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VOL: 2 ISSUE 36Feb. 10, 2009
Water Melon to quenchyour thirst
Water melons have arrived in Chennai indicating theonslaught of summer
Location Valluvarkottam.
India Tuesdayasserted that it wasprepared for anyeventuality after the AlQaeda threatened it withMumbai-style strikes if itsought to attackPakistan."Our army isready to face any threatfrom anywhere," saidDefence Minister A.K.Antony, reacting to a 20-minute video in Arabic bythe terror group sent tothe BBC office inIslamabad.The videoreleased by Mustafa Abual-Yazid, said to be the AlQaeda's militarycommander inAfghanistan, warns Indiathat it will have to "pay aheavy price" if it tries toattack Pakistan.He referred toIndia's Mumbai"humiliation" in the videoin Arabic and said it willface more Mumbai-styleattacks, BBC Newsreported.In the video,Yazid, who is believed tohave been killed in a USdrone strike in August2008, further says: "TheMujahideen will sunderyour armies into theground, like they did tothe Russians inAfghanistan."As they beganexamining the video,intelligence officials alsopointed out that warningsby the Al Qaeda were notnew."We willexamine the videoclosely as it is in Arabic.But such threats are notnew. There have beenearlier threats as well butthe security regimenwhich is in place nowshows that our forces areon high alert," said a topintelligence official whocould not be identifiedbecause of serviceprotocol.“The timing ofthe video itself is veryinteresting because itcomes at a time when USPresident Obama hassaid that Pakistan has toensure that it does notbecome a safe haven forterrorists," said anotherintelligence functionary.Officials said"standard operatingprocedures were put inplace" following an AlQaeda threat some yearsago.It was areference to the terroroutfit's threat in August2007 where a videocompiled by the outfit'sproduction arm, As-Sahab, proclaimed thatthe targeting of Tel Aviv,Moscow and Delhi wasits legitimate right.The video hadAdam Gaddahn, anAmerican who had risenin the Al Qaeda ranks tobecome a spokespersonfor the organisation,accusing India of killingmore than 100,000Muslims in Kashmir withUS blessings.Gaddahn alsolashed out at the US-led"crusade" against Muslimsand alleged that diplomaticmissions were the basesfor anti-Muslim actions.Earlier, inNovember 2006, airportsacross the country wereput on high alert followingthreats from the Al Qaedathat it would blow upairports in Chennai, Kochi,Trichy,Thiruvananthapuram andCoimbatore.At that time,airport authorities receivedan anonymous letterwarning of an attack andsaid about 10 Al Qaedaterrorists would breaksecurity cordons.
India ready to faceany threat: Antony
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Times Chennai E-PaperFeb. 10, 2009Page 2
City
Chennai, Feb. 10:
Admissioncertificates for privatecandidates, who applied ontime for the March 2009Higher Secondaryexamination will bedistributed from February11 to 14, according to arelease from theDirectorate of GovernmentExaminations.These certificateswill not be sent by post andcandidates will not beallowed to appear for theexamination without theadmission certificate, therelease stated.The candidateshave been registered at thecentre mentioned in the'Place of Examination' intheir applications. Theyhave been requested tocheck if details such asname, date of birth, registernumber, examinationcentre and subjectsoffered, have beenprinted correctly in theadmission certificates.Candidates can contactAdditional Secretary(Higher Secondary),Directorate ofGovernmentExaminations, Chennai -6, in person or by postregarding any error. Theycan also contact theAdditional Secretary'soffice regarding non-receipt of admissioncertificates.Candidatesneed to submit a self-addressed envelope byaffixing a stamp of Rs.30at their examinationcentre on the first day ofexamination, says therelease.
- Bureau report
Admission certificate forexamination to be distributed
Chennai, Feb. 10 :
Globalimplications andchallenges for corporategovernance in 2009 wasthe topic of the 2ndNational CorporateGovernance Conference,organized by LoyolaInstitute of BusinessAdministration, onMonday in associationwith National Foundationfor CorporateGovernance (NFCG) CAS Santhanakrishnan,Chairman of ICAICommittee on CorporateGovernance deliveredthe key note address.The day-longconference hostedrecognized speakerssuch as Parthasarathy,Vice President - Finance,Ford India, T. S.Krishnamurthy, FormerChief ElectionCommissioner,Government of India, K.K. Acharya, MD, CPCL,N. Vittal, Former CentralVigilance Commissioner,Government of India andseveral others.Thediscussions at theconference coveredsubjects such as - 'IsCorporate Governance amyth or reality?' ,Corporate GovernanceA Global Perspective andCorporate Governance-
LIBA holds second NationalConference on Corporate Governance
An Indian Perspective".Fr. P ChristieSJ, Director, LIBA said"Corporate Governance,especially with recentcorporate scandals, isincreasingly morerelevant today than everbefore. I am happy tonote that LIBA is takingsuch important steps inspreading awarenessabout the importance ofCorporate Governance -not only amongcorporates but alsoamong the students whowill be manning keypositions in future."Globalizationespecially after the1980's has brought aparadigm shift worldwidein political, economic,social and culturalenvironment, causingdramatic changes in everyaspect of humanendeavour. Such atransformational shift haslead to substantialchanges in governance ofgovernment and thecorporation, unfoldingactive discussions evennow.The concept of'Good CorporateGovernance' can bedifferent in each countryand company dependingon environment, cultureand nature of industryinvolved.
- Staff ReporterChennai, Feb. 10
:Privatisation isthe buzz word whenperformance is judged.But with the ChennaiCorporation Mayor MSubramaniam implementinnovative ideas for goodgovernance and earn morerevnues.Raghavan ofChetpet did not pay hisproperty tax this time. He isnot a regular defaulter, buthe forgot all about it in hishectic busy schedule. Tohelp such persons, theChennai Corporation haslaunched a register yourphone number' facility, toremind them about the duedate for paying tax.Under the newfacility, the official will callor SMS the person whenthe due date for paying theproperty tax nears and alsomention the amount to bepaid. People can get theirphone number registeredat the local office of thecorporation."Only 60% ofthem pay property tax ontime and properly. Someare habitual defaulters, butsome others are justforgetful. The total defaulttax amount was Rs 280crore till 2006. It tookvarious measures byofficers of the revenue andvigilance to recover Rs 110crore," said a corporationofficial."Someone whohas 1000 sq ft of landshows only 400 square feeton account and tax isevaded for the rest of theproperty. There has been agood response to thetelephone-registrationfacility as many havestarted registering theirphone numbers. Afterthis, defaulters cannotsay that they forgot thedate," said the official.Another seniorofficial said that it wastime that the corporationtook serious actionagainst property taxdefaulters. "We have theright to evict thedefaulters, but we havebeen too lenient on them.We have to think ofstringent action if peopledefault despite the newmeasures," he said.As per Section100 of Chennai CityMunicipal CorporationAct 1919, concept ofreasonable letting valuehas been adopted forarriving at the annualrental value and halfyearly tax for anyproperty within the citylimits. The monthly rentalvalue is fixed withreference to the basicrate per square foot forresidential and non-residential propertiesseparately.The tax isassessed between Aprilto September andOctober to March. Theresident has to make hispayment at the localcorporation officebetween April 1 and April15 and between the samedates in September.Property tax is revisedonce in five years andlevied on immovableproperty including land
Now property taxreminders on phone
Chennai, Feb. 10 :
 Tamil NaduChief Minister and DMKpresident M Karunanidhiwill undergo surgery ofhis spinal cord at the SriRamachandra MedicalCollege Hospital onFebruary 11 to relieveback pain.An officialrelease here lastnightsaid, ''The decision wastaken by Dr A Jaiswalfrom New Delhi and otherdoctors about two daysago after holdingdiscussions on the ChiefMinister's condition.''Accordingly, surgeonswill operate on MrKarunanidhi onWednesday.A panel ofdoctors underOrthopaedic Surgeon, DrS S K Marthandam, hadbeen formed for thepurpose.Mr Karunanidhiwas admitted to thehospital on January 26for back ache and hadbeen undergoingtreatment since then.On February 3,he got himselfdischarged from thehospital to pay homageto former Chief Minister C NAnnadurai on his deathanniversary and also tochair the DMK ExecutiveCommittee Meeting on theSri Lankan Issue.He got himself re-admitted the same day. Afew days later he wasadministered the epiduralinjection to relieve him ofback ache.
- Agencies
MK to undergo surgery for back problem
and building. Earlier,water and sewerage taxwas also included underproperty tax as there wasno separate board forwater and sewerage.
- AgenciesChennai, Feb. 10 :
 Students ofPMR Institute ofTechnology and PMRCollege of Engineeringboycotted classes onMonday in protest againstthe college and AnnaUniversity, Chennai,alleging that bothinstitutions had a hand inspoiling their future.It was the firstworking day of the collegeafter Anna University'sVice-Chancellor Prof PMannar Jawaharannounced recently thatPMRIT would be issued ashow cause notice fordisaffiliation from theuniversity on charges ofimpersonating teachingfaculty.Students wentfor their first hour classesin the morning unsure oftheir future and a group ofstudents went to AnnaUniversity to meet theDean of Students ProfGanesh to know aboutthe future course ofaction. Meanwhile,students in the collegesdemanded anexplanation on the issuebut were told that theallegations wererumours.The agitatedstudents boycottedclasses and the collegeauthorities shut down thecanteen and the boy'shostel hoping the protestwould die down.By then, thestudent representativesreturned from theuniversity with the newsthat the media reportswere true and that theSyndicate had approvedthe disaffiliation.If the it comesthrough, then thestudents will betransferred to other self-financing colleges.The studentslater spent the rest of theday gathering people todraw a set of demands tobe presented to the Vice-Chancellor on Tuesday.The studentsasked how the collegeand the Vice Chancellorcould treat the issuelightly. They wanted toknow how AICTE gaveaffiliation to a college withsuch minimalinfrastructure or howAnna University includedthe college for singlewindow counselling.Police had tointervene and ask thestudents to actpeacefully.Speaking toExpress, studentsalleged that the Vice-Chancellor was unhappyover his refusal to allowstudents suspended formisbehaviour lastSeptember attendclasses and, hence, hadtaken the action.He said AnnaUniversity had allowedmore students than thepermitted number in the ITdepartment of PMRthrough single windowcounselling and nowwanted to wash off hishands.On the charge of'impersonation,' theprincipal said when theinspection team visited thecollege, a private computertutorial teacher walked intothe college and wasmistaken for a teacher ofthe college.He assured thestudents and the parentsthat the college wouldinitiate action to stop thedisaffiliation process andthe students and parentscould be secure about thefuture of the college.
- Agencies
PMR students cross, blame college, Anna University
Chennai, Feb. 10:
Trains travellingat 300 km an hour couldbecome a reality in India,according to UnionMinister of State forRailways R Velu. On hisrecent visit to China, theminister held talks withChinese authorities onthe transfer of technologyfor highspeed trains.“The Chinesehave shown a greatinterest in the technologytransfer,” he told themedia here on Monday.He added that theChinese were known forexecuting projects withina given time frame.“The railwayhas identified five routesfor high speed trains --Pune-Mumbai-Ahmedabad; Delhi-Amritsar-Chandigarh;Secunderabad-Vijayawada- Chennai;Chennai-Bangalore-Coimbatore-Kochi and asmall stretch in Kolkata,”he added.“For this, a feasibility studyhas to be conducted ontraffic potential,commercial viability, andthe like”, he said.He also spoke onthe need for a world classrailway station, whichhouses facilities andsecurity measures similarto the ones available atairports.
- Agencies
High speed trains would be reality soon
 
Page 3
 
Times Chennai E-PaperFeb. 10, 2009
City
Over 30 Visually challenged arrested
Chennai, Feb. 10
 More than 30visually challengedstudents including eightwomen, who havecompleted their secondarygrade teacher training inthe State, were arrested bythe police on Monday afterthey tried to immolatethemselves en masse infront of the Secretariat.These teacherstook the extreme step ofimmolation after what theycalled the government'slethargic approachtowards their problem.They could not get any jobsdespite completing thegovernment sponsoredteacher training for the lasttwo years. They werereportedly promised for the(teaching) jobs threemonths ago by a topgovernment official.Speaking toreporters one of thevisually challenged, said,“We teachers took theextreme step after thegovernment' did not fulfil itspromise of job for allteachers.” “We were athome cursing the disability.It was the (Tamil Nadu)government, which cameout with a special GOsaying that the trainingwould enable us to weavea new life. But thegovernment betrayed usso badly,” he added.The arrestedvisually challenged werekept at a marriage hall atKondithope sincemorning and the policelet them off at the ParryCorner bus stand byevening.All the arrestedteachers declined theirfood and water offered bythe police during thehours they were held atthe marriage hall inKondithope and resortedto fast until theirdemands like meetingwith Chief Secretary andEducation secretary aremet.Sensing theproblem, the policearranged for a meetingwith the Chief Secretaryby evening and four ofthem participated in it.Speaking toreporters after meetingChief Secretary K SSripathi at Secretariat,Marimuthu said, “Themeeting did not bear anyresult since he was notwilling to listen to ourmiseries.” When weasked for a writtenassurance for the job, henot only yelled at uswithout understandingthe pain and traumafaced by blind teachers,but also showed the doorscuttling chances forfurther negotiations, headded.
- AgenciesChennai, Feb. 10 :
Lawyers ofMadras High CourtAdvocates' Associationcalled off their week-longboycott of courts andattended courts today.They wereboycotting the courts,protesting against thekillings of Lankan Tamilsand demanding ceasefirein Sri Lanka.The decision tocall off the stir was takenat the extra ordinaryGeneral body meeting ofthe association held hereon Monday.The meetingwas chaired byAssociation President RC Paul Kanagaraj.
- Agencies
Normalcy returns toChennai courts
Chennai, Feb. 10
The ChennaiCity Traffic Police (CCTP)has made fewmodification in themovement of traffic nearPerambur high road,South.The changes willbe implemented from 7am onwards from Feb. 12says a press release.The releasesaid that, the stretchbetween Jamaliya andPerambur sub-way Southwill be closed forvehicular traffic followingthe construction workbeing carried out byCorporation of ChennaiBridges Department.Car, auto andmotor cycles coming fromMadavarm High Roadand Siruvalluvar Salaiintended to go toAyanavaram andPulianthope will have totake the sub-way turnright - Pilkington Road,Anderson Road, KunnoreHigh Road junction toreach their destination.Commercialgoods vehicle and MTCbuses will not be allowedtowards the Perambursub-way. These vehicleswill be diverted towardsleft Peambur High Road,Ganeshpuram bridgeand Pulianthope HighRoad to reach thedestination.Onlycommercial vehiclescoming fromMedavakkam Tank Road,Kunnore High Roadintented to go toPerambur will not beallowed towardsAndersonRoad, insteadthese vehicles will bediverted towardsKunnore High Road,Cooks Road,Stephenson road,Ganeshpuram bridgeand Pulianthope HighRoad to reach thedestination.ChamiersRoad, Cenotaph RoadConsequent to the newfly-over work acrossChamiers Road andCenotaph Road atTurnbulls Point, thefollowing modificationswill be made from 12February till the work iscompleted.Heavy vehiclesand commercial goodsare prohibited intoCenotaph Road fromChamiers Road andTurnbulls Road duringthe day time. MTC buseswill be allowed on trialbasis.However, othervehicles, two wheelers,three wheelers and fourwheelers can use theCenotaph Road fromChamiers Road andTurnbulls Road.Only one lanewould be available for themovement of vehicles inthis area. Other movementin the area would remainunchanged. The public arerequested to co-operate,the release added.
-Agencies
Traffic Changes in Perambur
The Chennai Corporation will present its budgetfor the year 2009-10 on Feb 21 according to Mayor MSubramaniam.Presenting the mobile toiletsand other modern vehiclesfor garbage clearing at theVehicle Depot he said theBudget with lot of peoplefriendly proposals would bepresented to the council onFeb.21 and the debatewould take place on Feb. 23and subsequently councilapproval would be sought.The budgetary prosals of thelast year have been utilised tothe maximum providing anumber of facilities ascommitted in the budget and this year also proposalshave been made to benefit the people of Chennai.
Corporation budgeton Feb. 21
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