Arjun RaghunathFirst Published : 26 Apr 2010 05:41:00 AM ISTLast Updated : 26 Apr 2010 08:42:51 AM IST
For the first time, a wide-bodied freighter aircraft will be operated by the Dubai-based Emirates Airlines to Thiruvananthapuram this week.
A Boeing-777 freighter aircraft, EK 4908, would be departing for Thiruvananthapuram from Dubai at 6 a.m. on Tuesday and would arrive here at 11.30 a.m. There would be 100 tonnes of cargo on board the aircraft. From Thiruvananthapuram, the aircraft would fly to Hong Kong as a ferry aircraft by 1 p.m., it is learnt.
Though the service is being operated as a non-scheduled chartered flight, industry sources feel that it is a prelude to the commencement of regular freighter services from Thiruvananthapuram in the near future. Emirates officials had earlier hinted at plans to operate cargo services between Kerala and UAE, it may be recalled.
However, when contacted by Expresso, Emirates officials said that there was no decision to commence cargo services to Thiruvananthapuram or any other airport in Kerala.
At present, no wide-bodied freighter aircraft are being operated to Thiruvananthapuram. It is learnt that unaccompanied baggage from Dubai is being brought in the freighter aircraft. Since will be returning to Hong Kong as a ferry aircraft, no cargo would be loaded from here.
On an average, around 45 tonnes of cargo, especially unaccompanied baggage, is being brought to Thiruvananthapuram from Gulf countries daily and about around 25 tonnes of cargo, mainly perishable goods, are exported from here to Gulf countries.
It may be recalled that the withdrawal of Air India’s A-310 aircraft, that could carry up to 10 tonnes of cargo, from Thiruvananthapuram to Dubai a couple of years ago had led to a hue and cry from exporters as Air India Express aircraft can only carry up to two tonnes of cargo.
Air India, which is the ground handling agency, had recently installed the main-deck loader device at Thiruvananthapuram Airport for loading and unloading cargo from the upper deck of aircraft.
Tuesday 27 April 2010
Light at the end of a tunnel
Arjun RaghunathFirst Published : 19 Apr 2010 12:23:00 AM ISTLast Updated :
It might be the most memorable ‘Vishu kaineettam’ I would ever receive, a fine gesture from the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), popularly referred to as a white elephant.
As usual, I went to my native place, Kollam, on this Vishu day to visit my relatives. As the chat sessions with my cousins prolonged, I was a bit late to catch my return bus.
By about ten minutes past 9 p.m., I reached Kottiyam junction (near Kollam). As the nail-biting wait for a bus crossed more than 30 minutes, I rang up the KSRTC bus station in Kollam to know whether the next bus to Thiruvananthapuram would materialise in the near future. Not to much of a surprise, the phone kept on ringing. I repeated the call for at least ten times during the next twenty minutes, but was greeted only by unending ring tones and even engaged tones in-between.
My blood pressure shot up as an express bus sped away even after I frantically waved my hands from the middle of NH 47. The wait finally ended as a super fast bus reached a few minutes after my watch ticked 10 p.m.
By around 11.15 p.m., I reached Palayam and moved towards Museum bus stop with the hope of getting a long distance bus passing through Peroorkada, where I live. After waiting for a few minutes, I rang up the KSRTC Thampanoor station and enquired whether there was a bus via Peroorkada. The last bus via Peroorkada is at 11.30 p.m., was the reply. I enquired whether the bus would go through Museum bus stop, where I was waiting. Yes, the KSRTC official replied.
As my lonely wait dragged on for another couple of minutes, my mobile phone rang. I was taken aback on seeing the display, ‘KSRTC Thampanoor calling...’ on my mobile phone screen.
The conversation went like this:
KSRTC: ‘‘Sir, did you call now and enquire about a bus via Peroorkada ?’’
Me: ‘‘Yes’’
KSRTC: ‘‘Sorry sir, following the traffic diversions at Thampanoor, the bus is going via Vazhuthacaud and not via Museum. So, you will have to wait at Vellayambalam’’
Me: ‘‘Ok sir, thank you’’
Reaching Vellayambalam from Museum in five to ten minutes is quite a tiresome task. But I was least concerned about it at that moment as I was yet to recover from the ‘shock’ of getting a service from the KSRTC which one could never ever dream of, till then. All the grudge I had towards the KSRTC for the horrible experience in Kollam faded away with the fine gesture of one employee at KSRTC Thampanoor station.
And, my journey concluded amicably as I got a lift from a two-wheeler rider.
Government sinks hopes of victims’ kin
Arjun RaghunathFirst Published : 03 Dec 2009 12:45:00 AM ISTLast Updated : 03 Dec 2009 10:23:13 AM IST
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Did the State Government shed crocodile tears for the people killed in the Thekkady boat tragedy? It seems so as the compensation announced by the government for 'each victim' has been reduced to 'each family'.
After the mishap on September 30, Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan had announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the families of each person killed in the tragedy. A government order in this regard was issued by the Revenue Department on October 12.
However, the government later issued a fresh order on October 24 stating that only a maximum of Rs 5 lakh needs to be given to a family, irrespective of the number of persons in the family who were killed in the tragedy.
As per the initial order, if two persons in a family were killed, the family would have to be given a compensation of Rs 10 lakh. However, as per the fresh order, the compensation amount would be restricted to a maximum of Rs 5 lakh.
A total of 45 persons were killed in the tragedy, of which many were from the same family.
Except for three, the rest of the victims were tourists from other states.
The revised government order had also put the Revenue Department officials in a fix as there is no clear-cut definition for a 'family'.
Meanwhile, the Idukki district administration is trying to find the actual dependents of the 42 victims (who hailed from other states) by contacting the respective district collectors.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Did the State Government shed crocodile tears for the people killed in the Thekkady boat tragedy? It seems so as the compensation announced by the government for 'each victim' has been reduced to 'each family'.
After the mishap on September 30, Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan had announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the families of each person killed in the tragedy. A government order in this regard was issued by the Revenue Department on October 12.
However, the government later issued a fresh order on October 24 stating that only a maximum of Rs 5 lakh needs to be given to a family, irrespective of the number of persons in the family who were killed in the tragedy.
As per the initial order, if two persons in a family were killed, the family would have to be given a compensation of Rs 10 lakh. However, as per the fresh order, the compensation amount would be restricted to a maximum of Rs 5 lakh.
A total of 45 persons were killed in the tragedy, of which many were from the same family.
Except for three, the rest of the victims were tourists from other states.
The revised government order had also put the Revenue Department officials in a fix as there is no clear-cut definition for a 'family'.
Meanwhile, the Idukki district administration is trying to find the actual dependents of the 42 victims (who hailed from other states) by contacting the respective district collectors.
A blow for international passengers
Arjun RaghunathFirst Published : 31 Mar 2010 01:00:00 AM ISTLast Updated : 31 Mar 2010 10:16:42 AM IST
The Airports Economics Regulatory Authority (AERA) has worked out an user development fee (UDF) of Rs 755 per embarking international passenger with the commissioning of the new international terminal at Thiruvananthapuram Airport. Domestic passengers will be spared the additional burden.
AERA, the regulatory authority on airline-related rates, is holding a high-level meeting with state government officials, including Chief Secretary Neela Gangadharan, and representatives of airlines in Thiruvananthapuram on April 5 to finalise the UDF.
The fresh developments have confirmed a recent report in these columns that UDF may be imposed at Thiruvananthapuram Airport soon.
According to a consultation paper issued by AERA, ‘‘the Authority proposes to approve levy of UDF at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport at Rs 755 per embarking international passenger, purely on an ad-hoc basis, with effect from the date of commissioning of the New International Terminal Building for a period of ten years.’’
AERA has also published the consultation paper on the website of the Civil Aviation Ministry and sought comments and suggestions from the stakeholders. The last date for giving suggestions is April 9. The UDF would be formally announced afterwards, sources at the Ministry told Expresso from New Delhi over phone.
Airports Authority of India (AAI) had earlier proposed the UDF at Rs 1,020 per embarking international passenger and Rs 550 per embarking domestic passenger for a period of ten years. Another alternative suggestion of AAI was to levy UDF at Rs 715 per embarking international passenger and Rs 280 per embarking domestic passenger for a period of 15 years.
The AERA had, however, revised the rates after analysing the projected expenses and revenues pertaining to the new terminal. Various patterns that were worked out by AERA include levying Rs 710 and Rs 130 per embarking international and domestic passengers for a period of 10 years, Rs 525 and Rs 130 respectively for 15 years and Rs 575 per embarking international passenger alone for 15 years.
The AERA note also says that the UDF is being restricted only to international passengers as the domestic terminal would not be shifted to the new terminal building.
UDF is being levied at Rs 1,070 per international passenger and Rs 260 per domestic passenger at the new airport in Bangalore and Rs 1,000 and Rs 375 respectively at the new airport in Hyderabad.
The new terminal in Thiruvananthapuram has been constructed at a cost of Rs 290 crore. It could handle about 800 departing and 800 arriving passengers at a time. The total passenger movement at the Thiruvananthapuram airport during 2008-09 was 19.5 lakh, 75 percent of whom were international passengers.
The commissioning of the new terminal is being delayed owing to the construction of an approach road which has been entrusted with KITCO, a state government agency.
The Airports Economics Regulatory Authority (AERA) has worked out an user development fee (UDF) of Rs 755 per embarking international passenger with the commissioning of the new international terminal at Thiruvananthapuram Airport. Domestic passengers will be spared the additional burden.
AERA, the regulatory authority on airline-related rates, is holding a high-level meeting with state government officials, including Chief Secretary Neela Gangadharan, and representatives of airlines in Thiruvananthapuram on April 5 to finalise the UDF.
The fresh developments have confirmed a recent report in these columns that UDF may be imposed at Thiruvananthapuram Airport soon.
According to a consultation paper issued by AERA, ‘‘the Authority proposes to approve levy of UDF at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport at Rs 755 per embarking international passenger, purely on an ad-hoc basis, with effect from the date of commissioning of the New International Terminal Building for a period of ten years.’’
AERA has also published the consultation paper on the website of the Civil Aviation Ministry and sought comments and suggestions from the stakeholders. The last date for giving suggestions is April 9. The UDF would be formally announced afterwards, sources at the Ministry told Expresso from New Delhi over phone.
Airports Authority of India (AAI) had earlier proposed the UDF at Rs 1,020 per embarking international passenger and Rs 550 per embarking domestic passenger for a period of ten years. Another alternative suggestion of AAI was to levy UDF at Rs 715 per embarking international passenger and Rs 280 per embarking domestic passenger for a period of 15 years.
The AERA had, however, revised the rates after analysing the projected expenses and revenues pertaining to the new terminal. Various patterns that were worked out by AERA include levying Rs 710 and Rs 130 per embarking international and domestic passengers for a period of 10 years, Rs 525 and Rs 130 respectively for 15 years and Rs 575 per embarking international passenger alone for 15 years.
The AERA note also says that the UDF is being restricted only to international passengers as the domestic terminal would not be shifted to the new terminal building.
UDF is being levied at Rs 1,070 per international passenger and Rs 260 per domestic passenger at the new airport in Bangalore and Rs 1,000 and Rs 375 respectively at the new airport in Hyderabad.
The new terminal in Thiruvananthapuram has been constructed at a cost of Rs 290 crore. It could handle about 800 departing and 800 arriving passengers at a time. The total passenger movement at the Thiruvananthapuram airport during 2008-09 was 19.5 lakh, 75 percent of whom were international passengers.
The commissioning of the new terminal is being delayed owing to the construction of an approach road which has been entrusted with KITCO, a state government agency.
Thachankary, a man of controversies
Arjun RaghunathFirst Published : 10 Dec 2009 01:39:00 AM ISTLast Updated :
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: IG Tomin J.Thachankary, who has landed in a fresh controversy over his mission to probe Thadiyantavide Nazeer’s terror links, has been a man of controversy in the Kerala Police since his early years.
From smuggling of electronic equipment to amassment of excess wealth, controversies are haunting this 1984-batch IPS officer one after the other.
The present controversy over his credentials is just another `thorn’ in the cap of this police officer who is also facing a Vigilance inquiry.
Though Thachankary had some commendable achievements in his service, including the recent cracking of the Nigerian e-mail fraud and credit card rackets, those are being clouded by the scars left behind by him.
Thachankary hit the bad patch in 2002 after his gunman was held with costly electronic items at Nedumbassery airport. It was further revealed that Thachankary had made frequent foreign trips without taking permission from the government and had imported costly electronic goods. A Vigilance inquiry was subsequently ordered against him on charges of amassment of wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income.
Thachankary, who is believed to be having close links with CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan, was also said to be a technical advisor at the time of the setting up of the Kairali TV channel.
Thachankary, who was not in the limelight for a couple of years, later swung into action following a raid against pirated CDs on the shops near Beemapally while he was the nodal-officer of the anti-piracy cell in 2004.
However, it had boomeranged in December 2006, when a police team led by IG Rishi Raj Singh, the then nodal officer of anti-piracy cell, raided the Riyan digital studio run by his wife Anita Thachankary in Kochi and recovered pirated CDs in large numbers. Rishi Raj Singh was stripped off the charges of the anti-piracy cell by the then DGP Raman Srivastava within hours after the raid. However, the immediate intervention by Chief Minister V.S.Achuthanandan saved his face.
Under a shadow
* Thachankary hit the bad patch in 2002 after his gunman was held with costly electronic items at Nedumbassery airport.
* A Vigilance inquiry was subsequently ordered against him on charges of amassment of wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income.
* Thachankary, who is believed to be having close links with CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan, was also said to be a technical advisor at the time of the setting up of the Kairali TV channel.
* In December 2006, a police team led by IG Rishi Raj Singh, the then nodal officer of anti-piracy cell, raided the Riyan digital studio run by Thachankary’s wife Anita in Kochi and recovered pirated CDs in large numbers.
* He was suspended from service in July 2007 after the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) filed first-informationreport against him.
* As per the FIR, Thachankary had amassed about Rs 90 lakh beyond his known sources of income.
* The Vigilance had raided his residential premises and office as well as that of his close relatives.
* While being reinstated in service earlier this year, the Chief Minister had specifically cautioned that he should not be given key postings.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: IG Tomin J.Thachankary, who has landed in a fresh controversy over his mission to probe Thadiyantavide Nazeer’s terror links, has been a man of controversy in the Kerala Police since his early years.
From smuggling of electronic equipment to amassment of excess wealth, controversies are haunting this 1984-batch IPS officer one after the other.
The present controversy over his credentials is just another `thorn’ in the cap of this police officer who is also facing a Vigilance inquiry.
Though Thachankary had some commendable achievements in his service, including the recent cracking of the Nigerian e-mail fraud and credit card rackets, those are being clouded by the scars left behind by him.
Thachankary hit the bad patch in 2002 after his gunman was held with costly electronic items at Nedumbassery airport. It was further revealed that Thachankary had made frequent foreign trips without taking permission from the government and had imported costly electronic goods. A Vigilance inquiry was subsequently ordered against him on charges of amassment of wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income.
Thachankary, who is believed to be having close links with CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan, was also said to be a technical advisor at the time of the setting up of the Kairali TV channel.
Thachankary, who was not in the limelight for a couple of years, later swung into action following a raid against pirated CDs on the shops near Beemapally while he was the nodal-officer of the anti-piracy cell in 2004.
However, it had boomeranged in December 2006, when a police team led by IG Rishi Raj Singh, the then nodal officer of anti-piracy cell, raided the Riyan digital studio run by his wife Anita Thachankary in Kochi and recovered pirated CDs in large numbers. Rishi Raj Singh was stripped off the charges of the anti-piracy cell by the then DGP Raman Srivastava within hours after the raid. However, the immediate intervention by Chief Minister V.S.Achuthanandan saved his face.
Under a shadow
* Thachankary hit the bad patch in 2002 after his gunman was held with costly electronic items at Nedumbassery airport.
* A Vigilance inquiry was subsequently ordered against him on charges of amassment of wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income.
* Thachankary, who is believed to be having close links with CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan, was also said to be a technical advisor at the time of the setting up of the Kairali TV channel.
* In December 2006, a police team led by IG Rishi Raj Singh, the then nodal officer of anti-piracy cell, raided the Riyan digital studio run by Thachankary’s wife Anita in Kochi and recovered pirated CDs in large numbers.
* He was suspended from service in July 2007 after the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) filed first-informationreport against him.
* As per the FIR, Thachankary had amassed about Rs 90 lakh beyond his known sources of income.
* The Vigilance had raided his residential premises and office as well as that of his close relatives.
* While being reinstated in service earlier this year, the Chief Minister had specifically cautioned that he should not be given key postings.
Keltron comes up with high-end surveillance system
Arjun RaghunathFirst Published : 28 Nov 2009 05:02:00 AM ISTLast Updated :
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: When you are in trouble, you will dial 100 for assistance. What if the police official on the other end can simultaneously locate your place on the Geographic Information System (GIS) map on a computer screen while talking to you and direct the patrol party in the nearest area to rush to your place? This will be the system in place in Kolkata in a few weeks. And guess who is implementing this high-end surveillance technology; it is our Keltron. The ambitious projects in Kolkata and Pune which are taking final shape are sure to become golden feathers in the cap of the Kerala State Electronics Development Corporation.
The highlight of the project in Kolkata is the marking of all private and public telephone numbers in the city on a GIS map. This automated surveillance system is supposed to be the first of its kind in the country.
The system which will be in place in Kolkata will be a combination of Integrated GISbased Automatic Vehicle Tracking and Management system, traffic management, Disaster call management and Critical public place surveillance system (IGVTDC). The IGVTDC will play a vital part in the overall law and order maintenance as well as crisis management of Kolkata and is expected to redefine the services offered by the police.
The major activities of the system would be controlling the traffic by providing necessary messages through display boards, attending distress calls and communicating them to the patrolling vehicles and surveillance at important places, said Keltron chief general manager Michael Suresh Raj.
The project is being implemented by the Kolkata Police at a cost of Rs 26 crore.
The CGRAPS, being introduced in Pune, is a combination of critical public place surveillance system, garbage vehicle monitoring system, red light violation detection system, area traffic control system, passenger information system and speed limit violation detection system.
‘’The Rs 17-crore project, funded by the Pune Municipal Corporation under the JNNURM scheme, is in the trial run stage and will be commissioned shortly,’’ said Beena Mathew, general manager, Security Division, Keltron.
It is learnt that the Pune Municipal Corporation authorities are planning to hand over the management of CGRAPS to a private party on a public-private participation model.
‘’We have received the orders for these projects through open tender. Once these projects are implemented, we will be able to showcase our capabilities and even participate in international bids,’’ Suresh Raj said.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: When you are in trouble, you will dial 100 for assistance. What if the police official on the other end can simultaneously locate your place on the Geographic Information System (GIS) map on a computer screen while talking to you and direct the patrol party in the nearest area to rush to your place? This will be the system in place in Kolkata in a few weeks. And guess who is implementing this high-end surveillance technology; it is our Keltron. The ambitious projects in Kolkata and Pune which are taking final shape are sure to become golden feathers in the cap of the Kerala State Electronics Development Corporation.
The highlight of the project in Kolkata is the marking of all private and public telephone numbers in the city on a GIS map. This automated surveillance system is supposed to be the first of its kind in the country.
The system which will be in place in Kolkata will be a combination of Integrated GISbased Automatic Vehicle Tracking and Management system, traffic management, Disaster call management and Critical public place surveillance system (IGVTDC). The IGVTDC will play a vital part in the overall law and order maintenance as well as crisis management of Kolkata and is expected to redefine the services offered by the police.
The major activities of the system would be controlling the traffic by providing necessary messages through display boards, attending distress calls and communicating them to the patrolling vehicles and surveillance at important places, said Keltron chief general manager Michael Suresh Raj.
The project is being implemented by the Kolkata Police at a cost of Rs 26 crore.
The CGRAPS, being introduced in Pune, is a combination of critical public place surveillance system, garbage vehicle monitoring system, red light violation detection system, area traffic control system, passenger information system and speed limit violation detection system.
‘’The Rs 17-crore project, funded by the Pune Municipal Corporation under the JNNURM scheme, is in the trial run stage and will be commissioned shortly,’’ said Beena Mathew, general manager, Security Division, Keltron.
It is learnt that the Pune Municipal Corporation authorities are planning to hand over the management of CGRAPS to a private party on a public-private participation model.
‘’We have received the orders for these projects through open tender. Once these projects are implemented, we will be able to showcase our capabilities and even participate in international bids,’’ Suresh Raj said.
Resentment among IPS officers against proposed Police Act
Arjun RaghunathFirst Published : 19 Mar 2010 05:06:00 AM ISTLast Updated :
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Resentment is brewing up among the police officers in the State against the proposed Kerala Police Act.
The IPS Officers’ Association is planning to meet Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan in the coming days and express their strong resentment towards various provisions in the Act, it is reliably learnt.
The Cabinet on Wednesday approved the Bill of the proposed Act. The Government is planning to introduce the Bill in the current session of the Assembly and refer it to the Select Committee.
According to sources in the Police Department the draft, which was cleared by the Cabinet, contained various provisions that are against the stated intentions of bringing in professionalism in the functioning of the police.
Moreover, the guidelines issued by the Supreme Court on police reforms are not followed in the draft cleared by the Cabinet, it is alleged.
A committee headed by DGP Jacob Punnoose had prepared a draft of the Act and submitted it to the Government last year. However, the Government had made significant alterations in the draft that has shaken its basic structure. The Government did not hold any serious consultations with the police officials while vetting the initial draft, sources said. The IPS Officers’ Association which met here the other day had decided to call on the Home Minister and raise their concerns. Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau Director K.P.Somarajan, who is the president of the Association, and IG Intelligence T.K.Vinod Kumar, who is the secretary of the Association, are likely to lead the delegation.
The Association officebearers preferred to be tightlipped on the matter.
The Law Reforms Commission headed by Justice V.R.Krishna Iyer had submitted a draft to the Government in 2007. But the Government did not consider it.
Several human rights organisations, including the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative headed by noted social worker Maja Daruwala, had earlier submitted a memorandum to the Government pointing out various flaws in the draft prepared by the Jacob Punnoose committee.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Resentment is brewing up among the police officers in the State against the proposed Kerala Police Act.
The IPS Officers’ Association is planning to meet Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan in the coming days and express their strong resentment towards various provisions in the Act, it is reliably learnt.
The Cabinet on Wednesday approved the Bill of the proposed Act. The Government is planning to introduce the Bill in the current session of the Assembly and refer it to the Select Committee.
According to sources in the Police Department the draft, which was cleared by the Cabinet, contained various provisions that are against the stated intentions of bringing in professionalism in the functioning of the police.
Moreover, the guidelines issued by the Supreme Court on police reforms are not followed in the draft cleared by the Cabinet, it is alleged.
A committee headed by DGP Jacob Punnoose had prepared a draft of the Act and submitted it to the Government last year. However, the Government had made significant alterations in the draft that has shaken its basic structure. The Government did not hold any serious consultations with the police officials while vetting the initial draft, sources said. The IPS Officers’ Association which met here the other day had decided to call on the Home Minister and raise their concerns. Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau Director K.P.Somarajan, who is the president of the Association, and IG Intelligence T.K.Vinod Kumar, who is the secretary of the Association, are likely to lead the delegation.
The Association officebearers preferred to be tightlipped on the matter.
The Law Reforms Commission headed by Justice V.R.Krishna Iyer had submitted a draft to the Government in 2007. But the Government did not consider it.
Several human rights organisations, including the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative headed by noted social worker Maja Daruwala, had earlier submitted a memorandum to the Government pointing out various flaws in the draft prepared by the Jacob Punnoose committee.
Senior IT official resigns amidst row
Arjun RaghunathFirst Published : 28 Feb 2010 01:41:00 AM ISTLast Updated : 28 Feb 2010 10:00:49 AM IST
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It might be a coincidence. A senior official of the Kerala State IT Mission (KSITM) has resigned at a time when a controversy has been snowballing over awarding the Rs 5-crore contract for the management of the State Data Centre (SDC) to Reliance Communications.
Mohan Sukumar, Manager-ITeS with KSITM, has resigned from the post about a month ago. It is reliably learnt that Mohan Sukumar was asked to resign by the Chief Minister’s office after the issue became controversial.
It is more interesting to note that he had joined KSITM immediately after the tendering process for the SDC had begun and was also in charge of the tendering process and had quit immediately after the contract was awarded to Reliance.
IT Secretary Ajay Kumar, however, said that Mohan Sukumar had quit as he got a better offer from some other company. “Mohan Sukumar’s resignation had nothing to do with the awarding of tender for the SDC.
Reliance was awarded the contract through a transparent tendering process and there is no meaning in the ongoing controversies,’’ he told ‘Express’.
He also said that Reliance had been awarded the contract for facility management services of the SDC and they would not have any access to the data. Earlier, Tata Consultancy Services was carrying out the facility management service under the supervision of the CDAC.
Data of the State Government’s computer networks are stored in SDC and most of the government websites are also hosted in it. It is feared that Reliance would get access to these data which sparked off the controversy.
Started in 2005, SDC has been managed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing with the assistance of TCS until the contract between the State Government and CDAC expired in 2008.
Later, the State IT Department initiated fresh tendering process through KSITM. It is alleged that though Keltron and several other State Government agencies had expressed their willingness to take over the management of the SDC, the request was turned down and tendering process started in April, 2008.
It was alleged that Mohan Sukumar, who had earlier worked with CDAC, was appointed to the KSITM by the middle of 2008 under the influence of some top officials in the IT Department and was also given the charge of the tendering process for SDC. Thereafter, tendering norms were revised, allegedly with the intention of paving a smooth entry for Reliance.
KSITM Director Rathan Khelkar, however, said: “The tender norms were revised since we wanted to have state-of-the-art facilities at the SDC.’’
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It might be a coincidence. A senior official of the Kerala State IT Mission (KSITM) has resigned at a time when a controversy has been snowballing over awarding the Rs 5-crore contract for the management of the State Data Centre (SDC) to Reliance Communications.
Mohan Sukumar, Manager-ITeS with KSITM, has resigned from the post about a month ago. It is reliably learnt that Mohan Sukumar was asked to resign by the Chief Minister’s office after the issue became controversial.
It is more interesting to note that he had joined KSITM immediately after the tendering process for the SDC had begun and was also in charge of the tendering process and had quit immediately after the contract was awarded to Reliance.
IT Secretary Ajay Kumar, however, said that Mohan Sukumar had quit as he got a better offer from some other company. “Mohan Sukumar’s resignation had nothing to do with the awarding of tender for the SDC.
Reliance was awarded the contract through a transparent tendering process and there is no meaning in the ongoing controversies,’’ he told ‘Express’.
He also said that Reliance had been awarded the contract for facility management services of the SDC and they would not have any access to the data. Earlier, Tata Consultancy Services was carrying out the facility management service under the supervision of the CDAC.
Data of the State Government’s computer networks are stored in SDC and most of the government websites are also hosted in it. It is feared that Reliance would get access to these data which sparked off the controversy.
Started in 2005, SDC has been managed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing with the assistance of TCS until the contract between the State Government and CDAC expired in 2008.
Later, the State IT Department initiated fresh tendering process through KSITM. It is alleged that though Keltron and several other State Government agencies had expressed their willingness to take over the management of the SDC, the request was turned down and tendering process started in April, 2008.
It was alleged that Mohan Sukumar, who had earlier worked with CDAC, was appointed to the KSITM by the middle of 2008 under the influence of some top officials in the IT Department and was also given the charge of the tendering process for SDC. Thereafter, tendering norms were revised, allegedly with the intention of paving a smooth entry for Reliance.
KSITM Director Rathan Khelkar, however, said: “The tender norms were revised since we wanted to have state-of-the-art facilities at the SDC.’’
KSRTC CMD planning to quit
Arjun RaghunathFirst Published : 09 Mar 2010 02:30:00 AM ISTLast Updated :
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Aggrieved over the step-motherly treatment being meted out by the State Government towards KSRTC, KSRTC Chairman and Managing Director T.P.Senkumar is planning to quit the post.
Highly placed sources in the Transport Department told `Express’ that Senkumar had called on Transport Minister Jose Thettayil and expressed his unwillingness to continue in the post. Though the Minister had refused to relieve Senkumar, he is planning to go on long leave soon, it is reliably learnt. The criticisms against KSRTC in the budget speech is said to be the latest provocation for Senkumar, who is an IPS officer in the rank of ADGP.
Senkumar however refused to comment on the matter.
Sources said that Senkumar, who took over the leadership of the loss- making corporation in November 2006, had put forward various suggestions, including introduction of contributory pension in the corporation and reimbursement of expenses incurred on various bus passes, in order to plug the sky-rocketing expenditure of the corporation.
It is pointed out that around 20 percent of KSRTC’s expenditure is being spent on paying pension The monthly expenditure on pension is around Rs 25 crore at present.
During the past 10 years, KSRTC had spent Rs 950 crore on pension. Similarly Rs 900 crore was spent on various bus passes. In the neighbouring states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, the expenses on various passes are reimbursed by the state governments there. The transport corporations in those states are also not burdened with pension expenses. Pension was introduced in KSRTC in 1984 without conducting proper studies, sources said. Similarly in neighbouring states, the buses of the RTCs are purchased by the government, whereas in Kerala the KSRTC has to purchase buses by raising loans. Moreover, in the case of number of buses also there is also much difference in Kerala compared to the neighbouring states. While the number of buses of the RTCs is several times higher than that of private buses in neighbouring states, in Kerala it is the opposite.
While the number of KSRTC buses is around 4900, the number of private buses in the state is 13,000. In Tamil Nadu, the number of RTC buses is 22,000 and the number of private buses is 5,500, in Karnataka it is 20,500 and 5,000 and in Andhra Pradesh 21,000 and 1,200, sources point out.
It is also pointed out that though the Government had recently announced that Rs 1,070 crore of KSRTC’s dues would be written off, it comprised Rs 195 crore interest and penal interest and the remaining included accounts to certain inflated taxes. Hence, it did not make any effect on KSRTC’s finances.
Sources said that Senkumar has taken up these issues with the Government several times. However, the government was not prepared to address these issues.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Aggrieved over the step-motherly treatment being meted out by the State Government towards KSRTC, KSRTC Chairman and Managing Director T.P.Senkumar is planning to quit the post.
Highly placed sources in the Transport Department told `Express’ that Senkumar had called on Transport Minister Jose Thettayil and expressed his unwillingness to continue in the post. Though the Minister had refused to relieve Senkumar, he is planning to go on long leave soon, it is reliably learnt. The criticisms against KSRTC in the budget speech is said to be the latest provocation for Senkumar, who is an IPS officer in the rank of ADGP.
Senkumar however refused to comment on the matter.
Sources said that Senkumar, who took over the leadership of the loss- making corporation in November 2006, had put forward various suggestions, including introduction of contributory pension in the corporation and reimbursement of expenses incurred on various bus passes, in order to plug the sky-rocketing expenditure of the corporation.
It is pointed out that around 20 percent of KSRTC’s expenditure is being spent on paying pension The monthly expenditure on pension is around Rs 25 crore at present.
During the past 10 years, KSRTC had spent Rs 950 crore on pension. Similarly Rs 900 crore was spent on various bus passes. In the neighbouring states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, the expenses on various passes are reimbursed by the state governments there. The transport corporations in those states are also not burdened with pension expenses. Pension was introduced in KSRTC in 1984 without conducting proper studies, sources said. Similarly in neighbouring states, the buses of the RTCs are purchased by the government, whereas in Kerala the KSRTC has to purchase buses by raising loans. Moreover, in the case of number of buses also there is also much difference in Kerala compared to the neighbouring states. While the number of buses of the RTCs is several times higher than that of private buses in neighbouring states, in Kerala it is the opposite.
While the number of KSRTC buses is around 4900, the number of private buses in the state is 13,000. In Tamil Nadu, the number of RTC buses is 22,000 and the number of private buses is 5,500, in Karnataka it is 20,500 and 5,000 and in Andhra Pradesh 21,000 and 1,200, sources point out.
It is also pointed out that though the Government had recently announced that Rs 1,070 crore of KSRTC’s dues would be written off, it comprised Rs 195 crore interest and penal interest and the remaining included accounts to certain inflated taxes. Hence, it did not make any effect on KSRTC’s finances.
Sources said that Senkumar has taken up these issues with the Government several times. However, the government was not prepared to address these issues.
User fee likely at city airport
Arjun RaghunathFirst Published : 16 Mar 2010 02:37:00 AM ISTLast Updated :
Flying from Thiruvananthapuram Airport may soon become dearer as the Airports Authority of India (AAI) is planning to impose User Development Fee (UDF) at the airport once the new terminal becomes operational.
Highly-placed sources in the Civil Aviation Ministry told this paper that the AAI proposed a user fee of around Rs 900 per outbound international passenger and around Rs 300 per outbound domestic passenger from the Thiruvananthapuram airport. But, there would be no user fee for inbound passengers.
“The proposal is under the active consideration of Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA), the newly-formed regulatory authority on airline-related fares. A final decision on imposing UDF would be announced once the new terminal is inaugurated, which is expected to happen within a couple of months’ time,’’ said sources.
Local sources, however, said that any decision to introduce user fee at the city airport would spark off a massive agitation in the State capital. Though user fee was earlier imposed at the Nedumbassery and Karipur airports, it was later withdrawn owing to stiff resistance from various quarters.
UDF has been imposed at all the newly-developed airports, including the Bangalore and Hyderabad airports. The AAI has now proposed to levy UDF at nine of its airports, including the one at Thiruvananthapuram.
AERA has already granted its nod to levy UDF at Jaipur airport. Udaipur, Amritsar, Mangalore, Varanasi, Visakhapatnam, Ahmedabad and Trichy are the other airports where AAI proposes to impose UDF.
While inaugurating a new terminal of the Delhi airport recently, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel had also hinted that user fee would be levied at the AAI-run airports, including the Thiruvananthapuram airport.
The intention of levying UDF from passengers is to recover the investment by AAI on these airports as well as to tide over the decline in revenue caused by the economic slowdown. AAI has so far invested around Rs 150 crore on the new terminal at Thiruvananthapuram airport. AAI expects to earn an additional earning of about Rs 100 crore by charging UDF at the nine airports.
Flying from Thiruvananthapuram Airport may soon become dearer as the Airports Authority of India (AAI) is planning to impose User Development Fee (UDF) at the airport once the new terminal becomes operational.
Highly-placed sources in the Civil Aviation Ministry told this paper that the AAI proposed a user fee of around Rs 900 per outbound international passenger and around Rs 300 per outbound domestic passenger from the Thiruvananthapuram airport. But, there would be no user fee for inbound passengers.
“The proposal is under the active consideration of Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA), the newly-formed regulatory authority on airline-related fares. A final decision on imposing UDF would be announced once the new terminal is inaugurated, which is expected to happen within a couple of months’ time,’’ said sources.
Local sources, however, said that any decision to introduce user fee at the city airport would spark off a massive agitation in the State capital. Though user fee was earlier imposed at the Nedumbassery and Karipur airports, it was later withdrawn owing to stiff resistance from various quarters.
UDF has been imposed at all the newly-developed airports, including the Bangalore and Hyderabad airports. The AAI has now proposed to levy UDF at nine of its airports, including the one at Thiruvananthapuram.
AERA has already granted its nod to levy UDF at Jaipur airport. Udaipur, Amritsar, Mangalore, Varanasi, Visakhapatnam, Ahmedabad and Trichy are the other airports where AAI proposes to impose UDF.
While inaugurating a new terminal of the Delhi airport recently, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel had also hinted that user fee would be levied at the AAI-run airports, including the Thiruvananthapuram airport.
The intention of levying UDF from passengers is to recover the investment by AAI on these airports as well as to tide over the decline in revenue caused by the economic slowdown. AAI has so far invested around Rs 150 crore on the new terminal at Thiruvananthapuram airport. AAI expects to earn an additional earning of about Rs 100 crore by charging UDF at the nine airports.
Crude bomb found aboard Kingfisher
Arjun RaghunathFirst Published : 22 Mar 2010 02:59:35 AM ISTLast Updated :
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A crude bomb of low-intensity was found aboard a Kingfisher aircraft minutes after it landed in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday morning, putting a big question-mark over the level of aviation security in the country, that too in a high-alert scenario.
A small packet containing the bomb was recovered from the baggage area of the ATR aircraft that arrived in Thiruvananthapuram from Bangalore at around 8 a.m. with 27 passengers on board.
Police sources said the explosive comprised less than 50 gram of potassium chlorite, aluminium powder and sulphur. Two strings were attached to it. “Though it is a mild-intensity explosive, the chance of a major mishap in case of a mid-air explosion is quite high,” said airport sources.
DGP Jacob Punnoose told Express there was the possibility of it being a trial run by a militant outfit. “Our prima facie assumption is that the explosive was placed there by someone who boarded the flight in Bangalore.
I have spoken to my Karnataka counterpart and a team led by Thiruvananthapuram City Police Commissioner M R Ajithkumar has left for Bangalore,” he said. The team will examine the CCTV footage at the Bangalore airport.
The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) are also investigating the episode. Officials of the Intelligence Bureau and Research and Analysis Wing also rushed to the airport. The packet, weighing about 200 grams, was spotted by airline workers while unloading the luggage.
The bomb was wrapped in January 13 Thiruvananthapuram edition of a leading Malayalam newspaper and a question paper of the SSLC English exam that took place on Wednesday.
Caught in the dock, the CISF, which is in-charge of security in airports, squarely blamed the airline for the faux pas.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A crude bomb of low-intensity was found aboard a Kingfisher aircraft minutes after it landed in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday morning, putting a big question-mark over the level of aviation security in the country, that too in a high-alert scenario.
A small packet containing the bomb was recovered from the baggage area of the ATR aircraft that arrived in Thiruvananthapuram from Bangalore at around 8 a.m. with 27 passengers on board.
Police sources said the explosive comprised less than 50 gram of potassium chlorite, aluminium powder and sulphur. Two strings were attached to it. “Though it is a mild-intensity explosive, the chance of a major mishap in case of a mid-air explosion is quite high,” said airport sources.
DGP Jacob Punnoose told Express there was the possibility of it being a trial run by a militant outfit. “Our prima facie assumption is that the explosive was placed there by someone who boarded the flight in Bangalore.
I have spoken to my Karnataka counterpart and a team led by Thiruvananthapuram City Police Commissioner M R Ajithkumar has left for Bangalore,” he said. The team will examine the CCTV footage at the Bangalore airport.
The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) are also investigating the episode. Officials of the Intelligence Bureau and Research and Analysis Wing also rushed to the airport. The packet, weighing about 200 grams, was spotted by airline workers while unloading the luggage.
The bomb was wrapped in January 13 Thiruvananthapuram edition of a leading Malayalam newspaper and a question paper of the SSLC English exam that took place on Wednesday.
Caught in the dock, the CISF, which is in-charge of security in airports, squarely blamed the airline for the faux pas.
Sinking tale of the boat tender
Arjun RaghunathFirst Published : 13 Oct 2009 02:59:00 AM ISTLast Updated :
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The sad tale of Jalakanyaka, the boat that capsized in Thekkaddy claiming 45 lives, becomes murkier with the revelation that the Tourism Department rejected tenders submitted by two State Government agencies before placing the order for the boat with a Chennai-based private firm, violating the norm that government agencies be given preference.
Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation (KSINC) and Regional Agro Industrial Cooperative Limited (RAIDCO) submitted tenders for supplying two boats. Both agencies, and another private firm, were shown the door in the initial stage itself on the ground that they were not technically competent and Chennai- based Vignesh Marine Technical Services Private Limited was short-listed.
After an initial invitation of tenders for the purchase of two "75-seat eco-friendly luxury boats" in 2005 was cancelled for 'technical reasons', the Tourism Department invited tenders again in June 2007. Four firms -- KSINC, RAIDCO, Vignesh Marine Technical Services and Mullubhai & Sons -- submitted technical and financial bids. RAIDCO Kattapana unit took part in the bid in association with Kochibased Samudra Shipyard Private Limited.
KTDC managing director K G Mohanlal, KTDC mechanical engineer Manoj Mathew, former additional director (planning) in the Tourism Department U V Jose, chief inspector of boats M Mathews and the eco-tourism director were members of the technical evaluation committee. The committee came to the conclusion that KSINC, RAIDCO and Mullubhai were not technically competent so their financial bids were not even considered. The order for supplying the two boats was subsequently awarded to Vignesh Marine Technical Services for Rs 83 lakh.
KSINC, operating in the field of inland navigation for three decades, quoted Rs 76 lakh for a single hull boat and Rs 57 lakh for a double-hull catamaran-type boat. KSINC even suggested that a double-hull boat was best suited to Thekkady conditions, it is reliably learnt. Samudra Shipyard has also been in the area of ship-building for several years.
The Crime Branch has started an investigation into the purchase of Jalakanyaka by the Tourism Department.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The sad tale of Jalakanyaka, the boat that capsized in Thekkaddy claiming 45 lives, becomes murkier with the revelation that the Tourism Department rejected tenders submitted by two State Government agencies before placing the order for the boat with a Chennai-based private firm, violating the norm that government agencies be given preference.
Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation (KSINC) and Regional Agro Industrial Cooperative Limited (RAIDCO) submitted tenders for supplying two boats. Both agencies, and another private firm, were shown the door in the initial stage itself on the ground that they were not technically competent and Chennai- based Vignesh Marine Technical Services Private Limited was short-listed.
After an initial invitation of tenders for the purchase of two "75-seat eco-friendly luxury boats" in 2005 was cancelled for 'technical reasons', the Tourism Department invited tenders again in June 2007. Four firms -- KSINC, RAIDCO, Vignesh Marine Technical Services and Mullubhai & Sons -- submitted technical and financial bids. RAIDCO Kattapana unit took part in the bid in association with Kochibased Samudra Shipyard Private Limited.
KTDC managing director K G Mohanlal, KTDC mechanical engineer Manoj Mathew, former additional director (planning) in the Tourism Department U V Jose, chief inspector of boats M Mathews and the eco-tourism director were members of the technical evaluation committee. The committee came to the conclusion that KSINC, RAIDCO and Mullubhai were not technically competent so their financial bids were not even considered. The order for supplying the two boats was subsequently awarded to Vignesh Marine Technical Services for Rs 83 lakh.
KSINC, operating in the field of inland navigation for three decades, quoted Rs 76 lakh for a single hull boat and Rs 57 lakh for a double-hull catamaran-type boat. KSINC even suggested that a double-hull boat was best suited to Thekkady conditions, it is reliably learnt. Samudra Shipyard has also been in the area of ship-building for several years.
The Crime Branch has started an investigation into the purchase of Jalakanyaka by the Tourism Department.
Key extremist leader from state remains elusive
Arjun RaghunathFirst Published : 30 Nov 2009 05:04:00 AM ISTLast Updated :
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Even though the State has launched a massive drive against extremism, a person, who had played a key role in spreading the roots of extremism in the State, remains elusive for more than a decade.
C A M Basheer, a native of Aluva, was suspected to be the mastermind of the SIMI’s underground operations in the country. His role was suspected in the recent extremist activities, including the Wagamon training camp.
However, the State Intelligence seems to have dropped its efforts to trace Basheer, who is reported to have taken shelter in Saudi Arabia. “We don’t have any cases against Basheer,” was how a senior officer in the State Intelligence wing reacted when asked about Basheer.
The name of Basheer, who was an aeronautical engineer, came to the limelight following the Mumbai serial blast in 2003.
After completing his studies at the Union Christian College in Aluva and Aeronautical Engineering College at Chalakudy, he worked at the airline institute in Bangalore and later at the Mumbai International Airport.
Intelligence sources said that Basheer had joined the SIMI during 1980s and became a highly influential leader within a short span of time. He was suspected to have undergone training in handling arms and explosives from Pakistan-based extremist outfit Jamaat-e-Islami.
It was also suspected that underworld don Dawood Ibrahim had been routing funds for extremist activities in the country, including the Mumbai serial blast, through C A M Basheer.
“Had the intelligence agencies been able to nab Basheer at an early stage itself, the spread of extremism in the State could have been prevented to a certain extend,” said a former intelligence officer.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Even though the State has launched a massive drive against extremism, a person, who had played a key role in spreading the roots of extremism in the State, remains elusive for more than a decade.
C A M Basheer, a native of Aluva, was suspected to be the mastermind of the SIMI’s underground operations in the country. His role was suspected in the recent extremist activities, including the Wagamon training camp.
However, the State Intelligence seems to have dropped its efforts to trace Basheer, who is reported to have taken shelter in Saudi Arabia. “We don’t have any cases against Basheer,” was how a senior officer in the State Intelligence wing reacted when asked about Basheer.
The name of Basheer, who was an aeronautical engineer, came to the limelight following the Mumbai serial blast in 2003.
After completing his studies at the Union Christian College in Aluva and Aeronautical Engineering College at Chalakudy, he worked at the airline institute in Bangalore and later at the Mumbai International Airport.
Intelligence sources said that Basheer had joined the SIMI during 1980s and became a highly influential leader within a short span of time. He was suspected to have undergone training in handling arms and explosives from Pakistan-based extremist outfit Jamaat-e-Islami.
It was also suspected that underworld don Dawood Ibrahim had been routing funds for extremist activities in the country, including the Mumbai serial blast, through C A M Basheer.
“Had the intelligence agencies been able to nab Basheer at an early stage itself, the spread of extremism in the State could have been prevented to a certain extend,” said a former intelligence officer.
Major student visa racket busted
Arjun RaghunathFirst Published : 30 Jan 2010 01:34:00 AM ISTLast Updated : 30 Jan 2010 11:18:04 AM IST
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Central Bureau of Investigation has busted a racket, comprising senior bank officials, which was involved in trafficking of youths to foreign countries on student visas using fake documents.
The racket, which has been thriving in the state over the past couple of years, is suspected to have arranged student visas to nearly 100 youths, both males and females, to Australia, New Zealand and Ireland using fake documents, CBI sources said.
CBI Thiruvananthapuram unit had registered a case against nine persons, including two senior officials of the Indian Overseas Bank and officials of Alpha Overseas Consultancy which has branches across the state.
The CBI also conducted raids on the residences of the two bank officers in Ernakulam and Bangalore and the office of the recruiting agency in Kottayam on Thursday and recovered several documents pertaining to the case.
The CBI also suspects the involvement of certain private institutions based in foreign countries in the racket.
Simon Bhaskaran, former manager of IOB Kottayam branch, who is now working in Ernakulam, Jayan, a former assistant manager of the bank who is now working in Pandalam, and partners of Alpha Overseas Consultancy Johnson and Renjit are among those who have been arraigned as accused in the FIR that was filed at the CBI court in Ernakulam the other day. The involvement of more persons in the racket may surface in further investigation, said sources.
A CBI team led by Inspector Salim Sahib of the Thiruvananthapuram unit is probing the case.
The modus operandi of the racket was to arrange student visas using fake bank documents.
After reaching the foreign country, the youths would take up some part-time jobs for a couple of years and later avail of permanent residentship.
The bank officials arranged fake loan certificates to the racket which was essential to get student visa.
The candidate would be asked to open a savings bank account in the bank and deposit a few lakhs of rupees in the account. A demand draft would be issued using the fund available in the savings bank account and a fake loan certificate would also be issued in favour of the candidate so as to make the foreign institution believe that the candidate has been sanctioned education loan up to Rs 20 lakh.
The recruiting agency would subsequently get the student visa with the support of these fake documents. The bank officials were suspected to have received huge amounts as bribe from the recruiting agency as well as the candidates on this account.
While several students had knowingly used the illegal route, many were trapped by the racket by offering student visa at cheap rates, CBI sources said.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Central Bureau of Investigation has busted a racket, comprising senior bank officials, which was involved in trafficking of youths to foreign countries on student visas using fake documents.
The racket, which has been thriving in the state over the past couple of years, is suspected to have arranged student visas to nearly 100 youths, both males and females, to Australia, New Zealand and Ireland using fake documents, CBI sources said.
CBI Thiruvananthapuram unit had registered a case against nine persons, including two senior officials of the Indian Overseas Bank and officials of Alpha Overseas Consultancy which has branches across the state.
The CBI also conducted raids on the residences of the two bank officers in Ernakulam and Bangalore and the office of the recruiting agency in Kottayam on Thursday and recovered several documents pertaining to the case.
The CBI also suspects the involvement of certain private institutions based in foreign countries in the racket.
Simon Bhaskaran, former manager of IOB Kottayam branch, who is now working in Ernakulam, Jayan, a former assistant manager of the bank who is now working in Pandalam, and partners of Alpha Overseas Consultancy Johnson and Renjit are among those who have been arraigned as accused in the FIR that was filed at the CBI court in Ernakulam the other day. The involvement of more persons in the racket may surface in further investigation, said sources.
A CBI team led by Inspector Salim Sahib of the Thiruvananthapuram unit is probing the case.
The modus operandi of the racket was to arrange student visas using fake bank documents.
After reaching the foreign country, the youths would take up some part-time jobs for a couple of years and later avail of permanent residentship.
The bank officials arranged fake loan certificates to the racket which was essential to get student visa.
The candidate would be asked to open a savings bank account in the bank and deposit a few lakhs of rupees in the account. A demand draft would be issued using the fund available in the savings bank account and a fake loan certificate would also be issued in favour of the candidate so as to make the foreign institution believe that the candidate has been sanctioned education loan up to Rs 20 lakh.
The recruiting agency would subsequently get the student visa with the support of these fake documents. The bank officials were suspected to have received huge amounts as bribe from the recruiting agency as well as the candidates on this account.
While several students had knowingly used the illegal route, many were trapped by the racket by offering student visa at cheap rates, CBI sources said.
Boating at airport
Arjun RaghunathFirst Published : 23 Apr 2010 01:49:00 AM ISTLast Updated :
Sailing into an airport that is rich in trees and plants might be a wild imagination. But, the new International terminal of the Thiruvananthapuram airport would have such a unique attraction, if the State Government seriously considers a proposal mooted by the Airport officials. Sensing the potential of the Parvathi Puthanar canal that flows right in front of the new terminal, Airport officials have submitted a proposal to the State Government to develop the canal and introduce boat services.
Developing a waterway in front of the airport would definitely be a major tourist attraction. Moreover, it would also offer a cheaper mode of transport to an from the airport, says the proposal that was submitted by Airport Director V.N. Chandran to the Government recently.
It urges the Government to take the initiative to facilitate effective use of the Parvathi Puthanar and make the Kovalam - Chackai strip transport-worthy as a first step. It is also being pointed out that introducing boat services may also discourage the tendency of polluting the canal by dumping garbage. The proposal is under the consideration of the Government. Meanwhile, saplings of more than 20 varieties of trees and plants, including medicinal plants and rare trees, are being planted on the premises of the new terminal, which is almost ready for inauguration.
‘‘We would like to present a pleasing view to those who reach the airport and hence a rich garden is being developed. Tourists reaching the State though Thiruvananthapuram airport should get a feel of the State right at the airport itself,’’ says the Airport Director.
‘Nermarathu’, ‘Elanji’, ‘Ashokam’, ‘Cheruthekku’, Mango, ‘Kattarvazha’, ‘Adalodakam’, Neem, ‘Njaval’, ‘Arayal’, ‘Kanikonna’... thus goes the list of plants and trees being planted on the airport premises. The saplings are being planted after taking advice from experts, said Airport sources.
INAUGURATION LIKELY ON MAY 15
The new terminal is likely to be inaugurated on May 15. Though it was initially planned to be opened in January, it got delayed owing to the non-completion of the work on the approach road which is being carried out by state government agency KITCO. Sources said that KITCO officials had promised that the work would be completed by the first week on May. Hence, the inauguration of the new terminal has been tentatively fixed for May 15.
Sailing into an airport that is rich in trees and plants might be a wild imagination. But, the new International terminal of the Thiruvananthapuram airport would have such a unique attraction, if the State Government seriously considers a proposal mooted by the Airport officials. Sensing the potential of the Parvathi Puthanar canal that flows right in front of the new terminal, Airport officials have submitted a proposal to the State Government to develop the canal and introduce boat services.
Developing a waterway in front of the airport would definitely be a major tourist attraction. Moreover, it would also offer a cheaper mode of transport to an from the airport, says the proposal that was submitted by Airport Director V.N. Chandran to the Government recently.
It urges the Government to take the initiative to facilitate effective use of the Parvathi Puthanar and make the Kovalam - Chackai strip transport-worthy as a first step. It is also being pointed out that introducing boat services may also discourage the tendency of polluting the canal by dumping garbage. The proposal is under the consideration of the Government. Meanwhile, saplings of more than 20 varieties of trees and plants, including medicinal plants and rare trees, are being planted on the premises of the new terminal, which is almost ready for inauguration.
‘‘We would like to present a pleasing view to those who reach the airport and hence a rich garden is being developed. Tourists reaching the State though Thiruvananthapuram airport should get a feel of the State right at the airport itself,’’ says the Airport Director.
‘Nermarathu’, ‘Elanji’, ‘Ashokam’, ‘Cheruthekku’, Mango, ‘Kattarvazha’, ‘Adalodakam’, Neem, ‘Njaval’, ‘Arayal’, ‘Kanikonna’... thus goes the list of plants and trees being planted on the airport premises. The saplings are being planted after taking advice from experts, said Airport sources.
INAUGURATION LIKELY ON MAY 15
The new terminal is likely to be inaugurated on May 15. Though it was initially planned to be opened in January, it got delayed owing to the non-completion of the work on the approach road which is being carried out by state government agency KITCO. Sources said that KITCO officials had promised that the work would be completed by the first week on May. Hence, the inauguration of the new terminal has been tentatively fixed for May 15.
CBI chargesheets official, contractors
Arjun RaghunathFirst Published : 27 Jun 2009 09:48:09 AM ISTLast Updated :
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Six persons, including a senior Railway official and a retired official, have been charge-sheeted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the massive corruption in the installation of electronic display boards at various railway stations in the State.
Former senior divisional signal and telecommunication engineer of the Thiruvananthapuram Division P K Sanal Kumar, divisional signal and telecommunication engineer R Krishna Pillai and six railway contractors were charge-sheeted in the Rs 55-lakh corruption case. The CBI Thiruvananthapuram branch which investigated the case had filed the charge-sheet at the CBI court in Kochi on June 19.
The four others accused in the case are railway contractors. According to sources, the officials were charged with entering into a criminal conspiracy with railway contractors by misusing their official position with the intention of extending undue pecuniary advantage to private parties and thereby causing a huge loss to the Railways.
The CBI has also found that the two officials were involved in a malpractice in the purchase of plasma television sets. While Sanal Kumar is still in service, Krishna Pillai had retired from service. The CBI had recommended departmental action against Sanal Kumar.
The corruption pertaining to the installation of the display boards took place during 2005-07 period. The two officials had collected rates and other details regarding the installation of the display boards from the Thiruvananthapuram- based Apt Micro System owned by one R Radhakrishnan.
Though Apt Micro System had expressed its willingness to install the boards at reasonable rates, the officials conveyed that the firm was not qualified and hence could not undertake the works. The officials, however, informally informed Radhakrishnan that he could supply the materials at the mentioned rates to certain other parties.
Subsequently, the railway officials obtained inflated rates from Bangalore- based M/s Konark Industries and thereby managed to increase the budgetary allocation for the works.
Tenders were later invited for the works and the quotations submitted by the four railway contractors accused in the case were accepted deliberately ignoring the fact that the rates were exorbitant.
Later on, as advised by the accused officials, the four contractors acquired the display board materials from Apt Micro System at a lower rate.
The contractors who are arraigned as accused three to six in the case are Sivananda Kalburgi of Bangalore, M.R.Srinivas of Ess Vee Communications in Bangalore, Vinayak Sharma of LMG Infotech in New Delhi and P K Vidyasagar of G S Teletech in Ernakulam.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Six persons, including a senior Railway official and a retired official, have been charge-sheeted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the massive corruption in the installation of electronic display boards at various railway stations in the State.
Former senior divisional signal and telecommunication engineer of the Thiruvananthapuram Division P K Sanal Kumar, divisional signal and telecommunication engineer R Krishna Pillai and six railway contractors were charge-sheeted in the Rs 55-lakh corruption case. The CBI Thiruvananthapuram branch which investigated the case had filed the charge-sheet at the CBI court in Kochi on June 19.
The four others accused in the case are railway contractors. According to sources, the officials were charged with entering into a criminal conspiracy with railway contractors by misusing their official position with the intention of extending undue pecuniary advantage to private parties and thereby causing a huge loss to the Railways.
The CBI has also found that the two officials were involved in a malpractice in the purchase of plasma television sets. While Sanal Kumar is still in service, Krishna Pillai had retired from service. The CBI had recommended departmental action against Sanal Kumar.
The corruption pertaining to the installation of the display boards took place during 2005-07 period. The two officials had collected rates and other details regarding the installation of the display boards from the Thiruvananthapuram- based Apt Micro System owned by one R Radhakrishnan.
Though Apt Micro System had expressed its willingness to install the boards at reasonable rates, the officials conveyed that the firm was not qualified and hence could not undertake the works. The officials, however, informally informed Radhakrishnan that he could supply the materials at the mentioned rates to certain other parties.
Subsequently, the railway officials obtained inflated rates from Bangalore- based M/s Konark Industries and thereby managed to increase the budgetary allocation for the works.
Tenders were later invited for the works and the quotations submitted by the four railway contractors accused in the case were accepted deliberately ignoring the fact that the rates were exorbitant.
Later on, as advised by the accused officials, the four contractors acquired the display board materials from Apt Micro System at a lower rate.
The contractors who are arraigned as accused three to six in the case are Sivananda Kalburgi of Bangalore, M.R.Srinivas of Ess Vee Communications in Bangalore, Vinayak Sharma of LMG Infotech in New Delhi and P K Vidyasagar of G S Teletech in Ernakulam.
Paul case: Police at the receiving end
Arjun Raghunath I ENSFirst Published : 22 Jan 2010 01:00:48 PM ISTLast Updated :
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It is not just the credibility of the entire state police, but the credibility of a senior police officer that has been put on a litmus test with the High Court ordering a CBI probe into the Paul Muthoot George murder case.
IG Vinson M.Paul, who has been spearheading the investigation into the case, has been known for his integrity and probe skills. And, it is probably for this reason that the Government also `bravely’ welcomed a probe by any agency into the sensational murder case.
But the adverse observations made by the High Court regarding the probe, especially the impropriety in the press conference held by Vinson Paul on August 24, 2009 to brief about the case, has indeed shaken the integrity of the officer in the public.
Sources in the Police Department, however, say that Vinson Paul, who is IG Ernakulam Range, had addressed the press conference at the insistence of his higher-ups. It was Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan himself who had forced the police to hold a press conference and reveal the findings of the probe.
On August 23, 2009, two days after the murder of Paul George, the Home Minister told reporters that the police had received a clear picture about the murder and it would be divulged by the police the next day.
Subsequently, the police was forced to hold the controversial press conference. On August 24, Vinson Paul was in Thiruvananthapuram in connection with P.Chandrasekharan assuming charge as ADGP South Zone. By afternoon, Vinson Paul was directed by a superior officer to brief the mediapersons who had, by that time, assembled at the Alappuzha district police office.
``Vinson Paul had to even skip his lunch so that he could rush to Alappuzha. Since the mediapersons had already occupied the SP’s office, the IG could not even hold a brief discussion with the investigating officer, but was forced to land straight into the mouth of the eagerly awaiting journalists,’’ sources close to the IG said.
The adverse remarks of the High Court is also a backlash to the State Government which has been expressing confidence in the police probe.
Meanwhile, resentment is brewing among a major section in the police force on handing over cases to the CBI.
“Both the LDF and the UDF have the same strategy - to praise the police while in power and tarnish the force while in the Opposition. They are least concerned about its effect on the morale of the force,’’ lamented a senior police officer.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It is not just the credibility of the entire state police, but the credibility of a senior police officer that has been put on a litmus test with the High Court ordering a CBI probe into the Paul Muthoot George murder case.
IG Vinson M.Paul, who has been spearheading the investigation into the case, has been known for his integrity and probe skills. And, it is probably for this reason that the Government also `bravely’ welcomed a probe by any agency into the sensational murder case.
But the adverse observations made by the High Court regarding the probe, especially the impropriety in the press conference held by Vinson Paul on August 24, 2009 to brief about the case, has indeed shaken the integrity of the officer in the public.
Sources in the Police Department, however, say that Vinson Paul, who is IG Ernakulam Range, had addressed the press conference at the insistence of his higher-ups. It was Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan himself who had forced the police to hold a press conference and reveal the findings of the probe.
On August 23, 2009, two days after the murder of Paul George, the Home Minister told reporters that the police had received a clear picture about the murder and it would be divulged by the police the next day.
Subsequently, the police was forced to hold the controversial press conference. On August 24, Vinson Paul was in Thiruvananthapuram in connection with P.Chandrasekharan assuming charge as ADGP South Zone. By afternoon, Vinson Paul was directed by a superior officer to brief the mediapersons who had, by that time, assembled at the Alappuzha district police office.
``Vinson Paul had to even skip his lunch so that he could rush to Alappuzha. Since the mediapersons had already occupied the SP’s office, the IG could not even hold a brief discussion with the investigating officer, but was forced to land straight into the mouth of the eagerly awaiting journalists,’’ sources close to the IG said.
The adverse remarks of the High Court is also a backlash to the State Government which has been expressing confidence in the police probe.
Meanwhile, resentment is brewing among a major section in the police force on handing over cases to the CBI.
“Both the LDF and the UDF have the same strategy - to praise the police while in power and tarnish the force while in the Opposition. They are least concerned about its effect on the morale of the force,’’ lamented a senior police officer.
Kovalam-Kollam stretch all set to be ‘model road
Arjun RaghunathFirst Published : 21 Dec 2009 07:08:39 AM ISTLast Updated : 21 Dec 2009 08:18:34 AM IST
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Distractive advertisement hoardings will make way for more traffic signboards along the 70 kilometre-long Kovalam-Kollam stretch of National Highway-47 with the busy artery all set to be declared a `Model Road.’
In order to ensure that the road remains a model one, every 2 km of the stretch will have a police officer responsible for road safety. The Government has sanctioned around Rs 3 crore for putting up signboards and other road safety mechanisms along this stretch.
A task force constituted by the State Government for the purpose pointed out that certain advertisements boards and hoardings put up by commercial organisations and political parties along the stretch are distracting drivers, which is one major reason for accidents. Based on the recommendation of the task force, steps are being taken by the Government to remove all such hoardings by invoking various provisions in the Motor Vehicles Act and Kerala Highway Protection Act.
The task force headed by IG Thiruvananthapuram-range A Hemachandran also suggested that the number of Highway Patrols in charge of the stretch may be increased from three to four. Altogether, there would be 36 police personnel in the four Highway Patrols and each one of them are being given charge of about two kilometres of the road stretch. Designated as Road Safety Officers (RSO), they would be responsible for ensuring that all road safety mechanisms along the stretch assigned to them function effectively. The RSO may also constitute a ten-member Road Safety Group with people from the locality for the purpose.
The task force had identified 11 insufficiently-lit spots along the stretch. The Government has directed the KSEB to install sufficient streetlights at these points. The Public Works Department has been directed to install bumps on all sideroads of the National Highway between Kovalam and Kollam.
The other measures being taken to make the stretch a model road include clearing up of vegetation on the margins of the the road and conducting traffic awareness programmes at various levels.
Pointing out that the enforcement of traffic rules by the police often leads to traffic obstruction and other problems, the task force recommends installation of speed radars and surveillance cameras along the stretch in due course. The Government is also learnt to have sanctioned Rs 1 crore for installing surveillance cameras at 14 spots along the 70-km stretch.
Delay in getting medical attention had led to deaths of several accident victims along the stretch.
In order to tackle this, the task force recommended that the service of drivers of autorickshaws and taxis which ply along the National Highway should be utilised for addressing the issue.
Dr Mahesh Chand of NATPAC, Deputy Transport Commissioner Alex Paul and Executive Engineers George C. Varghese and Koshy John of Public Works Department are other members in the task force.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Distractive advertisement hoardings will make way for more traffic signboards along the 70 kilometre-long Kovalam-Kollam stretch of National Highway-47 with the busy artery all set to be declared a `Model Road.’
In order to ensure that the road remains a model one, every 2 km of the stretch will have a police officer responsible for road safety. The Government has sanctioned around Rs 3 crore for putting up signboards and other road safety mechanisms along this stretch.
A task force constituted by the State Government for the purpose pointed out that certain advertisements boards and hoardings put up by commercial organisations and political parties along the stretch are distracting drivers, which is one major reason for accidents. Based on the recommendation of the task force, steps are being taken by the Government to remove all such hoardings by invoking various provisions in the Motor Vehicles Act and Kerala Highway Protection Act.
The task force headed by IG Thiruvananthapuram-range A Hemachandran also suggested that the number of Highway Patrols in charge of the stretch may be increased from three to four. Altogether, there would be 36 police personnel in the four Highway Patrols and each one of them are being given charge of about two kilometres of the road stretch. Designated as Road Safety Officers (RSO), they would be responsible for ensuring that all road safety mechanisms along the stretch assigned to them function effectively. The RSO may also constitute a ten-member Road Safety Group with people from the locality for the purpose.
The task force had identified 11 insufficiently-lit spots along the stretch. The Government has directed the KSEB to install sufficient streetlights at these points. The Public Works Department has been directed to install bumps on all sideroads of the National Highway between Kovalam and Kollam.
The other measures being taken to make the stretch a model road include clearing up of vegetation on the margins of the the road and conducting traffic awareness programmes at various levels.
Pointing out that the enforcement of traffic rules by the police often leads to traffic obstruction and other problems, the task force recommends installation of speed radars and surveillance cameras along the stretch in due course. The Government is also learnt to have sanctioned Rs 1 crore for installing surveillance cameras at 14 spots along the 70-km stretch.
Delay in getting medical attention had led to deaths of several accident victims along the stretch.
In order to tackle this, the task force recommended that the service of drivers of autorickshaws and taxis which ply along the National Highway should be utilised for addressing the issue.
Dr Mahesh Chand of NATPAC, Deputy Transport Commissioner Alex Paul and Executive Engineers George C. Varghese and Koshy John of Public Works Department are other members in the task force.
CDAC plans to develop mobile forensic tools
Arjun RaghunathFirst Published : 28 Oct 2009 10:11:01 AM ISTLast Updated :
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In the wake of the rampant use of mobile phones in criminal activities, the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC) is developing a set of mobile forensic tools for the law enforcement agencies.
Highly-placed sources in CDAC told ‘Express’ that the plan is to develop a software-based tool as well as an equipment for mobile forensics. The tools would be comprehensive which could even deal with advanced technologies like 3G and Blackberry.
“The project is only in the beginning stage and it would take some time to bring out a full-fledged version tool which could be used by investigation agencies. In the initial phase, we would be developing cyber forensic software and cyber forensic equipment would be developed in the next stage, ” said sources.
Already, a series of forensic tools are available in the market, most of which are developed by foreign companies. The Hi-Tech Crime Inquiry Cell of the state police which deals with mobile-related investigations, is mainly using the EnCase software developed by international firm, Guidance Software. Several leading agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation is also using EnCase forensic tools.
However, an effective tool to track crimes committed using Blackberry and other new technologies like 3G is not yet available in the Indian market, especially Kerala. The main issue with Blackberry service is that it is being routed through a server outside the country and hence the law-enforcement agencies have limitations in tracking crimes committed using Blackberry, said sources.
“Since there are already an array of mobile forensic tools with proven track records, C-DAC should better bring out tools that could deal with crimes committed using 3G and Blackberry services, ‘’ sources said.
The mobile phone population in the state have reached about 2 crore, ie. nearly one-third of the state’s population. In such a scenario, mobile phones have become an integral part in most of the crimes, ranging from sending of malicious SMS messages to communication between criminals, said IG Tomin J. Thachankary who is in charge of the Hi-Tech Crime Inquiry Cell.
CDAC, which is an agency under the Central Government, had played a key role in equipping the state police with cyber forensic skills. It had also developed an array of cyber forensic tools and had also assisted the law enforcement agencies in several sensational cases including the examination of the hard disc of Kafeel Ahammed who was involved in a failed terror plot in UK.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In the wake of the rampant use of mobile phones in criminal activities, the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC) is developing a set of mobile forensic tools for the law enforcement agencies.
Highly-placed sources in CDAC told ‘Express’ that the plan is to develop a software-based tool as well as an equipment for mobile forensics. The tools would be comprehensive which could even deal with advanced technologies like 3G and Blackberry.
“The project is only in the beginning stage and it would take some time to bring out a full-fledged version tool which could be used by investigation agencies. In the initial phase, we would be developing cyber forensic software and cyber forensic equipment would be developed in the next stage, ” said sources.
Already, a series of forensic tools are available in the market, most of which are developed by foreign companies. The Hi-Tech Crime Inquiry Cell of the state police which deals with mobile-related investigations, is mainly using the EnCase software developed by international firm, Guidance Software. Several leading agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation is also using EnCase forensic tools.
However, an effective tool to track crimes committed using Blackberry and other new technologies like 3G is not yet available in the Indian market, especially Kerala. The main issue with Blackberry service is that it is being routed through a server outside the country and hence the law-enforcement agencies have limitations in tracking crimes committed using Blackberry, said sources.
“Since there are already an array of mobile forensic tools with proven track records, C-DAC should better bring out tools that could deal with crimes committed using 3G and Blackberry services, ‘’ sources said.
The mobile phone population in the state have reached about 2 crore, ie. nearly one-third of the state’s population. In such a scenario, mobile phones have become an integral part in most of the crimes, ranging from sending of malicious SMS messages to communication between criminals, said IG Tomin J. Thachankary who is in charge of the Hi-Tech Crime Inquiry Cell.
CDAC, which is an agency under the Central Government, had played a key role in equipping the state police with cyber forensic skills. It had also developed an array of cyber forensic tools and had also assisted the law enforcement agencies in several sensational cases including the examination of the hard disc of Kafeel Ahammed who was involved in a failed terror plot in UK.
Police lapses led to Cheriyathura firing
Arjun RaghunathFirst Published : 22 May 2009 12:03:00 AM ISTLast Updated :
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It may seem strange but there is a coincidence in the serious lapse on the part of the police in the Poonthura riots of 1992 and the Cheriyathura police firing last Sunday. The repetition of the lapse after 17 years is because of the laxity on the part of the government to implement the recommendations of the Aravindaksha Menon Commission that had probed the Poonthura riots.
The absence of senior police officers on the scene and the lack of coordination between the police and district officials that had worsened the situation in Poonthura were repeated in Cheriyathura.
The Poonthura riots, an aftermath of the Babari Masjid demolition, occurred in July 1992. The Aravindakshan Menon Commission had pointed to serious lapses on the part of the police, especially delay in action.
The commission had stated in its report that during the breakout of the clashes on July 19, 1992, the then DGP C Subramaniam was in Chennai without submitting proper leave application whereas the next seniormost officer and then ADGP (Intelligence) Jayaram Padickal had not acted. Incidentally, City Police Commissioner S Gopinath and IG Vinson M Paul were not on duty when the Cheriyathura firing took place.
The commission had said there was a lack of rapport between the district administration and the police.
‘‘It looks that the rapport between the Police Commissioner and the District Magistrate in Thiruvananthapuram is wanting,’’ said the report tabled in the Assembly in September 2006. In Cheriyathura, the police allegedly opened fire without consulting senior officials or the district administration.
The Poonthura Commission also suggested that the District Magistrate (Collector) should collect the report on the law and order situation from the SPs regularly and discuss the matter. The commission also suggested that there should be proper screening while deploying police officials in riot-affected areas.
No sooner had the din of the Poonthura riot died down came the Vizhinjam riot claiming two lives in clashes between two sections over a piece of land. The R Gopalakrishna Pillai Commission that probed the incident had recommended a set of measures to avert tension in the coastal belt and instill communal harmony. Some of the recommendations of the commission were establishing schools and colleges in the coastal area, making education up to SSLC compulsory, providing financial aid for higher studies to children of fishermen and introducing social welfare, job-oriented schemes for the families of fishermen.
The commission also suggested setting up a permanent police picket, a bomb squad and a fire station in the locality and a ban on the use of explosives. Besides the initial facesaving measures, the governments that came into existence from time to time had not taken any serious efforts to look into these recommendations or initiate steps to instill communal harmony across the coastal belt. The fate of various recommendations of the Thomas P Joseph inquiry commission on the Marad riots to instill communal harmony in the coastal belt is also not different.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It may seem strange but there is a coincidence in the serious lapse on the part of the police in the Poonthura riots of 1992 and the Cheriyathura police firing last Sunday. The repetition of the lapse after 17 years is because of the laxity on the part of the government to implement the recommendations of the Aravindaksha Menon Commission that had probed the Poonthura riots.
The absence of senior police officers on the scene and the lack of coordination between the police and district officials that had worsened the situation in Poonthura were repeated in Cheriyathura.
The Poonthura riots, an aftermath of the Babari Masjid demolition, occurred in July 1992. The Aravindakshan Menon Commission had pointed to serious lapses on the part of the police, especially delay in action.
The commission had stated in its report that during the breakout of the clashes on July 19, 1992, the then DGP C Subramaniam was in Chennai without submitting proper leave application whereas the next seniormost officer and then ADGP (Intelligence) Jayaram Padickal had not acted. Incidentally, City Police Commissioner S Gopinath and IG Vinson M Paul were not on duty when the Cheriyathura firing took place.
The commission had said there was a lack of rapport between the district administration and the police.
‘‘It looks that the rapport between the Police Commissioner and the District Magistrate in Thiruvananthapuram is wanting,’’ said the report tabled in the Assembly in September 2006. In Cheriyathura, the police allegedly opened fire without consulting senior officials or the district administration.
The Poonthura Commission also suggested that the District Magistrate (Collector) should collect the report on the law and order situation from the SPs regularly and discuss the matter. The commission also suggested that there should be proper screening while deploying police officials in riot-affected areas.
No sooner had the din of the Poonthura riot died down came the Vizhinjam riot claiming two lives in clashes between two sections over a piece of land. The R Gopalakrishna Pillai Commission that probed the incident had recommended a set of measures to avert tension in the coastal belt and instill communal harmony. Some of the recommendations of the commission were establishing schools and colleges in the coastal area, making education up to SSLC compulsory, providing financial aid for higher studies to children of fishermen and introducing social welfare, job-oriented schemes for the families of fishermen.
The commission also suggested setting up a permanent police picket, a bomb squad and a fire station in the locality and a ban on the use of explosives. Besides the initial facesaving measures, the governments that came into existence from time to time had not taken any serious efforts to look into these recommendations or initiate steps to instill communal harmony across the coastal belt. The fate of various recommendations of the Thomas P Joseph inquiry commission on the Marad riots to instill communal harmony in the coastal belt is also not different.
Government deal with RCom raises questions
Arjun RaghunathFirst Published : 27 Mar 2010 10:20:59 AM ISTLast Updated : 28 Mar 2010 10:10:19 AM IST
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Amidst a row over handing over the management of the State Data Centre (SDC) to Reliance Communication, it has come to light that the bandwidth of the SDC has been almost trippled immediately after the Reliance clinched the deal.
Sources told ‘Express’ that the bandwidth of SDC that was 34 mbps was increased to 100 mbps in February, two months after the Reliance was handed-over the management of the SDC in December 2009.
The State exchequer would incur an additional expense of around Rs 20 lakh with the enhancement of the bandwidth.
While officials of Reliance Communication and Kerala State IT Mission (KSITM) maintain that the bandwidth was increased in view of heavy traffic, a section of officials at the IT Department point out that the incompetency of the Reliance officials in handling the data centre had forced for an enhancement of the bandwidth.
‘‘Until a couple of months back even at the time of peak traffic only 60 percent of the bandwidth of 34 mbps was utilised,’’ said sources.
The Commercial Taxes department had complained that there was lack of speed, especially during online filing of Value Added Tax.
Sources at Commercial Taxes department admit that there were no major issues during the previous years.
These developments further strengthen the allegations that the KSITM had diluted various key norms in the tender for selecting an agency for managing the SDC.
As per the initial tender norm, experience in maintaining a data centre was required. It was later altered as experience in running ‘internet’ data centre. IT experts point out that maintaining an internet data centre did not require much skill as that of a data centre.
It is also alleged that many of the officials appointed by the Reliance Communication at the SDC are not qualified enough to manage a data centre.KSITM Director Rathan Khelkar, however, said that the bandwidth was increased in view of complaints of slow data transfer during peak hours.
‘‘There is an increasing use of the e-Governance applications and hence the bandwidth was enhanced after conducting trial runs, ‘’ he told ‘Express’.
Meanwhile, P C George MLA, who had earlier raised the issue in the Assembly gave a written request to the Chief Minister the other day demanding a detailed probe into the awarding of the contract to Reliance Communication.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Amidst a row over handing over the management of the State Data Centre (SDC) to Reliance Communication, it has come to light that the bandwidth of the SDC has been almost trippled immediately after the Reliance clinched the deal.
Sources told ‘Express’ that the bandwidth of SDC that was 34 mbps was increased to 100 mbps in February, two months after the Reliance was handed-over the management of the SDC in December 2009.
The State exchequer would incur an additional expense of around Rs 20 lakh with the enhancement of the bandwidth.
While officials of Reliance Communication and Kerala State IT Mission (KSITM) maintain that the bandwidth was increased in view of heavy traffic, a section of officials at the IT Department point out that the incompetency of the Reliance officials in handling the data centre had forced for an enhancement of the bandwidth.
‘‘Until a couple of months back even at the time of peak traffic only 60 percent of the bandwidth of 34 mbps was utilised,’’ said sources.
The Commercial Taxes department had complained that there was lack of speed, especially during online filing of Value Added Tax.
Sources at Commercial Taxes department admit that there were no major issues during the previous years.
These developments further strengthen the allegations that the KSITM had diluted various key norms in the tender for selecting an agency for managing the SDC.
As per the initial tender norm, experience in maintaining a data centre was required. It was later altered as experience in running ‘internet’ data centre. IT experts point out that maintaining an internet data centre did not require much skill as that of a data centre.
It is also alleged that many of the officials appointed by the Reliance Communication at the SDC are not qualified enough to manage a data centre.KSITM Director Rathan Khelkar, however, said that the bandwidth was increased in view of complaints of slow data transfer during peak hours.
‘‘There is an increasing use of the e-Governance applications and hence the bandwidth was enhanced after conducting trial runs, ‘’ he told ‘Express’.
Meanwhile, P C George MLA, who had earlier raised the issue in the Assembly gave a written request to the Chief Minister the other day demanding a detailed probe into the awarding of the contract to Reliance Communication.
Love story that created Taj Mahal
Arjun RaghunathFirst Published : 24 Mar 2010 02:10:00 AM ISTLast Updated :
Taj Mahal, one of the wonders of the world, needs no introduction. But the deep love story of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan and his wife Mumtaz, which eventually resulted in the making of Taj Mahal, is not that well-known.
With this idea in mind, the Technopark-based Toonz Animation, in association with the Middle East-based Al-Jazeera, is bringing out an animated film on Taj Mahal, focusing on the love story.
``We have already started the initial works on the 4-million dollar project. Our idea was to bring out something acceptable to the Muslim community and hence this story was chosen. The film would be targeting India and the Middle East,’’ P. Jayakumar, chief executive officer of Toonz Animation, told ‘Expresso’.
Toonz, one of the leading animation production companies in India, is also planning a tie-up with Nokia for providing digitised versions of popular comics through the OVI store of Nokia, from where Nokia phone customers could download a variety of applications.
``The discussions in this line are only in the preliminary stages. Our proposal is to provide digitised versions of popular comics like Amar Chitra Katha on the OVI store,’’ said Jayakumar.
Toonz, which has established its name in the world animation industry by associating with leading media houses like BBC, Walt Disney, Marvel and Universal Studios, has entertained the animation lovers in India by bringing out the country’s first animated television series `The Adventures of Tenali Raman’ and other projects like `Hanuman’ and `Geet Mahabharat’.
Briefing on the future plans of Toonz, Jayakumar said that Toonz is working out a 75-million dollar project to bring out three big budget movies, each costing about 25 million dollars.
``We are holding talks with several foreign financial institutions on funding the ambitious project. All the films would be family and kids- oriented and would be mainly targeting the US market. While the pre- and post-production works would be done in the US, the production part would be carried out at our Technopark studio,’’ he said.
The ongoing works of Toonz include an animated movie `The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus’. The 12-million dollar project is scheduled to be launched by 2011 Christmas. `Gaturro’, a 90-minute 3D animated feature film based on the famous Argentine comic strip Gaturro, is scheduled to be released this November.
Works on the Amitabh Bachchan-starrer `Twinergy’, being directed by Priyadarshan, is also progressing, said Jayakumar.
Toonz, that was slightly affected by the recession, is now eyeing the Malaysian and Middle East markets.
“Both the Malaysian Government and the royal families in the Middle East are pumping in massive funds to the creative industry. With our rich experience in the animation industry, we hope to tap these markets,’’ said Jayakumar.
The works on our own campus at KINFRA Film and Video Park would begin soon, he added.
Taj Mahal, one of the wonders of the world, needs no introduction. But the deep love story of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan and his wife Mumtaz, which eventually resulted in the making of Taj Mahal, is not that well-known.
With this idea in mind, the Technopark-based Toonz Animation, in association with the Middle East-based Al-Jazeera, is bringing out an animated film on Taj Mahal, focusing on the love story.
``We have already started the initial works on the 4-million dollar project. Our idea was to bring out something acceptable to the Muslim community and hence this story was chosen. The film would be targeting India and the Middle East,’’ P. Jayakumar, chief executive officer of Toonz Animation, told ‘Expresso’.
Toonz, one of the leading animation production companies in India, is also planning a tie-up with Nokia for providing digitised versions of popular comics through the OVI store of Nokia, from where Nokia phone customers could download a variety of applications.
``The discussions in this line are only in the preliminary stages. Our proposal is to provide digitised versions of popular comics like Amar Chitra Katha on the OVI store,’’ said Jayakumar.
Toonz, which has established its name in the world animation industry by associating with leading media houses like BBC, Walt Disney, Marvel and Universal Studios, has entertained the animation lovers in India by bringing out the country’s first animated television series `The Adventures of Tenali Raman’ and other projects like `Hanuman’ and `Geet Mahabharat’.
Briefing on the future plans of Toonz, Jayakumar said that Toonz is working out a 75-million dollar project to bring out three big budget movies, each costing about 25 million dollars.
``We are holding talks with several foreign financial institutions on funding the ambitious project. All the films would be family and kids- oriented and would be mainly targeting the US market. While the pre- and post-production works would be done in the US, the production part would be carried out at our Technopark studio,’’ he said.
The ongoing works of Toonz include an animated movie `The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus’. The 12-million dollar project is scheduled to be launched by 2011 Christmas. `Gaturro’, a 90-minute 3D animated feature film based on the famous Argentine comic strip Gaturro, is scheduled to be released this November.
Works on the Amitabh Bachchan-starrer `Twinergy’, being directed by Priyadarshan, is also progressing, said Jayakumar.
Toonz, that was slightly affected by the recession, is now eyeing the Malaysian and Middle East markets.
“Both the Malaysian Government and the royal families in the Middle East are pumping in massive funds to the creative industry. With our rich experience in the animation industry, we hope to tap these markets,’’ said Jayakumar.
The works on our own campus at KINFRA Film and Video Park would begin soon, he added.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
