Tamil Nadu

TN: One of a kind bullock cart race organised in Ramanathapuram

Food for better education: TN govt spending Rs 12.75 a day on every child

Govt plans to expand the scheme to 30,122 more government primary schools from the next academic year

TN adopts resolution urging Centre to fix timeline for Guv to approve bills

The Tamil Nadu Assembly on Monday adopted a resolution to urge the Centre and the President to fix a timeframe for State Governors to approve Bills adopted by the respective Houses. The bill, moved by Chief Minister M K Stalin and adopted by the House also sought the President and the Centre to 'advise' Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi to give his assent to the Bills passed by the state Assembly in a time-bound manner. The government's move came in the wake of bills including the ones seeking exemption to Tamil Nadu from the NEET ambit and banning online gambling pending with the Raj Bhavan for the Governor's assent. While moving the Bill, Stalin launched a tirade against the Governor, saying Ravi was not approving certain bills due to his "whims and fancies." He also charged Ravi with converting the Raj Bhavan into a "political Bhavan" and accused him of being against the welfare of the people of Tamil Nadu. The resolution "regretfully" recorded that by keeping the Bills pending, the

Three lignite mines in TN exempted from 7th commercial auctions: Joshi

The government has exempted three lignite mines from the ongoing 7th round of commercial coal auctions launched last month, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said. The three mines namely East of Sethiathope, Michaelpatti and Vadaseri are located in Tamil Nadu, the coal and mines minister said. On March 29, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh along with Joshi launched the latest tranche in a bid to increase availability of the dry fuel in the country. A total of 106 coal mines, including lignite were put on the block in the round. Of the total mines offered, 61 are partially explored and 45 mines are fully explored. Post exemption of three mines, the total count reduces to 103. The minister said he had received a request from Tamil Nadu state BJP president K Annamalai to exclude three lignite mines from auctions in the seventh tranche. "In spirit of cooperative federalism & keeping in mind interest of people of TN, I have directed to exclude them from auction," he said. Directions have bee

PM underscores Centre's push for Tamil Nadu's growth, Stalin demands more

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched and laid the foundation stone for nearly Rs 5,000 crore worth new projects in Tamil Nadu in the transport sector, that included the flagging off of the Chennai-Coimbatore Vande Bharat Express and inauguration of a New Integrated Terminal Building (Phase-1) of the Chennai International Airport. The PM underscored Centre's push for the state's growth, recalling in detail the various initiatives in this regard, even as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin pressed for allocation of more projects and funds to his state from the Union government. In his address, Modi said India has been witnessing a revolution in terms of infrastructure development. It is driven by speed and scale and pointed to Union Budget's allocation of a record Rs 10 lakh crore investment in infrastructure. "This is five times more than that of 2014." Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin said India as a nation will prosper only when funds flow from the Centre for the

India will prosper if funds flow to states doesn't falter, says M K Stalin

India as a nation will prosper only when funds flow from the Centre for the development of diverse, multi-ethnic and multi-lingual States does not falter, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin said on Saturday. Prosperous and strong States are the true indicators of co-operative federalism and vibrant India, he insisted and claimed that his Dravidian model of governance is striving on this principle to implement the structural programmes required for the development of the entire Tamil Nadu. "The Dravidian model of governance in Tamil Nadu is implementing many social development projects along with infrastructure projects... if there is to be true federalism at the Centre, then States should be autonomous," he said at a function held at Pallavaram where Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new integrated terminal at the airport here and laid foundation stones for new initiatives. As the States are closer to the people, the duty of fulfilling their needs is more with the State

TN BJP thanks Centre for removing State from coal blocks auction list

With the Centre removing Tamil Nadu's delta regions from the coal blocks auctioning, State BJP chief K Annamalai on Saturday thanked the Union government for doing so on the 'request' of the party's state unit. However, both the ruling DMK and opposition AIADMK took credit for the Centre's announcement. Public Works, Highways and Minor Ports Minister E V Velu claimed the decision to keep out the three mines from auction was a "victory" to the consistent efforts of Chief Minister M K Stalin who exerted pressure on the Central government. "Immediately after the decision on the auction was made known, the Chief Minister exerted pressure on Prime Minister (Narendra Modi). Hence, it was withdrawn," Velu told reporters when his comment was sought to Union Parliamentary Affairs, Coal and Mines Minister Pralhad Joshi's announcement earlier in the day to leave out the coal reserves in east of Sethiathope, Michaelpatti and Vadaseri from auctioning. When pointed out that the Union Minister ha

Amid politically supercharged atmosphere in south, PM Modi reaches Chennai

Fresh after a barrage of attacks against political rival and Telangana state leadership, Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Chennai on Saturday to what seemed like calmer waters. Modi shared the warmth of Chief Minister M K Stalin who briefly held the PM's hand and patted the back of the latter's palm while walking through the displays exhibited at the new Chennai airport terminal on Saturday. Earlier, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhara Rao did not attend PM Modi's event in Hyderabad. While speaking at Hyderabad after inaugurating railway projects and developmental schemes, PM Modi attacked the Telangana state leadership for "obstructing" the developmental projects being implemented in the state by the Centre. Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan was seated on stage as the PM launched his attack on the state leadership. While the PM flew over to Tamil Nadu soon after the Telangana events, he was wading into tricky political waters. The Governor RN Ravi had very ..

PM Modi flags off Chennai-Coimbatore Vande Bharat Express in Tamil Nadu

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday flagged off the Chennai-Coimbatore Vande Bharat Express, which is expected to cut down the travel time between the state capital here and the western industrial city by more than one hour. At a function at the Dr MGR Chennai Central Railway Station, the PM flagged off the inaugural special, loaded with modern features and passenger amenities. He also interacted with school students in the train. "It is the fastest train between the two cities with a travel time of 5 hours and 50 minutes, saving more than an hour of journey time," an official release said. The train, the first to connect two Tamil Nadu cities, has enhanced passenger safety with indigenous automatic train protection system 'KAVACH', CCTV cameras in all coaches and automatic sliding doors. Divyang (differently-abled) friendly washrooms, seat handle numbers in Braille script, modern amenities like LED lights and 360-degree rotatable seats are the other features. Railway Ministe

PM Modi inaugurates phase 1 of Chennai Airport's new terminal building

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the Rs 1,260 crore New Integrated Terminal Building (Phase-1) of the Chennai International Airport, a facility that will boost passenger handling. The NITB is uniquely designed to showcase the rich culture and heritage of the state. "The addition of this new integrated terminal building will increase the passenger serving capacity of the airport from 23 Million Passengers Per Annum (MPPA) to 30 MPPA. The new terminal is a striking reflection of the local Tamil culture, incorporating traditional features such as the Kolam, saree, temples, and other elements that highlight the natural surroundings," the government said. Each and every design integrated into the building is well thought out. The columns are designed to create the visual effect of a palm tree, ceilings are adorned with motif lights, reflecting the Kolam (Rangoli) patterns of South India, and the roof design is derived from Bharatnatyam, the Airports Authority of Indi

'GetoutRavi' posters appear in Chennai after TN Guv's "Bill is dead" remark

Tamil Nadu CM Stalin slammed the Governor and alleged that he "escaped" from his duties and did not give assent to 14 bills

TN BJP thanks Centre for removing TN from coal blocks auction list

With the Centre removing Tamil Nadu's delta regions from the coal blocks auctioning, state BJP chief K Annamalai on Saturday thanked the former for doing so on the 'request' of the party's state unit. Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, who also holds the Coal and Mines portfolio had tweeted that the decision to exclude Tamil Nadu from the auctioning ambit was taken in the interest of the people of the state after Annamalai had flagged the matter with him. "@BJP4TamilNadu Pres.@annamalai_k rushed to call upon me in Bengaluru with request to exclude 3 Lignite mines from auctions in 7th tranche. In spirit of cooperative federalism & keeping in mind interest of people of TN, I have directed to exclude them from auction," Joshi had tweeted. A row had erupted over the inclusion of the state's fertile Cauvery delta regions for the coal block auctioning, with Chief Minister M K Stalin asserting in the state Assembly that his government will never allow coal mining in the delta region. "We ...

'Means Parliamentary Democracy is dead': Chidambaram on TN Guv's remark

Congress veteran and former finance minister P Chidambaram on Friday slammed Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi over his "Bill is dead" remark, saying it means "Parliamentary Democracy is dead".Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi on Thursday, while interacting with the civil services aspirants, explained the role of the Governor in the Constitution, saying that he has the option to give assent or withhold a Bill passed by the Assembly, adding that the latter means that the "Bill is dead".In a tweet, Chidambaram said, "Governor, Tamil Nadu has given a strange & peculiar definition to the withholding of assent to Bills passed by the Legislature. He has said that it means the 'Bill is dead'. Actually, when a Governor withholds assent for no valid reason, it means 'Parliamentary Democracy is dead'."The Governor said "withholding" is a "decent language" used for rejecting a Bill.Interacting with the civol services aspirants here, Ravi said the responsibility of the Governor is to protect the ...

TN govt, IIT Madras tie up to connect rural students to electronic science

Initiative designed to cover 100,000 students from 252 govt schools

TN govt will never allow coal mining from state's Delta region: CM Stalin

Tamil Nadu CM M.K. Stalin said that state govt would never permit coal mining/lignite mining from Delta districts. CM was responding to special call attention motions moved by legislators

Amid US watchdog heat, it is life as usual at Global Pharma'S Chennai unit

The firm ran into trouble after the US FDA informed it of 55 cases of adverse events on the use of its eye drops, some of which caused permanent loss of vision and at least one caused death

Coal mining will never be allowed in TN's delta region: CM Stalin

The State government would never permit coal/lignite mining in Tamil Nadu's Cauvery delta districts, Chief Minister M K Stalin told the state Assembly on Wednesday. Replying to special call attention motions moved by MLAs, Stalin said he too was shocked like others when he came to know about the Centre's auctioning process for three coal blocks in the delta region of Tamil Nadu. Immediately, he wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi against it and tasked DMK MP T R Baalu to take up the matter with the Centre and Union Coal Minister Prahlad Joshi assured the Parliamentarian that Tamil Nadu CM's opposition would be given due weightage and taken into account. Stalin said not only in his capacity as Chief Minister but also as a person belonging to the delta region (Tiruvarur district) mining projects would never be allowed in delta districts of Tamil Nadu.

Zoho expands regional outreach, will open hub offices in Tamil Nadu, UP

CEO Sridhar Vembu says company wants to create 'economically prosperous rural communities' through its offices

Tamil Nadu Health Ministry to inspect govt hospitals for 2 days from Apr 10

The Tamil Nadu Health Ministry will carry out inspection in all government hospitals across the State for two days from April 10 to increase the facilities to meet the challenges of surge in COVID cases and other infections, Health Minister M Subramanian said on Saturday. Speaking to reporters after reviewing the Government Hospital in nearby Mettupalayam, the Minister said that there was an increase in the COVID infections and variants of Omicron and considering them, the government has made wearing masks mandatory for all those visiting hospitals including doctors, patients and visitors. The government wanted to ensure required facilities like beds and oxygen are available and decided to review all the 11,300 health facilities across the State, he said. Though States like Kerala, Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh reported 300 to 500 infections, Tamil Nadu recorded 139 cases of Omicron variant XBB and BA 2 on Friday, the Minister said. The Health department is also carrying out rand

Wearing face mask mandatory in TN hospitals from April 1: Health Minister

The Tamil Nadu government has made wearing of face masks mandatory at all government hospitals across the State from Saturday owing to an increase in Coronavirus positive cases. Doctors, nurses, medical staff, patients and visitors have been asked to ensure cent percent compliance at around 11,300 health facilities because infection initially started in hospitals, Health Minister Ma Subramanian said on Friday. "So, as a precaution we have made wearing face masks compulsory from April 1," he said. Speaking to reporters here, the Minister said though the infection spread has not escalated it has become essential to exercise precaution. "We should ensure that we wear face masks to protect ourselves. At present, Omicron sub variants XBB and BA.2 are in circulation not only in Tamil Nadu, but also in India and other parts of the world," he said. Passengers arriving from other countries are randomly screened upon their arrival at the airports in the State. During the last 24 hours, 123 .