Mettur dam release will not hit work on bridge across Cauvery, clarifies highways department
The new high-level bridge being constructed at an estimate of Rs 106 crore adjacent to the one built in 1976 will be 540 metres long and 17.75 metres wide. It will have 16 spans. The Construction and Maintenance Wing of the state highways department is building the bridge using funds from the Comprehensive Road Infrastructure Development Program (CRIDP).
Mentioning the bridge work having been initiated following prolonged demands to ease traffic congestion on the existing one across the Cauvery, P Ayyarappan, coordinator of the Road Users Welfare Committee, said currently, seven of its 15 proposed pillars have only been completed in construction from the Mambala Salai side. With the Cauvery water scheduled to be released from the Mettur dam on June 12, he expressed scepticism over the completion of piling work on the bridge pillars ahead of the river water reaching the district. Each pillar is learnt to require six piles.
When contacted, a senior official from the state highways department told TNIE, "We have safeguarded the seven completed pillars by creating temporary sand bunds to divert the water flow towards the southern side. This allows us to continue constructing pier caps on the pillars and placing spans on them. However, the quantum of water flowing in the river will determine whether we can continue the work or will need to suspend it temporarily." Ayyarappan urged the authorities to complete the work at the earliest without compromising on quality.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
14 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Centre may ban all forms of real money games, penalise influencers promoting them
The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) has drafted a legislation which could place a blanket on all online gaming services – where users can play games after depositing money, in hopes of making more money – owing to growing concerns about alleged money laundering through these services, and their harmful societal impact, The Indian Express has learnt. The proposed law is believed to be titled 'The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025' and is understood to have received the Cabinet's approval. Although, it is worth noting that the deliberations in the legislation are currently in the draft stage, and its proposals are open to changes. The Bill has been drafted over national security concerns related to online gaming platforms, including the use of digital wallets and cryptocurrencies for money laundering and illicit fund transfers, these platforms serving as potential messaging and communication grounds for terror organisations, and offshore entities circumventing Indian tax and legal obligations, among others. As per the current version of the draft law, the government will prohibit any person from offering online games in India, failing which they could be imprisoned for up to three years, and penalised Rs 1 crore. Those promoting such platforms, such as social media influencers, may also face jail time of two years, and a penalty of Rs 50 lakh. The government may also prohibit banks and financial institutions from facilitating financial transactions on such platforms. The IT Ministry did not respond to a request for comment. A change in approach The Bill, in its current version, is a sharp departure from just about two years ago, when in April 2023, the IT Ministry had introduced rules for online gaming, which were largely seen as pro-industry. However, those rules proved difficult to implement due to potential conflict of issues, as the rules envisioned creating a self regulatory structure, which could have been influenced by the industry. As such, they remained stuck in limbo, even as national security and socio-economic concerns due to such platforms gained traction. If the draft Bill is implemented in its current form, it will be a death blow to the online gaming industry in the country, which is projected to be a $9 billion market by 2029. The industry has also faced a 28 per cent Goods and Services Tax (GST), with proposals to increase the tax on these services to as high as 40 per cent, this paper had earlier reported. According to a report by FICCI and EY from March 2025, online gaming companies in India collectively earned a revenue of close to $2.7 billion in 2024. These companies typically make money by taking a cut from a user's winnings. As per the report, more than 155 million Indians engaged with real money gaming sub-segments such as fantasy sports, rummy, poker and other transaction-based games in 2024, marking a 10 per cent increase over 2023. On an average, around 110 million people played these games daily. The Bill is also understood to have envisioned the creation of a central authority to promote competitive e-sports in the country, while ensuring overall compliance with the law. The Centre will also recognise, categorise and register 'online social games' with the authority and facilitate the development and availability of online social games for recreational and educational purposes. Online social games may have an option to accept payment in the form of a subscription fee or access fee, as long as it is not in the form of a stake or wager.
Indian Express
15 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Will increase farm suicide and distress: Cotton growers protest removal of import duty on cotton
Cotton growers across the state have protested against the decision of the central government to lift the 11 per cent import duty on cotton till September. Farm leaders said that this move would accelerate farm suicide and farm distress. On Tuesday, the central government declared the removal of the 11 per cent import duty on cotton. This move has been welcomed by the Textile Trade, saying imports would help in reducing the stress on the industry due to higher prices of domestic produce. Laximkant Kauthakar, Vidarbha president of Shetkari Sanghatana said this move would result in distress for cotton growers in Marathwada and Vidarbha, 'Even before the present crop has hit the market, prices are below the government declared Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs 7,710/quintal (medium staple). Once the new crop comes in it would dip further. With imports now threatening to flood the market, we can't imagine how the prices would react,' he said. Kauthankar who himself is a cotton farmer from Akola, Maharashtra said this move might push more farmers to die by suicide. Atul Ganatra, president of the Cotton Association of India (CAI)- the apex body of cotton value change in the country- however said this move will not affect the domestic prices. 'The domestic produce would arrive post October so the imports would help the price stressed textile industry,' he said. Meanwhile, Manikrao Kadam, a farm leader from Marathwada area of Maharashtra said the government has buckled under pressure from the US government. 'All talks about protecting the farmer have been in vain,' he said. Similarly, Vijay Jawandhiya, a farm leader from Vidarbha went on to add that this move might help the textile industry but farmers would not be helped. 'There would be continuous decline in prices with strong government intervention necessary to help the farmers. Procurement under MSP has to be buckled up,' he said. Former MP Raju Shetti was also critical of the move. 'The government has buckled under US pressure,' he said.
Time of India
28 minutes ago
- Time of India
Punjabi University teachers threaten boycott over salary delay
Patiala: Faculty members of Punjabi University Patiala are yet to receive their salaries for July 2025, even as most of Aug has passed. Expressing strong resentment over the delay, the Punjabi University Teachers' Association (PUTA) has submitted a formal letter to the vice-chancellor, demanding the release of salaries by Aug 20. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now PUTA has warned that if their demand is not met, university teachers will boycott classes from Aug 21. PUTA president Prof Bhupinder Singh Virk urged the Punjab govt to immediately release the university's monthly grants. "If the govt ignores this serious issue, PUTA will be forced to adopt a more stringent approach. In case the situation does not improve, we will be compelled to launch a large-scale protest," he said. Echoing the concern, PUTA secretary Charanjeev Singh said that salary is a fundamental right of employees, and its delay leads to both financial and mental distress. "In today's era of inflation, it is impossible to meet essential expenses such as electricity, water, school fees, and other household costs without timely salaries. When teachers are battling financial insecurity, it directly affects their ability to teach students effectively," he said. The association has demanded that the Punjab govt release the required grant without further delay, emphasising that the financial uncertainty of teachers ultimately impacts the future of students. In the past the PUTA had protested several times to demand the release of salaries of the faculty members after a delay of one or two months. Earlier in mid of Dec 2023, PUTA had boycott the services during examinations at Punjabi University main campus and its regional centers and neighborhood campuses due to failure of salaries for over a month. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now An official said that monthly grant of Rs 32 crore was not released by the state government for the month of July following which the salaries could not be disbursed to the faculty. Sources in the university said the government grant of Rs 32 crore is provided every month to the university whereas Rs 35 crore are spent on salaries of employees and Rs 10 crore on pensions by the university. "We have to use the resources of university including Rs 200 crore of annual income from the fees. The university is facing crisis and even this year a deficit budget was presented", said a university official.
