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DRDO builds multi-storey building in 45 days to test flight control system for AMCA project

By
The Commune
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The Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) has built a multi-storey building in just 45 days to test the flight control system at Aeronautical Development Establishment in Bengaluru. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is slated to inaugurate the building on Thursday ( March 17).

The seven-storey structure has a plinth area of 1.3 lakh square feet and it will be the headquarters for research and development facilities for the fifth-generation medium weight deep penetration fighter jet for the Indian Air Force (IAF).

‘The DRDO has completed the construction of a multi-storey infrastructure for flight control system at ADE Bengaluru with hybrid technology consisting of conventional, pre-engineered and precast methodology in record 45 days,’ said one of the officials.

The official further added that the complex will have facilities for developing avionics for fighter aircraft and flight control system (FCS) for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) project.

India has been working on the AMCA project to develop a fifth-generation medium fighter jet with advanced stealth features for the air force and the initial development cost of the project has been estimated at around Rs 15,000 crore.

Earlier in the week, the defence ministry said it has initiated the process of obtaining the approval for the design and prototype development of the AMCA from the prime minister-led Cabinet Committee on Security.

Regarding the information on the building,it has been constructed using composite construction technology in the ‘shortest time frame’ of just 45 days to provide the necessary infrastructure for the AMCA project.

“It is a unique record of completing a permanent seven-storey building with hybrid construction technology, that too in ready-to-move condition for the first time in the country,” the official involved in the project claimed had told PTI.

The building has been constructed using hybrid construction technology and the column and beam elements of the structural frame are built with steel plates, the columns are of hollow steel tubular section.

As per reports, the design check and technical support were provided by teams from IIT Madras and IIT Roorkee and its building features include air-conditioning, electrical, and fire protection systems as per the standard national building code.

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Naga idol at Amman Temple near Nagercoil found vandalized

By
The Commune
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Feature Image Credits: Maalai Malar

A five-headed Naga idol at the Sri Bala Bhadreswari Amman Temple located near Karungal in Kanyakumari district was found broken.

Renovation work is currently undergoing at the Amman temple in Mangalakunru Manganruvilai village near Karungal. At the back of the temple is a five-headed Naga idol.

A few days ago, unidentified persons broke and damaged three heads of the five-headed Naga idol. The people of the village were shocked to find the idol broken.

The ward leader Ramachandran Karungal has lodged a complaint with the police regarding the incident. Karungal police are searching the culprits involved in the incident.

(With inputs from Malai Malar)

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BJP TN chief alleges irregularities in TANGEDCO-BGR deal, DMK Min denies charge

By
The Commune
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BJP Tamil Nadu President K. Annamalai has alleged that the state electricity generation and distribution agency TANGEDCO has offered ₹4,442 crore deal to a company named BGR Energy Systems Limited violating all procedures.

During a pressmeet at Kamalayalam, the BJP leader said that TANGEDCO has allotted 660 MW super-critical Ennore Thermal Power Station expansion project worth ₹4,442 crores to BGR Energt Systems Ltd.

The BJP leader pointed out that TANGEDCO had cancelled the contract in April 2021 because of BGR Energy’s inability to perform. He said that the company’s bank balance was ₹33 crore last year and had incurred a net loss of ₹355 crores.

Annamalai said that BGR Energy had challenged the cancellation of the contract at the Madras High Court.

He accused the DMK government of favouring and reinstating the private power company whose promoters are believed to be backing the ruling party.

Electricity Minister V. Senthil Balaji has refuted the allegations stating that  the contract was given only after due diligence was carried out, in line with the regulations of the Central government.

Earlier in October 2021, BGR Energy issued a legal notice to BJP Tamil Nadu President K. Annamalai and another Twitter user named Selva Kumar for an alleged ‘defamatory tweet’ in light of the corruption allegations levelled.

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Former IAF chief calls for supporting pvt sector in defense at the inaugural General Bipin Rawat Memorial Lecture

By
The Commune
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Addressing the inaugural General Bipin Rawat Memorial Lecture here on the occasion of his birth anniversary former IAF chief RKS Bhadauria on Wednesday (March 16) said, the time has come for the private sector industry to be given a level playing field along with public sector units to help the country produce indigenous weapon systems.

“General Rawat was a big advocate of self-reliance. He would say that in case of war, we will be able to win only through indigenous weapons. He also stressed that private sector industry should be given a level playing field along with the public sector units to help the country produce indigenous weapon systems for the country,” he said in his address.

The former Chief of Air Staff called for the need to set defined goals for the country to become self reliant in the defence sector.

“To my mind, the most critical area is to understand what do we really want and what should we aim at and then ultimately be able to define what is required to achieve Atmanirbharta (self reliant). “I don’t think so there will be any one today who will not agree with need and importance of Atmanirbharta but what do we want from Atmanirbharta as far as defence is concerned, is what we need to define. I believe it is the ability to do entire design and development which should be our next phase towards self reliance,” he said.

ACM Bhadauria also said a lot of things needs to be done in all areas that are critical in terms of technology and added, “This is critical as we go forward, the ability to do everything on your own. You have designed an equipment but imported certain products. There should be no chip working without your knowledge. If we have achieved this, we have achieved a huge step of self reliance in equipment and design. Be it testing and certification, we need to target what we have to achieve and in testing and certification is important to steer any conflict of interest….we must treat our testing ad certification agencies as national assets,” he said.

Gen Bipin Rawat was India’s first Chief of Defence Staff who tragically died with his wife and 11 other armed forces personnel in December when his military helicopter crashed near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu.

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NIA files charges against drug traffickers involved in ₹21,000 crore heroin seizure, Pak hand stated

By
The Commune
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In recent times, the Mundra port in Gujarat has been the center of narcotics smuggling, and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday told a special court in Ahmedabad that terror groups with links with Pakistan are part of a network involved in the seizure of heroin worth ₹21,000 crore.

In the submission of its chargesheet the NIA filed against 16 people – 11 Afghan nationals, four Indians, and an Iranian – in the case and told the court that so far it has arrested 10 people, while six are absconding.

In September 2021, in a combined operation, the security agencies caught nearly three tonnes of heroin, disguised as a consignment of semi-processed talc stones that had arrived from Afghanistan through Iran’s Bandar Abbas port

The consignment was seized by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence and the case was later transferred to the NIA in October and the seizure was called India’s biggest drug bust so far.

In its chargesheet, the agency said identified those arrested as Machavaram Sudhakar, his wife DP Vaishali, Rajkumar Perumal, and Pradeep Kumar, all Indian citizens. Others mentioned in the chargesheet are Mohammad Khan Akhlaqi, Said Mohammad Hussaini, Fardin Amery, Sobhan Aryanfar, Alokozai Mohammad Khan, and Murtaza Hakimi, and all are from Afghanistan.

The names of the six absconding traffickers including Afghan nationals Hasan Dad, Hassan, Najibullah Khan Khalid, Esmat Ullah Honari and Abdul Hadi Alizada, and an Iranian national named Javad Najafi.

The NIA told the court that the profits from the drug trafficking were channelled back to foreign entities through “hawala” channels and that is where the Pakistan connection emerged as the money was meant to finance Pakistan-based Islamic terror outfits for “anti-India” activities.

“Links of the accused Dad and Hassan and other co-conspirators have also emerged with proscribed terror organisations based in Pakistan,” the National Investigation Agency said in a statement.

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Thanjavur minor Hindu girl case: NCPCR to submit docs in sealed cover to SC

By
The Commune
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Ahead of the Supreme Court’s hearing on the Thanjavur minor Hindu girl’s case, the apex court has allowed National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) to submit documents in a sealed cover about alleged religious conversion by the Christian institution where the deceased girl was studying.

The Supreme Court is examining an appeal made by the DMK government in Tamil Nadu against the CBI probe into the suicide of the minor girl.

Following the appeal, the Commission filed an application to intervene in the proceedings.

NCPCR lawyer Swarupama Chaturvedi told the court that over 3,500 complaints were received by the Commission following the death of the 17-year-old girl on January 19.

She told the apex court that a wealth of evidence were came to light when the Commission conducted its spot enquiry  on January 30 and 31. The commission which submitted its report earlier this month pointed out that there were several procedural lapses in the way the investigation was conducted by the investigation officers.

The NCPCR had also found gaps in the investigation and on its own inquiry found that the institution in question was not a hostel but an orphanage whose license had expired.

Children were staying at the institution illegally and district authorities were unaware of the fact that children were housed in the institution, the panel stated in its application.

“The NCPCR is apprehensive that there has been a grave injury and violation of the rights of the child victim when she was alive which has led her towards the decision to take her precious life,” the commission said.

The Supreme Court has upheld the Madras High Court’s verdict which ordered for the case to be transferred to CBI.  The High Court had noted that the police wanted to “suppress” the conversion angle and that three state cabinet ministers had issued public statements in support of the institution in question skewing the investigation.

The Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Congregation whic runs the school in Thanjavur has denied the charge of religious conversion linked to the girl’s death.

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Toyota’s electric vehicle Mirai powered by green hydrogen fuel cell launched

By
The Commune
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Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari launched the world’s most advanced technology – developed Green Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) Toyota Mirai along with Union Minister Shri Hardeep Puri, Union Minister Shri RK Singh , Union Minister Shri Mahendra Nath Pandey,  MD Toyota Kirloskar Motor Ltd. Shri Masakazu Yoshimura, VC TKM Ltd. Shri Vikram Kirloskar and officials at New Delhi today.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor Pvt Ltd and International Center for Automotive Technology (ICAT) are conducting a Pilot Project to study and evaluate the world’s most advanced Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) Toyota Mirai which runs on hydrogen, on Indian roads and climatic conditions. This is a first of its kind project in India which aims to create a Green Hydrogen based ecosystem in the country by creating awareness about the unique utility of Green Hydrogen and FCEV technology.

It is an important initiative which will promote clean energy and environmental protection by reducing dependence on fossil fuels and  thereby make India ‘Energy Self-reliant’ by 2047.

Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV), powered by Hydrogen is one of the best Zero Emission solutions. It is completely environment friendly with no tailpipe emissions other than water.

Green Hydrogen can be generated from renewable energy and abundantly available biomass. Introduction and adoption of technology to tap into the Green hydrogen’s potential  will play a key role in securing a clean and affordable energy future for India.

(Published from PIB)

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Congress MP Manickam Tagore rants about BJP TN chief Annamalai in Parliament

By
The Commune
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Congress MP Manickam Tagore on Wednesday (March 16) went on a rant about BJP Tamil Nadu President K. Annamalai while speaking at the Zero Hour in the Parliament.

The Lok Sabha MP from Virudhunagar, without naming Annamalai, said that a ‘retired IPS officer who has come to Tamil Nadu from Karnataka is creating tension in the state.’

“Our state is very peaceful and we celebrate communal harmony. But for the past few years, there is a new kind of politics called ‘dead body politics’ has started in Tamil Nadu. Particularly, there is an retired IPS officer who has come to Tamil Nadu from Karnataka. His work is to create tension in each death of young kids who commit suicide.” the Congress MP said.

“He connects it with minority community. Christians and Muslims are connected to any kind of death which happens and they create lot of nuisance. They try to divide the society and they spread lot of wrong information about the death of that kid which is putting lot of divisions in the society. It has happened in Madurai district and Thanjavur district”, he further added and asked the Prime Minister to intervene.

Responding to the rant, Annamalai took a jibe at the Congress asking them to ‘grow up’.

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Gang rape accused Biki Ali shot dead in Guwahati when trying to escape

By
The Commune
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On Tuesday (March 15), Biki Ali, a rape accused of a minor girl was gunned down on the outskirts of Guwahati when he attempted to escape from the custody of the police who were escorting him to the crime scene reconstruction.

According to the police, Ali tried to grab a pistol from one of the police personnel and attempted to flee from custody. It must be noted that a while back, Assam Chief Minister Hemanta Biswa Sarma had made it very clear that he will have zero tolerance towards those who shoot at police officers.

During the escape attempt by Biki, two police officials were also injured and both are undergoing treatment. One of the officers is Twinkle Goswami, the in-charge of Panbazar women police station in Guwahati and she sustained minor injuries in her leg and hand.

The officer was admitted to the hospital and her condition has been declared stable.

As per the police, Biki Ali had snatched the service revolver from Twinkle Goswami and fired two rounds towards the police. The police under the rules of engagement returned fire, and the rape accused was killed.

Guwahati Medical College Hospital superintendent Abhijit Sarma said the deceased rape accused had sustained four injury marks – one in the chest and three in the back. “He was brought to our hospital after 1 AM, where he was declared brought dead. Details of gunshot wounds will be available after post-mortem,” the doctor said.

Biki Ali and along with four other youths – Faizur Ali, Puna Ali, Pinku Ali, and Raja Ali – were accused of gang rape of a minor girl in Assam. As of now, the other four accused are still absconding.

As reported, the minor was studying in class ten and was gangraped by Biki Ali and his friends. She allegedly had a relationship with Biki and on February 16, he took her to his home along with a friend, and both of them had raped her together and recorded the act.

To keep her quiet, they had threatened that they will upload the images and the videos on social media if she disclosed the incident.

The 16-year-old girl kept quiet and that is when Biki Ali blackmailed her into accompanying him to an Oyo hotel, where she was gang-raped by his friends Faizur Ali, Puna Ali, Pinku Ali, and Raja Ali in the hotel room.

They again made the video of the act and this time uploaded the videos on social media. 

The police booked all the five accused under section 376 (D) of the Indian Penal Code, Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and section 67(B) of the Information Technology Act. 

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Pune Airport to get new terminal building with enhanced capacity

By
The Commune
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New Integrated Terminal Building with enhanced capacity and world-class facilities is under construction at AAI’s Pune Airport, which will reduce congestion during peak hours at the airport.AAI has undertaken the construction of the Terminal Buildingat the cost of Rs. 475Cr.More than 55% of the work has been completed and construction of the new building is likely to be completed by August 2023.

The existing terminal building with built-up area of only 22,300sqm has the capacity to handle passengers up to 7 million passengers per annum (MPPA).

AAI has undertaken the work for construction of the state-of-the-art New Terminal with massive built up area of more than 5,00,000 sq.ft. The new terminal integrated with the existing terminal, will have a built-up area of 7,50,000 sq.ft. with passenger handling capacity of 16 MPPA.

The swanky new integrated terminal building (including old building) will be centrally air conditioned with provision of 10 passenger boarding bridges, 72 Check-in Counters and In-line Baggage handling system. The building will be an energy efficient building with Four-Star GRIHA rating. Provision of 36000 sq. ft. space for F&B and retail outlets has been reserved for refreshment/pleasure of the passengers. A huge canopy on city side of the existing building & new building together will give a magnificent look to the airport from city side.

The strongest intention of the project for new terminal building is the search for unity and continuity between the old and the new. Stretching over 360 meters in length, the Verandah is a unifying façade that not only provides protection from sun and rain but also serves as a grand urban fresco telling the story of rich social, historical, artistic and immaterial culture of Pune & Maharashtra. The facia of the public area below the great Verandah is supported with beautiful Maratha arches and decorated columns with a finish of local dark stone which is commonly seen in most of the heritage structures around Maharashtra. The new forecourt garden design is directly inspired by one of the most recognisable landmarks of Pune – The Shaniwar Wada Gardens.

To give a permanent solution to the parking issue, a multilevel car park (Ground plus three storeyed &two basementfloors) with a cost of Rs. 120 Cr. is also under construction and is likely to be commissioned by July 2022.The multi-level car parking will have capacity for parking of 1024cars and will be connected to the departure area of existing building with a sky bridge with provision of staircase, escalators & elevators at building side for dropping/ going up.

Hon’ble PM has recently highlighted the significance of modern infrastructure and transport facilities for Pune city, which has reinforced its identity in the fields of Education, Research & Development, IT and Automobile.

The revamped terminal building of Pune airport will be an addition to his vision of infrastructure led growth under PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan.

(Published from PIB)

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