Uzhavar Shandy (Farmers' market)

Uzhavar Shandy is meant for the farmers to sell their produce. There was a surprise check at the farmer's shandy (opposite Seemati complex) by the District Collector Rajendra Ratnoo. Two shops not complying to the regulations and doing commercial business were ordered closure by the District Collector on 2/Sep/07.



The same day District Collector had ordered the Cuddalore Municipal Corp. for driving away the petty shop keepers encroaching the entrance of the shandy.
Although a week has passed, the Municipality is yet to take action.
Although its a No Parking Zone (see box), a lot of business activity is happening around the entrance of the shandy thus endangering the life of the road users.

Although the shandy is not meant for the vehicles to come in, its a usual sight to see two wheelers plying into the shandy.

Along with the two wheelers the three wheeler (Auto) makes its presence felt.
Will the District Administration take further steps in making the shandy a comfortable place for the people to purchase the fresh produce of the farmers??

Disaster awaiting to happen

The old municipal buildings around the bus stand in the Lawrence Road.
With the first floor of building in dilapidated condition, disaster is very much imminent. Of course the safety of the pedestrians is at stake.

Related article
Commercial complex in busstand premises in dilapidated state

SPIC unit in Cuddalore closed

SPIC Pharma-one of the worst polluting unit in Cuddalore SIPCOT is closed as the company failed "to comply with the pollution control norms" fullstory>>

Cuddalore SIPCOT units flouting pollution control norms

“SIPCOT units flouting pollution control norms”-The Hindu

CUDDALORE: Chemical units in the SIPCOT Industrial Estate here are flagrantly violating pollution control norms. Effluents are being discharged in a crude manner, posing health hazard and serious ecological problems, according to the State Legislative Assurance Committee.
....
The stench was so overpowering that a couple of committee members started vomiting. Despite persistent efforts by environmentalists, social activists and the judiciary pollution of all kinds — air, water and soil — laxity in enforcement had emboldened the units to violate the norms, he said full story>>

For more updates on SIPCOT pollution visit: http://www.sipcotcuddalore.com/

Underground drainage work

Underground drainage construction work is in progress in various parts of Cuddalore. It don't appear to be like a work for underground drainage system. As far as I have seen some cement pipes are being laid in small trenches. Progress of the work is very slow.

Related link:
Underground drainage system draws flak-The Hindu

Underground drainage construction work in Seetharam Nagar.

Independence Day Celebrations

The entrance path to the event at the Anna Stadium



The flag post awaiting for the event.



The event is ready with the uniformed men awaiting for the guard of honour. At the right extreme is the white jeep which gives the visual treat only twice a year (Republic Day and I-Day).

Flag hoisting going on.


The colourful gas balloons reaching heights.

Salute to our tri colour.

The District Collector Rajendra Ratnoo giving away benefits to the people.



The people witnessing the event.

One of the cultural show by the Municipal Higher Secondary School students.

The Gandhi and Nehru at the event.


The Public Relations team of the District Administration responsible for the smooth running of the event.

Another leak in CUSECS pipeline reported - SACEM

Cuddalore, 1 August 2007: Another leak in the CUSECS pipeline from pump 2 to 3 was reported at about 2 pm yesterday from SIPCOT Cuddalore. The leak was reported from the pipeline 50 meters from the southern boundary near Ustad Biotech at Periyakaraikadu village. The effluents spread over 10 feet in the surrounding area; though the effluent was colourless it had a strong rotten dead body odour ranked above 5 on a scale of 1 to 10. According to the local sources the odour caused nausea and stomach rumbling.

The CUSECS officials intervened upon the knowledge of the leak at about 5 pm and repaired the pipe. Leak in CUSECS pipeline is a common feature, according to the TNPCB officials directions have been given to CUSECS to repair its entire pipe structure.

www.sipcotcuddalore.com

Charming water fountain

The charming water fountain creating a wow to the visitors of Silver Beach.

Public money going waste

The fish market which was built years back is seen lying useless.
Fisherfolk are selling the fishes in a thatched shop nearby.
Location : Cuddalore fish market.

Is Silver Beach a Plastic Free Zone ?

The signboard displayed in the Silver Beach claims that its a plastic free zone.

But many of the shops like the one seen above uses non decomposable materials in selling their products. In the above photo the sugar cane juice shop sells juice in plastic cups.

The "Plastic Free Zone" appears to be a fancy statement only and the prohibition is not enforced in reality.

A long wait

The road connecting Bharathi Road and Sorakalpet remains unlaid for past several months. Initial phase of the work for laying a new road started six months back but remains unattended for since then. Hundered's of school going children use of this road everyday.

New tennis court is ready

Construction of the new tennis court in Anna Stadium is almost complete.

Related article:
New tennis court

Rail overbridge on Lawrence Road

With the upcoming gauge conversion work going on in the railway line, the city will be getting a rail over bridge on the Lawrence road.

The original plan as per the railway and revenue officials is that the bridge will pass straight on the Lawrence road. But there is a stiff opposition from the 'Vanigar Sangam' which comprises of all the top business people having their shopping centres on the Lawrence road.

Now the pity is that the overbridge will not go above the Lawrence road in order that business people are not affected and only the people of Cuddalore who use the road daily will be affected.
The overbridge will come from Chinna vaniar street and not over Lawrence road.

What a pity?

Already due to the congestion in the Lawrence road it is made ONE WAY which necessitates all light vehicles, buses to travel extra kilometres.

There is nobody to take necessary steps for easing the congestion on the Lawrence road and improve the amenities for the common man.

Golden Evening in Silver beach

A photo of our Silver Beach contributed by a patron of Cuddalore by name Kumar taken on his olympus camera. A nice wall paper for your pc.
Thank you Mr.Kumar

The modus operandi of Sugarcane farmers.

Usually the sugar cane farmers wait a long time for getting cutting orders from their respective sugar factory. The sugar cane inspector allocates a date for the cutting order then the farmer harvests the sugar cane and send it to the sugar cane factory. This is the practice which is a long time consuming affair. Actually the produce has to be harvested after 10 months but the allotment is given usually after 12 or 13 months by the sugar factory.

The trick used by some clever farmers.
They wait neither for the cutting order nor long time delay for getting his payment from the sugar factory. They simply burn their dried sugarcane leaves and the fire spreads to a part of the field thus a fire accident is created. Then fire service department is called for extinguishing the fire. Then the farmer "pays" the Fire Dept Rs.1000/- and gets necessary reports of "Fire Incident " in the sugar cane field from the Fire Department. Once this certificate is produced in the sugar factory there is no looking back for the farmer. He harvests his sugar cane and sends it to the sugar factory and also there is no need for his truck load to wait in long queues. The truck loads zips fast into the sugar factory and the payment for his produce (minus Rs.30 per tonne about 3% of the rate per tonne) is done immediately since he is an "affected farmer".

Just see the irony here, Fire Department is meant for life saving services in case of fire accidents and emergencies but some farmers buy this out for One Thousand Rupees to get their immediate money for their harvest. An alternate strategy to make good return of investment for their hard work.

This horrible reality is a usual news for the people living around our city. e.g. - Sethiathope, a town situated on Vadalur - Kumbakonam road.

Cuddalore in the news

Tamil Nadu village makes success story of water harvesting - NewKerala

Cuddalore, June 19: A village in Tamil Nadu has made a success story of water harvesting.
The state being rain-deficient, government took initiatives towards water harvesting and maintenance of existing water bodies besides going for new ones. The villagers in this district were trained on the benefits of rain water harvesting and desilting of ponds and wells.

Harvesting of rain water in ponds has come handy to the people and they say water level in the adjacent wells have risen since 2004 when the village embarked on the 'art of preservation.' Government has taken up digging up of six ponds at an estimate of Rs 125,000 at Kolakudi village in Vriddachalam block this year in continuation of works in previous years full story>>

Parking fee at Silver Beach

There had been no parking fee for the vehicles parked by the visitors of the Silver Beach months ago. But the practice of collecting parking fee has come up recently and is being collected by the Cuddalore Municipality.

The person issuing the parking fee tokens..


The parking fee token for Rs.2. It does not even have a verification seal from the approving government authority as it is supposed to have.

Will the District Administration look into this and withdraw the parking fee system for the the satisfaction of the visitors of the Silver Beach??

TWELFTH DAY of Padaleeswarar Temple festival

The young talented kids singing at the stage.

The Deities making the veedhi ula on the "Rishaba Vahanam"

ELEVENTH DAY of Padaleeswarar Temple festival

The carnatic music troupe making fine tunes..


The fire works on the sky amused the spiritual visitors to the eleventh day of the festival.




The Diety on Theppal (Float) .






In earlier days (years ago) on the day of the Float festival the water from the temple tank would be flushed out and fresh water filled into the temple tank by the Fire Service Dept.
But this practise is not being followed these days. Today the float festival is conducted on the stagnant water in the temple tank, which is not at all cleaned thoroughly. The rubbish and filth removed from the tank was found dumped on the South East corner of the temple tank. The people who had come for worshipping the Lord had to bear with the bad odour.
A sordid experience that too at a place of worship.

TENTH DAY of Padaleeswarar Temple festival

A carnatic music orchestra making melodies.


The Lord making the veedhi ula on the "Pushpa Pallaku "