CHENNAI PORT: ‘EMRIP will be ready by June next’

Published in The New Indian Express, Chennai on Jan 24, 2012:

Source:http://expressbuzz.com/cities/chennai/%E2%80%98emrip-will-be-ready-by-june-next%E2%80%99/356344.html

CHENNAI: Union Shipping Minister G K Vasan on Monday assured the media that the Rs 600 crore Ennore Manali Road Improvement Project (EMRIP) would be completed by June 2013, which was originally scheduled to be completed by Dec 2012.

Speaking to reporters after reviewing the progress of the two connectivity projects — Elevated Expressway from Chennai Port to Maduravoyal and Ennore Manali Road Improvement Project — aimed at improving the evacuation of road-bound cargo to and from Chennai Port, along with the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways C P Joshi at the port’s headquarters here, Vasan said, “While the EMRIP would be completed by June next year, the elevated expressway project is progressing well.”

Reacting to a question about the diminishing future of the Chennai Port in the face of repeated delays, Vas-an said, “Chennai Port has a bright future and you (media) will be there to report its prosperity.”
The minister during a foundation laying ceremony for EMRIP in Jan 2011 at Thiruvotriyur, had promised that the project would be completed within two years (Dec 2012).

Earlier, Vasan and Joshi reviewed the initiative taken by Chennai Port to improve its road and rail infrastructure so that there is a free flow of traffic inside the port. The issues of congestion inside the port and along the city roads leading to Chennai Port were discussed.

The ministers assured that approvals required for quick release of funds will be given due priority.

BUSINESS LINE REPORT ON DAM: ‘Half of (Mullaperiyar) dam may give way within 12 minutes of break'

Source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/agri-biz/article2823154.ece

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JAN. 22: 

A ‘break' of the ageing dam at tremor-prone Mullaperiyar would send out flood waters rising up to 9.4 metres just below the reservoir, 12.41 metres a little further down at Vallakkadavu and 8.5 metres at Idukki.

According to the first part of a report commissioned by the State Government, experts at IIT-Roorkee have said that as much as half of the century-old structure would give way within 12 minutes of the dam-break.

FLOOD SITUATION

The ensuing flood situation would send the water levels rising to a height of 886 metres above sea level (asl) 50 metres downstream in the Periyar river; 854 metres asl at Vallakkadavu, the nearest human settlement; and 767.26 asl metres at the Idukki dam.

If the dam-break were to occur at the maximum water level of 136 ft at Mullaperiyar, it will cause the water level at the much larger Idukki reservoir situated 36 km away to rise by 20.85 metres.

Flood water from the Mullaperiyar dam would reach Vallakkadavu within 26 minutes; Vandiperiyar in 31 minutes; and Idukki dam within 128 minutes.

The State Government had asked the dam-break analysis to be conducted along a string of dams Mullaperiyar, Idukki, Cheruthoni, Kulamavu, Lower Periyar and Bhuthathankettu.

FIRST PART

Contiguous regions bounded by the Periyar as it empties several hundred km through the midlands into the Arabian Sea too were brought under the focus of the study.

IIT-Roorkee has submitted only the first part of the detailed report pertaining to an area extending from Mullaperiyar to the Idukki reservoir. The second part of the report is expected to be submitted before May.

Usually a dam-break occurs when the dam overflows either due to flooding heavy rains, weak structural conditions, or due to earthquakes and landslips triggering strong waves which apply immense pressure against the dam wall.

A dam-break along the upstream of the main river could have a cascading impact on the structures downstream, the IIT report said.

SIMULATION MODULES

Intensity and impact of a dam-break could be reduced if preventive steps are initiated, taking into consideration the quantity and force of the water expected to rush down, the density of population along the flood path and probable damage to life and property.

The report suggested that hydro-dynamics stimulation modules be set up for the purpose. This will help analyse the flood hydro graph, the expected water levels in various places and the likely flow path in downstream.

The dam-break analysis was carried out using one-dimensional hydro dynamic modelling. The HEC- RAS version 4.1.0 developed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission of the US was used for the purpose.

Breach guide lines provided by the Energy Regulatory Commission and the American Bureau of Reclamation were also consulted in the matter.

vinson@thehindu.co.in

Coast Guard shows off skills at sea

Source:http://expressbuzz.com/cities/chennai/coast-guard-shows-off-skills-at-sea/356007.html

CHENNAI: In a colourful exercise, the Coast Guard (CG) personnel demonstrated their skills in search and rescue and coastal security operations in the sea, off the Chennai’s coastline, as part of the 35th founding day celebrations of the coastal security force on Sunday. 

In consonance with its tag line ‘We Protect’, personnel onboard CG ships Sagar, Sarang, Vishwast, Vajra, Sarojini Naidu and Interceptor Boats C-151, C-146 and Hovercraft-151, 183 along with Chetak helicopters demonstrated their capabilities in anti-piracy and poaching activities as well as saving lives.

Scenes of swiftly rescuing a survivor on high seas from a helicopter and dropping a life raft were fascinatingly recreated. Chasing and apprehending pirates and precise target firing by dornier maritime surveillance aircraft were gripping. Firing from heavy machine guns on Sarang, fleet manoeuvres and fire fighting techniques mesmerised onlookers. The ships and aircraft carried out a ‘smart steam past and fly past’, saluting their regional commander, Inspector General Satya Prakash Sharma.

Speaking to reporters on board Sarang, Sharma said the exercise had the twin objectives of sensitising the common man to the role of CG besides providing an opportunity to families of sailors of the force to see what their loved ones did.

Boat race and more

On other activities as part of anniversary celebrations, Sharma said a boat race would be held for fishermen on the Marina on February 6 and 7 to connect with fishermen, whose protection is a key objective for the coastal security force. A motorcycle rally on Sunday started from Kanyakumari and would reach Chennai on February 1. The rally would cover all coastal villages to increase awareness of the CG.

A joint exercise would be held along with the Japanese Coast Guard, “Settsu,” on January 29 in seas off Chennai. Chief of Indian CG, vice admiral MP Muralidharan, and head of Japanese CG would participate.

Sense of belonging draws spouses to ships

Source:http://expressbuzz.com/cities/chennai/Sense-of-belonging-draws-spouses-to-ships/356006.html

CHENNAI: When a woman, in her early fifties gently patted the imposing Coast Guard ship Sarang as she disembarked after a day at sea, it reminded one of Maximus in the film Gladiator, who runs his fingers through through the wheat grown on his fields.

Little wonder, wives of officers of the Coast Guard have a strong sense of belonging and love towards the ship in which their spouses spend a good part of their lives. Something like this cannot be normally expected from families of employees of other sectors.

“This is my ship. My husband (Gurupdesh Singh) commanded this majestic vessel (Sarang) before his elevation as Chief of Staff,” declared Amrita Singh with a tinge of excitement.

Anandi Dinakaran, whose better half had been a commandant of ships, including the recently decommissioned Kittur Chennamma, said sea and vessels had always been a thing of joy for them, an extended “member” of the family.

“I love and respect ships. When we come on board, we understand the difficult job, a member of the armed forces does at sea.”

If this is what the spouses feel, how do those who actually work feel?

Says Sanjay Aryavir, Commanding officer of CG Squardon 848 (choppers): “The sea is our revered work place and I have saved many lives as part of my duty. However, we could do little to save lives in the recent Pulicat tragedy despite our best efforts. Incidents like these affect us.”

Thiruvotriyur High Road widening work begins

By G Saravanan
Published in The New Indian Express, Chennai on Jan 22, 2012:
Source:http://expressbuzz.com/biography/thiruvotriyur-high-road-widening-work-begins/355721.html
CHENNAI: Finally, works for widening Thiruvotriyur High Road, one of the two-decades-old demands of the local residents, gained momentum on Saturday after the authorities began pulling down structures that obstructed the widening process.



Despite five bhumipoojas in the last five years and the then local MLA K P P Samy’s one-year ‘deadline’ to residents on completing the project (in 2009), the widening of the road connecting Chennai city with the northern suburbs has been at  snail’s pace.
When the project was first planned in 2006, the highways department proposed to convert the entire five-km stretch (from Toll Gate to Ernavur bridge) as a 66 ft four-lane road with median, box culverts, side-drains and seepage pipes at an estimated cost of Rs 11.50 crore.
When the AIADMK won the seat in the recent Assembly election, its elected MLA K Kuppan promised the local residents to initiate the road widening work.
Walking the talk, Kuppan organised a review meeting with the local officials and also succeeded in making the State Highways Minister Palanichamy visit the road for re-starting the stalled widening works.
Due to the inordinate delay in land acquisition for the road widening works, the project cost has escalated to Rs 30 crore from the 2006 projection of  Rs 11.5 crore.
On Saturday afternoon, State Highways authorities, using heavy machineries started pulling down the structures that were marked for demolition years ago for the widening project. The encroachment removal drive along the T H Road would continue on Sunday. Official sources said road laying work would begin soon.
The widening of the Thiruvotriyur High Road is a long pending demand of Thiruvotriyur, Ernavur, Kathivakkam and Ennore residents. Traffic snarls are very common in the area as the road is narrow.

வரலாற்றுத் துரோகங்கள் மூலம் தமிழீழ மண்ணில் மீண்டும் ஒரு போர்க்களத்தை உருவாக்காதீர்கள்!

"வரலாற்றுத் துரோகங்கள் மூலம் தமிழீழ மண்ணில் மீண்டும் ஒரு போர்க்களத்தை உருவாக்காதீர்கள்!"

Source:http://www.pathivu.com/news/19775/57//d,article_full.aspx

சிறிலங்கா அரச தரப்புடன் சுமார் ஒரு வருட காலம் தமிழ்த் தேசியக் கூட்டமைப்பு நடாத்திவந்த மூடுமந்திரப் பேச்சுவார்த்தையின் இலக்கு தற்போது புரிய ஆரம்பித்துள்ளது. 

தரவே மாட்டேன் என்ற அடம்பிடித்தலுடன் மகிந்த ராஜதானிகளது இறுக்கத்தைக் கலைத்து, அவற்றைப் பெற்றுவிட்டோம் என்ற இறுமாப்புடன் தமிழீழத்திற்கு மாற்றீடாக மாகாணசபையை ஏற்றுக்கொள்ளும் திட்டத்துடன் தமிழ்த் தேசியக் கூட்டமைப்பு நகர்வதாகவே புலப்படுகின்றது. அதாவது, கடந்த மூப்பது வருடங்களுக்கும் மேலாகத் தமிழ் மக்களால் முற்றாக நிராகரிக்கப்பட்ட பரிபூரண சிங்கள மேலாதிக்கம் கொண்ட மாகாணசபையினை ஏற்றுக்கொள்வதனூடாக தமிழீழ மக்களது தமிழீழ இலட்சியத்தையும், அதற்கான விடுதலைப் புலிகளது அர்ப்பணிப்புக்களையும், உயிர்த் தியாகங்களையும் அதனுள் புதைத்துவிடும் வகையிலான தமிழ்த் தேசியக் கூட்டமைப்பின் எல்லைக் கோடுகள் வெளியே தெரிய ஆரம்பித்துள்ளன. 

தற்போது, தமிழ்த் தேசியக் கூட்டமைப்பு தெரிவித்துவரும் கருத்துக்களின்படியும், இந்திய வெளிவிவகார அமைச்சர் எஸ்.எம். கிருஷ்ணா அவர்களிடம் விடுத்த வேண்டுகோளின்படியும் தமிழ்த் தேசியக் கூட்டமைப்பின் அதி உச்ச இலக்கு பொலிஸ், காணி உரிமைகள் கொண்ட மாகாணசபை மட்டுமே. அந்த உச்ச இலக்குடன், அவற்றைத் தரமாட்டோம் என்கின்ற சிங்கள தேசியவாதத்துடன் சில விட்டுக்கொடுப்பு சமரசங்களும் ஏற்படலாம். இது, நீ அடிப்பது போல் அடி, நான் அழுவது போல் அழுகின்றேன் என்பதற்கு ஒப்பான இழுபறி மட்டுமே. இப்போது இதையும் விட்டுவிட்டால், எப்போதும் எதுவும் கிடைக்கப்போவதில்லை என்ற சப்பைக்கட்டுக்குள் தமிழீழ மக்களது அவலங்கள் புதைக்கப்பட்டு, சிங்கள தேசத்தின் ஆட்சியாளர்கள் மீதான போர்க் குற்ற விசாரணைகளும் நீர்த்துப் போய்விடும். 

முள்ளிவாய்க்காலின் பின்னர், விடுதலைப் புலிகளின் பின்னே அணிவகுத்து நின்ற புலம்பெயர் தமிழர்கள் தங்களது ஜனநாயக முறைமைப் போராட்டத்தினூடாகத் தமிழீழ மக்களுக்கான நீதிக்காகத் தொடர்ந்தும் போராடி வருகின்றார்கள். அந்த நீதி தமிழீழ மக்களுக்கு மறுக்கப்படுமானால், அவர்களது கோபம் நிச்சயம் இன்னொரு போர்க் களத்தைப் பிரசவிக்கும். அதைத்தான் தமிழ்த் தேசியக் கூட்டமைப்பின் மாகாணசபைக்கான கோரிக்கைகள் தமிழீழ மண்ணில் உருவாக்கப்போகின்றது. 

சிங்களப் படைகளது கொடூரங்களையும், தமிழினப் படுகொலைகளையும், பாலியல் கொடூரங்களையும் பார்த்து வளர்ந்துவரும் இன்னொரு சந்ததியிடம் தமிழ்த் தேசியக் கூட்டமைப்பு தமிழீழ விடுதலைக்காக மீண்டும் ஆயுதம் ஏந்திப் போராடும் கட்டாயத்தைக் கையளிக்கப் போகின்றது. தமிழ்த் தேசியக் கூட்டமைப்பின் தற்போதைய இலக்கு அதனையே எமக்கு உணர்த்துகின்றது. 

தமிழீழ விடுதலைப் போரும், அதற்கான காரணங்களும் முள்ளிவாய்க்காலுடன் முடிவுக்கு வந்துவிட்டதான சிங்கள தேசத்தின் கற்பிதமும், இதற்குமேல் எதையும் கேட்க முடியாது என்ற தமிழ்த் தேசியக் கூட்டமைப்பின் காய்ந்துபோன சிந்தனைகளும் ஈழத் தமிழர்கள் அமைதி வழிக்குத் திரும்புவதற்குப் போதுமானதாக அமையாது. இலங்கைத் தீவில் மீண்டும் அமைதி திரும்ப வேண்டுமானால் தமிழீழ மக்களுக்கான நியாயங்கள் வழங்கப்பட வேண்டும். அவர்களுக்கு நீதி கிடைக்க வேண்டும். அவர்களது கௌரவம் மீள் நிறுத்தப்பட வேண்டும். அவர்களது அச்சங்கள் அகற்றப்பட வேண்டும். அது மட்டுமே இலங்கைத் தீவை இன்னொரு அழிவிலிருந்து மீட்கும்.

சிங்கள தேசியவாதத்தைத் திருப்திப்படுத்தும்விதமான எந்தத் தீர்வும் தமிழ் மக்களது சிந்தனையில் மாற்றங்களை உருவாக்காது. அக்கினியாய் கொதிக்கும் அவர்கள் மனங்களில் அமைதியை உருவாக்காது. இப்போது வேண்டுமானால், 10 தமிழர்களுக்கு ஒரு சிங்களப் படையினைவைத்துப் போலியான அமைதித் தோற்றத்தை உருவாக்க முடியும். அது எத்தனை காலத்திற்குத் தாக்குப் பிடிக்கப் போகின்றது?
முதலில், தமிழ்த் தேசியக் கூட்டமைப்பு தனது பலத்தை நம்ப வேண்டும். எதிரியின் பிரமாண்டம் இலங்கைத் தீவுக்குள் மட்டுமே என்பதைப் புரிந்து கொள்ள வேண்டும். தமிழீழ மக்களது விடுதலைக்கான போர்க் களம் ஒன்று இலங்கைத் தீவுக்கு வெளியே எரிமலைக் கொதிப்புடன் உள்ளதைப் புரிந்து கொள்ள வேண்டும். அதன் பலத்தையும், அனைத்துலக தளத்தில் அதன் காத்திரமான வகிபாகத்தையும் உணர்ந்து கொள்ள வேண்டும்.

முத்துக்குமாரன் மூட்டிய தீ இப்போதும் அனல் குறையாமல் தாய்த் தமிழகத்தைப் பற்றிப் படர்ந்து வருகின்றது. செங்கொடியின் ஈகமும், சிங்களத் தமிழன் நடேசன் மீதான தமிழ்த் தேசியவாதிகளின் தாக்குதலும் சாதாரணமான சம்பவங்கள் அல்ல. தமிழக மக்களின் கோபம் ஆட்சியை மாற்றியதுடன் அடங்கிவிடவில்லை என்பதைப் புரிந்து கொள்ள வேண்டும். 

ஈழத்து மக்களது பாதிச் சொந்தங்கள் புலத்தில் வேரூன்றி நிற்பதும் தமிழீழ விடுதலைக்கான பெரும் பலம் என்பதைப் பொய்யாக்கிவிட முடியாது. சிங்கள தேசத்தால் தொட முடியாத ஒன்று திரண்ட தமிழ்த் தேசிய சக்தி இப்போதும் சீறிப் பாயத் தயாராகவே உள்ளது. முள்ளிவாய்க்காலின் பெருந்துயர் வழங்கிய சோர்விலிருந்தும், தடுமாற்றங்களிலிருந்தும் விடுபட்டு வரும் புலம்பெயர் தமிழ்த் தேசிய தளங்களது பேரெழுச்சி சிங்கள ஆட்சியாளர்களுக்குப் பெரும் பீதியைக் கிளப்புவதை அண்மைய கொழும்புச் செய்திகள் உணர்த்துகின்றன. 

அதற்கும் மேலாக, தமிழீழ விடுதலைக்காக எந்த விலையைச் செலுத்தவும் தயாரான தமிழர்கள் உலகம் முழுவதும் காத்திருக்கின்றார்கள். இதற்குப் பின்னரும் எதற்காக அடிபணிதல் அரசியல்? வரலாற்றுத் துரோகங்கள் மூலம் தமிழீழ மண்ணில் மீண்டும் ஒரு போர்க்களத்தை உருவாக்காதீர்கள்!
- இசைப்பிரியா

Associated Press opens Pyongyang bureau

Source: http://www.northkoreatech.org/2012/01/17/ap-opens-pyongyang-bureau/

The Associated Press has opened a news bureau in Pyongyang making it the first western news agency to have a reporter and photographer based in the North Korean capital.

The bureau represents a coup for the AP over the competition, but its close cooperation with the state-run Korean Central News Agency, necessitated to realize the deal, brings with it questions over editorial independence.

AP President Tom Curley and KCNA President Kim Pyong Ho officially opened the bureau in Pyongyang on Monday. It came six months after the two met in New York and signed a basic agreement towards the office.

The bureau will be housed inside KCNA’s headquarters and will be permanently staffed by two North Koreans: reporter Pak Won Il and photographer Kim Kwang Hyon.

AP didn’t provide details of the background of the two and declined to say if they were on the payroll of AP or KCNA.

Regardless of their employment status, they were almost certainly trained in the North Korean media-slash-propaganda machine with books such as “The Great Teacher of Journalists” — a heavy tome filled with advice to journalists by Kim Jong Il. Their appointment would have been approved by North Korean authorities.

The two have already contributed to AP’s coverage over the last few weeks on the death of Kim Jong Il.

Pak was credited as providing details for several AP stories on the funeral, including “Thousands Gather In Snow To Mourn Kim Jong Il.” Kim Kwang Hyon is believed to be the photographer responsible for several unattributed photographs issued by AP of the funeral.

Video footage of the office released by KCNA shows pictures of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il hanging on the wall above some desks. A TV hangs on the wall and there also appears to be a refrigerator and microwave oven.

It’s this closeness with KCNA that has AP walking a delicate editorial line.

AP is based on a traditional of independent reporting, and KCNA is anything but independent. Its Japan-based website describes the agency as speaking “for the Workers’ Party of Korea and the DPRK government,” and its daily output is heavy with glorification of its leader and threats against South Korea and the U.S.

But when it comes to North Korea, KCNA is the only game in town.

North Korea has remained one of the few places in the world that has remained almost totally impenetrable to foreign journalists. Visits are strictly supervised and controlled, and information flow in and out of the country is just a trickle. This was demonstrated vividly in December when governments and media organizations were apparently unaware that anything was amiss in the days before the death of Kim Jong Il was announced.

Getting coverage from Pyongyang, albeit with assistance from the government’s news agency, is probably better than nothing.

The real payoff will come in the regular reporting trips by AP staffers that form part of the deal. Korea Bureau Chief Jean Lee and Chief Asia Photographer David Guttenfelder will oversee the bureau and are likely to continue visiting the country.

It also gives AP a leg up on competitors such as Reuters and AFP when major news breaks in Pyongyang, such as the recent death of Kim Jong Il.

Jarawa Dance Video ARMY PERSONNEL INVOLVED

Source:http://lightofandamans.blogspot.com/2012/01/cover-story-jarawa-dance-video-army.html

By Zubair Ahmed

The Jarawa dance video, which created hue and cry in the international and national media and forced the Government of India and Andaman and Nicobar Administration to order a probe, was actually shot by a group of army personnel.

In an independent investigation by LOA, it has come to the fore that police and ground staff of Andaman Aadim Janjathi Vikas Samithi (AAJVS) were not aware as the video was shot after the last convoy left Middle Strait.

Contrary to the statements released to the media by the Administration, the video was shot three years back on 6th  November 2008, in which two vehicles - a truck and a gypsy belonging to army were involved. 

In a release, S B Deol, DGP had said that the video was 10 years old and there were no cop in the video. He had also pointed out that a man with camouflaged uniform was visible in the media. 

However, he did not mention anyrole of defence personnel.

LOA has identified the Jarawa women and girls featuring in the video, which was shot at a place about 8 kms from Jirkatang, known as Chowdhary Gumai. There were six Jarawa women including a pregnant lady, who was shown fully naked. Thadul (16 years) daughter of Thadang, Ecnchobecha (14) d/o Thadang, Cheddatokula (35) wife of Whaydom and Aninja (13) d/o Whaydom featured in the video. Enepowaiele (21) w/o Mahe was 7-8 months pregnant when the video was shot. She gave birth to a baby girl Wane on 6 February 2009.

The army personnel traveling in a military truck had waited for the last convoy to pass from Middle Strait and with special permission traveled on the road. It has also come to light that Jarawas mostly belonging to Tirur sector has a Chadda (Jarawa Hut) very close to the place.

Jarawas, still a nomadic community travel from Tirur to Kadamtala and back frequently. They use the temporary chaddas on the way.

The Jarawas in Kadamtala and Middle Strait were able to identify the Jarawa women featuring in the video and the place where it took place.

Enepowaiele, the pregnant woman in the video, who is 24 years now has confirmed to a reliable source about the incident and involvement of army personnel.

However, this does not vindicate the police force present at Middle Strait who allowed the military truck to pass after the last convoy had departed from Middle Strait. The thumb rule is not to allow anybody except AAJVS, Police and Forest personnel dealing with the protection and welfare of Jarawas of specific territorial jurisdiction. This raises a serious question how army personnel, who were on a tour to Baratang could stop inside the Reserve and shoot the video exploiting the vulnerability of a tribe who are at crossroads, unaware of the dangers it poses to their life and culture.

The story about the video published by The Guardian/Observer, London was later picked by the national media and highlighted the plight of the Jarawas.

Soon after the expose by news channels, Shakti Sinha, Chief Secretary, ANI Admn had rebutted the episode saying that over the past decade, the population of the Jarawas has increased for the first time since they first came into contact with the outside world 150 years ago.  He also said that a Tribal Reserve has been increased from 847 sq kms to 1028 sq kms.

Speaking to a news channel, Prof Shekhar Singh said that the Lieutenant Governor and the Administration should be put on dock on the issue of contempt of court as the Administration has kept the Andaman Trunk Road open even after the Supreme Court's Order of May 2002.

The issue has also created a ruckus among the politicians and the settler communities who blamed foul play in the timing of the video saying that it was intentionally done to close Andaman Trunk Road, which they claim to be a lifeline.