Himalayan vulture at Point Calimere after 12-year gap

Himalayan vulture at Point Calimere after 12-year gap

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Trichy:  15.12.2020

The Himalayan griffon vulture, a migratory bird native to the Himalayas, has been spotted at the Point Calimere wildlife sanctuary after a gap of 12 years, said forest officials. There are forest department records of this bird being spotted in 1964 in the central region while Biodiversity Conservation Foundation founder director A Kumaraguru said that the bird was last spotted in 2008 at Point Calimere.

The bird was spotted near Thambusamy Illam – a forest guest house ravaged by cyclone Gaja two years back. The forest officer who spotted the bird took pictures with his phone while it was perching on a manilkara hexandra tree. The migration of this bird is unique as it belongs to high altitude and has come down to sea level.

Terming it a rare sighting, S Ramasubramanian, conservator of forest (Thanjavur circle), said people may not believe that the bird was spotted in the region. “But the picture taken with the manilkara hexandra tree in the backdrop was evidence of the bird spotted at Point Calimere. Manilkara hexandra is an important species of a dry evergreen tree found in the region.”

He said that a team of forest officials are looking into the possibility of more such birds in the sanctuary as the bird may have tried to migrate somewhere else but could have come here due to successive cyclones.

“It used Point Calimere as a transit and may not stay here for long. Food requirements of the bird is also different as they feed on animal carcases which they may not find in abundance in this region,” he said.

MAJESTIC: The bird was spotted near Thambusamy Illam – a forest guest house ravaged by cyclone Gaja two years ago

No mention of Rajini at marathon AIADMK meeting

Julie.Mariappan@timesgroup.com

Chennai: 15.12.2020

Against the backdrop of actor Rajinikanth’s political entry, the AIADMK leadership on Monday told party men that they would take care of formation of alliance and they need not worry about anything. The leadership exhorted the cadres to stay united, strive hard to fetch a third consecutive win in the 2021 assembly poll, and hinted at holding its much-anticipated general council and executive committee meeting soon.

Even as chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam announced in the presence of Union home minister Amit Shah that the alliance with the BJP will continue, neither the minister nor the party has acknowledged it yet. Uneasiness has swept over the ruling camp ever since Rajinikanth’s announcement that he has decided to take the political plunge. In a meeting of district secretaries, ministers and zonal in charge at the party headquarters on Monday, the AIADMK leadership remained mum on the developments. Both EPS and OPS did not utter a word about the actor nor his political debut.

“Both EPS and OPS told partymen not to worry about the alliance and that they would take care of it. They hinted at continuing in the existing alliance without making any remark on the arrival of actor Rajinikanth,” said a senior leader. Instead, the leaders told the functionaries to focus on staying united and work hard given that their goal was to achieve a majority of the seats (to form the government on their own).

Palaniswami is said to have detailed the achievements of the government and the widespread appreciation from the public for the welfare measures rolled out recently. “The chief minister said there is no anti-incumbency at all in the state. Both leaders said the partymen have more experience in electoral politics and we could succeed this time,” said another leader.

Kamal Haasan to contest in assembly polls

Kamal Haasan to contest in assembly polls; meets biz leaders, advocates

With New Players Entering The Field, Ruling Party Puts House In Order

Keeps Mum On Constituency Or Alliances

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Madurai: 15.12.2020

Makkal Needhi Maiam chief Kamal Haasan on Monday said he will contest in the upcoming assembly election in Tamil Nadu. “But it will not be appropriate now to divulge the constituency from where I will contest,” he said.

Interacting with reporters in Madurai before proceeding to campaign in Theni, Kamal, when asked if he saw Rajinikanth as his opponent in politics, said they were not competitors even in the film industry, but an impression had been created as if they were rivals. “We both had clear separate paths which we pursued,” he said. Asked if there was any chance team up with Rajinikanth, Kamal said the right time had to come for it. “We will have to wait till December 31to reply to that,” he said.

On whether he was in talks with any party to form a third front as proposed by him, Kamal said, “It is party secret. It will not be good to divulge it now. We will announce it soon.” When asked why the Tamil Nadu government had restricted his campaign, Kamal said the state government could be afraid that MNM would win the support of people. He said the party’s election manifesto would give importance to a corruption-free government in the state. “Nothing could be changed by merely punishing people in the lower rung of the government. Things have to start from the higher level,” he said. Asked if he would be against corporates, Kamal said it would be foolish to say that there should not be any big corporates. “Big businesses have to take place in order to build big cities. Micro and small industries should also equally flourish,” he said. On Monday afternoon, Kamal left for Theni. He opened a party office at Usilampatti where a large number of people had gathered to greet him. Talking to women party cadres in Theni, Kamal said that there would be a minimum of 20 women achievers in his cabinet. “MNM is the only party where women can function freely,” he said. “Deputy chief minister O Pannerselvam said women can rule 2.5 years out of five years, but why didn't he come forward to hand over key party posts to women in the AIADMK?” he asked.

Earlier in Madurai, the actor held meetings with businessmen and advocates in a private hotel on his second day in Madurai.

BJP forms panel for poll manifesto

Chennai: President of BJP’s Tamil Nadu unit L Murugan constituted a10-member election manifesto preparation committee. Former national secretary H Raja, vice presidents V P Duraisamy and K Annamalai and general secretaries Prof Ganagasapathy, Rama Srinivasan, national general council member Sasikala Pushpa were among them. TNN

MNM is the only party where women can function freely. Deputy chief minister OPS said that women can rule 2.5 years out of five years, but why didn't he come forward to hand over key party posts to women in the AIADMK

Kamal Haasan | MNM LEADER

With 33 new +ve cases, IIT-M Covid tally 104 since Dec 1

With 33 new +ve cases, IIT-M Covid tally 104 since Dec 1

Most Cases Are From Two Hostels

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai: 15.12.2020

At least 33 people tested positive for Covid-19 at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras on Monday, taking the case tally on the campus to 104, including 87 students. Test results of nearly 400 more people are being awaited.

The institute had reopened for final year students on December 1.

Besides students, 16 mess workers and one staff member residing in the guest house have tested positive. More than 90 people who tested positive were admitted to an isolation ward at the King Institute of Preventive Medicine in Guindy. “At least 23% of those tested so far were positive. But doctors told us that tests including X-ray and CT scans show mild infection. All patients are stable and are being closely monitored,” said health secretary J Radhakrishnan, who visited the hospital.

He later visited the campus and held discussions with IIT-M director Bhaskar Ramamurthi. “All residents on the campus have been tested. We are also asking those who visited the campus in the last 15 days to get themselves tested,” he said. Chennai Corporation regional deputy commissioner (south) Alby John said the campus has been fumigated and all residents have been tested. "We have asked people to wear masks and maintain social distance at all times," he said.

While classes are being held online, the academic zone, including departments, labs and libraries, is shut. Students have been asked to quarantine themselves in hostels. A spokesperson said most cases were reported from two hostels, apart from a few cases from seven other hostels.

On Monday, several students said the management was not isolating those with symptoms of the infection until tests results arrived. “A student with fever, cough and cold is drinking water from the same tap we use and is using the same toilet. We are afraid that other students may get infected," said a student of a masters degree programme.

CAUTION NEEDED: A view of the IIT Madras campus. On Monday, health secretary J Radhakrishnan held discussions with institute director Bhaskar Ramamurthi to take stock of the situation

Police quiz father-daughter duo in NEET cheating case

Police quiz father-daughter duo in NEET cheating case

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:  15.12.2020

The Periamet police who sent summons to an MBBS aspirant and her father who tried to secure a medical seat by submitting fake NEET scorecard questioned the due on Monday.

Police will soon bring the father-daughter duo to Chennai for questioning.

On November 30, Deeksha who had scored only 27 marks in NEET UG 2020 reached the counselling centre in Chennai with her father Balachandran, a desntist. At the centre, she allegedly claimed to be another candidate who had scored 610 and told the authorities that she had not received her call for counselling. She also submitted a rank list with the photo and roll number of herself against 610 marks.

After the authorities found her wrongdoing a further probe revealed that the aspirant had forged her scorecard. “They were asked to appear for a probe. Only a detailed inquiry will reveal how she managed to forge or is there a larger network involved," said an investigating officer.

DVAC raid discovers ₹1crore cash, 1kg gold at official’s residence

DVAC raid discovers ₹1crore cash, 1kg gold at official’s residence

Siddharth.Prabhakar@timesgroup.com

Chennai:  15.12.2020 

Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) officials on Monday raided the office and residence of an office superintendent in the state department of environment and discovered more than ₹1 crore in cash and 1 kg of gold.

The counting of cash at the official’s Saligramam residence was still on at the time of going to press, officials said. Earlier in the day, the agency found ₹88,500 in unaccounted money from the office superintendent’s office at Saidapet’s Panagal Maligai where all senior environment department officials sit.

A DVAC official said the superintendent is only a member of the clerical staff, but influential. “Top Indian Forest Service (IFS) officials were also wary of him. He would threaten to transfer other officials if they did not listen to him,” he said.

The superintendent dealt with files pertaining to environmental clearances given to builders and industries. “This makes him a very important person as any proposal or clearance could be rejected if he was not taken care of,” the official said.

From the cash seized at his office and residence, DVAC officials are clear that most of the transactions were done through cash. “We are also probing if he is a conduit for other officials,” said another official. Based on the documents and other evidence seized at his residence, DVAC will register a disproportionate assets case against him, the official added.

The raid at the residence of the environment department official at Saligramam was on at the time of going to press

Distancing norms go for toss as air traffic soars

Distancing norms go for toss as air traffic soars

Passengers Careless Inside All Terminals

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:  15.12.2020

As the number of passengers has increased, social distancing measures have gone for a toss inside the terminals at Chennai airport.

There seems to be a mismatch between precautions followed inflight and norms adheared to during boarding and disembarking, especially when shuttle buses are used.

Often, precautions are taken seriously inflight but not inside the terminals where passengers appear more relaxed and careless during morning peak hours.

Sources said that passengers tend to follow the norms at all stages of the departure process.

"They try to crowd around ticket counters outside the terminals, at the baggage drop area and also during the boarding process. There are spots marked on the floor to ensure that people stand on them but none follows this. No one listens too," said an airport official. While there is some semblance of order and discipline in the departure terminal, it's chaotic at the arrival terminals. Passengers crowd around the baggage conveyor.

In most of the instances, airlines allot more than one flight to a baggage conveyor making more than 200 passengers to crowd around waiting to pick up the bags.

As the number of arriving passengers are more than departure, the crowding is more in the arrival terminal.

Jacob R, a passenger who arrived from Kochi on Sunday, said, "The safety protocol inflight was excellent. There were announcements and people behaved well. But everything went for a toss when people disembarked. The shuttle bus was packed with passengers. This defeats the whole purpose of following health safety rules inside the aircraft.”

He also said, "There was very little scope for maintaining social distance inside the bus as people were standing rubbing shoulders to each others."

Rules say that there should be only 15 to 20 passengers in one shuttle bus. This is followed often for departures but not always for arrivals.

"People are lowering their guard as lockdown restrictions have been relaxed and life is coming back to normal. That is being reflected at the airport too. Procedures have been tweaked to ensure minimum passenger-staff contact inside the terminals and inflight. The departure process is digital. The airline staff and the security staff follow the rules," said an airline official.

The airport now handles more than 20,000 passengers and more than 200flights per day.

A file photo shows people violating social distancing norms at a counter at the airport