Rural sports meet ended at Anna Stadium

District Rural Sports meet conducted under Anaithu Grama Anna Marumalarchi Thittam (All Villages Anna. Renaissance Scheme) has ended on Feb 24 at Anna Stadium, Cuddalore. Competitions were held under two categories - for school children and for the community members .

Earlier competitions were held at panchayat level, then at block level. The winners at block level are made to participate in district level meet. Athletes and teams which won at district level will make into the State Level competitions.

At district level Parangipattai Block won the the overall championship. And this is the only block which participated the events with proper sports wear.

March past on the final day of the event

Players taking oath

Let us hopes these event will be conducted every year without any break.

Related links:
District-level sports meet - The Hindu

District-level sports contests held - The Hindu

Rural talents come to fore at sports competitions - The Hindu

Barricades

Barricades are used to regulate traffic and are usually placed in a direction across the traffic flow. In the above picture the barricades are clearly visible since it is seen from the side.

But for the road users it will not be clearly visible as seen in the picture below.
In Cuddalore at most of the places, these barricades are used for lane separation and are seen placed in parallel direction to the traffic. Since it is of poor visibility to the oncoming vehicle traffic, the probability of head on collision with these iron barricades are imminent. This unsafe practice is bound to endanger the life of the vehicle users especially the two wheelers.

To avoid any untoward incident these suggestions can be considered
1. The width of the barricade can be increased.
2. Reflector boards can be fixed so the visibility is increased.
3. Barricades can be replaced with horizontal reflector boards.
4. Bright coloured cones can be used.
5. Concrete lane dividers can be laid.

Cuddalore Port back into life

Nagarjuna Fertilizer's urea import has brought back life to Cuddalore Port. This has created an direct employment for 2500 people and indirect employment for many more. According to The Hindu 5000 employees are involved in unloading the urea from ships into godowns at the port. The series of pictures below, and the video at end shows how urea from main ships, M.V. Bao Shun and M.V.Ziang An are brought to inner port using barges and then transported to the destination.

The barge in the picture above is used to unload the urea from ships. Though the capacity of the barge is 400 tonne, it is not loaded more than 300-350 tonnes at a time, because of the shallow water at the inner port (guess the dredging work is yet to be completed).


Excavators unload the urea from barge into trucks which are then transported to godowns.


Since, nearly 50,000 tonnes of urea is unloaded in a very short period of time, existing storage facility could not accommodate the entire bulk. The picture above shows how urea is stored in huge heaps inside the port campus.

Urea is then packed into sacks and loaded on to trucks which take them to the destination.

Trucks queuing up inside the port campus - waiting to be loaded.

Related links:
Historic Return - Cuddalore Online

Possibility of Cuddalore - Chennai shipping service (Maritime varsity to get Cabinet nod - The New Indian Express)

Opportunities in front of us - Cuddalore Online

Cuddalore Port to be deepened - Cuddalore Online

Untreated discharge in Gedilam river

Untreated effluent discharge by EID Parry's sugar mill at Nellikupam rarely makes news. The company discharges their waste in Gedilam which kills fishes in the river. The violation continues for decades. It is said that the company discharges huge volume especially when there is a heavy rain.


The above photos taken near Kammianpet on 02-Feb-2008 shows river water polluted by the discharge.

Related links:
Toxic waste kills Gadilam river fish - The New Indian Express
Pollution kills off fish - The Hindu

Triumph for the residents of Anadhan Nagar

We wrote about drainage flooding houses at Anandhan Nagar ( Drainage water flooded houses in Anandhan Nagar and Anandhan Nagar gets back to normal ). In a response to the article, District Collector Mr. Rajendra Ratnoo was kind enough to invite the Residents Associations of the locality for Grievance Meeting held at Collector's Camp Office on 11-Feb-2008.

From the residents who attended the meeting, we come know that, the permanent solution put forth - raising the level of the road (which runs between the drainage ponds and Anandhan Nagar) - was accepted and sufficient fund has been allocated by the District Collector for the proposed work.

I like to share an interesting piece of information which I came to know very recently. The drainage pond in the picture below is said to be formed within last 10-15 years. Earlier it was just a low lying place where children use to play cricket. Rain water used to stagnate for a few months following and then it used to try up. But all changed when drainage from Vilvanagar Housing Board Government Quarters was directed here (It is said that, at the time of construction of Government Quarters, proper drainage system was not put in place as a 'cost cutting measure' ).

Shasun's Consignment of Suspected Hazardous Wastes Intercepted; High Drama at Police Station

Shasun's Consignment of Suspected Hazardous Wastes Intercepted; High Drama at Police Station - SACEM


Cuddalore, 23 January 2008: Alert SACEM monitors today intercepted a truck (No TN 41 Q 3772) loaded with more than 50 drums of chemicals at the busy main road of Cuddalore new town at about 6.00 pm. The monitors suspected that the chemicals carried in the truck were hazardous wastes as the drums were old and not labeled and there was a pungent nauseating odour emanating from the drums. They stopped the truck and asked for documents describing the type of waste from the driver. The driver informed them that he was carrying waste oil from Shasun to Polachi and he had no documents. The monitors immediately informed the District Collector highlighting the illegality of the transit and requesting action. The monitors also tried to inform the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board but the officers at the board office informed them that it was a festival day and that they would not attend to the incident.

After instructions from the District Collector the police and the TNPCB officials arrived at the spot, took the statement of the driver and finally took the vehicle under custody at about 7.00 pm as the driver failed to produce any document on the spot identifying the chemical. Upon arriving at the police station the monitors found more than 20 Shasun officials on the spot with the truck chalan and other paper work that ought to have been with the driver. It was surprising to see how quickly the police and TNPCB accepted Shasun's explanation and cleared the suspicion. According to the information submitted by the unit this was a consignment of aldehyde destined for Shasun's Pondicherry unit. Even though this statement was completely contradictory to the earlier statement of the driver given to the police and TNPCB, it was accepted as final statement without any verification. After a long debate and argument finally at about 9.00 pm the TNPCB agreed to sample the chemical to verify the claims of the unit. Even then SACEM monitors were not allowed to take a simultaneous sample. It was only after their repeated concerns of the fairness of the analysis, given their past experience with TNPCB, the District Collector finally instructed to take another sample that would be analysed independently. This sample was taken in the presence of SACEM monitors by the Tahsildar of Cuddalore Town at 9.52 pm and delivered to the District Collector's office the same night.

An official complaint requesting investigations in the case has been filed with the District Collector and TNPCB Head Quarters. Monitors are awaiting the results of the sample and further response from the authorities.

Visit http://www.sipcotcuddalore.com/ for uptodate news on pollution at SIPCOT Cuddalore.

Anandhan Nagar gets back to normal

Flood affected Anandhan Nagar is getting back to normal gradually. The situation now is far better than it was when we reported last time.

When we published Drainage water flooded houses in Anandhan Nagar article, District Administrator Mr. Rajendra Ratnoo took immediate action to pump out the flood water. As could be seen in the photo below, the situation is far better now.

More than a month after the rain, and even after pumping out the flood water, drainage still remains stagnated in some of the houses. Makeshift boats are the only way to reach some houses.


Local residents say, blocking of drainage flow at Hospital Road as one of the reason for unprecedented water level this year. I doubt if this could be the case, as this area seems to be lower than the Hospital Road.

A permanent solution is still unimaginable, as the entire area is lying low, and surrounded by drainage ponds. I wonder how permission was given to build houses in such places. Apart from Anandhan Nagar there are numerous drainage ponds located at Vallalar Nagar, Vilva Nagar and in Allagappa Nagar. The water in these ponds always remains at ground level. When there is a heavy rain or during the monsoon, the water level raises above the road.

As it could be seen in the picture below, all these ponds are covered with water hyacinth. As a long term solution is far from sight, removing the water hyacinth on a regular basis would help to keep the water level low.

Historic return

Arrival of two ships at Cuddalore Port marks an important moment in the history of the town. Cuddalore Port at Cuddalore Old Town is a natural harbor, used for more than 400 years by European settlers. The port was developed by English early in the 20th century. Earlier it was used by EID(East India Distilleries) Parry. Later after independence it was developed into a general purpose port. In 1960's and 70's the port was one of the busiest port in India, but the activity slowed down there after, and came to a complete halt on early 90's. Unavailability of cheap laborers and silt formation are considered to be the main reasons behind the fall of the port.

Cuddalore Port is now a minor port. Various proposals were made for the development of the port in the past decade. But none of them were implemented. Now the port is being deepened at the cost of Rs. 14.41 crores, with financial assistance from Asian Development Bank. Couple of weeks back two vessels carrying fertilizers arrived at the port. Once the desilting work is over, the facilities will be used in full capacity and would lead to the development of the region.

Ships as seen from Silver Beach

Related links:

Cargo vessel at Cuddalore port after 12 years - The Hindu

Renovation of Cuddalore, Nagapattinam ports will be completed by June - The Hindu

Port gets a new lease of life - The Hindu

Collector suspends VAO for failing to create awareness of pension scheme

Collector suspends village administrative officer - The Hindu

CUDDALORE: Collector Rajendra Ratnoo ordered the suspension of Kothandaraman, village administrative officer of Veerasingankuppam in Panruti taluk, on Friday.

In a statement here, Mr. Ratnoo said that the VAO had failed to create awareness of the Indira Gandhi old age pension scheme among villagers.

Cuddalore in the news

Car falls from bridge - The Hindu

In a freak accident, a car fell down from the Anna bridge here on Sunday night, injuring the three occupants of the vehicle full story>>

Case against Jaya TV crew - The Hindu

CUDDALORE: The police have booked a case against Jaya TV reporter and cameraman on charges of trespass and preventing government servants from discharging their duty full story>>

AIADMK decries lack of amenities at hospital - The Hindu

CUDDALORE: All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhgam cadres, led by organising secretary K. Palanisamy, staged a demonstration in front of the Cuddalore Government Headquarters Hospital here on Tuesday, decrying the lack of amenities and shortage of doctors.

Inadequate medical staff in the government hospitals had forced the poor to seek the services of private hospitals full story>>

Gaiety marks celebrations in Cuddalore, Villupuram districts - The Hindu

CUDDALORE: Patriotism and gaiety marked the Republic Day celebrations in Cuddalore and Villupuram districts on Saturday. Dozens of freedom fighters were honoured on the occasion.

District Collector Rajendra Ratnoo, along with Superintendent of Police Pradip Kumar, took the salute and inspected the guard of honour full story>>

Republic Day celebrations

Republic Day celebrations took place at Anna Stadium,Cuddalore.




The real heroes of the event.




The freedom fighters of Cuddalore getting memento from the District Collector.


Other beneficiaries.


Teachers getting their awards for their exemplary contribution.





Physically challenged people were provided with tricycles.




Celebrations were made colorful by these young ones.













The public relations team - The reason behind the successful events of the district administration.

Drainage water flooded houses in Anandhan Nagar

It has been weeks since it last rained in Cuddalore. Low lying areas inundated by rain water are yet to get back to normal. Anandhan Nagar and MGK Nagar behind Vilvanagar Housing Board in Manjakuppam is one such place, where rain water still remain stagnated over 5 feet.

Inundated houses

Being a low lying area rain water from Gandhi Nagar, Dowlath Nagar and drainage from Hospital Road flows towards the ponds in this area. Every monsoon when level of water raises, drainage water floods into the houses in Anandhan Nagar. Though there never was any initiative for a permanent solution, Cuddalore Municipality use to pump out the water after every rain. Long time residents of the area say, this time even this basic action was not taken from Cu.M.C. even after several written complaints.

Submerged huts

As the water remains stagnant for over three weeks green algae has formed and water starts stinking, posing major health hazard.

Water hyacinth spreads over the stagnated water

Residents use boats made of barrels and thermocol, guided by rope

Cuddalore in the news

Chemical waste from SIPCOT Cuddalore dumped in Karnataka
Chemical wastes (supposedly from Tagross Chemicals India Ltd and Shasun Drugs and Chemicals) from SIPCOT Cuddalore are dumped in Tumkur district of Karnataka full story>>

Padaleeswarar Temple (Tamil) - Dinamalar
(This link was sent by BK to Cuddalore Online group)

IDFC invests Rs 260 cr in Goodearth Maritime-ship building yard at Cuddalore
IDFC invests Rs 260 cr in Goodearth Maritime, GML is planning big ticket investment into a greenfield ship building yard at Cuddalore as well as foraying into on-shore and off-shore oil drilling sector. The transaction was sealed on Thursday evening, with 03 Capital advising GML on the deal. GML's shipyard is expected to require a total investment of around $500 million in the first phase full story>>
(This link was sent by BK to Cuddalore Online group)

Mining of titanium bearing minerals to be allowed
India has one sixth of ilmenite (titanium bearing mineral or ore) and most of it is concentrated in Tamil Nadu,long the south eastern coast from Cuddalore to Vedaranyam full story>>
(This link was sent by BK to Cuddalore Online group)

Parliament committee visits tsunami affected places in Cuddalore
Parliament Sub-Committee on Rehabilitation of Tsunami Affected Persons and Rajya Sabha member, V Narayana Samy visited Thazhanguda - inaugurated Government Blind School in Semmandalam - Central Government gave away Rs 4,100 crore to Tamil Nadu; Rs 632 crore to Puducherry - In Cuddalore, more than 5,000 houses were handed over to tsunami affected persons and the Government has proposed to construct 4,364 houses - State Government has proposed to build disaster proof houses for the persons who were residing within 1,000 meter of high tide line full story>>


Cuddalore tribes to get design help for traditional skills
Cuddalore (Tamil Nadu): The Federation of South India Producer Associations (SIPA) has tied up with the National Institute of Fashion Design to train tribes from Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu to use new designs in traditional handicrafts full story>>

Good times no more a pipe dream for oil & gas cos in '08 - Economic Times
Major developments in the Indian oil and gas business during 2008 could define it as a turning point - the year is expected to see money being raised for BPCL’s 9 MT Bina refinery, as well as the financial closure for Nagarjuna Oil’s Cuddalore refinery. So, construction will be in full swing at the three new refinery projects at Bina, Cuddalore and Paradip in Orissa, setting the pace for India’s emerging position as an Asian refining hub full story>>

Smart card-based licence, vehicle registration - The Hindu
Smart card-based license to be introduced in Cuddalore and Chennai full story>>


Nod for 5 merchant power plants - The Hindu
...The State Government has given permission for the establishment of five more power projects, with a total capacity of 10,140 megawatts (MWs), under the scheme of merchant power plants.

A Mumbai-based company is going to put up the plant in Cuddalore...

With the latest instalment of five projects, the Government has given the nod for a total of nine projects having an aggregate capacity of 16,140 MW. One 1,000-MW project proposed in Cuddalore is under consideration of the authorities full story>>

A dusk at Cuddalore Port

A beautiful dusk at Uppanar backwaters in Cuddalore Old Town.

3 Years After Tsunami, Bay Area Residents Still Helping

3 Years After Tsunami, Bay Area Residents Still Helping

By Sherri Ackerman

Published: December 25, 2007

TAMPA - A sign hanging outside the meeting center in the Indian village of Cuddalore offers words of inspiration to residents who had little to motivate them three years ago.

"I can, so I will," it reads.

The day after Christmas in 2004, a monster tsunami in the Indian Ocean devastated parts of Southeast Asia. Cuddalore, a port district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, lost nearly 500 residents – many fishermen at sea.

A world away in Tampa, physicians and well-known philanthropists Kiran and Pallavi Patel ached to help. Along with friends Bella and Yogesh Patel, the couple began a fundraising campaign to rebuild Cuddalore and provide for its remaining residents.

Dubbed Project Hope, the complex includes an orphanage and school for more than 450 children. There also are homes for more than 200 widowed, poor and abandoned women who learn about computers, sewing and other skills in a vocational training center.

In less than a year, the Patel Foundation for Global Understanding helped raise $400,000, with much of it coming from prominent donors in the Tampa Bay area. But dollars also came from school children at the Academy at the Lakes in Land 'O Lakes, which collected $2,700; and restaurant workers in Tampa who started Waiting for Relief, an effort that raised more than $20,000.

In October, a group of 16 people representing the foundation traveled to Cuddlore. One of them was former University of South Florida president Betty Castor, who now is executive director for the think-tank USF Patel Center For Global Solutions.

For many, it was their first visit to India and the first opportunity to ensure that the money was well-spent, said Sigrid Tidmore, the Patel foundation's executive director. The Patels partnered with the India Heritage Research Foundation, which Tidmore said has a solid track record in social development.

Still, the project took longer than expected. Heavy rains in 2005 delayed completion until the end of 2006, and the various programs took shape during the past year, Tidmore said.

By the time the foundation group came, the village was once again thriving with its women on their way to self-sufficiency. Children were getting adopted. Men were returning to the sea in new boats.

"The neat thing was the pride you saw in the women," said Dianne Blyler, a former Florida Power manager who acted as the trip's photographer.

What she liked about the foundation's plan was how the Patels went about filling a community's need. They asked people what they wanted instead of telling them what they were going to get, said Blyler, who also is working with Tidmore on a new project, Healthy Together Tampa Bay, to educate women on health issues.

A film crew traveled with the group and developed three videos to be shown next month, Tidmore said. One will focus on tsunami relief efforts, which should appeal to hurricane-weary residents along the Gulf of Mexico.

"You can't help but compare it to Katrina," she said of the tsunami's wrath. "When you go out on the beaches, everything is flattened a mile inland."

But there are signs of new growth, she said. Green shoots sprout from trees, still snapped in half from the massive wave. Freshly-painted boats line the shore. Children's laughter once again can be heard in Cuddalore.

Reporter Sherri Ackerman can be reached at (813) 259-7144 or sackerman@tampatrib.com.

Three years on, tsunami memories linger

Three years on, tsunami memories linger - Hindustan Times
GC Shekhar, Hindustan Times
Cuddalore, December 26, 2007

Vadivelu and Kullammal cannot stop showing their new home to friends. They can’t believe that this airy two-bedroom dwelling with a verandah would be theirs for the rest of their lives.

Vadivelu, a 71-year-old farmer from Uppalandi village near Cuddalore, lost his little plot in the December 26 tsunami three years ago. The seawater made his land uncultivable.

But assistance came in the form of Help Age India for the farming couple who stayed in a shanty till then. “We never even dreamt of such a place even while we lived in our leaking shanty back in our village. With no children to take care of us, this is God’s gift,” said Vadivelu.

Vadivelu and Kullammal were two lucky ones chosen by Help Age India as part of its post-tsunami rehabilitation plan for 7,800 elders. The couple was chosen by a village elders’ committee for the Thamaraikulam Elders Village, a model residential home for elders.

Just 5 km from Cuddalore on the East Coast Road, the village will be the home to 100 senior citizens, all chosen by their respective village committees.

Built in clusters, each unit would house four elders with a common kitchen and dining hall as well as an activity-cum-training room so the elders are never short of company.

Small details about their needs have been taken care of. Like the toilet bowl with a railing on either side as well as the non-skid flooring. At their service would be a visiting doctor plus an ambulance and 10 full-time nursing assistants.

“We have even provided a walking track around the lotus pond — from which the village gets its name Thamaraikulam — and a two-acre vegetable and herbal patch where they can continue their farming on a minor scale. The whole idea is to let them age actively and with dignity,” said Rajeswhar Devarakonda, project head of Help Age India.

News channel NDTV’s viewers contributed Rs 1.25 crore for the project’s cost of Rs 2.48 crore.

It will become fully operational in two months. “At present, we have ten elders living here to check out the system and will gradually bring all 100 beneficiaries,” Rajeswar said.

One of them is Venugopal, who has no teeth, but loved the food served in the 10 days he stayed there. His right eye recovering from a cataract surgery, the 64-year-old said: “I could not enjoy the chicken though.”

Three years on, tsunami memories linger

Three years on, tsunami memories linger - Hindustan Times
GC Shekhar, Hindustan Times
Cuddalore, December 26, 2007

Vadivelu and Kullammal cannot stop showing their new home to friends. They can’t believe that this airy two-bedroom dwelling with a verandah would be theirs for the rest of their lives.

Vadivelu, a 71-year-old farmer from Uppalandi village near Cuddalore, lost his little plot in the December 26 tsunami three years ago. The seawater made his land uncultivable.

But assistance came in the form of Help Age India for the farming couple who stayed in a shanty till then. “We never even dreamt of such a place even while we lived in our leaking shanty back in our village. With no children to take care of us, this is God’s gift,” said Vadivelu.

Vadivelu and Kullammal were two lucky ones chosen by Help Age India as part of its post-tsunami rehabilitation plan for 7,800 elders. The couple was chosen by a village elders’ committee for the Thamaraikulam Elders Village, a model residential home for elders.

Just 5 km from Cuddalore on the East Coast Road, the village will be the home to 100 senior citizens, all chosen by their respective village committees.

Built in clusters, each unit would house four elders with a common kitchen and dining hall as well as an activity-cum-training room so the elders are never short of company.

Small details about their needs have been taken care of. Like the toilet bowl with a railing on either side as well as the non-skid flooring. At their service would be a visiting doctor plus an ambulance and 10 full-time nursing assistants.

“We have even provided a walking track around the lotus pond — from which the village gets its name Thamaraikulam — and a two-acre vegetable and herbal patch where they can continue their farming on a minor scale. The whole idea is to let them age actively and with dignity,” said Rajeswhar Devarakonda, project head of Help Age India.

News channel NDTV’s viewers contributed Rs 1.25 crore for the project’s cost of Rs 2.48 crore.

It will become fully operational in two months. “At present, we have ten elders living here to check out the system and will gradually bring all 100 beneficiaries,” Rajeswar said.

One of them is Venugopal, who has no teeth, but loved the food served in the 10 days he stayed there. His right eye recovering from a cataract surgery, the 64-year-old said: “I could not enjoy the chicken though.”

Sanitation raises a stink in settlements for victims - The Hindu

by Ramya Kannan

Recent rain compounds the issue, causing flooding in many areas

CHENNAI: In a State where the progress of post-tsunami rehabilitation has largely been consistent over the last three years, inappropriately-addressed sanitation issues have begun to raise a stink.

The inappropriateness of sanitation projects implemented in the tsunami-hit districts of the State, especially in rural, coastal Tamil Nadu, has never been as clear as it has been in the last six months, when large-scale resettlement to permanent shelters took place.

With more and more people shifting to permanent buildings constructed by various NGOs based on specifications provided by the Government, sanitation or the lack of it, is threatening to grow into a big issue. The recent rain has further compounded the issue, causing flooding in many areas.
Unusable toilets

Cause for concern: Sewage overflowing at Tsunami Nagar. (Right) An Ecosan toilet at Shanmuga Nagar, Parangaipettai in Cuddalore. —

Tamizhmani, who lives in Tsunami Nagar, Cuddalore, had stopped worrying about the unusable toilet in her home until the monsoon arrived. With flood waters inundating the vast area near the settlement used by the locals for defecation, Tamizhmani has realised that it is essential for her to repair the toilet at any cost. “I could not use it right from the beginning. It clogs up with sand. Also, during the rains, the water too is contaminated.” Cuddalore collector Rajendra Ratnoo says fisherfolk are unused to toilets and this is part of the problem.

The local Tsunami Resource Centre has been commissioned to study acceptability and usage of toilets in the permanent shelters, he adds.

In Nagapattinam too, where people in some areas continue to live in temporary shelters while others have moved to the permanent houses, basic amenities are still in question.
Complaints galore

Residents charge that access to protected drinking water and good sanitation has been ignored. As pit latrines, septic tanks and soak pits had not being constructed properly, the areas were inundated with sewage after the rains.
Contaminated water

Those in Colachel and Melamanakudi in Kanyakumari complain of contaminated drinking water.

Antony Sami of BLESS, a Cuddalore-based NGO involved in building houses, sanitation issues arise primarily because of the natural soil conditions and non-involvement of the community in building plans. In most areas, toilets have been constructed with technologies unsuited to the sandy soil and high water table of the coastal areas.

Alternative technologies, such as the Ecosan dry toilets are also being tried out, as in Shanmuga Nagar, Cuddalore. C.V. Shankar, Officer on Special Duty, Tsunami Rehabilitation programme, says cognisance has been taken of the issue.

In the coming year, attention will be paid to constructing decentralised water treatment plants in the urban areas.

In rural areas, he said, local solutions would be utilised to improve the situation.

(With inputs from K.Subramanian, Nagapattinam and P.Suresh Kumar, Kanyakumari)

Source

Indian Ocean tsunami: Third year anniversary

Tsunami hit survivors lead an uncertain life three years on - Daily India

Three years after the deadly tsunami ravaged the southeast Indian coast, claiming thousands of lives, survivors of the tragedy in Chennai are still trying to forget the scars left behind by the killer waves full story>>

Candle light marches mark third anniversary of tsunami in TN - The Hindu

...In Chennai, Nagapattinam and Cuddalore along with ten other districts bearing the brunt of the waves, families of the victims offered prayers at the graves with the traditional `Padayal' (offering delicacies to the dead).
...
Fiftyone coastal villages in Cuddalore district, which were hit by the tsunami killing 648 people, wore a new look, with houses and amenities like roads and drinking water facilities built by various NGOs. District Collector Rajendra Ratnoo told PTI that normal life had returned to the district. A total of 1903 houses have been constructed and handed over to the victims, he said full story>>

Wave of memories hits the coast - News Today

...Poignant secnes were witnessed in the worst hit Kanniyakumari, Nagapattinam and Cuddalore districts, where people recalled with tears in their eyes, how they lost their dear ones to tsunami. In Cuddalore, where 648 had been consumed by the madness of the sea, fishermen at Sonangkuppam —— one of the worst-affected —— were all at sea with the surging waves of emotions even as they stayed off from the ocean.
...
Representatives of Chambers of Commerce and various political parties took silent processions and pledged their support to the victims. In Cuddalore, silent processions were taken out in Thazhanguda, Devanampattinam and Sonakuppam fishing hamlets full story>>

They still dream bright - The New Indian Express

Three years since the giant waves struck the coastlines in the form of tsunami, many a life has been transformed.

One among them is M Vijay (10) of Pillu Medu, from an islet near Killai, who hopes to become an officer in the defence wing. He had lost most of his family to the waves full story>>

Water distribution pipes needs to be replaced

It is good to know that great care is taken in purifying and testing drinking water at source. Care should also be taken in distribution of water. I come to know through the readers of this blog, that the water distribution pipes in Cuddalore were laid some 40 years back. These galvanised iron pipes are rusted and damaged at many places because of drainage, (cement) road laying and cable laying works over the years. People using municipal water say that initially they get a pale yellow colored water with rusts, and that they get clear water only after sometime. This shows that there is problem in the distribution pipes.

Proactive District Administration

Many of the readers of this blog might be aware that a couple of weeks back we posted an article about the quality of drinking water supplied on municipal water taps . District Collector Mr. Rajendra Ratnoo responded to this post and invited us to participate in the Water Supply Board Meeting held on Monday (December 17) at Collector's Camp Office.

Water Supply Board Meeting at Collector's Camp Office.

I have attended the meeting . In the meeting, District Collector discussed about this issue with the officials from Water Supply Board and instructed them to take water samples and send him the results.

Details discussed/conveyed at the meeting:

A project at the cost of Rs. 4.63 crores to improve the quality of water is in progress. Once this is implemented the drinking water quality will improve to a greater extent.

In another initiative, district administration has distributed 360 water testing kits to village panchayats. Administration will train five people for every testing kit. 15 parameters are checked using these kits. This will enable the people themselves to check the quality of water.

These initiatives are taken to ensure the water quality in addition to the already existing procedure in which TWAD (Tamilnadu Water Supply and Drainage) Board submits a detailed report on water quality. This report which is submitted every 15 days to the District Collector contains details of the 19 parameters of the drinking water.

We have posted an article Is Silver Beach a Plastic Free Zone ?, in the month of July which pointed out the usage of plastic materials by shop keepers in Silver Beach, despite the beach had been declared a 'Plastic Free Zone'. In response to this article District Collector had assured of necessary action. Accordingly, on Sunday (December 16) plastic materials used there were removed and shop keepers at Silver Beach were instructed not to use any plastic material in their business.

We hereby take this opportunity to thank District Collector Mr. Rajendra Ratnoo, for showing great interest in serving public by taking immediate action on the issues reported in this blog.

EARTH QUAKES, TSUNAMIS AND CONTINENTAL DRIFT

Here is an interesting and shocking story I came across...

EARTH QUAKES, TSUNAMIS AND CONTINENTAL DRIFT

N.Nandhivarman

Tsunami hit Tamilnadu in recent years and people were taken aback at its ferocity. The least expected unfolding of the Nature’s fury has stirred a debate on the changes in our coastline. Why did it happen and how it happened are subjects of current debate. Earth’s surface rests divided into 12 plates. Now the 13 th plate is in the offing. Throughout history scientists believe continents to be drifting, moving closer, or breaking from one another. Pangaea, the most recent super-continent on Earth began to break 160 million years ago. Paul Hoffman, Professor of Geology at Harvard University opines that while Pangaea broke up the Atlantic Ocean opened splitting North America from Eurasia. Then North America parted from Eurasia subsequently South America from Africa, Australia, Antarctica and India separated from Africa creating the Indian Ocean. The same scholar says, “ Atlantic and Indian Oceans continue to widen while Pacific gets smaller. In 100 million years North America and Asia will probably drift into each other”. Paul Hoffman had already named the new super-continent as Amasia.

Jeffrey Welssel at Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory says, “ The result of this crucial stage in the collision between India and Asia is the breakup of the Indo Australian Plate into separate Indian and Australian plates”. He also said “ In The Central Indian Ocean Nature is conducting a large scale experiment for us, showing us what happens to oceanic lithosphere (earth’s outer layer) when a force is applied.” This experiment had its repercussions, when on fault lines earthquakes hit almost exactly where Indo Australian plates have broken.

Group of researchers from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center have provided with schematic global tectonic activity map, which shows several types of faults, active spreading centers, and volcanoes. The fault-lines or geo fractures are areas where we must watch and take all precautions in constructions to save lives.

This may be a global watch, but Pondicherrian’s have specific areas to observe. A Report on Ground Water Survey and Exploration in the Union Territory of Pondicherry and its environs by a team of experts from Central Ground Water Board, Southern region in March 1973 says that “ The photo-geological study has also confirmed the existence of the fault to the west of the coastline a straight scarp running almost parallel to Pondicherry- Markanam Road” That finding was made three decades ago.

Dr.S.M.Ramasamy Director of Center for Remote Sensing of Bharathidasan University as early as 1993 said, “ The East North East- West South West trending faults on the contrary are showing left handed (sinistrel) ongoing translational movements. Such sinisterly and dextrally moving faults display definite morph tectonic anomalies in the remotely sensed data and also in the field. In addition, there is a conspicuous land subsidence between Pondicherry in the North East and Cumbum valley in the South West.

One such graben has been established along north east- southwest trending faults in between Pondicherry-Cuddalore in the northeast and Cumbum valley in the Southwest. It is significant to observe that the earthquake epicenters fall along such NE-SW trending fault in Cuddalore, Ariyalor, Dindigul and Kodaikanal.

In view of a geo-fracture i.e. fault line from Kalapet in Pondicherry to Cumbum Valley in South Tamil Nadu, great caution must be taken in construction of high rise structures wherever fault lines have been identified. Earthquake resistant construction design in places where one fault line passes, as mentioned above, is need of the hour. There are pictures taken by satellites using remote sensing techniques had identified studies covering Tamil Nadu its and various fault lines. It is high time sky scrappers do not come up in the fault line and quake prone areas.

While Earthquake precautions are need of the hour, the new threat to Tamil Nadu’s coast comes by way of Tsunamis. Tsunami is a known phenomenon in Pacific Ocean stretching from Chile in Latin America to Japan in Far East Asia. Seismic disturbances, coastal earthquakes, volcanic eruptions or under sea landslides that jolt the ocean floor cause tsunamis, which travels at speeds up to 500 miles per hour and reaches heights between 50 and 100 feet. Tsunami observatories and Earth Quake observatories must be set up for early warning systems. People living in low-lying coastal areas have faced the brunt. “ It is high time fishermen settlements are shifted to higher grounds. World Bank and global assistance that is forthcoming must be utilized to create fishermen colonies in high ground ’’opines Narambai Kanagasabai, President of Narambai Fishermen Panchayat of Pondicherry state.

The green house effect causes rise in sea water levels. Scientists have predicted that by 2100 A.D the rise in sea level will be between 0.5 to 1.5 meters. Before 1.5 million years Sea was closer to Madurai and before 90,000 years Chennai, Pondicherry and Vedaranyam were surrounded by sea. Due to fall in sea levels 65,000 years ago India and Ceylon joined and when sea level rose around 27,000 years ago they parted. Then 17,000 years ago due to fall in water level both joined and when water rose they parted. This is the study-report of Bharathidasan University’s Earth Sciences Department. All these studies and past history makes it clear that our coastline had undergone changes over centuries. Poompuhar of Chola Empire is beneath the seas. Sirkazhi once a coastal town is now an interior town. So changes in our coast is continuous. Caution must be taken about all dwellings in our coast, and let this tsunami attack be an eye opener.

Drinking water in Cuddalore

The above photo shows the dirty colour of the drinking water received through the Municipal water pipe. The water is so dirty that it raises the questions of safety precautions taken by the authorities in providing the basic amenity to the residents of Tirupapuliyur.

Coast to Coast

Southern Railways has planned to introduce train service connecting east coast with west coast. This passenger service will connect two port towns, Cuddalore and Mangalore. The proposed route is Cuddalore-Bangalore - Hassan - Mangalore.

Related link:
Vriddhachalam — Salem train service on new BG track

Plea to extend train service to Cuddalore

Plea to extend train service - The Hindu

Special Correspondent

CUDDALORE: Consumer activists and residents of Cuddalore have urged Union Minister of State for Railways R.Velu to extend the Vriddhachalam—Salem train service (to be started from Sunday on the converted gauge system) to Cuddalore.

In a representation, M.Maruthavanan, general secretary of Federation of All Resident Welfare Associations, has urged the Minister to start the Cuddalore—Salem service without delay.

The buses bound for Vriddhachalam were running fully packed and if the commuters were to go to the temple town to catch the train, the situation would worsen.

A large number of commuters bound for Salem were from Cuddalore and therefore it would be apt if the train started from Cuddalore, he said. General secretary of the Cuddalore District Consumer Protection Organisation M. Nizamudeen has urged the Minister to start train services on the Cuddalore—Salem—Bangalore section and Cuddalore—Salem—Coimbatore section.

Southern Railway Once Again Proves that Cuddalore is not in its Agenda

This article has been contributed to Cuddalore Online by Ramkumar.

Southern Railways has opened the Virudhachalam - Salem section. But as expected, Southern Railway has not added new services to Cuddalore - Virudhalacham section.

Southern Railways never thinks about Cuddalore or the Cuddalore-Virudhachalam section. It is acting as if Cuddalore is never in its agenda.

The very gauge conversion project bears the title of Cuddalore - Virudhachalam - Salem gauge conversion.

But Southern Railways is not able to operate even one Cuddalore - Salem Passenger, post the completion of full Gauge conversion of this Cuddalore - Virudhachalam - Salem.

We do not know what the South Arcot Railway Passengers' association is doing and where it is ?

Highly unfortunate.

And there are no people to voice for Cuddalore. Cuddalore would remain under-developed even for years to come. The plight of Cuddalore will continue for years to come.

Even God cannot save Cuddalore.

This article as originally posted in CuddaloreOnline group.

Virudhachalam-Salem BG section to be Commissioned on 18th Nov

This article has been contributed to Cuddalore Online by Ramkumar.

The Virudhachalam - Salem BG section is being commissioned on 18th Nov.

A Grand function for this is being held at Virudhachalam Junction on 18th Nov. Morning around 10:00 AM.

Minister of State for Railways Mr. R. Velu flags off the first passenger service in this section from Virudhachalam Junction. The first service to be introduced in this section would be a Virudhachalam - Salem Passenger service. MLAs, MPs, State and Central Ministers participate.

The Virudhachalam - Salem Gauge conversion is part of the Cuddalore-Salem Gauge Conversion Project.

For now, it is not known how many train services would be operated in this new Virudhachalam - Salem BG section.

If SR intends to operate only one Virudhachalam - Salem passenger in this section, then it is really a bad decision by SR. In that case, atleast, this Virudhachalam - Salem passenger should be extended to Cuddalore immediately.

Irrespective of the number of services proposed in this new section, SR should run minimum one Cuddalore-Salem passenger.

In fact, if SR can introduce a Cuddalore - Bangalore Fast Passenger or Express, it would be highly useful to people in Cuddalore, Vadalur, Neyveli and Virudhachalam.

Hope SR will do something to Cuddalore atleast this time.

This article as originally posted in CuddaloreOnline group on 14-Nov-2007.

Cuddalore neglected by Southern Railways

This article has been contributed to Cuddalore Online by Ramkumar.

Cuddalore as in other fronts, stands ignored in Railway Front too.Luck never seems to favour Cuddalore, in spite of it being a district headquarters. The main cause for Cuddalore's this plight is the lack of political backing for Cuddalore. There are no people to voice for Cuddalore.

The full CUPJ (Cuddalore Port Junction) -VRI (Vridhachalam) Broad Gauge section was thrown open to traffic in Dec. 2003. Only one service to Trichy plying in this section is of much use to the public. Even the other Cuddalore-Vridhachalam passenger is not of much use, as it provides connection only to a nearby town of Vridhachalam, which is at a short distance from Cuddalore.

Four Budgets in 2004,2005, 2006 and 2007 have passed and not even a single addition to the number of services which were introduced when the section was initially thrown open to traffic in Dec. 2003. Very Pathetic.

In contrast, SR is paying attention to every other section converted to BG. But it is this section, which needs SR's attention, focus and concentration badly. A comparison of this section with all the other converted sections will reveal the true picture and also how this section has been totally ignored by SR. Also how Cuddalore has been badly let down by Southern Railway.

Thanjavur-Kumbakona m-Mayiladuthurai section

TJ (Thanjavur) -KMU (Kumbakonam) section was commissioned in early 2004 in connection with Mahamaham. The initial pattern of services were,

1 Pair of KMU-TEN Passengers and 1 Pair of KMU-TPJ passengers
In 2004-2005 TT TJ-MS Rockfort was extended to KMU
In 2005-2006 TT, TJ-CBE Jan Shatabdi was extended to KMU and so also TJ-MYS to KMU
When the KMU (Kumbakonam) -MV (Mayiladuthurai) section was converted to BG, KMU-TPJ,KMU- TEN passengers and MYS-KMU were extended to MV.
Also a new MV-TPJ passenger starting from MV in the morning and returning to MV in the night was introduced.
Now in 2007-2008, one more MV-TPJ express has been introduced.

TJ (Thanjavur) -TVR (Tiruvarur) section

This section was commissioned in the second half of 2006. Initial services were 2 Pairs of TVR-TPJ passengers and one pair of TJ-TVR passengers.
In the 2007-2008 TT, one more TVR-TPJ passenger has been introduced.

VPT (Virudhunagar) - TSI (Tenkasi) section

In 2004-2005 there was one pair of MDU-TSI passenger and also a weekly MS-TSI Podhigai Super Fast Express. In 2006-2007, one more pair of MDU-TSI passenger was introduced. Now in 2007-2008, one more special MDU-TSI passenger has been introduced and also Podhigai is now running daily.

Pondicherry- Villupuram section.

This section was commissioned in the first half of 2004. Initial services were 1 pair of PDY-MS Fast Passenger and PDY-TPTY passenger. In 2005-2006, 2 to 3 coaches to/from Pondicherry were moved to/from Chennai by Pearl City/Ananthapuri In 2006-2007, Pondicherry- Bhuvaneshwar weekly Super Fast train as well as PDY-MS five-day-a-week express train were introduced.

In contrast, if we take the Cuddalore-Vridhachalam section, the count of services at the time this section was commissioned remains the same even now, that is after 4 years. Not even a single addition. SR is going out of the way to operate services to/from Pondicherry. For two coaches, the attaching/detaching operation is happening at Villupuram on two days to provide a link between Pondy and Chennai. This is in addition to the daily PDY-MS Fast Passenger and Five-Day-a-week express services between Pondy and Chennai. SR is able to find even new timings in the congested MS-VM section to accommodate new trains for Pondicherry, which gesture or act of SR is not to be seen in the case of trains to other places.

Again the patronage in the Pondicherry- Villupuram section for all these three services between Pondy and Chennai are very poor, defeating the very purpose of operating these direct services to Chennai from Pondicherry. There does not seem to be any justification in offering more services to Pondy when the patronage offered/observed is poor and far from satisfactory.

On the other hand, there are sections like the Cuddalore-Vridhacha lam section, where there is a huge demand for train services, but SR does not seem to concerntrate on running more trains in this section. The rakes of these commercially unviable services,like in the PDY (Pondy)-VM (Villupuram) section, can very well be diverted and utilised to run more services in sections, where there is a huge demand for train/rail services like the Cuddalore-Vridhachalam section.

The Cuddalore-Trichy passenger is highly patronised by the people of the Cuddalore-Vridhacha lam section (Excluding Vridhachalam). Even an additional pair of service is very much required. But SR does not seem to take note of all these.

In the first leg of conversion of Cuddalore-Vridhachalam portion of the Cuddalore-Salem section, yes, the Cuddalore-Vridhachalam section has been totally ignored by SR and Trichy division. Now that the remaining portion of Vridhachalam-Salem also has been converted, SR should pay some attention to Cuddalore at least now.

Atleast, in the second leg, let Cuddalore get some justice and attention. SR should introduce direct trains to Bangalore and Coimbatore from Cuddalore via Vridhachalam and Salem. These services would be of high use to the people in places like Cuddalore, Kurunjipaadi, Vadalur and Neyveli coming under the Cuddalore-Vridhachalam section.

When SR is introducing new express services over short distances like the recently introduced Mayiladuthurai- Tiruchchirappall i express, it is but natural for the Cuddaloreans to get an opinion that theirs is the only place which is being treated badly and ignored totally by SR and Tiruchirappalli division.

When SR is running two coaches between Pondy and Chennai and an attaching/detaching operating happening for this at Villupuram, people tend to get an opinion that SR is only not able to do anything to Cuddalore, whereas it is doing and able to do something or the other, with respect to the other places.

The above mentioned places have a sound political backing that keeps things moving for them and in their favour, which backing unfortunately is not available for Cuddalore. Nobody to represent and voice Cuddalore's Cause to the Railways.

There is one group called South Arcot Railway Passengers'Association. Unfortunately, this group is also not voicing Cuddalore's cause and needs and also not getting things done for Cuddalore. This group is supposed to voice Cuddalore's needs to Railways. But unfortunately no.

Can this Cuddalore Online Group do something to effectively voice and represent Cuddalore's cause and needs to Railways, so that Cuddalore will get attention and consequently more train services for Cuddalore which would only be a big boon to the people of Cuddalore. After all, is not rail journey the most comfortable one when compared to bus journeys ? Hence more the train services from Cuddalore, more they will be useful for the people of Cuddalore to make a comfortable journey to different places.

This article as originally posted in CuddaloreOnline group.

Speedbreakers

The following picture shows how a speed breaker should be.
Picture courtesy - www.delhitrafficpolice.nic.in





















PS: Click on the picture to view a bigger one
The guidelines to be followed before a decision for laying a speed breaker can be read at this site


























But in many places around Cuddalore, speed breakers are laid as five successive humps at a span of 60 feet. One such is shown in the above picture. Location : Semmandalam - Kammiampet road connecting Panruti road.

From the traffic point there should be only one speed breaker to control the traffic, but such a number of humps in the name of speed breakers is proving a hindrance to the road users.