Not enough smart

The Government should, hereinafter, not run after M/s Teecom, for establishing the Smart City at Kochi. M/s Tecom may be not financially smart enough to undertake the project as there is sufficient reason to believe that the present 28000 crore Dubai crisis has affected them too. Even if Tecom chooses to stick to Government stipulations, it is the better for the state to hand over the project to some other agency who is capable to undertake the project, other than Tecom. There are several other companies, in and around the state, interested in the Smart City project.
The endorsement of Kerala Chief Minister about the financial condition of Tecom seems relevant and there is no need for the CM to visit Dubai to see the financial might of Tecom in the wake of Dubai crisis. The Tecom demand for the portion of the land outside the area which is to be defined as special economic zone (SEZ) is unfair.

K A Solaman
The New Indian Express Dated 1 Dec 2009

Unity in Kerala ministry!

The harmonisation of Kerala LDF ministers is highly perceptible of late. The Finance Minister Isaac’s commercial tax men are about to step in all co-operative banks in Kerala and the minister in charge of these banks G Sudhakaran has hinted breaking of the knees of these tax men at the front gate of the banks if they do so. At the same time Sudhakaran’s own men are making hubbub at the Medical College hospital, Alappuzha as a circuitous attack on Health Minister P K Sreemathi for her inept exertion in improving the hospital performance. And for the CM, his colleagues’ scuffle is not at all a problem as he is otherwise interested in putting Central Force in barrack and busy with organizational matters of his party.

K A Solaman

Leave Mullappally and focus to Mullapperiyar

Thrilled with victory over the Left Front in the three Assembly seats in Kerala, the khadi- cladded Congress men are in busy schedule with internal insurgence. The war this time is over the issue of re-entry of K Muraleedharan , the former KPCC President into the party. The youth congress men came out in the open in Malappuram against Union Minister of State for Home Mullappally Ramachandran, for his stance in favour of K Muraleedharan. In fact Mullappally, unlike Ramesh Chennithala, is a man who keeps an extensive regard to the past.

I wonder why these Youth Congress workers protest against Mullappally. If Madam at New Delhi endorses Muraleedharan’s entry to the party, the protesting youths and its leaders in camouflage have to swallow without water all the abusive words hurled against Mullappally. Moreover K Muraleedharan is an able leader, approved even by veteran communist leader K R Gouri, competent enough to give fitting reply to his opponents. So dear youths, stop protesting against Mullapally and start a campaign against Mullaperiyar. This suggestion I place because one hundred and thirteen year old Mullaperiyar dam has undoubtedly become a matter of great havoc to people living on the banks of River Periyar. As water level of the reservoir has reached 136 feet people realized the imminent dangers associated with the dam. Vast amount of water in the doubly expired dam made the people panic in Kerala, but Kalainger Karuna shows no ‘karuna’(kindness) to the 3.5 million innocent people who might have severely affected if the leaking dam collapses. So if youths are in search of insurgence let them focus their attention to Mullapperiyar dam safety and it would then receive more acceptances. Leave Mullappally and focus to Mullapperiyar.

K A Solaman

PublishAlettercom Dated Nov 23 2009

Fright of people rises with Mullaperiyar water.

One hundred and thirteen year old Mullaperiyar dam has undoubtedly become a matter of great havoc to people living on the banks of River Periyar. Not only the heavy rain water flow to the dam, heated exchange by the political heads of Kerala and TN has made the situation highly tense. People on the bank of river Periyar are panic. The permitted maximum water level of the reservoir is 136 feet and when it reached near that level, water started to flow to the Idukki reservoir through the spillway. As this was a rare phenomenon for past many years, people realized about the vast amount of water in the dam and that also made them more panic.
More interesting is the difference of opinion among TN Engineers and their Kerala counter parts. The Chief Engineer of the Tamil Nadu Public Works Department had inspected the dam and reached the conclusion that there was no leak in the dam and what he found out only is rain water flowing down through the gap in the joint. However, Kerala engineers keep a diverse opinion and pointed out that there were signs of water pushing out from beneath, and it is a serious matter according to them. As engineers are not politicians one wonders how these engineers reached at contradictory inference when they had studied the same syllabus for their engineering degree. Actually, the new leaks and the escalation of the old leaks could be very risky allowing for the age of the masonry dam built of surki, a technology available at the time of construction of the dam. The flaw of the dam is a matter of unending concern to people of Kerala as any danger to it could affect about 35 lakh people living in five districts of Kerala.

It is to be stressed that normal life time of any dam oratomic power plant is about 50 years. And in that case Mullaperiyar dam is a doubly expired one. So, the concern about safety of this dam is not mislaid. It should be abandoned on war-footing basis and new dam should be constructed. But Tamil Nadu is seen neglecting this aspect and not thinking about the dam safety. They are interested only with water they get from the dam and keeps scant regard to lives of 3.5 million people of Kerala.

So it is time for Karunanidhi and his colleagues to stand favorably for the construction of new dam as there are all chances for the breaking of existing one causing huge human causality. If dam breaks and that too due to the negligence of the leaders of both states no human endeavor could be able to repair the damage. So MK and VS, the two chief ministers of the states come together for an immediate discussion to reach a settlement over the Mullaperiyar imbroglio. TN should abandon its stance of strengthening of the dam. Instead the dam should be decommissioned first. Any disaster in the worst would certainly make political bosses of the states redundant and more worse is the loss of innocent human lives

K A Solaman

Delhi chalo

Left with no option K Muraleedharan runs with begging bowl behind the low profile leaders of the Congress in Kerala for his re-entry into the party. And it seems a replication of his earlier attempt for a coalition of his group with Left parties in Kerala. This is quite unfortunate a leader like Muraleedharan who once occupied the chair of KPCC president. As there are no many saints in the Congress party in Kerala, refusal of his entry into the party looks conspicuous.
So it is time for Muraleedaharan to throw away his begging bowl and to shift his course action to New Delhi. If so the present Kerala leaders will queue before him later for a better fortune.

K A Solaman
The New Indian Express, Saturday 21 Nov 09

India is one with Sachin, not Thackerays

What Sachin Tendulkar said about Mumbai is absolutely correct. Mr Bal Thackeray’s comment is unwarranted. Every Indian is proud of Sachin and of Mumbai. By denouncing Sachin's statement, Mr Thackeray is playing petty politics and needs to be condemned by one and all.

K A SOLAMAN
The Tribune, Chandigarh, 20 Nov 2009

Sachin vs Thackeray

What Sachin said about Mumbai — that it belongs to all Indians — is absolutely right. Mr. Thackeray’s remarks are unwarranted. Every Indian is proud of Sachin and Mumbai. Mr. Thackeray is a spent force, desperately playing the regional card.

K.A. Solaman,

The Hindu, Dated 19 Nov 2009

Mumbai belongs to all

Mr Bal Thackeray’s objection to Sachin Tendulkar’s comment is unwarranted. Every Indian feels proud of Tendulkar and of Mumbai for its industrial growth. Mumbaikars and the local politicians of Maharashtra alone cannot have monopoly over Mumbai. The financial capital’s recognition in the global market is a result of everyone’s hardwork, irrespective of his or her regional identity. Like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, etc, are parts of India, Maharashtra too is a part of the country. By denouncing the most celebrated cricketer’s statement, Mr Thackeray is just playing petty politics. He is only a regional leader who cannot speak on behalf of all Indians.

K A Solaman

The Pioneer Daily, New Delhi, Dated 19-11-09

All for money

It is exciting to see that in the film 'Paa', Amitabh plays Abhishek’s son. And in the next film 'Maa' Jaya Bachchan will play as Aishwarya’s daughter!

K A Solaman

Shashi Tharoor cracks jokes again

After his ‘cattle class’ joke Union Minister of State for External Affairs, Shashi Tharoor started cracking jokes again. This time after meeting ailing Karunakaran who was in a critical condition on just the other day, Tharoor said that Karunakaran spoke to him about Jawaharlal Nehru and on National and international issues. He asked Tharoor to install a TV in his ICU for watching live cricket! Is ICU a place for watching live cricket?

K A Solaman

Comic gestures

Kerala Congress (M) leader K M Mani and secular leader P C George are seen with flower crowns on their heads. Are there more comic scenes in the offing? K M Mani should not have forgotten the help rendered by R Balakrishna Pillai and T M Jacob in sending his son Jose K Manii to the Parliament from Kottayam seat.

K A Solamam

Stunning kiss!

The ‘wonder kid’ A P Abdullakutty kissing K Sudhakaran MP to share his joy of victory at Kannur Assembly seat seems marvelous. Possibly Dr VN Rosinaya would not have had such a highly treasured moment in life with her husband Kutty.

K A Solaman

Mulakkacha sells well in 'Pazhassi Raja'

Recently I viewed the film 'Pazhassi Raja' in a theatre and later at home in a local channel the old film 'Oru Vadakkan Veera Gaadha', by the same team-MT, Hariharan and Mammootty. To my surprise I realized that whether they were women of Aromal Chekavar or Adivasi, all have the same dress code, the Mundu and Mulakkacha. And no ‘paalathaar’ was used by anyone. The producer of ‘Pazhassi Raja’ Gokulam Gopalan might have procured all the colorful mundu and mulakkacha from Hariharan and profusely used in Pazhassi with less colour The huge success of the film tells that Mulakkacha still sells well in Kerala. So don’t waste all the dresses used in Pazhassi as it can be advantageously used in another adivasi or vadakkan paattu cinema.

K A Solaman

The mighty fallen

The former KPCC President is in a desperate bid to join the Congress. And for that he has to submit an application to Congress high command and get endorsed by his erstwhile subordinates Oommen Chandy and Remesh Chennithala. The situation rather resembles former ‘peon’ approving the application for admission of the former principal. “ Malikappuratheriya mannente tholil marappu kayatunnathum Bhavan”

K A Solaman
The New Indian Express, Dated 11 October 2009

China in inimical race.

Seemingly China is going beyond Pakistan in the inimical race with India. The report that China is issuing weapons to Maoists in India is an indication in that direction. China’ claim to the border town of Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh is a stupid one and the Tibetan spiritual Leader Dalai Lama has pointed out it.

It is known to all that Nobel Laureate Lama is person of universal brotherhood and Beijing’s charge that he is supporting separatist movement is unwarranted. It is Beijing that encourages separatism by giving arms and ammunitions to outfits in India and elsewhere.

K A Solaman

Peaceful poll in Kannur.

Kannur poll was smooth and calm. The credit goes to the Election Commission of India, the Army and the District Collector. The police force was a mute spectator throughout the election and it is time for the top brasses of the police to dig up on such a fate in the state. Blind adherence to the dictate of ruling front is likely to bring further disgrace in future. Election Commission’s act to deploy 3000 security personnel, including three companies of the Central Industrial Security Force (CUSF) was an apt security measure. Whatin no doubt is that the presence of the Central forces had ensured smooth and calm polling in Kannur


K A Solaman

The New Indian Express, November 9, 2009