Latest news with #ThalavaiSundaram
The Hindu
28-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Nagercoil Corporation's drinking water tax, deposit hike draws flak
Following the footsteps of Tirunelveli Corporation, the urban civic body of Nagercoil has also resolved to steeply hike the water tax only to draw the public ire and stiff resistance from the politicians affiliated to the AIADMK and the BJP. In the council meeting held here on Tuesday, the Corporation decided to increase the drinking water connection deposit and the monthly tax based on the plinth area of the houses or the commercial establishments. The AIADMK and the BJP councillors walked out of the council meeting in protest. Kanniyakumari MLA and former minister N. Thalavai Sundaram of AIADMK has criticised the Corporation's decision to upwardly revise the water tax and the deposits for getting drinking water connection He said in a statement that residents of the newly annexed areas like Thengampudhur in Kanniyakumari Assembly constituency and Aalur in Colachel Assembly segment would also have to pay this hiked tax and the deposit even though no project for giving drinking water connections to the residents had been implemented in these two areas under the AMRUT scheme. Terming the Corporation's decision as 'anti-people', Mr. Thalavai Sundaram said the Stalin-led Tamil Nadu Government, after 'torturing the public' by hiking power tariff, property tax, vacant land tax etc., had landed another punch on the face of the public in the form of water tax increase. As per the Nagercoil Corporation's decision, ₹5,000 would be collected as deposit from a house built with the plinth area of 600 square feet and this amount would be ₹10,000 for government offices, commercial establishments, factories and the educational institutions. When the plinth area goes up to 601 and 1,200 the deposit would be ₹7,500 and ₹15,000 respectively for houses and other non-residential establishments. And, the deposit would be ₹10,000 for houses and ₹20,000 for other structures (from 1,201 sq ft to 1,800 ₹12,000 for houses and ₹25,000 for other structures (from 1,801 sq ft to 2,400 The monthly drinking water tax has also been revised. While ₹120 a month will be collected for 10,000 litres of water a month from the houses, others will have to pay ₹360 a month. For every 1,000 litre over the 10,000 litre, ₹18 will be collected and this amount will be ₹54 for other non-residential establishments. This amount will increase based on the plinth area of the property from ₹140 a month (600 for houses to ₹180 a month (2,400 And, the amount to be collected for every 1,000 litre water consumed over the 10,000 litres will attract more tax ranging up to ₹27 per every 1,000 litre. 'The resolution passed by the Nagercoil Corporation on Tuesday will also compel those who have already paid the deposit to give the revised deposit amount. The people, who have been hit hard by inflation and the unprecedented hike in other taxes and tariff, will put an end to this atrocity very soon,' Mr. Thalavai Sundaram said.
Hindustan Times
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
18 Bills adopted, Tamil Nadu Assembly adjourned sine die
Chennai, Tamil Nadu Assembly on Tuesday adopted as many as 18 Bills including the Tamil Nadu Money Lending Entities , Bill 2025 and the House was later adjourned sine die by Speaker M Appavu. When a Bill to amend the Goondas Act, to bring economic offences and violations of Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules under its ambit was taken up for scrutiny, main opposition AIADMK's Thalavai Sundaram spoke on dumping of waste from Kerala. Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi's SS Balaji wanted "hazardous waste," to be included in the amendment and Minister for Housing, Prohibition and Excise, S Muthusamy said the proposals would be considered and later the Bill was declared passed. The Statement of Objects and Reasons of the bill to amend the Goondas Act said that Chief Minister M K Stalin had announced that persons indulging in economic offences would be detained under the Goondas Act and accordingly, the amendment Bill for that purpose. The statement further said improper disposal of bio-medical waste poses grave risks to public health and environment. There are frequent complaints about the dumping of such wastes in Tamil Nadu from the neighbouring states. The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court in its order of November 15, 2023 observed that it is right time to book the violators of the Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016 under the Goondas Act by making suitable amendment. When the TN Money Lending Entities Bill, 2025 was taken up, members, including AIADMK's Agri SS Krishnamurthy proposed amendments to further strengthen the provisions to protect the interests of the common people. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, who piloted the Bill said that such proposals would be taken up for consideration in the future. He moved an amendment to exempt banks from the applicability of the provisions related to coercive action against the borrower and said that it was on the advice of the RBI. This amendment was passed by a voice vote, incorporated and the Bill was adopted. This Bill is to prevent coercive means of loan recovery by money lenders including digital lending platforms. The Bill defines coercive action. Intimidating the borrower or any of his family members, obstructing or using violence, interfering with any property owned or used by the borrower are part of the description that shall constitute an offence. Using the service of private or outsourced or external agencies to negotiate or urging the borrower to make payment using coercive methods or by way of exerting undue influence are for specified offences include imprisonment upto three years and it may also further extend to five years or fine upto five lakh, or both. Thalavai Sundaram, speaking on the Bill to amend The Registration Act, 1908, in its application to Tamil Nadu, said that only courts could decide matters on title deeds and Minister for Commercial Taxes and Registration, P Moorthy replied that the amendment conforms to a Supreme Court judgment in this regard. The amendment introduces a new section 34-C which deals with production of original documents alongwith Encumbrance Certificate for registration and circumstances detailing other requirements, such as NOC from mortgagee for a subsisting mortgage. A Bill to establish Kalaignar University at Kumbakonam in the Cauvery delta region was passed. The Bill, to provide for the establishment and incorporation of the Kalaignar University, seeks to bifurcate Bharathidasan University, which presently caters to the educational needs of eight districts. "The Bharathidasan University is the only state university covering larger areas, and it finds difficult to cater to the needs of the students, especially in the coastal areas of the delta districts," the statement of objects and reason of the Bill stated. Bills to amend the TN Physical Education and Sports University Act, 2004 and the TN Lifts and Escalators Act, 1997 were among the Bills passed. The sports university amendment bill empowers the state government to appoint and remove the vice-chancellor of this varsity. Also, it removes disqualification, in conformity with the provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 . Grant of online permission and licence, "digitalise" all processes related to installation and working of lifts and escalators was a key aspect of the Objects and Reasons statement for amending the Lifts Act. Another important provision is decriminalising offences under the Lifts Act. The full title of the Goondas Act is: Tamil Nadu Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Bootleggers, Cyber law offenders, Forest-offenders, Goondas, Immoral traffic offenders, Sand-offenders, Sexual-offenders, Slum-grabbers and Video Pirates Act, 1982. The short title, "Goondas Act," is the popular version. In total, 18 Bills were adopted after scrutiny and Leader of the House and Water Resources Minister, Duraimurugan moved a resolution for adjourning the House sine dine and it was passed. The Assembly was convened on March 14, 2025 and the state budget was presented that day.
The Hindu
22-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Plea to operate biweekly Thirukural Express Train daily
Member of Legislative Assembly N. Thalavai Sundaram has appealed to Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw to operate the biweekly Thirukkural Superfast Express Train from Kanniyakumari to Hazrat Nizamuddin every day. In a memorandum submitted to the Minister, Mr. Thalavai Sundaram said the Indian Railways operated two daily train services — Tamil Nadu Express and the Grand Trunk Express Trains— along with Rajdhani and Duranto Express Trains up to Chennai. Even though Tamil Nadu had better connectivity with Delhi, the people of southern districts were not much benefited through these train services. There was no daily train service from south and central Tamil Nadu to New Delhi, though the national capital and the National Capital Region housed a significant number of people from these districts working in various government and private offices. Consequently, the southern Tamil Nadu passengers had to break their journey due to lack of direct trains, wasting precious time and money. Since these trains were being operated to Delhi either from Egmore or Chennai Central Railway Stations, the passengers had to carry their children and baggage with much difficulty to board the train to Delhi, he said. Considering the comfort of passengers from Kanniyakumari, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Tenkasi and Virudhunagar districts, Thirukkural Superfast Express Train (Number 12641 / 12642), now being operated as biweekly express train with excellent patronage should be run daily. 'There is no difficulty in operating this train every day as the Indian Railways has completed the track doubling between Chennai and Kanniyakumari, which has pit line facility' Mr. Thalavai Sundaram said.
