Tamil Nadu CM Palaniswami meets Karunanidhi, says DMK chief 'recovering'

Karunanidhi has entered the 50th year as the President of DMK.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami said on Monday that Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) supremo M Karunanidhi, who has been admitted to a Chennai hospital owing to various ailments, is recovering.

He visited the 94-year-old DMK President Karunanidhi, along with Deputy Chief Minister O Pannerselvam and other ministers.

"I have met him (Karunanidhi)...he is recovering," Palaniswami said after coming out from the hospital.

Five-time Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Karunanidhi was admitted to hospital late Friday following high fever, urinary tract infection (UTI) and a dip in blood pressure.

Amid rumours about his deteriorating health that triggered a panic among party cadres and well-wishers on Sunday night, the Kauvery hospital management said there was a transient setback in Karunanidhi's clinical condition. With active medical support, his vital signs are normalising, However, he continues to be “closely monitored” and treated by the panel of expert doctors.

However, partymen from various parts of the Tamil Nadu have been camping in front of the hospital, raising slogans asking their patriarch to come back to a normal.

Earlier on Sunday, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit, and Karunanidhi’s son M K Stalin visited the hospital to see Karunanidhi. Also, DMK had released pictures of Karunanidhi lying on the ICU bed.

Karunanidhi has entered the 50th year as the President of DMK, the longest tenure by a person as head of oneof Tamil Nadu's major Dravidian parties.

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On Environment Day, Tamil Nadu announces ban on plastic items from 2019

The ban is brought under an environment protection act of 1986 and it would come into effect from January 1, 2019.

The Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday announced banning use of plastic items, including non-biodegradable bags, from January 2019 in the interest of the environment and to "gift a plastic-free" state to future generations.
Chief Minister K Palaniswami's announcement in the state assembly coincided with International Environment Day.


Late chief minister J Jayalalithaa had earlier constituted an expert panel on the issue that had suggested banning plastic products, including bags, plates and cups, and recommended that traditional items such as plantain leaves and plates made of palm leaves be used, Palaniswami said.
The chief minister said non-biodegradable plastic products, mainly polythene covers affect the environment, impeding water flow.
Its burning also causes problems, he said, adding that plastic products contributed to various forms of pollution-- air, land and water.


"Considering the damage caused by plastic, and to ensure this is not left behind for future generations, the Amma government has decided to ban non-biodegradable plastic covers, plates, cups, water packets, straws and bags," he said.
However, plastic sachets used to pack milk, curd and oil, besides those used to wrap medical products, will be exempted from the ban, Palaniswami said.


The ban is brought under an environment protection act of 1986 and it would come into effect from January 1, 2019, so as to allow people to change over to using paper bags and other products made out of paper as substitutes to the plastic items facing ban, he said.


Palaniswami recalled that people's participation in the past for a rainwater harvesting scheme introduced by Jayalalithaa had resulted in success, as it had led to better groundwater resources.



"Similarly, with the cooperation and contribution of all, let us gift a plastic-free Tamil Nadu for the future generations of the state," he added.