Bar on free TV distribution

Tamil Nadu's Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Kumar on Wednesday directed the District Collectors and the Revenue Department to immediately stop the distribution of free colour television sets till the end of the election process.

If officials were found to have abetted such distribution, they would face severe disciplinary action, Mr. Kumar said.

The directive follows the receipt of information by the CEO on distribution of TV sets in some parts of the State.

As on February 28, about 1.62-crore sets were distributed under five phases of the free colour TV scheme. A Revenue Department official said that as part of the sixth phase, 10-lakh sets were to be distributed. About 60,000 sets were given to beneficiaries when the model code came into force. Coupons had been issued to about 9.1-lakh beneficiaries.

About Rs.4,000 crore is said to have been spent by the government in the last five years for the scheme, according to an official of the Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu.

The CEO said no new beneficiaries should be identified and given assistance under the old age pension scheme and other similar welfare measures. 

source : The Hindu 

Deputy Chief Minister Mr. M K Stalin celebrated his birthday

Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister M K Stalin, projected as political heir apparent to his father and Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, today turned 59.

Mr. Stalin celebrated his birthday by cutting a cake with his family members and later met his party workers.

DMK cadre distributed sweets at many places as DMK’s promotional songs blared from loudspeakers in many areas, praising Mr. Karunanidhi and Mr. Stalin.

State ministers, alliance party members from PMK and Congress and others greeted Stalin, fondly addressed as ’Thalapathy’ (the General) by his supporters.

His Madurai-based elder brother and Union Minister M K Alagiri greeted Stalin over phone, party sources said.
Long hailed as the face of DMK’s youth wing, Mr. Stalin first became minister after the 2006 Assembly polls. He was subsequently promoted as Mr. Karunanidhi’s Deputy two years later.

A former Mayor of Chennai, Mr. Stalin now handles important portfolios, including Industries and Municipal Administration.

He had a stint in acting on the small screen.

The 59 year-old Stalin was among several DMK leaders jailed under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) during the emergency in 1976.

source: The Hindu

INDIA V ENGLAND (GROUP B)

Dead heat

On a Sunday that wasn't meant for the faint-hearted, all that lingered was the thrill of a surreal contest. And at last, cricket truly reigned. Over to K. C. Vijaya Kumar.

Top-drawer stuff… England's captain Andrew Strauss (right) and Ian Bell shared a 170-run third-wicket partnership that dented India's confidence.
Until Munaf Patel yielded just one run off the last ball to cap a sensational match, the World Cup Group B clash between India and England at the Chinnaswamy Stadium (February 27) was in the news for all the wrong reasons.
It began with the shifting of the match from Kolkata's Eden Gardens to Bangalore which created an uproar in Bengal. Then the inflationary demand for tickets in Bangalore and the resultant melee outside the counters that forced the police to intervene led to frayed tempers. Thereafter, the weather gods too decided to queer the pitch as it rained heavily 48 hours before the match.
Finally, when that Sunday that wasn't meant for the faint-hearted slipped away, all that lingered was the thrill of a surreal contest. And at last, cricket truly reigned. The match will now be remembered for all the right reasons.
“Both teams will have mixed feelings,” quipped the Indian skipper, M. S. Dhoni, while his counterpart, Andrew Strauss, said: “It was an unbelievable match.”
The number 338 will now be a part of cricket folklore as both teams tied at that score.
K. BHAGYA PRAKASH

Leading the way... Sachin Tendulkar celebrates his 47th ODI century.
It was a climax that seemed far too distant when India revealed its batting muscle with Sachin Tendulkar leading the way. The maestro watched Virender Sehwag tempt fielders in the very first over bowled by an unlucky James Anderson and later strung two key partnerships of 134 and 56 with Gautam Gambhir and Yuvraj Singh respectively as India seemed set to turbo-charge towards a 350-plus total.
Tendulkar's 47th ODI century — 120 (115b, 10x4, 5x6) — commenced at a steady trot before he hinted at his dominant mood, kneeling low and hoisting off-spinner Graeme Swann besides lofting Paul Collingwood and daintily dismissing Anderson off his legs to the square-leg fence.
Prospering in Tendulkar's company, Gambhir danced down the pitch with elan while Yuvraj pulled with panache. Tendulkar made a mockery of whatever challenges that England skipper Strauss tried to throw at him, but eventually paid the price for being too inventive as he moved away to the leg-side and then moved back in a bid to unsettle Anderson. A spooned catch led to a grimace followed by the quick walk to the pavilion while India drew strength from the old firm of Yuvraj and Dhoni.
However, the pursuit of quick runs in the final phase led to injudicious shots, and two run-outs meant India ended up with 338 runs from 49.5 overs. For England, Tim Bresnan grabbed five wickets.
It was a score that could have spoiled England's hunger at the dinner break, but instead it only stoked Strauss' appetite for runs.
On the eve of the match, Strauss had said that he “would love to spoil India's party”. The England skipper proceeded to do exactly that with an innings (158, 145b, 18x4, 1x6) of such culture and stealth that Dhoni and his men did not even realise that they were bleeding runs. After Munaf plucked a reflex catch to terminate Kevin Pietersen's cameo and leg-spinner Piyush Chawla trapped Jonathan Trott, Strauss and Ian Bell shared a 170-run third-wicket partnership that dented India's confidence.
Strauss, who survived a scare on 22 when Harbhajan Singh failed to hold on to a catch at mid-on while Munaf fumed, cut and drove with power and was not averse to using his feet against spin.
K. BHAGYA PRAKASH

Zaheer Khan is ecstatic after dismissing Andrew Strauss. The left-arm fast bowler was responsible for bringing India back into the match.
“It is my finest innings but would have been better if I had helped the boys reach home,” Strauss said.
Bell meanwhile survived a referral for leg before wicket. Dhoni said after the match: “If the ball was hitting the stumps according to Hawk Eye — and I too felt the same way — then why not give?”
England, however, suffered a melt-down in the batting Power Play (overs 43 to 47), scoring 25 runs and losing four wickets with Zaheer Khan's dream third spell (three for 11) prising out Bell, Strauss and Paul Collingwood.
In the true ways of a classic, the match was not over yet as the tail stung and Chawla went for runs. “He is a specialist bowler and I thought I will stick with him,” Dhoni said.
It all boiled down to 14 from the last over while Munaf chugged in merrily. He almost lost his smile when Ajmal Shahzad carted him for a six but the seamer held his nerve and a tie proved to be the perfect finish.

THE SCORES

India 338 in 49.5 overs (S. Tendulkar 120, Yuvraj Singh 58, G. Gambhir 51, V. Sehwag 35, M. S. Dhoni 31, T. Bresnan five for 48) tied with England 338 for eight in 50 overs (A. Strauss 158, I. R. Bell 69, K. Pietersen 31, Zaheer three for 64).

source : THE HINDU

26th Ideal Home Exhibitions in Madurai Tammukkam

simbu-is-a-busy in-kollywood

This will be the busiest year for Simbhu. He has four films on his hand. Last year he had acted in only one film. That is Vinnai Thandi Varuvaya directed by Gowtham Menon. He had paired with Trisha in this film. This film was a Megha hit. Simbhu was very happy that he gave a hit film. This year he has Vaanam, Poda Podi, Vettai Mannan and Valiban. He has completed the film Vaanam. This film is being released in the month of February. This film is the remake of the Telugu film Vedam. Krish who has directed the Telugu film is directing the Tamil version also.

After this he is also acting in the film Poda Podi produced by Gemini Films Circuit. Varalakshmi is pairing with him. After this he will be acting in Vettai Mannan. This film is being directed by popular director Nelson. Then he will be acting in Valiban. He is also directing this film. Yuvan Shankar Raja who is a close friend of Simbhu is composing music for the three films.

Adyar poonga now called as Tholkappia Poonga

The Adyar river originates from Malaipattu tank near Manimangalam village in Sriperumbudur Taluk at about 15 km west of Tambaram and gains momentum as a stream from Chembarambakkam lake. It runs through Chennai for 42 km before draining into the Bay of Bengal, forming an estuary, which extends from the Adyar Bridge to the sandbar, with some small islets in-between. Just before joining the sea at a sand bar on the shore, one part of the river takes off northward beyond the Chettinad Palace as a small inlet of water forming a tidal creek. The creek takes a U-turn near Foreshore Estate. It surrounds what was formerly called Quibble Island, stopping short of completely encircling it. The estuary extends from the sandbar at the edge of the sea to the Adyar bridge, with small islands in between, and covers an area of about 300 acres. The low salinity, good shelters, calm conditions and high plankton availability in the Adyar creek serves as a good nursery for fish. The flow of tidal water in and out of the creek allowed for easy travel of boats. It therefore encouraged fishing and there was a thriving economy of fish trade here. However, with the city's sewage and effluence from its various industries, for some time, emptying into the river, the biological activities in the region was affected.

The works for setting up Adyar Poonga, that would have rich fauna, flora and green cover spreading over 300 acre, are on and it would be completed and opened to general public in December, 2010, said Tamilnadu Deputy Chief Minister M K Stalin. The Deputy Chief Minister walked six kilometres as he inspected all the works at the upcoming project.

Speaking after inspecting the works at Adyar Poonga, Stalin said the land development process is now complete here. A centre to create awareness on environment would be set up soon. ‘The lakes are desilted and construction of buildings at a cost of Rs 19 crore are already on. A recreation centre for children is being constructed besides over 90,000 saplings have been planted here’.
The remaining 300 acre of land would be identified and a green zone would be established, he added.
‘Giving a fillip to the project is the increase in the number of fish, frogs, butterflies, dragonflies. The park would be a jewel in the crown of Chennai and would help a lot in maintaining the green environs of the city’, he added.
In a bid to take up ecological restoration of Adyar Estuary, the Tamilnadu government formed Adyar Poonga Trust in October 2006. It entrusted the work of preparing Ecological Restoration Plan for Pitchandikulam Forest Consultants, Auroville, in February 2007.
The Ecological Restoration Plan covers the extent of 358 acres, for which the State has sanctioned Rs 100 crore. After extensive studies and stakeholder consultations, a draft plan was made ready before the work began.
Among those who accompanied the Deputy Chief Minister include Chennai Mayor M Subramaniam, Chennai River Water Authority member – secretary K Paneendhra Reddy, Deputy Chief Minister’s secretary K Dheenabandhu, Pichandikulam Forest Consultant Josh Farookh and senior government officials.

About Tanjore Painting

India is a country rich in her heritage. Arts & crafts are one very important aspect of our heritage.

 

Thanjavur paintings basically signify paintings created using a style and technique, which originated in Thanjavur during the Maratha period in the 16th century.


 A typical Thanjavur painting would consist of one main figure, a deity, with a well-rounded body & almond shaped eyes. This figure would be housed in an enclosure created by means of an arch, curtains etc. The painting would be made by the gilded and gem-set technique - a technique where gold leaves & sparkling stones are used to highlight certain aspects of the painting like ornaments, dresses etc.


The painting would be bright & colorful and breathtakingly beautiful. The impact in a darkened room is that of a glowing presence. While most of the paintings would depict the Child Krishna and his various pranks, paintings of other deities were also created.