South Bulletin

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Corporation to introduce new Conservancy schemes

CHENNAI, November 20: The Chennai Corporation Council has passed a resolution to improve conservancy opreations in the city by the end of the current fiscal year. Estimated to cost Rs 7.98 crore, some of the measures relate to improving interior and slum roads and pavements, desilting stormwater drains and purchasing garbage collecting vehicles. The corporation would also look into staff shortage.
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First Chennai Corporation Council meet

CHENNAI, November 20: The first Chennai Corporation council meet held at the Ripon Building in the city was attended by 154 of the 155 members and six MLAs. Among the 42 resolutions adopted were those for the construction of a fly-over near Valluvarkottam, upgradation of two schools and rebuilding of a bridge. Two subjects that sparked heated debate were the allotment of parking lots and the resolution of NGOs to take up conservancy operations in certain areas.
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TN allots funds for facilities in courts

CHENNAI, November 18: The TN Government has allotted Rs 21.25 crore to fund the supply of furniture and construction of buildings and staff quarters for Courts in Chennai, Udhagamandalam, Coimbatore, Cuddalore, Tiruttani and Nagercoil. A recurring amount of Rs 1 crore annually will be given for the support of additional staff in the Madras High Court.
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Speaker's one month pay for cyclone fund

BANGALORE, November 19: The Karnataka Speaker Ramesh Kumar announced that he and the Deputy Speaker would contribute a month's salary towards the relief fund for cyclone-hit Andhra Pradesh. He said he would also move the other office bearers of the Secretariat employees' and State Government employees' unions to contribute to the relief fund.
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Doctors demand support staff for new schemes

CHENNAI, November 20: The TN Government Doctors' Association has insisted that new schemes proposed by the State Health Minister can be implemented only after providing necessary infrastructure and support staff. According to Dr Prakasam, State President, the round-the-clock service in Primary Health Centres (PHCs), night watchmen and outpatient service upto 12 noon would need at least five doctors, three staff nurses, three male nursing assistants and three sanitary workers in the 24-hour PHCs.
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NCB destroys ganja fields

CHENNAI, November 19: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) destroyed 81,000 ganja plants being cultivated illicitly over 43 acres in Azhagumuthu Theni District in Tamil Nadu. In another case, 2,530 kgs of heroin worth Rs 5 lakh in the country and Rs 2.5 crore in the global market, was seized from a house in Tuticorin.
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Chief Executive arrested for evading duty

CHENNAI, November 21: The Chief Executive of a of private polymer and spinning mills group here, N Ramachandran has been arrested for "clandestine removal" of excisable goods with a duty of Rs 75 lakh. The CEO had declared lower quantity in the invoices to pay less duty, and had also prepared two sets of invoices and cleared the manufactured goods without payment of duty.
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Vocational teachers plan indefinite past

VELLORE, November 20: A three-phase state-wide agitation plan by vocational teachers belonging to the State Higher Secondary School Part Time Vocational Teachers Association, will commence on December 4, in Chennai, in support of their 10-point charter of demands. The agitation will culminate in an indefinte fast from February 5, if their demands are not met.
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Mahakumbhabishekam celebrated in Marudamalai

COIMBATORE, November 22: Thousands of devotees celebrated the Mahakumbhabisekham of the Sri Subramaniaswamy Temple in Marudamalai on November 22. The temple, including the sanctum sanctorum, had been completely reconstructed during the past three years at a cost of Rs 4.50 crore. The idol was reinstalled by a select group of Sivacharyas headed by Sri Santhalinga Ramaswamy Adigal of Perur Mutt.
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Grant for 20 more fire stations in Tamil Nadu

The TN CM, M Karunanidhi, has released Rs 5.06 crore to set up 20 more fire stations in the State. He has also santioned Rs Two crore towards upgrading 11 police stations in various parts of the State.
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Agriculture officials suspended for fraud

BANGALORE, November 19: The Karnataka Government has suspended 18 officials including two deputy directors for misappropriating funds allotted for water-shed management schemes, according to Agriculture Minister C Byre Gowda. He said they had not furnished the reports of fund utilisation despite several reminders since June last.
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District level co-ordination for local bodies

TIRUCHI, November 20: At the end of the two-day training programme for partymen elected to local bodies, Nallakannu, State leader of CPI, stressed the need for district level coordination among the three-tier set-up of local bodies comprising village panchayats, panchayat unions and district panchayat boards. These local bodies, he said, were now functioning as air-tight compartments and lacked cohesiveness.
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World Vision to hold 24-hour famine programme

CHENNAI, November 21: World Vision of India will hold a 24-hour famine programme at Anna Auditorium on November 22. The "famine" is to be observed at the Sacred Heart School, and aims to create awareness of poverty and hunger. The funds raised will be used to support malnourished children across the country. About 20,000 people are expected to participate, including 8000 school children.
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Co-op bank entangled in funds controversy

DHARMAPURI, November 22: A sum of nearly Rs 16 lakh has been embezzled in a primary co-operative bank at Adhigarapatty, near Harur, about 40 km from Dharmapuri. The President of the bank, Jayaraman, has lodged a complaint with the police. It is suspected that the actual embezzlement amount may be Rs 25 lakh.
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Gas leak affects 29 people

CHENNAI, November 18: Twentynine people including 10 children have been hospitalised on complaints of nausea and eye irritation following a gas leak in a container godown near suburban Manali on November 16.
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School girl escapes from kidnappers hold

CHENNAI, November 19: Anubha Sanghvi, a 14-year-old schoolgirl of Mumbai, who was kidnapped on her way home from school escaped from her kidnappers and arrived at Chennai. She had hopped onto the Chennai Express at the Dadar Railway station in Mumbai, and bolted herself in the bathroom. With the help of the Railway Police, Anubha was safely handed over to her relatives here.
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TN assigns Rs 10.67 crore to town panchayats

CHENNAI, November 18: A sum of Rs 10.67 crore, from the Rs 28.22 crore apportioned by the Central Finance Commission, has been assigned by the TN Government for the implementation of various schemes by local bodies. According to an official press release, Rs 8.73 crore and Rs 8.82 crore have been given to the municipalities and the city corporations respectively.
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Slain head of VC's son recovered

CHENNAI, November 19: The severed head of Navarasu, a medico and the the son of Madras University Vice Chancellor, K Ponnusamy, was recovered from a pond in Chidambaram on November 19. The victim who was reported missing from the Rajah Muthiah College, was murdered by his college-mate John David, who severed his head and limbs. John David is now in custody.
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Ear disease checking camps in Corpn. schools

CHENNAI, November 18 The Indian Society of Otology will conduct camps in Corporation schools in the city to check the spread of ear diseases among children. Dr Ravi Ramalingam, organising secretary of ISO Annual Conference, said the discharge of puss from the ear, a problem present in 10-15% of children, might lead to deafness, brain complications and even death.
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Pioneering surgery to avoid heart transplants

CHENNAI, November 23: A heart surgery that reduces the size of the left ventricle, in the case of heart failure, has been successfully performed on a 28 year-old woman by a team led by Dr K M Cherian, at the Institue of Cardio-vascular Diseases of Madras Medical Mission in Chennai, on November 22. Named "Betista's surgery", this procedure can substitute heart transplant.
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Tribal Committee challenges hotel construction

BANGALORE, November 20: The Tribal Joint Action Committee, Heggadedevanakote, the Nagarhole Budakattu Hakku Stapana Samithi, voluntary organisations of rural Kodagu, have petitioned against the construction of a three-star hotel in the Nagarhole forest area. They contend that the hotel would disturb both the wildlife and local tribals.
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Police hunt for kidnappers

CHENNAI, November 20: The city police have cast a net to nab a gang of six that kidnapped Kannan (40), a recruitment agent, who allegedly cheated the six of Rs 1 lakh. Following a demand for ransom, Kannan's wife has lodged a complaint with the police.
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Panel to inspect infrastructure in colleges

BANGALORE, November 20: The Karnataka Government is planning to set-up a panel of experts to inspect the infrastructure of colleges before they are granted affiliation.
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Govt. wants verification of temple jewels

NAGERCOIL, November 19: Following reports of duplication of temple jewels, according to Senguttuvan, Minister for Religious and Charitable Endowments, the TN Government has ordered the verification of the charges. Apart from fake jewelry, Governement has also received complaints of encroachment on temple lands.
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Lawyers to boycott courts in Chennai

CHENNAI, November 21: Enraged by the failure of authorities to suspend two constables who had ill-treated T Satishkumar, an advocate, lawyers in Chennai will boycott all courts and tribunals on November 21.
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Belgaum mayor to fast for border settlement

BELGAUM, November 19: The Belgaum Mayor Vijayalakshmi Chopde has decided to fast in New Delhi from November 20 to press the settling of the 40-year-old border dispute between Karnataka and Maharashtra.
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TN govt. to pay Rs 1 lakh for medical negligence

CHENNAI, November 21: The TN Government has to pay Rs 1 lakh as interim compensation to N Murugan, a poor agriculturist, whose wife, Shanthi (25), died owing to negligence of a government surgeon. Following complications after her tubectomy, she died during a second operation. Murugan has filed a petition with the Madras High Court, seeking Rs 5 lakh as compensation.
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Ragging - an unlikely cause for Navarasu's death

CHIDAMBARAM, November 21: The students and teachers of the Annamalai University deny that ragging caused the death of Navarasu, the son of the Madras University Vice-Chancellor. According to the students, John David, the accused, had a "soft corner" for the victim while ragging other juniors.
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