The safety issues relating to Mullapperiyar are heavily interlinked with the safety of the dams of the Idukki project downstream. The level of risk associated with a dam is a function of probability as well as consequences of dam failure.* The fact that the failure of the Mullapperiyar dam could lead to failure of the Idukki dam increases the magnitude of the risk associated with the continued use of the Mullapperiyar dam.
Given the size of the Idukki, the extent of the devastation that could result from failure of Idukki dam is unimaginable. Idukki's reservoir capacity is about 74400 million cubic feet of water with a weight of more than 2100 million tonnes. The expert committee set up by the State Government to study the Mullapperiyar issues has stated that failure of Idukki dams would lead to inundation of more than three districts of Kerala. This itself presents a frightening picture. The problem is compounded by the fact that hardly any up-to-date early warnings systems, emergency action plans including an evacuation plan exists in the case of both Idukki and Mullapperiyar. Evacuation of people in the event of a dam break from three highly populated districts is practically impossible. Moreover, no dependable dam break inundation study is available to determine the zones to be evacuated.
The probability of a dam failure depends on many factors such as spillway capacity, seismic resistance, nature of foundation, quality of design and construction, monitoring and maintenance and a host of human factors.* Idukki has some weak points in almost all these respects, which I shall discuss later in this paper.
In the case of Mullapperiyar the main risk factor arises from its age itself. As I pointed out earlier, not many dams of this age are in service in the World now. It is a dam built using old technology and naturally was not based on modern parameters for design of dams. Much of the binding material (lime) have leached out over the years. Though the Tamil Nadu Government has grouted the dam with concrete, the expert committee has concluded that this was neither sufficient nor highly efficient in making up for the loss of lime from the body of the dam. There is the possibility that hollow areas would remain inside the dam whatever be the efforts taken in this regard.
Apart from maintenance, monitoring is an important aspect of keeping a dam safe. The Central Water Commission had suggested installation of a definite pattern of instrumentation at Mullapperiyar to monitor the condition of the dam. Though Tamil Nadu did install some instruments, no measurements had been made available to Kerala. Though the Kerala Government suggested joint monitoring, Tamil Nadu has not agreed to this. In fact, Tamil Nadu engineers have told the technical committee of Kerala that it had not been successful in implementing the necessary instrumentation of the dam. There is apparently no instrumentation in the old portion of the dam. In the backing concrete portion, built as part of the strengthening works, uplift pressure cells, strain metres, joint metres and thermometres have been provided. These were said to have been installed in 1984. However, Tamil Nadu has either not done systematic monitoring of the dam so far or is hiding the data from Kerala. An old dam left without any monitoring itself is a serious matter. Moreover, no instrumentation like piezometres, inclinometres, extensometres and gauging weirs are in place to monitor the foundation.
There is monitoring failures in the case of Idukki dam also. Some of the instruments embedded in the dam were either not working or giving unreliable readings for several years. The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) defaulted on taking regular readings and publishing the data. There is also no indication of sufficient preparedness from the part of the Board for emergency measures such as the opening of the spillways. According to the expert committee, the spillways at Idukki do not have the capacity to handle even the probable maximum flood (PMF) discharge from Mullapperiyar not to speak of a breach of the Mullapperiyar dam. The PMF of Mullapperiyar basin is 6003 cumecs while the maximum spillway and outlet capacity provided at Idukki reservoir is only 5100 cumecs. This mean that a big flood in the Mullapperiyar basin itself can endanger the Idukki dams if they are at or near full reservoir levels. All these should raise concerns even if the Mullapperiyar dam is strong enough.
To put the situation in the right perspective, it must be noted here that one of the oldest serving dams is the 75-miles arch dam of Australia constructed in 1880. However, such long serving dams are exceptions. There is a limit to the number of years one can keep dams in service through maintenance and strengthening measures. One day, it has to be rebuilt, or the dam will give way. Visionary leaders should anticipate this and act accordingly, though that may be difficult course of action for a popular Government in Tamil Nadu under the present circumstances. The problem with Mullapperiyar is that there is no alternate site for construction of a new dam (unless Tamil Nadu/Kerala is prepared to construct a wider dam downstream at a high cost). So, disruption of water supply is bound to occur if the existing dam is demolished and reconstructed. The leaders should prepare the people to go without water for irrigation for some years, if no other alternatives could be found. Kerala cannot be giving water to Tamil Nadu at grave risk to its own population.
Mullapperiyar dam, located near Kumily in Idukki district of Kerala State in India, is 438.91 metres long and 48 metres high. The front and rear faces are of uncoursed rubble masonry in lime mortar. Concrete with sandstone and lime surkhi mortar forms the core. It was built for a gross storage of 443.23 M Cum. (15.6 TMCft). It is on the Mullapperiyar, one of the tributaries of Periyar (river), and the reservoir formed by it is often referred to as the Periyar reservoir.
The dam was constructed on the basis of a lease deed between the erstwhile Travancore State and Madras Governments (under British rule) in 1886. Now, there is a dispute between the Kerala and Tamil Nadu State Governments, formed after India became an independent country, over raising of the reservoir level at Mullapperiyar. The maximum water level at the reservoir had been lowered to 136 feet about 20 years ago, on the advice of the Central Water Commission, as the dam developed leaks. The Tamil Nadu Government demands that it should be raised to the original 152 feet as the State had strengthened the dam.
Heavy security measure has been taken around Kerala's Mullaperiyar Dam to save people residing at the region as after Saturday's earthquake, its water level on Sunday, Nov 27 reached the maximum range.
Three control rooms have been opened to monitor the situation and help people if any emergency comes, informed the district administration.
With the Mullaperiyar issue gaining steam with every passing day, it seems the stage is set for a Kerala-Tamil Nadu showdown. With online campaigns and other social media networks taking up the cause and firing it, the issue will not die down any time soon.
On the same matter, a group of close to hundred members are intending to go on an indefinite hunger strike demanding the reconstruction of the Mullaperiyar dam.
The regionm experienced a series of 4 quakes which were felt in the wee hours of Saturday morning at around 3:14am. This was followed by quakes at 3.20, 5.30, 5.55. Though there are no reports of casualties and damages, the issue of Mullaperiyar is foremost in the minds of residents. They rushed out of their homes in a state of panic.
CPM in Kerala on Friday sought Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's intervention for resolving the row between Kerala and Tamil Nadu over the Mullaperiyar dam in view of the precarious condition of the 116-year-old structure and fears caused by recurrence of tremors in the area.
"The Prime Minister's initiative is essential for an out-of-court settlement of the dispute between Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The empowered committee on Mullaperiyar formed by the Supreme Court should also intervene urgently in view of recent developments," CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan said in a statement here.
Jacob, who won the 2011 election from his home constituency Piravom with a slender margin of 157 votes, was the lone representative of his party Kerala Congress (Jacob) in the Assembly. Born on September 16, 1950, as the son of T S Mathew and Annamma, Jacob entered politics during his student days. In 1971, he was elected the general secretary of Kerala Students Congress. He was the president of KSC from 1972 to 75. He was first elected to the Assembly from Piravom in 1977 and had remained a member till 2006, representing Piravom and Kothamangalam. He suffered a defeat from CPM's M J Jacob in the 2006 election but came back to the Assembly by defeating the same candidate in this year's poll.
Jacob, who had served the state as a minister in four governments, was rated as one of the best ministers. His tenure as education minister during the K Karunakaran government, between 1982 and 87 was eventful. During this term, he introduced the concept of Pre-degree board with an aim to delink 11th and 12th standard from colleges. Steps such as privatization of technical education were also initiated by Jacob during this period. He had also served in the ministries led by K Karunakaran and A K Antony between 1991 and 1996 and in the A K Antony ministries of 2001. Apart from education, he had handled Water Resources and Food and Civil Supplies portfolios.
Jacob, who was the leader of a regional party, made a political gamble in 2005 by dissolving his party and merging with the Democratic Indira Congress floated by K Karunakaran. Later, he quit the DIC and gave a rebirth to Kerala Congress (Jacob). Jacob was the mastermind of Oommen Chandy government's flagship project for distributing rice at Re 1/kg for BPL families.
He is survived by wife Annie Mathew, son Anoop and daughter Ambili.
With the derogatory remarks made by Forest Minister K B Ganesh Kumar against Opposition
Leader V S Achuthanandan coming as a shock to the entire society as it was so unbecoming of a person with the stature of a Minister and also when it lead to violent Left protests across the state, those who know the politics or the history of his father R Balakrishna Pillai would not frown upon the son.
While Kerala remembers the controversial Punjab-model speech of the father in the eighties, eventually costing his ministerial berth, the son has also joined the league with his gift of the gab, albeit in an abusive way.
The irrepressible style of functioning of R Balakrishna Pillai, who still holds political ground in a select domain in the state while remaining in jail, as well as his son, has a good level of acceptance among the electorate in places such as Kottarakara and Pathanapuram Assembly segments, which are held as their pocket boroughs and noted for the concentration of the Nair community.
The penchant for striking hard against political opponents was the forte of Pillai in his decades-long political career, while charting a solitary course with a splinter group of Kerala Congress in his name. Pillai had stayed afloat in the bipolar politics of the state with his family limited outfit being hitched to the UDF bandwagon.
The feudal satrap that Pillai is, he used to ruffle feathers of many in his characteristic fashion, though it made more foes than friends in his political and community camp over the years. It was only after attracting a jail term that Pillai is forced to lie low. Ever since CPM leader V S Achuthanadan began to perform in a manner as if Pillai was his political enemy number one, Ganesh Kumar was also forced to follow the steps of his father and shower innuendos with equal punch upon the former.
But Ganesh Kumar has knowingly or unknowingly took the extreme step of terming Achuthanandan as a sexual maniac and pervert, which he confesses now as outpourings of a desperate son, especially when the mammoth crowd in Pathanapuram provided the right push and mood on Thursday. For Pillai and Ganesh, who are already being politically-pilloried for their suspected role in the attack on a teacher of the school owned by them, the Pathanapuram speech may have its impact on the determination of even their political future on their turf. The Pillai and son factor proves that along with a few leaders in the Kerala Congress warp, troubled days are ahead for the UDF Government.
Interestingly, if the onslaught against R Balakrishna Pillai for his Punjab-model speech was led by the then Youth Congress leader G Karthikeyan, Pillai’s son is trying to save his skin while the latter is in the Assembly Speaker’s chair.
Kerala's Forest Minister KB Ganesh Kumar withdrew his controversial remarks about the Opposition leader VS Achuthanandan on Friday even as the Left Front spokesmen called for the dismissal of the minister from the Oommen Chandy ministry.
Addressing a press conference at Thiruvananthapuram, the Kerala Congress (B) leader Ganesh Kumar expressed 'sincere regret' about the remarks that he made about Achuthanandan.
Speaking at a public meeting at Pathanapuram in Kollam district on Thursday, the minister had made derogatory remarks about Achuthanandan by calling the 88-year-old CPM leader a "sex maniac" and a "pervert".
Meanwhile, a speech made by the government chief whip PC George at the same venue has also raised a controversy. Women's organisations have also pointed out that he insulted the women in the state in his speech. Left parties have also criticised some remarks that he made about the former Electricity Minister AK Balan.
Ganesh Kumar explained that he got carried away by the cheering supporters at Pathanapuram. The minister expressed regret over the statement that he made. "I should not have made such statements about a man who is old enough to be my grand father," he said. Asked whether it is an apology the minister replied that his words of regret can be described so. Ganesh Kumar said Achuthanandan has been carrying on a campaign against his father, R Balakrishna Pillai, for the past two decades. He said he was hurt by some of the comments made by Achuthanandan after the Supreme Court sentenced R Balakrishna Pillai for one year imprisonment. "At the same time, I should not have made such a comment," he said.
Earlier in the morning the CPM polit bureau member Kodiyeri Balakrishnan raised the issue in the assembly and asked whether Ganesh Kumar's statements reflected the government' view. Though Chief Minister Oommen Chandy expressed regret over the statement made by his Cabinet colleague about CPM's senior most leader Achuthanandan, the opposition parties raised slogans demanding the removal of Ganesh Kumar from the Ministry forcing the adjournment of the house, suspending the question hour and the zero hour.
Organisations like DYFI, SFI and AIYF held state wide protest marches condemning the speech made by Ganesh Kumar.
ഗണേശിന്റെ ഞരമ്പുരോഗം കൊയിലാണ്ടിക്കാര് "ചികിത്സിച്ചു"
വി എസ് അച്യുതാനന്ദനു നേരെ മൈക്കിലൂടെ അസഭ്യം വിളിച്ചുപറയുന്ന കേരളത്തിന്റെ വനംമന്ത്രിയെ ടിവിയിലൂടെ കണ്ട് കൊയിലാണ്ടി ഗുരുകുലം ബീച്ചിലുള്ളവര് ഊറിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നു; "ഞരമ്പുരോഗ"ത്തിന്റെ പേരില് പൊതിരെ തല്ലുകിട്ടുമ്പോള് തങ്ങള്ക്കുമുന്നില് കൈകൂപ്പിനിന്ന് യാചിച്ച ഗണേശ്കുമാറിനെയോര്ത്ത്. 15 കൊല്ലം മുമ്പാണ് ഈ കടലോരവാസികളുടെ കൈത്തരിപ്പ് ഗണേശ് നേരിട്ടറിഞ്ഞത്. വാഹനത്തില് സഞ്ചരിക്കവെ കൊയിലാണ്ടി മുനിസിപ്പല് കൗണ്സിലറായിരുന്ന നിര്മലയോടും ഒപ്പമുണ്ടായിരുന്ന പെണ്കുട്ടികളോടും മോശമായി പെരുമാറിയതിനാണ് നടനും മുന് മന്ത്രിപുത്രനുമായ ഗണേശിനെ നാട്ടുകാര് നടുറോഡില് കൈകാര്യം ചെയ്തത്.
1996 സെപ്തംബര് മൂന്നിന് ചൊവ്വാഴ്ച നിര്മലയും ബന്ധുക്കളും ഗുരുവായൂരില്നിന്ന് ജീപ്പില് മടങ്ങുമ്പോള് കാറില് പിന്നാലെ വന്ന് ഗണേശും സംഘവും "ഞരമ്പുരോഗം" കാട്ടി. പിവൈ 1 എച്ച് 2003 സീലോ കാറിലായിരുന്നു ഗണേശും കൂട്ടുകാരായ പ്രദീപും മനോജും. നിര്മലക്കുപുറമേ പതിനേഴുകാരിയായ ജ്യേഷ്ഠന്റെ മകളും ബന്ധുക്കളായ മറ്റു ചില പെണ്കുട്ടികളും ജീപ്പിലുണ്ടായിരുന്നു. ഇവര് സഞ്ചരിച്ച വാഹനം ഫറോക്കിലെത്തിയപ്പോഴാണ് പിന്നാലെ ഗണേശിന്റെ വാഹനം വന്നത്. കാറിലുള്ളവരുടെ വിക്രിയകള് അതിരുവിട്ടപ്പോള് ജീപ്പിന്റെ വേഗത കൂട്ടി. എന്നാല് , കാറും പിന്നാലെ വന്നു. ഇടയ്ക്ക് കാര് മുന്നില്ക്കയറ്റിജീപ്പിന്റെ യാത്ര തടസ്സപ്പെടുത്താനും ശ്രമിച്ചു. കൊയിലാണ്ടി പി സി സ്കൂളിന് സമീപത്തെത്തിയപ്പോള് ജീപ്പ് നാഷണല് ഹൈവേയില്നിന്ന് നിര്മലയുടെ വീടുള്ള ഗുരുകുലം ബീച്ചിലേക്കു തിരിച്ചു. തൊട്ടുപിന്നാലെ കാറും എത്തി. വീടിനുമുന്നില് ജീപ്പ് നിര്ത്തി പെണ്കുട്ടി ഇറങ്ങിയപ്പോള് പിന്നാലെ വന്ന ഗണേശ് കയറിപ്പിടിച്ചു. എതിര്ത്ത കൗണ്സിലറെ മുടികുത്തിപ്പിടിച്ചും ഉപദ്രവിച്ചു. ഓടിക്കൂടിയ നാട്ടുകാര് ഗണേശിനെയും കൂട്ടുകാരെയും വേണ്ട വിധം ശെകകാര്യം ചെയ്തു. കാറും തല്ലിപ്പൊളിച്ചു. തങ്ങള് മൂകാംബികയ്ക്ക് പോവുകയാണെന്നും ഇനി ഉപദ്രവിക്കരുതെന്നും ഗണേശ് കേണു പറഞ്ഞു. പിന്നീട്, കൊയിലാണ്ടി പൊലീസിലേല്പ്പിച്ചു. സ്ത്രീകള്ക്കു മാനഹാനി വരുത്താന് ശ്രമിച്ച കുറ്റത്തിന് കൊയിലാണ്ടി പൊലീസ് ഇന്ത്യന് ശിക്ഷാനിയമം 354 പ്രകാരം മൂന്ന് പേര്ക്കുമെതിരെ കേസെടുത്തു(ക്രൈം നമ്പര് 433/96). കാര് തല്ലിപ്പൊളിച്ചെന്നും ഗണേശിന്റെ കൈയിലുണ്ടായിരുന്ന റാഡോ വാച്ച് തട്ടിപ്പറിച്ചെന്നും പറഞ്ഞ് പ്രദീപും കൊയിലാണ്ടി പൊലീസില് പരാതി നല്കി. രണ്ടുദിവസം കഴിഞ്ഞ് വെള്ളിയാഴ്ച കൊയിലാണ്ടി ജുഡീഷ്യല് ഫസ്റ്റ് ക്ലാസ് മജിസ്ട്രേറ്റ് മുമ്പാകെ ഹാജരായ ശേഷമാണ് ഗണേശിനും കൂട്ടര്ക്കും ജാമ്യം ലഭിച്ചത്.
നിയമസഭ ചേരുന്ന സമയമായതിനാല് സംഭവം സബ്മിഷനായി സഭയിലുമെത്തി. സ്ഥലം എംഎല്എ പി വിശ്വനാണ് ഇക്കാര്യം സഭയുടെ ശ്രദ്ധയിലെത്തിച്ചത്. മൂന്നു പേര്ക്കുമെതിരെ 354-ാം വകുപ്പ് പ്രകാരം കേസെടുത്ത് പൊലീസ് അന്വേഷിച്ചു വരുന്നുണ്ടെന്ന് മുഖ്യമന്ത്രിയായിരുന്ന ഇ കെ നായനാര് മറുപടി നല്കി. യാത്രയിലുണ്ടായ സംഭവങ്ങളും അദ്ദേഹം വിശദീകരിച്ചു. കോടതി പലതവണ കേസ് വിളിച്ചു. അപ്പോഴെല്ലാം ഗണേശിനുവേണ്ടി അഭിഭാഷകര് ഹാജരായി. ഒടുവില് പലരുടെയും സഹായത്തോടെ വീട്ടുകാരുടെ കാലുപിടിച്ച് കേസ് കോടതിക്കു പുറത്ത് ഒത്തുതീര്ത്തു. തുടര്ന്ന്, അന്നത്തെ കൊയിലാണ്ടി അസി. പബ്ലിക് പ്രോസിക്യൂട്ടറായിരുന്ന അഡ്വ. എം കെ ദിനേശിന്റെ ശുപാര്ശയോടെ 1999 നവംബര് ഒമ്പതിന് കോടതി കേസ് ഒഴിവാക്കുകയായിരുന്നു. നാട്ടുകാര് കൈകാര്യം ചെയ്യുന്നതിനിടെ നഷ്ടമായ ഗണേശിന്റെ റാഡോ വാച്ച് ഇപ്പോഴും കൊയിലാണ്ടി കോടതിയില് തൊണ്ടി മുതലായുണ്ട്. കേസ് ഒത്തുതീര്ന്ന സ്ഥിതിക്ക് വാച്ച് കൈപ്പറ്റണമെന്ന് അറിയിച്ച് പലതവണ അറിയിപ്പ് നല്കിയിട്ടും ഗണേശ് വന്നില്ല. വാച്ച് ഇനി പരസ്യമായി ലേലം ചെയ്യാന് കോടതി ആലോചിക്കുന്നു.
(കെ പ്രേമനാഥ്)
"I spoke to Annaji. In view of the conditions at Ramlila Maidan, Annaji will reach Ramlila Maidan tomorrow," Kejriwal said.
Another Hazare associate Kiran Bedi said the Gandhian will not move out of Tihar Jail till he embarks on his journey to Ramlila Maidan to launch the protest.
Hazare reached an agreement with government early this morning on the protest venue and the conditions.
As soon as Hazare announced that he would move to Ramlila, MCD which owns the ground deployed around 100 workers to clean the facility but the work was so massive that they could not finish it by the afternoon as desired by the Gandhian's team.
Earlier, Bedi had said that Hazare will go to the Maidan after 3 pm today.
Hazare was lodged in Tihar Jail on Tuesday evening after he was detained for going ahead with his plans to defy prohibitory orders in J P Park here. However, he was released later but he refused to come out of the prison demanding that there should not be any restrictions on his protest.
After hard bargaining for two days, Hazare and government reached an agreement early this morning under which Delhi Police removed all restrictions and allowed him to carry out his hunger strike for 15 days in the spacious Ramlila Maidan.
The breakthrough came in the wee hours of the day after top aides of Hazare met Delhi Police Commissioner B K Gupta.
Senior officers of Delhi Police reached Anna Hazare's flat early in the morning and informed him that he could not leave his home. However, Hazare turned down the request following which he was detained.
"We have detained him as he did not budge from his position of defying prohibitory orders," police official said.
Anna in his addresses to the nation before his arrest asked his supporters not to stop the agitation. He urged the protesters to remain peaceful.
He added: "I appeal to you that let there be no violence in this movement. I also appeal to you, young and old alike, to give eight days of your life to the nation - if necessary for a jail bharo andolan."
Arvind Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi and Manish Sisodia were also taken into preventive custody by the Delhi Police.
"This is exactly what happened during emergency. Emergency has revisited the country. This detention is unconstitutional and undemocratic," said Kiran Bedi while courting arrest at Raj Ghat.
According to sources, Anna is being taken to Officers' mess, Civil Lines in Delhi.
Ahead of the proposed fast by the Gandhian, a group of people had thronged the east Delhi apartment where Hazare was staying to pledge their support to his protest.
Security personnel, including some in plain clothes and some from the special branch, were deployed around the apartment premise.
Around 500 police personnel have been deployed from early morning itself after the city police imposed Section 144 around the park, police sources said.
Late Monday, at least 50 supporters of Anna Hazare were detained at Jai Prakash Narain Park, the venue of the anti-graft crusader's planned fast, for defying prohibitory orders clamped in the area.
Gandhian Anna Hazare was arrested Tuesday for refusing to abide by conditions imposed by police regarding his proposed hunger strike, Home Minister P. Chidambaram said Tuesday.
He told reporters that when Delhi Police imposed certain conditions, Team Anna refused to embrace them.
"If someone says we will defy the orders, I think this is unacceptable in a democracy," he said. "It is a real regret that police have taken this action."
"This government is not against democratic or peaceful protests," he said. "Democratic or peaceful protests are a part of the right of a free citizen.
"We acknowledge that right but that right is subject to conditions laid down by authorities charged with the duty to maintain law and order."
The supporters of the Gandhian were taken in a police bus to a nearby police station, police said.
The case was registered in 1999 during the EK Nayanar-led government term. Former chief minister K Karunakaran, the then minister TH Mustafa and bureaucrats PJ Thomas and Jiji Thompson were charged with causing Rs 2.32cr loss to the state exchequer by importing oil from Malaysia at an enhanced price.
Thomas, whose appointment as CVC was quashed by the Supreme Court, was the food secretary and one of the directors of the state civil supplies corporation. Karunakaran was the first accused in the case hut his name was deleted from the list after his demise.
The case was reopened earlier this year by the VS Achuthanandan government after Mustafa filed a petition asking the court that he also be allowed to go free as Chandy has not been named in the case.
After a hurried investigation, vigilance department submitted the report giving a clean chit to Chandy on May 13-the day the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) won the assembly polls.
When special vigilance court judge PK Haneefa gave the order yesterday, Chandy was busy in his conference hall discussing about the developments of the three state airports.
Soon, with the news spreading about the court directive, his cabinet colleagues and party leaders made a beeline to his office.
Later, standing with his cabinet and party colleagues at the state secretariat, Chandy said he had conveyed his stand on the development to the party high command.
"When my name came up earlier in connection with the case, I had conveyed my stand to the party high command. I have apprised the party central leadership of my views on today's development also," Chandy, said.
The judge asked the vigilance and anti-corruption bureau to submit the probe reRs port within three months.
The court dismissed the early report considering three things. Oommen Chandy, who was the financial minister then, had signed in the direction forwarded by Musthafa wanting to include palmoil import as a special subject in the cabinet meet. Next, the file relating to the import was in the finance minister's office for one and half months and thirdly Chandy was aware of levying a 15 % service tax.
Leader of Opposition VS Achuthanandan was quick to react and asked for Chandy's resignation.
"With today's verdict, he will have to go," the Marxist leader said.
Emerging after a 90-minute discussion with his colleagues, state Congress president Ramesh Chennithala said the verdict appears strange. "We never said anything when that probe was announced. There has been no indictment on Chandy and there's no word that he is an accused. We will face it and the question of a resignation does not arise at all," said Chennithala.
Deputy opposition leader of the House Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said that in the light of the court order, a fresh probe by the same vigilance department will not be very helpful.
"The present vigilance department director should quit. With Chandy himself holding the vigilance portfolio, he should give up the portfolio. It must be recalled that former central vigilance commissioner PJ Thomas had to step down because he is an accused in the case," said Balakrishnan.
A bachelor, Sundarrajan was 70. He had been suffering from fever for the last two days, relatives said.
A former Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, Sundarrajan had also served in the Intelligence Bureau and security staff of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. He later quit IPS and settled down in Thiruvananthapuram.
It was Sundrrajan who initiated the legal battle for transparency in preservation and protection of the assets of the temple, managed by a trust under the erstwhile Travancore royal house.
The case took a decisive turn when the Kerala High Court in February ordered the State to take over the temple.
Later, the Supreme Court, while considering an appeal by the trustees, ordered an interim stay of the High Court decision but asked the temple cellars to be opened and the priceless wealth stored there, whose value was believed to be over Rs. one lakh crore, to be inventoried.
Following this, a seven-member panel of observers including two former Judges of the Kerala High Court was formed to go about the job of opening the secret chambers.
Sundarrajan, whose father was a legal advisor to Travancore royal family, had been staying in a house close to the temple complex for the last few decades.
The Supreme Court had on Friday reserved its interim orders on the question of permitting inventory of one more vault of the temple which is yet to be opened
Setting up of Kerala Administrative Tribunal under sub-section (2)
of section 4 of the Administrative Tribpnals Act, I985.
MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES
AND PENSIONS
(Department of Personneland Training)
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 25th August, 2010
G.S.R. 705(E).-In exercise ofthe powers conferred
by sub-section (2) of Section 4 of the Administrative
Tribunals Act, 1985 (13 of 1985). the Central Government,
on receipt of a request in this behalf from the Government
of Kerala, hereby establishes the Kerala Administrative
Tribunal with effect from the 26th day of August, 2010
which shall be the 'appointed day' within the meaning of
clause (c) of Section 3 of the Act.
[F. No. A-11014/9/2009-AT]
RAEEV KAPOOR, It. Secy
PLEASE DOWNLOAD GSR No:705(E)FROM THE SIDE LINK
POSTED BY VAKKOMSEN
Finance minister announces insurance for all students, pension for small farmers aged 60+
Kerala's revised budget for 2011-12 presented today by finance minister K M Mani has proposed to collect an additional revenue of Rs 625 crore. Additional expenditure through the new proposals are estimated at Rs 950 crore.
The budget also proposes an additional 6 per cent cess and 10 per cent surcharge on Indian-made foreign liquor, amounting to an additional revenue receipt of Rs 192 crore. An additional cess of 2 per cent on luxury cars priced above Rs 20 lakh will be levied and houses with a basement area above 4,000 sft will also attract additional 2 per cent tax. The budget also proposed an additional revenue receipt of Rs 15 crore through the changes in the compounding on tax on gold.
The minister also mooted the 'Emerging Kerala' summit in order to attract overseas investment into the state in line with the global investors' meet orgainsed in January 2001.
The government also decided to enhance the periodicity of the state lottery draw to daily from the current weekly in order to raise funds for the treatment of poor patients suffering from cancer, kidney and cardiac patients and for palliative care.
The revised revenue receipts of the state will be Rs 39,428 crore and the revenue expenditure will be Rs 44,961 crore as per the latest estimates. Total debt of the state increased to Rs 88,857 crore which is around 250 per cent of the total revenue.
In 2010-11, debt had increased 93 per cent, which the finance minister said was mainly due to the financial mismanagement of the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government. The distribution of rice at Rs 1 per kg will commence during the Onam festival season which will benefit 2 million BPL families of the state, for which Rs 200 crore has been earmarked.
The major thrust areas of the budget are infrastructure, agriculture, public health and industrial development. It has earmarked Rs 150 crore for the proposed Vizhijam international seaport and Rs 25 crore for the initial work of Kochi metro. The proposed Smart City project will get Rs 10 crore and the Kannur airport project Rs 30 crore.
The budget enhanced all the welfare pension schemes to Rs 400 per month from Rs 300 at present. For the first time in the history of the state, small farmers above 60 years of age and having land less than 1 hectare will get pension of Rs 300 per month.
Rajiv Arogyasree insurance scheme will be extended to 3.5 million BPL families through which free treatment benefit up to a maximum of Rs 2 lakh can be availed. All the students of the state will be insured and Rs 1 crore earmarked for the initial expense of this project.
The government also proposed to start four new medical colleges in Kasargode, Malappuram, Idukki and Pathanamthitta districts. The budget extended a financial assistance to the tune of Rs 100 crore for the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation.
The government would also create 100,000 additional job opportunities with an investment of Rs 500 crore. An additional Rs 325 crore has been set aside for various works under the department of Public Works. The budget has announced that the new dam at Mullaperiyar will be completed within next four years.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
# Call centre and video-conferencing facility will be arranged for commercial establishments. Traders can lodge their complaints online directly with the finance minister.
# A separate university for Malayalam at Thirur in Malappuram district.
# Separate committee to enhance resource mobilisation with FM as chairman Rs 1 crore for the special protection initiatives of Sri Padmanabha Swamin temple at Thiruvananthapuram.
# Legal aid cell for NRKs.
# 75 Maveli stores under the civil supplies corporation will be enhanced to super markets.
# 13 essential items will be distributed through the ration shops.
# 5 new polytechnics
# Subsidy on cattle feeds has been doubled
# Zero waste programme at Shabarimala with an investment of Rs 5 crore
# Rs 1000 crore for road renovation
# White paper on the financial status of the state in this session of the Assembly
# Comprehensive crop Insurance scheme for all types of crops
# Rs 120 crore for the conduct of national games in Kerala
കെ എം മാണിയുടെ അസന്തുലിത ബജറ്റ്
തീരദേശമേഖലയെ അവഗണിച്ചു. പരമ്പരാഗത വ്യവസായങ്ങളെ തകര്ക്കുന്ന സമീപനമാണ് ബജറ്റിലുള്ളത്. അനാഥാലയങ്ങളെയും മാനസികവൈകല്യം സംഭവിച്ചവരെയും സഹായിക്കുന്നതിനുള്ള പദ്ധതികളും അട്ടിമറിച്ചു. നവജാതശിശുക്കള്ക്കുള്ള 10,000 രൂപയുടെ കരുതല് നിക്ഷേപ പദ്ധതി, അസംഘടിതമേഖലയിലെ സ...്ത്രീതൊഴിലാളികള്ക്ക് വേതനത്തോടെയുള്ള പ്രസവാവധി, ആശ, അങ്കണവാടി വര്ക്കര്മാര്ക്കുള്ള ഓണറേറിയം, തൊഴിലുറപ്പ് പദ്ധതിയ്ക്കുള്ള ഫണ്ട് എന്നിവയെക്കുറിച്ച് ബജറ്റ് മിണ്ടുന്നില്ല. നഗര തൊഴിലുപ്പ് പദ്ധതിയെക്കുറിച്ചും ഒന്നുമില്ല. റോഡ്, പാലം നിര്മാണത്തിന് 5,000 കോടി രൂപയുടെ പദ്ധതി എല്ഡിഎഫ് ബജറ്റില് പ്രഖ്യാപിച്ചിരുന്നു. ഇതിന് 1,000 കോടി രൂപ വകയിരുത്തി. ഈ തുകയുടെ ബലത്തില് 5,000 കോടി രൂപ വായ്പ എടുക്കാനാകും. വായ്പ തിരിച്ചടയ്ക്കാനുള്ള പദ്ധതികളും വിഭാവനം ചെയ്തിരുന്നു. ഇതുംമാണി അട്ടിമറിച്ചു. 35 ലക്ഷം കുടുംബങ്ങള്ക്ക് ഒരു രൂപയ്ക്ക് 25 കിലോ വീതം അരി നല്കണമെങ്കില് ചുരുങ്ങിയത് 500 കോടി രൂപ വേണം. കൂടാതെ, രണ്ടുരൂപ നിരക്കില് എപിഎല് കാര്ഡിനും അരി നല്കണം. എന്നാല് സിവില് സപ്ലൈസ് കോര്പറേഷന് ആകെ നീക്കിവച്ചത് 200 കോടി മാത്രമാണ്. പ്രധാന പല പദ്ധതികളും അവഗണിക്കപ്പെട്ടപ്പോള് കോട്ടയം, മലപ്പുറം ഒഴിച്ചുള്ള ജില്ലകളെല്ലാം പുറത്തായി. ബജറ്റ് അവതരണവേളയില് തന്നെ ഭരണകക്ഷി അംഗങ്ങള്ക്ക് ബഹളംവയ്ക്കേണ്ടി വന്നു. അവര് ഇറങ്ങിപ്പോയി. സ്വന്തം മുന്നണിയെപ്പോലും തൃപ്തിപ്പെടുത്താന് കഴിയാത്ത ബജറ്റാണിത്.
A bench of Justices R.V. Raveendran and A.K. Patnaik also proposed the appointment of a curator of a museum to preserve the treasure being unearthed from the ancient temple.
The apex court's directions came during the hearing of a petition by the heir of erstwhile king of Travancore Raja Rama Varma, challenging a Kerala High Court ruling of January 31 this year, ordering takeover of the assets and management of the shrine by the state.
The court also barred the observer, supervising the unearthing of the temple's treasure, from interacting with media on the process, saying the matter was related to the state. After brief proceedings, the court posted the matter for further hearing on Friday.
On May 2, on a petition filed by Rama Varma's elder brother Marthanda Varma, the apex court had passed an interim order staying the high court's order for takeover of the management and assets of the temple. The SC had directed that "there shall be a detailed inventory of the articles, valuables and ornaments found from the temple's treasure trove".
Key of vault missing
Meanwhile, uncertainty continued on Wednesday over the opening of the last of the six chambers of the temple. The secret vaults of the temple have already yielded ancient treasure worth over Rs 1 lakh crore.
According to sources, the key to vault B, which is believed to contain even bigger treasure, has been missing. The temple authorities have sought help of some traditional locksmiths to get the duplicate keys made. But that also seemed a difficult task as the vault was too ancient.
The royal family of Travancore, the traditional custodians of the temple, has been worried over the use of powerful machines to break open the vault of the temple. It feels that the hammering of the ancient vault could even shake the temple's foundation. The royal family however said that it would cooperate with the Supreme Court's directive to open the vault.
POSTED BY VAKKOMSEN
Air Powered Car
big thing?Tata Motors is taking giant strides and making history for
itself. First the Land Rover/Jaguar deal, then the world's cheapest car, and
now it is also set to introduce the car that runs on compressed air.
With spiraling fuel prices it is about time we heard some breakthrough!
India's largest automaker, Tata Motors, is set to start
producing the world's first commercial air-powered vehicle.
The Air Car, developed by ex-Formula One engineer Guy N'gre
for Luxembourg-based MDI, uses compressed air, as opposed to the gas-and-oxygen
explosions of internal-combustion models, to push its engine's pistons. Some 6000
zero-emissions Air Cars are scheduled to hit Indian streets by August 2011.
The Air Car, called the "MiniCAT" could cost around Rs.. 3,47,523/- ($8,177.00) in India and would
have a range of around 300 km between refuels.
The cost of a refillwould be about Rs. 85($2..00)
The MiniCAT which is a simple, light urban car, with a tubular chassis that is glued,
not welded, and a body of fiberglass powered by compressed
air. Microcontrollers are used in every device in the car, so one tiny radio
transmitter sends instructions to the lights,indicators,etc.
There are no keys -
just an access card which can be read by
the car from your pocket. According
to the designers, it costs less than 50
rupees per 100 Km (about a tenth that of a
petrol car). Its mileage is about
double that of the most advanced electric
car (200 to 300 km or 10 hours of
driving), a factor which makes a perfect
choice in cities where 80% of motorists drive at
less than 60 Km. The car has a top
speed of 105 Kmph.
Refilling the car will, once the market develops, take place
at adapted petrol stations to administer compressed air. In two or three minutes,
and at a cost of approximately 100 rupees, the car will be ready to go another
200-300 kilometers.
As a viable alternative, the car carries a small compressor
which can be connected to the mains (220V or 380V) and
refill the tank in 3-4 hours. Due to the absence of combustion and,
consequently, of residues, changing the oil (1 litre of vegetable oil) is
necessary only every 50,000 Km).
The temperature of the clean air expelled by the exhaust pipe is
between 0-15 degrees below zero, which makes it suitable for use by the internal
air conditioning system with no need for gases or loss ofpower.
POSTED BY VAKKOMSEN
In a statement Deora said, "Due to personal reasons, I have offered to step down as minister from the Union Cabinet and offer my services for the Congress Party , where my political career began. I thank the Congress President and Prime Minister for their continuous support and guidance."
Deora, 74, said he has submitted his resignation and sought to dismiss reports that he has asked for his son Milind Deora's inclusion in the council of ministers.
"Yes, I have offered to Congress President Sonia Gandhi to step down from the Union Council of Ministers... Have not asked for anything more... It is not a sudden decision," Deora told PTI.
Deora, however, clarified that he hasn't resigned yet and had offered to relinquish charge of the Corporate Affairs Ministry "orally" to Gandhi a few weeks back.
It wasn't known what Gandhi's reaction was. "I have the satisfaction of completing a full five-year stint as Union Minister and so now I thought it will be appropriate to step down," he said without elaborating.
A senior office-bearer of the Congress said Deora handed his resignation to party president Sonia Gandhi last week and is learnt to have pushed for son Milind Deora’s inclusion as minister of state in the council of ministers. Milind is a second-time MP from South Mumbai.
When contacted, Deora declined comment on his resignation. All that he said was that he had “already done a five-year stint as Cabinet minister” and that he was getting on in age.
The Congress office-bearer, who did not wish to be named, said Deora was also piqued over the manner in which his successor S Jaipal Reddy handled the media on the draft report of the Comptroller & Auditor General (CAG), which pointed out several violations in the execution of exploration contracts by the petroleum ministry between 2006 and 2008.
There is talk of a Cabinet reshuffle after President Pratibha Patil's return from her sojourn in Hyderabad on July 8.
POSTED BY VAKKOMSEN
Heavy security was in place at the Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple here as a seven-member Supreme Court-appointed team Friday went about opening and taking an inventory of its six chambers.
Armed guards and cameras were placed around the temples as media reports said that treasure worth thousands of crores have been found in the chambers, two of which have not been opened for nearly 150 years.
The stock-taking process was ordered by the Supreme Court following a petition by advocate T.P. Sundararajan over mismanagement of the temple affairs.
The chambers in the temple reportedly contain rare and precious gems and jewellery.
Sundararajan expressed his displeasure over the manner in which the stock-taking process was being done as rumours and reports talked about millions in treasure.
"I will report this matter to the Supreme Court," Sundararajan told reporters.
To a question on numerous media reports putting the value of treasure at Rs.50,000 crore, Sundarajan said: "Only 30 percent of chamber A has been accounted for and hence the value could be much more than what has been reported in the media."
The temple has six chambers from A to F. Chambers C, D, and F have been opened and B and E are yet to be done.
Chambers A and B have not been opened for nearly 150 years while remaining four were opened by the temple authorities from time-to-time.
Around 90,000 crore worth treasure (Nidhi) has been found in the secret cellars of the famous Kerala Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu - Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram). The 7 member paper appointed by the Supreme Court of India, has been preparing the list of valuable found in the cellars of Sri Padmanabhaswami Temple. The temple has 6 Secret Cellars (Nilavara – a place to keep assets safe) from Cellar A to Cellar F. Opening of each of these chambers is revealing a virtual treasure trove with precious diamonds, golden ornaments, emeralds, jewelleries, rare antique silver and brass platters and golden idols. An estimation of above 90,000 crore treasure was valued at the completion of the 6th day of valuing the assets of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.
Golden idol of Mahavishnu worth Rs. 500 Crore
The main treasure found on the 6th day was a one foot (12 angulams) height golden idol of Lord Mahavishnu and a 30 kg golden ‘anki’. This golden idol of Lord Vishnu is believed to be the replica of the ‘utsava vigraham' used in the temple. The golden idol of Padmanabhaswamy studded with more than 1000 previous stones is valued to around Rs. 500 Crore. Another golden idol of Lord Sree Krishna was also found which weighs around 5 kg.
Golden Coins, Ornaments, and Human figurine
Several golden coins were also unearthed yesterday which are believed to be issued during the reign of Krishnadeva Rayar in the 16th century AD. Numerous golden ornaments which were used to adorn the main deity were also found in the Vault marked A. Ornaments studded with emeralds were also found on Saturday. Numerous golden human figurine weighing 1 kg, golden bangles, golden rope, are other interesting treasure found in the Vishnu Temple.
Golden Coconut Shells
Another interesting finding was two coconut shells made of pure gold. One of this golden coconut shell was students with rare antique stones including emeralds and rubies.
Cellar B To Open on Monday
Cellar B is the remaining one secret vault which is yet to be inventoried. It is said that this cellar haven’t been opened for more than 100 years. The remaining articles in Cellar A will be inventoried on Monday afternoon and Cellar B will be opened only after that.
Since the chambers were closed for so long, Sundararajan said he was unable to remain inside for long because of the lack of oxygen.
The temple is maintained by the erstwhile royal family of Travancore.
Retired judge M.N. Krishnan, who heads the seven-member team, had indicated Monday that the stock taking could end Friday but it is now certain that it could go on for a few more days.
The team will present its findings to the Supreme Court.
The main temple deity, Padmanabhaswamy, is a form of Vishnu in Anananthasayanam posture or in eternal sleep of 'yognidra'.
The great hunt is on and each day crores of value worth antiques are unraveled from the hidden chests and dark chambers of the great Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple. Its really mesmerizing to read all about the treasure and its hidden coffers in such an ancient monument and engineering marvel.
South Indian temples really fascinate me, its grandiose structure and innate work and fine grained artistry really entices me. These temple just shows the passion of people who conceived this structures and passion of people who worked for them to make it as they are – a resilient structures which can withstand 1000 years of time and tide.
Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple is relatively a young temple compared to great Chola or Pallava monuments in Tamil Nadu. The great temples in Tanjore, Chidambaram, Gangai Konda Cholavaram, Kumbakonam really bowl me over when I stand before them like a kid wide eyes and mouth wide open.
Its really no surprise that so much of treasure is hidden beneath the stone structure of Padmanabha Swamy temple. In fact each and every ancient temple in South India surely would have had such secret treasure troves, but alas now everything is lost because either being looted by British or invading Muslim Kings and if they have survived those stooges our own people might have siphoned off them. The crux is we Indians don’t take pride in such structures nor do we care about these marvels. Many people loathe going to temple for various reason – being an atheist or aversion to crowd or laziness to travel and many other silly reasons. No wonder in Chidambaram you see lot foreigners with cameras than Indians with camera. They are fascinated by them than us.
Coming to this unraveling story of treasures in Padmanabha Swamy Temple – what will happen to them? Now that secret is out in the open vested interests in different quarters may be frothing in their mouth to take control of temple or to seize a nickel out of it and keep it in their showcase or worse siphon it off for money. Remember the price being derived is just based on current market rates, if you add the antique value of these pieces it may run into more crores in value. But it would also be insane to argue that these whole thing is proprietary of one family now. These treasures are not earned by them, they might have been got as gifts to the state, as tax and wealth of the state. So today a family cannot come and claim them because of a lineage. Its like our Prime Minister claiming rights on India’s economy. I feel it belongs to the people of Kerala and its upto the people be proud about it, be passionate about it and care about it and preserve it for generations.
Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple is one of those finest temples out there where a visit can really calm your soul and soothe you. Its ranks high in the way its maintained and run. A big kudos to the Royal family and the trust which does it – after all they never got tempted to loot the treasures till now. Alas that today we have denigrated to such a passé that arbid ego clashes and petty interests have lead to this skull drudgery of a situation and we have no one to blame but ourselves [read Hindus] for such an impasse. From here if an ordinance is promulgated and secular Congress party decides to put a secular person [like Mr. George Joseph or Mr. Mohammed Haji] in the trust running the temple we just have to live with it.
Now the question is next what? What to do with the treasure – should we use it for eradicating poverty or negating some of our fiscal deficit or implement NREGA with that? Anything can happen in this country. I am sure some insane voices would opine that now that people know about the treasures they are not safe where they are and should be put in bank vaults. Nothing can be disastrous than that. We have smart people in this country who even though cannot be creative can easily be creative enough to make fakes and swap the real ones. Hope we won’t tread that path. I personally would like them to maintained where they are and status quo maintained on it. Or even if they can make some great fool-proof arrangement to exhibit them and open the chambers for public that would also be good (something like public viewing every year say, for 2 weeks and then they are back to the chambers). I personally would like to see them and more than the treasure I would be exciting in seeing the secret chamber and its security plugs.
Its not clear as to what will happen to the temple or the treasures – a handful of cronies and their ego will decide its fate. But thank god they can’t take the Lord away or take the shrine itself away. Those two are enough for mere mortals like me to be happy about. A walk in the alleys in this sacred temple is enough to transpire you to another realm, to mesmerize you about our rich history and culture and hope a day will not come where they won’t even allow to do that!
Billions priceless treasures found from cellars of Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple
