Statescape — Thanjavur farmers ready to compromise

CHENNAI: The Cauvery Delta Farmers' Association president, S Ranganathan, on Sunday said the ryots of Thanjavur were prepared to accept any...

CHENNAI: The Cauvery Delta Farmers’ Association president, S Ranganathan, on Sunday said the ryots of Thanjavur were prepared to accept any solution that would ensure them 240 tmc ft of the river’s waters every year. Speaking at a seminar on Cauvery: Problem and Solution’ organised by the People’s Liberal Party, Ranganathan said the solution could be based either on quantum or percentage, with both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu sharing the deficit or surplus, provided it ensured 240 tmc ft of water. He said that between June 12 (the day on which the Mettur dam is opened to let water into the Cauvery basin) and January every year, the farmers needed a flow of about 18,000 cusecs (roughly equal to 1.50 tmc ft) each day for 180 days. On this basis, negotiations could still be held with Karnataka, he added.

Veteran communist passes away

CHENNAI: Veteran communist leader and a former Rajya Sabha member, A Nallasivan, died at a private hospital in Tirunelveli this morning following brief illness. He was 76. He leaves behind his wife, two sons and two daughters. A former member of the now-defunct Tamil Nadu legislative council and a former state secretary of the CPI(M), Nallasivan was a sitting member of the politburo and a member of the party’s central committee. He was connected with the CITU movement for 57 years and was also imprisoned on several occasions. The party had declared a three-day mourning as a mark of respect to the departed soul.

60% Delhi sex workers are children

NEW DELHI: 60 per cent of the commercial sex workers in Delhi are children, according to a National Commission for Women (NCW) study on child prostitution. The study, based on a survey of 28 brothels in the infamous G B road, identified as a red light area, says there is a great demand for children in commercial sex trade in metropolis like Delhi where population is swelling each day. There was an upward trend in supply of children especially from adivasis and dalit castes, the study The Lost Childhood’ says. Besides the G B Road area, prostitution was rampant in trans-Yamuna region. Some guest houses and hotels have also been identified of involvement in the business.

Breakthrough in abduction case

GWALIOR: The Madhya Pradesh police has rescued one of the five persons kidnapped by dacoit gangs from Mohana area and Dadori village on July 17 and 19. Speaking to reporters here on Sunday, Gwalior range deputy inspector general (DIG) Nandan Dubey said police rescued one Uday Singh during a search operation in forest area while search for the other four was still on. Inspector general of police N P Dhaurelia on Saturday held an emergency meeting of police chiefs of Shivpuri, Morena and Gwalior districts to workout a strategy to nab the culprits and rescue the abducted persons. Two brothers, Suresh Jain and Abhilesh Jain, were kidnapped from a temple in Charai Haillia area under Mohana police station and it was reported that the Prema Kachhi dacoit gang was responsible for the incident, police said.