CHENNAI � THURSDAY � OCTOBER 17, 2024 � `9.

00 � PAGES 18 � LATE CITY EDITION

`9,448 crore
DIWALI BONANZA FOR CENTRAL GOVT DA/DR NOW AT 53% OF BASIC PAY/PENSION CABINET CLEARS HIGHER MSP FOR RABI CROPS
Earlier, the Centre had hiked DA/DR by 4 percentage points to 50% from The Cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, also
STAFF/PENSIONERS AS DA/DR UP 3%
■
January 1 , 2024. With the latest hike, DA and DR are now 53% of the basic cleared the price hikes for six rabi crops, with increases ranging from `130
The government’s decision is with e�ect from pay/pension of central government employees / pensioners. The DA hike is to `300 per quintal for 2025-26 marketing season beginning April 2025
July 1 this year and will benefit more than 1 crore based on the 12-month average of All India Consumer Price Index-Industrial ■ The Minimum Support Price for wheat has been increased by `150 to ESTIMATED FINANCIAL IMPLICATION OF THE
employees and pensioners ahead of Diwali Workers, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said after the Cabinet meeting `2,425 per quintal, a move that comes ahead of key state elections | P9 DA/DR HIKE ON THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT

CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOGGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI

1
India violated
sovereignty of
Canada: Trudeau
US, UK, and other members of the Five Eyes
group ask India to probe Canadian charges
Y E S H I S E L I @ New Delhi of suspects. The RCMP felt it
had reached the threshold as it
CANADIAN Prime Minister was soon turning to be a threat
Justin Trudeau on Wednesday to public safety, he added.
said there were clear indica- Trudeau said that when he
tions that India had violated apprised Prime Minister Naren-
Canadian sovereignty, alluding dra Modi in September 2023 (on
to the murder of Khalistani the sidelines of the G20 Summit
radical Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Delhi) about the informa-
in British Columbia last year. tion, he said that there Canadi-
1. Dr Ambedkar Nagar at Veppampatti in Pallikaranai inundated following rainfall on Wednesday He was testifying before a ans who were involved in hate
2 morning 2. Residents crossing a flooded Vyasarpadi road on a boat | ASHWIN PRASATH, SHIBA PRASAD SAHU federal commission probing speeches and India would like
into foreign interfer- them arrested. “I told

Drifting depression spares

ence in the country. Modi that the people
70% flood work Trudeau named gang-
ster Lawrence Bish-
in Canada had free-
dom of speech and we Minor held for
completed in noi jailed in India, as would work with In-
hoax threats to
red-alert TN, pounds AP
one of the conduits dia if it came to

Chennai: Stalin
for criminal activi- terrorism.’’

E X P R E S S N E W S S E R V I C E @ Chennai
ties in Canada at the
alleged behest of the
Modi government.
INDIA ASKED
FOR PROOF
Earlier in the day,
Canada’s allegations
found resonance in
Indian flights
Trudeau said Indi- Trudeau said they the Five Eyes intelli- SHEKHAR SINGH AND
E X P R E S S N E W S S E R V I C E @ Chennai sulted in north Tamil Nadu receiving rainfall,” he said. CHIEF Minister M K Stalin on an diplomats were engaged with the gence alliance it is U J W A L J A L A L I @ New Delhi
receiving sparse rainfall and Briefing reporters on Wednesday assured the resi- collecting informa- Modi govt as they part of. The grouping
THOUGH a red alert was is- south Andhra Pradesh being Wednesday, S Balachandran, dents of Chennai city and its tion of Canadians wanted to know if includes the UK, the AT least 20 flights were disrupt-
sued for Chennai, Tiruvallur pounded by showers, they Additional Director General suburban areas that a perma- who were opponents Indian agencies US, Australia and ed at different airports in and
and other neighbouring dis- said. of Meteorology, RMC, Chen- nent solution to the long-stand- of or in disagreement were involved in New Zealand. “When outside India in the past 48
tricts on Wednesday, change in “But the possibility of very nai, said that moderate rain- ing issue of flooding during with the Modi gov- harming Canadians it comes to the Cana- hours following hoax bomb
the direction of the depression heavy rainfall for north Tamil fall is expected to continue monsoon is in the works. ernment. They passed as they needed to dian matter, we have threats, prompting the Minis-
led to a significant drop in Nadu cannot be ruled out until across the state for the next Around 25%- the information to be accountable. made clear that the try of Home Affairs to seek a
rainfall in most places the depression makes the three days. 30% of the work their gover nment, But India sought allegations are ex- report from the civil aviation
s i n c e We d n e s d ay expected landfall early On Thursday, heavy to very is yet to be done w h i c h e m p l o y e d evidence, he said tremely serious and ministry. Civil Aviation Minis-
morning. on Thursday,” inde- heavy rain is expected at iso- and would be criminals like the they need to be taken ter Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjara-
Later in the day, the pendent weather blog- lated places over Chennai, completed soon, Lawrence Bishnoi gang to seriously. And we wanted to see pu chaired a high-level meeting
Regional Meteorologi- ger K Srikanth said. Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, he said. harm Canadians, he alleged. the government of India coop- of the Directorate General of
cal Centre (RMC) with- “Due to a shift of 50- Tiruvallur, Ranipet, Tiruvan- While inspect- The Royal Canada Mounted erate with Canada in its inves- Civil Aviation, Bureau of Civil
drew the red alert is- 75km in the depres- namalai and Vellore districts. ing rain-hit loca- Police (RCMP) wanted to dis- tigation,” State Department Aviation Security and CISF.
sued to Chennai, sion’s path, the cloud Heavy rain is likely in isolated tions in Pallika- rupt this chain, which is why spokesman Matthew Miller “I am deeply concerned over
Chengalpattu, Tiruvallur convergence shifted to- places of Tirupattur, Krishna- ranai and other areas, the chief they went public on Monday, he told reporters. “Obviously, they the recent disruptive acts tar-
and Kancheepuram districts. wards souther n Andhra giri, Dharmapuri, Salem, Vil- minister said, “Flood preven- said. “We wanted to question have not,” he said. “They have geting Indian airlines, affecting
The drop in rainfall was due Pradesh. The depression’s cir- lupuram and Kallakurichi tion works carried out by the the Indian diplomats but since chosen an alternate path.” both domestic and internation-
to the depression drifting culation is currently unstruc- districts. state government in Chennai they didn’t agree we asked As for Britain, its Foreign al operations, our law enforce-
northwest instead of the pre- tured, with the lower levels On Friday, heavy rainfall is have indeed helped manage them to leave the country.’’ Commonwealth and Develop- ment agencies are pursuing all
dicted west-northwest direc- over the sea and the upper lev- likely over isolated places in heavy rains in the city. We have Trudeau alleged that Indian ment Office said, “The Govern- the cases,” the minister said.
tion, a few weather bloggers els over land, causing a west- Ranipet, Vellore, Krishnagiri been taking precautionary diplomats were involved in cov- ment of India’s cooperation Senior aviation ministry of-
said. The change in the direc- ward tilt. This has led to inte- and Dharmapuri districts, as steps to face the northeast ert, clandestine activities, and with Canada’s legal process is ficials said that the threats tar-
tion of the weather system re- rior regions like Rayalaseema per the RMC forecast. P7 monsoon.” P7 were withholding family visas the right next step.” geted four IndiGo flights, two
SpiceJet, and one Akasa Air,
causing disruption and con-

Terrorism won’t boost trade, Jaishankar’s veiled dig at Pak EXOTIC

cern among passengers. “Six
hoax threats were received on
Monday, seven on Tuesday and
as many on Wednesday,” an of-
Y E S H I S E L I @ New Delhi progress can be made on trade hankar said in remarks that somewhere, there are surely SPECIES HAUL BY ficial told this newspaper.

TAKING a jab at Pakistan’s pol-

and people-to-people connect.
“ O u r e n d e avo u r s w i l l
were seen as directed towards
Pakistan. In a veiled reference
reasons to introspect and caus-
es to address,” he added in an
CHENNAI CUSTOMS Multiple FIRs have been filed
by law enforcement agencies of
icy of nurturing and exporting progress only when our com- to China, with which India has indirect reference to China’s In yet another interception different states, which include
terror, External Affairs Minis- mitment to the SCO Charter an ongoing border dispute, assertive behaviour. of exotic wildlife trafficking three cases being registered by
ter S Jaishankar said on remains firm… this means be- Jaishankar said that trade and Jaishankar also emphasised by Chennai Customs Mumbai Police and eight by
Wednesday that three evils— ing firm and uncompromising connectivity initiatives must the need for comprehensive re- officials, four Siamang Delhi Police.
terrorism, extremism, and sep- in countering the ‘three evils’. recognise territorial integrity form of the UN Security Coun- Gibbon monkeys and Meanwhile, the Mumbai Po-
aratism—are holding back re- If activities across borders are and sovereignty, and it is essen- cil to make the global body 52 green iguanas were lice has detained a 17-year-old
gional cooperation initiatives. characterized by terrorism, ex- tial to have an “honest conver- more representative, transpar- seized from a Malaysian boy from Chhattisgarh’s Ra-
Speaking at the 23rd Shanghai tremism and separatism, they sation” on lack of trust. ent and efficient. “The SCO national who landed at jnandgaon for allegedly send-
Corporation Organisation are hardly likely to encourage “If trust is lacking or coop- must be in the lead of advocat- ing threats to three flights. The
Chennai airport from Kuala
(SCO) Summit in Islamabad, trade, energy flows, connectiv- eration inadequate, if friend- ing such change, not hold back boy reportedly created a social
Pak PM Shehbaz Sharif (R) greets EAM Jaishankar said these evils ity and people-to-people ex- ship has fallen short and good on a matter of such impor- Lumpur on October 13 | P2 media account in his friend’s
S Jaishankar in Islamabad | PTI should be rooted out before any changes in parallel,” Jais- neighbourliness is missing tance,” he said. name to send the threats.

COLONIAL LEGACY PURGED

Blindfold off from Supreme

Court’s new Statue of Justice
S U C H I T R A K A LYA N M O H A N T Y Quoting the CJI, the
@ New Delhi source said, “the stat-
ue should have the
A new Statue of Justice un- Constitution in one
veiled in the Supreme Court hand and not a
library for judges does not have sword, so that a
the iconic blindfold and the message goes out to
sword. The new open-eyed stat- the country that she
ue instead holds a copy of the dispenses justice
Constitution of India in the left according to the
hand. There, however, is no Constitution.”
change in the scales of justice While the sword
in her right hand. is a symbol of
The blindfold in the colonial violence, courts
era statue signified equality be- deliver justice according to
fore the law. And the sword had constitutional laws, Justice
represented authority and the Chandrachud reasoned.
power to punish injustice. The court complex already
A well placed source said has a mural on the Lady of Jus-
Chief Justice of India D Y tice in classical Indian attire LAW NOT BLIND
Chandrachud believes that In- with more or less the same Commissioned by the CJI,
dia should move forward from theme. Holding the scales of the idea behind removing
the British legacy. According to justice in her right hand and the blindfold was to send
the CJI, the law is never blind; looking upward at the scales, a message that the law
it sees everyone equally. she stands atop a lotus. is not blind in India
 ALMANAC TODAY MIN MAX Sunrise 5:59 am
Thursday: 17/10/2024 Year: Krodhi Iyppasi: Valar Pirai Ashwin : Shukla Paksha
Tithi: Paurnima till 16.58 hrs Nakshatra (Star): Revati till 16.22 hrs.
270C 320C Sunset 5:48 pm
Moonrise 5:43 pm
Moon in Meen till 16.22 hrs. Today is Valmiki Jayanti, Sukkoth (Jew), Kartik Snanarambh FORECAST
Rahukaalam: 13:30-15:00 Yamagantam: 06:00-7:30 Gulikakalam: 09:00-10:30 WEATHER Light Thunderstorms, Rain Moonset 5:33 am

02 CHENNAI THURSDAY 17 10 2024

� �

Customs botches up drug parcel probe, trial court acquits two suspects
SIDDHARTH PRABHAKAR and 249 stamps of LSD by Chen- ownership. Customs also found t h e d u m my was no expla- was noted by the judge after pe- that customs dropped its inves-
@ Chennai nai Air Cargo Customs in July 5.55 kg of ganja in their room in parcel to Ru- nation given rusing both signatures, which tigation against him abruptly
2021. The parcel had been sent the lodge. Loy was arrested for bak without as well. This seemed the same. No document after making some headway
A procedurally botched up at- from Spain to a lodge, JMJ his alleged complicity in the ascertaining made the was recovered from Rubak, and did not even arraign him as
tempt by Chennai Customs to motherland, near Auroville. crime. Rubak had told customs the ownership, j u d g e s t at e while the judge also said that an accused in the case. This put
have a ‘controlled delivery’ of a Following an investigation, that the parcel was received on given that no that the con- Loy was implicated in this case their entire narrative under
drug parcel ordered from Spain customs arrested Rubak Man- behalf of one Akhil from name was trolled deliv- without any proof. doubt, the judge said.
allegedly by two men near Au- ikandan (29) and Loy Viegus Kerala. mentioned on ery did not hap- Crucially, investigators re- Customs also did not produce
roville, Puducherry, during the (28) from the address. In an of- Controlled delivery is a tech- the original pen in accordance corded statements of the ac- any document to prove that the
Covid-19 pandemic has resulted ficial release then, customs la- nique to knowingly allow the parcel. What with the law. cused under Customs Act, while accused had been staying at the
in the acquittal of the accused belled them as ‘junkies’, based drug consignment pass through proved to be a major Curiously, one of the the case had been registered un- lodge. Stating that the conduct
by a trial court in Chennai last on their appearance. to the receiver by the investiga- blow for the prosecu- independent witnesses der NDPS Act, the judge said. of the investigation was shoddy,
week. This was after a dummy par- tors to identify those involved tion was that the parcel the investigators used Despite the prosecution’s the judge concluded that the
The case pertains to the sei- cel was handed over as per the in the offence was neither handed over to during the search was case that both accused had pro- prosecution failed to prove the
zure of 994 tablets of the popu- controlled delivery procedure During trial, the judge noted the investigating officials nor Suresh Kumar, the owner of cured the drugs for Akhil, the case beyond all reasonable
lar party drug ‘ecstasy’ (MDMA) to Rubak, who allegedly claimed that the officers handed over was it produced in court. There the house being searched. This mastermind, the judge noted doubts and acquitted the two.

Four monkeys, 52 Sterlite copper slag: Details sought on pending PILs

MOVES HC

‘Savukku’
iguanas seized at
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE per slag weighing around 3.5 slag from the spot , due to which by one SMA Gandhimathi
Shankar seeks @ Madurai lakh tonnes near Uppar River,
forming a heap of 50 feet. Dur-
the areas near the river were
flooded again during the rain in
Nathan in August 2018. In De-
cember 2018, the then division

modification of
SEEKING directions to remove ing heavy rains in 2015, the 2023, Subbiah added. Despite re- bench which heard his petition

Chennai airport
copper slag dumped in the dumped waste obstructed the peated complaints, officials have directed the collector to remove
bunds of Uppar River, Koram- flow of flood water from not taken any action, he the dumped copper slag from
bail conditions pallam channel, along the
Thoothukudi-Tirunelveli na-
the river, leading to se-
vere inundation in the
claimed and sought the
court’s intervention.
the river before January 7, 2019.
Similarly, one SP Muthuraman
tional highway and other parts surrounding areas, he A bench of Justices R had moved the court in the
Malaysian passenger and person waiting to E X P R E S S N E W S S E R V I C E @ Madurai of Thoothukudi district, anoth- added. Subramanian and L same year, seeking direction to
er public interest litigation Following an inspec- Victoria Gowri noted institute criminal proceedings
receive the animals outside airport arrested YOUTUBER ‘Savukku’ Shankar (PIL) petition was filed before tion by the Tamil Nadu that there were some against Vedanta Group for
moved the Madurai Bench of the Madurai Bench of the Ma- Pollution Control Board pending cases on the same dumping copper slag in Uppar
the Madras HC seeking modifi- dras High Court. (TNPCB) in 2018, the company issue. The judges directed the River.
cation of bail conditions in two According to the petitioner, P constructed a 200-metre wall government counsel to obtain Early this year, the Supreme
FIRs pending against him be- Rajasekar Subbiah of around the dumped copper slag details of the said pending cas- Court also reportedly castigat-
fore the Palanichettipatti police Thoothukudi, the copper man- to prevent it from mixing with es and adjourned the matter to ed the state government for not
in Theni and the Cyber Crime ufacturing unit of Vedanta the river water. However, no October 23. removing the copper slag
Police in Tiruchy. While the Group’s ‘Sterlite’ dumped cop- steps were taken to remove the A similar petition was filed dumped in 11 sites.
Theni case pertains to ganja
possession, the case in Tiruchy
is for Shankar’s alleged com-
ment derogating women police
officials on social media.
Shankar claimed that he has
several cases pending against
him across Tamil Nadu and in
most of the cases, while obtain-
ing bail, he was directed to ap-
pear before the police con-
cerned daily morning. Saying
that it is physically impossible
for him to report at the police
The siamang gibbon monkeys and green iguanas were properly fed as per WCCB stations in different districts
advice and sent back to Malaysia, their country of origin | EXPRESS simultaneously, he requested
the court to modify the bail con-
E X P R E S S N E W S S E R V I C E @ Chennai ditions. Justice D Bharatha
Chakravarthy adjourned the
IN yet another interception of cases to Monday.
trafficking of exotic wildlife
species by Chennai air cus- Stations in Theni, Tiruchy
toms, four siamang gibbon Saying that it is physically
monkeys and 52 green iguanas impossible for him to report at
were seized from a Malaysian
woman who landed at the Chen-
the police stations in different
districts simultaneously, he EDU INSTITUTES IN CHENNAI, TIRUVALLUR TO FUNCTION TODAY
nai Airport from Kuala Lumpur requested the court to modify the People and vehicles make their way in Tiruvallur amid intermittent rains on Wednesday. The district recorded 124 mm of rainfall | P RAVIKUMAR
on October 13. bail conditions
A statement issued on
Wednesday said that air intel-
ligence officers intercepted the
woman based on information
and examined her baggage, and
HC allows accused with Parkinson’s disease to attend trial online
found 56 animals in it. E X P R E S S N E W S S E R V I C E @ Chennai case registered by CBI under the willing to submit to it. It is im- record by the court concerned, section 355 of BNSS, 2023, ex-
The authorities from the in judicial custody. The exotic Prevention of Corruption Act perative life is made least incon- then it becomes the responsibil- empting personal appearance,
Wildlife Crime Control Bureau species were properly fed as per THE Madras High Court has ob- against Supreme Chemiplast venient to litigants; and ity of the court to frame the judge said even though the
(WCCB) were called in to exam- WCCB advice and sent back to served that courts have to inte- Private Limited in 2007, in con- merely because someone charges. Therefore, wher- trial court has taken cognisance
ine the wildlife species, and their country of origin, which grate technology into the proce- nection with defrauding the faces criminal accusa- ever possible the court prior to enacting BNSS, inas-
they were certified as four sia- is Malaysia. Further investiga- dure for conducting proceedings, Punjab and Sind bank by avail- tion and is required to may have to resort to much as the explanation to the
mang gibbons (endangered spe- tion is under way. while overturning an order of a ing credit facilities. defend the charge, it technology to make life section only shows the “need to
cies) and 52 green iguanas. The These animals were brought special court for CBI cases which He moved the high court chal- does not necessarily im- less cumbersome and incorporate and integrate tech-
gibbons are native to the forests in to fuel the huge exotic spe- refused to allow an octogenarian lenging the order of the XI Ad- ply he has to surren- most convenient for all nology into procedure.”
of Indonesia, Malaysia, and cies pet trade in India, sources suffering from Parkinson’s dis- ditional Special Court for CBI der all his comforts concerned,” he stat- According to the petitioner,
Thailand. said. Their cost is estimated to ease to appear through video- Cases, Chennai, refusing to al- and convenience to ed in a recent the CBI registered the case in
The air customs officers also be several lakhs of rupees, conference for framing of low him appear through video- participate in trial. order. 2007 and chargesheet was filed
apprehended the person wait- trade sources added. On August charges. conference owing to his “Once the in- Referring in 2016. Based on some state-
ing to receive the animals. Both 12, a siamang gibbon was seized Justice N Seshasayee made ailments. vestigation is to the con- ments, he was suo motu includ-
the passenger and receiver from a passenger who landed in the remarks while allowing a pe- The judge noted that framing over and the tention of ed in the case by the special
were arrested under the Cus- Chennai from Bangkok, cus- tition filed by Jacob, who is the of charges is the responsibility final report is the counsel for court. The framing of charges in
toms Act, 1962, and remanded toms said. tenth accused in a corruption of the court, and the litigant is taken on the petitioner on the case is yet to be completed.

ARIES TAURUS GEMINI CANCER LEO VIRGO LIBRA SCORPIO SAGITTARIUS CAPRICORN AQUARIUS PISCES
(Mar 21 - Apr. 20) (Apr. 21 - May 21) (May 22 - June 21) (June 22 - July 23) (July 24 - Aug. 23) (Aug. 24 - Sept. 23) (Sept. 24 - Oct. 23) (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) (Nov. 23 - Dec. 22) (Dec. 23 - Jan. 20) (Jan. 21 - Feb. 19) (Feb. 20 - Mar 20)
There are Now that Try to think of a In spite of the Don’t expect Sure you have Concern about There’s a People at It may be You’re in a You must be
P E T E R V I DA L certain ties Venus, planet possession or many business your shy side, a personal minor home will be wise to wait generally very careful
and of love, is personal contact obstacles affairs to go but anyone matter is due planetary cycle gearing up another few prosperous what tactics you
17th October : An ambitious Moon brings involvements which can offering you gentle you are losing as something that circums-tances are exactly according to who still believes that to increase over the next at work that affects your for a fight. This is one of days before pressurising phase, but as soon as you apply over the coming
pros and cons over the next few days. never be broken. encouragement, you that you might be better placing in your path, the plan. On the other hand, you are always timid is forty-eight hours, but sign and which comes to those disputes in which anybody else into a firm stop concentrating, costs days. You may feel that it
However, you must make must take one or two off without. You know long-term plan is still there is really no need about to be put firmly this is all to the good if it a head over the coming nothing of substance commitment. The fact could shoot up. All that is wisest to sit back and let
The upside is an ability to handle minor adjustments if you important steps. The better than anyone that working in your favour. to worry about short- in their place. How-ever, alerts you to possible two or three days. The seems to be involved is that close partners happens financially from events take their own
practical affairs, a skill that we could all are to continue to live an first is to acknowledge your future happiness Never imagine that you term hiccups turning over the next three days weak-nesses. Put your opportunities which now beyond a feeling that may feel much more now until the weekend course, interven-ing only in
existence that is fulfilling that other people have depends more than are powerless in the into long-term you can expect to meet time to good account by open up should be someone’s pride has strongly about your may not be entirely to the most critical situations.
do well to cultivate today. The downside and satisfying from a the advantage. The anything on a change of face of fate. You’re not, catastrophes - just as considerably more cleaning up your diet, profoundly creative in been hurt. But, then, ideas than you realised. your liking. This is one of If someone close is
is a tendency to conceal our real feelings. personal point of view. second is to stand back attitude. Strangely, it and if there’s anything long as you keep your opposi-tion than for improving your exercise the broadest sense and it’s what exactly people You should probably those times when you absolutely determined to
Hopefully you haven’t and allow them to would probably also do astrology can teach you, finger on the pulse. That many weeks, so take a and devoting more could, eventually, lead to feel that counts, and spend a little extra have to accept that the go their own way, then at
Hang on, though: come to think of it, backed yourself into too enjoy their period partners good if you altered then it’s how to create way you’ll be prepared positive approach and attention to a life which is so much that’s why they need to effort on gentle planets could be pushing least you can make sure
that can be a positive advantage! much of a corner. of dominance. your opinions. your own future. for the unexpected. listen to good advice. your responsibilities. more satisfying. be placated. persuasion. you in a new direction. that they succeed!

CROSS WORD JUMBLE UNSCRAMBLE THESE JUMBLES, ONE LETTER TO

1 6 8 BY DAVID L. HOYT
THAT SCRAMBLED WORD GAME
EACH SQUARE, TO FORM FOUR
By David ORDINARY
L. Hoyt and JeffWORDS.
Knurek
ACROSS DOWN
3 4 6 7 ANDUnscramble
JEFF KNUREKthese Jumbles,
Get the free JUST JUMBLE app • Follow us on Twitter @PlayJumble

one letter to each square,

1 Supercilious about 1 Article concerning the unknown (4) to form four ordinary words.
organ-playing skill (8) 2 Smoking jackets? (7)
7 9 5 Case of diamonds? (4) 3 It sounds as if they brought RUFTI
9 Girl getting a first love letter (5) up pa and ma well (12)
9 5 2 1 10 Satisfying get-together (7) 4 Identifying man
11 Is this what prompts uddled with gin (6)
4 5 7 9 wool gathering? (4,8) 6 A league match (5) ZAAEM
Solutions to Yesterday’s puzzle

13 It describes letters 7 Got there quite dishevelled

7 6 2 4 to pals perhaps (6) but all in one piece (8)
14 Depression that shows 8 Have a great time - never
4 3 in your face (6) mind the tears (3,6,3) CSOTEK
17 Where marathon winners make 12 One must be fit to have it (8)
3 9 7 2 their name eventually (2,3,4,3) 15 Is he an artisan of some depth? (7)
20 Remove all traces (7) 16 Such food is prepared
5 9 6 21 Man of many parts perhaps (5)
22 They may look right
purely for Jews (6)
18 Heat is reduced to
CIDINT
to superiors (4) around zero in US lake (5)
8
6
1
7
2
5
4
9
7
2
6
3
5
1
3
8
9
4
SU DO KU MEDIUM 23 Quality in a stage 19 Spend a night in a
©2024 Tribune Content Agency, LLC
Now arrange the circled letters
to form the surprise answer, as
production perhaps (8) filthy place outside (4)
3 4 9 1 5 8 6 2 7 TEST YOUR NUMBER All Rights Reserved. suggested by the above cartoon.
7 9 4 6 3 5 8 1 2 CRUNCHING SKILL WITH OUR YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS
5 8 3 2 1 4 9 7 6 UNIQUE PUZZLE Across: 1 Evergreen, 8 Aroma, 9 Console, Down: 2 Viola, 3 Rustic, 4 Reloaded,
1 2 6 7 8 9 4 5 3
10 Putrid, 11 Lamina, 12 Demerara, 15 Islander, 5 Nature, 6 Doormat, 7 Card table, 11 Lie in wait, (Answers tomorrow)
4 3 1 8 9 7 2 6 5 � Fill in the grid with digits in such a manner 18 Ra�e, 20 Worlds, 21 Talents, 13 Marriage, 14 Gloried, 16 Nudges, Jumbles: KOALA UNITY BUSHEL MUSSEL
9 5 8 3 6 2 7 4 1 that every row, every column and every 3X3 box 22 Isere, 23 Scientist. 17 Affect, 19 Lotus. Yesterday’s
Yesterday’s
Answer: The African felines’ car company was profitable
2 6 7 5 4 1 3 9 8 accommodates the digits 1 to 9, without repeating any. thanks to their use of — ASSEMBLY “LIONS”
Puzzle by websudoku.com
 The PM 2.5 level recorded at Chennai NEWS UPDATE FROM TN

17 µg|m3 on Wednesday. Nitrogen dioxide level

was at 6 µg/m3 against the
prescribed standard of 80 µg/m3
Twitter @ xpresstn
‘TNIE Tamilnadu’ @ xpresstn

03 CHENNAI THURSDAY 17 10 2024

� � newindianexpress com

ALERT LIFTED BUT RESIDENTS SEE RED AS NORTH GOES SOUTH

Stormwater drain weighs down lives
P R A V E E N A S A @ Chennai which blocked natural drainage
routes.
DESPITE the heavy rain ceas- Suganthi Vadivel, Athipattu

of hundreds in Vivekananda Nagar

ing over 24 hours ago, northern Pudhunagar Panchayat Presi-
areas in the city, including Pat- dent, alleged that the existing
talam, Pulianthope, Vyasarpa- culverts are inadequate for
di, Vadaperumbakkam, and draining floodwaters. While
Athipattu Puthunagar, re- BPCL constructed one culvert,
mained severely waterlogged and NTPC built three, the dis- E X P R E S S N E W S S E R V I C E @ Chennai
on Wednesday night. TNIE ob- trict administration subse-
served that while areas such as quently directed them to con- FOR H Chinnadurai, a senior
Manali and Manali New Town, struct additional culverts as citizen and resident of Sampan-
which usually experience water these are insufficient, but it is gi Street in Vivekananda Nagar,
stagnation, were relatively un- still pending. life was peaceful until the Avadi
affected, some other parts were Corporation constructed a
found grappling with severe
Leaky relief centres stormwater drain in the area
flooding. While affected residents were about four years ago. Since
Suganthi S (34), a resident of A woman and her pet dog crossing a flooded road at Vyasarpadi | SHIBA PRASAD SAHU relocated to a total of 36 relief then, even during light show-
Pattalam, had to leave home on centres, leaky roofs in a few of ers, his house on the ground
Tuesday with two young daugh- A corporation official told and medical aid were only avail- these shelters forced the people floor gets inundated. The 100-
ters after water began seeping TNIE that the Munusamy canal able on the main roads. to further shift to other loca- odd families in the area said
into their tin-roofed house. Al- is an outdated arch drain that In Vyasarpadi’s Mullai Na- tions. In Ward 37, the designat- they shared the same fate.
though the rain stopped a day carries both rainwater and sew- gar, residents who had left their ed relief centre was turned into Even a day after rain stopped,
ago, streets in Kanakaraya age, but its low capacity often homes on Tuesday, have not yet a communal kitchen, and resi- many houses in Sampangi
Thottam, KM Garden, Choolai, results in flooding. The official returned. Surplus from the Cap- dents were redirected to Udaya Street were inundated. Some Several areas in Pallikaranai submerged
and Anjaneya Kovil Street re- added they are considering ei- tain Cotton Canal has also Suriyan Nagar Primary School. residents bailed out, while some under rainwater | ASHWIN PRASATH
mained inundated. Suganthi, ther removing encroachments flooded nearby areas, including However, due to leaky roofs, chose to wait for the water on
who works as a house help in an and expanding the canal, or cre- Ezhil Nagar. Furthermore, ar- they were relocated again on the street to recede. C Chan-
apartment, said she had to wade ating another direct water path eas like Vadaperumbakkam, Tuesday night to the nearby drasekar, another resident, said parts of south Chennai by
through knee-deep water to to the Buckingham Canal. Cur- Kargil Nagar, and Rajaji Nagar Chennai High School, said this problem began after the Wednesday morning, nearly 100
clean the apartment while her rently, the rainwater must flow in Thiruvottiyur are water- Shakthi, a resident of corporation built a stormwater houses in Ambedkar Nagar,
own home remained in sham- through Munusamy Canal to logged, with around 300 people Vyasarpadi. drain one and a half feet deep Veppampatti, and Pallikaranai,
bles. She said no food was pro- reach Gandhi Canal, then pass sheltered in a nearby relief In Ward 35, the residents and above ground level. remain submerged under knee-
vided in her area, forcing her to through Otteri Nullah, and fi- centre. could not use the toilets at the Though it is a stormwater deep stagnant water. Pushpa, a
bring food from her workplace nally drain into the B-Canal. Meanwhile, Athipattu Puthu- relief centre as the workers drain, only sewage water flows resident, said several houses in
for her children. In Pulian- A 350 HP motor that was per- nagar is inundated with sew- there said construction of the through it throughout the year, the area lacked patta. She urged
thope, the streets of Thattanku- manently installed in the area age-mixed rainwater. Shanthi school’s drainage system was and during rainy days, the rain- the government to provide them
lam, Munusamy, Rudhrapa, and to pump out flood water along (name changed), a resident, al- incomplete, said Kodungaiyur water along with sewage over- with patta and improve basic
Iyyavu remain inundated with with 10 tractor-mounted pumps, leged that flooding became an resident L M Jaiganesh. He flows from the drain and inun- infrastructure like roads.
knee-deep water. The water, were operational, and officials issue in the area about seven to urged the officials to first in- dates the area. Water from all A resident pointing to a stormwater “We lost all our belongings
which reached waist-level on said the water would be drained eight years ago when the BPCL spect the condition of relief surrounding areas flows into drain built by Avadi Corporation above during the floods this year as
Tuesday, only partially receded by Thursday. Meanwhile, the and NTPC facilities were con- centre buildings before allocat- this drain. The main chamber ground level at Sampangi Street in the water rose to about five feet
the following day. residents complained that food structed near Ennore Creek, ing them for public use. on the road is 10 feet deep and Vivekananda Nagar | P RAVI KUMAR high around our houses. If the
seven feet wide, and is connect- officials widen the water chan-
ed to this one-and-half-feet When contacted, a senior cor- nels, the problem could be
stormwater drain, which, not poration official told TNIE that solved to an extent,” said S Ja-
FAMILIES RESCUED BY BOAT AS WATER ENTERS HOMES being able to carry all the water a team of officers had inspected yaseelan, a resident. In North
gushing into it, overflows. the area, and identified that the Avenue and its adjacent streets
Chennai: Around 70 families in Kumaran Nagar, Sengundram, North Chennai,
“The water from here drains width of the stormwater drain in Korattur, there was hip-level
faced severe hardship as hip-deep water inundated their homes on Wednesday,
into Puzhal lake, contaminat- was smaller than the main water on Wednesday morning.
even after the rains had stopped. Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services personnel
ing the potable water. Represen- drain. The elevated slope of the Local body workers used boats
launched a rescue operation, evacuating many residents using boats. According
tations were submitted to the drain has been hindering the to help residents in the area
to K Seenivasagan, Station Officer of Redhills, the rescue team evacuated 49
Avadi Corporation officials sev- natural flow of water. However, move to safe places. The water
people on Wednesday, many of whom lived on the ground floor and had their
eral times, but no action en- they have been clearing block- was drained out by evening.
homes flooded. “There was about four feet of water, and the level started rising
sued,” he lamented. AP Sudar- ages in the drain and water will In Tambaram, around 150
from Wednesday morning,” he said. He added that some families refused to leave
shan, another resident said, “I be pumped out from the street residents of Annai Anjugam
their homes. On Tuesday, the team had already evacuated 15 people from the
have been living here for dec- soon, the official said. Nagar were provided shelter at
area. “All those evacuated, mostly elders and children, were taken to a marriage
ades, and had never faced this Despite the first spell of the Government Higher Secondary
hall for shelter,” Seenivasagan said. ENS
problem until the stormwater northeast monsoon subsiding school, Perungalathur, by Tam-
drain was constructed.” and water clearing from several baram Municipal Corporation.

PARADIP PORT AUTHORITY

HARBOUR WORKS DIVISION No.I
e-TENDER CALL NOTICE
e-TCN No.CE/HWDI/ACCTS-05/24/334, dtd.09.10.2024.
Name of the Work: “Development
of New Road along with drain in CD
Plots for easy movement of cargo
through IPT/Dumpers”. Put to tender
value: Rs.5,13,88,904.34 plus GST
as applicable. Last date & �me of
submission of tender through online
bidding is 04.11.2024 up to 17:15 Hrs.
For details, please log on to the Website:
h�ps://eprocure.gov.in/eprocure/app.
Sd/- Execu�ve Engineer, Harbour Works
Division No.I, Paradip Port Authority
PPA/PR/44/2024-2025 dtd.15.10.2024

���������������
2nd Floor, No.10, C.P.Ramasamy
Road, Alwarpet, Chennai-600 018.
PREMISES REQUIRED FOR OFFICE /
BRANCH AT INDIRA NAGAR
����� ��� �������� ��������� �������
Chennai Metro Region invites proposals
/ offers in two bid system from landlords
������� ������ ���� ����������� ������� �����
����� ���� ��������� ���������� ������� �������
area approximately of 1800-2300 sq.ft
��������� ��� ���� ������� ����� ����� ����
����������������������������������������
��������������������������������������������� Government of Jammu & Kashmir
���������������������������������������������
���� ����������� ���������� ��������� ������ ��� OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER MECHANICAL& HOSPITAL DIVISION SRINAGAR
Chennai Metro Region. The premises (Erstwhile Mechanical Hospital & Central Heating Division Srinagar)
��������� ����� ��� ��� ������������� ������� Contact No: 0194-2496089, Email Id: [email protected]
����������� ������ ��� ������ ��� ������� �����
�������������������������������������������� GIST of e-tender
���� ����������� ������������� ��������� (SHORT TERM)
should be ready for possession in all
����������������������������������������������
NIT No: M&HDS/TS /2024-25/95/e-tendering, Dated:-11-10-2024
����� ���� ����� ��� ������ ���� ���������� For and on behalf of the Lt. Governor, J&K UT e-tenders are invited from eligible registered/reputed/experienced firms
The intending offerers shall submit their with J&K State Govt., CPWD, Railways and other State/Central Governments for the below mentioned work:
������� ��� ���� ��������� ������� ������ Estimated Cost of Earnest Contract Accord of
������ �������� ���������� ���� ���� ������ Technical Position of
Name of the Work Cost Tender Doc. Money Period Administrative
bid to: The Deputy General Manager, Sanction funds
��������������������������������������� (In Lakhs) (In Rs) (In Rs) Approval
Floor, No.10, C.P.Ramasamy Road, 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Alwarpet, Chennai- 600 018 on or before 1. Operation and CMC
30.10.2024 by 3.00 pm. For details please for 7 No. 8 Passenger,
���� ��� ��� ������� �������� ��� ���� ������� MHED/K/ Available
(G+4)/(G+5) TKE Lifts Estates/ACSTK/
www.bankofbaroda.com or contact TS/36 with the
044-23454219 / 9677244156. ���� ����� installed at Excise and 10.05 500 20,000 365Days 100-106, Dt
Dt intending
��������� ���� ������ ��� ������� ��� ������� ���� Taxation Complex solina, 12.07.2024
10/08/24 department
offer without assigning reasons thereof. Rambagh for the year
DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER & REGIONAL HEAD
2024-25
REGIONAL OFFICE, CHENNAI METRO REGION 1. Downloading of Bids:- The NIT Consisting of qualifying information, eligibility criteria, specifications, Bill of
quantities (B.O.Q), Set of terms and conditions of contract and other details can be seen from the departmental website
www.jktenders.gov.in from 11-10-2024 (18.00 hrs)and can be downloaded from 11-10-2024 (18.00 hrs).
THE WAY TO GET 2. Uploading: The bidders shall deposit their bids in electronic format on the above website 11-10-2024 (18:00 hrs)
to 18.10.2024 (12:00 hrs) in two (02) covers.
STARTED IS TO QUIT 3. Opening of Bids :- The bids received upto due date and time shall be opened on 18.10.2024 at 14.00 (hrs)
TALKING AND BEGIN Sd/-
DOING ❯ WALT DISNEY Executive Engineer,
M&HD, Srinagar
No: M&HDS/TS/4673-77 DIPK-5970/24 Dated: 11.10.2024
 FLIGHT As many as 148 passengers were stranded for seven hours at Tiruchy
airport on Wednesday after a Sharjah-bound Air India Express flight
DELAY developed a technical snag. The flight, which was to take off at 5.40
pm from Tiruchy airport was rescheduled for 1 am on Thursday

04 CHENNAI THURSDAY 17 10 2024

� �

Probe up 18%, but DVAC ’23-24 tally 2 lowest in 10 yrs nd

AFTER A MONTH

Samsung stir called S I D D H A R T H P R A B H A K A R @ Chennai

off, workers set to

DVAC PERFORMANCE PE: Preliminary Enquiry DE: Detailed Enquiry RC:Regular Cases Trap
AT a time when concerns are 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24

A look at the directorate’s performance in four years

being raised against its

NUMBERS SPEAK
alleged lethargy in

rejoin duty today

cracking down on
corruption, the Direc- Total Total Total Total
torate of Vigilance 553 551 389 460
and Anti-Corruption
(DVAC) has registered
an 18% increase in the
CITU says ministers have told firm to submit number of investigations
written response to the union’s demands it conducted in 2023-24 over 116 286 46 105 120 230 72 129 137 117 35 100 155 134 53 118
the previous year, official
data published on its website TOTAL PERSONS INVOLVED PE and DE RC Trap
made- Samsung should issue a
E X P R E S S N E W S S E R V I C E @ Chennai on Monday indicates. Total: 1,574 Total: 1,530 Total: 1,003 Total: 1,217
written response to their char- The state government’s anti-
THE Samsung workers, who ter of demands before the con- corruption agency has regis-
N
had been protesting in Sripe- ciliatory officer, and no retalia- tered a total of 460 investigations TR AT I O
LU S
rumbudur since September 9, tory action be taken against the in 2023-24, which is an increase S IL
R ES 374 1,029 171 534 840 156 351 471 181 471 537 209
have officially called off their workers who were a part of the from 389 it recorded in 2022-23. EXP

stir. The strike was withdrawn strike from September 9. This includes three investiga- 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24
after a general body meeting Samsung India, on the other tions against All India Service
convened by the Centre of In- hand said the workers should Officers (AISO), which was nil (PE), Detailed Enquiry (DE), period. 2020-21 (286) and 2021-22 (230), rose to 1,217 in 2023-24. As was
dian Trade Unions (CITU) on immediately return to work, in the previous year. However, Regular Cases (RC) and Traps. Among the important traps said Jayaram Venkatesan, co- the case with previous years, the
Wednesday morning. The work- extend full cooperation to the this is still the agency’s second- An RC is a case where the FIR listed by the agency is the case convenor of NGO Arappor Iya- rural department tops the chart
ers are set to return to work on management thereafter. poorest performance in the last is filed after preliminary inves- against an official of central kkam which recently ran a in this count (271), and local bod-
Thursday. The company also agreed decade, according to its own tigation and complaints. Traps agency Enforcement Directo- campaign highlighting DVAC’s ies comes second (130).
Speaking to reporters, A that no action would be initi- data. Its worst was in FY23, are cases where corrupt gov- rate (ED) in Madurai who was alleged inactivity. There has been a significant
Soundararajan, state CITU ated against workers for which was a 29.4% drop from ernment servants are caught arrested for allegedly accepting DVAC’s data on the number of increase in the number of probe
general secretary, said merely taking part in the FY22, and its best was in 2016-17 red-handed while taking bribes a bribe of `20 lakh on Decem- persons involved in corruption against police officials with the
the designated minis- strike and that it will when 801 investigations were after which DVAC files an FIR. ber 1, 2023. This was allegedly cases department-wise also indi- agency recording 67 investiga-
ters, on behalf of the file a written response registered. The third-lowest The number of RC has in- for not acting against the com- cate a 21% increase in 2023-24 as tions in 23-24 as compared to 46
s t a t e g ove r n m e n t , to the workers’ was 462 in 2013-14, the data creased from 117 to 134 in 2023- plainant, DVAC said. compared to the previous year. last year.
urged Samsung to sub- demands. show. 2024 over the last year, while in However, the number of RCs While 1,003 government em- DVAC secured 94 convictions
mit a written response Apart from this, Sam- DVAC classifies its investiga- case of Traps, it has gone up is still half of what the agency ployees were under the agency’s in 2023-24, which is a drop from
to the union’s charter sung also stated that tions into Preliminary Enquiry from 137 to 155 during the same booked during 2019-20 (261), scanner in 2022-23, the number 105 the previous year.
of demands through ‘Quash FIR’ resolution to the
the labour depart- g rievances raised

Cyber cops’ quick action helps remove fraud site Rains posing a
ment and following As part of their would be addressed
that, conciliatory discussions, CITU after discussions with
unofficially asked
talks would continue.
“If we do not arrive
at an understanding
the state to
ensure that the
the workers directly.
As part of their dis-
cussions, CITU also blocked because you have seen
threat to Vijay’s
political meet
E X P R E S S N E W S S E R V I C E @ Chennai
even after that, then
we will fight it out in
FIRs against 10
workers during
unofficially asked the
state government to THE Cyber Patrolling Team of
1 Check the website
URL: Scammers often 2 Verify
HTTPS:
some pornographic contents”.
They cheat the unsuspecting
in Vikravandi
the month-long create spoofed websites Legitimate
the court,” Soundara- ensure that the FIRs Cyber Crime Wing has identi- that look almost websites public by displaying a fine of
rajan said. protest are against 10 of the work- fied and helped block a website `30,290, citing certain IPC Sec-
identical to legitimate use HTTPS
Sources told TNIE quashed ers during the month- posing as National Cybercrime ones but may have small (hypertext tions. By this way, they make
that at the conclusive long protest are Reporting Portal (NCRP). differences transfer the people pay using credit EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
protocol
What to
3
round of talks, four representa- quashed. The content of the website Watch for spelling cards and capture those details @ Villupuram
secure).
tives from Samsung India and While the strike has been shows ‘YOUR COMPUTER HAS which are later used to swindle
six workers, along with A withdrawn, a round of follow- BEEN BLOCKED’. It has a pay- do to avoid mistakes: Fake
websites often contain
HTTPS
always money, the release said. PREPARATIONS for Tamilaga
Soundararajan and E Muthu- up talks have been scheduled ment details column which can being typos or incorrect
spellings. Carefully look
signifies that Acting swiftly, the Cyber Pa- Vettri Kazhagam’s (TVK) first
kumar from the CITU, were for November 7.
present apart from state gov- At the general body meeting
capture sensitive financial in-
formation such as “Card details,
scammed into the domain name,
user data
is secure,
trolling team sent a notice, as
per the IT rules 2021, to the do-
meeting, scheduled to take place
near Vikravandi on October 27,
as government websites ownership
ernment representatives. on Wednesday in which around Expiry Date and CVV”, an offi- always end with gov.in main registrar based in Hong have been disrupted by continu-
of the
At the end of the talks that 1200 participants, mostly Sam- cial release by the wing said on Kong to block the fraudulent ous rain over the past few days.
4 Becarefully
cautious of pop-ups: While accessing any of the websites, website is
lasted for over 15 hours, an sung workers, were part of, con- Wednesday. verified and website, and the illegal site was The heavy downpour has delayed
look into the pop-ups and allow only if necessary.
agreement was entered into by cerns of hostility from the The website (https://infaulwn- it prevents taken down immediately. key arrangements at the venue,
the two parties in the presence management upon returning to
of the Joint Commissioner and work were raised. Following a
mx.cyou/) identified by the team
has an inbuilt setting to make 5on advertisements
Do not click on ads: The
displayed
the websites may be from
6 Think before you enter:
Always think multiple times,
before entering sensitive
attackers
from
creating a
It is to take proactive action to
curb the menace of Cybercrimes
particularly due to water
stagnation.
Deputy Commissioner of La- discussion with the union itself go into full-screen mode that the TN Cyber Crime Wing Sources said the rainwater
illegitimate sources. Do not financial information such as fake version
bour. On the CITU’s behalf, members, they agreed to return with a voice over at the back say- click on such ads card number, CVV, etc. of the site has formed a Cyber Patrolling generally stagnates in the area
there were two major demands to work on Thursday. ing, “Your computer has been team. during the monsoon and can take
weeks to dry. If the rain does not
recede two or three days before

Didn’t attack priest, got the event, it will certainly affect

the summit. They added even
temporary measures may not

off car to resolve issue,

suffice if the rain persists.
Meanwhile, police are alleg-
edly seeking

says Kadambur Raju

clarification
from the sum-
mit organisers
on several is-
sues, including
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE He added the priest was be- parking and
@ Thoothukudi ing attacked by the bikers and measures to
he, along with Velumani, got manage poten-
DENYING the allegation of as- down from the car to resolve tial water stag-
sault levelled against him by a the issue. nation at the venue. “The organ-
priest, former minister Kad- On Social Welfare and Wom- isers have been asked to submit
ambur C Raju said he was only en Empowerment Minister a parking plan that provides ad-
trying to resolve an issue be- Geetha Jeevan’s remarks, Raju ditional space for vehicles and
tween the complainant and a said she commented without ensures their safety during the
few bikers at an executive par- learning the entirety of what monsoon,” sources said. The po-
ty workers’ meeting in happened. lice are also seeking tentative de-

WATER WORLD Vilathikulam late on

Tuesday.
“What is the need to
do politics by mention-
tails of vehicles expected to ar-
rive for the event.
For some it is fun, and for others it’s misery, as the recent rains have left The former minister ing religion and caste Party’s general secretary
roads in Pulianthope, Vyasarpadi and Koyambedu in Chennai submerged along with another ex- when no one knew he Bussy Anand, who oversees the
in water | MARTIN LOUIS & P JAWAHAR minister SP Velumani was a priest when the arrangements, submitted a peti-
and 15 others were incident happened?” tion to the district administra-
booked by the Muthai- he asked. tion and police on August 28, re-
ahpuram police under The minority wing questing permission and security
various sections of BNS, in- of the Tamil Nadu Congress for the event, which was initially
cluding criminal intimidation, Committee condemned the in- planned for September 23. In re-
based on a complaint given by cident and demanded action sponse, the police raised 21 secu-
the priest of Madathuvilai CSI against those who attacked the rity-related questions.
church N Jegan (35). priest. A follow-up petition was sub-
Raju said the priest was way- Extending solidarity, minor- mitted on September 21, notify-
laid by a group of bikers. “They ity wing state president H Mo- ing authorities about the change
engaged in a heated argument. hammad Arif said Congress in the meeting date. Recently,
I was trailing the bikers in the will extend all necessary legal North Zone IG Asra Garg in-
car.” support to Jegan. spected the venue.

NAGGING ISSUE

Textile shops sit on govt diktat, chair still a dream for salespersons
P E A R S O N L E N E K A R S R @Tiruchy aching and spirits weary. sit during the half-an-hour lunch gue that allowing salespersons changes.”
These are salespersons at tex- break and luckily when we are to sit might affect customer ex- “Officials should check the
IN the run-up to Deepavali, the tile shops in Tiruchy enduring a allotted work to paste stickers on perience or reduce productivity CCTV footage if the owners
big textile outlets in the city are silent torment despite a Govern- dresses,” she said. during the festival hours. A shop claim rules are followed, and take
decorated with lights, attracting ment Order (G.O.) that mandates Working in a textile shop for manager on Chinna Kadai Vee- necessary action against the vio-
a large number of people from seating arrangements for work- over a decade, Rani (name dhi said, “We have all chairs lators. With the huge turnover
the central region of Tamil Nadu. ers in shops. Yet, for these work- changed) is now employed in a stocked in the generator room. they get during festive times, the
Silk sarees shimmer, intricate ers, that basic dignity remains jewellery outlet on NSB road. Chairs hinder movement.” labour department fines them a
fabrics dazzle, and shoppers rev- out of reach. She takes ayurvedic treatment A Ansardeen, AITUC district paltry `2000,” said CITU district
el in festive mode. Yet, amidst It was not easy to find a person for varicose veins. “There are secretary, said, “The labour de- secretary Rengarajan.
this kaleidoscope of colours a to know their grievances as they times when my feet go numb partment has failed to protect the Venkatesan, assistant commis-
haunting truth remains out of don’t have an association to voice even now though I can sit now at rights of employees who deserve sioner of Labour, Tiruchy, said
sight. Behind every meticulously out for them. Anjali (name the workplace. While working in Salespersons at a textile outlet in Tiruchy | EXPRESS a right to sit for a few minutes “We are regularly monitoring
arranged shelf and elegantly changed), a 35-year-old from Pet- the textile shop, there was no even when its peak season. In- and fining the violators. We will
dressed mannequin stands a tavaithalai who works in one of chair, no place to sit and it felt Even during period days, no stop working. My family de- spections are either infrequent give special attention as this is a
salesperson, their body crying Tiruchy’s oldest textile outlets, like no one cared. Festival sea- exceptions.” pends on this income. But is it or ineffective, and owners often festive season. Also, we will stick
out in silence. Hours of compul- shares her ordeal. “From when I son or not, we are constantly “We heard about the G.O, but too much to ask for a simple circumvent the rules with impu- small posters at the outlets to en-
sory standing have taken their step into the store at 9 am until I monitored through CCTV cam- nothing changed,” says Kumar, stool to sit on?.” nity. We’ve seen officials come in sure the rules are being
toll, leaving legs swollen, backs leave at 9 pm, I am on my feet. We eras and instructed not to sit. another worker. “I can’t afford to Textile shop managements ar- for checks but nothing followed.”
 GUNS, BOMBS Tirunelveli Taluk police arrested Devendra Kula Ezhuchi Iyakkam
president Kannabiran and his 14 supporters for allegedly carrying
& SICKLES gun, country-made bombs and sickles in their cars on Wednesday.
The police also seized two cars they were travelling in

05 CHENNAI THURSDAY 17 10 2024

� �

Nehru says Chennai received 17-20 cm 60 sovereigns stolen

from Karunakaran’s

rainfall, situation under control now

house, help arrested
Chennai: A 44-year-old woman
employed as a domestic help at
actor Karunakaran’s house was
Minister dismisses opposition parties’ allegation that measures to tackle monsoon were lacking arrested on Tuesday for allegedly
stealing 60 sovereigns of gold
jewellery from the actor’s house.
E X P R E S S N E W S S E R V I C E @ Chennai
204
experienced water
stagnation up to 4
medical camps HGI chairman’s biography released
Kannagi Nagar police said the
suspect, Vijaya, allegedly stole
THE Chennai Metropolitan STATS FROM GCC to 5 feet last year, the ornaments over several
conducted by
Water Supply and Sewerage public health
the water level Chennai: Lok Sabha MP Anurag Singh Thakur released months. The issue came to light
Board (CMWSSB) has reached only two a biography of Dr Anand Jacob Verghese, Chairman when Karunakaran’s wife checked
ramped up operations, 501 department
across Chennai feet now, he said. Hindustan Group of Institutions, titled ‘Skyward Bound’ their valuables and found 60
deploying 73 super suck-
er machines along with
of 542 In preparation
6,963
for the monsoon,
at the Asian Business and Social Forum in Dubai. Many
esteemed guests from the consulate, ministers and
sovereigns missing. Based on her
complaint, the police analysed
an additional 89 from waterlogged calls for three drones entrepreneurs were present. Anand expressed his fingerprint samples and identified
neighbouring munici- locations cleared assistance received named Garuda, gratitude to the organisers of forum for the opportunity Vijaya as the suspect. Further
from inundation at corporation
palities to efficiently Kothari, and Dra- to release his biography at the prestigious forum. ENS investigation is underway. ENS
clear sewage. A total of control room last go had been read-
524 jet rodding and desilt-
ing machines are opera- 1,223 two days ied for supplying
essential goods to

20-yr-old electrocuted after rain snaps

motor pumps
tional now to address
blockages. of various
capacities are
All logged areas within77
residents in water-

During a press confer- fallen trees Greater Chennai Corpo-

cable outside garland shop in Kanchi
currently in promptly
ence on Wednesday, Minis- 11,84,410 ration (GCC) limits.
use removed
food packets
ter K N Nehru dismissed
opposition parties’ allegation
community
distributed
between Monday
98 These drones can carry
between 5 kg to 10 kg of
that measures to tackle monsoon CM Stalin inspecting an
were lacking. Thanks to the proac- outlet of Narayapuram 1,368
kitchens fully
operational
and
Wednesday
items such as milk, bread,
and medicines. Additionally, the
E X P R E S S N E W S S E R V I C E @ Chennai lane, he came in contact with a cable that
had snapped due to the heavy rain the
tive measures implemented by the Lake in Pallikaranai individuals drones can fly at a height of 40 me- A 20-year-old man died by electrocution previous night. He collapsed to the ground
gover nment, the situation re- | ASHWIN PRASATH shifted from low- tres and cover a distance of up to 2 as he accidentally came in contact with and passersby rushed him to a govern-
lying areas to 36 Traffic
mained under control despite the resumed on km. Their operational efficiency an electric cable outside a garland shop ment hospital where he was declared
relief
city experiencing an average rain- people depend on centres all 22 subway nai of which was tested during a trial demon- at Kancheepuram on Tuesday. Siva dead,” a police source said.
fall of 17-20 cm, said the minister. these canteens on a routes in the work on 781 km stration held on Wednesday. Kanchi police said the deceased man, After sending the body for postmortem,
Following Chief Minister MK usual day. city has already been Dilip Kumar of Pallavarmedu, worked at the police registered a case and com-
Stalin’s order that food would be He said that from 2011 to completed. Due From 2011 to 2021 during the a garland shop in Pookadai Chatram in menced an inquiry. “Following an inquiry
provided free of charge at the 388 2021 during the AIADMK rule, to ongoing works AIADMK rule, SWDs were built Kancheepuram. conducted by the district tahsildar into
Amma Canteens across Chennai on SWDs spanning only 400 km were by the CMRL, the High- only for a length of 400 km. DMK Kumar reached the shop for work on the incident, the state government on
government is now constructing
October 16 and 17, around 65,700 constructed. However, the current ways Department, and CMWSSB, SWDs over 1,135 km in Chennai
Tuesday morning, and sometime later, he Wednesday handed over a solatium of `4
people ate from the facility on government is constructing SWDs some areas experienced inunda- went to a nearby lane to answer nature’s lakh from the State Disaster Relief Fund,
Wednesday. An average of 45,800 over a length of 1,135 km in Chen- tion, he noted. While Pulianthope K N Nehru, Minister call. “However, as Kumar turned into the to Dilip’s family,” the source added.

Minister inspects damaged PMK urges city corpn to take Rains boost Aavin milk sale
highways, stormwater drains steps to drain stagnant water in city, 16L litres sold in a day
Chennai: State Highways Minister E V Velu on Chennai: PMK has asked the Greater Chennai Chennai: Aavin sold 16 lakh litres milk in Chennai
Wednesday inspected highways and stormwater Corporation (GCC) to drain stagnant water from on Tuesday, exceeding its usual supply of 14.5 lakh
drains at prominent junctions such as Pallikaranai the interior areas at the earliest and complete litres. According to official release, Aavin increased
marshland, Thoraipakkam Radial Road, and Rajiv the ongoing constructions of stormwater canals daily supply by additional 1.5 lakh litres to ensure
Gandhi Salai, which got water-logged following before the next spell of rain. In a statement, PMK uninterrupted supply during heavy rains. A total of
the previous day’s rains. According to a statement, founder Dr S Ramadoss expressed deep concern 201 contract vehicles transported milk from dairies
Velu reviewed desilting of culverts at Pallikaranai over waterlogging in several low-lying areas and to parlours and distribution points. Additionally,
marshland along the Thoraipakkam-Pallavaram interior roads in the state. “Although authorities 30 vehicles delivered milk products to parlours,”
Radial Road to improve water flow. He also made an effort to clear the rainwater by engaging the release read. Minister Raja Kannappan
inspected the ongoing bridge extension works motor pumps, the GCC and the state government inspected Aavin outlets in Mylapore and other
near Okkiyam Maduvu carried out by CMRL. ENS failed to prevent water stagnation,” he added. ENS areas that were chosen for 24x7 operation. ENS

TAMIL NADU GENERATION AND DISTRIBUTION CORPORATION LTD Government of Odisha

Notice Inviting Tenders (E-Tendering Process) OFFICE OF THE CHIEF CONSTRUCTION ENGINEER
Sl.No. Tender Inviting Authority ���������������� ����� CUTTACK (R&B) CIRCLE, CUTTACK
[email protected] ,
CE/DISTRIBUTION/ Tel/Fax - 0671-2301751/2302751
1 001 1
TIRUVANAMALAI
B-409 ( ‘e’ - PROCUREMENT NOTICE )
For details of Works / Procurement / Due date of submission / opening, viewing
and downloading of e-tenders, please visit websites: ��������������������� Bid Identification No.CCE.Ctc.(R&B) 5 /2024-25.
������������������������������������������� DIPR/4334/Tender/2024 1. The Chief Construction Engineer, Cuttack (R&B)Circle, Cuttack on behalf
of Governor of Odisha invites on Percentage rate basis bid in double cover
system in ONLINE MODE from eligible contractors for Road works as men-
tioned below.
2. No. of work : 02 Nos.
3. Nature of work : Road works
4. Class of contractor : 'B', 'A' & Special Class.
5. Tender paper cost : Rs.10000/- (online)
6. Available of bid document in : From 19.10.2024 to 17.30 Hours
the web site of 02.11.2024
7. Date of opening of bid : Dt.04.11.2024 at 11.00 Hours.
8. The Bidders have to participate in ONLINE bidding only. Further details can
be seen from the website https//tenderodisha.gov.in. Any addendum / cor-
rigendum / cancellation of tender can also be seen in the said web site.
Sd/- Chief Construction Engineer
OIPR-34012/11/0007/2425 Cuttack (R&B) Circle

Smt RANI MIRPURI Shri MAHAVEER Smt KOUSALYA R

of Nungambakkam passed away of Ayanvaram passed away of Adyar passed away
on October 01, 2024 on October 04, 2024 on October 06, 2024
� �

Smt CHANDRALEKHA R Shri MITTALAL SANKLA L Smt ROOP KUMARI

of Arakkonam passed away of Choolaimedu passed away of Konditope passed away
on October 06, 2024 on October 08, 2024 on October 09, 2024
� �

Shri RAGAVAN R Smt VASANTHA Shri JAI CHAND LAL

of Santhosapuram passed away of Padianallur passed away of Purasawalkam passed away
on October 09, 2024 on October 09, 2024 on October 11, 2024

Smt GNANASOUNDARI
of Natarajapuram
passed away on October 11, 2024
��� SCAN THE QR CODE TO
DOWNLOAD THE APP

������� Smt PRABHA JAIN

Shri SHANMUGAM K
of Rajakilpakkam

�������
��� of Kondithope passed away
on October 11, 2024
passed away on October 03, 2024
��������������

���������������
��������
�����������
06 CHENNAI THURSDAY 17 10 2024
� � THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS

GOVERNMENT OF TAMILNADU

HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT
NABARD & RURAL ROADS CIRCLE, TRICHY
TENDER NOTICE (Online only)
Tender Notice No.21/2024-2025/SDO/Dated: 10.10.2024
For and on behalf of Governor of Tamilnadu percentage tender (Two Cover system)
will be received by the Superintending Engineer (H), NABARD and Rural Roads, Trichy
for Upgradation of Panchayat Union / Panchayat Roads to Other District Road under
NABARD RIDF XXX / 2024-25 Loan Assistance Scheme for Upgradation of Sananendhal
road km 0/0-1/8 in respect of Pudukkottai (H) NABARD and Rural Roads Division
upto 14.00 hours on 05.11.2024 through online only.
Details of work, approximate value of work, EMD, availability of tender documents
and all other details are available from 19.10.2024 onwards in the Government website
https://tntenders.gov.in . If any changes / Corrections etc in the tender, it will be published on
the above website only.
SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER (H)
DIPR/4303/TENDER/2024 NABARD AND RURAL ROADS CIRCLE, TRICHY

ROYAPURAM BRANCH
No. 60, East Kalmandapam Road,
Royapuram, Chennai- 600013
Ph- 044-2345 4265/266
PUBLICATION OF DEMAND NOTICE
Notice under Sec.13(2) of the Securitisation and Reconstruction of
Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002, sent on
13.09.2024 by Registered Post.
To,
Mr. Vijay Anand Bernard Shaw, S/o Bernard Shaw, 2C, Silpi Ashraya No.15,
Dr Radhakrishnan Nagar 3rd Cross Street, Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai-600041. and
Mrs. Sheeba Esther Robert, W/o Vijay Anand Bernard Shaw, 2C, Silpi Ashraya No.15,
Dr Radhakrishnan Nagar 3rd Cross Street, Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai-600041.
RE: Credit facilities with our Bank of Baroda - Royapuram Branch
You committed default in repayment of loan and hence your loan account
�����������������������������������������������29.08.2024 in accordance
with the Reserve Bank of India directives and guidelines. The outstanding
due to the tune of Rs. 59,36,244.27 (Rupees Fifty Nine Lakhs Thirty
Six Thousand Two Hundred Forty Four and Twenty Seven Paisa only)
as on 12.09.2024 and the said amount carries further interest at the agreed
rate from 08.09.2024 till date of repayment.
The Bank issued notice under the SARFAESI Act under Sec.13(2)
H.O. BANGALORE-CHENNAI CIRCLE on 13.09.2024 calling upon you to repay the outstanding amount of
REGIONAL OFFICE, VELLORE Rs. 59,36,244.27 The notice was sent to you by Regd. Post has been
returned unserved.
No.96, 6th west Cross Street, Gandhi Nagar, Vellore-632 006.
Ph: 0416-2247091, Email: [email protected] You are called upon to pay Rs. 59,36,244.27 being the outstanding dues
(A GOVERNMENT OF INDIA UNDERTAKING)
as on 12.09.2024 together with further interest from 08.09.2024 till date of
E-AUCTION SALE NOTICE payment within 60 days from the date of this publication failing which Bank
will be constrained to exercise its rights of enforcement of security interest
E-Auction Sale Notice for Sale of Immovable Properties under the Securitisation and Reconstruction as against the secured assets given in the Schedule hereunder.
of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security interest Act, 2002 read with provision to Rule 8 (6) SCHEDULE OF PROPERTY
of the Security Interest (Enforcement) Rules, 2002. Residential Flat No 6F, 6th floor, “Fifth Field-Oratio” Door No 477 & 477/1,
Notice is hereby gives to the public in general and in particular to the Borrowers that the below Poonamalle High Road, Arumabakkam, Chennai 600 106.
described Immovable properties mortgaged / charged to the Secured Creditor, the Possession of Place: Chennai ������������������
which has been taken by the Authorised Officer of the Concerned Branch of Canara Bank, will be sold on Date : 16.10.2024 Bank of Baroda
“As is where is”, “As is what is”, and “Whatever there is” on 22.11.2024 (Time 11.30 am to 12.30 pm)
(with auto extension of 5 mins each till sale is completed) for recovery of bank’s dues from the borrowers /
Guarantors. E-auction arranged by the Service provider: M/s. PSB alliance (Ebkray), Help Desk No :
8291220220, eMail:[email protected], Mr. Kashyap Patel Mobile Number:
7016716557, E Mail ID: [email protected]. Website: www.bankeauctionwizard.com,
www.canarabank.com. Date of Inspection: 21.11.2024, from 10.00 a.m to 5.00 p.m.

SRIPERUMBUDUR BRANCH [02926]

No.9, Bangalore Main Road, Sriperumbudur - 602105.
Mob: 9444282926, E-mail: [email protected]
Borrower Name and Address: 1. Mrs. FATIMA PREMA S W/o. SIVAKUMAR, NO 51, BANGALORE MAIN
ROAD, SRIPERUMBUDUR, KANCHEEPURAM, TAMIL NADU- 602105. 2. Mr. PANDURANGAN G, MARIAMMAN
KOIL STREET, AYIMICHERI, KANCHEEPURAM, TAMIL NADU - 631604.
Total liabilities: as on 30/09/2024: Rs. 59,56,492.36 (Rupees Fifty Nine Lakhs Fifty Six Thousand Four
Hundred Ninety Two and PAISE Thirty Six Only) plus further interest from 01.10.2024 and costs and expenses
etc.
Description of Property: Property-I: All that piece and parcel of land. situated within the Registration
Sub District of Sriperumbudur and Registration District of Chengalpet in Beemanthangal Village (Nemili B),
SriperumbudurTaluk. Kanchlpuram District. admeasuring 6.669 Acre, (290501.64 sq. tt., ) comprised in Survey
No.310/29, in that 1000/583724 (i.e., 498 Sq.Ft) Undivided share in the before mentioned property, Super
Deluxe, Flat No.B-604, in the Sixth Floor, of “RUBENS CLOCK” with a super built up area of 1000 Sq.Ft, in the
project ‘ PRINCE RESIDENZIA’. Boundaries: On the North by: Land in S.No.237, On the South by: Land in
S.No.310/5 (Vigneswara Nagar Layout), On the East by: Land in S.No.310/9, On the West by: Land in
S.No.308 – Karathangal Road. Owner of the Property: Mrs. S FATIMA PREMA.
Possession type: Constructive
Reserved Price: Rs.15,00,000/- EMD: Rs. 1,50,000/- Bid Increment Amount: Rs.10,000/-
CANARA BANK, SRIPERUMBUDUR[02926]
A/c: 209272434 IFSC Code: CNRB0002926
DATE & TIME OF E- AUCTION: 22.11.2024 & TIME 11.30 AM TO 12.30 PM
(WITH UNLIMITED EXTENSION OF 5 MINUTES DURATION
EACH TILLS THE CONCLUSION OF THE SALE)
LAST DATE OF DEPOSIT OF EMD: 21.11.2024 TILL 5.00 PM
For Detailed terms and conditions of the sale please refer the link “E-Auction” provided
in Canara Bank’s website (www.bankeauctionwizard.com, www.canarabank.com) or
Contact Concerned Branch / R&L, Chennai Circle Office 24321108 / 24328428 /
Regional Office Vellore, Ph: 0416-2247091, Cell: 9498747491,
Email: [email protected], during office hours on any working day.
Service provider: M/s. PSB alliance (Ebkray), Help Desk No : 8291220220,
eMail:[email protected], Mr. Kashyap Patel Mobile Number:
7016716557, E Mail ID: [email protected]
DATE : 15.10.2024 AUTHORISED OFFICER
PLACE : VELLORE CANARA BANK
 BOMB Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad sleuths
launched a search after a bomb threat was
THREAT sent to Coimbatore International Airport, on
Tuesday. The search revealed it was a hoax

07 CHENNAI THURSDAY 17 10 2024

� �

Amid land allotment scam involving K’taka CM, MUDA chairperson quits
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE resignation letter to Urban De- investigation is going on and I tion. Despite denying any ah’s Mysuru tour two weeks termed Marigowda’s resigna-
@ Dharmapuri velopment secretary Deepa am confident that the truth will wrongdoing, pressure has been ago, several Congress workers, tion a “victory for justice.”
Cholan, following a directive come out soon,” he stated in his mounting on Marigowda and a including his followers, gher- “This is just the beginning.
AMID investigation into the from the CM. resignation letter, according to few others to quit. aoed Marigowda, who was at Soon, others, including district
MUDA site allotment scam in “I have resigned as MUDA a source. Marigowda, however, reiter- the airport to receive him. Af- in-charge minister HC Ma-
which Chief Minister Siddara- chairperson for health reasons. Marigowda’s resignation ated that neither Siddaramai- ter this, it was speculated that hadevappa, will be forced to re-
maiah is an accused, MUDA I have had two strokes and I am comes at a time when the al- ah nor other party leaders Marigowda would soon resign sign. Mahadevappa had alleg-
chairperson K Marigowda re- not in a position to continue as leged irregularities in allot- asked him to resign as MUDA as MUDA chairperson. edly helped his brother’s son,
signed on Wednesday, citing MUDA chairperson. There was ment of sites by MUDA snow- chairperson or to act improp- ‘Victory for justice’ Naveen Bose, get a site through
health reasons. no pressure from the CM to re- balled into a major issue with erly in matters pertaining to Meanwhile, activist Sne- a settlement deed, and he too
Marigowda, a close aide of sign in view of the investiga- opposition BJP and JDS seek- the case. hamayi Krishna, who is a com- must be made accountable,”
Siddaramaiah, submitted his tion into the MUDA case. The ing Siddaramaiah’s resigna- Siddaramaiah However, during Siddaramai- plainant in the MUDA case, Krishna said.

‘Will provide permanent 10K Sabarimala slots may Forced to clean school, boy
injured while burning trash
solution to flooding issues’
C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 Free food in city’s Amma
Canteens for two days
be kept for spot booking E X P R E S S N E W S S E R V I C E @ Coimbatore

SEVERAL parents staged a pro-

HM and some teachers often force
students to clean the campus,
overhead water tank and teachers
“When the DMK government TDB caps daily limit for online booking for pilgrimage at 70K test on Wednesday after the HM of lunch box , etc. In view of Ayudha
assumed office in 2021, a com- Chennai: CM M K Stalin on the government high school at Pooja, the HM told Class 9 students
mittee headed by retired IAS Wednesday announced that Amma EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE Ponnanganni village near Sulur to clean the campus on October 9
Officer V Thiruppugazh was Canteens within Chennai @Pathanamthitta forced students to clean the school evening. When a student burned
appointed to recommend flood corporation limits will provide free campus. the waste, a bottle of paint thinner
prevention measures for Chen- food on October 16 and 17. In his THE Travancore Devaswom A Class 9 student suffered burns that was in the trash went up in
nai,” the CM said. post on X, he said, “Relief works are Board (TDB) on Wednesday when the trash pile was set on fire flames. The boy suffered burn in-
He further explained, “The in full swing in areas affected by started virtual queue book- during the cleaning work recently. juries on his face and hand.The
government has been imple- heavy rains on Tuesday. People in ings for the upcoming annual Students also took part in the pro- boy was taken to a hospital and ad-
menting the works (for flood low-lying areas have been shifted pilgrimage season at Sabar- test. A parent who did not wish to mitted in ICU with 30% injuries.”
prevention) step by step, since to relief camps, and food and imala temple with a daily lim- be named told TNIE around 100 Chief Educational Officer R
all of it cannot be completed in assistance have been provided to it of 70,000 pilgrims, 10,000 students from Ponnangani and Balamurali said a notice was is-
one go. Currently, about 25%- them by the Chennai corporation.” less from an earlier decided nearby villages are studying in sued to the HM and another teach-
30% work is left. When it is en- limit. the school. “Violating norms, the er regarding the matter.
tirely completed, the people of He also reviewed the progress The government had earli-
Chennai and its suburban are- of repair works on the water er capped the daily booking Devotees at Lord Ayyappa temple in Pathanamthitta district | FILE PIC
as will be provided a perma- regulator to Narayanapuram limit at 80,000 devotees. While �����������������������������������������������������
��������������������������������������������������
nent solution to the flooding Lake and works for strengthen- the TDB on Wednesday said a tion would not be mandatory sharp criticism from various ����������������������������������������������������������������������
issues. We are confident of ing its banks. Local residents decision on the remaining for darshan at the hill shrine. corners. The UDF, as well as ��������������������������������������������������������
�������������������������������������������������������������
that.” Responding to a report- thanked Stalin for the work 10,000 slots will be taken later, Though he did not use the LDF ally CPI, had urged the ��� ������� ��� ���� ��������� ��������� ����� ���������� ���� �������� ��� ���� ��������������� ���������� ������ ����������
er’s query, the Chief Minister done to ensure easy flow of wa- official sources hinted that words ‘spot booking’, the CM government to reconsider the ������������ �������������� ������ �������� ������������ ����� ���� ����������� ��������� ������������ ��� ������ ����������
����������� ��� ���� ������������ ������ �������� ���� ������� ������������������������� �������� ����� ��� ������� ���
said, “Sanitary workers, gov- ter in their area on October 15. the slots are being set aside for said devotees coming to Sabar- decision. The CPI had also �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
ernment employees and all They said the deputy CM vis- spot bookings, even though imala without any knowledge warned that the RSS would ������������������������������������������������������ � ������������������������������������

those engaged in rain-related ited the area on the night of Oc- the term ‘spot booking’ may about the system and not reg- exploit the dissent brewing ������������������������������������������������ � �����������������������

works have done their job ex- tober 14 and expedited the not be used explicitly. istering online will also be en- against the move for political ������������������������������������������� � �����������������������

cellently. I congratulate all of works, and as a result water Last year too, 70,000 book- sured darshan’ without hin- gains. ������������������ � ���������
���������������
them.” has flown freely after many ings were allocated for devo- drances. The government’s A TDB official said though ������������������������������������ �
������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
The CM inspected the desilt- years. He also reviewed the on- tees online. Speculations U-turn had come a day before there is a strict mandate for ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
ing operations being carried going works for creating four about the government allow- various Hindu organisations virtual booking, the board an- ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
�����������������������������
out in Veerangal Odai, a chan- new ponds — with a total ca- ing spot bookings emerged were to intensify their pro- ticipates a certain number of ��������������������������� ���������������������������������������
nel built to drain rainwater pacity of 4.24mcft — on land after Chief Minister Pinarayi tests against its decision to pilgrims arriving without pri-
from Velachery and neighbour- recovered from the Madras Vijayan, while responding to not allow spot bookings or registration. These re-
ANNA NAGAR 3RD AVENUE BRANCH
ing areas into the Pallikaranai Race Club in Guindy and held a submission by MLA V Joy, Earlier this week, the state served slots, said the official, ������������������������
marshland to mitigate flood a discussion with corporation informed the assembly on had ruled out spot booking for will be allocated to such ����������������������������
damage. officials. Tuesday that online registra- Sabarimala darshan, inviting individuals. Ph: 044 - 26284322 / 26191077
POSSESSION NOTICE

2 villages evacuated as seawater floods homes

��������� ���� ������������ ������ ���� ����������� �������� ��� ���� ����� ���
������� ������ ���� ��������������� ���� ��������������� ��� ���������� �������
���� ������������ ��� ��������� �������������� ����� ���� ��� ��������� ��� �������
���������� ������ �������� ������� ����� ����� ����� �� ��� ���� ��������� ���������
�������������� ������� ����� ������� �� ������� ������� ������ 15.06.2024
M A B D U L R A B I @ Kanniyakumari Azhickal said over 500 houses were ���������������������������Mr.K. Anand Amritharaj,�������������������Mrs A
affected in Azhickal and Pillaithop- Jenifa���������������������������������������������������������������������
AFTER seawater inundated many pu. Giant waves of nearly 20-30 feet �����������������������������������������������also at��������������������
��������������������������������������������������������������������������
houses in Azhickal and Pillaithoppu crashed into the shores from Tues- ��������������������������������������������������������������������������
coastal villages, the residents were day to Wednesday. Rs. 39,44,610.30 Ps ��������������������������������������������������
shifted to community centres and Father A Dunston, director of �����������������������������������������31.05.2024 �����������������������
the houses of their relatives. With Coastal Peace and Development, GUJARAT MEDICAL SERVICES CORPORATION LIMITED ����������������������������������������������������������������������
Azhickal and Pillaithoppu facing the which works for the welfare of fish- (A Government of Gujarat Undertaking) ������������������������������������������������������������������������������
wrath of rough seas, the villagers ers in Kanniyakumari, said coastal Regd. Office: Block No.14/1, Dr.Jivraj Mehta Bhavan, Sector-10, �����������������������������������������������������������������������������
have been demanding a permanent villages were heavily affected by the Gandhinagar. Tel : 079-23250767, 23250766, 23257696. ������������������������������������������������������������������������������
E-TENDER NOTICE: 01/2024-25 ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������
solution to protect their houses. giant waves and belongings were
����������������������������������� 14.10.2024.
S Shyni of Pillaithoppu said that Houses in Pillaithoppu flooded by water and submerged in water. “Constructing Tenders are invited online for following items On BI - ANNUAL RATE CONTRACT BASIS
sand. The issue has been going on for nearly 10 ���������������������������������������������������������������������������
as giant waves crashed between 9.30 short groynes in the sea would save (through internet) from reputed manufacturers. For imported materials Authorized representative
����������������������������������������������������������������������������
pm and 10 pm, water entered the years, sources said | EXPRESS the villages. Compensation should / dealer appointed either by parent manufacturer or its subsidiary company should submit
��������� ����� ��� �������� ��� ���� ������� ��� ����� ��� ������� ���� ��� ������� ���
houses. “As water was near the waist also be provided to the affected per- their offer. Interested bidders are requested to submit the tender through e-tender process.
All tender documents can be downloaded free from web site http://gmscl.nprocure.com Rs. 40,88,366.17 Ps�������������������������������������������������
level, we managed to escape to safer Edison said many houses have been sons,” he said. between 15/10/2024 to 04/11/2024 Upto 15.55 Hrs. Detail Tender Notice is available on �������� ������ ���� ���� ���������� ������ ������ ��� ��� 12.10.2024� �����
spaces. The government must con- submerged in water and are filled On Wednesday, Collector R website: https://tender.nprocure.com / http://gmscl.gujarat.gov.in, www.statetenders.com
��������������12.10.2024������������������������������������������������������
struct short groynes to prevent sea- with sand and the issue has been on- Alagumeena visited the areas and �������������������������������������������������������
and this office notice board.
water from entering the houses.” going for nearly 10 years. M Lenin said that the stagnant water is being Sr.No. Name of item
����������������������������������������������������������������������������������
Pillaithoppu Parish secretary A Vijay, a Ward Councillor from pumped out. �����������������������������������������������������������������������
(1) Spectacles under eye Screening programme Description of the Immovable Property
(2) Post operative Glasses ������������ ����� ���� ��������� ��������� ��� ��������� ����� ��� ����� ����� ��� ������

Landslip in Coonoor, train TN received 94% (3) Black safety goggles (Cataract goggles) ������������������������������������������������������������������������
(4) Glasses for Near vision ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������
�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������

more rainfall
Duration of Downloading Tender (online) : 15/10/2024 to 04/11/2024 up to 15.55 hrs.
���������� ��� ������� ��� ����� ��� ��� ��������� ��� ���� ����� ��� Mr K. Anand

service and traffic affected

Last date for Submission (online) : 04/11/2024 up to 16.00 hrs. Amritharaj Bounded on the North by : ������������South by : �����������������
Last date for Physical Submission Tender fee and EMD on : 05/11/2024 up to 12.00 hrs. ���������������East by : ����������������������������West by : �������������

E X P R E S S N E W S S E R V I C E @ Nilgiris
than usual in Oct Due date of opening of Technical Bid (online)
INF-1313/2024-25
: 06/11/2024 on 12.30 hrs.
MANAGING DIRECTOR
Place : Chennai
Date : 14.10.2024
(AUTHORIZED OFFICER)
BANK OF BARODA

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1
ANNA NAGAR 3RD AVENUE BRANCH ARUMBAKKAM BRANCH
INCESSANT rain triggered a minor ������������������������ No -536 Poonamalle High Road,
landslip at Black Bridge near Coo- WHEN asked why Chennai didn’t re- ���������������������������� Arumbakkam, Chennai - 600106.
noor, bringing traffic to a standstill ceive rainfall on Wednesday despite Ph: 044 - 26284322 / 26191077 Phone : 044 23633138/39
one and a half hours till 8am on a red alert, Balachandran said that
POSSESSION NOTICE POSSESSION NOTICE
Wednesday. Rocks fell on the tracks the red alert is not given solely based ���� ������������ ������ ���� ����������� �� ������ ��� ���� ����� ��� �������
between Mettupalayam and Udhaga- on the quantum of rainfall. ��������� ���� ������������ ������ ���� ����������� �������� ��� ���� ����� ���
������ ���� ��������������� ���� ��������������� ��� ���������� ������� ����
������� ������ ���� ��������������� ���� ��������������� ��� ���������� �������
mandalam, resulting in cancellation “A red alert doesn’t necessarily ������������ ��� ��������� ��������� ����� ����� ���� ��� ��������� ��� �������
���� ������������ ��� ��������� �������������� ����� ���� ��� ��������� ��� �������
of Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR) mean places across Chennai will re- ���������� ������ �������� ������� ����� ����� ����� �� ��� ���� ��������� ���������
�������������������������������������������������������������������������
train services on Wednesday and ceive over 20cm of rain. Other fac- �������������������������������������������������������14.06.2024
�������������� ������� ����� ������� �� ������� ������� ������ 12.06.2024
�������������������������������������������������������������������Mr
Thursday. A huge rock fell on the tors such as the number of days it �������� ����� ���� ���������� Mr. S. Koilraj ���� ���������� ��� M/s Vijayarani
Jonath Sundar Singh���������������������Mrs Sunitha M������������
tracks near Lovedale station also. has been raining, wind patterns, and Timber and Saw Mill, �����������������������������������������������
�������������both residing at���������������������������������������
A tree fell on the road at 6.30am, the concentration of the weather ���������������������������������������both residing at �������������������
���������������� ������������� �������� ������� ���� ���������� Mr.
blocking vehicular movement on the system are also considered. Addi- ����������������������������������������������������������also at �����
Mark Daisan ����� �� ��������� ���� ������ ������ ������� �������������
���������������������������������������������������������������������������
busy Coonoor-Ooty NH. Along with tionally, forecasts are for a 24-hour ��������������� ����������� �������� ������� � ��� ������ ���� �������
����� ������� �� Guarantor Mr K Anand Amritharaj ����� �� ����� ���� ��� ����
Fire and Rescue Service personnel, period,” he said. He also added that ���������� ��� ���� ������� ������ Rs. 32,06,126.85� �������������������
������� ���� ���� ���� ������� �nd� �������� ��������������� �������� ���� ����� ����������������������������������������������������������������������
members of the State Highways De- there is a need to be alert as the de- ��������������������������������������������������Rs.28,92,126.47 Ps ������14.06.2024�������������������������������������������������������
partment and Coonoor Municipality pression over the Bay of Bengal is �������� ������� ������ ������ ������� ���� ��������� ���� �������� ������� ���������������������������������������
staff cleared the tree and debris that still active and moving towards the ��������������������������������������31.05.2024���������������������������
�����������������������������������������������������������������������
were scattered on the road. Traffic coast. “It has not weakened yet. Once �������������������������������������������������������������������
�������������������������������������������������������������������������
was restored at 8am. Another tree it nears the coast, rainfall could in- ������������������������������������������������������������������������������ ������������������������������������������������������������������������
fell on the road at Vandisholai on the crease,” he added. ����������������������������������������������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������������������������������������������
Kotagiri road at 10 am and disrupted The depression over the southwest ������������������������������������������������������������������������������ �����������������������������������������������������������14.10.2024.
vehicle operations. Officials cleared
A retaining wall collapsed at Melur in Balacola Bay of Bengal is moving west-north- ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������
Panchayat in Kundha on Wednesday | EXPRESS ����������������������������������� 14.10.2024. ���� ������������������������������� ��� ����������� ���� ���� ������� ���
it 11.30 am and restored traffic. west at a speed of 15kmph and is cur- ���������������������������������������������������������������������������
���������������������������������������������������������������������������
Sources said a retaining wall col- rently located 280 km east-southeast ��������������������������������������������������������������������������
lapsed at Melur in Balacola Pancha- KRP dam water released, of Chennai. It is expected to contin-
���������������������������������������������������������������������������� �������������Rs. 33,14,171.24�������������������������������������
yat in Kundha on Wednesday. The flood alert in Thenpennai ue in this direction and cross the
��������� ����� ��� �������� ��� ���� ������� ��� ����� ��� ������� ���� ��� ������� ��� �������������������������������������������������������������������
Rs. 29,92,255.05 Ps������������������������������������������������� 12.10.2024 ��������������������������������������������������������������
collapse of soil and retaining wall DHARMAPURI: Collector K Santhi north Tamil Nadu-south Andhra �������� ������ ���� ���� ���������� ������ ������ ��� ��� 12.10.2024� ����� �����������������������������������������������������������������������������
triggered a land slip like situation. issued a flood alert in Thenpennai due coasts between Puducherry and Nel- ��������������12.10.2024������������������������������������������������������
�������������������������������������������������������������������������������
However, there was no damage to to release of water from the KRP dam lore, close to Chennai, during the �������������������������������������������������������
��������������������������������������������������������������������������
houses in the area. People urged au- in Krishnagiri. Revenue officials early morning hours of October 17, ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������
Description of the Immovable Property
thorities to construct the retaining reported that over 2,000 cusecs of said RMC on Wednesday. Since Octo- �����������������������������������������������������������������������
������������ ����� ���� ��������� ��������� ��� ��������� �������� ��� ����� �����
wall at the earliest. water has been released from the KRP ber 1, the state has received 138mm Description of the Immovable Property
��� ���� ���� ������ ������ �������� ���������� ��� ���� ���� ������������
Nilgiris district received a total dam and areas around Harur and of rainfall which is 94% higher than ������������ ����� ���� ��������� ��������� ��� ��������� ����� ��� ����� ������� ��� ���� ������������������������������������������������������������������������
rainfall of 449.3 mm in the 24 hours Pappireddipatti have been alerted. To the usual 71mm. A total of 48 loca- ������������������������������������������������������������������������ ������ ������������� ��������������������������� ���� ��������� ������� ���� ����
ending on Wednesday morning. Ko- preserve structural integrity of the tions across the state received very �������������������������������������������������������������������������������� �������������������������������������������������������������������������������
������������� ��������� ��� ������������ ���� ������������� ��������� ��� �������������
danand and Kotagiri received the dam, over 1,760 cusecs of water is being heavy rainfall, while 21 places saw ���������� ���������� ��� ������� ��� ���� ��� ��� ��������� ��� ���� ����� ���
���������������������������������������������������������Mr Koil Raj. Bounded M. Jonath Sundar Singh Bounded on the North by : �����������������
highest rainfall of 62 and 60 mm re- released from KRP dam. This water heavy rainfall. Cholavaram in Tiru- on the North by : ���������������������������������������South by : �������� ���������South by : �����������East by : �����������West by : �������������
spectively. Rain continued in the dis- entered into the district at Harur in the vallur district received the highest �����East by : �������������West by : �������������
Place : Chennai (AUTHORIZED OFFICER)
trict on Wednesday afternoon. late hours of Tuesday. ENS rainfall with 30cm. Place : Chennai (AUTHORIZED OFFICER)
Date : 14.10.2024 BANK OF BARODA
Date : 14.10.2024 BANK OF BARODA
 Who works more for peace than
the one who debunks lies, defends Marco
the innocents, and saves lives? Respinti

08 CHENNAI THURSDAY 17 10 2024

� �

L
AST week, Rahul Gandhi vis- Dining with others is different from being part of the more about the sect’s beliefs.
ited the kitchen of Shahu Pa- In spite of all this, food is a relatively
INDIAN EXPRESS IS NOT AN tole, a Dalit who is also a re- cooking process. Rahul is trying to leverage both. It’s more accessible category for Rahul with
INDUSTRY. IT IS A MISSION. tired government officer and a hard to predict whether it will fetch him electoral gains a complicated pedigree, where his claims
— Ramnath Goenka Marathi writer. The two made of a particular religion or caste has been

ANOTHER ROUND OF
a dish together besides making severely challenged in the past. Food cre-
small and big talk. Patole was ates a wider elbow room and a universal-
the cook in the video, his wife was in the ity for his politics. It essentially breaks

CHENNAI’S CLAIMS ON background kneading dough, and Rahul

stood like an inveterate cultural appren- KITCHEN POLITICS down barriers, when he approaches food
as a life-sustaining necessity and not as

FLOOD PREVENTION tice. It seemed the Congress leader was

observing the flames of India’s discrimi-
FOR RAHUL GANDHI
an extension of a ritual. Ingredients that
go into any food are universal and the

NEED A CLOSER LOOK

natory food practices more than absorb- acids that dissolve them in our bodies
ing the fragrance of the dish or noting are common. This approach helps sur-
the foundation of its recipe. mount the cultural restrictions Rahul

E
This is not the first time Rahul has has so far encountered. Religion puts
VERY monsoon, there is one question that seeks an an- been inside a kitchen with cameras in taste and pleasure in the guilt category.
swer: has Chennai learned any lesson from the 2015 floods? tow. Cooking and food in recent years Food also helps Rahul create accessi-
As the Northeast monsoon starts with a bang, several parts have emerged as the cornerstone of his SUGATA SRINIVASARAJU Senior journalist and author of Strange Burdens: bility and intimacy, which helps shed the
cultural politics. He made a Bihari mut- The Politics and Predicaments of Rahul Gandhi image of a distant and elite dynast. The
of Chennai have once again witnessed heavy waterlog-
ton dish and bantered about the ‘masala’ kitchen makes possible the conversation
ging, bringing back the nightmares of devastation wrought of politics with Lalu Prasad Yadav. On of social change far easier than being
by intense rainfall and poor reservoir management in Decem- New Year’s Eve, he made his mum’s fa- reformist or a conformist in the conten-
ber 2015. The depression that had formed on Bay of Bengal and vourite marmalade. When he joked that tious caste and religious space. His ap-
expected to bring misery to the city seems to have largely moved his saffron opponents too could get some proach may not bring people of various
away. But the next two-three months are extremely critical for of the jam made, his mother sharply re- castes and classes to sit together and
Chennai, which looks ill-prepared for any flood-like situation. torted, “They will throw it at us.” eat—sahabojana—however, it creates a
Very early, before the Tamil Nadu as- personal ideal in our cynical times.
The flood prevention methods suggested by the V Thiruppu- sembly polls, Rahul was with a Tamil Whether this will fetch Rahul elec-
gazh committee are being implemented and nearly two-thirds YouTube channel trying out mushroom toral gains is difficult to predict, but it
of the integrated stormwater drain project has been completed. dum biryani. Similarly, he made an ex- is obviously in greater alignment with
It has covered nearly 90 percent of the core city areas. The chief otic bamboo chicken dish with Telan- his ideological choices. Food and kitch-
minister said Chennai and its suburbs would get a permanent gana women during the Bharat Jodo ens also automatically showcase the di-
solution when the mega drain project, funded by multilateral Yatra. As it cooked, he was told it was a versity of India, where spices change
delicacy specially made for a plebeian every 20 km and there are as many reci-
agencies and implemented in phases, gets completed by 2025.
goddess. When it was served, his party pes and methods as there are house-
But the long delay in getting the rainwater drained out in the leaders built a conversation around it. holds. It also puts women at the centre,
last few days has raised doubts on the government’s claims. The They said if they cooked and ate togeth- although people Rahul has cooked with
civic authorities ended up using over 1,000 motor pumps to er, they could win elections together. so far have mostly been men. That per-
drain the water. Yet, some parts of the city remained flooded. During the yatra, Rahul also had a haps breaks a gender stereotype too in
The government has cast a blind eye towards several other Maharashtra team meeting with a a conservative setting.
bhakri meal. At another place, with This kitchen politics is bound to
issues. There are no serious efforts to remove encroachments
kanda bhajjis, he gave lessons in mar- bring its share of criticism. How do
in marshlands even as new ones keep coming up. Post 2015 tial art and mental resilience. He then MANDAR PARDIKAR people feel when their kitchens are in-
floods, the auditor general revealed that between 1989 and 2016, cooked chole bhature with an army vet- vaded and exposed? Will it be a viola-
the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority had ap- eran, Naik Deepchand, who had lost were to invert a familiar phrase, has had an ice cream to create camaraderie. tion of their dignity? The slick modu-
proved 195 colonies on 175 hectares that were parts of numerous both his legs and a right arm in the a far greater impact than his futile tem- But food is not as stratified or bound by lar kitchen where Rahul made
water bodies. Years of rapid urbanisation and unplanned Kargil operation. He discussed the Ag- ple visits. To appear devout was his un- rules of religion and caste in western marmalade is very different from the
growth have played havoc. The streets without drains depend niveer scheme with him. In May 2023, he formed cultural strategy in a different democracies as it is in India. It is a cramped rural kitchen of a poor Dalit.
rushed into the Delhi University can- phase, where the strange and twisted complicated terrain to navigate here. Will all this be seen as a staged event
on manual efforts to pump out water, while the drains along teen to have lunch with students. He rules of religion and caste often helped When the finance minister says she where the poor are showpieces? Why
other streets get clogged, thanks to unbridled littering by the also tried golgappas in Delhi, ate kulfis his hawkish and virulent opponents tie does not eat onions and garlic, or the can’t Rahul do the same kitchen exer-
public and businesses. Buckingham Canal, which carries rain- by the roadside in Bengaluru, and on him up in knots. Getting less worked up prime minister says he fasts during Na- cise without the cameras on?
water from across the city to the sea, is not deep enough to carry yet another YouTube channel, said he about the sanctum sanctorum of a tem- vratri, it reflects this complexity. Is he using this to overcome his politi-
floodwater if there is an intense spell of rain. Over the years, it “tends to be a non-vegetarian”. ple, he has now tried to enter the sacred If somebody is lynched for keeping cal struggles and seek personal salva-
has been grotesquely truncated. The lakes, floodplains and ca- As the bromance with M K Stalin took space in homes—the hearth—as an en- beef in their home or if pork can create tion? Or is this about feeding social me-
shape in Chennai, he carried mysore try point to hearts. communal tension, then the violence dia? After all, the Congress’s social
nals vanishing to encroachment have taken a toll. Floods are
pak from Coimbatore for him. Most re- Dining with others on formal or in- that food can cause in India is media engagement has witnessed expo-
now a fact of life in Chennai. The government will have to draw cently, in August, he went to Srinagar to formal occasions is different from get- more than apparent. Here, food is often nential growth. Will he be accused of
up a comprehensive plan alongside the drain project to manage cement a secular alliance with the Ab- ting into a kitchen and being part of bottled in strange categories of pure merely tapping into a fad, and of exhibi-
and mitigate the risks that floods bring. dullahs and treated himself to the Kash- the cooking process. Rahul is leverag- and impure. It was illustrated in tionism? Will this further make him a
miri wazwan. In Haryana, he propound- ing both. Politicians across the globe the case of the Tirupati laddus recent- ‘less serious’ politician?

NEW GLOBAL HEALTH GOAL

ed jalebi economics. frequently walk into cafes to either ly. ISKCON’s reluctance to serve eggs (Views are personal)
This kitchen politics of Rahul, if one grab a sandwich, get a coffee or pick up for midday meals in schools has been ([email protected])

THAT’S WORTH PURSUING

WHEN NOBEL IS USED
A
Lancet Commission report on ‘Investing in Health’ has

AS A POLITICAL TOOL
set a global target of cutting the probability of premature
death (before age 70) by half by 2050. The authors of the Agrarian nation
report, including members from Public Health Founda- Ref: Food inflation can be reversed with better
farm logistics (Oct 16). India is basically
tion of India, call it “50-by-50”. It explains that while on
an agrarian nation. This essentially means

T
average a 2019-born person had a 31 percent chance of dying HE Japanese hibakusha move- farmers should earn lucrative income from
before turning 70 years of age, if the “50-by-50” goal is achieved, ment began in 1956, a decade af- their produce and lead a decent life. But it is
a 2050-born individual would expect to have only a 15 percent ter the Hiroshima and Nagasaki not happening. The state should facilitate it
chance of dying before turning 70. atom bombings, when the survi- and ensure it has sufficient buffer stock of
It lays down 15 priority conditions that need to be focused on vors decided to band together to KAJAL BASU Veteran journalist agricultural products to cope with demand in
through effective universal health coverage (UHC). Eight are inform the world about the sheer future and keep prices under control.
brutality of nuclear bombs. Ni- S Ramakrishnasayee, Chennai
about infections and maternity issues such as neonatal care, hon Hidankyo, a federation of hibakusha
lower respiratory tract infections, diaorrheal diseases, HIV/ organisations, was founded that year, at the to schools showing students the film and operation between peoples”, but his accept- Anthropocene debate
AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, childhood cluster of diseases, and second World Conference Against Atomic discussing with them the imperative for de- ance speech was all about a “just war”— Ref: How to reverse the ecocide of
maternal conditions; seven are about non-communicable dis- and Hydrogen Bombs held in response to nuclearisation in the subcontinent. and, in the following years, he became one Anthropocene (Oct 16). The author grappled
eases (NCDs) and injuries including atherosclerotic cardiovas- ongoing US nuclear tests. Despite its growing popularity, GROUND of the most warmongering of US presi- with the debate of the Anthropocene
cular diseases, haemorrhagic stroke, NCDs linked to infections, This year, 68 years later, Nihon Hidankyo died early. Communists first took member- dents. The disgruntled former director of recovering cosmology and epistemology
was given the Nobel Peace Prize—which it ship in droves and took over the function- the Nobel Institute wrote in his autobiogra- in creative and democratic ways. The
linked to tobacco use, diabetes, road injury and suicide.
has richly deserved for at least half a cen- ing, forcing the group’s dismantling—not phy that the Nobel committee had hoped to Anthropocene is one of the most life-giving
Although it is a golden opportunity for India’s health sector— tury. The hibakusha, who in July 2017 rati- due to any fundamental opposition to sub- proactively “strengthen the president”. myths we can dream of.
including mental health—to rally around, serious challenges fied the adoption of a proposed ‘Treaty on continental denuclearisation but motivated What do the hibakusha have to do with Katragadda Sarveswara Rao, Bhubaneswar
persist. The average life expectancy in India was 67.24 years in the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons’, have a by doctrinairism, because GROUND had the political utilitarianism of the Nobel
2022—as against 84.45 in Japan, 78.21 in China and 76.33 in the long, storied history. This is how it began. been started by anti-Stalinist Trotskyites. committee? Think Iran, Russia, North Ko- Educate public
US in 2021. Cutting early mortality pertaining to deaths due to Days after the bombings in August 1945, rea—and think the US, which has been stok- Ref: Why we shouldn’t ban the morning-
photographers from a Japanese newsreel ing these conflicts from their various begin- after pill (Oct 16). Rather than restricting
NCDs linked to cardiovascular issues, tobacco consumption,
service, Nippon Eigasha (Japan Movie Cor- nings and has the most to gain from them, access, the Indian healthcare sector should
diabetes, road injuries and suicide will need not just medical poration), shot extensive black-and-white whichever way they go. In May 2024, Iran focus on educating both the public and
treatment, but education and awareness for prevention, too. footage in the two cities. The US then sent announced that while it had “no decision to healthcare professionals about the correct
On August 2, Union minister of state for health, Anupriya in First Lieutenant Daniel McGovern to build a nuclear bomb, but…in the case of an usage of emergency contraceptives to ensure
Patel, told the Lok Sabha that the doctor-population ratio in the make colour films. He was conscientised by attack on our nuclear facilities by the Zion- women can make informed decisions. Ban on
country was 1:836, better than the World Health Organization what he saw as the inscrutable sufferings ist regime, our deterrence will change”. over-the-counter emergency contraceptives
standard of 1:1000. But the ratio does not help by itself. It is the of the Japanese. Later that year, the US mil- According to the global diplomatic buzz, could worsen maternal deaths by increasing
itary halted filming by Nippon Eigasha. Israel has never been closer than today to unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortions.
equitable reach and penetration of medical services to the vast In March-April 1946, Americans seized exercising upon Iran its Samson Option— This ban could also increase the demand for
AFP

Indian population—including those in remote areas—that mat- the Japanese newsreel team’s footage for massive retaliation with nukes, of which it black market alternatives.
ters. Government health insurance covers just about an esti- shipment to the US. McGovern was ordered Barack Obama received the peace reportedly has many in cruise missiles, air- Aditya Kamble, Kalaburagi
mated 40 percent of the population. And, unfortunately, most back to the mainland in June 1946. He later prize in 2009, long before he had the craft, artillery and atomic landmines in the
doctors, psychiatrists and psychologists in India are concen- told NBS—in its revelatory November 2023 Golan Heights. In August 2024, Russia ob- Strengthening defence
documentary, Atomic Cover-Up—he “hand-
creds to deserve it. The former director liquely hinted at a possible nuclear re- Ref: `34.5K cr deal done for 31 US drones
trated in urban and semi-urban areas, leaving a large rural out- of the Nobel Institute wrote in his
carried to the US the negative and a print of sponse to Ukraine attacking its nuclear fa- (Oct 16). This is a profound move in
back lacking adequate medical or counselling services. UHC
the Japanese black-and-white film”. He was autobiography that they hoped to cilities. North Korea’s latest threat to use revamping the teeth of our defence forces.
means all get access to quality health services without financial told “this material could not be released to nuclear weapons against South Korea was The predator drones have proved their lethal
hardship. Much needs to be done to ensure healthier, longer and
proactively “strengthen the president”.
the news media nor to the general public”. issued barely a week ago. power on several occasions.
happier lives for all 140 crore Indians. The Japanese newsreel footage remained Many other choices for the Nobel peace Never before has the world been closer to K V Raghuram, Wayanad
buried until 1970, when a 16-minute film ti- award seem politically motivated multilocational nuclear wars. But no one
tled Hiroshima-Nagasaki: August, 1945 was wants nukes—not even the Western mili- Canada’s responsibility
Q U I C K TA K E aired on US public television. But McGov- The hibakusha were known worldwide. tary-industrial complex fattened on a cen- Ref: India trashes all Canadian charges (Oct
ern’s own colour footage, 90,000 feet of it, re- So, why were they chosen this year? Could tury of wars, because a nuclear war would 16). Whatever is Canada’s compulsion to be
NOW TO BE A MAHARATNA mained unseen. In February 1947, the Atom-
ic Energy Commission classified the footage
it be the Nobel Peace Prize’s longtime politi-
cisation, history of purblindness, and sheer
end the military-industrial complex.
Even Toshiyuki Mimaki, co-chair of Ni-
with the Khalistanis, India can, in no way,
ignore their tolerating activities inimical

H
INDUSTAN Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has recently been as ‘Secret’, then elevated it to ‘Top Secret’. opportunism? Among the undeserving but hon Hidankyo, seemed nonplussed by the towards India. It is true that the Khalistanis
given the Maharatna status—the 14th central public sector In 1982, the Japanese began a grassroots politically expedient figures who received it Nobel Peace Prize. “In Gaza, bleeding chil- are Canadian citizens. Yet, Canada has a
movement named the Ten-Feet Campaign— were 1973’s Henry Kissinger (the grey emi- dren are being held (by their parents). It’s responsibility to ensure no terrorist activity is
enterprise to be recognised so. With the tag comes more op- named after tens of thousands of Japanese nence commonly known as the Butcher of like Japan 80 years ago.” He said that “the permitted on their soil.
erational and financial autonomy—most crucially, on decisions who emptied their savings to buy from the Vietnam). Aung San Suu Kyi was given the dedicated individuals working in Gaza” Raju Mathai, Kochi
regarding capital expenditure, joint ventures and hiring. But US government the black-and-white foot- award in 1991 “for her non-violent struggle should have received it, specifically men-
the worth of this elevation should be eventually measured in age, including that shot from the bombers, for democracy and human rights”, but her tioning the UN Relief and Works Agency Investigate together
how the `28,162-crore behemoth manages to improve its project for $10 per foot. obdurate silence years later on the Rohingya for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, It is distressing to watch Canada and India
management. Last year, the auditor general and a parliamen- This was the footage sent by the hibaku- crisis provoked demands for its recall. which was also a nominee. tussle frequently. Canada appears to be
sha to a group of us who had banded togeth- Barack Obama received the prize in 2009 This is why we have this paradox: giving pugnacious when it comes to the Khalistani
tary committee came down heavily on HAL for inordinate de-
er in Bombay in 1983 under the rubric of on the 12th day of his presidency, long be- the Peace Prize to an exemplary awardee, issue. Canada and India must join hands
lays in production of the Tejas fighter jet, and serious lapses in GROUND (Group for Nuclear Disarma- fore he had the creds to deserve it. He got but with a political motivation. without prejudice against one another to
its engine design and development. The strategically-important ment). Its members were youth—journal- the Nobel for his “tremendous efforts to (Views are personal) conclude this investigation efficiently.
CPSE needs to use its new autonomies to fix these lapses. ists and college students—who went round strengthen international diplomacy and co- ([email protected]) Abirami S, Chennai

THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS

Chairman of the Board: Manoj Kumar Sonthalia Editor: Santwana Bhattacharya
Resident Editor (Tamil Nadu): Anto T Joseph * Printed and Published by R K Jhunjhunwala on behalf of Express Publications (Madurai) Private Ltd., at Express Press, ‘Express Gardens’, 29, Second Main Road, Ambattur Industrial Estate, Chennai - 600 058. Chennai: Vol. 94, No. 248. RNI Reg. No. TNENG/ 1002/57.
Phone: 044-23457601, Fax: 044-23457619. * Responsible for selection of News under the PRB Act. Copyright: Express Publications (Madurai) Private Ltd. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any manner, electronic or otherwise, in whole or in part, without prior written permission is prohibited.
 Kiren Rijiju @KirenRijiju Jairam Ramesh @Jairam_Ramesh Aaditya Thackeray @AUThackeray
POSTS
Globally, there is total enthusiasm and pride following The Mahayuti government will be remem- 1080 acres in Mumbai given free of cost to Adani Group in
OF THE Cabinet’s decision to grant Classical Language status to bered with suspicion for having completely the name of Dharavi Redevelopment ... Will earn almost
DAY Pali along with Marathi, Prakrit, Bengali and Assamese. abandoned the interests of Maharashtra. 1,00,000 crore from this, with NO revenue for Mumbai.

09 CHENNAI THURSDAY 17 10 2024

� �

Cabinet hikes MSP for rabi crops, DA 3% Govt depts told to

Approval also given for construction of a new rail-road bridge on river Ganga in Varanasi with an outlay of `2,642 cr
solve pensioners’
woes in 21 days
M U K E S H R A N JA N @ New Delhi by the Cabinet on Wednesday,

IN a pre-Diwali bonanza to DIWALI BONANZA FOR FARMERS, PENSIONERS would consist of four rail lines
and six-lane highway, Vaishnaw
farmers and Central govern- said, adding that the project
DA/DR HIKE FOR CENTRAL GOVT
ment employees and pension- EMPLOYEES & PENSIONERS
would require an investment of
ers, the government on Wednes- `2,642 crore and the govern- sal of grievances within the
R A J E S H K U M A R T H A K U R @ New Delhi
day approved increase in the DA/DR hiked by 3% of basic ment expects this route to help prescribed time limit,” it said.
Minimum Support Price (MSP) salary/pension save diesel imports of about 8 THE Centre on Wednesday di- The nodal public grievance of-
for key rabi crops for the 2025- crore litre per year. rected all departments to re- ficers have been asked to “ana-
26 marketing season and hiked Total DA/DR component will “The project will help im- dress pensioners’ grievances lyse the trend of grievances
the Dearness Allowance (DA) be 53% now prove capacity, efficiency and within 21 days. In the cases and conduct a root cause analy-
and Dearness Relief (DR) by 3 support the region’s socio-eco- where redressal requires more sis to check the incidence of
per cent with a financial impli- Cost to exchequer: `9,448 cr nomic growth. Apart from re- time, the departments must pro- grievances,” it added.
cation of `9,448 crore. lief in congestion in the stretch, vide an interim response, as As per the guidelines, an
Over 1 crore employees and
In another decision, the Un- 27.83 MTPA (metric tonne per per an official statement. applicant can file an ap-
pensioners to benefit
ion Cabinet also gave its ap- annum) freight is anticipated The decision follows peal against the redres-
proval for constructing a new INCREASE IN MSP FOR RABI CROPS on the proposed stretch,” the a review of the Cen- sal of his grievance
rail-road bridge on the river FOR 2025-26 SEASON RAIL-ROAD BRIDGE IN VARANASI minister said. tralised Pension Griev- within 30 days of clo-

`2,642 CR
Ganga in Varanasi with an out- Wheat `2,425 from `2,275 PROJECT INCREASE IN RAILWAY The project covering two dis- ances Redress and sure of the grievance.
lay of `2,642 crore. COST NETWORK: 30 KM tricts — Varanasi and Pandit Monitoring System It will be disposed of
Briefing the media after the Barley `1,980 from `1,850 Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Nagar portal. The new within 30 days by the
(4 RAIL LINE AND
meeting of the Union Cabinet, Gram `5,650 from `5,440 6-LANE HIGHWAY) (Earlier known as Mughal- guidelines emphasise Appellate Authority.
which was chaired by Prime sarai) in Uttar Pradesh — will a coordinated ap- Additionally, the
Minister Narendra Modi, Infor- Lentil `6,700 from `6,425 increase the existing network proach across minis- department of ad-
Adds an anticipated Ministries/
mation and Broadcasting Min- of Indian Railways by about 30 tries, ensuring that ministrative reforms
ister Ashwini Vaishnaw said
that the new MSP rates aim to
Rapeseed/
mustard
`5,950 from `5,650 27.83 MTPA kilometres.
Currently, the 137-year-old
grievances cannot be
dismissed without
departments shall
undertake monthly
and public grievanc-
es is executing Spe-
freight on the review of pension-
ensure farmers receive a fair Safflower `5,940 from `5,800 Malviya Bridge at Kashi is con- proper resolution. cial Campaign 4.0 to
proposed stretch related grievances
value for their harvests. necting the northern, eastern A grievance cannot pending on the promote ‘Swachhata’
Vaishnaw said the MSP for and western states. The two-line be closed without its portal to ensure the (cleanliness) and re-
wheat was raised by `150 per `6,425 to `6,700). price discovery. By providing implemented from July 1, 2024. rail and two-lane road bridge be- conclusive redressal qualitative duce backlog in gov-
quintal, moving from `2,275 to “The biggest factor is that the financial stability, the system The Dearness Allowance is a tween Varanasi and Deen Dayal and an action-taken redressal of ernment offices.
`2,425. Mustard saw an increase prices should be at least 50 per encourages better agricultural percentage of employees’ basic Upadhyaya Nagar is oversatu- report should be filed grievances within The campaign 4.0 is
of `300 per quintal, bringing its cent above the cost. The cost of production. salary designed to help mitigate rated and there is a need for a in with the support- the prescribed time implemented on digi-
MSP to `5,950 from `5,650, while six rabi crops has been decided Meanwhile, with the 3 per the effects of inflation on their replacement and reduced con- ing information and Government tisation, improving
the MSP for gram rose by `210 to on the basis of projections of cent hike, the Dearness Allow- living expenses. The allowance gestion, Vaishnaw said. documents at the or enhancing office
`5,650 per quintal from `5,440. Commission for Agricultural ance and Dearness Relief are is typically revised every six “The project will not only time of closure of the spaces, timely scrap
The minister informed that Costs and Prices,” he said. now increased to 53 per cent. months (March 1 and July 1) provide better connectivity to grievance, said the statement disposal, weeding or preserva-
the highest MSP hike was given The MSP acts as a safety net Vaishnaw added that this every year to reflect fluctuations pilgrims, tourists and local res- from the personnel ministry. tion of office records, inclusiv-
to rapeseed and mustard, with for farmers, ensuring they are change was expected to benefit in the cost of living index. idents but also create new em- “Ministries/departments ity measures and environment-
a rise of `300 per quintal (from shielded from abrupt price over a crore Central govern- ployment and business oppor- shall undertake monthly re- friendly activities.
`5,650 to `5,950), followed by drops. It plays a crucial role in ment employees and pension-
Infra boost tunities,” Prime Minister view of pension-related griev- As of mid-October, 800 public
lentil (masur), which saw an in- maintaining food security and ers, with employees also likely The new rail and road bridge Narendra Modi said in a post ances, pending on the portal to g rievances have been ad-
crease of `275 per quintal (from serves as a reference for market to receive arrears, as it will be on Ganga, which was approved on X in Hindi. ensure the qualitative redres- dressed, the statement said.

Reshuffle of guvs likely after assembly polls SC defers hearing on contempt plea
R A J E S H K U M A R T H A K U R @ New Delhi

THE Central government is likely to

and Kashmir.
Thawar Chand Gehlot, the gover-
nor of Congress-ruled Karnataka,
against Gujarat over demolitions
reshuffle gubernatorial positions and Acharya Devvrat, the governor
in several states and Union Territo- of BJP-ruled Gujarat, have been S U C H I T R A K M O H A N T Y @ New Delhi
ries either by this month or in their positions for more than
ALSO IN TOP COURT
next month. three years. THE Supreme Court on ‘Can a fugitive file Verdict on Sec 6A of
The buzz of reshuffle assumes sig- Goa governor PS Sreedharan Pil- Wednesday deferred hearing
nificance as several governors and lai, who assumed office on July 15, on a contempt plea against Gu- plea under Art 32?’ Citizenship Act today
lieutenant governors have already 2021, and Haryana gover nor jarat authorities for allegedly The Centre on Wednesday The top court will pronounce
served for over three to five years, Bandaru Dattatreya, who is in office illegally demolishing residen- questioned the maintain- the verdict on a batch of
especially in BJP-ruled Uttar since July 15, 2021, have also com- tial and religious structures in ability of a plea filed by petitions challenging the
Arif Mohammad Khan Pradesh, Left-ruled Kerala, Jammu pleted more than three years of the state despite an interim controversial Islamic preacher constitutional validity of
Manoj Sinha PS Sreedharan Pillai
and Kashmir and the Union Territo- their tenure on gubernatorial as- stay and without its prior nod. Zakir Naik, seeking clubbing of Section 6A of the Citizenship
ries of Andaman and Nicobar Is- signments. So are Madhya Pradesh A three-judge bench of Jus- FIRs filed in different states Act of 1955, on Thursday. The
lands, and Dadar and Nagar Haveli governor Mangubhai C Patel Uttara- tices B R Gavai, PK Mishra and over his purported statements provision was introduced to
and Daman Diu. khand governor Gurmit Singh. KV Viswanathan adjourned the during the Ganpati festival give effect to the Assam
In Jammu and Kashmir, where Uttar Pradesh gover nor plea for three weeks. The bench in 2012. It questioned if Accord, which provides
statehood is expected to be restored Anandiben Patel has also completed was hearing a contempt peti- Naik, a person who was framework to recognise
after the assembly elections, L-G over five years. RN Ravi of Tamil tion against the Gir Somnath declared a fugitive, migrants in Assam as
Manoj Sinha has been in office for Nadu and PS Sreedharan Pillai district collector and other of- could file a plea under Indian citizens or to
over four years. of Goa have also served for over ficials over the alleged illegal Article 32 of the expel them based on
Speculations are rife that Ram three years. demolition of Dargah Mangroli Constitution. date of migration.
Madhav, former BJP national gen- Sources say the reshuffle may Shah Baba, Eidgah and several
eral secretary who has close RSS take place either after the formation other structures located in Pra-
links and has played a key role in of new governments in Jammu and bhas Patan, Veraval and Gir
Thawar Chand Gehlot Bandaru Dattatreya Anandiben Patel the assembly elections, is likely to Kashmir and Haryana, or after as- Somnath. The plea seeks initi- wanted to file the rejoinder. The bench, however, refused
replace Sinha. sembly elections in Maharashtra ation of contempt proceedings “Their defense is that [the to pass an order of status quo on
Arif Mohammad Khan has served and Jharkhand. against state authorities for al- structure demolished] was near the demolition near the Som-
Already served over 3-5 years
as Kerala governor for more than There is also a possibility of sen- leged violation of SC’s Septem- the Arabian Sea. What prevent- nath temple. On September 28,
The buzz of reshuffle assumes significance as several five years. A source hinted at a pos- ior BJP leaders, who did not contest ber 17 order that there shall be ed them from seeking permis- authorities in Gujarat carried
governors and lieutenant governors have already served for sible new role for him either in gu- the Lok Sabha elections, being no demolition of properties, in- sion from your lordships,” He- out a demolition drive to clear
over three to five years, especially in BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh, bernatorial position or something considered for gubernatorial or cluding of those accused of gde said. On October 4, SC encroachments on government
Left-ruled Kerala, Jammu and Kashmir and the UTs of else because of his scholarly work. L-G positions. crimes, without permission. cautioned the authorities, say- land near the temple in Gir Som-
Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Dadar and Nagar Haveli Devendra Kumar Joshi, L-G of The names of for mer MPs Senior lawyer Sanjay Hegde, ing it will ask them to restore nath district. “If we find con-
and Daman Diu. In J&K, L-G Manoj Sinha has been in office Andaman and Nicobar Islands since Ashwani Choubey, VK Singh and appearing for the petitioner, the structures if it finds that tempt, we will order them to re-
for over four years. Speculation is rife that former BJP October 2017, may either retire or Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi are also do- said the state has filed a re- they acted in contempt of its re- build the structures,” the court
national general secretary Ram Madhav may replace him. get new role in Kerala or Jammu ing the rounds. sponse to the petition and he cent order against such action. had clarified in the order.

With 446 species, Kaziranga emerges Global initiative aims to make oral care affordable
India’s second butterfly diversity hub PREVALENCE OF
K AV I TA BA J E L I - DAT T @ New Delhi
Caries is a common disease
when bacteria in the mouth
will map the unmet community
needs for oral health services,

ORAL DISEASES
AS India faces a significant bur- will help to spotlight the extent
den of oral diseases affecting produce acid that dissolves of equity gaps in oral health
J I T E N D R A C H O U B E Y @ New Delhi New species over 70% of its population, a teeth enamel services and catalyse the inclu-
The new butterflies recorded in global initiative was launched sion of essential oral health
ASSAM’S Kaziranga National on Wednesday to address the APPROXIMATELY 16% OF services in national pro-
Kaziranga included Burmese THE INDIAN POPULATION
Park, famous for its one-horned Three Ring, Glassy Cerulean, Dark- oral health burden and strength- grammes for universal health
rhino population, has also en health systems to ensure SUFFERS FROM SEVERE coverage,” said Dr Reddy, who
bordered Hedge Blue, Andaman
earned the distinction of being that high-quality oral health PERIODONTAL (DISEASE launched the project.
Yellow Banded Flat, Ferrar’s
the second butterfly diversity services are available, afforda- OF GUMS) PROBLEMS Indians have a relatively high
Cerulean, Great Red-Vein Lancer,
hub, after Namdapha National Peacock Oakblue, Singled-lined ble and accessible to all. incidence of dental caries in
Park in Arunachal Pradesh. Despite being preventable, In India, oral cancer accounts permanent teeth compared to
Flash, Yellow-tailed Awlking,
Years of research carried out oral diseases, including oral for over 30% of all cancers the entire South Asian popula-
White Palm Bob, Dark-dusted
by Dr Monsoon Jyoti Gogoi, a Palm Dart, Clavate Banded Demon, cancer, which accounts for over in the country tion, with about a third of the
young scientist from Kaziranga, 30% of all cancers in the coun- Indians have a relatively high incidence of dental Indian population experienc-
Pale-marked Ace, Yellow Onyx
has brought to the fore that more try, continue to be under-ad- caries (decay) in permanent teeth, compared to Age-adjusted oral cancer rates ing caries that require dental
and Long-winged Hedge Blue.
than 446 butterfly species have dressed, leading to increased the entire South Asian population in India is as high as 20 per treatment. Caries also known
been reported from the park.
Gogoi, who has been study- areas, after Namdapha Nation- mese Threering, Glassy Cer-
healthcare costs and worsening
public health outcomes. About a third of the Indian population 1 lakh as tooth decay or cavities, is a
common disease when bacteria
ing butterflies in the region al Park,” said Gogoi, adding, ulean, Dark-bordered Hedge This four-year project CORE, experiences caries that require dental treatment population in the mouth produce acid that
since 2007, shared that the first- “This record is particularly sig- Blue, Andaman Yellow Banded an initiative for Community dissolves teeth enamel.
ever ‘Butterfly Conservation nificant given Kaziranga’s loca- Flat, Ferrar’s Cerulean, Great Focussed Oral Health Research Approximately 16% of the In-
Meet-2024’, held in September, tion outside the Himalayan and Red-vein Lancer, Peacock Oakb- for Equity, will cover over 14 to develop a comprehensive gans, including the heart, blood dian population suffers from
focused on detailed butterfly Patkai mountain ranges, mak- lue, Singled-lined Flash, Yellow- lakh marginalised communi- strategy to reduce the oral vessels, and the brain. From severe periodontal (disease of
records. The meet attracted ap- ing its high species diversity a tailed Awlking, White Palm Bob, ties in Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana health burden in India, as well caries to cancer, there are many gums) problems. In India,
proximately 40 butterfly enthu- remarkable achievement.” Dark-dusted Palm Dart, Clavate and Rajasthan. as in other low- and middle-in- oral diseases which should not oral cancer accounts for over
siasts from across India includ- He said that apart from the Banded Demon, Pale-marked Led in India by the Public come countries such as Kenya, just be prevented but also pro- 30% of all cancers in the
ing participants from the North national park, the Panbari re- Ace, Yellow Onyx, Long-winged Health Foundation of India Colombia, and Brazil. vided restorative care.” country, with age-adjusted
Eastern Hill University, Cotton serve Forest in Kaziranga is Hedge Blue, Ace sp, Hill Ace and (PHFI), in partnership with Ja- Speaking to this newspaper, Despite the widespread need rates being as high as 20 per
University, various Assam col- also home to a diverse range of Dwarf Banded Demon. mia Millia Islamia University K Srinath Reddy, Professor of for accessible oral health serv- 100,000 population.
leges, Maharashtra forest de- butterfly species. Gaurab Nandi Das from the and Jan Swasthya Sewa San- Public Health, PHFI, said, ices, most countries have not The project CORE aims to
partment, Corbett Foundation, A new pictorial guidebook on Czech Republic gave insights sthan, in collaboration with in- “Good oral health is essential included them in the universal emphasise meaningful commu-
and key members of the North butterflies, authored by Gogoi, on ‘taxonomy of butterflies’ at stitutes like Queen Mary Uni- for every person on earth health coverage programme. nity engagement, reaching out
East Butterflies group. documents 446 species of but- the meet, which aims to elevate versity of London, University throughout life. Besides teeth “This affects vulnerable sec- to the most marginalised popu-
“Kaziranga now ranks sec- terflies recorded in Kaziranga, awareness around the impor- College London and many oth- being directly linked to nutri- tions of the population de- lations and capacity building to
ond in butterfly species diver- 18 of which are new in India. tance of butterfly conservation er globally renowned oral tion, gum disease triggers in- prived of needed care. The mul- ensure the interventions are
sity among India’s protected The new records include Bur- in Kaziranga. health experts, the project aims flammation, affecting many or- ti-country CORE study, which sustainable and impactful.
 INDIA Max Min Max Min

15
Ahmedabad 42 27 Mumbai 35 29
MISSING Bhopal 43 28 Panaji 32 28
Two sisters, aged 17 and 15, and their 10-year-old Jaipur 41 30 Patna 41 27
Amritsar 40 23 Lucknow 42 27
brother have gone missing from their village in Chennai 39 30 Port Blair 34 28
Maharashtra’s Thane district, prompting a police HURT AS BUS HITS Kolkata 36 26 Imphal 23 18
search, an official said on Wednesday. COPS TRUCK IN C’GARH Srinagar 18 08 Chandigarh 42 23

10 CHENNAI THURSDAY 17 10 2024� �

Maha talk to pick BJP candidates

CEC meet, chaired by PM Modi, focuses on clean image and winnability factor for selection

Modi to meet
R A J E S H K U M A R T H A K U R @ New Delhi

THE BJP Central Election Javid Ahmad Dar Sakina Itoo Javed Ahmed Rana Satish Sharma
Committee (CEC) meet, chaired
NDA CMs in SRINAGAR
by PM Narendra Modi, on
Wednesday discussed candi-
date selection for the Mahar- Chandigarh Omar 1st CM of J&K UT, DIARY
FAYAZ WANI
Congress not part of govt
ashtra assembly polls.
The meet is on till filing of R A J E S H K U M A R T H A K U R @ New Delhi Our correspondent
this report. in Jammu and Kashmir
The meeting, held at the par- PM Narendra Modi has called a [email protected]
ty headquarters, emphasised conclave of all NDA chief min- F AYA Z W A N I @ Srinagar
on selecting candidates based isters and their deputies after
on their image and winnability the swearing-in of Nayab Singh NATIONAL Conference vice-president Omar Ab- Avoid traffic stoppage:
in their respective constituen- Saini-led government in Hary- dullah on Wednesday took over as the first elected Omar to police
cies. The CEC thoroughly ana- ana on Thursday. The conclave Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Union
Immediately after taking over as first
lysed potential candidates for PM Modi with other BJP leaders at a meet on upcoming Assembly elections | PTI will take place in Chandigarh. Territory after Article 370 was read down. In a bid
Chief Minister of Jammu and
the 288-member assembly. It The BJP on Wednesday an- to maintain a balance between Kashmir and Jam-
Kashmir Union Territory, Omar
also considered the importance committee had initiated dis- deal with allies is finalised, the nounced that all the 20 CMs and Dy CM Surinder mu regions, Omar appointed giant killer Surinder
Abdullah in his first order directed
of caste dynamics and social cussions with the central lead- party will announce the lists their deputies from NDA-ruled Choudhary Choudhary, who defeated J&K BJP president
the J&K police chief to refrain from
engineering to ensure a bal- ership on the seats held by par- for both states. Sources said states would participate in the Ravindra Raina in Nowshera in the Jammu prov-
establishing a ‘green corridor’ or
anced representation. ty MLAs and candidates that consensus has already half-day conclave. ince, as the deputy CM.
The discussions included aspiring to contest. The meet- been reached on approximate- Among the attendees will be
Equal However, NC’s pre-poll alliance partner Con-
traffic stoppage when he moves
how to accommodate allies in ing, attended by Home Minis- ly 250-260 seats among MahaY- 13 CMs and 16 Deputy CMs of
share to gress chose not to join the government claiming it
anywhere by road. “I have spoken to
the seat-sharing arrangements, ter Amit Shah and other lead- uti partners. BJP-ruled states and also CMs
Jammu has decided to sit out till statehood is restored.
DG police that there is to be no
“green corridor” or traffic stoppage
with Ajit Pawar-led NCP and ers, took place at the residence Voting is scheduled on No- and deputy CMs of NDA-ruled To allay fears Sources said the Congress is miffed with the NC’s
when I move anywhere by road,”
Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena of BJP national president JP vember 20 and the counting states, including Maharashtra, that Jammu offer of one cabinet berth as the grand old party,
Omar tweeted. Omar, 54, was
expressing desire for a larger Nadda. will take place on November 23. Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Sik- may be which has six MLAs, has been eyeing two berths.
sworn-in as first CM of J&K UT by Lt
share of seats within the rul- Sources indicated that the On Tuesday, the BJP poll panel kim, Nagaland, and Meghalaya. neglected, Since J&K is a UT with 90-member Assembly,
Governor Manoj Sinha at SKICC, here.
ing MahaYuti alliance. BJP might field candidates on discussed over 80% of the as- BJP president J P Nadda, Home Omar gave 2 there could be nine ministers including the CM.
A deputy CM and four ministers also
Sources said that candidates 155-160 seats, leaving the re- sembly seats in Jharkhand and Minister Amit Shah, Defence ministerial However, Omar filled only six posts on Wednesday,
took oath of office and secrecy with
for more than 160 assembly maining ones for its allies. candidates for the first phase of Minister Rajnath Singh, along berths to the leaving three posts vacant.
him. Security usually stops vehicular
seats were likely finalised. On The BJP is likely to release polls were approved. with Chandranabu Naidu will region, apart Two of the four ministers are from the Valley
movement to allow passage of VIPs.
Tuesday, the CEC had dis- the final candidate lists for The BJP is expected also be present. from deputy — Sakeena Itto, NC MLA Damhal Hanjipora in
cussed the candidates selection Maharashtra and Jharkhand to announce the names The agenda for the conclave CM post. south Kashmir’s Kulgam, and Javed Dar, NC MLA
for the Jharkhand assembly either on Thursday or Fri- for the 43 seats after is to address several crucial na- Javed Rana Rafiabad in north Kashmir’s Baramulla.
polls. PM Modi and other sen- day. Sources said that selec- the panel finalises tional issues, including the ob- and Satish From the INDIA bloc, Congress leaders Rahul
ior leaders of state and central tion of candidates for al- seat-sharing in Ma- servance of “Sanvidhan Ka Sharma are Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, SP leader Akhilesh
units of the party were also most all seats in harashtra Amrut Mahotsav”. The meet the two Yadav, AAP MP Sanjay Singh, DMK’s Kanimozhi
also present at the meet. Maharashtra have been fi- and its candi- will also formulate policy di- ministers and D Raja, and CPI(M) veteran Prakash Karat at-
The Maharashtra BJP core nalised. One the seat-share dates’ list. rections of the NDA. from Jammu tended the oath-taking ceremony.

MahaYuti says Oppn scared SEWAGE DEATHS

5 workers die
Govt doc held for wearing
‘straight spine’ badge joins
of Maha plans, MVA peeved of suffocation in
Gujarat factory fast-unto-death of medics
Congress loses
ground in Jammu
Congress, which was pitched in direct
fight with BJP in Jammu, has lost the
S U D H I R S U RYAWA N S H I @ Mumbai ground in the region in the 2024
D I L I P S I N G H KS H AT R I YA S U L AG N A S E N G U P TA @ Kolkata Body of woman ‘raped Assembly polls. The party, which had
AHEAD of the Maharashtra as- @ Ahmedabad and murdered’ found bounced back in parliamentary polls
sembly polls, Chief Minister A day after Tapobrata Roy, a by increasing its vote share by 10 per
Eknath Shinde on Wednesday FIVE factory workers died of doctor of Kolkata Municipal The body of a Class XII student
cent in Jammu despite not winning
presented a “report card” of the suffocation while cleaning a Corporation, was arrested and allegedly raped and murdered
any of the two Lok Sabha seats it
MahaYuti government’s work, tank at Emami Agro Tech Com- later released for wearing a was found in Krishnanagar in
contested, has faced a debacle here.
accusing the opposition Maha pany at Kandla in Gujarat’s badge for the RG Kar rape-mur- West Bengal’s Nadia district on
It could only win one seat from,
Vikas Aghadi (MVA) of adopt- Kutch district, an official said der victim and attending duty Wednesday. The body, with
where from it contested 32 seats
ing an anti-development vision. on Wednesday. According to the on the state government-spon- partially burnt face, was found
and was a direct competitor to BJP.
Shinde addressed a joint press firm’s HR representative Sunil sored puja carnival, he joined near the SP office. The incident
Out of 43 seats, the grand old party
conference flanked by Deputy Yadav, the in-charge supervisor the junior doctors’ hunger pro- led to tension with CPM and
could win only one (Rajouri) seat. In
CMs Devendra Fadnavis and accidentally fell into the water test at Dharmatala along with Congress demanding that the
a suprirsing development, all 21
Ajit Pawar, a day after the Elec- tank while inspecting the drain- other senior doctors of the cor- autopsy be conducted in the
Hindu candidates fielded by the
tion Commission announced age system around 12:30 am. poration on Wednesday. presence of a magistrate.
party lost the elections.
the state poll schedule. but failed to fulfil anything. All is unable to digest the changes He further added, “On hear- Roy said that the police had
“We are submitting this re- the schemes of the Mahayuti in the lives of common people. ing his screams, other workers no right to arrest him for wear- The junior doctors continued
port card to people because Ma- government are permanent “False propaganda is being jumped inside the tank to res- ing a badge during duty hours. their hunger strike in protest New guidelines for police
haYuti has done an effective and not brought with elections spread about the state debt cue him but fell unconscious “There is no reason for me to against the RG Kar rape-mur-
work in comparison with MVA’s in mind. Opposition is spread- market, Ladaki Bahin Yojana. due to the gas. A rescue opera- get arrested. I simply wore a der at Dharmatala. IMA chief officers’ recruitment
two and a half years of govern- ing lies because they are afraid This scheme has benefited 2.30 tion was launched with the as- badge and a T-shirt with ‘the Dr R V Asokan has said that Ahead of the government formation
ment. MVA had an anti-devel- of our schemes like Ladali Ba- crore women. We have dis- sistance of the fire department spine should be straight’ writ- doctors have always been “soft in Jammu and Kashmir, the Lt
opment approach that caused hena,” he said. bursed initially `10,000 crore at 1 am. The victims were ten on it,” Roy said. “The peo- targets” and the “injustice in- Governor administration last week
immense damage to the state. Fadnavis said the decision to and later `35,000 crore for this rushed to a private hospital ple cannot talk about their flicted on the medical fraterni- introduced new guidelines for the
Mahayuti has taken the state to provide free electricity to farm- scheme,” said Pawar. which referred them to govern- views in West Bengal. It’s a dic- ty has no parallel”. recruitment of police officers under
the number one position by at- ers has been implemented dur- Reacting to the development, ment-run Rambagh Hospital in tatorial regime. This should Alleging that the Mamata the Jammu and Kashmir Police
tracting foreign direct invest- ing their government. “We ap- Maharashtra Congress presi- Adipur, where they were de- stop. I joined the protests in Banerjee government has failed (Gazetted) Service Recruitment
ment, and planning develop- proved 145 irrigation projects dent Nana Patole said instead clared dead.” support of the junior doctors to carry out its duties to protect Rules, 2024. According to the new
ment, industry-friendly policies that have brought 22.73 lakh of a report card, Shinde should The company has announced who are continuing their hun- the lives and properties of citi- rules, recruitment will be conducted
and welfare schemes. We com- hectares of land under irriga- talk about a “rate card”, as the financial assistance of `10 lakh ger strike,” he added. zens, Governor C V Ananda through both direct appointments
pleted Atal Setu, coastal road, tion. We are providing solar state government catered only each to the victims’ kin along Meanwhile, the CBI wrote a Bose on Wednesday said that and promotions. Direct recruitment
and expanded Metro network pumps where farmers are pay- to industrialists and contrac- with legal support. The victims letter to the state health secre- his office is already interven- will be managed by the Jammu and
and Samriddhi Mumbai-Nag- ing 10 per cent cost of the solar tors at the cost of farmers and have been identified as Sid- tary asking him to take action ing in the RG Kar impasse un- Kashmir Public Service Commission
pur expressway,” Shinde said. pump project. the common people. harth Tiwari, Ajmat Khan, against two doctors allegedly der provisions in the Constitu- (JKPSC), while promotions will be
“Our government has the in- With this facility, farmers Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aadi- Ashish Gupta, Ashish Kumar, involved in medical scam. The tion. He said that the arrest of overseen by the Departmental
tention and the policy to do jus- will not get the electricity bill tya Thackeray dubbed the re- and Sanjay Thakur. A case of CBI letter mentioned that the a police officer and a doctor in Promotion Committee (DPC). The
tice to every section of the soci- for next 25 years,” he said. Ajit port card a “deport card” say- accidental death has been filed Supreme Court had called for the case pointed to “institution- newly classified cadres include
e t y. M VA m a d e m a n y Pawar said the opposition is ing businesses were driven at Kandla police station and an action against the doctors al- al criminality”, rampant in General, Telecommunication,
announcements and promises spreading a false narrative as it outside of Maharashtra. investigation launched. legedly involved in the scam. various sectors. Ministerial, Stenography.

PM to unveil projects worth `6.6K cr in Varanasi Hooch claims 4 more lives in ‘dry’
N A M I TA BA J PA I @ Lucknow
20 Bihar, two officers face legal action
PM Modi is set to
inaugurate Phase 2
OTHER PROJECTS
1
2 Expansion of Lal Bahadur Shastri Int’l Airport
in Varanasi and its new terminal building,
BIG-TICKET
PRIME Minister Narendra Modi
and Phase 3 of the Airport projects of Rewa Bagdogra, Darbhanga and Agra airports
is set to inaugurate Phase 2 and
National Centre of (Madhya Pradesh),
PROJECTS
R A M A S H A N K A R @ Patna
SPURIOUS LIQUOR C’garh hologram
SARAN: 42

Phase 3 of the National Centre Foundation of an academic block and girls’

of Excellence Stadium (NCES) Excellence Stadium Ambikapur (Chhattisgarh), 3
AT least four people died and 11 CASUALTY
in Varanasi city during his visit
to his parliamentary constitu-
on October 20 Sarsawan (Saharanpur, UP) hostel in Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya
at Arajiline in Varanasi worth `4.17 crore others fell ill after consuming
spurious liquor in Bihar’s Si-
Deaths to check sale of
ency on Sunday, October 20.
Phase 1 of the NCES, which
wan district late on Tuesday.
However, unconfirmed reports spurious liquor
EAST CHAMPARAN: 26

is redeveloped at the Dr Sam- put the death toll at seven. In a

purnanand Stadium in Sigra 14 READY similar incident on Monday, E JA Z K A I S E R @ Raipur
SAMASTIPUR: 4

Public
PROJECTS INCLUDE

locality of Varanasi city, had PROJECTS one person died and two others
SITAMARHI: 3

been completed in 2023. The pavilion in were taken ill in neighbouring In a significant decision taken
NCES, with its upgraded facil- `380.13 CR Redevelopment Pro-poor tourism Hostel at CIPET HOSTELS Dr Bhimrao Saran district. by the Chhattisgarh govern-
ity, is built at a cost of `325.65 SPECIFIC of Varanasi Sports development at premises, FOR Ambedkar The latest hooch tragedy ment on Wednesday, there will
crore. It will be a fresh opportu- TO Complex Sigra of Sarnath of Karsara of GIRLS Sports struck Madhar-Kauria pancha- be a strict monitoring step in
`216.29 crore `90.20 crore `13.78 crore AND BOYS Stadium
nity available for the athletes VARANASI yat under tghe Bhagwanpur po-
Aug 28, April 17, Nov 7, Dec 14,
place to curb the nuisance of il-
from over 20 sports disciplines lice limits in Siwan district legal liquor sales in the state.
to display their talents on an where four people died and 2024 2023 2023 2022 A cabinet meeting chaired
international platform. Airport in Varanasi and its Sharma, the cost of Lal Baha- turba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya 11 others were taken ill by CM Vishnu Deo Sai took a
The NCES is equipped with new terminal building, Bag- dur Shastri International Air- at Arajiline in Varanasi worth after consuming illicit liquor ers were admitted to govern- decision to introduce new holo-
facilities like a spa, gym, Yoga dogra (West Bengal), Dar- port’s expansion project, con- `4.17 crore. late on Tuesday. While three of ment sadar hospital in Siwan grams for both domestic and
centre, banquet hall, and cafe- bhanga (Bihar) and Agra air- struction of its new terminal PM will inaugurate 14 ready the seriously ill have been re- for treatment. foreign liquor bottles, intended
teria. It has been built keeping ports during his proposed visit building and allied works projects dedicated to Varanasi ferred to PMCH, eight others Siwan district magistrate to restrain illegal liquor trade.
in view the parameters for mul- to his parliamentary stands out to be `2,870 crore. worth `380.13 crore. These were undergoing treatment at Mukul Kumar Gupta confirmed “A unique identification will
ti-sports and multi-level mod- constituency. Meanwhile, the cost of other projects including redevelop- Siwan hospital. the death of four persons. “We be put in place for each bottle
ern indoor stadium also. As per the final list of inau- airport projects including New ment of Varanasi Sports Com- Locals said that altogether 15 have received reports of death making it easier to detect ille-
Moreover, the PM is also ex- guration of ready projects and Civil Enclave Bagdogra Air- plex Sigra of `216.29 crore, pro- people consumed illicit liquor of four persons. In addition, 11 gal liquor and deter the unau-
pected to inaugurate ready air- laying foundation of new port is `1,550 crore, New Civil poor tourism development at Madhar village late on Tues- victims were undergoing treat- thorised trade”, said a govern-
port projects of Rewa (Madhya projects, PM will gift total 23 Enclave Darbhanga Airport work at Sarnath of `90.20 crore, day evening. On reaching their ment in Patna and Siwan hos- ment spokesperson.
Pradesh), Ambikapur (Chhat- projects worth `6611.18 crore `912 crore and New Civil En- hostel at CIPET premises, Kar- homes, they complained of pitals, he said, adding that legal T he gover nment hopes
tisgarh), Sarsawan (Saharan- comprising the above men- clave Agra Airport will be `579 sara of `13.78 crore, 100-bed vomiting, loss of vision, head- action has been initiated that the initiative besides en-
pur, UP). He will also lay foun- tioned seven airport projects. crore. The PM is also expected girls and boys hostels, and pub- a ch e a n d a c u t e p a i n i n against station house officer suring the well-being of con-
dation of expansion of Lal As per Varanasi divisional to lay foundation of an academ- lic pavilion in Dr Bhimrao abdomen. Two of them died and prohibition department of- sumers will also help boost
Bahadur Shastri International commissioner Kaushal Raj ic block and girls hostel in Kas- Ambedkar Sports Stadium. during treatment at home, oth- ficial concerned. state revenues.
 Two
Beijing 21 7 SNY Los Angeles 29 18 SNY
Colombo 30 26 LR Melbourne 16 9 SNY
Dhaka 33 27 LR Moscow 11 6 LC
GLOBAL Dubai 36 29 SNY New York 17 8 SNY
WEATHER Houston 32 19 SNY Singapore 31 27 LR
missing after boat with hundred LR: Light Rain HR: Heavy Rain Istanbul 25 19 SNY Toronto 14 5 SNY
migrants sink near Greece TDS: Thundershower LC: Light Cloud SNY: Sunny London 13 4 LC Washington 17 9 SNY

11 CHENNAI THURSDAY 17 10 2024

� �

Shehbaz calls
for stronger
SCO to tackle
Mayor of Lebanon city among 25 dead in Israel strikes
Ahmad Kahil killed while holding municipal council meet to discuss relief efforts for his town of Nabatiyeh, says Lebanese officials
local challenges
ISLAMABAD PM Starmer says UK
PAKISTAN Prime Minister
Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday
ISRAEL-GAZA: DAY 376
weighing sanctions
against Israel ministers
urged SCO member states to
strengthen the organisation’s
framework for tackling multi-
ple regional challenges and
forging close cooperation.
Sharif ’s remarks came as he LONDON
Tel Aviv WEST BANK
addressed the opening session

JORDAN
of the 23rd meeting of the BRITISH Prime Minister Keir
Council of the Heads of Gov- Jerusalem Starmer said Wednesday that
ernment (CHG) of the Member GA Z A the government was consider-
States of the Shanghai Coop- STRIP ing sanctions against far-right
eration Organisation (SCO). Israeli ministers Itamar Ben
“From the esteemed platform ISR A EL Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.
of the Shanghai Cooperation Asked in parliament if the
Organisation, a beacon of mul- government would sanction
TOLL SO FAR
tilateralism, I stand in the be- the two officials, Starmer said:

44,304
lief that we possess not only the “We are looking at that be-
potential but the will to forge a cause there are obviously ab-
future that is more prosperous horrent comments along with
and secure for our people a fu- Civil defence members search for survivors through the rubble of a destroyed building at the site of an Israeli strike | AP other really concerning activ-
ture inclusive and reflective of ity in the West Bank.”
Kier Starmer
shared aspirations of all mem- QANA Cholera confirmed in rael on Wednesday, wounding of the strike in Beirut. An As- National Security Minister
ber states,” he said. Lebanon, WHO says four civilians, according to Is- sociated Press photographer Ben Gvir and Smotrich, who is tions against the “extreme”
Prime Min- ISRAELI airstrikes pounded ar- risk of spread ‘very high’ rael Rescue Services. saw three airstrikes in the area, finance minister, are vocal sup- politicians.
ister Shehbaz eas across Lebanon, killing at Israel also resumed its bar- the first coming less than an porters of settlements in the Starmer’s Labour govern-
The risk of cholera spreading in
highlighted: least 25 people, officials said rage on Beirut’s southern sub- hour after the notice. West Bank, which are consid- ment announced separate
Lebanon is “very high”, the World
“We are at a Wednesday, including more urbs after a six-day pause, hit- In Nabatiyeh, more than half ered illegal under internation- sanctions Tuesday against sev-
Health Organization warned
historic mo- than a dozen in a southern town ting what it said was an arms a dozen strikes hit the city and al law. Smotrich has also trig- en Israeli settler outposts and
Wednesday, after a case of the
ment of tran- where Israeli bombardments in warehouse under an apartment surrounding areas, according gered international uproar by organisations.
acute and potentially deadly
sition where previous conflicts are seared building, without providing ev- to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, suggesting it would be justi- Israeli settler violence and
diarrhoeal infection was detected
sweeping into local memory. idence. The military warned which said at least six people fied to starve two million military raids have intensified
in the conflict-hit country.
transfor ma- Elsewhere in the south, a residents to evacuate before the were killed and 43 wounded, Gazans to free Israeli hostages in the occupied territory fol-
Lebanon’s health ministry said a
tions are re- city’s mayor was among the strike, and there were no re- with rescue efforts still under- in the Palestinian territory. lowing Hamas’s October 7 at-
cholera case had been confirmed
shaping the global, social, po- dead in a strike that Lebanese ports of casualties. way. The city’s mayor, Ahmad After Starmer’s comments, tack last year.
in a person who went to hospital
litical, economic, and security officials said targeted a meeting The strikes on southern Bei- Kahil, was among those killed, Smotrich remained defiant, Pointing to the “dire” hu-
on Monday suffering from watery
landscape.” to coordinate relief efforts. rut came after Mikati said the provincial governor Huwaida vowing to fight Israel’s ene- manitarian situation in Gaza,
diarrhoea and dehydration
He reaffirmed Pakistan’s The Israeli military said they United States had given him as- Turk told The Associated Press. mies in Gaza, Lebanon and Starmer also called for Israel
“commitment to re gional were targeting a Hezbollah surances that Israel would curb In his statement about Nabati- Iran while working to prevent to “take all possible steps to
peace, stability and enhanced commander in the strikes late for more victims. its strikes on the capital. yeh, Mikati, the caretaker the establishment of a Pales- avoid civilian casualties, to al-
connectivity and sustainable Tuesday on the southern town Strikes continued across Leb- Hezbollah has a strong pres- prime minister, said the inter- tinian state. low aid into Gaza in much
socio-economic development”. of Qana, where 15 people were anon, including in the eastern ence in southern Beirut, known national community has been “No threat will stop me from greater volume”.
He also highlighted that the killed. Associated Press photos Bekaa Valley and Nabatiyeh, in as the Dahiyeh, which is also a ‘deliberately silent’ about Israe- doing what is right and moral Foreign Secretary David
SCO “embodies the collective and video of the scene showed southern Lebanon, where the residential and commercial li strikes that have killed for the citizens of Israel,” Smo- Lammy meanwhile announced
voice and wishes of over 40 per several flattened buildings and Israeli military said it targeted area home to large numbers of civilians. trich posted on X. that Britain, France and Alge-
cent of the global population others with their top floors col- Hezbollah command centers civilians and people unaffiliat- Hezbollah began firing rock- Earlier this week, former ria had called an urgent meet-
anchored in the Shanghai lapsed. Rescue workers carried and weapons facilities that had ed with the militant group. ets into Israel on Oct 8, 2023, in foreign secretary David Cam- ing of the UN Security Council
spirit”. away the remains of dead peo- been embedded in civilian are- The Israeli military posted solidarity with Palestinians, eron revealed that the previ- after UN reports that “barely
“Your presence here today ple and used a bulldozer to re- as. Hezbollah launched more an evacuation warning on the following the surprise Hamas ous Conservative government any food has entered” North
underscores our shared com- move rubble, as they searched than 90 projectiles towards Is- social media platform X ahead attack on southern Israel. AP had been “working on” sanc- Gaza in the last two weeks.
mitment to fulfilling the aspira-
tions of our people to ensure
collective security and to en-
hance mutually beneficial co-
operation for sustainable devel- B’desh SC bows to protesters, INDONESIA
A S I A M AT T E R S
MALAYSIA
Imran out, PIO
candidates in
opment and prosperity of the
SCO region,” he said.
He termed the summit anoth- suspends 12 High Court judges CENTRAL BANK MAHATHIR
er testament to the strength of
ties and collaboration among DHAKA newspaper reported.
KEEPS RATES
UNCHANGED
HOSPITALISED
FOR INFECTION
race for Oxford
chancellor post
the SCO diverse nations. “Twelve [HC] judges will not
BANGLADESH’S Supreme be allocated benches for now, Indonesia’s central bank Malaysia’s nearly 100-
Court on Wednesday suspend- meaning they will not be al- kept the interest rates year-old former prime
EXPRESS READ ed 12 High Court judges from lowed to take part in judicial unchanged on Wednesday minister Mahathir
judicial activities amidst pro- activities when the court reo- even as its neighbouring Mohamad has been LONDON
Musk commits $70 mn tests by students seeking the pens from October 20,” the re- countries Thailand and hospitalised for a
to Trump’s campaign removal of pro-Awami League port quoted Supreme Court the Philippines slashed respiratory infection, his THE University of Oxford on
“fascist judges”. Registrar General Aziz Ahmed the rates. The bank held aide told AFP Wednesday. Wednesday announced the 38
Washington: Elon Musk, a tech Ousted premier Sheikh Hasi- Bhuiyan as saying. its benchmark seven-day The two-time former finalists in the race to be elect-
mogul who is the world’s richest na-led Awami League gov- Beginning their protest reverse repo rate at 6% in prime minister was last
ed the new Chancellor of the
person, plunged more than USD ernment was toppled on the Supreme Court THAILAND University of Oxford, which in-
line with expectations. hospitalised in July for
70 million into helping former following widespread premises, the students cludes Indian-origin candidates
Five of seven economists “continuous coughing”. On
president Donald Trump and
other Republicans win in
protests against a con-
troversial job quota
demanded the resigna-
tion of judges affiliated
who took part in a Wall THREE MORE ARRESTS Wednesday his aide said
but excludes former Pakistani
prime minister Imran Khan.
November’s election, making him system in August. Hasi- with the Awami League,
Street Journal survey
expected the bank to keep
IN iCon GROUP CASE he was admitted to the
National Heart Institute
Ankur Shiv Bhandari, the
one of the biggest donors to na fled the country on who “toe the party line”, first Indian-origin Mayor of
the rates unchanged. “The All 18 suspects wanted in the iCon on Tuesday morning. “The
Republican causes this campaign August 5 amidst student- the bdnews24.com news Bracknell Forest in Berkshire;
focus of short-term Group fraud case have been reason as stated by the
season, according to campaign led mass protests. portal reported. Nirpal Singh Paul Bhangal, a
monetary policy is on the arrested, the Central Investigation hospital was for ‘lower
finance disclosures released this Chief Justice Syed Refaat Following the announce- Professor of International En-
stability of the rupiah Bureau said. More than 1,100 people respiratory tract
week. Musk made the donation Ahmed took the decision after ment, the agitating students trepreneurship; and Pratik
exchange rate due to filed fraud complaints against the infection’,” Sufi Yusoff
over the summer to America hundreds of protesters partici- postponed the movement till Tarvadi, a medical profession-
increasing uncertainty in group which sells health and dietary said. “He is expected to be
Political Action Committee (PAC), pating in the Anti-discrimina- Sunday. Bhuiyan explained al, will go head-to-head with
tion Movement besieged the that the decision was made as global financial markets,” supplements, the Bangkok Post receiving treatment for academics, politicians, philan-
a super political action committee
he launched in May to aid Trump High Cour t premises on the 12 judges had not resigned Bank of Indonesia reported. The last of the three the next few days.” thropists and entrepreneurs.
in his bid to return to the White Wednesday, calling for the re- and no legal framework existed governor Perry Warjiyo arrested were made on Wednesday, Mahathir just turned Former Conservative Party
House. It quickly became a central moval of “pro-Awami League for removing them, according told reporters the report said 99 in July leader Lord William Hague and
player in Trump’s election effort fascist judges”, The Daily Star to the report. PTI former Labour politician Lord
Peter Mandelson are among

More than 140 dead as overturned

the senior politicians selected,
with Khan deemed to have
Australian Prime
Minister Anthony
PM’S NEW LUXURY HOME SPARKS been disqualified following the

ANGER IN POLL-BOUND AUSTRALIA

selection process.

fuel tanker explodes in Nigeria

Albanese has “Applications were consid-
been criticized ered by the Chancellor’s Elec-
for buying a tion Committee solely on the
multimillion-
dollar waterfront
home during a
$1.5 million
MEDIAN COST OF BUYING
ABUJA
four exclusion criteria set out
in the university’s regulations.
All applicants have been noti-
national housing MORE than 140 people, includ- fied whether their submissions
A HOUSE IN SYDNEY ing children, were killed and have been successful,” a uni-
crisis with
federal elections dozens were injured in Nigeria versity statement reads.
RISKY MOVE after an overturned gasoline Under some of the declared
just months
away Monash University political tanker truck exploded in flames university criteria, candidates
scientist Zareh Ghazarian while they were trying to scoop for the unremunerated role
described the buy up fuel pouring from the vehi- had to demonstrate outstand-
as “politically cle, emergency services said ing achievements in their field
The clifftop home bought by Australian Prime Minister Wednesday. and the ability to command re-
Anthony Albanese for USD 2.9 million | INSTAGRAM risky” ahead of
The real issue an election in The accident occurred at spect beyond it.
for Australians
BIG BUY AMID HOUSING CRISIS which housing midnight in Jigawa state’s Ma- They also had to prove a deep
is a lot of people affordability jiya town when the tanker driv- appreciation for the universi-
want to be able Purchase of $2.9 million USD clifftop home at er lost control of the vehicle ty’s research and academic
will be “at the
to buy a home, Copacabana, north of his hometown of Sydney, while travelling on a highway, mission, its global community,
but they’re top of the policy agenda”
made him appear out of touch with many police spokesperson Lawan People carry the body of a victim of a tanker explosion in Majiya, Nigeria | AP its ambition to remain a world-
finding it very, Ghazarian said the home also
Australians who are struggling to buy or rent Adam said. Residents rushed to class research and teaching
very difficult
a home due to elevated interest rates, rising damaged Albanese’s political the scene and were scooping up they held a mass burial for the It is also common for people university; and the ability and
and the current
government is prices and limited supply brand. Albanese, who is paid fuel, “sparking a massive infer- victims. Most of the bodies to salvage fuel with cups and willingness to enhance the rep-
doing a very an annual salary exceeding no,” he said. were unrecognisable, emergen- buckets to take home after such utation of the university local-

14%
poor job at AU$600,000 ($400,000), “Close to 140 people were put cy services said. accidents. The practice has be- ly, nationally and abroad.
getting the maintains that being in a mass grave apart from peo- Deadly tanker accidents are come more common because of While the university did not
policy settings of homes raised in public housing by ple buried in other places,” common in Nigeria, Africa’s soaring fuel prices, which have specify any reasons for indi-
in place to make are affordable for a single mom gave him an Nura Abdullahi, head of the most populous country, where tripled since the start of last vidual disqualifications, some
it easier appreciation of the
median-income National Emergency Manage- traffic regulations are not year. experts had indicated that
Sussan Ley, Liberal households in financial struggles ment Agency in the region, told strictly enforced in many plac- The driver involved in the ac- Khan’s criminal convictions in
Party of Australia Australia, PropTrack of low-income The Associated Press. es and there is a lack of an ef- cident had travelled about 110 his country may disqualify the
lawmaker Housing Affordability Report shows families Residents of Majiya were in ficient railway system to trans- kilometers from neighbouring for mer Oxford University
mourning on Wednesday as port cargo. Kano state, police said. AP alumni. PTI
 Market 318.76
MARKET
Sensex 81,501.36 490
GOLD
24 carat (10 gm) H78,040
SILVER
1 kg H97,000
FOREX
Dollar 84.03

Watch 86.05 Nifty 24,971.30 450 22 carat (10 gm) H71,550 10 gm H970 Euro 91.51

12 CHENNAI THURSDAY 17 10 2024

� � newindianexpress com

Indian telcos, mainly Jio, advocate for auction; Starlink and Amazon’s Project Kuiper favour administrative allocation

Will do best to serve people of India: Musk

R A K E S H K U M A R @ New Delhi
STARLINK AND AMAZON HAVE APPLIED FOR
LICENCES BUT AWAIT GOVERNMENT’S APPROVAL
TRAI refuses to issue
EXPRESSING his happi-
ness on his ‘moral’ victory
over Indian telecom giants Musk criticised & Reacting to
consultation paper for
Reliance Jio and Bharti
Airtel, Elon Musk, CEO of
called the demand
of telcos like Jio,
a post on
Ambani’s spectrum allocation
SpaceX and Starlink, on Bharti Airtel, and fear of
Vodafone Idea Starlink’s
Wednesday appreciated the Musk also entry, Musk R A K E S H K U M A R @ New Delhi
‘unprecedented’ to
government’s decision to allo- urged TRAI said he
go for auction route

Hyundai India IPO

cate satellite spectrum admin-
STAR WARS: for fair would call THE Telecom Regulatory Authority of India

EPISODE X
istratively to satellite commu- He emphasised decision and and ask if it (TRAI) on Wednesday refused to issue a new
nication players. that the spectrum encouraged would be too consultation paper for spectrum allocation
“Much appreciated! We will was designated by competition much trouble to satellite communication players.
Currently, there are two players,

struggles, booked
do our best to serve the people the ITU as shared for the benefit to allow This move goes against the demand of In-
of India with Starlink,” said OneWeb and Jio-SES, with satellite spectrum for of Indian Starlink into dia’s top telecom service provider, Reliance
Musk, in its social media post X. communication licences in India satellites consumers the market Jio, which advocates for an auction method

IN 2022
Communications Minister Jyo- for satellite spectrum allocation. Anil Ku-
COMPANY BEGAN PRE-BOOKINGS BEFORE

42% on second day

tiraditya Scindia clarified on mar Lahoti, chairman of TRAI, said it is re-
Tuesday that India would go for OBTAINING REGULATORY APPROVALS FROM DOT viewing the comments on the existing con-
administrative allocation, align- sultation paper on spectrum allocation to
ing with global practices amid tion Union) as shared spectrum g e s t e d A m b a n i ’s f e a r o f firms from all stakeholders. However,
demand from Indian telecom for satellites,” Musk wrote. Starlink’s entry disrupting his he didn’t address the
operators, particularly Reliance Musk urged TRAI for a fair deci- telecom empire. Musk said he possibility of issuing
A R S H A D K H A N @ New Delhi On day 1, Hyundai’s issue Jio, to go for the auction route sion and encouraged competi- would call and ask if it would be another consultation
was booked 0.18 times. This is of allocation. Musk and Ama- tion for the benefit of Indian too much trouble to allow Star- paper.
INDIA’S biggest IPO, launched similar to the Day 1 subscrip- zon’s Project Kuiper have been consumers. In a reply of a tweet link into the Indian market. “I “We are receiving,
by the local arm of South Ko- tion status of Paytm. LIC’s is- advocating administrative allo- posted by Dogedesigner, which will call and ask if it would not and we keep on receiv-
rean auto giant Hyundai Motor sue was subscribed 0.67 times at cation of Satcom spectrum. reads: Musk says he will call and be too much trouble to allow TELCOS ing multiple views
Company (HMC), is struggling the end of its first day of bid. Currently, there are two play- ask if it would not be too much Starlink to compete to provide from various stake-
to sail through amidst a low The three-day bidding for Hy- ers, OneWeb and Jio-SES, with trouble to allow Starlink to com- Internet services to the people DEMAND holders. They are in
subscription rate. At the end of undai issue will conclude on satellite communication licens- pete to provide Internet services of India,” said Musk in a tweet. AUCTION different dimensions
the second day of bid- Thursday. HMIL is sell- es in India. Starlink and Ama- to the people of India, the owner This is the second attempt by This move and directions. As a regulator, we consider
ding, Hyundai Motor ing its shares in the zon have applied for licences but of Starlink replied that it would Starlink to enter the market. In goes against all stakeholders’ views and then take a con-
India Ltd (HMIL) IPO Sudued price band of `1,865- await government approval. be much appreciated. 2022, it began pre-bookings be- the demand of sidered view that is in the best interest of
was subscribed only response 1,960 apiece. At the top Musk criticised, and called the Musk took a dig at Jio pro- fore obtaining regulatory ap- India’s top all,” said Lahoti.
0.42 times or 42%. The domestic end of the price band, demand of telcos like Jio, Bharti moter Mukesh Ambani by re- provals from the Department of telecom service TRAI released paper on September 27,
This is lower than arm of the the IPO is valued at Airtel, and Vodafone Idea ‘un- acting to a post on X that sug- Telecommunications (DoT). provider, 2024, seeking comments on frequency bands,
the Day 2 subscription South Korean `27,870 crore with the precedented’ to go for auction Subsequently, DoT forced Star- Reliance Jio, pricing models, and spectrum assignment
status of the next two auto major company’s market capi- route. He emphasised that the That would be unprecedented link to refund pre-booking which duration for satellite companies. Jio has
biggest IPOs – Paytm has received talisation estimated at spectrum was designated by the as this spectrum was long amounts and seek a licence first. advocates for urged TRAI to revise the paper to ensure a
and LIC. While the bids only for about `1.6 lakh crore ITU as a shared spectrum for designated by ITU As per an EY-ISpA report, In- an auction level playing field by including the option for
`18,300 crore IPO of 4.17 crore post-listing. satellites. “That would be un- (International dia’s space economy is projected method for satellite spectrum auction. While Bharti
shares against Telecommunication Union) as satellite
loss-making Paytm As per market ex- precedented, as this spectrum to expand to $13 billion by 2025, Airtel initially supported administrative al-
9.97 crore shares shared spectrum for satellites spectrum
was subscribed 48%, perts, there are many was long designated by the ITU growing at a CAGR of 6% from location, has since shifted its stance in fa-
the `21,000 crore maid- on offer, as per factors why the IPO is (International Telecommunica- Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, Starlink nearly $9.6 billion in 2020. allocation vour of auction.
en share sale of LIC the NSE data receiving a lukewarm
was fully subscribed until 3 pm response. Most analysts
Wednesday

India’s merchandise trade deficit

at the end of day 2. believe valuation-wise,
So far, Hyundai has the issue is fully priced Q2FY25 RESULTS
received bids for 4.17 crore and leaves no room for investors
shares against 9.97 crore on of- to make money from listing. At
fer, as per data available on the the upper price band of Rs 1,960,
BSE. The portion for retail indi- HMIL is available at a premium
narrows to five-month low in Sept South Indian Bank net
profit up 18% on asset
vidual investors (RIIs) was sub- valuation of 26.7x P/E ratio
scribed 38%, the non-institu- based on FY25E post-issue annu-
tional investors’ cate gory alised earnings per share (EPS). M O N I K A YA D A V @ New Delhi made garments has contributed

quality improvement
received 26% subscription. The The street is also not excited giv- to this performance. Barthwal
portion for qualified institu- en the entire issue is an offer for THE country’s merchandise said despite global challenges,
tional buyers (QIBs) was sub- sale (OFS), meaning Hyundai trade deficit declined five-month these sectors have been pivotal
scribed 58%. Only the employee Motor India will not receive any low to $20.78 billion in Septem- in driving export growth, bol-
portion was fully subscribed. funds from the IPO. ber, attributed to a slowdown in stering India’s position as a ma-
import growth to 1.6% and a jor player in global trade. E N S E C O N O M I C B U R E A U @ Mumbai
slight increase in merchandise In September, goods imports
EXPRESS READ exports by 0.5%. Goods trade totalled $55.36 billion, slightly KERALA-based private e sec-
deficit had reached a 10-month higher than $54.49 billion in the tor lender South Indian Bank
L&T Tech profit up GenAI start-ups attract high of $29.7 billion in August. same month last year but sig- on Wednesday reported `325
1.3% at `320 crore $750 mn since 2023 Goods exports amounted to in August, $33.98 billion in July, nificantly lower than August’s crore net income for the Sep-
$34.58 billion, while imports $35.20 billion in June, and $38.13 $64.36 billion. This fall indi- tember quarter, up 18.15% or
Bengaluru: L&T Technology New Delhi: Generative Artificial reached $55.36 billion. Com- billion in May. Briefing media, cates a weakening domestic de- `275 crore in the same quar-
Services on Wednesday reported Intelligence (Gen AI) start-ups merce Secretary Sunil Barthw- Barthwal highlighted the resil- mand. Imports have shown ter a year ago on improved
a 1.3% YoY growth in net profit have attracted over $750 million al noted that despite various ience of exports in the face of fluctuations in recent months, asset quality and higher loan
at `319.6 crore for Q2FY25. It in cumulative funding since challenges, merchandise ex- challenging conditions. He said with figures of $57.48 billion in demand.
had reported `315.4 crore in the 2023. Total number of start-ups
Bajaj Auto
ports showed strong perform- engineering goods now repre- July, $56.18 billion in June, and Following the announce-
year-ago period. Revenue in Q2 have increased 3.6 times from ance in the first half of FY24. sent nearly a quarter of total ex- $61.91 billion in May. Services ment, shares of the bank
stood at `2,572.9 crore, 8% over 66 in the first half of CY Sequentially, goods exports ports. Growth in sectors such as exports rose to $30.61 billion, surged 6.5% to `25.51 on the
growth against `2,386.5 crore in
year-ago period. ENS
2023 to more than 240 by the
first half of 2024. ENS
have shown a fall in recent
months, recording $29.65 billion
organic and inorganic chemi-
cals, plastics, pharma and ready-
up from $28.42 billion during
the same period last year.
BSE despite the benchmark
closing sharply lower by 318
profit up 9% at
points. In a statement, Thris-
sur based bank said its total `2,005 crore
FPIs to get trade proceeds on settlement day; to save `2K cr yearly income increased to `2,804
crore during the quarter un-
der review from `2,485 crore a
E N S E C O N O M I C B U R E A U @ New Delhi

year ago, of which interest in- COUNTRY’S largest two-

E N S E C O N O M I C B U R E A U @ Mumbai esses is nearly `2,000 crore Foreign portfolio investors custodians, and tax consultants. come was `2,355 crore, up wheeler brand by market cap-
per annum. previously reported delays in This collaborative effort led to from `2,129 crore in the same italisation - Bajaj Auto - on
IN a major move towards ease In a statement on Wednes- their access to sale proceeds significant process improve- period a year ago. Wednesday reported a net
of doing business and treating day, the Sebi said the move is beyond the standard T+1 ments, making sale proceeds PR Seshadri, CEO of the profit of Rs 2,005 crore for the
overseas investors on par with aimed at enhancing the settlement date, primarily available to foreign portfolio in- bank, said during the report- quarter ended September
their domestic peers, capital operational efficiency due to the erstwhile vestors on settlement day. ing period it re gistered (Q2FY25), a growth of over
market regulator Securities and respond to the process adopted for ob- Under the new system, in growth in all desired seg- 9% year-on-year. The profit in
and Exchange Board of India concerns raised by taining tax clearance place since September 9, 2024, ments with a focus on quality the recently concluded quar-
(Sebi) has mandated clearing foreign portfolio on their net sale pro- tax certificates for foreign asset across all verticals such ter was impacted as the com-
Aimed at enhancing corporations to ensure that investors. ceeds, to ensure com- portfolio investors’ sales exe- as corporate, housing, auto, pany had to make an addition-
operational efficiency foreign portfolio investors Ensuring the avail- pliance with Fema cuted on the T-day are issued personal loan and gold loans. al provision of Rs 211 crore to
Sebi said move is aimed at (FPIs) get the proceeds from ability of sale proceeds regulations. by tax consultants by 9:00 am The bank said its overall as- account for the cumulative
enhancing operational efficiency equity or debt sale on settle- for foreign portfolio inves- To address this issue, the next day (T+1), allowing set quality improved with one-time impact on Deferred
and respond to concerns raised by ment day itself. tors on the settlement day it- Sebi had engaged in consulta- foreign portfolio investors to gross non-performing assets Tax on Investment Income,
FPIs. Ensuring availability of sale The capital market regula- self will bring them on par tions with key stakeholders, in- access sale proceeds, either for coming down to 4.4% from due to the withdrawal of in-
proceeds for FPIs on settlement tor estimates that efficiency with domestic institutional in- cluding foreign portfolio inves- repatriation or for reinvest- 4.96%and net NPAs inching dexation and change in tax
day will bring them on par with DIIs gains from this revised proc- vestors, it said. tors , clearing corporations, ment, on the same T+1 day. down to 1.31% from 1.7%. rate in the Finance Act, 2024.

No decision at GoM meet

on compensation cess
M O N I K A YA D A V @ New Delhi added. As per sources, during
the meeting of the panel, states
THE Group of Ministers (GoM) referred back to discussions
on GST compensation cess, led from the 7th GST Council meet-
by Minister of State for Finance ing held in December 2016. At Cabinet announces productivity linked
Pankaj Chaudhary, on Wednes- that time, former finance min- bonus for 78 days to railway employees GRSE signs contract for 5th of 8
day held discussions regarding ister Arun Jaitley indicated Multi-purpose Export Vessels
potential merger of compen- that compensation cess could In recognition of the excellent performance by the Railway
sation cess into the goods be merged into the GST REC Limited signs MoU with Government staff, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Kolkata: In a major milestone, Garden Reach
and services tax (GST). once initial 5-year peri- of Rajasthan for `3 lakh crore Modi has approved payment of PLB of 78 days for `2028.57 Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) signed an
There was no decision od of levy concluded. crore to 11,72,240 railway employees. The amount will be agreement with Carsten Rehder Schiffsmakler and
yet, as confirmed by Prior to introduc- Delhi: REC Limited, a Maharatna CPSU under Ministry of Power paid to various categories of Railway staff like track Reederei GmbH & Co. KG Germany on Thursday, Oct
Chaudhary. Talking to tion of the GST in 2017, and a leading NBFC, has signed MoU with Govt of Rajasthan, maintainers, loco pilots, train managers (guards), station 3, 2024, for construction and delivery of 5th Multi-
reporters after the central and state gov- Department of Finance during the “Rising Rajasthan Investors masters, supervisors, technicians, technician helpers, purpose vessel (MPV) of 7,500 DWT. This contract is
meeting, he said GoM ernments agreed to im- meet”. As per MoU, REC will provide `50,000 crore annually pointsman, ministerial staff and other Group XC staff. The in line with ‘Option Agreement’ signed between both
would meet again in the pose a cess on certain (increased from `20,000 cr) to finance projects across power and payment of PLB acts as an incentive to motivate the the parties, for procurement of four additional MPVs
second week of November. luxury, sin, and demerit goods, non-power infra for a period of six years up to 2030 i.e. total employees for working towards improvement in the from GRSE. The shipyard will build eight vessels at
“GST compensation cess is in addition to 28% tax rate. value of MoU is `3.00 lakh crore. The MoU was signed in the performance of the Railways. Payment of PLB to eligible an order value of 108 MUSD. Each MPV will be 120
coming to an end. A discussion This cess was intended to gen- presence of Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Bhajan Lal Sharma; Col employees is made each year before the Durga Puja/ metres long and 17 metres wide with a maximum
needed to be done on what will erate revenue to compensate Rajyavardhan Rathore, Minister for Industries & commerce, GoR; Dusshera holidays. This year also, PLB amount equivalent to draft of 6.75 metres. It can carry 7,500 metric tonne
be the future of cess. Every states for revenue losses in- Sudhansh Pant, Chief Secretary, GoR. The MoU was exchanged by 78 days’ wages is being paid to about 11.72 lakh non- cargo. Each vessel will have a single cargo hold to
state has given their views. curred following the GST Rahul Dwivedi, ED (PMD and I&L) REC and Debasish Prusty, gazetted Railway employees. The maximum amount accommodate bulk, general and project cargoes and
This was the first meeting,” he implementation. Secretary to GoR. payable per eligible railway employee is `17,951/- for 78 days. Containers will be carried on hatch covers.
 Tuchel named
Thomas Tuchel was hired as England coach on Wednesday and will take
on the challenge of ending the national team’s decades-long wait for
a trophy. The German, who previously managed Paris Saint-
England head coach Germain, Chelsea and Bayern Munich, will begin his tenure in
January ahead of the 2026 World Cup in the United States.

13 CHENNAI THURSDAY 17 10 2024

� � newindianexpress com

Jaiswal — the cherry on top Chloe and South Africa in

pursuit of a date with destiny
Yashasvi’s rise is contrary to Indian cricket’s history, especially in the longest format
South Africa, we showed a lot of
S W A R O O P S W A M I N AT H A N character. One of the big words
TNIE @ WOMEN’S is showing character. We still
@ Bengaluru DAY 1 WASHED OUT WORLD CUP have senior players who have
SHORTLY after 10.00 AM on the “Whenever Chennai catches KALYANI MANGALE been to plenty of World Cups to
rained out opening day, Yashas- a cold,” as the saying goes, understand the pressure that
DUBAI
vi Jaiswal strode out from the “Bengaluru sneezes.” This there is at these tournaments.
dressing room to the far side of held true as the first day’s They can really help the young-

C
the ground. Kitted up, the play of the opening Test of HLOE Tryon was sters that have come in now that
southpaw was going to have a the three-match series over the moon. After are maybe just a little bit nerv-
hit in the indoor practice facil- between India and New all, she had taken a ous. I think for us as seniors it
ity inside the sprawling KSCA Zealand was washed out stunner to dismiss is also to try and lead from the
campus. without a ball being bowled Australian captain PIC: ICC front. Some young ones in the
Even as his thin six-foot out. Even as Chennai faced Meg Lanning at the team make us feel a little bit old
frame disappeared beyond the the worst of the disturbance packed Newlands Stadium in lier this year. (laughs) but it has been nice to
sight screen and into the bow- in the Bay of Bengal, parts the 2023 T20 World Cup final. “They are reigning champi- have some new energy and some
els of the facility in the heart of Bengaluru were hit by With a shortish ball from Mari- ons for a reason. They have really young talent,” Tryon
of the city, it wasn’t hard to heavy rains over the last 48 zanne Kapp on offer, Lanning shown time and again in pres- mentioned.
come to grips with Rohit Shar- hours or so. There was a had almost nailed a pull shot be- sure situations they find a way,” When South Africa made it to
ma’s assessment of his open- brief excitement for the few fore Tryon sprinted from deep Tryon told this daily. “We un- the home World Cup final, they
ing partner a day before the hundred, who had braved backward square leg to com- derstand as a team that we’ve made a big dent in that invisible
Test. “The guy has got real tal- the elements just before the plete the catch. Such was the oc- beaten them before. We know glass ceiling for women’s sports
Leading run-scorers in Tests (only openers)
ent,” the skipper said. “He has scheduled tea break as the casion that she roared her heart that feeling. We know the level in the country. In a Rugby-mad
since Jaiswal made his debut in July 2023 ground staff made their way
got the game to play in all sorts out facing the crowd who had that we want to play. We want to country, it was a special occa-
of conditions. Obviously, very Players Runs Avg S/R to remove the covers. turned the stadium into a South make sure that we play like that sion as even Siya Kholisi, the
new to international cricket, so However, their joy was African party. against them every single game. Springboks captain, was in the
Ben Duckett 1771 45.41 88.95
it’s very hard to judge right short-lived. They weren’t If that was the peak of her I feel like if we can focus on audience to support the wom-
now. But he has got all the in- Usman Khawaja 1676 42.97 43.35 too thrilled by what they career, a few hours later, she those positives of how we ap- en’s team. “I absolutely love
gredients for success at this Zak Crawley 1584 39.60 79.12 saw so they ordered more witnessed probably one of the proach the game, how we went playing for my country. We are
level.” Hessians on a patch next to biggest gut punches ever when about it, how we better our- the rainbow nation. We are a di-
When Jaiswal made his Test Yashasvi Jaiswal 1217 64.05 71.67 the strip. The drizzle had the World Cup trophy slipped selves as the team and as play- verse country. I feel like sports
bow in the West Indies in July more or less stopped post away. It became a reality when ers, that’s the mindset you want really pulls us together. We
2023, he had already built up a India’s leading run- Players Runs Avg 1.30 PM but play was called the same Lanning lifted the T20 to kind of be in. I always feel looked at that in the final in
reputation for his white-ball off for the day at 2.30 PM. World Cup trophy for the 4th like the team that stays calm on 2023. We had a sold-out stadium
scorers after 11 Tests Yashasvi Jaiswal 1217 64.05
prowess. Even if he had made a time in the backdrop of Table the day finds a way. Those key at Newlands for the final and
ton of domestic red-ball runs,
in the 21st century Mountain. It wasn’t to be for moments in a game can just people were just there backing
(only left-handers Shikhar Dhawan 690 36.31
the left-hander’s one-day stock following the two-match series South Africa. However, as luck switch,” she added. us. People want to watch us
was arguably higher. Not any- and openers) Gautam Gambhir 630 42 in South Africa, albeit on some would have it, Tryon and South As the hosts, South Africa play and they’re so passionate
more. If anything, he has very extreme decks. Africa are getting ready to face were not able to cross the final so it’s amazing to see. We want
quickly established himself as said. “We found a great player. handers. Jaiswal is literally But Sharma is dead sure that Australia again. This time in line in 2023. They had to scrape to make them proud again.”
one of the best Test openers go- It does obviously bode well for challenging 90 years of history. he’s an all-terrain operator. the semi-final of the 2024 T20 their way through it. Tryon be- Not many get the chance at
ing around. His capacity to see our team as well being a left- The good news, according to “What he has shown us in this World Cup at the Dubai Inter- lieves that built the character. redemption. Very few get to do
through the new ball, ability to hander, being an aggressive Sharma, is Jaiswal’s never-end- brief period of time, you can national Stadium. Many things Now, they are able to get through that at this level. On Thursday,
constantly put the bad deliver- batter, it bodes well for the ing quest to keep upskilling. bet on him and expect him to do have changed and for the better. similar situations, having expe- Tryon and South Africa have
ies away and always keep the team. “Hopefully, he can just “He is somebody who wants to wonders for the team,” he said. While the respect for their op- rienced what it feels like to sur- their date with destiny. Maybe
scoreboard ticking are invalu- continue to do what he has done learn the game, learn about “He has come through the ponents is still there, this time vive tense moments. “We feel this is the time to break that
able traits in the modern game. in the last year or so.” batsmanship, which is always a ranks. He has played a lot of do- South Africa and Tryon be- like we’ve been improving as a glass ceiling at home once and
Since the time he made his de- Sharma doesn’t come across nice thing,” he said. “When a mestic cricket, Under-19 crick- lieve. For they have beaten this team. With our backs against for all.
but in the West Indies in 2023, as somebody who has the his- youngster comes into the team, et. And obviously, has succeed- unit in the shortest format ear- the wall in the World Cup in Full story: newindianexpress.com
only three openers have made tory of Indian cricket at his fin- his mindset is quite critical. ed as well. That is why he is
more runs than him but the gertips — that’s more R Ash- The mindset that he has shown, right now playing for India.”
22-year-old is the standout in
terms of average (refer to ta-
ble). It helps a lot that he scores
win’s territory — but the
skipper inadvertently shone a
light on why Jaiswal’s rise is
he always wants to learn, al-
ways wants to improve, not
happy with what he has
The other effect he has had
on this team is they are now
hitting sixes at an unprecedent-
Steph’s West Indies that Top-tier clash
dared to ask ‘why not?’
his runs at a fair clip; among almost contrarian to India’s achieved which is obviously a ed rate. Jaiswal leads the list of In a repeat of last year’s T20
left-handed openers (minimum rich cricketing history. There great start to a young career.” most sixes by an opener in 2024 World Cup final, South Africa and
10 Tests), only Ben Duckett has have only been 16 left-handed This will keep him in good with 29. To paint a contrast, the Australia will face each other in the
scored quicker since the turn openers (part-time as well as stead because of upcoming next five players put together
first semi-final in Dubai. A look...
of the century. specialists) for the men’s team, challenges in Australia and an aggregate of 30. These K A LYA N I M A N G A L E @ Dubai dies defeated Australia in 2016,
Sharma, who has been Jaisw- with Jaiswal becoming only the England. These tours have bro- things matter because they pro- to win the T20 World Cup at the CLOUDS OVER HEALY
al’s opening partner for each of fifth to bat in that position in ken more senior Indian open- vide the side with multiple THERE is a nice little cafe at Eden Gardens).
the latter’s 11 matches in the more than 10 matches. It gives ers so it will be interesting to options. the entrance of the ICC Acade- On October 15, at the Dubai Australia’s captain Alyssa
game’s longest format, name- the team greater flexibility, a see how Jaiswal adapts on the At 22, Jaiswal is still young my in Dubai, which is a walk- International Stadium, when Healy suffered a foot injury in
checked his ‘aggressive’ in- left-right combination and so- fly in conditions he has never and he will have to watch out ing distance from the global the team she saw grow up in the group-stage fixture
stincts with the bat. “So far in lidity at the top. Put it this way: played before in at this level. for the sophomore slump. If he cricketing body’s headquar- front of her eyes was bossing against Pakistan and Tahlia
his short career, he has shown almost all of India’s great red- There were some questions can come through that test, he ters. It was the most usual place the game against the tourna- McGrath had to step into a
what he is capable of,” Sharma ball openers have been right- asked about his temperament could be a game-changer. to spot international cricketers ment favourites, England, Tay- leadership role against India.
going in and out of the desig- lor was nowhere to be seen. She While Tayla Vlaeminck is
nated training facility for the was not in the middle of the ac- ruled out of the tournament

ISSF WC Final: Akhil clinches bronze

EXPRESS READ ongoing T20 World Cup. tion having already been ruled with Heather Graham
While her team was practic- out of the encounter due to her replacing her, there is still no
Mbappe’s reps dismiss ing at the nets alongside India, knee. She was not even in the word on Healy’s participation
in the upcoming games for
rape claim reports Stephanie Taylor was dugout adjacent to
Australia.
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE fourth in the women’s 25m pis- patiently waiting for the boundary.
STOCKHOLM: Kylian Mbappe’s @ New Delhi tol final. her order at the cafe. Taylor was sitting
representatives have rejected as PEAKING AT RIGHT TIME?
Meanwhile, Ganemat With her left knee all on a chair on the way
“false and irresponsible” reports AKHIL Sheoran came to the Sekhon raised the national bar strapped in, it was evi- to the dressing room, Apart from their loss to
in Swedish media saying he is fore to help India win a second with a tally of 122 in the wom- dent that she wanted living and breathing England in the group stage,
the subject of a rape medal in the ongoing ISSF en’s skeet qualifiers. She bet- her order to be deliv- every moment of the South Africa have progressed
investigation in the Nordic World Cup Final here on tered her own mark by two. ered in a hurry. Some- game; cheering on through the World Cup
country. Without citing sources, Wednesday. Anantjeet Singh Naruka and how, one of the pro- every little good showing improvements in
several Swedish media has Akhil, who had narrowly Mairaj Ahmad Khan also qual- ducers with the broadcasters, thing West Indies did on the each department. While
allegedly reported that the Real missed out on the Paris Olym- ified for the men’s skeet final. who had a field of play accredi- field and showing her visible Tazmin Brits is the highest
Madrid striker was the subject pics team, made a strong come- Vivaan Kapoor finished third tation around her neck, found frustration at things that went run-scorer of the
of a rape claim following a visit back in the men’s 50m rifle 3 in the qualifiers to enter the the courage to shake hands wrong. The moment Aaliyah tournament, Nonkululeko
to Stockholm last week. positions to clinch a bronze men’s trap final. Ganemat and with the West Indian legend. Alleyne hit the boundary to Mlaba is the second-highest
medal on a day where shooters Akhil Sheoran with his bronze medal at the rest of the shooters will be “Go well in the tournament, confirm West Indies’ entry to wicket-taker. It will be
Indian pairs suffer from Europe made their pres- the ISSF World Cup final | PTI hoping to return with a medal Stephanie,” she said. “Thank the semifinal, Taylor just ran interesting to see how they
crushing defeats ence felt. Shooters from Hun- come Thursday, the day the fi- you so much,” the ever-humble towards the field with all of her go against Australia.
gary, Denmark, Germany won the closest challenger, eventu- nal is scheduled to be held. At Taylor replied. “Maybe the re- might, hugging anyone and
ODENSE (DENMARK): Indian a gold medal each. Istvan Peni ally winning the silver medal the end of Day 2, China occupy peat of 2016 is on the cards?,” everyone she saw en route. De- South Africa vs Australia,
doubles pairs — Treesa Jolly and (Hungary) was the dominant ahead of Akhil. the top spot in the medal stand- was the next question from the spite not being in the middle, 7.30 PM; Dubai International
Gayatri Gopichand (women’s from the start and went on to It was a case of so close, yet ings with four gold and three youngster and Taylor with a this is the house Taylor has Stadium, Dubai
doubles) and B Sumeeth Reddy capture gold while Jiri Privrat- so far for Rhythm Sangwan as bronze. India are joint sixth broad smile on her face said, built over the years.
and N Sikki Reddy (mixed sky from Czech Republic was she lost a shoot-off to finish with two medals so far. “Why not?” (Taylor-led West In- Full story: newindianexpress.com
Live on Star Sports and Hotstar
doubles) — suffered three-
game defeats in the opening
round of the Denmark Open

Judoka Harini clinches gold

here. Treesa and Gayatri lost
21-19, 17-21, 15-21 against Pearly
Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan.
FLIP SIDE
Neetu David inducted E X P R E S S N E W S S E R V I C E @ Chennai year and they certainly are this
into ICC Hall of Fame year. I think Juan Pedro Benali INDRANEEL DAS
CHENGALPATTU district ce- has done a fantastic job.”
DUBAI: Former India spinner mented their second position on

ANXIETY IN
Neetu David, who holds the the medals tally as they clinched
TN U-19 women in final
record for the best figures the gold and silver medals in col- G Kamilini’s 30 was the high-
(8/53) by a woman in an
individual Test innings, on
lege girls’ 48kg judo competition
in the CM Trophy held here. Ha-
light of Tamil Nadu U-19 wom-
en’s four-wicket win over Ma- NSFS AS MIN
CALLS FOR
Wednesday became only the rini S grabbed the gold with an harashtra in the semifinals of
second female cricketer from Lionel Messi (#10) scores against Bolivia in a World Cup Qualifier on Tuesday | AP
Ippon win over teammate Jyothi the BCCI-Women U-19 T20 tour-

Spain enter quarters

the country to be inducted into
MEETING
K to take Chengalpattu’s gold Judokas in action at the CM Trophy nament in Haryana. Tamil
the ICC Hall of Fame. David medal tally to 16, while Chennai Nadu openers, Kamalini &
enters the ICC Hall of Fame a continue to top the standings per League (ISL) season when Rinaaz, hit 49 runs off 57 balls
year after the induction of with 58 gold, 41 silver, 46 bronze. they take on NorthEast United to set up the win. Brief scores: Maha-
former captain Diana Edulji.
A day before a meeting
A G E N C I E S @ Madrid their perfect record in the Na- Madurai district clinched the FC in Guwahati on Thursday. rashtra 94/3 in 20 ovs (Sahyadri Kadam 36 n.o,
tions League after a 0-0 draw at other judo gold and silver in Ahead of their third away Shalmali Kshatriya 37) lost to TN 95/6 in 19.1
between recognised
Shakib set for Test ALVARO Morata scored about Scotland. college boys’ +90kg category match, Chennaiyin head coach ovs (G Kamalini 30, S Rinaaz 25; Aachal Agar- National Sports
farewell at home
10 minutes after missing a pen-
10th hat-trick for Messi
with Bharat Kumar beating Owen Coyle praised NorthEast wal 2/17). WoM: Kamalini . Federations and the
alty kick as Spain comfortably Dindigul’s Sriman S in the fi- United while highlighting the sports ministry to discuss
DHAKA: Shakib Al Hasan is set defeated Serbia 3-0 to secure a BUENOS AIRES: Lionel Messi nal. With rain battering the need for his team to be more
Condolence
for his last appearance in Test spot in the quarterfinals after scored his 10th international state, all events at Chengalpat- clinical. Chennaiyin have col- The TNCA condoled the sad de- the Draft National Sports
cricket in front of the home their third consecutive victory hat trick to raise his career to- tu have been rescheduled, while lected four points from their mise of R Babulnath, a former Governance Bill, 2024,
crowd as he was named in in the Nations League. tal to 112 goals and also had a college boys’ fencing event in first two away matches of the Ranji Trophy cricketer, who there is anxiety among
Bangladesh’s squad for the first Morata sent his penalty over pair of assists to lead Argenti- the city was also rescheduled season. “What you have is two passed away on October 15. Bab- the federations. At least
match against South Africa, the crossbar in the 54th, then na over Bolivia 6-0 in a World and will start on October 18. very good teams,” said Coyle. ulnath was a stylish cricketer,
starting Monday. Before the 2nd found the net for Spain’s second Cup qualifier on Tuesday. After “Two very attack-minded who represented State Bank of 60 members are
Test against India at Kanpur, goal in the 65th at the Nuevo missing a pair of October qual-
CFC face away test teams, going all out to win a India, and was a prolific scorer expected to attend.
Shakib had expressed his wish Arcangel stadium in Cordoba. ifiers, Messi played the entire Chennaiyin FC will look to tough game. NorthEast (Unit- in the domestic league. The
Full story: newindianexpress.com
to play his final Test at home Cristiano Ronaldo was held match before raucous fans at maintain their unbeaten away ed) are always a very danger- TNCA sent its sympathies to the
against South Africa. scoreless and Portugal lost Estadio Monumental. start in the ongoing Indian Su- ous opponent — they were last bereaved family members.
 Navi Mumbai International Tamil Nadu extends the e-pass
Airport begins trial runs requirement for travelling to
ahead of the grand opening Kodaikanal and Ooty with no
in March 2025 end date

14 CHENNAI THURSDAY 17 10 2024

� � newindianexpress com

Head to these prehistoric sites that also serve as great tourist INDIA TO IMPLEMENT

S
destinations if the mysteries of the ancient world beguile you…
FACIAL

S EC R E T RECOGNITION
TECHNOLOGY

O F T H E PA ST! FOR INTERNATIONAL

AIR TRAVELLERS
This development builds on the existing Digi Yatra
platform, which currently facilitates contactless
entry and security clearance for domestic flights
by using facial biometrics…
ROMAL LAISR
AM
u r rich culture a
nd KEEZHADI,

A
p r id e in o TAMIL NADU
S Indians, ou
r
is w e ll -k n ow n. However,
ation c
ancient civiliz k the fascinating prehistori Nestled near
oo r
we often overl pe our history. Here are fou Silaiman on the
t sh a th e
legacies tha a e o lo g ic a l s ites across border of Madurai
rch cient
remarkable a o n ly sh o wcase our an and Sivagangai
o t
country that
n
fo r fa n ta st ic holiday desti- districts, Keezhadi
mak e
roots but also rt! is a village steeped
for the adv enturous at hea in history. Home to
nations,
a significant
excavation site,
researchers from
the Archaeological
Survey of India Meenakshi Temple
BHIMBETKA, MADHYA PRADESH have uncovered a
Sangam era settlement dating back
Venture into the heart of Madhya Pradesh to explore the Bhimbetka rock shelters, to the 6th century BCE. Set along the
a UNESCO World Heritage Site that showcases the earliest signs of human life in India. banks of the River Vaigai, this location
Nestled about 45 kilometres southeast of Bhopal, this remarkable site spans the was pivotal for early civilisation. Just
Paleolithic and Mesolithic periods, featuring over 750 rock shelters across seven hills. 12 kilometres from Madurai, Keezhadi
Dating back more than 1,00,000 years, some shelters boast stunning prehistoric cave SRUSHTI KULKARNI
makes for a perfect day trip. Don’t

I
paintings depicting animals, dance and hunting scenes, offering a fascinating glimpse miss the Keezhadi Heritage Museum,
into ancient life. While in the area, don’t miss the cultural treasures of Bhopal, including NDIA is preparing to introduce facial recogni-
where you can delve deeper into the tion technology (FRT) for international air
Gohar Mahal, Birla Mandir and the Madhya Pradesh Tribal Museum. For an extra region’s rich past. In Madurai, marvel
dose of history, head to the stunning stupas at Sanchi, just under travel, with a pilot project scheduled for June
at the stunning Meenakshi 2025. This development builds on the existing
50 kilometres away. Stay at Taj Lakefront, 44 Sundareswarar Temple and the
VANGCHHIA, kms away from the site. Closest picturesque Vandiyur Mariamman
Digi Yatra platform, which currently facili-
tates contactless entry and security clearance
MIZORAM airport and railhead: Bhopal. Temple, complete with its beautiful for domestic flights by using facial biometrics.
Nestled in the Champhai district of teppakulam (temple pond). For a The move towards FRT for international travel
Mizoram, Vangchhia is a captivating touch of adventure, visit Yanaimalai is expected to further streamline the airport ex-
village that boasts 171 ancient menhir (Elephant Hill) nearby, featuring perience, providing travellers with a secure and
stones, recognised as the state’s first impressive Jain rock-cut sculptures efficient way to store and use their identifica-
protected archaeological site since and both Shaivite and Vaishnavite tion and travel documents digitally.
2012. These towering stones, some temples. With its blend of history Digi Yatra Foundation CEO, Suresh Khadak-
reaching 1.5 metres wide, are adorned and culture, Keezhadi is a destination bhavi, confirmed that the platform will soon ca-
with intricate carvings of humans, not to be missed! Stay at Courtyard ter to international passengers. The foundation
animals and weapons, each telling a by Marriott Madurai, 13 kms away is working with visa-issuing agencies and the
story of the past. The locals believe Sanchi Stupa from the site. Closest airport and Bureau of Immigration to integrate FRT for glo-
those featuring head-dresses may railhead: Madurai. bal travel. Additionally, the Digi Yatra Founda-
represent warriors, adding a layer of tion plans to introduce e-passports for Indian
intrigue to these historic relics. Nearby, international travellers. The rollout will initial-
a rock shelter offers breathtaking views ly focus on international passengers, with In-
of Myanmar, while a stone-paved DHOLAVIRA, GUJARAT dian citizens gaining access once the govern-
walkway leads to the Tiau River, a vital ment begins issuing these digital documents.
waterway in the region. Due to its Dholavira, an extraordinary archaeological Countries such as Singapore and several Euro-
remote location, Vangchhia is best site located in Khadirbet, Kutch District, pean Union nations have already adopted e-pass-
visited as a day trip from Aizawl. We Gujarat, is a testament to the brilliance of the ports and these nations are expected to be key
suggest this is planned as a one ancient Indus Valley civilisation. Just a participants in the pilot project.
destination trip as getting to kilometre from the modern village of Kotada Under this new system, passengers will scan
Vangchhia is quite the task, but well Timba, this site stands as one of the five their physical or mobile boarding pass at an E-
worth the effort. Stay at The Grand largest Harappan locations in India. Nestled Gate and look into an FRS camera. The system
Aizawl, 225 kms away from the site. within the Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary, will validate the traveller’s identity and travel
Stay over at Hotel Alpha in Champhai Dholavira sprawls across 47 hectares, bordered documents, opening the gate once the informa-
town, before heading back to Aizawl by the seasonal Mansar and Manhar streams. tion has been verified. This process aims to en-
the next day. Another exciting day trip Dating back to 2650 BCE, the city thrived until hance security and reduce the need for physical
from Champhai could be to Lake Pala around 2100 BCE, with evidence of reoccupation ID checks at various airport checkpoints.
Tipo (Palak) — a 12 hour drive away. until 1450 BCE. Visitors can delve into the site’s Currently, the Digi Yatra platform is available
Closest airport: Aizawl/Lengpui rich history at the Archaeological Museum at major Indian airports, including Bengaluru,
Closest railhead: Bairabi/Silchar. Dholavira or marvel at ancient wood fossils nearby. Varanasi, Delhi and Mumbai. It was first
Nature enthusiasts will love spotting flamingos launched in December 2022 and has expanded to
during the wetter months or embarking on a Vijayawada, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Pune by
thrilling jeep safari in the adjacent Little Rann of April 2023. The service offers registered users
Kutch. Dholavira offers a unique blend of history and contactless entry and security clearance, thanks
natural beauty, making it a must-visit destination. to facial recognition technology, which verifies
Stay at Evoke Dholavira, 3 kms away from the site. passengers’ identities without requiring them
A view of Champhai Closest airport: Bhuj | Closest railhead: Samakhiali. to show physical documents. Special queues and
check-in points have been set up for those using
Little Rann of Kutch the Digi Yatra app or kiosk.
However, as of April 2024, the Digi Yatra sys-
tem requires users to sign up using their Aad-
haar ID. While there are plans to incorporate
other forms of identification, progress on this
TRAVEL DIARY has been slow. Digi Yatra is an industry-led ini-
MAHARASHTRA TO SOON tiative, supported by the Ministry of Civil Avia-

Namo Bharat Rapid

tion in India, aimed at modernising the travel
LAUNCH THE WORLD’S FIRST experience and making air travel more efficient
ROPEWAY SAFARI and secure.
Tadoba National Park is gearing up to
introduce the world’s first-ever ropeway Rail to revolutionise With the planned introduction of FRT for in-
ternational travellers and the rollout of e-pass-

inter-city travel in
safari, offering a unique and eco-friendly ports, India is positioning itself as a leader in
aviation technology, following the global trend

Karnataka
way to explore its diverse wildlife. This in-
novative project will take visitors on a serene of adopting advanced digital solutions for trav-
journey through the park’s dense forest, el. This initiative is expected to significantly en-
providing panoramic views of the land- hance the convenience and safety of air travel
scape and wildlife from above. Designed for both passengers in the domestic and inter-
to minimise disturbance to animals on the national sectors.
ground, the ropeway promises an immersive
experience, allowing guests to spot wildlife
from various angles without disrupting the The Bengaluru service route will connect urban centres such as
natural habitat below. Mysuru and Tumakuru, offering commuters a faster and more
efficient alternative to existing travel options…

SRUSHTI KULKARNI nificant milestone and the the Vande Bharat Express, a modern, comfortable travel

T
service will soon be extended negating the need for a sepa- experience, with thoughtful-
HE Namo Bharat Rapid to Bengaluru, Karnataka. rate locomotive. These trains ly designed seating and
Rail, a new semi-high- The Bengaluru service will are designed to replace the amenities to ensure that the
speed rail service, is set connect the city to key near- ageing MEMU trains, deliv- journey is as convenient as it
to transform short-dis- by urban centres such as ering enhanced speed and is swift. By offering a quick
JAIPUR’S NAHARGARH tance travel between ma- Mysuru and Tumakuru, of- comfort for passengers. With and pleasant alternative to
BIOLOGICAL PARK NOW jor cities in India. Designed
to connect cities within a 100-
fering commuters a faster
and more efficient alterna-
a focus on reducing travel
time, the Namo Bharat Rap-
road travel and traditional
rail services, the Namo
BOASTS TIGER SAFARI 250 km radius, this initiative tive option. id Rail is expected to signifi- Bharat Rapid Rail is set to
The new attraction was inaugurated is part of the Government of The Namo Bharat trains, cantly cut down the duration become a preferred choice
by Rajasthan chief minister Bhajanlal India’s ‘Make in India’ cam- which are self-propelled of journeys between cities, for inter-city travel, particu-
Sharma last week. Covering 30 hectares paign, aiming to boost local trainsets, closely resemble making it a game-changer larly for those seeking speed
and featuring a 7 km route, the safari manufacturing and infra- for regular commuters. and comfort on short-dis-
was developed to promote wildlife structure development. Passengers will enjoy tance routes to avoid traffic
conservation and tourism in the state. As In April 2024, the Rail congestion these regions are
part of the event, Bhajanlal also named Coach Factory (RCF) in Ka- famous for.
two tiger cubs born at the park, calling the purthala rolled out the first
female ‘Skandi’ and the male ‘Bheem.’ This Basic Unit of the Namo
initiative is part of broader efforts to raise Bharat Rapid Rail. By Sep-
awareness about tiger conservation and tember 2024, it had entered
afforestation projects in Rajasthan. commercial service, with
the inaugural Ahmeda-
bad-Bhuj route launch-
ing on 16 September
2024. The success of
this route marks a sig-
 READSHAREFOLLOW
newindianexpress.com
Mail us: [email protected]

17 � 10 � 2024
THURSDAY

Interview with
DAY ’S D I A RY
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS PHILANTHROPY LAST RITES
Award for charity
Mother Teresa, a Roman Catholic nun
of Albanian descent, who cared for
The Nobel Peace Prize is not Mother
Teresa’s first award. In 1971, pope
Paul VI, gave her the first Pope John
She founded her order, the
Society of the Missionaries
of Charity, in Calcutta’s
She was given the honour
of a state funeral by the
Government of India. She was
KG Balasubramani
the poor and sick in India, was named XXIII Peace Prize, calling her order a slums in 1948 when she buried in the Mother House
the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize winner symbol of brotherhood among men opened her first school of the Missionaries of Charity PG 4

Stock before the storm

A R C H I TA R A G H U Blinkit, essential goods were
sold out. Amid the showers,

E
VERY monsoon, water Blinkit delivery personnel
carves a path, and riv- Ganesan braved the waterlog-
ulets return gushingly ging in areas like Purasai-
to their basins. While wakkam, and surrounding re-
topography may have gions to deliver some essential
changed and areas are goods. “In one hour alone, I
rendered unrecognisable — en- The weather forecast that predicted relentless rains in the city forced residents to steel themselves up for the have delivered six packages. I
croached and converted to crisis, panic purchase essentials, leading to price spikes amid scarcity of goods joined last year and I haven’t
buildings, companies, and seen these many numbers of
roads — waterbodies remem- orders in such a short time,”
ber, as the popular adage goes. relief centres. PICTURE FOR REPRESENTATION need refrigeration in case of says the 21-year-old.
Just as water harbours memo- According to an article in power outage,” he says. On Tuesday, there were over
ry, the citizens of Chennai car- The New Indian Express, in the The Puzhuthivakkam resi- 2,000 orders from the Blinkit
ry memories intertwined with 24 hours on October 15, Tamil dent chalks the panic buying warehouse in Aminjikarai
the deluge. Nadu received an average rain- to memories from previous alone, compared to the usual
From 2015 floods to cyclone fall of 2,241 cm across, while years. “Mistakes that made 1,800 a day, says Suman P, the
Michaung in 2023 — each year, Chennai received 6.5 cm. Vide- them suffer during past flood- manager of the unit.
rains and storms arrive with os and news of hanging live ings, cruel media tactics to P r ave e n s ay s “ T h e
warnings, the promise of heavy wires, open manholes, hel- sensationalise the news about government should anticipate
downpours, and renewed fears. plines, and volunteer alerts such weather forecasts. (I’ve) panic buying since people’s
As vulnerable parts of cities filled social media platforms. also perceived the helpless- survival instinct kicks in at
are swallowed, memories of With fresh memories of an- ness people felt, waiting for times like these. They should
losing loved ones, homes, and nual inundation, the panic help to arrive during last year activate the small van veggies
important documents surface. seeped into the streets and ing other people, chas- and how the drainage systems vendors that used to come to
As X user @iamdatemike put it, reached grocery stores with ing shops.” and essentials supplies were our streets during the Covid
“Everyone is scarred and doomsday planning. All shops In search of veg- (lacking),” says the IT employ- lockdown. This would put
scared…Even if it drizzles, my shared a deserted look — empty etables, Praveen In- ee. Meanwhile, Besant Nagar- people at ease about the
parents and grandparents get racks of bread and eggs, black- barajan recounts a based Kevin Casto says, “Bread availability of essentials. They
scared. We will have to live like ened vegetables, and a rush for five-hour round wasn’t available in my locality should include the local shops
t h i s fo r t h e fo re s e e abl e the last packet of milk. In trip across south since Monday evening. I was and major vendors in
future.” Choolaimedu, Anna Nagar, and Chennai. From the told the supply itself has been anticipating and planning for
On Sunday, the Met Depart- Aminjikarai, CE found some jam-packed Kovai stopped.” He adds people found such events.”
ment issued a red alert predict- grocery shops closed, others Pazhamudhir it hard to get water cans dur- Citing the lack of effective
ing heavy rain from October 15 with empty racks, and some Cholai in Thiruvan- ing the rain. use of technology, Sreenivas
to 17. A sleepless night, a day of with long queues. According to miyur, the empty sis- After hearing the forecast, urges the government to mark
charging electronics, buying a shopkeeper in Collectorate ter branch in ECR, and Varsha Panjabi visited seven the diversions on the map and
candles, and persistent check- Colony, the prices of vegetables SOURCE: PRAVEEN INBARAJAN ON X the sparsely stocked Amma shops in Anna Nagar for milk highlight heavily flooded areas.
ing of weather updates en- rose amid high demand, with a Naana, to nameless kadais, he packets. “At the eighth shop, As the city received respite and
sued. As downpours hit the city kilo of tomato costing nearly It was like a zombie apoca- terday (Monday). People were visited 12 shops, with no suc- (they) sensibly insisted on only prediction of the storm moving
on Monday and Tuesday, com- `120 to `140. Shops across the lypse, says Sreenivas, a man- grabbing whatever was there cess. “Veggies, Maggi, bread, one packet of milk per family,” past Tamil Nadu on Wednesday,
muters braved waterlogged city sported candles, umbrel- ager at Amazon. “Areas like Vil- in the shops and I could see and eggs were the most sought she notes. citizens hope for better plan-
streets, waded through hip-lev- las, and raincoats at the l iva k k a m , Ko r at t u r, a n d anxious people riding two- out for. People went for veggies Meanwhile, on delivery apps ning, and infrastructure before
el water, and families moved to entrance. Ambattur had crazy scenes yes- wheelers without even mind- with long shelf life and wouldn’t like Zepto, Swiggy, Zomato, and the next phase of rains.

INPUTS FROM ARCHITA RAGHU, DIYA MARIA GEORGE AND SONU M KOTHARI
Sudha Ramalingam, advocate and human rights Imman Vijay, rapper, Mylapore, Sruthi Lakshmi, company secretary intern at EY, *Lakshmi, Kannagi Nagar
activist, Choolaimedu near Ambedkar Bridge Madipakkam
Kannagi Nagar is an area that usually
This time, I didn’t believe in hoarding anything. Every year, during People living behind the canals are always the hardest hit. My family and I moved to Madipakkam last year and were gets inundated during the monsoon
the monsoon, the government and local bodies talk about However, this time, things weren’t as bad. Last year, we stayed at unaware of the situation when it rains. We faced water and after Monday, there is already
preparedness, but it always feels like a knee-jerk reaction to the the community hall for three days, but most of our stagnation, WiFi disruption and powercuts for three hip-level water. My husband is a
current year’s flooding. There’s no long-term, appliances — beds, fridge, and others — were days. From lack of drinking water to groceries, we painter and as there’s a red alert, he
consistent planning to avoid future floods. We need destroyed by the flooding. Fortunately, now as I found it difficult to go on with our everyday lives. hasn’t been called to work, leading
proper identification of issues, detailed planning, have shifted houses and since we live on the first This time, we managed to keep candles handy, to loss of daily wages. It’ll be difficult
and creation of infrastructure for permanent floor, we didn’t face as many issues. The area charge powerbanks, and other devices whenever if this rain continues. The shops are
solutions. Living in Anna Nagar, I’ve rarely seen which I live in now has government officials also, power was available, bought water cans, stocked closed on the main road, and it is
my MP, MLA, or Municipal Councillor, except when so there won’t be any powercut issues. The up groceries for five days and milk for the next difficult to get any basic essentials.
they’re canvassing for votes. To prevent flooding measures depend on the area and people. The two days. I also tried to buy sand sacks to avoid The prices have shot up as well. I live
during heavy rains, we need to restore lakes and price of essentials skyrocketed during the rains. water seepage in my house. Few of our on the ground floor and we are
waterbodies, provide safe housing, and build With only a few shops open, we made sure to stock neighbours helped us to park our vehicles in unsure when the water will drain and
proper drainage systems. These are the long- up early. The government needs to step up the a high raised building. We are well if the showers continue, the water
term solutions that will make a real efforts. Staying in community halls isn’t a prepared for the rains and the monsoon, will enter the house. It feels like a
difference. long-term solution. but only time will prove us right or wrong. helpless situation. *name changed

REELING
FROM RAINS
C
OMMUTERS, pedestrians,
and residents made their
way through inundated
streets on Tuesday. As the
north-east monsoon set in, peo-
ple scrambled to reach their
places of employment as wages
and work wait for none. This
situation poses a question of
who can afford to stay home
amid a red alert. The waterlog-
ging near some government
buildings, streets, and subways,
points out the loopholes in in-
frastructure planning and dis-
aster management. TNIE lens-
men Ashwin Prasath, P
Jawahar and P Ravikumar
capture some scenes.
 2
instagram.com/newindianexpress/
facebook.com/thenewindianxpress
twitter.com/newindianxpress
THURSDAY
Mail us: [email protected] 17 � 10 � 2024

Brave New You: A Air Warriors: True Stories Listening When Parts Speak: The Shadow of A Bird in
Road Map to Believing of Valour and Courage A Practical Guide to Healing Flight
that More Is Possible from the Indian Air Force with Internal Family Systems By Shamsur Rahman Farooqui
By Cory Allen By Arjit Ghosh Therapy and Ancestor Wisdom This collection features 167 poems by 60 poets,
Not able to unleash your full potential? This anthology of untold stories of actual By Tamala Floyd representing the essence of Indo-Persian
This intensively research-based tool kit protagonists from the Indian Air Force pays An expert therapist and teacher lead you on a poetic tradition. The verses in this collection
will help you to make the extra leap of tribute to the resilience of individuals who transformative journey of self-discovery and healing serve as an introduction to the tradition of
taking charge of your life. have contributed to the shaping of the IAF. from collective and intergenerational trauma. Persian literature .

FITBIT
MISS-FIT
Wanitha Ashok
Wanitha Ashok is a Fit India Movement
VALAKHILYASANA
Ambassador and celebrity fitness coach (HEAVENLY SPIRITS POSE)
How do I get This is an intermediate level, hip and heart-opening practice. It involves a
similar leg position as in One Footed King Pigeon Pose with a di�erence of
holding the raised foot. It is, therefore, included in One Footed King Pigeon Pose
started with variations. This bound practice prepares the shoulders and back for advanced
backbends like Standing Pose of the Heavenly Spirits. Before doing this, warm-
strength training up is a must. In Sanskrit, Valakhilya means a group of divine sages (heavenly
spirits). This backbend stretch can be seen as a way to transcend physical

at home with
constraints and embody a sense of spiritual upliftment.

STEPS BENEFITS
minimal � Begin in Ardha Kapotasana � Stretches the chest.
equipment? (Half Pigeon Pose) on the
right, extending your right
� Maintains a sense of balance and
equilibrium in their spiritual practice.
Getting started with strength leg straight behind.
� Symbolises the idea that true strength
training at home with mini- � Keep your left leg folded and wisdom come from inner balance and
mal equipment is easy and towards front, with the heel harmony.
convenient. close to the perineum and
� Builds strength and flexibility in the biceps
the toes pointing behind.
� I recommend hiring a cer- and triceps, hamstrings-quadriceps, arms-
tified personal trainer and � Sit up tall. Roll your shoulder shoulders-neck, psoas, spine, chest, and
training under their guid- back and widen your chest. knees, engaging the whole body.
ance to avoid injuries and see � Inhale and raise your right � Included in yoga sequences for all,
results. It’s not safe to watch leg, which is extended
YouTube videos or reels for especially sports, runners, mountain
behind to bring the foot
WOES VERSUS WONDER workouts as they are general
and not specific to you.
towards the body.
climbers, swimmers.
� Helps improve athletic performance.
As the city faces inundation, some wade through the crisis, while for kids, it is just a moment of joy.| ASHWIN PRASATH � Exhale. Extend the hands
� Excellent yoga pose that provides a
behind, interlocking the
fingers on the raised leg beautiful stretch for the upper body.
behind. Hold the ankle and � Benefits people who lead a sedentary
QUICKFIX interlock the fingers on the lifestyle, sit for long hours, or have poor
lower leg. Grab the foot posture.
MANGO ICE CREAM � Exercise routine has to be
structured to target all major
with your right hand, then
use the other hand.
� Great addition to yoga routines for working
professionals.
INGREDIENTS muscle groups. Exercises � Push the legs behind, widen � It allows for deeper breathing and better
have to be varied to prevent the chest while curving the oxygen exchange.
� Vanilla ice cream: 1 cup � Mango: 1 (for making puree) exercise plateau. Dynamic back in a gentle backbend. � Beneficial for students with asthma or
� Milk: 1/4 cup � Sugar: 1-2 tbsp warm-ups, exercise execu-
tion and alignment, cool � Be in this pose for 6 breaths. other respiratory disorders.
� Ice-cream cups: 3 � Ice cream sticks: 3 down, and appropriate � To release, slowly align back � Balances several chakras, including the
METHOD stretches help prevent in Ardha Kapotasana. Throat, Sacral and Root Chakras.
injuries.
� Choose your cups or moulds. If you are using paper or plastic cups, make sure they are clean and dry. � Release the pose, sending � Promotes emotional release by stimulating
� Spoon a layer of mango puree into the bottom of each cup. Smooth it out with the back of the spoon. Here is a list of basic your hips up high in the energy flow in the body.
equipment needed for Downward Dog Pose, � This pose also helps open the hip joint and
� Mix the puree with a bit of milk to lighten its colour, creating a gradient of dark and light hues. Use a home gym:
this mixture to form the next layer.
unfolding your front leg lengthens the hip flexor.
1. A pair of dumbbells (left). Repeat the practice
� Place the cups in the freezer for about 30 minutes, or until the layer is firm. on the other side (left). � Stretches thighs, glutes and piriformis
(2kg and 3kg)
� Once the layer is firm, add another layer of mango puree. Then, mix the puree with a bit of milk and muscles, extending the groin and psoas.
2. Resistance bands � Finally, slide down in
spread this mixture as the next layer. � Beneficial for urinary disorder and
Balasana and relax.
� Once the layer is set, spoon a layer of vanilla ice cream on top as the final layer. 3. Medicine ball stimulates the internal organs.
� Smooth out the final layer and return the cups to the freezer. Freeze for at least 1-2 hours to ensure 4. Exercise mat � Improves posture, alignment and overall
the layers are fully set. Contributed by Sheeja Suresh, Kasaragod LIMITATIONS suppleness.
� Carefully remove the ice cream from the cup and enjoy your treat. 5. Chair or bench (for some
exercises) � People having a � Lessens or alleviates sciatic pain.
hip replacement � Beneficial for
6. Exercise stick or facing hip injury,
WHATWHENWHYWHERE must avoid it.
lower back
pain and
� Women during sti�ness.
Style talk Celebrating India pregnancy and
those trying to
Amethyst presents ‘The Fabric of Chettinad This festive season Starbucks celebrates India’s conceive should
Architecture: Weaving Spaces and Styles’ — a traditions and flavours with a new range — avoid practising it.
talk by Bharath Ramamrutham. The talk Sa�ron Symphony: Limited time beverage HAVE A RECIPE OR ART
serves as a prelude to the exhibition Payanam o�erings, and Mithai Meets Dessert: Bombay WORK TO SHARE, OR � People with ankle or
by Anavila, a textile collection inspired by the sweet shop + Starbucks. A QUESTION TO ASK? knee injury, should
opulent heritage of Chettinad @xpresstn avoid this.
WHERE: Across Starbucks stores
WHEN: October 21, 6:30 pm [email protected]
CALL: 9382713370 @newindianexpress
By N Elumalai, PhD Scholar (Yoga Science) at
Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education & Research, Chennai

Festive release
With Deepavali round the corner, ARTCORNER
Diadem launches Ashirah Silks
by Diadem, handpicked by the Handloom mela
company’s MD. The range features Handlooms & Handicrafts Mela has been organised by Rajasthan Artisans & Weavers
a�ordable saris starting at `899. Welfare Association
WHERE: Diadem showrooms WHEN: Till October 23, 10.30 am-9 pm WHERE: Multi Hall, KK Nagar

Handicra� expo
Gujarat Handloom and Handicraft Expo is organised by GR Handlooms. On display
and for sale are arts and crafts, clothing, handloom saris, jewellery, home décor,
furniture, and handicraft from the artisans and craftspersons from across India.
WHEN: Till October 20 WHERE: Sri Sankara Hall, TTK Road, Alwarpet

Family feast
With this exclusive
Buy 3, Get 1 Free O�er,

Just for laughs there’s no better time to

reconnect with family
Join Abijit Ganguly for a stand-up comedy and friends over a
show as he navigates the quirks of turning delightful brunch spread
30, shares tales of his friends, and recounts at Waterside, Feathers, A
his experiences performing in lively cities Radha Hotel
like Kanpur and Chandigarh. WHEN: Till October
WHEN: October 20 31
WHERE: Phoenix Marketcity PRICE: `3,000 nett

Artful celebration Exhibition-cum-sale

The 26th Bengal Weaver Rang Mahal show presents Meena Bazaar - Art, Craft, Handlooms and Lifestyle
saris and dress materials by weavers from West Exhibition, is being held at CERC Exhibition Ground,

WINGED DREAMS
Bengal. Thiruvanmiyur. As part of the exhibition, Shadow Show
WHEN: Till October 27 Live will be held on Saturday form 6 pm to 7.30 pm and Fire
Show Live on Sunday from 6pm to 7.30pm
WHERE: CP Arts Centre, Eldams Road, Artist Badrunissa Irfan’s artwork captures a serene moment where a bird perches among blossoms under a starry sky, blending the beauty
Alwarpet WHEN: Till October 20 of nature with quiet elegance.
 3
instagram.com/newindianexpress/
facebook.com/thenewindianxpress THURSDAY
FEATURES twitter.com/newindianxpress
Mail us: [email protected] 17 � 10 � 2024

JUST PLAY

Merrily we
roll along!
tions of children across the
country.
VINITA But like most games that re-
SIDHARTHA flect human thinking and skill,
hoop rolling is not restricted just
[email protected] to India. Its popularity as a game
The writer is an author and the can be seen from the variety of
founder of Kreeda, an organisation folk tales that abound across the
reviving traditional games world that are linked to hoop
rolling. From ancient tales from
Africa and China to Scottish leg-

M
AN has always had a fasci- ends of a Hoop Hound or a dog
nation with the wheel. That that protects children who roll
timeless symbol has revo- the hoop without toppling, the
lutionised transport, ma- game has been part of the play
chinery, and every aspect of our across the world. Charles Dick-
lives. Not surprisingly, it has be- ens, the popular author frequent-
come a strong cultural meta- ly mentions children playing
phorical symbol of the circle of with hoops in the streets of Lon-
life of time, of progress, and don, thus capturing the essence
much much more. Not surpris- of childhood.
ingly, it has found its way into Interestingly, in Wellesley Col-
play in the form of the hoop; af- lege, Boston, hoop rolling has
ter all, play is merely a reflection been a documented May Day ac-
TALKING ART of life and thinking. tivity. Wellesley seniors race
Rolling a hoop by hand or with down Tupelo Lane, pushing their

WHAT’S MODERN ABOUT light with bare forms and small

brushstrokes, Expressionism where
a stick is an incredible joy. The
sense of achievement, when one
hoops with a wooden stick.
Hoops are usually decorated for

MODERN ART?
JITHA reality was distorted to express emo-
tions, Cubism that portrayed a sub-
can navigate the obstacles and
still roll the hoop, is a truly won-
the occasion. The story goes that
back in the day, it was proclaimed
KARTHIKEYAN ject from multiple angles using geo- derful feeling. While hoops have that whoever won the Hoop Roll
metric shapes (think Picasso) to been made in many different would be the first to get married.
[email protected] Abstract Expressionism where im- ways, Indian children have, over Today, they just say that the win-
ages were in highly abstracted modes, the years, merely appropriated ner will be the first to achieve
(Jitha Karthikeyan is an artist and
the Modern Art period was one old cycle tyres to create a much- happiness and success, whatever
curator, passionate about making art
where artistry was constantly pushed loved form of play. that means to her.
accessible to the larger public)
A long, long time ago indeed! Why paintings until the 19th century. The outside known boundaries. In fact, this form of play has With so much history, one
then, you wonder, is something from subjects were hence, either religious Nevertheless, Modern Art ended found representation in much of would think that a hoop would

T
HERE’S nothing modern the past even called modern? Simply in nature or fancy portraits of the up giving way to Postmodern Art af- popular culture as well as folk be a specially designed piece of
about Modern Art. Every because it was the first attempt at rich. However, this slowly witnessed ter the 1970’s. Contemporary art re- tales. One folk tale from Rajas- equipment. However, in spite of
artist knows this much — moving away from traditional art a shift, with the Industrial Revolution flects the issues that shape the than talks about a beautiful prin- the fantastic stories about gold-
that there are only two types styles and indulging in opening up new modes of present world rather than an empha- cess who was trapped in a palace en hoops or those with special
of art that ever exist in the experimentation. The desire to transportation. Artists now had sis on aesthetic beauty. It is the proc- tower. She used her golden hoop powers that can outrun a wild
normal world outside the challenge conventional ways of access to divergent ideas as the world ess of making art that is important to roll through the streets and boar or entangle snakes, the
confines of the art literate one. One visual representation was at the core opened up along with their now. Performance art even allows the signal for help. The hoop caught hoop is merely that — a hoop.
is, of course, the Mona Lisas and the of Modern Art. Until then, it was worldviews. Soon, the experiments participation of the audience at the eye of a brave warrior who Sometimes it is rolled by hand
breathtaking landscapes that never realism and classicism that were be gan. The usual sought-after times. Concepts are hailed. There has went to rescue the princess. but usually with a stick and the
cease to amaze with their perfection. being championed. Several factors subjects were rejected and artists been an infusion of technology to aid Yet another tale talks of a trick is to get it to roll along with-
The other is the undecipherable Mod- led to this, the most important being chose to paint from their personal in the creation of art and known me- young boy who used his hoop to out toppling.
ern Art, the stuff that shows in exclu- the Industrial Revolution which experiences. The mediums they used diums of expression have burst forth distract and outrun a wild boar A simple game but a lot of fun
sive art galleries and sells for vulgar radically changed the way people were also unfamiliar and innovative into unknown territories ever since. that was threatening his village. and one that can truly speak of
jaw-dropping amounts at ar t worked and existed. The urban like photography for one, whose So, the next time you plan to visit Popularly called chakkar chala- being a universal favourite for
auctions. population rose rapidly with more invention in 1839 opened up an art show in your town or another, na in many parts of northern children of different cultures.
To set the record straight, here are people migrating to the cities for unimaginable possibilities to depict think twice before you engage in a India, the hoop and the ability to
the facts. Modern Art does not refer jobs. the world. conversation about the ‘Modern Art’ roll it deftly and keep it rolling
to the art of the contemporary times. An artist’s practice was dependent The period saw diverse movements that you see on display. You certainly has caught the fancy of genera-
Rather, it refers to the art that was on wealthy patrons and religious and varied styles. From Impression- do not want to appear to be as
produced from the 1860s to the 1970s. authorities who commissioned ism which tried to capture natural outdated as the term!

THE VENUS FLYTRAP

RESTRICTING REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM

A
NYONE with a feminist lens — the-ground information are not exists, lack of access affects and even
and many with an anti-feminist necessarily convinced. Activist endangers many people. Reproductive
lens, too — in Tamil Nadu knows
a shadow ban on emergency con- SHARANYA Archanaa Sekar, who has worked on
the ECP issue for many years and
freedom is a fundamental human
right, and one of the tenets of any
traceptive pills (ECPs) has been in
place here for a long time, possibly
MANIVANNAN provided critical interventions where
necessary, tells me, “The details of
progressive system. Tamil Nadu likes
to take pride in being seen as one of
ever since they became over-the- @she_of_the_sea the ban are still murky. TN has India’s most progressive states.
counter drugs in India in 2005. While initiated a sub-committee to make All denial of reproductive access is
they are technically not illegal, it’s The columnist is a recommendations but details of the rooted in miso g yny, and can
extremely difficult to source them. writer and illustrator committee or of the recommendations potentially ruin lives. When one
Only a handful of pharmacies clan- are not in the public domain.” considers the data that young adults
destinely stock them, and timely ac- The CDSCO has since put out a If the central gover nment is use ECPs most of all, deprivation of
cess is far from assured (they must be statement that there is neither a pro- serious about making ECPs and such medication is deliberately cruel
consumed within specific time win- posal nor any move to make these other hormonal contraceptives more towards those with already limited
dows: usually within 72 hours of in- drugs prescription-only, and central easily available across India, it will agency. Even requiring a prescription
tercourse, depending on the drug). government officials have told the not be enough to do so only on paper. can be an insurmountable setback,
Last year, the Tamil Nadu govern- press that the matter of ECPs re- The issue of shadow bans needs to be given the rampant sex-negativity of
ment made a recommendation for an mains “status quo”. Other reports addressed. In Tamil Nadu, this Indian doctors. People cannot be
outright ban on over-the-counter state that the Drug Controller Gen- shadow ban has been upheld equally called irresponsible if they live in a
sales of ECPs. The Central Drugs eral of India (DCGI) plans to relax by societal norms as well as by a culture of enormous stigmas around
Standard Control Organisation (CD- sales protocols for these medications succession of state governments. sexuality, and have never been armed
SCO) has reportedly since been con- through changes to labelling, not While public demand is substantial, with sex education and enough
sidering this on an even larger scale. tighten them. public pressure against the shadow choices to begin with — including
If implemented, there could be a for- However, there are two concerns. ban is non-existent. Whether or not the freedom to make mistakes that
mal, nationwide ban on the sale of all The status quo itself is problematic an actual, on-the-books ban on sales harm no one else, and to not be
hormonal contraceptive medication — in Tamil Nadu, at least. Secondly, — or even an actual, on-the-books disproportionately punished for
without a prescription. reproductive rights activists with on- requirement for prescriptions — them.

CHENNAI DIGEST
Award function held
Sri V Narayana Iyer Memorial Trust hosted its annual
award function recognising the contributions of
individuals and organisations. The ceremony was
inaugurated by Justice Seshasayee, Madras High
Court Judicature. Pravachana Vachaspathi Award
was conferred on Dushyanth Sridhar; Sri. V. Narayana
Iyer’s Award Of Life Time Achievement to Cleveland
VV Sundaram; Professional Excellence Award to Dr
Shree Vidhya; Sri. G.K Subramania Iyer Award to M
Krishnamurthy for Erudition; Smt. Lakshmi Ammal
Award on Kudhanthaimali for Eloquence; Smt.
Sankari Narayanan Award to SL Naanu for
Ebullience; Smt. Janaki Vaidyanathan Award to Sri
Yoga For Excellence, and Smt. Thankam Krishnan
‘Voice of District’ organised Award to MS Mathivannan for Eclecticism. Arangetram of a young dancer
Rotary Club of Chennai Towers conducted Voice of Yogithaa Ramesh showcased her Bharatanatyam
District – Season 16, a music talent competition for Arangetram at the Music Academy’s TT
Rotarians and their families. It saw 147 registrations Krishnamachari Auditorium. A dedicated disciple of
this year. After a rigorous selection at prelims, 44 Sheela Uniikrishnan, Yogithaa’s performance marked
contestants were shortlisted by eminent judges. a significant milestone in her dance journey,
Comprising a mixed bag of performers, falling under reflecting her hard work and commitment. The event
various categories, the grand finale was held at on was graced by chief guests Vijaya Thayanban,
Sunday. The event was judged by singers Yugendran member secretary of the Tamil Nadu Isai Iyal Nataka
Vasudevan, Devan Ekambaram, NSK Ramya and Manram, and guest of honour Ashok Kumar J.
Ganga. The finale was attended by more than 200 Mundhra, secretary of Dwaraka Doss Goverdhan
guests including many celebrities. The chief guest for Doss Vaishnav College. The Arangetram was a
the event was Rtn Mahaveerchand Bothra, district vibrant display of classical dance, highlighting the
governor, District 3233. rich cultural heritage of Bharatanatyam.
 www.cinemaexpress.com
THURSDAY
4
instagram.com/newindianexpress/

MATINEE
facebook.com/thenewindianxpress
twitter.com/newindianxpress
Mail us: [email protected] 17 � 10 � 2024

‘BLACK IS NOT JUST

AKSHAY KUMAR editor makes it comprehensi-
ble to the audience. Balasub-

D
ESPITE the genre ramani recalls how editor Phi-
witnessing reasona- lomin Raj was thoroughly
ble success in Tamil invested in Black, despite

A CEREBRAL FILM’
cinema, science fic- working on biggies like Leo,
tion remains a rarity. Maharaja, and Vettaiyan.
Perhaps, owing to the “Philo was involved in the
complexity involved film right from the scripting
in writing for the genre, the process. He even suggested
chances of failing are higher, shots and frames so that it
even with minor issues. How- would be comfortable for him
ever, debutant KG Balasubra- to edit. He owned the project
mani has taken up that chal- Debut director KG Balasubramani speaks about his recent Jiiva-starrer, Black, the role of an editor in a film that flirts like his own to the point that
lenge with Black, which stars with multiple timelines, the palatability of sci-fi among the masses, and much more we had misunderstandings.
Jiiva and Priya Bhavani But, that is not to be under-
Shankar in the lead. ven. Regarding the com- and helped the other actors stood as a rift; our disagree-
The makers confirmed that
Black is inspired by the 2013
Hollywood sci-fi film, Coher-
plexity of the screenplay,
the director says, “In a film,
the unravelling of every
understand the story,” Fur-
ther commenting on the
film’s uniqueness,
ments were for the better-
ment of the film. The
editing in Black is so
Until Dawn
ence. When asked what gave
him the confidence to remake
mystery will usually pro-
vide a resolution, but in my
Balasubramani
s ay s, “ U n l i ke
crucial that it will be
talked about like
gets a
a critically acclaimed Holly-
wood film as his debut, Balas-
ubramani says, “Every direc-
film, the unravelling ac-
companies
questions.”
more
some thrillers,
where you can
guess the
Maanaadu.” How-
ever, he is cau-
tious not to term
release date

E
tor’s ego will naturally stop Elaborating on his previ- twists or even Black as a com- ARLIER this year, we re-
him from conceding he has ous point, Balasubramani the climax, pletely cerebral ported that a live-action
been inspired by a particular says that Black’s plot also Black’s story film. “At its core, adaptation of the Until
film. To be honest, except for shares similarities with the can lend itself Black is an emo- Dawn game is in the
the knot, there is no similarity short film he made during to a dozen cli- KG Balasubramani tional film about a works, with David F Sand-
between both films. But, our his Naalaiya Iyakkunar maxes and inter- couple who go berg attached to direct. A
producer, SR Prabhu, wanted days. Interestingly, actor pretations. There is through a strange in- few days after the comple-
to steer clear of legal troubles Vivek Prasanna has re- no one right answer.” cident and reconcile their tion of its production, dis-
and maintain his company’s prised his role from the No amount of complex- differences,” he says. tributor Screen Gems an-
integrity, so he thought it was short film in Black. “Vivek ity in a screenplay Balasubramani has high nounced that Until Dawn is
better to acquire the Holly- was helpful whenever the can ensure a praises for his stars, “Jiiva sir all set for a theatrical release
wood film’s rights. I guarantee other actors hit a roadblock film’s suc- never wanted his fun image to on April 25, 2025. The film
that you will not call Black a or if they made a wrong cess un- interfere with the character. features actors Ella Rubin,
remake. The concept dealt judgement. Since he is as less the But in Black, he played a seri- Michael Cimino, Ji-young
with is similar, but the film is familiar as I am ous character from start to fin- Yoo, Belmont Cameli, Odes-
not alien to Indian or Tamil with this script, ish and never insisted on plac- sa A’zion, Maia Mitchell, and
film sensibilities.” Black is re- he knew exactly ing dialogues that weren’t Peter Stormare.
ceiving praise for effectively what I wanted needed. Likewise, Priya Bha- Sandberg directed the film
handling how the multiple vani Shankar was not just a based on a screenplay by
timelines are interwo- dedicated actor; she also cor- writer Gary Dauberman.
rected me whenever there Writer Blair Butler had
were some problematic dia- penned the earlier draft. The
logues that could be misogy- film, based on the epony-
nistic. Also, having started off mous PlayStation game,
as a newsreader, she also sug- went on floors in August this
gests I simplify lines to make year. The interactive horror
them concise.” Drawing par- game revolves around young
allels with Pizza and Maya, adults who get back together
Balasubramani says, “Pizza at a mountain lodge follow-
and Maya stood out when a ing a tragedy, involving all
slew of horror comedies of them. When a mystery
were made. Both films won killer begins to hunt them
praise for staying true to down, the nightmarish place
their genre and for also becomes the last resort to
being innovative with re- keep themselves alive. The
gard to storytelling. I am film is reportedly not a re-
confident my film will telling of the story from the
join that league,” he Until Dawn game. However,
Fr o m th e se ts o f
B la ck concludes. it stars Peter Stormare in
the role of therapist Dr Hill
from the game.

Vijay Antony’s next titled Beyond the mainstream

Gagana Maargan S H R E YA S PA N D E some of his films. He says that
he received two important piec-
should become a space where
like-minded cinema lovers can

M
UMBAI Academy of Mov- es of advice from the veteran come together. “I grew up with
ing Ima g e’s (MAMI) poet, lyricist, and filmmaker. that tradition where I would go
Mumbai Film Festival “He told me to enrol in the Film to MAMI to see some of the

W
E had earlier reported that Vijay Antony will next star faces a major shift this and Television Institute of In- g reatest filmmakers from
in editor Leo John Paul’s directorial debut. On Wednes- year. It will no longer have a ti- dia (FTII) and secondly, to get a around the world. I would
day, the makers of the film announced that it has been tle sponsor like its previous edi- pass for MAMI,” Shivendra rec- watch films which I would have
titled Gagana Maargan. Billed as a murder mystery- tions, which was backed by Jio. ollects. He feels that the festival no chance to access otherwise,”
crime thriller, the upcoming film is the 12th production of Due to limited resources, the was a learning curve for him he says.
Vijay Antony Films Corporation. The makers assure that even festival will take place in a and many others like him. “I Through MAMI Mumbai
with the thriller premise, the Vijay Antony-starrer will have short span of six days this year, still remember collecting the Film Festival, Shivendra wants
family friendly elements and will delve into the world of de- from October 19 to 24. However, catalogue from the festival eve- to create a worthy platform for
tective fiction. The title Gagana Maargan translates to “one festival director and filmmaker ry year. All those catalogues independent cinema. “I have
who travels through the air” in the Siddhar dictionary, accord- Shivendra Singh Dungarpur are still with me. I never always felt that young filmmak-
ing to a press statement shared by the makers. feels that nothing has changed. thought I would be the director ers need to be nourished,” he
Apart from Vijay Antony, the film also stars Samuthiraka- The festival will continue to of this festival one day,” he says. “We need to find cinema
ni, Mahanathi Shankar, Prithika, Brigida Saga, Vinodh Sagar, screen curated films from smiles. Shivendra reveals that beyond the popular discourse
Ajay Dhishan, Deepshikha, KPY Archana, Kanimozhi, and South Asia and around the they are finding ways to make and celebrate films that are not
Andhaghaaram Natarajan. Leo John Paul is notable for edit- world, along with some re- the festival sustainable in the just made in Mumbai but across
ing films like Pizza, Attakathi, Soodhu Kavvum, Mundasupat- stored classics. “It was tough long run. He feels that MAMI the country in different lan-
ti, Thegidi, and Indru Nettru Naalai. He also bagged the Tamil for the team to pull off the fes- guages that truly represent In-
Nadu State Film Award for Best Editor for the Vijay tival this year but we didn’t dian culture.” In line with this
S e t h u p a t h i - s t a r r e r I d h a rk u t h a n e A a s a i p a t t a i want to deny people the cele- spirit, Shivendra wanted to
Balakumara. bration of cinema through open the festival with an Indian
Director Leo Paul John is also editing the film while Vi- MAMI. We wanted that tradi- film and he feels that Payal Ka-
jay Antony, who last played the lead in films like Mazhai t i o n t o c o n t i n u e, ” s ay s padia’s All We Imagine As Light
Pidikkatha Manithan and Hitler, is composing the music Shivendra. would set the right tone. “I
for Gagana Maargan. The technical crew of the film He has a connection with wanted something that cap-
also comprises cinematographer Yuva S and art direc- MAMI that goes back a long tures the spirit of Mumbai and
tor Raja A. Gagana Maargan is set to feature under- time. His films, Celluloid Man this was the perfect film,” he
water sequences shot in Mumbai. Apart from Tamil, (2012) and Czechmate: In Search says. “I think Payal’s film being
the film is also expected to be released in Malayalam, of Jiri Menzel (2018), have an independently produced
Kannada, Hindi, and Telugu. been screened at the festi- film is the correct example of
val earlier. Even before what MAMI is going to follow
that, Shivendra as- in the years to come,”
sisted Gulzar on he concludes.

Chloe Grace Moretz, Anthony

Ramos to star in Love Language
L
OVE Language, an upcoming rom-com directed by
Joey Power, will see Chloe Grace Moretz, Anthony
Ramos, Manny Jacinto, and Lukas Gage in promi-
nent roles, along with Isabel May and Billie Lourd.
Moretz is known for films like Kick-Ass and Greta, while
Ramos was recently seen in the disaster film Twist-
ers and Transformers: Rise of the Beast.
Apart from directing the film, Joey Power has also
written the screenplay for the film. Details regarding
the plot of the film and character descriptions are cur-
rently kept under wraps. Principle photography for the
film is reportedly planned to start sometime next month
in Chicago, USA. Power is known for helming films
like After Everything and Banana Split.
Colin Jost serves as one of the producers for Love Lan-
guage, along with Ari Lubet for 3 Arts Entertainment,
Jost and Jeff Grosvenor for No Notes Productions, and
Bert Hamelinck and Allison Hironaka for Caviar.
Michael Sagol of Caviar and Tyson Bidner are serving Shivendra Singh Dungarpur
as executive producers.