"Today I inspected South Chennai Kottivakkam, Injambakkam areas. I spoke with fishermen community and distributed relief materials. Now I have come to North Chennai Kasimedu", Stalin said.

Bengaluru Mar 24 PTI The Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Thursday unanimously adopted a resolution countering Tamil Nadus similar move regarding the Mekedatu project across river Cauvery While exerting pressure on the Centre to give necessary clearances for the project the resolution also urges it not to finalise the DPR under the Peninsular River Development Plan without the states consent and not to give approval for Tamil Nadus illegal projects Piloted by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai the resolution condemns Tamil Nadu Assemblys resolution opposing the Mekedatu project stating that it will in no way affect that state It also urged the Central Water Commission and Ministry of Environment and Forest to immediately give necessary clearance for the Mekedatu project It also urges the concerned central agencies not to finalise the DPR for Godavari - Krishna -Pennar - Cauvery - Vaigai - Gundar river linking until the legitimate share of the concerned states are decided upon and until all aspects of it DPR are agreeable to Karnataka and also not give approval for Tamil Nadus illegal projects and to direct it not to go ahead with them The Tamil Nadu Assembly on Monday adopted a unanimous resolution condemning the Karnataka government for its unilateral decision to proceed with the Mekedatu project and prevail upon the Centre to reject the proposal Terming the Tamil Nadus resolution as unwarranted against federal system and the language used in as impolite Bommai citing Supreme Court order regarding Cauvery river water dispute said Karnataka is within its Constitutional rights to implement the Mekedatu project Pointing out that National Water Policy gives priority for drinking water he said this is a drinking water project and will in no way violate the tribunals orders Noting that Tamil Nadu has said that its consent is required for the implementation of Mekedatu project the Chief Minister said but at the same time by unilaterally taking up projects illegally without seeking for Karnatakas consent the neighbouring state is depicting its dual stand We strongly condemn Tamil Nadus illegal projects and will oppose them on all platforms he said Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah and JDS Deputy Leader Bandeppa Kashempur extended their parties support for the resolution to be passed unanimously Though Senior Congress MLA and former Water Resources Minister H K Patil had some reservations regarding the wordings in the resolution concerning Peninsular River Development Plan in the interest of the state it was finally agreed upon by slightly amending it Finally Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri put the resolution moved by Bommai to vote and it was unanimously adopted by a voice vote The state budget 2022-23 presented by Bommai recently provided a grant of Rs 1000 crore this year for implementation of the project The Mekedatu multi-purpose drinking and power project involves building a balancing reservoir near Kanakapura in Ramanagara district The estimated Rs 9000-crore project once completed is aimed at ensuring drinking water to Bengaluru and neighbouring areas 475 TMC and it can also generate 400 MW of power Karnataka has maintained that the project within its territory will benefit both states as the surplus water stored can be managed between the two during a distress year and its implementation will in no way affect the interests of Tamil Nadus farming communities as there will be no impact on its share of water However the neighbouring state is of the view that the project would impound and divert the uncontrolled water flow due to Tamil Nadu from Kabini sub-basin the catchment area below Krishnarajasagara and also from Simsha Arkavathy and Suvarnavathi sub-basins besides other small streams PTI KSU RS KSU SS SS

Parts of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh experienced heavy rainfall due to a depression in the Bay of Bengal that crossed the coast between the two states on Friday morning.  Schools remained closed in several districts of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, while Southern Railway announced suspension of trains.  The heavy downpour caused loss of life and property in both […]

Chennai Oct 24 PTI Effective December 1 the price of a matchbox would be Rs 2 from the present Rs 1 and this is in view of a rise in production cost triggered by an increase in price of raw materials the industry body said on SundayConsumers would however get more matchsticks in a box when they buy it at Rs 2 up from 36 matchsticks to 50 per boxThe proposed price increase comes after a gap of 14 years Secretary of the National Small Matchbox Manufacturers Association V S Sethurathinam saidThe price of raw materials have increased leading to a jump in cost of production he said adding we have no other option but to increase the selling Maximum Retail Price price The price of all the 14 key raw materials have increased A kilo of red phosphorous has increased from Rs 410 to Rs 850 wax from Rs 72 to Rs 85 pottasium chlorate Rs 68 to Rs 80 splints sticks from Rs 42 to Rs 48 Outer box Rs 42 to Rs 55 and inner box from Rs 38 to Rs 48 Like this the price of all raw materials have increased manifold he told PTIThe rise in fuel prices is also a factor It has led to an increase in transportation cost Hence from December 1 the price of a matchbox would be increased to Rs 2 MRP from the present Rs 1 he saidAfter about six months we may review the situation In 2007 the price was increased from fifty paisa to Rs 1 per matchbox However Sethurathinam said the count of matchsticks in a matchbox would be increased to 50 from the present 36 When you pay Rs 2 you will get 50 matchsticks The price increase would help tackle the situation that has arisen due to the rise in production cost and the decision to go for a hike was taken after discussions with all associations he saidAbout five lakh people are dependent on the matchbox industry directly and indirectly and 90 per cent of the workforce is women he saidTamil Nadu is a leading manufacturer of matchboxes and Kovilpatti Sattur Sivakasi Thiurthangal Ettayapuram Kazhugumalai Sankarankoil Gudiyattam and Kaveripakkam are the major production centresApproximately there are 1000 matchbox units which includes small and medium sized matchbox manufacturers as well PTI VGN ROH ROH

Chennai Oct 17 PTI Active COVID-19 infections in Tamil Nadu dropped below 15000 on Sunday as Tamil Nadu logged 1218 fresh cases pushing the overall caseload to 2687092As many as 15 people succumbed to the deadly virus taking the toll to 35899 a medical bulletin saidRecoveries eclipsed new infections with 1411 people getting discharged in the last 24 hours aggregating to 2636379 leaving 14814 active infections it saidTamil Nadu has been witnessing a decline in daily cases and on August 20 the active infections dropped below 20000A total of 128313 samples were tested in the last 24 hours pushing the cumulative number of specimens examined to 494 crore till dateChennai and Coimbatore recorded new cases with the state capital adding 156 Coimbatore 132 while the remaining was scattered across other districtsSeven districts reported less than 10 new cases while there were no fresh deaths in 30 districts Tenkasi registered the least number of infections at twoAll the deceased were without comorbidity or pre-existing illness the bulletin added PTI VIJ ROH ROH