Mosquito trap

Something Cuddalore needs very badly at the moment.

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A ‘trap’ to prevent mosquito breeding - The Hindu

Shastry V. Mallady

— Photo: K. Ganesan

The ‘trap’ will be of great use in rubber plantations.

MADURAI: A simple ‘trap’ to prevent breeding of mosquitoes, designed at the Centre for Research in Medical Entomology (CRME) here, a laboratory under the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), is getting ready to be patented.

An anti-breeding trap with easy to handle mechanical design would be of great use, particularly in rubber plantations of Kerala, where the breeding of Aedes albopictus mosquito is the root cause of dengue, according to CRME entomologists.

“This mosquito is a transmitter of vector-borne diseases like dengue. It breeds in rubber plantations and then becomes disease carrier. So, we have come out with a simple solution to a major problem,” B.K. Tyagi, Officer in-charge, CRME, told The Hindu here on Thursday.

The anti-Aedes albopictus breeding trap would be put on rubber collection cups in plantations. It would be able to prevent breeding because of the “simple engineering work” done with regard to the mesh, netting, slider and gauge. The cost of this trap would be just around Rs.100 and materials used by the CRME would be familiar to plantation workers. “We have experimented with the trap locally and found that mosquito breeding did not occur in places where it was tested,” he said. Documentary evidence was sent to the ICMR requesting to initiate the process for getting a patent.

Commercial complex at busstand premises demolished

After a long struggle the commercial complex in Cuddalore bus stand premises is demolished.


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Everyone's eye set on next move

Inaction From TNPCB Helps SIPCOT Unit Cover Up Illegality

Inaction From TNPCB Helps SIPCOT Unit Cover Up Illegality - SipcotCuddalore.com


Cuddalore 27 April 2009: Local monitors report that delay from the TNPCB in taking action on the illegal operations of Aurobindo Pharma may have helped the unit cover up its illegalities and escape punishment. According to the sources the unit has been producing a chemical (7AVMA) without valid permissions under the Consent to Establish and Operate for the past few months. On the evening of 22 April 2009 Cuddalore District Consumer Protection Organisation (CDCPO) brought this illegality to the notice of the DEE Cuddalore through a fax. In its letter CDCPO also mentioned that the unit had constructed a 500 tonne storage tank as opposed to the 100 tonnes permitted by the TNPCB. Even though the DEE was alerted about this illegality in the evening of 22nd April, he did not make a site visit to investigate the complaint until the evening of the 24th April thus giving time to the unit to cover its tracks. After visiting the unit the DEE informed the complainant on the phone that the unit had undertaken trial runs of the product without valid permission but did not mention or assure about his course of action on the unit for this violation. Even after the site visit no action has been taken on the unit so far.

Moreover it is now learnt from the workers inside the unit that on the evening of 26th April 2009, the unit illegally transported one tanker lorry of the chemical (7AVMA) to Banguluru to escape punishment. Residents believe that the delay in the investigations and action of TNPCB officials have led to this situation where the unit has adopted measures to cover up its illegalities and is likely to escape punishment.

Illegal operations and delay in the action of the TNPCB has been highlighted in several cases before. This case merely reinforces the lack of political will of the TNPCB to take action on the violators. A complaint on this incident has been filed with the Chairperson of TNPCB specifically demanding enquiry on the role of the DEE in implementing the environmental law in the SIPCOT region.

Tamil film directors to campaign in Cuddalore

Tamil directors jump into poll campaigning - The Times of India
2 May 2009, 0509 hrs IST, TNN

CHENNAI: A section of the film fraternity, led by director Bharathiraja, has decided to take a plunge into electioneering. Not for canvassing
votes but to seek support for the Eelam cause.

Tamil film directors including Bharatiraja, R K Selvamani, R Sundarrajan, Seeman, Ameer, Cheran, Selvabharathy , actors Vadivelu, Manivannan and poets Arivumathi and Snehan all members of the newly-constituted Tamil Film World Tamil Eelam Supporters' Movement would be touring Congress bastions and constituencies where the party has fielded its candidates. They will camapign in the state from May 4 to 11.

"We have come together not for vote gathering, but to garner support for our Tamil brethren in Sri Lanka. Our agenda is to identify those politicians we consider as hostile to the plight of ethnic Tamils in Sri Lanka," said Bharatiraja, in a veiled reference to Congress leaders. However, he refused to identify them.

The campaign would kick off from Anna Statue in Kancheepuram before proceeding to Salem, Thiruppur, Dindigul, Virudhunagar, Tenkasi, Thiurnelveli, Cuddalore and Pudhicerry. The director also affirmed that the movement would oppose the visit of Sonia Gandhi to Tamil Nadu "until she gives a call to stop the war."

Lankan Tamils saved near Cuddalore coast

Oil ship personnel save two Lankan Tamils from mid-sea - The Hindu

Rameswaram (PTI): Two Sri Lankan Tamils, who were drifting in the mid-sea off Cuddalore coast in South Arcot district, were saved by the personnel of an oil ship, on Saturday night.

According to Q-branch police officials, Athan (27) and Dansan (39) were slowly moving in the mid-sea in a boat, after the engine of their boat fell into the sea four days back.

The personnel of the ship, which was transporting oil for Reliance, handed both of them to the Coast Guard and they were brought to the Mandapam camp on Sunday.

Athan and Dansan had fled the battle ridden island nation fearing for their lives and the engine of their boat fell into the sea, according to police.

They said the army was attacking Kudiyiruppu area in Mullaitivu when they left the country. Some persons who were fleeing from the area had been shot dead by the army, they claimed.

Some people were escaping by boats to Mathalai and from there to Trincomallee and surrendering before the army, they added.

The Sachet

An article on the revolutionary business man from Cuddalore that appeared in LiveMint.

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The sachet

When schoolteacher Chinni Krishnan made a career change to run a pharma company in the early 1970s, he had a simple business plan in mind: making medicines affordable to the common man. His factory in Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu, made medicines and healing salts packaged in 5g packets that were otherwise available in the markets in 100g packets.
Krishnan may not have known it then, but he laid the groundwork for the sachet concept, India’s biggest marketing revolution. Years later, in the late 1970s, his son C.K. Rajkumarextended the concept by introducing Velvette-branded shampoos in sachets at affordable price points (as low as Rs2) and creating an addressable market running into millions not touched by sales of the product in bottles. Rajkumar’s brother C.K. Ranganathan(present chairman and managing director of consumer products firm CavinKarePvt. Ltd) came up with a product, branded Chikshampoo, stretching the market size even further.

Read full article>>

Photographs of Tom Pietrasik

Tom Pietrasik is a British photographer who visits India quiet often. His photographs are regularly featured in The Times Magazine, National Geographic Adventure and many other reputed magazine.

Tom Pietrasik had visited Cuddalore and photographed tsunami orphans.

Visit http://www.tompietrasik.com/ (and click Tsunami Lives) to find his photographs taken in Cuddalore.

Narikkorava community demands right to vote

Narikkorava community demands right to vote - The Hindu

Cuddalore (Tamil Nadu) (IANS): Over 100 tribals of Tamil Nadu's Narikkorava community held a demonstration here Wednesday, demanding the right to vote, police said.

"This near illiterate gypsy tribe could not cast their votes so far due to their nomadic character, though they were issued ration cards 10 years ago. We are assuring them all help this time," a police official said after persuading the tribals to give up their protest.

"We have a history going back thousands of years and are as much citizens of this nation as others. Yet, we have been marginalised, termed untouchables and (have) never voted. Now we want to assert our rights," a spokesman of the group, Domba Raja, said.

The state's Chief Electoral Officer Naresh Gupta said the poll panel will look into the community's grievances.

"We are particular that nobody should be denied the right to vote and will take immediate action if representations from this group reaches us directly or the district administration," Gupta told IANS on phone from Chennai.

The tribe's origins are traced to European Roma gypsies and to several others from Rajasthan, Gujarat and Orissa, according to accounts published by Edgar Thurston in 1909.

According to the police, most members of the tribe live in Tamil Nadu and parts of Kerala. They used to be trappers and hunters, but hunting has now been banned. One of their traditional handicarfts is the making of bead garlands.

Trial run on broadgauge section between Cuddalore and Villupuram

Trial run on broadgauge section today - The Hindu

Special Correspondent

CUDDALORE: A trial run will be conducted on the newly-laid broadgauge section between Cuddalore and Villupuram on Saturday.

Southern Railway sources told The Hindu that the 120-km stretch would have 11 major bridges, 100 minor bridges, 25 level-crossings and seven stations, including Thirupadiripuliyur, Varakkalpattu, Nellikuppam, Melpattampakkam, Panruti, Thiruthuraiyur and Sendanur.

This section is part of the Villupuram-Mayiladuthurai gauge conversion project and services are likely to begin on this route by June.

The project is about a year behind schedule for various reasons.

For instance, a railway bridge across the Kollidam linking Chidambaram and Sirkazhi was posing difficulties in erecting concrete pillars owing to frequent floods.

The sources said that the Cuddalore-Villupuram section was executed by the Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd. However, the level-crossing on Lawrence Road in the heart of Cuddalore town remained a contentious issue.

Red effluent in Uppanaar

Uppanar Pollution: Fishermen find Red Effluent in Water, Report Skin Problems - SIPCOTCuddalore.com

Cuddalore, 25 March 2009: The fishermen fishing early in the morning in the river Uppanar reported red effluent near Kudikadu village today. According to the local fishermen they entered the water at about 3 am and suffered from severe itching on the skin after coming to contact with the water. This prompted them to come back at a later hour to check the reasons for such skin reactions. When the fishermen came to the same site at about 6 pm they saw a red sludge like layer floating on the water (see picture). No smell was reported from the effluent.

A complaint has been filed with the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board and the Board is yet to respond or investigate into the incident.

Groundwater pollution “alarming”

Groundwater pollution “alarming” in different parts of State, warns report - The Hindu

T. Ramakrishnan

Marked deterioration noticed in quality of shallow groundwater

— File Photo

Stream of distress: Untreated effluents from leather tanneries pose a hazard to groundwater. A scene at Pammal near Chennai.

CHENNAI: The magnitude of groundwater pollution due to indiscriminate discharge of solid and liquid waste by the industry and fertilizers/pesticides used excessively by farmers have reached an “alarming stage” in the State, according to a paper presented at a recent workshop organised by the Central Groundwater Board.

The affected areas include Dindigul, Ranipet-Ambur-Vaniyambadi-Pernambut in Vellore district; Sembattu in Tiruchi district and parts of Erode district and Chromepet near Chennai (known for the presence of tannery units); Tiruppur (knitwear and hosiery); parts of Karur and Erode districts (textile and weaving units); and parts of Salem and Namakkal (tapioca processing units).

While aquaculture has been cited as the reason for the pollution in coastal tracts of Nagapattinam district, the presence of engineering industries at Ambattur near Chennai and Coimbatore city and surrounding areas is said to have caused the pollution. The Manali industrial area in Tiruvallur district, where petrochemical units and refineries are located, is another affected area the paper said.
Undesirable change

Submitted by scientist at the CGWB K. Ravichandran, the paper stated that special studies carried out by the Board in and around tannery belts between 2002 and 2008 revealed that an undesirable change in physical and chemical characteristics of soil and groundwater had been noticed, rendering thousands of hectares of fertile land sterile. In other areas, the study began in the year 2000.

A study of analytical results of groundwater quality tested by the Board and the State government’s agencies showed that the quality of shallow groundwater, in general, had deteriorated much. The concentration of dissolved solids and chlorides in water samples collected from dug wells was extremely high, ranging between 20,000 milligram per litre and 35,000 mg/l, especially in the tannery belts.

Studies in Dindigul indicated that the common effluent treatment plant had not been effective in reducing total dissolved solids to permissible limit for domestic use. Describing the Ranipet region as an “endangered area,” the paper called for strong measures from the government to arrest the deterioration. Groundwater in Chromepet was highly mineralised and excessively hard. In Manali, toxic heavy metals were present in the industrial effluents and surface water sources.

Reconstruction of roads under way in Cuddalore

Reconstruction of roads under way in Cuddalore - The Hindu

Special Correspondent

CUDDALORE: The Cuddalore municipality has taken up the road relaying works in stretches, in all the 45 wards, according to N. Ravichandran, Municipal Commissioner.

The residents are concerned over the condition of roads that are fully damaged by heavy rains in the past three years. The roads are full of potholes, and hence, pose great inconvenience to the commuters.

The tarred surface has been fully eroded in many places and big stones are protruding out. The problem is compounded by the slow implementation of the underground drainage project.

The Commissioner said the reconstruction of roads had been taken up from the flood relief funds amounting to Rs. 2 crore provided by Collector Rajendra Ratnoo. After studying the condition of the roads in the entire municipal limits, the stretches that needed immediate attention were identified. These were mostly the major roads which carried heavy traffic. In all, 12 km length of roads would be re-laid with bitumen tar surface.

A few stretches at Reddichathram Street, Market Colony, Chinnaponnu Nagar, Pillaiyar Koil Street, Palla Street, Kodikkalkuppam, Kuttakara Cross Street, Vaithialingam Street and Seeman Thotal will get cement concrete pavement.

Care had been taken that the newly laid roads would not be dug again for giving household connections to the underground drainage system.

All these works would be completed in a month, Mr. Ravichandran said.

Embroidery at Cuddalore Central Prison

No bar on them in unfettering creativity and mastering art - The Hindu

Special Correspondent

19 life term convicts learn the art of embroidery at Cuddalore Central Prison

— Photo: C. Venkatachalapathy
Changing patterns: Inmates of Cuddalore Central Prison learning the ropes of embroidery in a training session.

CUDDALORE: It is paradoxical but true that the persons whose raw passion has landed them in trouble and pushed them behind bars are mastering intricate needle works.

They believe that learning the art of embroidery will occupy them fully and eliminate the thinking that they are simply slogging within the four walls of the prison.

This is the domineering feeling of a batch of 19 convicts who are serving their life term in the Cuddalore Central Prison. Instead of whiling away time and brooding over misfortunes these inmates are eager to learn certain skills that would give them a sort of solace and a sense of direction and purpose in life.

Jail Superintendent R.Kanagaraj told The Hindu that the authorities were favourably disposed to the idea of the inmates taking up certain skill-oriented pursuits.

Grabbing the opportunity a 45-year-old inmate Krishnaraj (name changed to camouflage the identity), a lifer in a murder case, mooted the idea of starting an embroidery training centre in the prison.

Before conviction Krishnaraj was in the trade for years and hence, he was well versed to assume the role of the trainer. Soon, 18 other inmates had expressed their willingness to learn the ropes.

Therefore, the jail authorities procured them the required materials such as pieces of colourful cloth, needles and chumkis. The Jail Superintendent said it was a highly creative work meant for those who have the patience to sit through for hours together.

0They undergo the training with the hope that after their release they could take up the trade to lead a dignified life.

In the carpentry section 20 other inmates were busy cutting the wooden reapers and nailing them to make rectangular boxes. A private fabric dealer at Kurinjipadi had provided the materials from which the boxes of required sizes were being made.

For every completed box Rs.8 was being given as wages. Satisfied with the finished products the dealer had promised to place orders continuously.

The Jail Superintendent said such profitable occupation enabled the inmates to overcome the remorse of their misdeeds and instilled in them the hope that once out of the prison they could take up decent living.

Chinese boat drifts near Cuddalore

Chinese boat drifts near Cuddalore - The Hindu

Special Correspondent

CUDDALORE: An inflatable rubber boat of Chinese origin was found drifting off Rasapettai coastal village near here on Thursday.

Jayaprakash, a fisherman of the village, towed the black-and-orange boat to the shore and informed the police.

The boat carried two cylinders, one with carbondioxide and other with nitrogen.

An orange-coloured mesh like device, said to be a radar reflector, was also found onboard. It is stated that during emergency, light will be focused on the device to attract the attention of vessels on high seas. Drinking water sachets with inscriptions ‘Made in China’ and two oars were also found in the dinghy.

The Cuddalore Port police are investigating.

Demonstration against untouchability in Cuddalore district

CPI (M) stages demo against ‘untouchability’ - The Hindu

Special Correspondent

flaying discrimination: CPI (M) cadres staged a demonstration in front of the Collectorate in Cuddalore on Tuesday. —

CUDDALORE:Cadres of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), including women, staged a demonstration in front of the Collectorate here on Tuesday, decrying the prevalence of untouchability in certain villages.

District secretary of the party S. Dhanasekaran said that there were about 300 Dalit families in Nallathur, who were denied their rights in all aspects of life. He alleged that the Dalits were not properly enrolled or given regular work under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.

Two-tumbler system was still prevalent at tea shops where the Dalits were not allowed to sit.

Temples, community halls, marriage halls and even barber shops were out of bounds for them. The village also lacked basic amenities such as schools, anganwadis and fair price shops.

At Periya Kanganakuppam, a graveyard allotted to the Dalits had been encroached upon.

The CPI (M) urged the authorities to invoke the provisions of the Scheduled Castes/Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and also restore the rights of the Dalits.

Disaster preparedness in SIPCOT area

Stress on disaster preparedness - The Hindu

CUDDALORE: Collector Rajendra Ratnoo has called upon chemical units in the SIPCOT Industrial Estate here to create awareness among residents in the vicinity of disaster preparedness and management.

Mr. Ratnoo spoke at a review meeting held here on Thursday.

He said that during natural disasters such as cyclone, floods and tsunami the chemical units set up closer to the coastal areas could be a threat to the people and environment.
Responsibility

Therefore, these units had to arrange for demonstrations on disaster management techniques.

Mr. Ratnoo also insisted upon the units to fully cooperate with the officials in implementing the pollution control norms.

Fibre boats for Customs Department in Cuddalore

Ultra powerful fibreglass boats for Customs dept - Sakaal Times
PTI
Friday, March 13th, 2009 AT 11:03 AM
Tags: Customs dept, Tamil Nadu
Close...

NAGAPATTINAM: Customs personnel in five coastal cities of Tamil Nadu will now be better equipped to take on smugglers with the Centre allotting them ultra modern high speed fibre glass boats.

These Norwegian designed boats, fitted with two 250 Horse power Hydraulic engines, would be manned by 10 customs personnel and also help check smuggling of narcotics, medicines to other countries and ships at sea, sources said.

This is part of the Centre's plan to coordinate the activities of the customs with the Indian Navy, Coast Guard and Coastal Security Force, which have already been strengthened, they said.

These boats will be given to the Customs department at Nagapattinam, Ramanathapuram, Tuticorin, Cuddalore and Chennai ports.

The dismantled boats, which arrived at the Chennai customs office on March 9, with all the necessary equipment, would be assembled soon and put out to sea in about a fortnight, they said.

Tsunami early warning system

An early warning system for tsunami developed - ThaiIndian
March 13th, 2009 - 2:24 pm ICT by ANI -

Hyderabad, Mar 13 (ANI): The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) in Hyderabad has developed a Tsunami Early Warning System to provide special kind of data for the safety of people living in the Indian coastal areas.

The Early Warning System will mitigate Oceanogenic disasters that cause severe threat to nearly 400 million people that live in the coastal belt leading to huge devastation of life and property.
“Tsunami Early Warning System comprises seismic stations. They are actually there to identify whether any Tsunami generic earthquake has happened. So, we are capable of detecting earthquakes of more than six magnitudes because more than six magnitudes are the ones, which are capable of generating a Tsunami. To detect such events, we need a network of seismic stations. So, we have actually access to more than 300 international and national seismic stations, which are sending data to INCOIS,” said T. Srinivas Kumar, Incharge, Tsunami Early Warning System.

The centre has a special wing, the National Early Warning System for tsunami and storm surges linked to17 broadband seismic stations for real time earthquake detection and 320 international stations, which enable it to locate its occurrence within five to ten minutes.

“We have used earthquake sensors. So we try to monitor if there is any earthquake happening in the ocean. Once if it has happened, then we see if it is a large one or not because then the displacement of water will be large. Then we monitor water level changes using bottom pressure recorder. If we see any changes in the level of the seawater, we confirm whether Tsunami is likely to come or not,” said M.Ravichandran, Head, Modeling and Ocean Observation Group, INCOIS.

The giant tsunami waves that occurred on December 26, 2004 triggered by a powerful earthquake that killed over 150,000 people across Asia and Africa, swept across India’’s southeastern and southern coast killing 12,405 people and left millions homeless.
India was among the most grievously hit by the tsunami, with a death toll of more than 7,400 in Tamil Nadu alone.

The coastal districts of Tamil Nadu suffered massive destructions and damage to life and property.

The tsunami swept through Chennai, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam and other coastal belts and thousands of people were washed away. (ANI)

Tamil Nadu tourism department to promote dawn festival

TN welcomes private initiatives in tourism - Time of India
10 Mar 2009, 0411 hrs IST, V Ayyappan, TNN

CHENNAI: Public Private Partnership (PPP) is going to be the watchword for Tamil Nadu Tourism, which is planning to tie-up with industry and
private firms to provide better facilities, logistics and even packages for tourists.

Sources said that the department was planning to open up more spheres for PPP initiatives, encouraged by the feed back received from industry in a recently held seminar on role of corporate sector in tourism promotion.

Construction of accommodation
, infrastructure development, providing basic amenities to tourists and managing and maintenance of tourist spots will be some of the areas that may be outsourced to private agencies in the future.

"We have received good response from industry for partnership. They have expressed interest to promote tourism promotion, development of tourist spots, and provision of infrastructure at tourist
spots," said Tourism commissioner M Rajaram.

Taking a leaf out from the India Tourism initiative to lease out heritage monuments, Tamil Nadu Tourism also wanted to outsource maintenance of state owned tourist monuments and tourist spots for maintenance and upkeep, he added.

"It will be a good idea to lease out monuments like Tarangambadi to private agencies to maintain it and also to provide and operate facilities for tourists. The India Tourism's
initiative to lease out heritage monuments will have to be implemented when the project is expanded to other states also."

Tourism secretary V Irai Anbu said that "tourism department will like the corporate sector to provide accommodation and install infrastructure facilities at lesser known and small tourist spots across the state. Infrastructure and accommodation for tourists are two areas that require more attention."

Tourist arrivals to the state have not decreased even after economic slowdown has reduced the number of tourist arrivals to other parts of the country. And Tamil Nadu expects more tourists to visit its tourist attractions in the coming months.

Hence, "we will need better facilities at tourist spots. Already, we are receiving good support from private firms to develop eco-tourism and rural tourism spots. Dhan Foundation is doing a good job by developing and maintaining eco-tourist village," said Rajaram.

Cycle tourism, launched in April 2008, is a good PPP example. TI Cycles have provided bicycles at Mamallapuram and Madurai. These can be hired by the tourists, especially foreign tourists to pedal around the town for sight seeing.


"More such innovative ideas from private sector will be useful in attracting more tourists," said an official.

Tamil Nadu tourism already has tie-ups with corporate to promote boat festival, food festival, summer festivals at Ooty and Kodaikanal, Chennai Sangamam, heritage walk, hop-on hop-off tour, bed and breakfast scheme rural tourism and dawn festival at Cuddalore.

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Dawn festival is conducted in Pichavaram to promote the eco-tourism. Anybody knows what is "bed and breakfast scheme rural tourism" ?

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Dawn Fest 2008

Shoring up Pichavaram as tourist centre

Showcasing Pichavaram

A dawn fest at Pichavaram

Indian Railways Southern Zone's discussion forum

I have recently come across Indian Railways Southern Zone's active discussion forum. The forum contains section for official press releases and project updates. Even in other sections, it looks like officials respond to user queries.