Work for Integrated Textile Processing Park put on hold?

Cotton Corporation sales depots in Coimbatore, Madurai - The Hindu

The Cotton Corporation of India will open sales depots in Coimbatore and Madurai in the coming cotton season (October 2009-September 2010), according to Union Textile Minister Dayanidhi Maran.

Speaking at the platinum jubilee of the Southern India Mills’ Association (SIMA) here on Saturday, he said this would reduce the cotton price by approximately Rs.2 a kg for the textile mills in Tamil Nadu. The corporation would store the cotton produced in Gujarat and Maharashtra in the godowns here and sell it to local mills. The mills should pass down this benefit, he said.

The SIMA planned to establish a processing park at Cuddalore five years ago. He urged the association to proceed with the project and invest at Cuddalore. He also called upon the association to set up a power plant to overcome the power crisis. The Ministry had launched a portal for the sales of handicrafts and handlooms. .

Union Minister of State for Textiles Panabaaka Lakshmi urged the industry to target untapped markets. It was essential to change the product profile and go in for value addition. The Ministry had formed a 47-member working group to draft the National Fibre Policy.

Minister for Handlooms and Textiles K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran said textiles was an agro-related sector and should be protected. Currently, it faced challenges on several fronts. Minister for Rural Industries Pongalur N. Palanisamy said the industry should go in for finished goods and value-addition.

Chairman of the Confederation of Indian Industry Venu Srinivasan said that in the State, Coimbatore had been the cradle of entrepreneurship. The textile industry was one of the most important steps that India took in industrialisation.

T.Kannan, chairman of the organising committee of the platinum jubilee, said the association was establishing a textile training institute here jointly with the PSG Institutions. The institute would provide the industry with quality technicians. Lakshmi Machine Works had given the entire range of spinning machinery for the institute.

In response to the Minister’s suggestion on the power project, SIMA chairman K.V.Srinivasan said the association would work on it.

The SIMA had not shelved the Cuddalore processing park project and it would come up.

Vijay Venkataswamy, a former chairman of the association, spoke about the textile industry and the efforts of the association during the last 75 years.

Deputy chairman of the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry Shishir Jaipuria and chairman of the Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council V.S. Velayutham offered their felicitations.

Tsunami warning for India

Tsunami warning for India, following a 7.6 magnitude quake [Aug 10, 2009. 19:56 GMT] in Indian Ocean. Inform people near coastal areas, as soon as possible.

Source:
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/280883,tsunami-warning-follows-76-magnitude-quake-in-indian-ocean.html

[update] As per reuters, this warning is now called off.
Source:
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/SP474863.htm

Deadline to remove encroachments

Deadline to remove encroachments - The Hindu

Special Correspondent

CUDDALORE: Collector P. Seetharaman has fixed August 15 as the deadline for removal of all sorts of encroachments on waterways and water sources.

Following a video-conference session with K. Sathyagopal, Commissioner, Land Management, Chennai, on Friday, the Collector instructed the police and officials to comply with the deadline.

Silver Beach boat house to be renovated

Boat house to be renovated - The Hindu

Staff Reporter

CUDDALORE: The district administration has decided to renovate the boat house on the Silver Beach.

Shortly after inspecting the beach, Cuddalore Collector P. Seetharaman told The Hindu that the administration planned to re-start jolly ride from the beach after renovating the boat house. The ride was stopped after sand accumulated on the boat house, he said.

Sheds at the boat house would be provided sheets that could withstand corrosion, he added.