Tirunelveli Merku

Everything you need to know about Tirunelveli Merku: news, reviews, in-depth analysis, opinion and more

Everything you need to know about Tirunelveli Merku: news, reviews, in-depth analysis, opinion and more

Tamil Nadu to upgrade barren lands for cultivation

May 6, 2013 at 8:40 PM

Chennai, May 6 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa Monday said her government would upgrade 12,500 acre of barren land into cultivable farm land with adequate water facilities while announcing several schemes for ushering in a second green revolution in the state.

Giving nod to Kudankulam n-plant unfortunate: Achuthanandan

May 6, 2013 at 3:52 PM

Thiruvananthapuram, May 6 (IANS) Former Kerala chief minister V.S. Achuthanandan Monday termed as unfortunate the sanction accorded by the apex court to operationalise the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in Tamil Nadu.

Karnataka,TN Police arrest three persons for Bangalore blasts (Update:Bangalore blast)

April 23, 2013 at 12:12 PM

Chennai/Bangalore, April 23 (ANI): Karnataka Police and the Intelligence wing of Tamil Nadu have arrested three persons for their alleged involvement in the bomb blasts outside the Bangalore office of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Kudankulam nuclear power plant will be commissioned in April: Narayanasamy

March 29, 2013 at 8:02 PM

New Delhi, Mar. 29 (ANI): Minister of State in Prime Minister's Office (PMO) V. Narayanasamy on Friday assured that the Kudankulam nuclear power plant will be commissioned in April, and said that it would generate 2,000 MW of power in the current year.

Manmohan Singh assures Putin nuclear plant now on track

March 27, 2013 at 8:50 PM

Durban, March 27 (IANS) Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has assured Russian President Vladimir Putin that the first phase of the atomic power project in Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu, that has seen a series of anti-nuclear protests, will be up and running by next month.

Manmohan Singh assures Putin on nuclear plant

March 27, 2013 at 10:50 AM

Durban, March 27 (IANS) Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has assured Russian President Vladimir Putin that the first phase of the nuclear power project at Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu will be up and running by next month.

Guidelines soon to stem child abuse in conflict zones (Dec 10 is World Human Rights Day)

December 10, 2012 at 12:16 PM

New Delhi, Dec 10 (IANS) Children are the worst sufferers in Maoist-hit conflict zones with many landing behind bars for being accomplices in civil strife or armed conflict. Child rights body National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) is drawing up a set of guidelines for the police and the armed forces on how to deal with such children, says its head, Shanta Sinha.

Kundankulam n?plant: SC frowns at Tamil Nadu's lethargy

November 20, 2012 at 7:14 PM

New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS) Observing that there could be no compromise on safety, the Supreme Court lashed out at the Tamil Nadu government for being lethargic in putting in place a plan for the evacuation of people in the event of an accident at the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP).

Hundreds form human chain as mark of protest against Kudankulam nuclear power plant

October 29, 2012 at 9:24 PM

Thiruvananthapuram/Tirunelveli, Oct 29 (ANI): Activists numbering in hundreds took to the streets and intensified their stir against the Kudankulam nuclear power project by forming human chains on Monday.

Why can't we contain Japanese encephalitis? (Comment)

October 24, 2012 at 12:47 PM

Japanese encephalitis (JE) - so called as the deadly disease broke out first in the 1940s in Japan but has been contained since - is again claiming lives in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Assam in pockets in northern and eastern India.

Jayalalithaa accuses Karunanidhi of double standards

September 25, 2012 at 9:55 PM

Chennai, Sep 25 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa Tuesday accused DMK president M. Karunanidhi of adopting double standards on the Cauvery dispute, Kudankulam nuclear project and power shortage.

Five killed as train rams car in Kerala

September 23, 2012 at 5:55 PM

Alappuzha (Kerala) Sep 23 (IANS) In an accident at an unmanned level crossing near here, the Hapa Express bound for Tirunelveli (in Tamil Nadu) rammed into a car, leaving five dead and one seriously injured.

Situation under control in Kundankulam

September 12, 2012 at 10:18 AM

Chennai, Sep 12 (IANS) The situation in Tamil Nadu's Idinthakarai village, the epicentre of the movement against the Kudankulam nuclear project, was under control Wednesday after three days of protests, an official said.

Situation calm in Kudankulam, protest leaders abducted by fishermen

September 11, 2012 at 11:46 PM

Chennai, Sep 11 (IANS) After two days of protests against the Kudankulam nuclear power project, the situation in Idinthakarai village in Tamil Nadu's Tirunelveli was calm Tuesday even as protests spread to other parts of the state, an official said. Some drama was though reported late night when the stir's leaders went missing after their "abduction" by local fishermen.

Situation calm in Kudankulam, more protestors arrested

September 11, 2012 at 4:58 PM

Chennai, Sep 11 (IANS) After two days of protests against the Kudankulam nuclear power project, the situation in Idinthakarai village in Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu was calm Tuesday even as protests spread to other parts of the state, an official said.

One killed as anti-Kudankulam protests turn violent (Third Lead)

September 10, 2012 at 8:34 PM

Chennai, Sep 10 (IANS) The over a year-long protests against the Kudankulam nuclear project in Tamil Nadu turned violent Monday, leaving one agitator dead in police firing in Tuticorin district and several injured in a police baton charge on protestors near the plant in Tirunelveli district.

Kudankulam, villages tense after violent protest

September 10, 2012 at 6:10 PM

Chennai, Sep 10 (IANS) About eight villages near Kudankulam in Tirunelveli district are tense following a cane charge by police on hundreds of villagers, including women and children, who were protesting against the upcoming nuclear power plant, police said Monday.

Police crack down on Kudankulam protest, enter Idinthakarai village

September 10, 2012 at 2:10 PM

Chennai, Sep 10 (IANS) Tamil Nadu police Monday resorted to a cane charge to disburse thousands of villagers, including women and children, staging protests on the beach at Kudankulam, behind the upcoming nuclear power plant.

Police crack down on protestors at Kudankulam

September 10, 2012 at 1:14 PM

Chennai, Sep 10 (IANS) Tamil Nadu police Monday resorted to a cane charge to disburse thousands of villagers, including women and children, staging protests on the beach at Kudankulam, behind the upcoming nuclear power plant.

Thousands of villagers protest against Kudankulam plant

September 9, 2012 at 9:35 PM

Chennai, Sep 9 (IANS) Thousands of villagers, including women and children living near the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KNPP) Sunday made the Kudankulam beach behind the upcoming power plant their protest venue braving chilly winds, rough sea, shortage of drinking water and food, said a leading activist.

Thousands protest fuel loading at Kudankulam nuclear power plant

September 9, 2012 at 9:27 PM

Tirunelveli (Tamil Nadu), Sept 9 (ANI): Anti-nuclear activists on Sunday tried to siege the contentious Kudankulam nuclear power plant here to block fuel loading, causing tension between protesters and the police.

End bias against Tamil Nadu: AIADMK

August 27, 2012 at 8:10 PM

Chennai, Aug 27 (IANS) The ruling AIADMK Monday urged the central government to end its "step-motherly attitude" towards Tamil Nadu.

Plea on Kudankulam project filed in Delhi High Court

August 25, 2012 at 8:10 PM

Chennai, Aug 25 (IANS) A plea was filed in the Delhi High Court against the department of atomic energy (DAE) and the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. (NPCIL) for not sharing details related to Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project in Tamil Nadu under the transparency law, a petitioner said Saturday.

Villagers observe 'black day' against N-plant

August 15, 2012 at 10:04 AM

Chennai, Aug 15 (IANS) People in some villages in Tamil Nadu's Tirunelveli district Wednesday observed a 'black day' to protest against the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project, an activist said.

Children petition against Kudankulam reactors

August 13, 2012 at 8:25 PM

Chennai, Aug 13 (IANS) Around 250 children Monday petitioned the district collector in Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu to stop work on the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project in the region.

Kudankulam plant to be operational soon, says V Narayansamy

June 13, 2012 at 7:43 PM

New Delhi, June 13 (ANI): Minister of State (MoS) at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) V Narayanasamy said on Wednesday that Kudankulam plant would soon become operational after enriched uranium is loaded into the reactor.

Emergency safety drill held in Kudankulam

June 9, 2012 at 9:52 PM

Chennai, June 9 (IANS) The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KNPP) Saturday moved a step towards the commissioning of its first 1,000 megawatt reactor with the conduct of an off-site emergency exercise at Nakkanery village, around seven km from the plant.

Basic rights denied at Kudankulam: Report

June 4, 2012 at 11:14 PM

Chennai, June 4 (IANS) The central and Tamil Nadu governments should stop harassing people protesting against the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KNPP) and withdraw cases registered against them, a report said Monday.

Anti-Kudankulam project protestors slam safety report

May 24, 2012 at 11:00 PM

Chennai, May 24 (IANS) A 12-page illegible safety evaluation report (SER) for the Rs.14,000 crore two 1,000 MW nuclear power reactorsis a practical joke on the people of India, protestors against Kudankulam nuclear project in Tamil Nadu said Thursday.

Kudankulam protest: 23,000 surrender voter ID cards

May 9, 2012 at 11:42 AM

Chennai, May 9 (IANS) Around 23,000 people belonging to nine villages in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu have surrendered their voter identity cards to draw attention to the continued neglect of the peaceful protest against the Kundankulam Nuclear Power Project (KNPP), said a top activist.

Anti-Kudankulam activists willing to withdraw protest

May 7, 2012 at 2:46 PM

Chennai, May 7 (IANS) Even as they have decided to return their voter identity cards, the anti-Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KNPP) activists under the People's Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) have agreed to withdraw their current struggle if the central government commits a time-frame for fulfilling some of their demands, said top activists.

Maoists finally free a fatigued Menon

May 3, 2012 at 9:42 PM

Sukma (Chhattisgarh), May 3 (IANS) Maoists freed abducted District Collector Alex Paul Menon Thursday evening, ending a 13-day hostage crisis after mediators brokered a deal with the Chhattisgarh government.

Indefinite fast against Kudankulam N-plant resumes

May 1, 2012 at 6:26 PM

Chennai, May 1 (IANS) At least 24 activists of the People's Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) Tuesday launched an indefinite fast at four villages in Tirunelveli district, around 650 km from here, in protest against the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KNPP).

Kudankulam plant fuelling may get nod by next week

April 28, 2012 at 12:02 PM

Chennai, April 28 (IANS) Atomic power reactor operator Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) hopes to get the regulatory nod to fuel the first unit of Kudankulam nuclear power plant in a week's time, a top official said here Saturday.

Abducted Sukma collector wanted to be journalist

April 25, 2012 at 12:48 PM

Chennai, April 25 (IANS) Had he not been a bureaucrat, Chhattisgarh's Sukma district collector Alex Paul Menon would have been a journalist, says an old friend, recalling how he switched career tracks to focus on his commitment to uplift the downtrodden.

Chhattisgarh collector's in-laws spend sleepless nights

April 24, 2012 at 5:32 PM

Chennai, April 24 (IANS) As their daughter puts up a stoic face in Chhattisgarh, the family of Asha Paul Menon - wife of abducted Sukma district collector Alex Paul Menon - is spending sleepless nights here.

Jayalalithaa, Karunanidhi seek safe release of kidnapped collector

April 23, 2012 at 10:28 PM

Chennai, April 23 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa and her predecessor and DMK chief M.Karunanidhi Monday urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to take urgent steps for the release of Chhattisgarh's Sukma district collector Alex Paul Menon, kidnapped by Maoists Saturday.

High alert in Tamil Nadu n-plants

April 11, 2012 at 6:51 PM

Chennai, April 11 (IANS) A high alert was sounded at Tamil Nadu's Kudankulam and Kalpakkam nuclear plants after the 8.5 magnitude earthquake in Indonesia's Sumatra region.

Democratic protests against Kudankulam stifled: Prashant Bhushan

March 31, 2012 at 10:08 PM

Chennai, March 31 (IANS) Advocate and Anna Hazare's anti-corruption movement member Prashant Bhushan Saturday charged the central government of stifling democratic protests by filing cases against protestors against the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP).

Indefinite fast withdrawn against Kudankulam plant

March 27, 2012 at 9:12 PM

Chennai, March 27 (IANS) The nine-day fast against the Kundankulam Nuclear Power Project (KNPP) was called off Tuesday but protests against the plant will continue, an activist said.

NPCIL to localise 45 percent components for Kudankulam

March 27, 2012 at 8:24 PM

Chennai, March 27 (IANS) India's atomic power plant operator Nuclear Power Corp of India Ltd (NPCIL) is planning to localise 45 percent of the components for the third and fourth units planned at Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu's Tirunelveli district, said a senior official Tuesday.

Madras HC dismisses plea seeking lifting of prohibitory orders at Kudankulam

March 26, 2012 at 5:52 PM

Chennai, Mar.26 (ANI): The Madras High Court on Monday dismissed a public interest petition challenging the prohibitory orders clamped in about 50 villages in Radhapuram Taluk in Tirunelveli District as part of measures taken for commissioning the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant.

U.S. has no objection to India's civil nuke programme: Envoy

February 25, 2012 at 8:07 PM

Guwahati, Feb.25 (ANI): U.S. Ambassador to India Peter Burleigh on Saturday said that Washington has no objection to India's civilian nuclear programmes.

Chidambaram recommends early start for Kudankulam N-project

February 5, 2012 at 8:59 PM

Tirunelveli (Tamil Nadu), Feb.5 (ANI): Union Home Minister P Chidambaram has recommended an early start to the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project.

Chidambaram recommends early start for Kudankulam N-project

February 5, 2012 at 12:12 PM

Tirunelveli (Tamil Nadu), Feb.5 (ANI): Union Home Minister P Chidambaram has recommended an early start to the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project.

Koodankulam nuke plant is safe, reiterates Kalam

November 14, 2011 at 8:02 PM

Kolkata, Nov. 14 (ANI): Former President Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam on Monday reiterated that the proposed nuclear plant at Koodankulam in Tamil Nadu's Tirunelveli District is safe.

Kalam's safety review has failed to satisfy nuke plant protestors, expert laments

November 8, 2011 at 11:49 AM

Chennai, Nov 8 (ANI): K M Balu, one of the experts appointed by the Central Government to review safety norms in the Koodankulam nuclear plant in Tamil Nadu's Tirunelveli District, has expressed his disappointment over the protest against to former president and top nuclear scientist A.P.J. Abdul Kalam's safety review of the plant.

Kalam suggests 10-point safety, development programme for Koodankulam nuke plant

November 7, 2011 at 7:36 PM

Chennai, Nov.7 (ANI): Former president A.P.J.Abdul Kalam has submitted a 39-page report to the Central Government and the Government of Tamil Nadu that recommends ten steps for ensuring the safety and development of the Koodankulam nuclear plant and its surrounding areas.

No plans to create exclusion zone at Koodankulam plant: Govt. sources

September 21, 2011 at 11:51 PM

New Delhi, Sep 21 (ANI): Top government sources have said that there are no plans to evacuate the areas around Koodankulam in the wake of widespread protests over the safety of Russian built nuclear plant.

Residents seek closure of Koodankulam nuke plant

September 13, 2011 at 1:15 PM

Tirunelveli (Tamil Nadu), Sep. 13 (ANI): Residents here were on a day-long hunger strike on Monday, demanding the shutdown of the Koodankulam nuclear power plant in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu.

Indian teacher Ramalakshmi claims to be missing entrepreneur Muthuraja's wife

September 19, 2010 at 2:24 PM

Kuala Lumpur, Sept 19 (ANI): The case of missing Malay Indian multi-millionaire A. Muthuraja has taken an interesting turn with a 36-year-old Indian school teacher claiming that she is his lawfully-wedded wife.

NPCIL uploads dummy fuel into Kudankulam nuclear power reactor

April 24, 2010 at 3:43 PM

Kudankulam (Tamil Nadu), Apr 24 (ANI): The first unit of the 2,000 Mega Watt Kudankulam atomic power project achieved a milestone as dummy fuel assemblies were uploaded into the first VVER-1000 Russian made Light Water Reactor's core on Friday.

ISRO conducts liquid core test of GSLV-Mk III launch vehicle in Tamil Nadu

March 6, 2010 at 5:22 PM

Tirunelveli (Tamil Nadu), March 6 (ANI): The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully conducted the static test of its L110 liquid core stage of the GSLV Mk III (Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle mark III) launch vehicle for 150 seconds here on Saturday.

Suspicious ship seen near Koodankulam atomic plant

October 2, 2009 at 5:12 PM

Chennai, Oct. 2 (ANI): A suspicions Jeddah-bound ship on Friday raised suspicion after it was spotted near the Koodankulam atomic plant in Tamil Nadu on Friday.

Jayalalitha, Ramadoss criticise India's Sri Lankan policy

April 19, 2009 at 12:51 PM

Tirunelveli / Coimbatore, Apr 19 (ANI): Regional Tamil Nadu leaders have slammed New Delhi's stand on the raging war in Sri Lanka.

Eight jailed for fraudulently selling off estate

March 20, 2009 at 11:05 PM

Tirunelveli (Tamil Nadu), March 20 (IANS) Eight people, including three women, were arrested for selling off an estate, which belonged to two brothers from Kerala, on fabricated documents, police said Friday.

Nuclear reactor may be set up with Russian Cooperation

March 7, 2009 at 7:39 PM

Tirunelveli (Tamil Nadu), March 7 (ANI): Chairman of Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) S K Jain has said that one more site may be identified to set up an additional reactor with Russian cooperation.

No panic buying in Chennai despite oil officers' strike

January 7, 2009 at 2:32 PM

Chennai, Jan 7 (IANS) There are no signs of panic buying of fuel or natural gas here in the wake of the indefinite nationwide strike by over 55,000 employees of 14 public sector oil companies, vendors said Wednesday, hours after the strike started.

Pyramid Saimira says most 'Kuselan' distributors compensated

November 20, 2008 at 11:10 PM

Chennai, Nov 20 (IANS) Entertainment major Pyramid Saimira Thursday claimed it has compensated film exhibitors and distributors for the losses due to the Rajnikant-starrer 'Kuselan' to the 'satisfaction of all', but admitted 'delays' in four districts.

Kerala to market vegetable 'kits' at Rs.18

November 11, 2008 at 1:31 PM

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 11 (IANS) With vegetable prices spiralling in Kerala, the agricultural department Tuesday decided to supply vegetable 'kits' priced at Rs.18 across the state.

Tamil Nadu police charged with not protecting Dalit rights

November 6, 2008 at 11:49 AM

New Delhi, Nov 6 (IANS) The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to the district collector of Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu and the state's director general of police (DGP) after members of the Dalit community were threatened by upper caste Hindus and were barred from offering prayers at a temple.

'Seval' meant for rural audiences only (Tamil film review)

October 30, 2008 at 6:00 PM

Film: 'Seval'; Cast: Bharat, Poonam Bajwa, Simran, Sampath Raj; Director: Hari; Music Director: G.V. Prakash; Cinematographer: Priyan; Rating: *

Three die in Tamil Nadu shop collapse

October 15, 2008 at 6:40 PM

Tirunelveli (Tamil Nadu), Oct 15 (IANS) Three people, including two women, were killed and eight injured Wednesday when a shop's overhanging eave collapsed in this Tamil Nadu town, police said.

Karunanidhi launches one rupee a kilo of rice scheme

January 1, 2008 at 12:00 AM

Chennai, Sept 15 (ANI): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi today launched the one rupee a kilo of rice scheme for ration card holders. At present, it costs two rupees a kilo.

Sonia says Nuke power crucial for development

January 1, 2008 at 12:00 AM

Erode (Tamil Nadu), Sept 4 (ANI): Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Thursday said nuclear power is crucial for the country's development and for that we need to sign Indo-US nuke deal.