Unwarranted fears on Mullaiperiyar

A view of Mullaperiyar Dam on Kerala-Tamil Nadu border at Kumily, near Idukki. File Photo: H. Vibhu
Source:http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/article2761320.ece


There can be no question of Tamil Nadu giving up its rights over Mullaiperiyar. Its waters are not exclusively Kerala's, but an inter-State resource governed by the principles of inter-State rivers


BY DURAI MURUGAN

In the latest intensification of the Mullaiperiyar controversy, I see the media discourse not only tilted in favour of Kerala but also seeking to paint Tamil Nadu in a bad light — as an adamant State not concerned about the safety of the people in the neighbouring State. 

The propaganda by Kerala, which was started way back in 1979 with an article in a Malayalam newspaper, has become so institutionalised now that I see independent experts and activists voicing opinions that fail to take into account Tamil Nadu's considered standpoint.

One of the reasons for the national media overlooking Tamil Nadu's views could be lack of ‘experts', ‘intellectuals', ‘activists', ‘policy-makers' and the like — those who normally contribute erudite articles to the edit and op-ed pages of English newspapers and also appear on television debates — to articulate the State's perspective. But the most important reason is that Mullaiperiyar per se is not an emotive or political issue in Tamil Nadu, which has been treating it as a rights issue that it can solve legally. After all, justice is on the side of the right.

That does not mean that Tamil Nadu has not been responsive to the ‘concerns' that were manufactured with the sole intention of nullifying the State's right over 8000 acres of land that Tamil Nadu holds inside Kerala by virtue of an agreement between the erstwhile Maharaja of Travancore and the British Government in India in 1886. Tamil Nadu has taken several steps over the past three decades to allay the fears of the people in Kerala despite knowing very well that politicians were causing panic by propagating falsehoods.

In this context, I found it amusing when Ramaswamy R. Iyer, in two articles, one in The Hindu and another in its sister publication Frontline, stated: “Let Tamil Nadu and Kerala set up a joint committee and reach a mutual agreement. This is essentially a matter for settlement by amicable agreement, not judicial determination.” When I read his statements that neither the view of the Central Water Commission nor the judgment of the Supreme Court was acceptable, I wondered what locus standi he had to make such a suggestion.

With due respect to his views, let me provide key irrefutable facts to reject his thesis. Mr. Iyer himself should be aware of the fact that several rounds of talks have been held between the two States during the past three decades and all of them failed. 

The talks were held at different levels. Chief Ministers of the States have discussed the issue; Irrigation Ministers have tried to sort out the differences; Chief Secretaries have attempted to arrive at a solution; and other officials have sat across the table several times, even in the presence of the Union Water Resources Ministry. Does Mr. Iyer think that a mutual agreement is possible even now?

But what is galling is Mr. Iyer's contention that it is not a matter for judicial determination. It is the right of every citizen of this country to seek legal recourse on contentious issues and his or her duty to abide by the ruling of the courts. The fact that the Kerala government has failed to abide by the directions of the Supreme Court of India is something no one is bringing to light in the media discourse.

One example relates to the strengthening of the Mullaiperiyar dam, which needs to be done in three phases — emergency, medium-term, and long-term, as advised by the Central Water Commission. Though the medium level strengthening has been completed, Kerala did not allow Tamil Nadu to raise the water level to 142 feet as per the Supreme Court's directive. But overcoming the obstacles that Kerala threw in the way of carrying out the work was more agonising. When Tamil Nadu wanted to use small explosives to break stones, Kerala objected saying that the noise would disturb wildlife. When Tamil Nadu tried to transport the gravel in lorries, they stopped the vehicles saying the sound would scare the animals. At last, we used donkeys to transport building material.

Now Kerala is refusing to give permission for strengthening the baby dam, which is part of the irrigation system in Mullaiperiyar, and the building of the parapet walls on the main dam, which is essential if Tamil Nadu is to complete the long-term strengthening process. If Kerala's concern is the dam's safety alone, why is it preventing us physically from carrying out the strengthening work? I hope the people of Kerala, if they are really fearful of the dam bursting, would ask this of their rulers. Once the long-term strengthening is done, Tamil Nadu would be legally entitled to store water up to 152 feet. It is pertinent here to record the fact that the Kerala government has steadfastly refused to give a power connection to the small PWD maintenance office located at the dam site.

Another issue raised by Mr. Iyer and some other ‘experts' is that the 1886 agreement is seen as ‘unfair' to Kerala. But has its government ever made an issue of it openly? In the various talks I have participated in, the alleged unfairness of the agreement never cropped up. The land clearly belongs to Tamil Nadu as the agreement of 1886 is legally sound.

There can be no question of Tamil Nadu giving up its rights over Mullaiperiyar. The latest slogan, ‘Water for Tamil Nadu, Safety for Kerala,' is just a deception. The proposal for a new dam downstream, which has caught the fancy of many well-meaning people with no real knowledge of ground realities, is only a ploy to deprive Tamil Nadu of water. The most important element that is missing in this narrative is that Mullaiperiyar waters are not exclusively Kerala's, but an inter-State resource governed by the principles of inter-State rivers.

Let me explain why. First, if a new dam is constructed away — that too, downstream — from the Mullaiperiyar, Tamil Nadu will not be able to draw water and supply it to the rain-shadow districts of Theni, Dindigul, Madurai, Sivagangai, and Ramanathapuram. Secondly, environmental clearance could be an uphill task for the construction of a new structure now, given the latest laws, which might be used as a pretext by Kerala to throw up its hands after knocking off the present dam and thus achieving its goal of diverting the water to Idukki dam for power generation.

Kerala's politicians have never told their people for more than two decades that if the Mullaiperiyar is removed, then only about eight tmcft of water would flow into the Idukki dam, which can hold 73 tmcft water. When the people, who have never had an opportunity to see the dam in the thick reserve forest area, were enlightened that the Idukki dam, which is normally filled only up to half its capacity, would hold the water, the Kerala government machinery floated a theory that Idukki would not be able to withstand the sudden inflow. But even the Kerala Advocate General recently told the court that the water would easily collect in the three dams downstream, including Idukki.

Coming to the bogey of ‘tremors' becoming a common occurrence in the region, I wonder why Kerala is so cavalier about it, if its claims were true. Will not a strong earthquake pull down the Idukki dam, which is also in the same seismic region, and cause more devastation?

Another suggestion by Mr. Iyer that hurt me immensely is that Tamil Nadu should “minimise…[its] dependence on the waters of the Mullaiperiyar dam.” All those who want the dam to be decommissioned or its water level brought down to 120 feet should read the life history of Major John Pennycuick, the British humanist who was moved by the plight of the people after a series of famines that led to starvation deaths and large-scale migration from the rain-shadow region. The dam is an example of an educated man's compassion for the marginalised sections of society that eke out a living tilling the ground.

Let me conclude by stating another truth. Kerala politicians mounted the proverbial tiger on the Mullaiperiyar issue. They cannot dismount now. But we believe in justice and that explains why we never played any obstructionist role in bringing out the truth that the dam would stand firm for many more years to give livelihood to the people in Tamil Nadu.

(The author is a senior DMK leader and has been a Tamil Nadu Minister holding portfolios of the PWD and Water Resources and Law.)

CHENNAI: Detained South Korean-flagged ship drifts to shore

By G Saravanan

Published in The New Indian Express, Chennai on Dec 31, 2011:

Source:http://expressbuzz.com/cities/chennai/detained-korean-ship-drifts-to-shore/348486.html

CHENNAI: Detained South Korean flag cargo vessel ‘OSM Arena’, anchored off the Chennai Port with a 14-member crew, drifted towards shore near INS Adyar in the wee hours of Friday due to gusty wind and rough seas. The vessel has been anchored off the port for the past 22 months following a Kolkata High Court order.

According to Chennai Port Trust sources, Coast Guard was informed immediately after the vessel began dragging its anchor due to rough seas.

Due to gusty winds, the vessel drifted eastwards and reached around 600 metres from the shore between mouth of Cooum River and the Port’s coal yard near INS Adyar.

The vessel was afloat in 12 to 13 metres of depth and action was being taken to shift it with the assistance of port tugs into deeper waters, sources told Express.

There was no danger to the vessel or the environment at present, a statement by the Port Trust said.It is learnt that one of the anchors of the vessel was not functioning and, due the water current coupled with strong winds, the ship began drifting towards the shore.

The Korean-flagged vessel is about 190 metres long and have 14 Myanmarese crew onboard.

The Chennai Port had also impleaded itself in the dispute as the anchored ship posed danger to the port and the environment since it had bunker fuel of about 400 tonnes on board. The Kolkata HC’s order in the case is expected by the first week of January 2012, the sources added.

TN trawlers reach safety on AP coast

By G Saravanan

Published in The New Indian Express, Chennai on Dec 30, 2011

Source:http://expressbuzz.com/cities/chennai/tn-trawlers-reach-safety-on-ap-coast/348226.html

CHENNAI: Owners of the mechanised fishing trawlers that left Kasimedu Fishing Harbour more than a week ago and remained untraceable near Nizampatnam Bay area for the past two days heaved a sigh of relief on Thursday evening after most of the stranded boats and crew reached safety.

Confirming the news to Express, M E Raghupathy, president of Chennai-Tiruvallur- Kanchipuram District Mechanised Boat Fishermen’s Association, said that he received telephone calls from Krishnapatnam and Nizampatnam in Andhra Pradesh in the afternoon, confirming the safe arrival of Kasimedu fishing trawlers.

“I received phone calls from crew members of various trawlers, who were earlier untraceable due to inclement weather in Nizampatnam Bay area. By noon on Wednesday, most of the boats reached safe locations there,” Raghupathy said.

It may be noted that Express carried a report about the stranded mechanised trawlers in the region and the appeal made by boat owners to the Indian Coast Guard Region (East) to rescue them.

Meanwhile, the Coast Guard also swung into action on Thursday morning and its ships ICGS Vigraha and Vajra were deployed from Paradip and Visakhapatnam for search and rescue (SAR) operations along the Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu coast.

Coast Guard Dornier aircraft from Vizag were also pressed into service from Santhapalli to Narsapur area for coastal surveillance and assistance to fishermen in distress at sea.

“All out efforts are being made by Coast Guard Region (East) to rescue the stranded fishermen off Kasimedu, who had ventured into the sea,” a CG statement released here said.

Nearly eight fishing trawlers are still in the Nizampatnam Bay, but all are safe as the threat due to cyclone Thane has reduced in that area, Raghupathy said.

The boat owners also advised crew members to stay there till the intensity of Thane reduces in Chennai.

Meanwhile, the Coast Guard has requested the fisheries departments of TN and AP to ensure that fishermen do not venture into the sea until weather conditions improve.

Operations on hold at city ports

CHENNAI: The Chennai and Ennore ports have been put on high alert in view of cyclone ‘Thane’. As a precautionary measure, vessels anchored at the Chennai Port were moved out from different wharfs to the outer anchorage.

As storm warning Flag Signal Number 9, which indicates ‘great danger’, has been hoisted at both ports, all operations have come to a complete standstill since Wednesday night. Flag Signal 9 indicates that the ports will experience gusty winds coupled with torrential rains due to the cyclone.

While there were no vessels at anchorage at Ennore Port, nearly 20 vessels were moved out of Chennai Port’s various berths. Cargo vessels approaching Chennai Port and Ennore Port have been advised to take wind movement into account while inching closer to the port’s perimeter.

CYCLONE THANE: Men in fishing hamlets to be ready for emergencies

Published in The New Indian Express, Chennai on Dec 29, 2011:

Source:http://expressbuzz.com/cities/chennai/Men-in-hamlets-to-be-ready-for-emergencies/347857.html

CHENNAI: With the severe cyclonic storm Thane’s landfall along the city’s northern coastline certain, the situation at the 14 odd fishing hamlets along the Chennai and Tiruvallur districts has changed dramatically since Wednesday evening.

Male members of the fishing community have been asked to stay in group in every hamlet to meet any emergency due to gusty winds and torrential rain brought by cyclone Thane.

Speaking to Express from Thalankuppam, one of the vulnerable fishing hamlets near Ennore creek, Mahesh, a local fishermen said that the situation has changed dramatically inside his hamlet since evening as all reports from weathermen predict a certain landfall of the severe cyclonic storm near the city.

“Local officials and village administrative officers (VAOs) are in constant touch with the village heads from the fishing hamlets and male members of the community are asked to stay alert till the threat reduces,” Mahesh added.

Fishermen also revealed that a cyclone as severe as Thane, during the Tamil month of Margazhi is a very rare phenomenon.

“There was a cyclone landfall in the mid-1990s which brought heavy rainfall to Chennai and adjacent areas. We heard from our ancestors that a cyclone during Margazhi is always a dangerous one,” Desingh, a young fisherman from Kasimedu said.

Most fishermen are now glued to their radio and television sets for periodic weather updates.

Meanwhile, a huge wave at the Marina Beach created a scare on Wednesday as the water reached the service lane of Kamaraj Salai. Though it receded, a big pool of water remained on the beach. The Met office described it a swell wave. About a metre high swell wave could inundate parts of Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kanchipuram and Villupuram districts.

CHENNAI: SOS to rescue 700 stranded fishermen

By G Saravanan

Published in The New Indian Express, Chennai on Dec 29, 2011:

Source:http://expressbuzz.com/cities/chennai/SOS-to-rescue-700-stranded-fishermen/347852.html

CHENNAI: Owners of more than 100 mechanised fishing trawlers that sailed from the Kasimedu Fishing Harbour five days ago  and now stranded near the Nizampatnam Bay in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, have appealed to the State government and the Indian Coast Guard (Eastern Region) to rescue their boats and 700-odd men onboard, before the arrival of Cyclone Thane.

Speaking to Express, S Venugopal, president of Tamil Nadu Coastal Mechanised Boat Fishermen Welfare Association, said, “We have received reports that about 100 mechanised boats from Kasimedu are now stranded near Nizampatnam Bay area due to rough sea conditions and we appeal to the Coast Guard to act swiftly to move them to a safer locations before cyclonic storm Thane reaches the area.”

When the meteorological department alerted fishermen about the storm a few days ago, various boat owner associations radioed the weather warning message to all trawlers that left for fishing about five days ago.

“Though half of the trawlers moved towards safer areas near Krishnapatnam Port and nearby areas, we did not receive any communication from about 100 boats and we suspect that they might be stranded near Nizampatnam Bay due to the prevailing rough sea conditions,” M E Raghupathy, president of Chennai-Tiruvallur-Kanchipuram District Mechanised Boat Fishermen Association told Express.

According to boat owners, about 700 fishermen are stranded in these 100-odd mechanised trawlers.

Meanwhile, fishing activities from Chennai, Tiruvallur and Kanchipuram have come to a standstill after weathermen cautioned fishermen from venturing into sea.

K Bharathi, president of the South Indian Fishermen Welfare Association (SIFWA), told Express that about 10,000 fibre boats from these three districts were moved to safer locations in all fishing hamlets.

“Fishermen even in catamarans did not venture into sea for the last two days due to rough sea conditions,” Bharathi added.

Chennai Corporation announces ‘best councillor’ awards

By G Saravanan

Published in The New Indian Express, Chennai on Dec 29, 2011:

Source:http://expressbuzz.com/cities/chennai/corporation-announces-'best-councillor'-awards/347771.html

CHENNAI: In a bid to make the Chennai Corporation councillors get closer to their voters with their public welfare activities, the civic body has announced a new scheme, wherein the selected members would receive ‘Best Councillor’ awards and a citation from Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. 

According to official sources, the ‘Best Councillor’ award would inspire the winning elected representatives to involve them more into social services activities in their wards. The Corporation Council Meet held few days ago had given its nod for the resolution pertaining to the scheme and fixed the criteria for the selection.

The Chief Minister would distribute the newly instituted award of recognition for the selected councillors during the Independence Day or Republic Day celebrations.

The 200 Councillors, who would be selected for the annual award, have to prove their efficiency in coordinating with officials and the local people during emergencies like natural disasters, flooding and fire mishaps in their wards. According to Mayor Saidai S Duraisamy, the scheme is a golden opportunity for the elected representatives to prove their mettle as public servants in the eyes of their voters as well as the Chief Minister.

Besides other yardsticks, the members, for getting their names nominated for the prestigious award, have to show his/her exemplary attitude in dealing with the local residents and their grievances pertaining to basic amenities, selfless social service in their wards, developmental works and public services in the locality.

According to sources, the move was seen as the AIADMK-led Corporation’s strong effort to erase the bad name earned by the previous regime’s councillors from the DMK and Congress parties in the eyes of general public.

However, voters and political analysts see the move by the AIADMK Supremo Jayalalithaa as a clear case of a ‘public monitoring’ over the activities of elected Corporation councillors and it would also keep them to tread on right path.

CHENNAI Corporation roads set to get plastic coat

By G Saravanan

Published in The New Indian Express, Chennai on Dec 28, 2011:

Source:http://expressbuzz.com/cities/chennai/Corporation-roads-set-to-get-plastic-coat/347572.html

CHENNAI: Taking a giant step towards increasing lifespan of its roads that get battered every monsoon, the Chennai Corporation has planned to include plastic waste while re-laying roads from January next. 
According to Ripon Building sources, inclusion of plastic waste into the bitumen mix for re-laying Corporation-maintained roads would improve the quality of roads and also solve the problem of plastic disposal in the city.

“By using the plastic waste for re-laying roads from next week, the civic body would be able to dispose of the nagging problem of handling non-degradable plastic wastes in the city and its dump yards,” civic body sources told Express.

According to them, the civic body’s authorities were in the process of finalising the roads on which the scheme would be implemented first in a couple of weeks and a heavily battered road used heavily throughout the year would be selected for the ‘test’.

The expanded city Corporation has a total of 515 bus route roads (BRR) for a length of 501 km. There are over 17,600-odd interior roads in the city, which were under the maintenance of the Chennai Corporation.

It may be noted that the the Chennai Corporation officials in July had visited Madurai and held discussions with the experts at the Thiagarajar College of Engineering on the plastic waste management initiative.

Though the city generates about 300 tonnes of plastic waste daily, given the chemical composition of the material, only half of them could be used for road re-laying.

As per the plan, Chennai Corporation would use 10 per cent plastic waste with the composition of bitumen in the ratio 90:10 for relaying roads in the city.

The molten plastic would form a layer on the blue metal pieces, making it bind strongly and a bitumen layer over it would increase the road’s life over five years.

To collect plastic from residents directly, civic body would install large bins at every ward office (200 wards) and also to install industrial-grade shredders in 10 places to cut plastics for use during road re-laying.

Lockheed Martin Delivers GPS III Pathfinder Satellite to Denver on Schedule

Source:http://www.lockheedmartin.com/news/press_releases/2011/1213_ss_gps.html

DENVER, December 13th, 2011 -- The Lockheed Martin [NYSE : LMT] team developing the U.S. Air Force’s next generation Global Positioning Systemhas delivered the program’s pathfinder spacecraft to the company’s Denver-area facility. The pathfinder, known as the GPS III Non-Flight Satellite Testbed (GNST), will now undergo final assembly, integration and test activities in a new facility designed to maximize efficiencies and reduce costs of satellite production.

The GPS III program will affordably replace aging GPS satellites while improving capability to meet the evolving needs of military, commercial and civilian users worldwide. GPS III satellites will deliver better accuracy and improved anti-jamming power while enhancing the spacecraft’s design life and adding a new civil signal designed to be interoperable withinternational global navigation satellite systems.

The GNST is a full-sized, flight equivalent prototype of a GPS III satellite used to identify and solve development issues prior to integration and test of the first space vehicle. The approach significantly reduces risk, improves production predictability, increases mission assurance and lowers overall program costs. Now in Denver, the GNST will be mated with its core structure, navigation payload and antenna elements before completing pathfinding activities and checkout of environmental test facilities. The GNST will then be shipped to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., for pathfinding activities at the launch site.

"The on schedule delivery of the GPS III pathfinder is a key indicator that this program is on firm footing and poised to deliver on its commitments," said LtCol Don Frew, the U.S. Air Force's GPS III program manager. "In this challenging budget environment, we are committed to delivering the critical GPS III capabilities to users affordably and on schedule."

GPS III Processing Facility

To reduce the cost of each GPS III satellite, the program invested in an advanced technology facility designed to create a true production line for GPS III. The facility, designated the GPS Processing Facility (GPF) and modernized from the company’s former Atlas rocket assembly building, has nearly 40,000 square feet of spacecraft assembly and test area, including a clean room high bay and dedicated thermal vacuum and anechoic test chambers.

The high bay was designed to flow with maximum efficiency by minimizing space vehicle lifts and distances between operations. To do this, the GPS team studied the Corporation’s high-volume aircraft production lines and utilized virtual reality modeling technology to lay out the factory floor. Like in aircraft and automobile production, each GPS III satellite will move through sequential work stations for various assembly and integration operations, culminating with environmental test procedures. Starting with the GNST, the GPF will significantly reduce cycle time and shave cost for each sequential GPS III satellite.

“The new GPS Processing Facility is truly state-of-the-art and its capability will allow our team to execute an extremely efficient GPS III production timeline,” said Keoki Jackson, Lockheed Martin’s GPS III program director. “The government and industry GPS III team has demonstrated outstanding commitment to this program. Together, we are constantly searching for ways to reduce costs while ensuring we deliver the most reliable, capable GPS satellite ever.”

In parallel with the GNST, progress on the first space vehicle is progressing on schedule. Lockheed Martin received the core structure for the first GPS III satellite in Stennis, Miss., on August 4, and is now integrating the space vehicle’s flight propulsion subsystem. The integrated core propulsion module will be shipped to the GPF in the summer of 2012 and will then undergo final assembly, integration and test in order to meet its planned 2014 launch.

The GPS III team is led by the Global Positioning Systems Directorate at the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center. Lockheed Martin is the GPS III prime contractor with teammates ITT, General Dynamics, Infinity Systems Engineering, Honeywell, ATK and other subcontractors. Air Force Space Command's 2nd Space Operations Squadron (2SOPS), based at Schriever Air Force Base, Colo., manages and operates the GPS constellation for both civil and military users.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 126,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation's 2010 sales from continuing operations were $45.8 billion.

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Build Tsunami Memorial Pillar, fishermen urge Jaya

By G Saravanan

Published in The New Indian Express, Chennai on Dec 27, 2011:

Source:http://expressbuzz.com/states/tamilnadu/build-memorial-pillar-fishermen-urge-jaya/347224.html

CHENNAI: On the seventh anniversary of one of the most tragic natural disasters in recent Indian history (December 26, 2004 Tsunami), a fishermens’ association on Monday appealed to Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa to construct a ‘Tsunami Memorial Pillar’ in the city to create awareness about the day to future generations.

Speaking to Express at Pazhaverkadu, after paying homage to those swept away in the massive tidal waves that struck the Chennai coast eight years ago, K Bharathi, president of the South Indian Fishermen Welfare Association (SIFWA), said, “We appeal to Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa to construct Tsunami Memorial Pillars in select places in Chennai, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts to create awareness to the future generations about the importance of the day.”

It may be noted that the coastal districts (except Chennai, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur) of the State and which had witnessed the Tsunami disaster and loss of lives, already have such memorial pillars, either constructed by the district administrations or by the local people themselves.

Though the three districts had also suffered loss of lives during the 2004 Tsunami, no such memorial pillars were erected yet and people were making their own arrangements on the anniversary for paying tributes to the departed souls at seashore.

“We hope that the Chief Minister would understand our appeal for having a Tsunami Memorial Pillars in these districts as presence of such structure would create more awareness about the day with the future generations”, Bharathi said.

The association also wrote letters to the CM and three district collectors for constructing the memorial.

Aavin fails to pull down pavement outlets

By G Saravanan

Published in The New Indian Express, Chennai, on Dec 27, 2011

Source:http://expressbuzz.com/cities/chennai/aavin-fails-to-pull-down-pavement-outlets/347196.html

CHENNAI: Though the Tamil Nadu Cooperative Milk Producers’ Federation Ltd (Aavin) has admitted that 11 of its franchisee retail outlets (FROs) are being illegally operated on Chennai Corporation’s pavements, it has failed to take any action against them.

As per Aavin’s rules,  applicants for FROs should have place of their own place or a rented premises for operating the facility.  “Admitting the very existence of such FROs on  pavements itself is proof that they are illegal and no action on them for more than four months now shows that the Aavin authorities are not interested in removing them,” R Natarajan, an activist who obtained the information through RTI, told ‘Express’.

It all began more than a year ago when the Corporation authorities failed to remove one such outlet on a pavement near the Sai Baba Temple in Mylapore.

This selective exclusion forced Natarajan to file an RTI petition with Aavin seeking the number of FROs permitted in the city.

“When I asked details about the FROs, Aavin authorities initially refused to part with any information about it, but after repeated pleas, they furnished information on the number of FROs,” Natarajan said.

Though Aavin authorities revealed that Chennai city has more than 150 FROs, they have put the number of illegal FROs at just 11, across the metropolis.

When Natarajan, through RTI, asked about the action taken in the case of such illegal FROs, Aavin authorities replied that they had terminated the licence of one such outlet located near Guindy Race Course Road and similar action had been planned against the remaining outlets.

However, Aavin was showing laxity in dealing with the remaining illegally existing FROs and no action has been taken on them for the past four months, said Natarajan.

“While the Aavin authorities still maintain that action will be taken on them if found to be indulged in running their outlets on encroached lands, I don’t understand why their officials are hesitating to take those running on pavements into account,” he questioned.

With Aavin dilly-dallying on action, Natarajan has moved a petition to the Secretary of Animal Husbandry, Dairy and Fisheries Department for a permanent solution.  On the other hand, he has also moved a fresh RTI application to ascertain what was delaying the action by Aavin.

Major revamp for Corporation-run schools

Published in The New Indian Express, Chennai on December 23, 2011:

Source:http://expressbuzz.com/cities/chennai/major-revamp-for-corporation-run-schools/346112.html

CHENNAI: Spelling out the much-anticipated process to improve quality of education in the Corporation-run Chennai Schools, Mayor Saidai S Duraisamy on Thursday announced that a detailed survey on how to improve enrolments in its educational institutions has already been initiated and a major revamp is on the cards.

Replying to a resolution at the Corporation Council meet allowing distribution of five types of cereals as evening food for 16,000-odd class X and XII students, who will be attending special classes before taking their public exams in another three months, Duraisamy said, “As per the direction of the Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa to improve quality of education in Corporation-run Chennai Schools, we have launched a detailed survey.”

“The survey, which has been initiated to find the pointers like why enrolments went down in Chennai schools, deficiencies in school infrastructure and what could be done to increase enrolments, would help the civic body chalk out its strategy in the future to improve quality of education in the schools,” Duraisamy said.

The new scheme, where the civic body has planned to distribute nutritious cereals for students attending evening special classes, was the Corporation’s firm step towards achieving good results in class X and XII public exams and the result would help the Corporation tell parents about the quality of education in Chennai schools, the Mayor added.

Duraisamy also appealed to the elected representatives to disseminate information about achievements by Chennai schools among the locals (in their respective wards) to improve enrolment in its schools.

Under the proposal, which would be implemented from January 1, the civic body would be spending about Rs 25 lakh for two months.

On a query about extension of the scheme (in case exams were delayed), from a councillor, Mayor Saidai S Duraisamy assured that the scheme would be extended till required.

Corporation to reclaim Stalin office

Published in The New Indian Express, Chennai on December 23, 2011:

Source:http://expressbuzz.com/cities/chennai/corporation-to-reclaim-stalin-office/346108.html

CHENNAI: Irked over the Chennai Corporation’s resolution reclaiming the office premises of Kolathur MLA M K Stalin, members of the Opposition DMK party on Thursday staged a walkout.

When the subject (in a resolution numbering 34) taken up for discussion in the Council, DMK leader in the house, Subash Chandra Bose, raised his hand to speak on the issue.

Though Mayor Saidai S Duraisamy initially declined to allow him to speak and the AIADMK members also created a noisy atmosphere to stop Bose from making any statement on the issue, he got the Mayor’s nod to speak finally.

While Bose was in the process of explaining how the MLA office was allotted to Stalin, R K Nagar MLA P Vetrivel, despite the Mayor’s instruction not to interrupt his speech, questioned the rational behind allocating the office to Stalin.

Vetrivel trained his guns on Bose for speaking about the allocation and even made remarks on Stalin.

With both the Mayor and Vetrivel interrupting Bose from recording the party’s resentment over the cancellation of allotment in the Council, he, along with other DMK councillors, staged a walkout stating that the Council’s decision was due to political animosity. 
When the DMK members were staging a walkout, councillors from the ruling AIADMK booed them and called them ‘cowards.’ 
Later, speaking to reporters, Bose said, “Due to political animosity, the AIADMK-led civic body is planning to retrieve the office and this would deprive the local residents space to share their grievance and complaints with their MLA.” After a 40-minute discussion, the Council gave its nod for reclaiming the site in a voice-vote.

Ready to Work Even from Pavement: Stalin

Ridiculing the Chennai Corporation’s resolution to reclaim his office space in Kolathur, the local MLA and DMK’s treasurer M K Stalin on Thursday said that he didn’t mind working on a pavement for the local people.

In a hard-hitting statement immediately after the passing of resolution at the Chennai Corporation’s Council Meet, Stalin said, “I will keep a table and chair on a platform in the centre of Kolathur constituency and will work from there for the welfare of the people, if I am not allowed to function from the MLA office.”

They (state government) might be thinking that I have no business to attend to the local’s grievances when the government itself is not bothered about people’s concerns, Stalin said in a statement.

He said offices for MLAs in 12 constituencies in Chennai Corporation limit were constructed during the DMK regime and the construction of more become necessary since the number of constituencies increased to 16 after delimitation.

‘The old building remained unused in Jawahar Nagar and Chennai Corporation allowed me to use it after converting it into a full-fledged office’, Stalin said in a statement.

Reacting to the resolution adopted in the Corporation Council cancelling the allotment of an office to him, Stalin said the ruling party was behind the resolution because it could not relish the idea of him visiting the constituency to meet the people.

Express story and derogatory comments

THE STORY.....

500 TN women workers rescued from Kerala border

Source:http://expressbuzz.com/states/tamilnadu/500-TN-women-workers-rescued-from-Kerala-border/340832.html

THENI: In one of the worst incidents of mob frenzy over the ongoing Mullaiperiyar dam safety row, nearly 500 women estate workers from Tamil Nadu were held hostage and some of them allegedly sexually harassed in Idukki district in Kerala on Monday.

Theni district officials here swung into action and held a series of parleys with their counterparts in Idukki to rescue the women late on Monday night.

“We received an alert that nearly 500 women from Cumbum and Theni who had gone to Idukki to work in the private cardamom estates were detained there since Monday afternoon. We held talks with the Idukki Collector and the Kerala police and managed to rescue the women from the Kumili-Tamil Nadu checkpost at Thekkady. Our police too played a decisive role in the mission,” Theni Collector K S Palanisamy told Express.

Some of the distraught women to whom this correspondent spoke to were in tears while narrating their ordeal in Kerala. “We had gone to work in the estates. Around 2 pm on Monday we received a call from our family members asking us to rush home as some Ayyappa devotees from Tamil Nadu were attacked in Kerala. While we were returning, groups of men surrounded us and began harassing us. They pulled the sarees of the younger women in front of every one and laughed. Since we feared for our life, we stood helplessly,” said Karuppayee, a 50-year-old from Cumbum. She is still disturbed by the development.

Muthupachi, also of Cumbum, said the Malayali men hurled abuses at them. “They kept teasing and derogatively referring to us as ‘Pandi’ (a common abusive reference to Tamils in Kerala). We can’t even narrate the sexual harassment which the younger women in our group were subjected to,” she said.  Later, after the intervention of the estate owners, the women managed to reach Thekkady in vehicles arranged by them.

AND THE COMMENTS....

"The person who wrote this article is clearly an agent of Vaiko who is hell bent on aggravating the issue and generating strong animosity among the peoples of Kerala and Tamilnadu..I am a Keralite and I am not against tamil nadu's right for water..But these kind of jingoistic journalism is not all suitable for indian express...We must all understand that we all belong to the Indian Union.. 

By Rahul 

12/23/2011 12:12:00 PM

 This Mr. Gokulvannan is a guy who tried to become a script writer in chennai and couldnt get in because of his bad english. Then he got a a Job in express and continued his creative writing for IE. What do you expect from him... Creative Movie stories that come up in his mind...published as IE news. Didnt expect anything else from this chap but then IE had some standards and ethics.... Alas 

By jiju v john 

12/22/2011 5:37:00 PM

 This Mr. Gokulvannan is a guy who tried to become a script writer in chennai and couldnt get in because of his bad english. Then he got a a Job in express and continued his creative writing for IE. What do you expect from him... Creative Movie stories that come up in his mind...published as IE news. Didnt expect anything else from this chap but then IE had some standards and ethics.... Alas 

By jiju v john 

12/22/2011 5:36:00 PM

 express need to investigate about the communal plot behind this rumours and study the similarity in these protests,in kerala Kerala Congressmen terrorised this issue,In tamil Nadu some known christian missionaries behind spreadind rumours. 

By ramu 

12/22/2011 12:01:00 PM

 To all those misunderstood by this news, there is no such incident happened, here all sabarimala devotees are safe even after malayali shops were vandalized across tamilnadu, tamils running shops are still running uninterruptedly in kerala stop attacking malayalis, our tolerance doesn't mean we suffer for ever.shame on you editor you should have been little bit responsible while publishing this fake news, have you had enough cross check before publishing ? both editor and correspondent should be prosecuted for spreading hatred news between malayalees and tamils 

By jaison mathew 

12/20/2011 10:40:00 PM

 Indian Express must appologize to the public of Kerala and TN for misleading people with false information. The Government of Kerala and TN must interfere and take action agaignst the newspaper in this in the interest of people's safety. 

By Anil 

12/20/2011 5:33:00 PM

 Kudos to NIE. Unlike the TOI Tamilnadu Edition (which is now ruled by the Mallu Mafia ) which is hell bent on suppressing the atrocities unleashed by the Malayalis on Tamil in the border districts of Kerala, you are reporting the facts. 

By Thamizhan 

12/20/2011 11:57:00 AM

 I am canceling my Indian express subscription with immediate effect. Such a malicious fake news. 

By Aji 

12/19/2011 6:53:00 PM

 shame on u guyzzzzzzz...really shame on u posting such fake news...we mallus are humans..nt animals to attack the poor tamil womens.. 

By jobin jose 

12/19/2011 2:02:00 PM

 Boycott Indian express and all its subsidaries for publishing baseless fantacies. Go to hell karvarnnan 

By Haseeb 

12/19/2011 1:24:00 PM

 did the indian express higher authorities are sleeping ??????????, why you not removing this fake news.

By Anish KS 

12/19/2011 1:00:00 PM

 paid news ..how much did u get IE ? 

By autumn 

12/19/2011 12:24:00 PM

 the real question is "is there a gokul vannan ?" or is this "reporter" a figment of the twisted NIE editors imagination....and if at all, this guy is for real, then "will the real Gokul Vannan please stand up !"..cus u r going down..not that u can go any farther down than this..cus there's true reporting, bad reporting, then fifty feet of crap and then pervs like Mr. G.Vannan... 

By Nabu X 

12/19/2011 1:40:00 AM

 this why i always disliked the indian express, be it the endosulphan row or now spreading false propaganda like this one they are always on the wrong side, i'm from kerala and my neighbour is a tamil even after the mullaperiyar row reaching new heights he nad his family are still comfortable and could speak freely in tamil, there was a time i looked down upon the literacy gimmick by fellow keralites but now i think culture and education is what separates kerala and tamilnadu 

By rejoy 

12/18/2011 9:08:00 PM

 i was a regular reader of express, but now i lost credibility in your news as this is completely fake news. other news also must be fake like this 

By Deepu 

12/18/2011 8:34:00 AM

 This news proofs that the cheapest publicity ,and the medea is working behind it is very poor , below average and represented for the illegal,anti-social workers is used to the public for their personnel interest..and the Govt. must take action against them.. 

By unni 

12/17/2011 1:48:00 PM

 what the hell are u doing Indian express. ashamed of u. and mr.gokul i pity u. what kind of satisfaction are you getting while making such news? I challenge you to show the proof, and can u show a single victim or witness in this case? Indian express, you should realize that you are loosing you values. shame 

By deeps 

12/17/2011 11:59:00 AM

 This Reporter may be a Big Tamil terrorist or a utter fool. But the Editor should aware about the consequences and have to verify about this background. 

By Joju 

12/17/2011 4:59:00 AM

 I belongs to the district of idukki ....lived in Tamilnadu for 8 years...studied in Loyola Chennai...let me tell you... I never heard such an incident and people in idukki are not as stupid as this journalist ...if the Indian express have any respect to responsible journalism please apologise...! Further for your information we had more than 5 minor earth quakes this year...the dam may be safe for 1,2,3...years..and idukki may survive if mullaperiyar breaks...who will take responsibility for the life of people who are living in the path of flood water?? THE PEOPLE LIVING THERE ARE NOT ANIMALS FOR EVERYONE’S INFORMATION ... (sorry the animals have more rights these days.. ) 

By S.N.Thomas 

12/17/2011 1:50:00 AM

 Lost the credibility of Indian Express... None of the dailys published this and no one from the area mentioned has any clue of things naratted here.. This man Gokul is either mad or a sadist... how IE can publish a totally baised, provocative lie like this.. shame on Indian Express.... 

By prem 

12/16/2011 10:56:00 PM

 THIS IS A PAID NEWS................SHAME ON YOU 

By Mark Antony 

12/16/2011 6:47:00 PM

 This guy must be a congenital liar. I just checked his linkedin profile. He says his company (the New Indian Express) has between 5000-10000 employees. haha.. he also has written he holds an MA in History from University of Hyderabad. I doubt. I know of several people from UoH; all outstanding professionals. perhaps exceptions prove the rule. 

By jac 

12/16/2011 5:51:00 PM

 You people do not spread falls news...you want India to be divided. Just remember one thing United we stand...Divide we fall. Journalism should not create enmity among people. If you are doing for money remember you can't eat money.. 

By Murali 

12/16/2011 4:48:00 PM

 What The New Indian Express gain from this bullshit report? 

By Sayuj 

12/16/2011 2:53:00 PM

 Shame on you Reporter and express... really sad to see this kind of fake reports for political image... 

By anees 

12/16/2011 2:09:00 PM

 Its a fake news!! I m a Journalist in a very reputed News Daily here in Kerala. I know this news is a fake one 

By Jisha Elizabeth 

12/16/2011 1:52:00 PM

 Need to know what is reporter gaining from the riot, no such incidents, no news in major news papers, how come this reportr alone find this kind of fake news. He is pauring oil in to the fire, this news to be investigated and need an immediate action against the reporter who made the fake news. 

By shameer 

12/16/2011 1:39:00 PM

 Total rubbish 

By manoj 

12/16/2011 11:07:00 AM

 Thank God... Mr Gokul did not say that all 500 were brurally raped..!! :-) 

By Nijith G 

12/16/2011 10:13:00 AM

 Its not done by any journalists... its by terrorists, those who can benefit from the tamil,malayali Fights... What a way to make money, please do remember one thing those who play with innocent peoples life have to pay the price... it won't take much time... It'll be so soon 

By anandu V c 

12/15/2011 11:52:00 PM

 hey Gokul Vannan, what do u mean by journalism??? This is a fake news which is intended to promote violence between Kerala and Tamilnadu. kindly remove this FAKE news 

By Adarsh 

12/15/2011 11:01:00 PM

 mr. gokul, what you will gain by pouring oil into fire? as far as i know 99.99% tamilians are safe in kerala! and will be safe as well!there will be some rough elements everywhere... and there may be some rare incidents... but reporting like every malayalies are attacking every tamilians means your aim is different! and i dont believe this news is true! 

By Sino 

12/15/2011 10:59:00 PM

 for such a fake report , the newspaper and the collector(if he said so) should be sued. 

By Mohammed Thaha.M 

12/15/2011 10:52:00 PM

 Shame on you Reporter!!! How could you cook this kind of stories!!! you people never check the credibility of the story before publishing!!!! It totally utter nonsense!!!! Dear Editors!!!! If you people get time to moderate each and every comment why do not you do the same tothis kind of 'cooked up stories' Pls .............. 

By Faizal 

12/15/2011 9:40:00 PM

 fyi indian express team, we are filing a case against new indian express..and we are following up with all organisations to be a part of the lawsuit ..indian express a sorry on ur daily wont solve the issue..you have to pay heavy penalty .be prepared for posting fake news 

By Max 

12/15/2011 9:15:00 PM

 pity you indian express.. how can you publish such a nonsense with out knowing the fact... this report has created a lot of chaos near the border...... you should understand the situation and publish news..... tamil sabarimala pilgrims are safe in kerala.. no one will attack them in kerala...try to do your duty in correct way...this is a request.. 

By allu 

12/15/2011 7:20:00 PM

 pathetic............ 

By Arun 

12/15/2011 7:02:00 PM

 Shame on u Indian Express... pathetic 

By santhosh 

12/15/2011 7:00:00 PM

 I dont know whether we call this guy as a journalist.. He should apologize for such kind of fake news 

By SIraj 

12/15/2011 6:54:00 PM

 how much you offered to publish this ''news''? any body know about the social life in kerala ? we have one thing that you doesn't, 'common sense' we never expected from indian express like this fake news. plz keep atleast a minimum.... 

By Dev Anand 

12/15/2011 6:35:00 PM

 This is completely unacceptable! Nothing of the sort happened, the newspaper should be sued! 

By Akhil 

12/15/2011 6:34:00 PM

 This is the era where news spread faster than fire through social networks. So one should be very careful before writing any thing like this.This kind fake news can prove great problems than the loss of Dam it self. As some one mentioned here this news is what actually called terrorism. Any fire of any quantum start with small spark, please stop spreading such news and don't want such news act as spark for interstate clash. To the reporter, please remember your work ethic before you report any thing. To the editor: Please control your reporter otherwise you loose your reputation. 

By Appukuttan 

12/15/2011 6:22:00 PM

 I used to oppose Central Minister Kapil Sibal's proposal to screen Internet content. After reading this, I have become a supporter of his proposal. The writer doesn't know the level of consequences his report has caused in Kerala and its borders. 

By Suniel M 

12/15/2011 5:57:00 PM

 Is this journalism?? Immediately take action against this Fake news reporter 

By neenu 

12/15/2011 5:57:00 PM

 The reporter's background should be checked. His old reports should also be scrutinized to confirm if he fabricated such anti-national reports earlier, too. 

By Anil 

12/15/2011 5:38:00 PM

 This is the worst form of rotten journalism I've ever witnessed in my life. This reporter's ( one can only pity him for the the sort of attitude stemming from the lack of elementary understanding of his countrymen ) dumbness notwithstanding, there is no forgiving to Indian Express for posting such a fabricated piece of nonsense right at the top as the master headline of the day. I've been a reader of the Express since when I was a child, and was extremely hurt and shamed by this seemingly deliberate act of malice, which in mildest terms is unbecoming of a news house founded by great Goenka. I'd be surprise if it was not a hidden divisive agenda in action. Do you know how much harm did this one scandalous prevarication bring about ?

By Sethuraj Nair 

12/15/2011 5:01:00 PM

 A media's crooked idea to improve its circulation 

By Jerrine Wilson 

12/15/2011 4:46:00 PM

 We need to know what action Indian Express took against this reporter, because of this fake news many malayalees are attacked in tamil nadu, if the paper is not taking action and not giving public apology there will be legal action filed against this news paper, for publicizing fake news which resulted in racial violence.

By shaiby koshy 

12/15/2011 4:13:00 PM

 Pathetic reporting from indian express. No wonder its popularity decreases day by day. Somebody should file a case against this reporter and their management for fueling racial violence. 

By Bobby 

12/15/2011 4:08:00 PM

 Could you please rename yourself as FAKE EXPRESS You stupid low standard medias could mislead people into big disasters A word told could never be untold 

By Jerrine Wilson 

12/15/2011 3:49:00 PM

 is it the responsibility of Indian Express's to the people of India...? you should post much credible news in Indian express.. PITY ON YOU INDIAN EXPRESS ... PITY ON YOU... 

By jomet 

12/15/2011 3:36:00 PM

 Take action against this reporter. He must be suspended. 

By Abin 

12/15/2011 3:23:00 PM

 Put a Crimnal case aganist the reporter . It sholud affects the crediblity of a national daily 

By chandru 

12/15/2011 2:23:00 PM

 Gokul vanna, you are a terrorist and anti indian...shame on you.. Did you think what will be happeded after publishing this nes?? 

By Dileep 

12/15/2011 2:22:00 PM

 It is flase news...............Why you are spreading these type of false news...... 

By satheesh 

12/15/2011 2:19:00 PM

 THIS INCIDENT NEVER HAPPENED. Nothing even close to this ever happened. Shame on you Indian Express. Anyone can easily understand that this is absolutely a fake news. All the attacks happened in TN against keralites was as a retaliation on this news. This reporter shold be brought into trial and shold be punished (capital punishment for terrorism). He not only inflammated the TN brothers, but also made the inter state relationships worse. He is a threat to India. Not a joke, but i seriously doubt that he is a sponsored terrorist whose agenda is to unsettle india. If there is someone who knows law, please file a public interest petition in court immediately. This is totally unacceptable. 

By Indian 

12/15/2011 2:12:00 PM

 I will never ever read any news reported by you people. the fake people making problems to one united nation. 

By Eliase 

12/15/2011 2:07:00 PM

 To the Indian Express editors, kindly take action against this reporter gokulvannam,This incident that he explained here was totally fabricated and made lots of tension in the boarder. request you to take action against this reporter and stop news spreading like this. 

By Nobin Michel 

12/15/2011 1:29:00 PM

 shame on " the new indian express"..... is this the way of journalism??? respond against these kind of cheap and fake news.... take legal action for trying to make violence between two states.... dismiss that reporter... 

By john 

12/15/2011 1:17:00 PM

 Is this Reporter Gokul Vannan is a TERRORIST , trying to provoke people by fake news ? 

By Indian 

12/15/2011 1:15:00 PM

 this is bloody fake reporting...... we didn't hear anything like this... 

By jai 

12/15/2011 12:59:00 PM

 Its a National shame to Indian Express. I don't Understand what the hell they are getting from fake news. These types of news creates total imbalance in the country and its people. 

By Sujan 

12/15/2011 12:57:00 PM

 This kind of absolute nonsense can only happen in Tamil movies.. and not even in a malayalam movie. A famous news paper like THe indian express doesn't even have an editor to review the news before publishing?? He should try script writting in tamil movie industry. Pitty u indian express team. 

By Remya 

12/15/2011 12:46:00 PM

 Please remove this stupid news now! 

By krishna 

12/15/2011 12:45:00 PM

 dont you feel shame to report this type of fake news? atleast you shoul have the courtesy to check the credibilty of the news before publishing........................... very bad 

By Harikumar 

12/15/2011 12:34:00 PM

 Please initiate legal proceeding against this Gokul Vannan, and this news paper...why u r publishing this types of false news..? 

By sajin 

12/15/2011 12:33:00 PM

 Who is this Gokul Vannan? Is he an anti Malayali? Is he mental? does he know anything about journalism? Is Indian Express management support him? Who says this news to you? Do you have any evidence about this news? 

By Nelson T Joseph 

12/15/2011 12:26:00 PM

 its very shame..Indian Express Editorial......... 

By raj 

12/15/2011 12:24:00 PM

 I STOPPED BUYING INDIAN EXPRESS 

By Indian 

12/15/2011 11:51:00 AM

 Pity on you Indian express dont report baseless news 

By Sebin 

12/15/2011 11:44:00 AM

 Publishing reports like these is same as raping the whole media industry in the country! Bloody Nonsense! 

By Bala 

12/15/2011 11:43:00 AM

 I feel shame on the news that you published on one of the leading dailies in India. Pity on Indian Express, to give a chance for such a "Terrorist Reporter" to show his fullish regionalism through a national media. It must be monitored by Govt. of India and should take necessary steps to stop such a fake Journalism in India. Don't give a chance for any body to make media as a weapon. Please try to solve the problems don't try to make them as a revolution. 

By Vimal 

12/15/2011 11:25:00 AM

 The reporter Gokul Vannan having psychiatric problems, please get a medical assistance also for the editor who have given the permission to publish these kind of false news. 

By Pramod 

12/15/2011 11:25:00 AM

 feel pity about your standards in journalism..this is a totally fabricated news intended to create violence between peoples of tamilnadu and Kerala.. 

By rajeesh 

12/15/2011 11:09:00 AM

 hello mr. gokul vannan, i am going to sue you for propagating false news and fueling communal violence by publishing this false news.. wait for your notice from court.. good luck.. we have solid proof of nothing of that sort has happened.. get ready dude, for all those false news you have reported and new indian express, you will have to pay for this false propaganda.. 

By lekha mathew 

12/15/2011 11:08:00 AM

 Mr Gokul vannan and Indian express Shame On U.. It s Not Journalism, if u have health u can go for manual labor........... 

By Ani 

12/15/2011 10:45:00 AM

 Pity on Indian Express. All the tamil women and Sabarimala Devotees are safe in kerala. They will be safe always. Because malayalees know who is who. Whats is the situation in Tamil Nadu? 

By Shobin Alex 

12/15/2011 10:24:00 AM

 to indian express editors, kindly take action against this reporter gokulvannam, who is trying to initiate news-terrorism. these kink of reporters will destroy the meaning of journalism and a national news paer like indian express please dont avoid this 

By aneesh 

12/15/2011 10:12:00 AM

 Hello Mr. Gokul Vannan (reporter), did you know any basics of journalism?? Did you have no shame to post fake news like these..? You are creating a fight between Malayalees & Tamilans. Please don' t do this.. What's your profit by doing these?? You get some hot news about Mullaperiyar controversy. But it destroys the mutual understanding between 2 states. This is what actually called terrorism! Please.. Please.. Please don' t do this.. 

By Murukesh 

12/15/2011 8:19:00 AM

 Basics of Journalism is being forgotten. It is up to all of us to apply moderation and get to know the scheme of things. Here from a blatant lie, what should a reader decipher. Need to interrogate this journalist and get to know the people who would have made him to cook up such stories and portray and punish them. Indian Express should also be punished for publishing such instigating report and set a lesson for others not to dare to do such things in life. 

By Santhosh Balakrishnan 

12/13/2011 2:14:00 PM

 fake news from a national newspaper like indian xpress, shame on these irresponsible journalists,aftremath of this report resulted in attacks on malayalees and their wealth around TN. 

By nabeel 

12/13/2011 1:48:00 PM

 Shame on express buzz!!! Dont you atleast have common sense??? No one buys this technique..... Stupid... I am a Tamilian, I know Keralites. They are not that stupid to act like this in this situation. Stop writing such gimmicks anymore 

By Arumughan 

12/13/2011 10:44:00 AM

 Immediate action is to be taken against the culprits... Every sane Keralite denounces such atrocities. But if the news is faked, action must be taken against the reporter for purposely instigating violence. Even after the reporter has spoken to victims he does not seems to have some pictures. At least some distant shot could be taken, since he claims such lot were involved. Anyway, the claim is very very grave. Immediate enquiry in to the matter is necessary. 

By Thomson 

12/13/2011 2:49:00 AM

 dont post false news. who is the site owner?????. 

By Justin 

12/13/2011 2:12:00 AM

 its a fake news 

By vipin 

12/9/2011 9:49:00 AM

 All the comments calling this news to be fake seem to posted by malayali journalists who have been cooking up Mullaiperiyar news reporting for a long time in the local and National media for a long time now. One should read Radhika Giri's The M Factor to understand the level of prejudiced reporting done by Kerala journalists. 

By Muthu 

12/9/2011 12:52:00 AM

 Dear Gokul Varnnan,,, If u r tryin to earn ur daily bread By this, Pllsss Begging is better option,,, Dear Express,,, Pitty on U guys,, Show some Responsibility as a newspaper,,, Dis is not the way.... and U r playin with Millins of ppls Life,,, Dnt b Irresponsible like dis,, Begggin U... 

By samson 

12/8/2011 11:45:00 PM

 I thought 'Pandi' (pig) may have the same meaning in Malayalam too! Even in Lanka, we call some one 'pandi' (pig) as an insult. 

By Suresh M 

12/8/2011 7:38:00 PM

 It was a traffic jam. This clown can't differentiate a hold up and a hostage action. Must be seeing too many Tamil flims. 

By Vivek 

12/8/2011 6:22:00 PM

 What a shame? this kind of third rate journalism should be banned. The citizenship of this person who is behind this news must be canceled and should thrown him away from the country He is a threat for the unity of India. SHAME ON YOU!!!!!! 

By sreenadh 

12/8/2011 4:57:00 PM

 Shame on u Indian Express... pathetic 

By Deepu 

12/8/2011 4:20:00 PM

 Dear Brothers and Sisters of Tamil Nadu please dont belive this..This is just to create tension and hate between two ethnic population. ABrother from Kerala.. 

By shibin 

12/8/2011 3:34:00 PM

 Absolute Nonsense. This news is just a blunder to provoke TN people. 

By abraham Varghese 

12/8/2011 3:17:00 PM

 This reporter is mentally sick. Take him to hospital. 

By Shaam 

12/8/2011 3:13:00 PM

 Cease Indian Express. 

By Baiju NT 

12/8/2011 3:13:00 PM

 This news is fake ...No such incidents happened................. 

By Sreekesh 

12/8/2011 3:08:00 PM

 Absolute Nonsense. This news is just a blunder to provoke TN people. 

By abraham Varghese 

12/8/2011 3:03:00 PM

 I am also from that location, i checked with all activists there, its absolutely false news a responsible newspaper wont publish this news without verifying, it is irresponsible jounalism, the reporte has to be prosecuted for instigating violence across tamil Nadu 

By roshy 

12/8/2011 2:31:00 PM

 There is absolutely no possibility of such an incident ever taking place in the said area, where people from TN and Kerala have been living together in peace for more than six decades. There is enough reason for one to believe that this is a story blown out of proportion. May be one or two incidents of eve teasing, heckling or chain snatching by vandals could have taken place, at the most. We could quite often find journalists working in vernacular media falling victims to such emotions and passions. But what is shocking is that even English journalists are also seemingly not above parochial interests or that is what one has seen here. 

By Ramesh Mathew 

12/8/2011 12:38:00 PM

 This is a fake news which is intended to promote violence between Kerala and Tamilnadu. Proper legal actions will be taken. 

By Vishnu Iyer 

12/8/2011 12:01:00 PM

 Those who post this comments are Terrporists i think this website is providing fake inforamtion an government need to arrest him . Iam from this area and thier is no such incidents 

By vishnu 

12/7/2011 11:14:00 PM

 stop propagating lies to increase your circulation 

By boby 

12/7/2011 10:39:00 PM

 This is very unbecoming of the Indian Express. You're words are going to create a lot of issues between the two states, It already has started a lot of violence in TN today. Legal proceedings will be taken against you if you do not refrain from spreading false information through news(Using the word 'allegedly' will not save you.) and create a war between the two people! SHAME ON YOU! P.S: I dont care if you put this in here or not, But you get the message and thats the only thing that matters to me. 

By Adv. Joseph Alex 

12/7/2011 10:27:00 PM

 straight from a tamil movie set ...wow great imagination!! 

By martin 

12/7/2011 10:17:00 PM

 What is this? This is a cooked up news. No such incident happened in Idukki. 

By Dev 

12/7/2011 9:07:00 PM

 Do not try to spread false news. 

By Midhun 

12/7/2011 7:48:00 PM

 These types of fake news will only blow out the issue. Atleast journalists should show some sense. Pitty you Gokul Vannan 

By Girish 

12/7/2011 7:03:00 PM

 this news is fake dear expressbuzz this type of news will create problems.. Wat all r u people writing..

By Arun 

12/7/2011 6:34:00 PM

 It is unacceptable that a news paper like Indian Express adding oil in the fire during a tensed situation. I am close to this place and never heard such an issue. The reporter should be procecuted and send to jail Creating rift between people. The government should investigate the source of the news as well 

By Jobin 

12/7/2011 6:04:00 PM

 there is no such incedent happened . its false news 

By Arun Jacob 

12/7/2011 5:16:00 PM

 This news is creating panics by some of tamil printed media and visual medias. By Gokul.K. Chennai 

By Gokul 

12/7/2011 5:05:00 PM

 its a fake news 

By Midhun 

12/7/2011 5:01:00 PM

 What the Hell? Great reporting! 

By Annyan 

12/7/2011 4:47:00 PM

 Please check the credibility of the report before posting. 

By Vishnu 

12/7/2011 4:31:00 PM

 This news needs to be investigated. I am from that area and we never heard such an incident. And no workers are returning by their own, they travel in vehicles arranged by the estate owners. From both sides the vehiles were stopeed. I request the management to investigate this news item. 

By rajesh 

12/7/2011 12:21:00 PM