Beware of rumour mongers: Omar to people

June 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Srinagar, Jun 6 (PTI) People should not fall prey to emotional blackmailing and beware of rumour mongers bent upon disturbing peace for vested interests, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has said. His comments came in the wake of violent protest by people over alleged blasphemous depiction of the holy city of Madina on some products, the reports which later proved to be incorrect after police investigation.

“Some elements are bent upon disturbing peace for vested interests and people should not get carried away by their nefarious designs,” Abdullah said, adding the rumour about desecration of holy places was found totally incorrect. “Even a blind will not say that the picture is of Kaba Sharief,” Abdullah said.

Addressing a function after inaugurating Rs 18-crore Sangarmal Complex here, he said a comprehensive development programme has been started for making Srinagar a model city, for which conducive and peaceful atmosphere is imperative. Without naming any group, he said “some people nurture their politics on disturbance and violence and common people have to bear the brunt”.

Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand said construction of a satellite town in Srinagar has been envisaged, besides other city development works.

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Karunanidhi, Rahman unveil theme song for World Classical Tamil Conference

May 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Chennai (Tamil Nadu), May 16 (ANI): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi along with Oscar winning musician A R Rahman launched the theme song for the World Classical Tamil Conference, which encapsulates the contributions of Tamil culture and literature at an event in Tamil Nadu”s Chennai city.

Explaining the central message of the song, Karunanidhi said all persons are equal by birth, and therefore, should live as one race.

Karunanidhi also said that he had devoted himself for nearly 70 years to the promotion of Tamil language.

Pointing out that the song would popularise the Tamil meet, he said 205 scholars from 27 countries would attend, which included 53 experts from Sri Lanka, 37 from Singapore, 29 from Malaysia, 22 from the US and 14 from Canada.

Speaking at the event, Rahman praised the Tamil language and thanked Karunanidhi for providing the opportunity to compose the theme song.

“I want to include all styles and music like folk, carnatic and western because Tamil is a universal language and we should not restrict it with a circle. We should think Tamil language is bigger and use more for it,” said Rahman.

Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister M K Stalin also took part in the event along with a host of other Central and State Government leaders.

Music legend Lakshminarayana Subramaniam and filmmaker Gautham Vasudev Menon were also present at the event.

The World Classical Tamil Conference would be held in Tamil Nadu”s Coimbatore city from June 23 to June 27. (ANI)

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No end to political crisis in Jharkhand

May 12, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Ranchi, May 12 (ANI): The political situation in Jharkhand remains unclear with talks between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and All Jharkhand Student Union (AJSU) reaching a dead end yet again on Wednesday.

“We are discussing the situation with various supporting parties. Talks are on to resolve the matter and there are positive signs. I feel that the present political situation is grave and must be resolved soon, to uphold the trust of people who had elected the government for their welfare,” said Sudesh Mahato, State Minister and AJSU President.

Due to internal differences, the BJP has been unable to appoint a chief ministerial candidate, even as the party”s central observers, Rajnath Singh and Ananth Kumar, seek a consensus with supporting factions.

On the other hand, JMM leaders have not taken a clear stand on which candidate they wish to support as the Chief Minister, further complicating matters.

“All views are being discussed in the ongoing talks, and we are hopeful of arriving at a decision soon,” said Hemant Soren, son of ex-Chief Minister Shibu Soren and a possible candidate for the post of Deputy Chief Minister.

Meanwhile, a few other political parties are closely observing the scenario, and are offering ”formulae” to the JMM to resolve the crisis.

Babulal Marandi, chief of the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) (JVMP) has also joined the fray and has offered support to a coalition of like-minded parties like the JVMP, JMM and the Indian National Congress. Marandi has also asked that the ruling government of the state must be immediately dismissed.

“In my view, no political party will support the JMM in the present scenario. This is because the JMM has not done anything worthwhile for the masses ever since it came to power,” claimed Marandi.

The JMM-led government in Jharkhand was reduced to a minority on April 28 after the BJP withdrew its support, as it was reportedly upset withy Soren for voting with the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government on the cut motion.

After the BJP”s pullout, the ruling coalition has been reduced to 28 Members in a House. (ANI)

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BJP parliamentary unit to decide on Jharkhand CM today

May 10, 2010 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 10 (ANI): The parliamentary board of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will today decide the chief ministerial candidate for Jharkhand.

Former Chief Minister Arjun Munda, Deputy Chief Minister Raghubar Das and former Union Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha are front-runners for the post.

The BJP will head the new Government in the state with the support of 18 JMM MLAs five AJSU MLAs and two JD (U) MLA. The BJP has 18 lawmakers in the Jharkhand State Assembly.

The new coalition Government will have a clear majority of 43 members in the 81 member Jharkhand State Assembly.

The BJP central leadership is said to be keen on having a non-tribal chief minister in Jharkhand but may have to settle for a tribal face to keep its support base intact. (ANI)

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BJP withdraws support from Soren Government for ”betrayal”

April 28, 2010 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Apr 28 (ANI): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday withdrew its support for Shibu Soren”s Government in Jharkhand for voting against the National Democratic Alliance (NDA)”s cut motion.

The BJP took a final call on ties with Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren”s Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) at its Parliamentary Board meeting held here today.

“We are withdrawing support from the government in Jharkhand. Deputy Chief Minister Raghuvar Das would be reaching Ranchi today and handing over the withdrawal letter to the Governor,” said BJP General Secretary Anant Kumar after the Parliamentary Board meeting.

“All BJP ministers would resign with immediate effect,” he added.

The BJP was reportedly upset with Soren for he voted with the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government on the cut motion.

Senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu had earlier this morning said the party would take a final call on ties with Soren at the meeting.

“How can one ally claim he voted for the UPA by mistake,” said Naidu.

Soren was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand on December 30, 2009 for the third time.

He had formed the government with a five-party coalition.

Soren had secured the support of 44 MLAs in the 81-member House after the assembly elections in Jharkhand gave a fractured verdict.

The JMM had 18 seats, BJP had 18 seats, Janata Dal-United (JD-U) had two seats, All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) had five seats and Jharkhand Janadhikar Manch (JJM) had one seat in the assembly.

The Congress has 18 seats in the assembly. (ANI)

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Foreign workers allowed to work in Malaysia despite work permit expiry

April 21, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Penang (Malaysia), Apr 21 (ANI): Employers in Malaysia are allowing the foreign workers to work illegally, despite their work permits expiring, reports Star online.

The Tamil Nesan quoted Suhakam (Human Rights Commission of Malaysia) Commissioner N. Siva Subramaniam as saying that the commission had received numerous complaints on the matter.

Subramaniam said the employers were doing this in order to delay the payment of the balance of salary and benefits due to the workers when they leave the country.

He appealed the government to take immediate action against the errant employers as well as to solve the problem of worker shortage at restaurants.

Penang Deputy Chief Minister Prof Dr P. Ramasamy reportedly said that the Indian community in the country had been neglected as there was no capable leader fighting for their rights.

“The Indian community in the country had been neglected as there was no capable leader fighting for their rights,” he said, urging the community to unite under one umbrella and fight for their rights together. (ANI)

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Mukul Sangma to be sworn in as Meghalaya CM today

April 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Shillong, Apr 20 (ANI): Mukul Sangma, who was elected leader of the Congress Legislature Party in Meghalaya on Monday night, will be sworn in as Chief Minister today.

Deputy Chief Minister Sangma has been elevated to the post of Chief Minister after 21 of the 28 MLAs were opposed to Dr D D Lapang”s leadership.

Sangma has also been elected as the leader of the Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA) by its constituents last night.

The outgoing Chief Minister Lapang submitting his resignation last night and said he respects the decision of majority in the party and would work with the party, though he does not have any position.

The current ruling Congress alliance, sworn in last year after the fall of the NCP-led government, enjoys the support of 44 legislators – 28 from Congress, 9 from UDP, two from Hill State Peoples Democratic Party, one from Khyun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement and four Independents in a house of 60. (ANI)

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Politicians support police ‘mini-cameras’

April 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The Northern Territory Government says it may consider using mini-security cameras for police to try to deter alcohol-fuelled violence.

Security guards in Darwin have been trialing mini-cameras, which are worn on the user’s ear.

The Deputy Chief Minister Delia Lawrie says the Government will look at the device, but only if the Police Commissioner calls for its introduction.

“We have got a track record of having considered anything the police have put forward, in terms of any tools for their job,” Ms Lawrie said.

“We have introduced tough measures in Parliament in terms of assisting police to tackle down on people who want to go out and commit crime.

“Any crime is unacceptable. Alcohol fuelled violence is completely unacceptable.”

The Opposition’s John Elferink says if the cameras deter anti-social behaviour and provide evidence in court, they would be a worthwhile investment.

“If the technology is available and it produces good evidence in a court room, and has the effect of preventing offences from occurring, the Country Liberals would support its introduction,” Mr Elferink said.

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Alagiri says will contest DMK internal polls democratically

April 1, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Chennai, Apr 1 (ANI): Union Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazagam (DMK) leader M K Alagiri on Thursday said he would contest the party’s upcoming internal elections democratically.

Alagiri is reportedly planning to contest for the party chief’s post held by his father and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi.

Alagiri’s statement is seen as extension of a tussle between him and State Deputy Chief Minister M K Stalin.

In an interview to a Tamil Magazine, Karunanidhi denied any ‘friction’ between his sons, and said: “If they clash, it would lead to my heart bleeding and both of them know this very well.”

Commenting on his successor, Karunanidhi said: “In a democracy, individuals have the right to choose their leader… but to implement that decision lies with the party; even I do not have that power.”

On Thursday, Alagiri received a rousing welcome on his return to the city after a brief holiday in Singapore.

Last month, Alagiri said he is not ready to accept any one as his leader after Karunanidhi.

“I will not accept anybody in the DMK as my leader. None is qualified or capable to occupy his position,” Alagiri said.

“After Anna, Kalaignar (Karunanidhi’s sobriquet) has been, continues to be, and will remain my leader forever,” he added, (ANI)

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Punjab seeks greater share in Chandigarh administration

March 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Chandigarh, March 17 (IANS) Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal Wednesday expressed concern over the decline in the number of state cadre officers in the administration of the union territory (UT) of Chandigarh and sought the intervention of Governor Shivraj Patil, who is also the UT administrator, to rectify this.

‘We feel deeply concerned about the declining share of Punjab cadre officers in the affairs of Chandigarh administration. More than being a UT, Chandigarh is also the capital of Punjab and, therefore, we have appealed to the UT administrator to rectify the anomalies at the earliest,’ Badal said here.

He said: ‘At the time of reorganisation of states (on Nov 1, 1966), Chandigarh was made a UT but its administration was handed over to the joint control of Punjab and Haryana on 60:40 basis as per which 60 per cent of the departments were to go to Punjab while only 40 per cent to Haryana. But nobody is following this norm and Punjab’s share in (the) Chandigarh (administration) has been gradually declining.’

Badal also submitted a memorandum on this to Patil Tuesday evening.

He said that in 1966, out of 13 important positions in the Chandigarh administration, nine were held by Punjab cadre officers but now this had reduced to just three.

At the same time, the number of Haryana cadre officers had increased from four to six, he pointed out.

‘The Punjab officers have even been divested of all those departments that were originally agreed for them in 1966. This is a very serious and sensitive matter and it calls for prompt action,’ stated Badal.

Punjab and Haryana have been sharing Chandigarh as their capital since November 1966.

Both states have a common Punjab and Haryana High Court. The secretariats and assemblies of both states and the headquarters of most departments are located in Chandigarh.

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Jharkhand asks banks to step up loans to jobless youth

March 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Ranchi, March 16 (IANS) Jharkhand Deputy Chief Minister Raghubar Das Tuesday warned of action against banks not giving loans to unemployed youth under the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP).

‘It is well known that the banks do not disburse money to unemployed youth under the PMEGP. Suitable action will be taken if the banks do not improve the disbursing of loan system to unemployed youth,’ Das said while replying to a question in the state assembly.

Das said the state government officials have held meetings with State Bank of India (SBI) officials twice this year and asked them to improve the loan disbursing system.

Under the PMEGP, unemployed youth are given loans up to Rs.one lakh for self-employment schemes.

The issue was raised by Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Prajanatantrik (JVM-P) member Pradeep Yadav, who said the targets set under various schemes to provide loans to unemployed youth are not met as banks are ‘indifferent’ to disbursing loans under the PMEGP.

Assembly Speaker C.P. Singh asked Das to take up the issue with the union finance minister to improve the loan disbursals.

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‘Make Punjabi first language in Chandigarh’

March 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Chandigarh, March 16 (IANS) A delegation of literary people and politicians Tuesday submitted a memorandum to Punjab Governor Shivraj Patil seeking first language status for Punjabi in this union territory (UT).

The delegation, led by state Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, also urged Patil, who is also the Chandigarh administrator, to declare Punjabi as a compulsory subject up to Class 10 in all schools in Chandigarh.

‘We have submitted a copy of the resolution that was passed by the Punjab Vidhan Sabha yesterday (Monday). We have demanded to implement Punjabi as the official language in all government offices, boards, corporations and lower courts in Chandigarh,’ Punjab Languages and Education Minister Upinderjit Kaur told reporters.

She added: ‘We have no problem with the medium of schools but we want to declare Punjabi as a compulsory subject in all schools till Class 10.’

The Punjab assembly Monday unanimously passed a resolution that Punjabi should be accorded first language status in Chandigarh.

The centrally administered city of Chandigarh is the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana.

Members of the state Language Advisory Board had also accompanied the delegation of nearly 30 people to Punjab Raj Bhavan, the official residence of the governor.

‘We have also demanded setting up of Punjabi Literary Academy in Chandigarh for the enrichment of Punjabi literature and culture. All important sign-boards and nameplates of government offices should be displayed in Punjabi language,’ Kaur said.

Kaur said the legislators would also urge Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to secure second language status for Punjabi in other states where significant number of Punjabi people live.

The resolution passed Monday said: ‘One cannot ignore the fact that the villages that were razed to make way for Chandigarh comprised 90 percent Punjabi-speaking population. It is, therefore, a matter of inherent right for Punjabi to be the first language of Chandigarh.’

‘The entire administrative work should be carried out in Punjabi. It should be taught as compulsory subject in schools and arrangements should be made to teach other subjects in schools and colleges in Punjabi medium,’ said the resolution.

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Political dialogue gets going with Meghalaya rebels

March 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Shillong, March 16 (IANS) The central government Tuesday set the ball rolling for political negotiations with Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC), a powerful rebel group in Meghalaya, to ensure lasting peace in the Garo Hills.

‘Today, we have started a political dialogue with the ANVC and discussions on their demand for creation of an autonomous council will continue,’ New Delhi’s pointsman and former Intelligence Bureau (IB) chief Pradyot Chandra Haldar told journalists here.

ANVC, a tribal Garo rebel group operating in Meghalaya’s Garo Hills region, is fighting for creation of Garoland Territorial Council. It had entered into a tripartite ceasefire with the central and the Meghalaya governments July 23, 2004.

The outfit had threatened to pull out of the agreement and return to armed struggle if the government failed to come forward with an ‘acceptable solution’ to its demands.

‘Today, we have aired our political demands before Haldar and we have left it to the government to decide on it,’ ANVC spokesman Arist Sangma told IANS.

‘We have scaled down our demand from separate statehood to an autonomous council in line of Bodoland Territorial Council in Assam in the larger interests of our people,’ he said, expressing hope that the government would concede the group’s demand to ensure lasting peace and development in Garo Hills region.

However, Tuesday’s meeting between Haldar and the ANVC did not touch on extension of the ceasefire, which is due to expire March 31.

‘Since we discussed mainly about the political issues of ANVC, the ceasefire extension will be discussed in upcoming joint monitoring group meeting scheduled before March 31,’ Haldar said.

Haldar, who arrived in Shillong Monday, also held meetings with Chief Minister D.D. Lapang, Deputy Chief Minister Mukul M.Sangma and other senior government officials.

Meghalaya has asked the central government not to waste time and reach an ‘acceptable tripartite accord’ with the ANVC for lasting peace in the Garo Hills.

Lapang is leaving for New Delhi to meet Home Minister P.Chidambaram to urge upon him the need for extension of the ceasefire with the ANVC.

‘The ceasefire with ANVC will cease March 31. We cannot drive them (ANVC) to the wall…they might go to the extreme,’ Lapang, who also holds the home portfolio, said.

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Talks start with Meghalaya militant outfit

March 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Talks start with Meghalaya militant outfit

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Tue, Mar 16 05:32 PM

Shillong, March 16 (IANS) The first official-level talks between the central government and the separatist outfit Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC) began in the Meghalaya capital Tuesday, officials here said.

‘Former Intelligence Bureau (IB) chief and the centre’s interlocutor P.C. Haldar started negotiations with the leaders of ANVC, one of the most powerful militant groups based in Meghalaya’s West Garo Hills district,’ a senior Meghalaya government official told IANS on condition of anonymity.

The official, however, refused to divulge any details or the progress of the first day’s talks.

Haldar, who arrived in Shillong Monday, also held meetings with Chief Minister D.D. Lapang, Deputy Chief Minister Mukul M.Sangma and other senior government officials. The state government reportedly expressed willingness for extension of ceasefire with the ANVC beyond March 31.

‘We want autonomy for the Garo tribals. We also want peace but the government is delaying the process,’ ANVC publicity secretary Arist Sangma told reporters ahead of the meeting.

The banned militant group, fighting for creation of Garoland Autonomous Council, had entered into a tripartite ceasefire with the central and the state government July 23, 2004.

The outfit two months back had threatened to break the truce if the central government failed to come forward with an ‘acceptable solution’ to its demands.

Responding to ANVC’s threat to unilaterally end the ceasefire, Lapang had sent his deputy Sangma last week to New Delhi to impress upon the union home ministry on the need for extension of ceasefire.

‘Mukul Sangma met Home Minister P Chidambaram in New Delhi and the latter immediately rushed the centre’s negotiator to Shillong to hold talks with the ANVC,’ the official added.

Another outlawed outfit, Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), has been demanding a sovereign Khasi homeland in Meghalaya.

According to the Meghalaya police officials, the HNLC is closely linked to the Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) and the National Liberation Front of Tripura.

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Badal’s helicopter makes emergency landing in Punjab

August 30, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Chandigarh, Aug 30 (ANI): A helicopter, carrying Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, was forced to make an emergency landing in Punjab’s Ferozepur district on Sunday after developing a suspected technical snag.

Chief Minister’s media advisor Harcharan Bains said the helicopter, Bell 230, was chartered by Punjab Government, and that pilots experienced some difficulty just before the scheduled landing in Jalalabad.

“Preliminary reports pointed towards a technical fault in the cyclical control of the helicopter. The pilots ejected some of the fuel of the chopper before steering the helicopter to an unscheduled landing site,” Bains said.

The Government further has referred the incident to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for an inquiry and would make a statement on the causes of the emergency landing only after the DGCA submits its report. (ANI)

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Bavina Cars – Bavina Cars to set up manufacturing unit in Tamil Nadu

July 11, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Bavina Cars – Bavina Cars to set up manufacturing unit in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu government has allotted 100 acres of land for electric car manufacturer Bavina Cars India Ltd to set up a manufacturing unit at the State Industries Promotion Corporation of TamilNadu’s SEZ at Ranipet near here.

The company has been permitted to produce 25000 cars annually and commercial production of the five-seater vehicle was scheduled to commence from 2011, the release said.

Company promoter S Rajasekar on Friday received the order from Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister M K Stalin, who test drove a prototype of the vehicle.

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Nationalist Congress Party will fight Maharashtra polls along with Congress

July 8, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Panaji, July 8 (ANI): Former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and President of Maharashtra state unit of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) R. R. Patil said that his party is in favor of continuing an alliance with the Congress party in the upcoming elections to the state assembly.

Some of the Congress leaders in Maharashtra are willing to go ahead with without NCP as the party has improved its vote bank significantly in the state in the last general elections.

Regarding, views expressed by some of the Congress leaders against the continuation of alliance with NCP, Patil said, those views are of those leader’s individual opinions and not of their party’s.

The talks for seat sharing between the two parties will start at the right time, and now it’s too early to comment on that, Patil said.

Meanwhile, Congress has warned its Maharashtra leaders against expressing their views on the alliance with NCP in public. (ANI)

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Bandra-Worli Sea Link – Bandra-Worli Sea Link Inauguration – India’s first 8-lane sea bridge in Mumbai to open Tuesday

June 28, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Bandra-Worli Sea Link – Bandra-Worli Sea Link Inauguration – India’s first 8-lane sea bridge in Mumbai to open Tuesday

Sonia Gandhi Mumbai, June 28 (IANS) The Rs.1,600 crore (Rs.16 billion), 5.6-km Bandra-Worli Sea Link (BWSL), India’s first open 8-lane, cable-supported sea bridge that will reduce traffic congestion in this metro, will be inaugurated by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi Tuesday, an official said.

The BWSL inauguration will be held at the northern end of the sea bridge which joins Worli in south Mumbai with Bandra in north Mumbai, the official told IANS here Sunday.

A galaxy of leaders, including Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, central ministers Sharad Pawar, Vilasrao Deshmukh, Sushilkumar Shinde, Praful Patel, state ministers, legislators and parliamentarians shall attend the inaugural.

In construction for over 10 years, the new link between the southern island city and the northwest suburbs will be an alternative to the existing Mahim Causeway.

Currently, a daily traffic volume of over 1.4 million vehicles causes massive traffic snarls, especially during the morning-evening peak hours.

The distance of 8 km between Bandra and Worli currently takes 60-90 minutes to cover during the morning-evening peak hours.

“After BWSL becomes operational Tuesday, this travel time will reduce to barely six-eight minutes. It will also entail savings in vehicular operating costs (VOC) of over Rs.1 billion a year,” an official of the Maharashtra State Roads Development Corporation (MSRDC) said.

The chief attraction of the magnificent structure would be the two cable-stayed bridges, one 500 metres long (northern side) and another 350 metres long (southern side), for the passage of fishing boats.

The bridge rests on two towers, each 126 metres tall or equivalent to a 43-storeyed building.

MSRDC has plans to provide a viewers’ gallery at the top of the towers which would offer a bird’s eye glimpse of the entire city.

There is a modern, automated, 16-lane toll plaza at the southern end, and the bridge has been equipped with sophisticated security and monitoring systems.

Executed by Hindustan Construction Company over a period of more than 10 years, the MSRDC’s project suffered a long delay of five years owing to various hiccups. The company will also maintain the bridge for the next five years.

The public sector giant, Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL), has provided almost two-thirds of the steel used in building the link.

The BWSL has gobbled up a total of nearly 22,235 tonnes of steel of which SAIL’s share is pegged at over 13,780 tonnes, according to a senior SAIL official.

“The steel is of the best quality and has come from our integrated plants. All the steel rods, if laid in a straight row, would measure almost 3,000 kilometres or the breadth of India,” the SAIL official said.

Although the bridge is designed for speeding at 100 km per hour, initially the MSRDC plans to impose a 50 km per hour speed limit to enable motorists to get used to the bridge and prevent accidents. Two lanes are proposed to be reserved exclusively for buses and heavy vehicles.

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Karunanidhi’s son appointed Tamil Nadu’s Deputy CM

May 29, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Chennai, May 29 (ANI): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi’s son, M K Stalin, was on Friday appointed as the Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

State Governor S.S. Barnala announced the appointment on Karunanidhi’s recommendation.

The appointment was announced after his brother M K Azhagiri was sworn-in into the Union Cabinet on Thursday.

Stalin became the Minister for Rural Development and Local Administration after the 2006 Assembly elections. He also served as Treasurer and Youth Wing President of the Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (DMK).

Stalin has been elected four times to the Tamil Nadu Assembly since 1989 from the Thousand Lights constituency in Chennai. (ANI)

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Penang Govt. ready to allot land for Malay Tamil schools

May 21, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Penang (Malaysia), May 21 (ANI): Penang Deputy Chief Minister Prof Dr P. Ramasamy has said that the Penang Government is ready to allot land for Tamil schools in Malaysia.

For this, schools have to make a formal application to the state, the star online quoted Ramasamy as saying.

There are 27 Tamil schools in the state and at least three-quarters do not have their own land. (ANI)

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