zone at Hosur.

For complete coverage, visit http://www.my-tamil.com/n/index.shtml

Geelani to release one lakh prisoners

2008-07-07T03:44:00.001-07:00

Nayan: Dr S.A.R.Geelani, a lecturer from Delhi University, who was acquitted in the Parliament attack case, is now on a nationwide mission to release nearly one lakh political prisoners across the country. He wants Ms S. Nalini Srikaran, one of the accused in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, released unconditionally as she has already been pardoned by the family of Rajiv Gandhi.

For complete coverage, visit http://www.my-tamil.com/n/index.shtml

Vellore gauge work to increase railway traffic

2008-07-07T03:43:00.001-07:00

Nayan: The ongoing gauge conversion works from Vellore cantonment to Thiruvanamalai, aimed to increase railway traffic, has hit a speed-breaker after Southern Railway terminated the Rs 40 crore contract awarded to an ISO certified Nagarjuna Construction Company Ltd citing lack of performance and default. However, the Hyderabad-based company claims that the contract was a 'premature termination' as they had refused to grease the palms of a few railway authorities. Speaking to media, a senior official of NCCL seeking anonymity said that the company has posted its personnel in full strength and pumped money running into 90 per cent of the piling work and earth filling had been completed. Terminating a contract at this juncture is a total injustice to the company, he added.

For complete coverage, visit http://www.my-tamil.com/n/index.shtml

96th Indian Science Congress to be held at Shillong

2008-06-30T02:51:00.001-07:00

Nayan: Taken aback by the falling number of students opting for basic sciences, the Indian Science Congress, the all-powerful body of the country's scientific community, is coming out with a comprehensive action plan to attract more number of students to science courses. "The theme for the 96th Indian Science Congress to be held at North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) in Shillong will be Science Education and Attraction of Talents," said Prof Pramod Tandon, vice chancellor, NEHU.

For complete coverage, visit http://www.my-tamil.com/n/index.shtml

Manekshaw funeral held at Chennai

2008-06-30T02:50:00.001-07:00

Nayan: The absence of Union defence minister A. K. Antony and the three service chiefs at the funeral of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw took an interesting turn with former Chief of Army Staff Ved Prakash Malik taking the top brass at the defence ministry to task for insulting one of the greatest generals the country has seen. Gen Malik said the defence minister should have attended the ceremony.

For complete coverage, visit http://www.my-tamil.com/n/index.shtml

Manekshaw funeral today

2008-06-27T23:11:00.001-07:00

Nayan: Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw was accorded a state funeral here on Friday as thousands of people thronged the Wellington barracks to pay their homage to ''Sam Bahadur'' or "the general", as he was affectionately called by the community that he had endeared himself to during his 37 years of stay at Coonoor.

For complete coverage, visit http://www.my-tamil.com/n/index.shtml

Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw is no more

2008-06-27T23:07:00.001-07:00

Nayan: Those who knew Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw well strongly believed that he was immortal. One of the last links between vintage past and high-tech modernity, Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw won all the battles he had fought, most of them by fighting with his back to the wall. He resurrected Indian pride, which was demolished by the Chinese in the 1962 war.

For complete coverage, visit http://www.my-tamil.com/n/index.shtml

Mannar Jawahar as new VC for Anna University

2008-06-27T23:04:00.000-07:00

Nayan: Prof Mannar Jawahar, who assumed office as new vice-chancellor of Anna University, Chennai, relaxed the ban on the use of cell phone. However, dress code regulation will continue. "Students can now bring cell phones into the campus but they cannot use it in classrooms. They have to switch it off during class time. Otherwise, we will take stringent action against them. But they can use it during lunch hour and after class hours," he said and added that cell phone is like an infant. "If you know to lift an infant, you can, otherwise you should not attempt it. The same applies for cell phones. Parents say they are unable to contact their children, so the students can use them during lunch hour and after class hours," he said.

For complete coverage, visit http://www.my-tamil.com/n/index.shtml

Nano technology campaign at Science City

2008-06-27T05:33:00.001-07:00

Nayan: Rural students in Tamil Nadu, especially those belonging to the Adi Dravidar and most backward communities, will be initiated into the world of nano technology, bio technology, bio information technology and other new avenues in science and technology, thanks to an innovative campaign launched by Science City, the Chennai based autonomous organisation under the department of higher education. Dr Rajendra Kumar, collector, Tiruvallur, inaugurated a three-day summer science camp for school students in the rural areas of the district. This is an attempt to reach out to the under privileged groups so that they too get a chance to know more about the world of science and technology, said Dr V Varaprasada Rao, vice-chairman, Science City.

For complete coverage, visit http://www.my-tamil.com/n/index.shtml

TNEA ranks announced

2008-06-26T00:45:00.001-07:00

Nayan: Nine students, mostly from rural districts, have secured first rank in this year's Tamil Nadu Engineering Admission. The Anna University here released the rank list. Rekha Rajendran from Melmugam village in Salem district topped the rank list securing 200 out of 200. Other students who secured the same mark and hit the pinnacle are, S.V. Manoj Kumar from Erode, V. Arun from Kanchipuram, T. Dinesh from Krihsngiri, S. Venkatesh from Thanjavur, Pallavi from Chennai, Vignesh from Tirunelveli and E. Manoj Kumar from Pudukkottai. These nine students who topped the list scored full marks in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and optional subject.

For complete coverage, visit http://www.my-tamil.com/n/index.shtml

MGR's property case

2008-06-26T00:44:00.001-07:00

Nayan: With no breakthrough yet in the alleged murder over MGR's property even 20 days after the incident, the nephews and nieces of the late chief minister claimed that the much talked-about will of the late leader was a forged one. The claim of the only blood relatives of MGR was based on documentary evidence such as the "suspicious" insertions and corrections in the draft of the will, and MGR's signature on the will was radically different from a 1977 lease agreement on Alandur fish market he had signed.

For complete coverage, visit http://www.my-tamil.com/n/index.shtml

Sexually explicit SMSes: Man arrested

2008-06-23T09:02:00.001-07:00

Nayan: The Chennai arrested a cook from Otteri for sending hundreds of obscene messages and death threats to his former employer, a middle-aged woman entrepreneur and local BJP leader. Jayanthi (40), from Thiru Vi Ka Nagar near Sembium, lived with her son and ran a business outlet in the same neighbourhood. She also held a key post in local BJP womens' wing. A few months ago Jayanthi had given a mobile phone to her domestic help Mohan (35) who also stayed in their house and sometimes participated in her party activities. Last month, Mohan vanished from Jayanthi's house and within a few days Jayanthi started receiving sexually-explicit SMSes from his mobile phone. According to the police, she received at least 500 such messages.

For complete coverage, visit http://www.my-tamil.com/n/index.shtml

Report:40 Tamils now imprisoned in Lanka

2008-06-23T09:00:00.001-07:00

Nayan: At least 43 South Indians, including a 79-year-old man and six women, are languishing in Lankan jails for more than 8 years, according to a Chennai-based human rights group. "There are 40 Tamils and 3 Malayalis now imprisoned in Lanka. They are behind the bars for allegedly trying to smuggle narcotics into the island nation. In addition to these people, there are many fishermen who were held by Lankan Navy. They are languishing in various jails in Sri Lanka without any legal support. Some of them have spent 15 years in jails," alleged Mr G Subramanaian, co-ordinator of organisation for protection of Indians' rights abroad (OPIRA).

For complete coverage, visit http://www.my-tamil.com/n/index.shtml

UPA aid to Sri Lanka: MDMK criticises

2008-06-19T07:04:00.001-07:00

Nayan: The Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) had described the UPA government's $ 100 million aid to the Sri Lankan Government as an ''unforgivable betrayal of the Tamil race'' in one of its resolutions adopted during the party conference at Chennai. It also accused the UPA government of following wrong economic policies such as allowing online trading of essential commodities thereby causing financial burden and hardship to the people.

For complete coverage, visit http://www.my-tamil.com/n/index.shtml

School children to undergo surgery

2008-06-19T07:01:00.001-07:00

Nayan: Chennai Corporation has identified 35 corporation school children with heart ailments who would undergo surgery shortly. According to mayor M. Subramanian, the corporation, in association with the state government, would give Rs 1.20 lakh for each child towards their medical expenditure. After inaugurating a free dental camp for corporation school children at Washe-rmenpet on Wednesday, Mr Subramanian told this newspaper that earlier the state health minister M.R.K. Paneerselvam launched a heart care scheme for children aged below 12, of corporation, government-aided and private schools.

For complete coverage, visit http://www.my-tamil.com/n/index.shtml

AIADMK to hold hands with PMK ?

2008-06-11T03:47:00.001-07:00

Nayan: The AIADMK and PMK, expected to hold hands for the Lok Sabha elections, may begin their courtship during the September 1 wedding between PMK leader G.K. Mani's son and the daughter of a senior AIADMK functionary. With both AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa and PMK founder Dr. S. Ramadoss slated to grace the function, there is every possibility that the wedding, likely to be held at the Nehru Indoor Stadium, will assume greater political significance than being another social occasion.

For complete coverage, visit http://www.my-tamil.com/n/index.shtml

Nyeveli Lignite Corporation stir to hit generation

2008-06-11T03:46:00.001-07:00

Nayan: The conciliatory talks between striking Neyveli Lignite Corporation contract workers and management remained inconclusive even as NLC authorities have begun worrying that the generation from lignite fired thermal power plants would soon hit rock bottom. On the other hand, workers are upset that the management is unwilling to consider even their basic demands. Excavation of lignite from the mines, its movement and also power generation have been crippled due to the strike for the last few days. On Tuesday, the NLC managed to produce a mere 800 MW as against the normal generation of 2,490 MW. The TNEB - the sole major beneficiary of the NLC plants drawing 800 to 1,000 MW per day - is likely to be severely affected by the strike. TNEB's average daily requirement from NLC ranges between 800 MW and 1,000 MW. The rest (about 1690 to1490 MW) is sold to neighbouring states of Karnataka, Kerala and the union territory of Puducherry through the grid.

For complete coverage, visit http://www.my-tamil.com/n/index.shtml