Archive for category City
Security at Major Temples in hi-tech Surveillance cameras installed at Meenakshi Temple
Posted by ganesh in Communication, Information, Madurai, Temples, electronic, government, illegal, modification, police, programme on March 10th, 2010
As part of an exercise to upgrade security at major temples in Tamil Nadu, hi-tech surveillance cameras will soon be installed at the world famous Meenakshi Sundareswar Temple in Madurai. Work on installing the 32 cameras began on Monday with technical support from Information Technology major HCL.
The Meenakshi Te
mple was among the vital installations in the State that faced threat from Lashkar-e-Taiba a few months ago, following which security was enhanced. The project to install cameras being executed at a cost of Rs.48.5 lakh envisages provision of a security blanket to the temple complex and its vicinity, official sources told The Hindu here on Monday.
The number of cameras could also be increased on the advice of the security agencies. Apart from advanced Internet protocol-operated dome cameras, electronic alarms, sensors and control room apparatus would also be installed.
TECHNICAL PERSONNEL
The installation work is expected to be completed in two months.
Technical personnel from HCL will be working on the project for one year to provide maintenance and other services. Two control rooms are being established, with one to be monitored by security agencies and temple staff. The surveillance cameras to be installed at vantage points would cover the entire temple premises and four Adi streets surrounding the temple, besides some portions of the Chithirai streets.
Most of the cameras will be kept at concealed locations. Due care would be taken to ensure that devotees are not affected by the installation work, a temple official said.
Once the project is completed, it would significantly enhance the security of the temple and provide the police personnel with vital inputs in protecting the complex, he added.
Installation of surveillance cameras at major temples follows recommendations made by the State intelligence at a security audit meeting held recently. “We have suggested that closed circuit television network be established at major temples and iconic buildings,” Inspector General of Police (Intelligence) M.S. Jaffar Sait said.
Additional Director General of Police (Economic Offences Wing) G. Thilakavathi said it had been suggested to open icon centres for safe custody of antique idols.
Wonders of Women – WOW 2010 in chennai
Posted by ganesh in Chennai, Communication, Culture, Information, Other, competition, programme on March 10th, 2010
Finally, the historic Bill which empowers women politically by giving 33 per cent reservation to them in Parliament has been passed. With that, women received their gift, what if, it is post-Women’s Day.
Continuing with the euphoroia, Virgo Events Management Company hosted ‘Wonders of Women – WOW 2010’, an event, organised to celebrate International Women’s Day in Chennai on Tuesday.
The event showcased women’s talent by conducting some unique competitions. The highlight of WOW 2010 was Miss and Mrs XL (Extra Large), women and girls above 75kg participated and tested their personality, which was followed by a question round.
The other events were Ethnic Woman to revive the art of ‘Poo Thoduthal’, a laughter contest to disprove the myth that women are not humorous; a Well Woman contest; Bingo with Stars, Crowning Glory – A hair- style competition; and Sing a Line, a song to be converted into rap genre. Nina Reddy, executive director of Savera Group of Hotels, made her presence felt as the guest of honour.
Road works to be taken up in Coimbatore
Posted by ganesh in Coimbatore, Communication, Departments, Other, Tamil Conference, Transport, meeting, modification on March 10th, 2010
The Coimbatore Corporation is all set to provide a fresh tar top to some of the major thoroughfares in the city in view of the World Classical Tamil Conference in June.
The Coimbatore Corporation Council recently cleared bids for these works estimated at Rs.10.45 crore.
Some of the roads that will be provided a new tar top are: 100 Feet Road (Rajendra Prasad Road), Nava India Road (tar top and widening), Sowripalayam Road (up to Masakalipalayam), Dr. Balasundaram Road, Sanganur Road (from Mettupalayam Road to Sathyamangalam Road), Sundakamuthur Bypass Road and N.S.R. Road. A few other thoroughfares and link roads will also be re-laid. The Corporation has already cleared some road works.
Apart from the new surface for the roads, the civic body will also lay a 40 ft scheme road near Rangavilas Mill and construct a bridge near G.V. Residency to link it with Sowripalayam Road. The work is estimated to cost Rs.75 lakh.
Pedestrian pavements would be laid from Anna Statue to Lakshmi Mills on Avanashi Road. Pavements and storm water drains would be constructed from Huzur Road to Puliyakulam. Pavements would also be built along Krishnaswamy Road.
According to the Corporation, many road works are being taken up as the Tamil meet is the best opportunity to carry out these.
Over the last two to three meetings, the Council had witnessed a number of requests from councillors for laying new link or scheme roads and to re-lay some of the roads that were in poor condition.
These were in addition to the list already drawn up by the Corporation for improvements in view of the conference.
Demands to improve the condition of Marudamalai Road and Perur Road were also made at the meetings. Councillors pointed out that the participants at the conference might visit the heritage and pilgrimage centres of Perur and Marudamalai.
Officials clarified that these roads were under the control of the State Highways and the department would carry out improvements.
At one meeting, Leader of the Opposition and DMK member V.N. Udayakumar said at least 130 scheme roads earmarked in the Master Plan were yet to be laid.
Responding to this, Commissioner Anshul Mishra said the Plan never spoke of the funding. “The Tamil conference is a boon to us, as it is bringing funds from the Government to carry our improvements to the roads,” he pointed out.
8 member SPG team arrived to review the security arrangements in PM visit on March 13
Posted by ganesh in Chennai, Communication, Culture, Departments, Information, Political, programme on March 10th, 2010
An eight-member high level Special Protection Group (SPG) team arrived here from New Delhi to review the security arrangements in connection with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and AICC President Sonia Gandhi’s visit to the city on March 13.
Airport sources said the team headed by Inspector General Rajesh Chandra arrived here this morning and held a meeting at the old airport complex about the security measures at the airport.
The officials discussed about the security measures to be put in place during the arrival and departure of Dr Singh and Ms Gandhi and other VIPs.
Dr Singh and Ms Sonia would inaugurate the new Assembly Complex being built in the city on March 13.
After the meeting at the airport, the team would visit the Raj Bhavan and the IIT Madras campus, where the Prime Minister was expected to attend a function.
From IIT, the team would visit the New Secretariat complex and review the security arrangements for the function.
20 AWWA women members part in a parasailing event
Posted by ganesh in Airways, Departments, Entertainment, Information, Public, Thanjavur, function, programme on March 10th, 2010
As amany as 20 women members of the Airforce Wives Welfare Association (AWWA) took part in a parasailing event, as part of the celebrations of International Women’s Day.
According to sources here today, Manisha Kothari, wife of Group Captain S S Kothari inaugurated the programme by sailing herself with the parachute.
”It was an excellent experience. I felt comfortable after being lifted in the air and enjoyed flying. This is the first time I did parasailing in my 20 years of life in the Airforce,” she said.
Sarika Saxena, who parasailed said she liked the adventure. ”I am interested in sports and this is the first time I did parasailing. It is an amazing experience.” All the participants of the yesterday’s event were the wives of Airmen and Air Officers of Airforce Station in Thanjavur, the sources said.
Group Captain Kothari said the aim was to inculcate the spirit of adventure among women on this International Day for Women.
Apart from parasailing, many other activities, including an anaemia detection camp, basic computer workshop, a lecture on female foeticide and preconception of sex determination, had been planned as part of the celebrations, he said.
”The Thanjavur Airforce station will become a full fledged one in a couple of years. Suryakiran airshow will also be arranged at Thanjavur soon,”
SR special trains in ‘Ammavasai’ festival on March 15
Posted by ganesh in Departments, Festivals, Information, Madurai, Railway, Rameswaram, Temples, Transport, government on March 10th, 2010
Southern Railway will operate a pair of passenger special trains in connection with ‘Ammavasai’ festival on March 15 at Rameswaram.
A statement said that Madurai-Rameswaram passenger special will leave Madurai at 9.45 p.m. on March 14 and reach Rameswaram at 2 a.m. the next day.
The Rameswaram-Madurai passenger special will leave Rameswaram at 1.05 p.m. on March 15 and reach Madurai at 4.55 p.m. on the same day.
These trains will stop at Madurai East, Silaiman, Tirupuvanam, Tirupacheti, Manamadurai, Sudiyur, Paramakkudi, Sattirakudi, Ramanathapuram, Uchipuli, Mandapam and Pamban.
The number of following trains will be changed with effect from July 1.
Train No. 6101/6102 Chennai Egmore-Rameswaram-Chennai Egmore Express has been revised as Train no. 6701/6702,
TN Governor’s son nominated as sub-panel member of Commonwealth Games
Posted by ganesh in Information, competition, games, programme, tamilnadu on March 10th, 2010
Tamil Nadu Governor Surjit Singh Barnala’s son Jasjit Singh Barnala has been nominated as a games village sub-committe member of the Commonwealth Games 2010.
An official press release here today said that Jasjit’s name was nominated by Suresh Kalmadi, MP and Chairman of the organising committee of the Commonwealth Games, which is to be held in New Delhi from October 3 to 14.
142 Blocks out of overexploited with respect to underground water
Posted by ganesh in Chennai, Communication, Departments, Information, Thanjavur, Water, government, modification on March 10th, 2010
As many as 142 blocks out of 385 in Tamil Nadu are overexploited with respect to underground water, according to N Varadaraj, Regional Director, Central Ground Water Board, Chennai.
Eight blocks were saline and other blocks had been classified as critical and semi-criticial. The Government had taken up a scheme for the maintenance of tanks in the state, he told newspersons yesterday.
To a question, he said a sum of Rs 500 crore had been allotted for artificial recharging of nearly 12 lakh dug wells in the state.
Out of this, Rs 100 crore was released for taking up recharging of 3.5 lakh wells.
Bid to identify mental health problems of students
Posted by ganesh in Chennai, Departments, Education, Health, Information, Other, illegal, meeting, modification, programme, student on March 10th, 2010
He is different from others in the classroom, avoids people and his grades/marks keep fluctuating. For teachers who come across such children in their classroom, psychiatrists have a word of advice. These may be signs of the onset of mental health problems, which need to be identified at the young age itself.
In an effort to identify and treat mental health or psychiatric problems of adolescents, the Department of Health and Family Welfare on Monday launched the ‘School Mental Health Programme,’ with suicide prevention as one of its main areas of focus. Health Minister M.R.K. Panneerselvam and Health Secretary V.K. Subburaj participated in the launch.
The programme would be attached to the district mental health programme and implemented in various districts. To start with, medical health professionals, including clinical psychologists, psychiatrists and social welfare counsellors, are being sensitised.
According to M. Thirunavakarasu, president-elect, Indian Psychiatric Society, about 40 per cent of children in India suffer from mental health problems. “Suicide is the sixth main cause of death in India, while in adolescents between 12 and 19 years suicide or accident are the main causes of death,” he says.
While most private schools have in-house teachers doubling up as counsellors, Indian Psychiatric Society found that it has not been very effective as many students do not confide in a part-time counsellor or teacher. “A counsellor must be someone from outside the school. It is expensive but the purpose can be achieved,” says Dr. Thirunavakarasu.
The department would be creating awareness for principals and teachers on problems related to adolescence, matters on wellness and need for counselling cells in schools, rather than talking directly about the illness.
Some schools have extended such programmes to include parents too. A government school in Erode invites parents every Saturday for counselling.
Most CBSE schools have a visiting counsellor, some who even take classes in value education.
“It is a good move but the challenge would be to see if every school gets a counsellor or how often the counsellor makes a visit to the school,” says R. Arthanari, president, Chennai region, T.N. Higher Secondary Schools Headmasters’ Association. “On a one-off case, it is teachers who play the role as counsellor but children do not open up much as they are unsure if the teacher would mock his/her family history in the next class.”
Counsellors say winning the student’s trust is the biggest challenge in attending to mental health problems. Besides, parents and extra-curricular activities play a role in enhancing a child’s self-esteem.
TNEB Today Power Shutdowns
Posted by ganesh in Chennai, Departments, Shutdown on March 10th, 2010
Power supply will be suspended for maintenance work on Wednesday from 9 am to 5 pm in the following areas
Foreshore Estate: Santhome High Road, Kutchery Road, Papanasam Sivam Salai, Bazaar Road, Appu Street, Muthu Street, Muthu Krishnan Street, Naidu Street, R C Road, Thandavarayan Street, T A Mudali Street, NewStreet, Nochikuppam, Suleevan Street, Abraham Street, Madha Church Road, Leith Castle Street, Periyapalli Street, K M N Street, K P K Street, Pudu Palli Street, L C Road, Arisikaaran Street, Mandaveli Street and Lane, Srinivasapuram, TNHB Quarters, Foreshore Estate, Demonte Street, Dooming Kuppam, Karpagam Avenue, PRO Quarters, 1st to 13th Trust Cross Streets, South Canal Bank Road, T S V Koil Street, Adam Street, East and West Circular Roads and Norton Street.
Sidco Nagar: Agathiyar Nagar, Lakshmi Street Extension, Ponvizha Nagar, Sivasakthi Nagar, Asian Garden, P N Q Block, Ramakrishnapuram, NPL Anjali and parts of C T H Road.
Usman Road: Chari Street, Ramakrishna Street, Vivekananda Street, Habibullah Road, North Usman Road and parts of Mambalam High Road.
Pammal: Pammal, Anakaputhur, Nagalkeni, Pozhichalur and Shankar Nagar. Poonamallee: Abirami Nagar, V G N Nagar, Kaduvetti, Bypass Road, Kumananchavadi, Korimedu, Mangadu, Bathirimedu, Ragunathapuram, Thirumal Nagar and Maran Nagar.
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