Women sub-jail opened at Cuddalore prison

Women sub-jail opened at Cuddalore prison - The Hindu

A.V.Ragunathan

It was built on 1.95 acres at the cost of Rs. 2 crore
Photo: C. Venkatachalapathy

Inaugurating new facility: Director-General of Police (Prisons) R. Natraj at the Cuddalore prison on Wednesday. —

CUDDALORE: Director-General of Police (Prisons) R. Natraj inaugurated a women sub-jail built at the cost of Rs. 2 crore on the Cuddalore Central Prison premises here on Wednesday.

Mr. Natraj said that the sub-jail had come up on 1.95 acres on the 177-acre prison campus and could accommodate 100 inmates. Built by the Tamil Nadu Police Housing Corporation within a year, it was provided with all basic amenities, a pharmacy and a crèche.

At present, the Villupuram sub-jail had about 70 inmates as against its sanctioned strength of 40. The excess number of inmates would be shifted to the Cuddalore sub-jail, he said.

Henceforward there would not be any need to transport women offenders from Cuddalore to places such as Salem, Tiruchi, Vellore and Villupuram. It would enable better deployment of manpower and cut transport cost.

Mr. Natraj said that there were 14 separate sub-jails for women in Tamil Nadu, which no other State could boast of. During his tenure as Inspector-General of Police (Prohibition enforcement wing) he had learnt that majority of prohibition offenders were women. In Cuddalore and Villupuram districts, women were at the front-end of illicit trade and in “black spot” villages, they were unaware that it was illegal.

Mr. Natraj said that such women should not be arrested as a matter of routine but their illicit brew and wares be seized. They should be assisted through “rehabilitation of prohibition offenders’ funds.”

It was ironical that a visually impaired person, facing charges of smashing windscreens of a bus, was kept in Madurai prison. Humanitarian concern should precede any arrest and mere transferring of problem from police station to prison would not provide a solution, Mr. Natraj said.

Superintendent of Police Pradip Kumar said that prisons had now become house of reforms. The sub-jail would provide safety and security to the inmates and safeguard their dignity. It would help them turn a new leaf.

Principal District and Sessions Judge T. Ramapathiran said that a renaissance had come about in prison administration now as prisons had morphed into reformative schools.

Deputy Inspector-General of Prisons R. Durairaj, Jail Superintendent R. Kanagaraj and Additional Superintendent R. Jayaraman participated.

Mr. Natraj also inaugurated a carpentry training programme and gave away certificates to 29 inmates, who had successfully completed diploma courses in refrigeration, fashion designing, motor winding and borewell technology offered by the Tamil Nadu Open University.

Chidambaram temple, surroundings to be improved

Chidambaram temple, surroundings to be improved - The Hindu

Special Correspondent

CUDDALORE: The Natarajar temple and its surroundings at Chidambaram will be improved at a cost of Rs.25 crore, according to District Collector Rajendra Ratnoo.

A proposal to upgrade tourist spots and surroundings of renowned temples in the district to international standards will soon be sent to the government for approval, Mr. Ratnoo said after attending a consultative meeting on tourism promotion.

Roads leading to Thiruvahindrapuram and Padaleeswarar temples at Cuddalore, Vriddhagireeswarar temple at Vriddhachalam, Veerattaneeswarar temple at Panruti, and water bodies such as the Veeranam tank, Wellington reservoir, Perumal Eri and Keelanai would be properly maintained.

The islets at Pichavaram, M.G.R.Thittu and Chinnavaikkal and the Silver Beach would be beautified .

Cuddalore-Chennai-Bangalore-Mumbai Industrial Corridor

Nod for extension of Industrial Corridor - The Hindu
N. Anand

CHENNAI: The Union government has given its nod for the extension of the Chennai-Bangalore Industrial Corridor up to Cuddalore, an official of the State Industrial Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu (SIPCOT) said.

“What was started as an experimental industrial corridor from Chennai to Hosur has assumed a new dimension, with the recent approval from the Centre. The industrial corridor starts at Cuddalore and ends in Mumbai, and it has been rechristened Cuddalore-Chennai-Bangalore-Mumbai Industrial Corridor,” SIPCOT Chairman and Managing Director N. Govindan told The Hindu.

The extension will mean inclusion of important places such as Puducherry, Tindivanam, Chengalpattu, Tambaram and Oragadam, along with Tier-II and Tier-III cities, to provide competitive infrastructure and promote inclusive and sustainable industrial development up to Mumbai.

The Chennai-Hosur industrial corridor is developed in two phases. The United Kingdom-based Mott McDonald has submitted an interim report for the first phase that will span from Chennai-Sriperumbudur to Ranipet. The second phase starts at Ranipet to reach Bangalore through Hosur. . The draft concept paper was conceived by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion and the Union Ministry of Commerce of Industry. “After going through the interim report, we have made some suggestions to Mott McDonald. After incorporating the changes, the consultant is expected to submit one more report in the next two weeks,” Mr. Govindan said.

On Monday, the SIPCOT board cleared an industrial corridor connecting Madurai and Tuticorin. The board will shortly float a tender to fix a consultant for conducting a feasibility study.

Explosion at Chemplast's Silicon unit

Explosion at Chemplast's Silicon unit; One worker maimed - SipcotCuddalore.com

21 February, 2009, Mettur Dam One worker - P. Thangaraj (23 years) of Anaipallam hamlet -- had to have his left leg amputated after a massive explosion at Chemplast's Metkem Silicon plant in Mettur Dam crushed the victims limb. The explosion which was heard at around 2.30 p.m. on 21 February is the latest in a series of serious mishaps at Chemplast's chemicals complex in Mettur. A few months ago, there was a major leak of HCFC - an ozone depleting substance - from the company's freon plant.

Saturday's explosion occurred due to failure by the company to maintain equipment properly and by their failure to observe precautionary measures in their work. According to one report by a worker, Thangaraj and some other workers were brought in to clean a hydrogen tank. Because the hatch covering the tank was in poor condition and the bolts were rusted, the workers were ordered to cut through the hatch using a blow-torch. Hydrogen is a highly explosive substance. When the blow-torch was used, the inevitable happened and the tank exploded sending shrapnel that crushed Thangaraj's left leg. The leg was later amputated below the waist at Manipal Hospital, Salem.

Thangaraj was a contract worker engaged for work in the factory for more than two years. Employers are prohibited from using untrained contract workers for hazardous work requiring trained personnel. The victim's family members and representatives of the West Gonur Agriculturists Development Union have filed a complaint with the Karumalaikoodal police station. However, the Police have refused to give an acknowledgement of the letter.

Double-tumbler system still in practice in Cuddalore district

Untouchability still practised: CPI(M) - The Hindu

Special Correspondent

Party gives representation to Cuddalore Collector

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Double-tumbler system in tea shops at Nallathur

Graveyards allotted to Dalits encroached upon

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CUDDALORE: The practice of untouchability against the Dalits is still prevalent in certain pockets in Cuddalore district.

A study team of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), comprising district secretary S.Dhanasekaran, union secretary G.Madhavan, block secretary K.Kandasamy and Untouchability Eradication Front organiser S.Durairaj, came out with the findings recently.

In a representation given to Collector Rajendra Ratnoo, the team noted that the Dalits were still discriminated against in terms of access to community centres and marriage halls.

For instance, at Nallathur, double-tumbler system in tea shops was still in practice.

Barber shops turned down the Dalits and even push carts owned by the panchayat for carrying the deceased to graveyard were denied to them.

They could not gain entry into any of the five temples in the village. Moreover, the graveyards allotted to the Dalits at Periyakanganankuppam in Cuddalore block and Periya Kappankulam in Vriddhchalam block were encroached upon.

Hence, the Dalits had to bury the dead in the vicinity of their habitations.

Therefore, the study team called upon the district administration to earmark separate graveyards for the Dalits and also secure the places from possible encroachments.

It also called for suitable action against those who were indulging in such discriminatory practices.

Chidambaram Natyanjali begins

Natyanjali from today - The Hindu

CUDDALORE: The five-day Natyanjali festival will begin at Chidambaram Natarajar temple on Monday evening. Classical dance forms such as Bharatanatynam, Odissi and Kuchupudi will be featured.

Artists from across the country and abroad will participate in the annual event.

Performances will be staged from 5.30 p.m. to midnight every day, according to organisers of the event.

Natyanjali begins with fanfare - The Hindu

CUDDALORE: The five-day Natyanjali festival got off to a colourful start at the Natarajar temple at Chidambaram on Monday evening.

The takeover of the temple administration by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department from the Podhu Dikshithars has not deterred the Natyanjali Trust from going ahead with the annual event. The Department has given permission for the festival and arranged for police protection, according to K. Sivakumar, Executive Officer of the temple. The Sangeeth Natak Akademi, New Delhi, the South Zone Cultural Centre, the Neyveli Lignite Corporation, Annamalai University and City Union Bank Ltd have lent a helping hand to the trust.

Jayant Kasthuar, secretary of the Akademi, who inaugurated the festival, told The Hindu that ever since the festival started in 1981, his organisation was supporting the trust in its endeavour to propagate the classical dance forms.

A.K. Natarajan and A. Sambandam, trust president and secretary, representatives of the Podhu Dikshithars and Joint Commissioner (HR & CE) N. Thirumagal took part.

The programmes will go on from 5.30 p.m. to midnight, with a time slot of 20 minutes-one hour allotted to every artist or troupe.

Raising a stink on the toxic peninsula

Raising a stink on the toxic peninsula - ExpressBuzz

G Babu Jayakumar
First Published : 21 Feb 2009 10:45:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 21 Feb 2009 10:55:10 AM IST

Marital alliance with outsiders is a difficult proposition for these villagers. Cocking their noses, prospective in-laws just take to their heels if at all they land in any of the 20 villages with a marriage proposal for their son or daughter, as the stench is just unbearable. It hits even those cruising along the highway (NH 45-A) all through the 8 km stretch, on which the Cuddalore SIPCOT Chemical Estate is located, and the local people have been living with the strange and pungent odours since 1984 when the factories started springing up.

However, for the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB), there is nothing amiss with the environment nor is there any reason for penalising the factories for polluting the air, or for the matter, water and land. It is a diffe­rent matter that the TNPCB office, which was originally located within the estate, was shifted one fine morning to Cuddalore town, a few km away — reportedly because the staff could not put up with the foul smell.

But the cavalier attitude of TNPCB officials spurred the people — whose real troubles began in 1982 when land acquisition for the industrial estate project was launched — into action and they started making noises, of course, to no avail.

With the foul odours drawing the attention of social and environmental activists like Nityanand Jayaraman, they raised a stink by inviting the Indian People’s Tribunal in Mumbai to hold a public hearing when yet another factory was proposed to be set up in the estate. That was in 2002.

It was then people like Shweta Narayan realised the local people, despite raising their voice against the managements of the factory, were not able to present their cases to the authorities, particularly TNPCB, with proper scientific evidence. Since instances of toxic waste release into the air and the Uppanar River on the estate’s eastern periphery were not documented methodically, the factories got away with them, what with the TNPCB not evincing interest in pulling up the big firms that owned these industrial units.

So, the environmentalists took upon themselves the task of training local activists, who had been waging a war without a focus, on various aspects of ecological protection. A batch of 35 people was first given training in water sampling in December 2003 and then another 12 persons were taught about air sampling in March 2004. The interaction between the local people, who found themselves caught in a ‘chemical peninsula’ (as one of them described it) and unequipped to fight the might of the corporate world, and the environmentalists led to the formation of the Community Environmental Monitoring group.

The barefoot environmentalists, having gained knowledge in the scientific aspects of monitoring the ecology, declared a war against pollution with Shweta providing them supp­ort from Chennai, 200 km away. Day and night, the monitors kept a vigil, looking for violations of environmental norms and also deliberating the release of waste into the river, which is still used by the people for fishing, and also in the air. They also evoked the provisions of the Right to Information Act to know the actions taken by the authorities.

Though only six of the trained persons are fully into monitoring — they eke their livelihood through other means — now, the others who underwent the training also help them out in the work with the entire local community providing them tip offs and alerts.

In January 2005, the six persons, G K Amirthalingam, T Arulselvam, J Parasuraman, S Pugazhenthi, S Ramanthan and S Sivasankar, along with Shweta, presented a comprehensive report ‘Groundtruths: Status of Hazardous Wastes and Pollution in SIPCOT Chemical Estate, Cuddalore’ to the Supreme Court Monitoring Committee with a view to throwing light on the functioning of the factories. The report highlighted the various violations of hazardous waste regulations and Clean Air and Clean Water Acts.

Subsequently, the local monitors made repeated representations pointing out specific cases of violations to the TNPCB, police and the district collector, besides the Supreme Court Monitoring Committee. However, nothing was done to change the ground situation in the chemical estate, where every law is flouted with impunity, the monitors say.

Despite having the feeling that they are waging a losing battle against the polluters of their environment, the community soldiered on without letting down their vigil and the report ‘Goundtruths II: Status of Hazardous Wastes and Pollution in SIPCOT Chemical Estate, Cuddalore’ was published in December 2008.

Groundtruths II, however, presents a frightening picture, detailing how the TNPCB is brazen and callous in its attitude. It points to the lack of political will to implement the law and how the industries continue to pollute the environment. Yet the green warriors have not given up their fight.

— babujayakumar@epmltd.com

Vignettes of a protest

Shweta Narayan spotted a lorry carrying barrels of some substance passing through Cuddalore on January 23, 2008 during peak hours. The driver said he had no papers of the substance he was transporting. But company officials said it was Aldehyde.

IIT Madras and TNPCB tested samples of the substance and reported it as ‘toxic waste’, highly inflammable. Where was the toxic waste dumped? How many people’s health it affected? No one knows. No action has been taken so far by the authorities against the company officials, she says.

Recalling that evening at the Cuddalore police station, Shweta says not a single government official was sympathetic to her. In fact, the way they looked at her for being a woman was degrading, she says.

Some ground truths

Of the 34 industries, now in operation inside the Cuddalore Chemical Estate, at least eight do not have a valid ‘Consent to Establish’ and 22 of them are operating without a proper license under Clean Air and Water Acts. At least 17 of them do not have a valid authorisation under the Hazardous Waste Rules and five of the seven units that require Coastal Regulation Zone clearance have not obtained it.

It is mandatory for certain categories of industries to conduct Environmental Impact Assessment and obtain clearances from the Central Government and TNPCB before commencing construction. In SIPCOT five instances of illegal construction was brought to the notice of TNPCB in the past two years but no action has ever been taken against the errant company officials.

Concern at overexploitation of groundwater in Cuddalore

Concern at overexploitation of groundwater in Cuddalore - The Hindu

Seminar on groundwater management held

CUDDALORE: Because of the over exploitation of groundwater, Cuddalore is facing the imminent threat of water shortage. The recharge of groundwater and the suction ratio is 1:10 and it indicates the gravity of the situation, according to the joint findings of the Indian Institute of Public Administration and the Federation of All Residents' Welfare Association.

Resolution passed

In a seminar on groundwater management organised here, a resolution was passed urging the authorities to take all out measures to safeguard groundwater level and the aquifer.

It alleged that the units in SIPCOT Industrial Estate were unauthorisedly drawing 10 million litres of groundwater a day.

The government would rather advise the units to get their water requirements from the sea.

The government should also enter into an agreement with the prospective units to the effect that no groundwater would be tapped.

It noted that for prospecting one tonne of lignite the Neyveli Lignite Corporation was pumping out 10 tonnes of water.

Recycling water

It suggested putting the water to profitable purposes and recycling the used water. It voiced concern over the seepage of untreated effluents into the groundwater that resulted in various ailments among the residents, such as skin diseases, kidney failure and lung infection. Studies had revealed that the hydrogen sulphide content in groundwater was in excess of the permissible limit. Therefore, the seminar called for urgent measures to improve the groundwater table and to avert any possible contamination.

As a first step it must insist upon adoption of drip irrigation in the 15 km radius from Cuddalore, construction of checkdams across the Gedilam and the Pennaiyar to curtail the runoff into the sea, and to build minor reservoirs and pump in fresh water through big pipes into the ground so as to replenish the underground water level.

Sea water incursion

It further said that because of the sea water incursion into cultivable land the soil quality had suffered. Just by applying gypsum on the soil surface would not solve the problem.

Therefore, it called for evolving scientific methods to remove salinity in the soil.

Those who participated included R.Ranganathan, president, M.Marudhavanan, general secretary of the Federation, N.Rangaramanujam, district president of the Institute and K.Elangovan, BSNL official.

Discharge from chemical plants is a serious threat to coastal areas and its hinterland

Marine pollution a serious threat: TNPCB chairman - The Hindu

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Next edition of the conference on ocean engineering in 2013
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CHENNAI: Marine pollution would affect not just coastal areas but also the hinterland, R. Balakrishnan, chairman, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB), said. To control this, government policies should be accompanied by measures to convince industries to adopt clean development mechanisms in their own interest, he added.

Speaking at the valedictory session of the five-day International Conference on Ocean Engineering at IIT-Madras on Thursday, Mr. Balakrishnan said that various sources of pollution including industrial effluents, domestic sewage and discharge from chemical plants were posing serious threats to the coastal areas.

In particular, chemical industries in Cuddalore SIPCOT, the power plants and industries near Manali and the coast near Tuticorin had been identified as causes for concern.

With active monitoring, TNPCB had initiated new norms and effluent treatment activities in these areas to control marine pollution, Mr. Balakrishnan said. However, along with improved norms, the government should also convince industrialists that it was in their long-term interest to prevent coastal degradation, and this could only be done with academic support, he added.

T.T.Narendran, head, Industrial Consultancy and Sponsored Research, IIT-Madras, said that while awareness about pollution should be increased among the public, a clean environment could be guaranteed “only if industrialists had clean hearts and the implementation authority had clean hands.”

Earlier, V. Anantha Subramanian, organising committee secretary, said that nearly 100 papers had been presented at the conference by 30 foreign delegates, 96 Indian delegates, and 62 delegates sponsored by the Naval Research Board and other companies.

He said that IIT-Madras would conduct the next edition of the conference in 2013.

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As industrialists never have clean hearts and implementation authorities never have clean hands, it is for the people to have brave hearts and fight against the injustice done to them.

Demand for agricultural varsity in South Arcot

PMK's Tamil Nadu Uzhavar Periyakkam has demanded agricultural varsity be set up in Cuddalore or Villupuram district. PMK leader S.Ramadoss "has urged the government to repeal the antiquated Land Acquisition Act 1894 since it is detrimental to the interests of the farmers."

The Periyakkam has "called upon the government to bring out a white paper on the status of those who had given lands for various projects. " full story>>

Uppanar river bed badly polluted

Uppanar Pollution: Fishermen report fish with diseases, suspect illegal discharges into the river - SACEM

Cuddalore, 22 January 2009: Fishermen in Uppanar have reported increased incidents of catching fishes with diseases. According to SACEM monitor and fisherman from Sangolikuppam S. Pugazendhi many fishes of a local variety 'Madava' are being noticed with burnt skin and blisters. This damage in the fish is being noticed for about a month in the entire stretch of the Uppanar. The fishermen suspect increase in the illegal effluent discharge by the industries into the river as the main reason for such occurrence.

According to the fishermen 'Madava' is a bottom dwelling fish and it lives very close to the river bed. The sediments in Uppanar are visibly polluted and that is the main reason for the diseases in the fish.

This is not the first time fishermen are reporting such incidents. Fishermen have brought the issue of diseases in the fish and declining catch due to pollution to the notice of the authorities and general public several years ago. They are still waiting for concrete actions by the authorities that would change their situation for better.

The fishermen and SACEM monitors have filed a formal complaint with the District Collector, Fisheries Department and the Pollution Control Board on this latest incident.

Vilvanagar roads in bad shape

Despite being one the most infuential locality politically, roads in Vilva:nagar are in a very bad shape. Off course, at this point almost every single street in Cuddalore is unfit to use because of the underground drainage construction. But the roads in Vilva:nagar has always been worser than in other parts of the town.

Streets connecting Vilva:nagar with Iraajaambaal :nagar

Residents of the place use the road connecting Vilva:nagar Housing Broad apartments and Hospital Road as this road is unfit for vehicles. As is the case on any normal day, one can imagine the plight of these people on rainy days. I lost my hope and returned back home when I tried to go to interior of Vilva:nagar two months back when monsoon was at its peak. One could barely see anything in road during night (I am not sure if there are street lights, but definitely not enough in number).

Road connecting Vilva:nagar with Hospital Road

Garbage clearance is another thing to worry about. I wonder if municipal workers collect garbage from this place. Streets of Vilva:nagar are mini dump yards.

Garbage heap in Goavindhasaami :Nagar

Garbage heap and clogged drain water in Goavindhasaami :Nagar

No matter of how politically influential people are, and how important a locality is in deciding the electoral outcomes. If there are not going to fight for their needs nothing is going to change.

New traffic signals

It is rare to see any sort of visible developments in Cuddalore roads these days. I was surprised to see new traffic signals at all important junction in Cuddalore - more importantly - these were installed all at once.

Town Hall junction:


Imperial Road - Lawrence Road junction:


Collectorate junction:


Arcot Woodlands junction:

Marine aquarium in Cuddalore

Marine aquarium in Cuddalore boasts of over 70 unique fishes - The Hindu

A.V. Ragunathan

It has been established at Subbarayalu Children’s Park at a cost of Rs. 29 lakh

CUDDALORE: Cuddalore town can now boast of a modern marine aquarium with at least 70 colourful and unique fishes . These are found in the depths of the Bay of Bengal off Cuddalore and Parangipettai areas.

Established at the Subbarayalu Children’s Park here, the aquarium has been set up by the Centre of Advanced Study in Marine Biology of Annamamali University and the Cuddalore Municipal Corporation at the cost of Rs. 29 lakh.

While the civic body has constructed the building, the Marine Biology Centre has provided technical back-up such as selection of fish, glass tanks, interior set up, feed, etc.

G. Sankar, Senior Lecturer in the centre, told The Hindu that cost-wise, a marine aquarium would be 10 to 15 times higher than a fresh water aquarium.

Moreover, the marine species could survive only on select feed and in the right ecological condition.

Drainage aspect in the tanks should also be properly taken care of to enable each species live its full life span, which ranged from six months to seven years.

For instance, the species on display - including sea lion, koran angel (that has markings likened to Urdu letters on the tail), star fish, sea animal, parrot fish, ora, sail fish, blue damsel, cat fish, banner fish, sea horse of various hues, lobsters, crabs, clone fish and cow fish - had unique food habits.

Based on research, the feed had been prepared and supplied. Running a marine aquarium was an expert’s job. Mr. Sankar said that the Marine Biology Centre, as per the agreement, would run the aquarium for one year.

During the period, it would train the municipal staff on how to maintain the tanks and feed the fish.

He further said that each species was endowed with interesting characteristics and behavioural pattern that were arresting and educative. Mr. Sankar also said that special arrangements had been made to keep seawater in the tanks, each could hold 2,500 litres, for four months in the right condition.

The feed alone would cost about Rs. 300 a day, besides the upkeep of the tanks. Hence, a nominal entrance fee was being collected for maintaining the aquarium. In course of time, the local body would fix the right kind of fee, he added.

Walking towards solution to recurring flood problem in Cuddalore district

Walking towards solution to recurring flood problem - The Hindu

A.V. Ragunathan

Rajendra Ratnoo and his entourage visited 70 vulnerable villages and covered 500 km

CUDDALORE: A marathon “Water Walk” undertaken by Collector Rajendra Ratnoo has given a glimmer of hope to citizens who have long been longing for a solution to the recurring flood problem.

The Cyclone Nisha in November last year left behind a trail of devastation in the district, particularly in tail-end delta region of Chidambaram, Kattumannarkoil, Kumaratchi and Kurinjipadi blocks.

A large number of people participated in the walk organised by Mr. Ratnoo, and shared their views. The village elders, leaders of farmers and elected representatives did the mapping of the water sources and courses on the floor with charcoal and chalks, and explained in detail how the floods could be tamed.

During the exercise that lasted from December 17 to 30, the Collector and his entourage visited 70 vulnerable villages and covered a total distance of 500 km, of which they trekked about 100 km by foot.

Mr. Ratnoo told The Hindu on Thursday that he had obtained valuable inputs from people who had given him an insight into the ways and means of controlling floods in a cost-effective manner. Their suggestions would be translated into workable projects with technical back up of the Revenue, Agriculture, Horticulture, Highways and Public Works Departments.

The Collector had formulated projects such as Aruvamukku, Karuvattu Odai and construction of a canal linking Manavaikkal to Koleroon. Implementation of theses projects would safeguard a majority of areas, he claimed.

Mr. Ratnoo also assured them of construction of a bridge across the Manavaikkal at Saravarajanpettai (estimated to cost Rs 1.25 crore), Thirunaraiyur bridge (Rs 25 lakh), widening and deepening of the Khan Sahib canal (Rs. 8 crore), repairing the Ponneri sluices (Rs. 40 lakh), deepening of the Wellington tank (Rs. 20 crore), a bridge across the Vellai to link Thittakudi with Ariyalur (Rs 8.13 crore) and scores of other works on culverts and roads

A consolidated report would be sent to the Cabinet Sub-Committee on flood control, headed by Local Administration Minister M.K. Stalin, within a fortnight seeking approval for the projects, Mr Ratnoo added.

Government Museum, Cuddalore

Here is a blog post I came across recently

GOVERNMENT MUSEUM, CUDDALORE

Address:

Curator,
Government Museum,
19, Hospital Road,
Cuddalore – 607 001.

The Government Museum, Cuddalore was established in the year 1989. A Sculpture Garden in the Museum welcomes the visitors. In this sculputure garden Sivalinga, Nandhi, Vishnu, monkey scuptures, Narashima, Surya and Chandikeswara are displayed. The development of Tamil script, dinosaur model and a model of Kali sculpture made of Fibre glass are kept in the entrance of the building.

The stone sculptures like Subramanya, Surya, Navanitha
Krishna, Dakshinamurthi, Bhairava, Virabhadra, and
Saptamatrika sculptures are best examples to the sculptural wealth of our ancestors. Bronze images of Ganesa, Vishnu, Nataraja, Somaskanda, Krishna are displayed in the Bronze Gallery.

In the first floor Kattunaickkan Tribal materials, Stone
Age tools, Musical Instruments, Agricultural implements of Kalvarayan hill tribes are displayed.

Natural History specimens include South Indian Timbers,
Fibres, Swan, Bear, Lizard and Snakes. Wood fossils and Ammonite fossils are also on display.
This Museum collection represents history, culture, flora
and fauna of the district. Imparting knowledge to researchers, students and public through popular lectures, exhibitions
and training programmes form part of educational activities.

Source

Power Plans

Power Plans - BusinessWorld

Tata Power Trading Co., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata Power Company, has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Chennai-based Spice Energy group to purchase the entire output from its upcoming 2,000-MW power project in Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu. “We are setting up a coal-based thermal power plant and have concluded the PPA with Tata Power,” says D. Sundararajan, CEO of SRM Energy, a Spice Energy group company.

Worn-Out roads

Lawrence Road and Hospital Road - two prominent roads in the town are completely worn out. It has been at least three years since the road was laid last time. Hospital Road stretch between GH and Semma'ndalam is in a very bad state and poses to be a risk especially for the two-wheelers.

Hospital Road near the west end of GH

Fishermen protest

Fishermen protest - The Hindu

Special Correspondent

CUDDALORE:A section of fishermen owing allegiance to the Tamilaga Meenavar Peravai abstained from fishing on Sunday, urging the Centre to repeal the Coastal Management Regulation Act because it felt that it would be detrimental to the interests of the coastal community .

Stop industries, hotels and resorts on the shores

Fishermen urge Centre to repeal Coastal Zone Management Act - The Hindu

Special Correspondent

CUDDALORE: The Meenavar Viduthalai Vengaigal, a fishermen’s organisation, has urged the Centre to repeal the Coastal Zone Management Act. because it felt that it would be detrimental to the interests of the coastal community.

At a public rally held here on Sunday the organisation, headed by founder president R.Mangaiyarselvan and general secretary P.Ekambaram, passed a resolution in this regard.

In another resolution it called upon the authorities not to allow any industries, hotels and resorts to come up on the shores.

ST status

It sought Scheduled Tribe status for fishermen, speedy renovation of the Cuddalore port, fishing rights on the Indian Ocean unhindered by maritime boundary, higher subsidy for diesel and loan waiver.

‘Stop military assistance’

The organisation appealed to the Centre to stop any sort of military assistance to Sri Lanka whose armed forces were gunning down the Tamil Nadu fishermen and the Eelam Tamils.

It also called for setting up of a fishermen property protection board.

Cuddalore police plan special cell - The Hindu

It will look into reasons for acquittal in grave crimes

• Traffic regulations, reduction in number of road accidents to get priority
• Grave crime detection rate is 81 per cent, property recovery rate 80 per cent

CUDDALORE: Superintendent of Police (Cuddalore district) Pradip Kumar has said that a special cell will be formed soon to look into reasons for acquittal of cases in grave crimes full story>>

Action sought against erring SIPCOT units

Action sought against erring SIPCOT units - The Hindu

Special Correspondent

Several units operating in violation of Environmental Protection Act,says report

CUDDALORE: The SIPCOT Area Community Environmental Monitoring (SACEM), an organisation formed by the locals, has alleged that most of the units in the SIPCOT Industrial Estate here were operating in violation of the Environmental Protection Act and pollution control norms.

In its report, “Ground truths II: Status of hazardous wastes and pollution in SIPCOT chemical estate,” released to the press here on Tuesday, the organisation said that at least eight units were set up without the “consent to establish,” 22 were operating without valid licence under the Air and

Water Acts and five were functioning without obtaining the Costal Regulatory Zone clearance.

The SACEM had already submitted its first report in 2005 to the Supreme Court monitoring committee on hazardous waste. However, owing to laxity on part of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board officials, the condition in the industrial estate had deteriorated, it noted.

Hence, the SACEM urged the authorities to initiate legal action against the erring units, make it mandatory for the units to disclose the manner of their operation and impart training among health officials and police personnel on the implementation of environmental rules.

SPIC Discharges Effluent into the Eachangadu Canal; No Action by TNPCB - SACEM

Pharmaceuticals have been caught discharging effluent illegally into the Eachangadu canal full story>>

Elephant scared seeing camel !

Elephant runs amok, causes panic - The Hindu

Special Correspondent

CUDDALORE: An elephant ran amok on the main streets of Cuddalore town on Monday, creating panic among the people.

It was found running from the Silver Beach, through the Beach Road and Pudupalayam Main Road, a distance of four km, with two mahouts on the trail. The road-users ran for cover.

The lorry driver, who was transporting the elephant from Puducherry where it was taken for a function, chased the animal in the vehicle. It finally entered a compound near the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board office. On information, the police and Fire and Rescue Service personnel gathered there in strength and helped the mahouts tame the elephant. With a great deal of difficulty, they forced the elephant to get onto the lorry.

Rajkumar of Swamimalai had sent the elephant, Shyamala (18), to Puducherry. On the way back, the mahouts took it to the Silver Beach.

Seeing a pair of camels on the seashore, the elephant got scared and started running, a mahout said. Later, the animal resumed its journey to its owner’s place.

Silent rallies, prayers mark fourth anniversary

Silent rallies, prayers mark fourth anniversary - The Hindu

Special Correspondent

Families living along the coast performed pujas and paid floral tributes to those who perished in 2004

CUDDALORE: Silent processions and prayers on Friday marked the fourth anniversary of the tsunami, which left a trail of devastation in about 60 coastal villages in Cuddalore and Villupuram districts in 2004.

Families living along the coast performed pujas and paid floral tributes to portraits of those who perished.

At Thevanampattinam, a wreath was placed at the memorial erected in memory of those who were killed.

Several fishermen stayed away from the sea on Friday. While some of them were wearing black bands, some households hoisted black flags.

Children rendered orphans and accommodated at the Seva Illam in Semmandalam here, lit candles and offered prayers.

Collector Rajendra Ratnoo, Cuddalore MLA G. Aiyappan, Municipal Chairman T. Thangarasu and other officials were present. Mr. Aiyappam hosted a lunch for the children.

Three non-governmental organisations - National Consumer Protection Movement, Singaravelar Munnetra Sangam and Cuddalore District Meenavar Peravai - took out silent rallies from the Periyar statue, the Manjakuppam grounds and Thevanampattinam. All of them congregated at the Silver Beach.
Villupuram

In Villupuram, those living along the coast at Koonimedukuppam, Mudaliarkuppam, Panichankuppam, and Pudukuppam offered prayers on the seashore.

Fishermen obstruct dredging work

Fishermen obstruct dredging work - The Hindu

CUDDALORE: Fishermen and women of Pettodai near Puduchathiram here gathered in strength on the seashore on Tuesday and obstructed Nagarjuna Oil Corporation Ltd from going ahead with dredging work.

They pointed out that the private company that was in the process of setting up an oil refinery in the area had put up a jetty there. The dredging was taken up to enable the vessels carrying crude oil to reach the jetty.

They voiced their apprehension that deepening the sea close to the shores would expose them to the danger of sea incursion.

In the post-tsunami context they were living in mortal fear and moreover the sea that turned rough often had drastically affected fishing operation and caused a deep dent in their earning capacity.

Hence, they would not allow any wanton destruction of the ecology in the area and felt that the dredging augured ill for the residents of the coastal area. They also laid the preconditions that the company in the first place put up a protective wall along the coast and also build permanent houses for them so as to ensure their safety.

They alleged that earlier the company had acquired the land for the refinery at a cheaper rate. The price was not agreeable to them and hence, urged the company to revise the price and hand over the difference amount without delay.

A posse of policemen led by Assistant Superintendent of Police Narendran Nair pacified them with the promise that further talks would be held on their demands on December 25.

Visit www.sipcotcuddalore.com for regular pollution updates.

Pollution Control board's "friendly report"

Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Broads conceals violations by Shasun chemicals in its "friendly report".

"The company has more than 4000 tons of hazardous wastes lying in its premises, and was recently caught red-handed for attempting to smuggle toxic wastes for illegal dumping." full story>>

Cuddalore Remembers Bhopal - SACEM

Cuddalore, 3 December 2008: Residents of the pollution impacted region of SIPCOT Cuddalore along with residents of Old Town Cuddalore organised several public meets and vigils on Dec 2 and 3rd to remember Bhopal.

Here is a picture of a candle light vigil from Semmankuppam Middle School. Semmankuppam is the village in SIPCOT where Chemplast Sanmar's 1,70,000 TPA PVC plant is currently being constructed.

Visit www.SIPCOTCuddalore.com for regular pollution updates

Unprecedented water level

Paadaleeswarar temple tank records unprecedented water level due incessant rain in Cuddalore for over a week. Its believed that this tank has underground channels linking the major rivers in Cuddalore.

Rain water from the temple premises drain into this tank. Though is the main source of water for the tank, rain water from the surrounding streets also drains into the tank during the recent years due to the rise in the level of the road.

Rain in Cuddalore

A collection of articles on recent rain in Cuddalore

Veeranam tank being monitored: Collector - The Hindu

Staying ashore - The Hindu

Commandos to be deployed to rescue the marooned - The Hindu

NGOs can join relief works, says Collector - The Hindu

Men, materials from other districts mobilised for relief operations in Cuddalore - The Hindu

Heavy Rain: Toxic Waste from SIPCOT Units Washed into Uppanar

Heavy Rains Takes a Toll on SIPCOT; SPIC's Boundary Wall Collapses; Toxic Waste from SIPCOT Units Washed into Uppnar - SACEM

Cuddalore, 28 November 2008: Incessant rains of the past few days is beginning to take its toll on SIPCOT units and also exposing the vulnerability of locating a extremely hazardous chemical estate on the banks of a river. According to the SACEM monitors about 40 feet high boundary wall of SPIC that separates the Eachangadu village from the unit collapsed into the neighbouring canal late last night. No one is reported to be injured in this incident. SACEM monitors are also reporting that the openly dumped toxic wastes within the premises of the unit are also submerged and leaching out in small streams into the river Uppanar.

SACEM monitors despite the heavy rains have patrolled the SIPCOT complex and found these damages due to the rains. SIPCOT residents and SACEM have demanded an immediate inspection of the units by the TNPCB to ascertain the amount of hazardous waste dumped inside the unit and initiate measures to contain the leachate within the unit.

More information on the condition of the industrial complex and damages is awaited.

Visit www.SIPCOTCuddalore.com For regular pollution updates

Pollution update

Narmada Chemicals Continue Illegal Construction at SIPCOT; TNPCB Once Again a Mute Spectator - SipcotCuddalore.com

Cuddalore, 20 November 2008: In an yet another case of blatant violation of the environmental regulations, Narmada Chemicals was caught red handed carrying out illegal operations in its premises without obtaining a valid Consent to Establish. SACEM monitors caught Narmada Chemicals drilling about 4 borewells inside the premises on 17th November 2008. Upon verification with the Pollution Control Board officials they found out that the unit has not yet been given a valid Consent to Establish. The violation though has been brought to the notice of the TNPCB, the officials are yet to take action on the unit and stop work.

While initiating work without a valid permission is a habit for the units in SIPCOT, not taking action on complaints reported to them is becoming a habit of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board in Cuddalore.

This is a second attempt of the unit to construct illegally, an earlier attempt in 2007 was thwarted by SACEM.

Senior citizens of Cuddalore demanding their rights

"850 older persons to travel on a specially comissioned train from Cuddalore to New Delhi. Once there, they lobbied the government to acknowledge their rights to healthcare, transport and pensions." full story>>

Underground drainage construction - Part 4

Rain makes project delay more painful - The Hindu

Special Correspondent
— Photo: C. Venkatachalapathy

Residents of Vallalar Nagar in Cuddalore sowing seeds on the muddy road that remains unattended by the civic body, on Tuesday.

CUDDALORE: The slow pace of the Rs 40.40-crore underground drainage project in Cuddalore town has posed a lot of hardship to the residents. The onset of monsoon has made the situation worse.

The roads on which the pipeline has been laid are in bad shape. Deep trenches that have been dug up pose threat to the people.

Pedestrians, cyclists and two-wheeler riders have complained that they fall into the trenches and get hurt often. Four-wheelers are not able to enter the streets and are forced to take a detour.

The rain in the last few days has made the streets slushy.
Mock operation

According to residents, several representations had been made to the authorities concerned to speed up the work but in vain.

Frustrated by the delay, the All India Agricultural Workers’ Union, led by district secretary T.Ravindran, carried out a mock sowing operation on the inundated streets at Vallalar Nagar.

The Tamil Nadu Retired Employees’ Association too condemned the “lethargic attitude” of the officials. Senior citizens were the worst-affected, it said.

The project was launched last year and was scheduled to be completed within one year.

When contacted, Commissioner of Cuddalore Municipality Liaqath Ahmed Papa said the delay was owing to adverse soil condition.

Contractors were finding it difficult to complete the task because of high water table, ie., even if the trenches were dug for a depth of three feet, they got filled in no time by groundwater. Hence, it had become difficult to bale out the water from the entire stretch.

Mr. Papa said it might take another six months to complete the project .

Centre for propagating folk arts sought

Centre for propagating folk arts sought - The Hindu

Special Correspondent

CUDDALORE: The folk artists have urged the State government to set up an art and cultural centre exclusively to propagate and patronise folk arts and artists. The centre, with its branches in the districts, should prepare a list of folk artists and issue identity cards to them. These resolutions were passed by the first State-level folk artists’ conference organised under the aegis of the Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers’ Association here on Wednesday. The centre should take steps to release audio and video cassettes of the folk art forms.

Photos from the conference:

A collection of articles about doll-makers in Cuddalore

Cuddalore’s doll-makers toil throughout the year - The Hindu

Special Correspondent

— Photo: C. Venkatachalapathy

BUSY TRADE: With Navaratri fast approaching dolls are being made on a large scale in Cuddalore.

CUDDALORE: Doll-making is not only an economic proposition but also a passion for 20-odd families in Vandipalayam area of Cuddalore town. For generations, they have been mastering the craft that has been recognised in other States such as Maharashtra.

In the midst of festive season, the doll-makers are working almost 18 hours a day to meet the orders. A. Sampath Kumar (45), who has been in the trade for over two-and-half decades, told The Hindu that though the demand was seasonal, they had to work throughout the year.

For instance, bulk buyers such as the Khadi Bhavan, Khadi Kraft, Kuralagam and Sarvodaya Sangam would place orders in March/April. Once the orders are obtained, the procurement of raw materials would begin.

Mr. Kumar said the dolls were made of clay, papier-mâché, plaster of paris and cement.

Care ought to be taken to choose the kind of clay that would firmly hold in place and would not crack while being roasted in the kiln.

While plaster of paris was being obtained from Puducherry and Chennai, glue was bought from Andhra Pradesh. Casting the die was a challenging task because it involved creativity and closer attention to detail, such as ornaments, weapons and so on, Mr. Kumar said.

Die-making would take about four months and the drying process another one month. Painting of the idols would then begin. Mr. Kumar said clay idols were fast moving, particularly during Navaratri, Krishna Jayanthi and Vinayaka Chaturthi

Mr. Kumar said the market reacted to the price tag differently – priced from Rs. 25 to Rs. 5,000 apiece.

He was apprehensive that the trade may not last for more than a generation, because youngsters were not interested in the trade and wanted to pursue higher education to take up salaried jobs. As the doll-makers had to stock the finished products for months, they appealed to the government to grant them bank loans at concessional rate of interest, to be repaid at the end of the festive season.

The blog links below contains photographs showing the dolls at their destiny.

Come home and see my Golu - Lakshmi Sharath's blog

Cashing in on Brand Kolu - The Hindu

Splendour in clay - The Hindu

NAVARATHRI - A Season for dolls - Raji's blog

Development Commissioner studies post-tsunami housing model in Cuddalore

Bihar against ‘adoption’ of villages - IndianExpress

Santosh Singh Posted: Oct 06, 2008 at 0055 hrs IST
Patna, October 5 The Bihar Government is against the idea of corporate houses, film stars, trusts and voluntary groups “adopting” flood-ravaged villages. Instead, it wants them to raise village infrastructure like building schools, community halls, health centres and roads.

The Government has taken the “tough” call following its decision to build or reconstruct adequate homes — over 3.5 lakh of them — at the cost of Rs 1.5 lakh each. It has been waiting for the disbursement of Rs 9,000 crore additional flood package, which includes Rs 4,500 crore for homes, from the Centre.

Speaking to The Indian Express on Sunday, Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi said: “Allowing corporate houses to build homes would only create confusion. We are building adequate homes for the flood-hit and want others to add value to our efforts.”

Modi said the Tamil Nadu Government’s post-tsunami experience with corporate groups and individuals regarding rehabilitation had not been rewarding. “In some cases, some private groups left the scene without completely raising homes. On the other hand, quality homes for some caused heartburns among a big group of the displaced.”

The Deputy Chief Minister said state Development Commissioner S Vijayaraghvan would be nodal officer to coordinate with voluntary groups and corporate houses. The Development Commissioner recently visited Bhuj (Gujarat) and Cuddalore (Tamil Nadu) to study house models post-earthquake and tsunami. The Government will get Vijayaraghvan report after Dussehra full story>>

Cuddalore-Chithoor road to be upgraded as National Highway

Highway upgrade - The Telegraph

An upgrade is on way for some of Tamil Nadu’s key roads.

The state government has recommended that three state roads be turned into national highways this year, road minister Vellakoil Saminathan said recently. The Madurai-Thondi, Dindigul-Singampunari and Cuddalore-Chithoor (Andhra) roads will be upgraded. The new-look roads will make links with Chennai quicker.

As part of the improvement, 50 of the 300 “accident-prone curves” on the highways have been straightened.

New thermal plant

SRM Energy to set up thermal power plant in Tamil Nadu

BS reported that Mumbai based SRM Energy a Spice Energy group company is planning to set up 1,800 MW to 2,000 MW coal based thermal power plant in Cuddalore district in Tamil Nadu. The company is expected to invest around INR 9,200 crore in the project.

Mr P Srinivasan COO of SRM Energy said that the company would fund the project through 80% debt and 20% equity. The project is scheduled to be completed in about five years. The initial unit would commence operations by 2012.

He said that the company is also mulling construction of jetty at the Cuddalore port or close to the project site to handle ships that would be transporting coal. It inked a coal sale purchase agreement with an Indonesian Company. The talks on the agreement are in the advanced stage.

Tamil Nadu Electricity Board is likely to purchase 250 MW with a possible increase to 500 MW. The company is negotiating with TATA Power Trading Corporation and Power Trading Corporation of India. The company is planning a 2,000 MW pithead coal based power plant in East India at an investment of USD 2 billion.

Source: SteelGuru

Unfinished median

Median construction work in Hospital Road began three years back. Like many, I too wished and expected that the median will be extended till Chavadi. Though we may not know the point where the median was originally proposed to end, one thing we know for sure is that the work was stopped half way.

The board placed at the unfinished end of the media reads "Work in progress. Go Slow". It was placed while the construction was in progress. Now after three years, the board remains untouched.

Recently Municipal Vice-Chairman Thamarai Selvan insisted the extension of the median till Chavadi to regulate the traffic.

Road median work stopped halfway in Hospital Road

Photograph taken on March-2008

Related articles:

Hospital road is being divided - CuddaloreOnline,, Apr 2008

New road divider from outskirts of Cuddalore - CuddaloreOnline Apr 2008

Hospital road needs more focus - CuddaloreOnline, Mar 2008

Narrow point in Hospital Road - CuddaloreOnline, Oct 2008

Underground drainage construction - Part 3

As I have written in Underground drainage construction - Part 2 road laying work precedes underground drainage construction work in many other parts of Cuddalore. This clearly reflects lack of coordination between the departments, if this is not a well played vicious game.

Underground drainage construction work in Bodi Chetty street

Around five months back (supposedly) State Highway Department laid roads in Bodi Chetty street which is now damaged in the underground drainage construction work as seen in the photograph above. A open sewage line was constructed just before laying the road. I wonder what would be the necessity for this open sewage line (rain water drain ? - if that is the case I still wonder how rain in the road will get into this - the concrete wall of the sewage line is well above the road level) while underground drainage system is coming up. Now for the houses to connect with underground drainage system, the concrete walls of this open sewage line will be broken apart. This is how the game is played!!

Drainage construction work in Cart street, where only a couple of months back black topped road was laid.

SIPCOT pollution update

Aria Chemical's Illegal Construction Stopped by TNPCB
Cuddalore, 17 September 2008: TNPCB today ordered Aria Chemicals from engaging in any activity in their proposed plant site until they receive formal permissions to commence construction. Read More...

Pioneer Continues to Dump and Bury its Waste Illegally Within its Premises
Cuddalore, 16 September 2008: A week after SACEM first reported that Pioneer Jelice India in Cuddalore was illegally storing its waste in sacks behind the ETP plant in its premises, sources reveal that Pioneer is also burying the same waste in the area. Read More...

TNPCB Fails to Take Action on Chemplast's Glass Waste Dump on the Banks of Uppanar
Cuddalore, 16 September 2008: SACEM monitors reported that the TNPCB has failed to take action on Chemplast Sanmar to stop it from dumping waste glass pieces on the banks of the river Uppanar. Read More...

SIPCOT Residents Protest Setting of New Chemical Industries in their Village

SIPCOT Residents Protest Setting of New Chemical Industries in their Village

Cuddalore, 22 August 2008: More than 100 residents from SIPCOT villages including Eachangadu, Sonanchavadi and Semmankuppam organized a protest meeting opposite the Collector's office to express their opposition to Government's move of setting up new chemical and polluting units in their villages. Citing the poor environmental records, a looming public health crisis and a recent National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) report, that estimated that SIPCOT Cuddalore residents are at least 2000 times more likely to contract cancer in their lifetimes due to their exposure to high levels of toxic gases from chemical industries in the region, the residents demanded a total moratorium on new chemical and polluting units in the area.

Villagers also protested the Tamil Nadu Government's move to set up a Chlorinated Polyethylene facility by Aria Chemicals barely 100 meters from the fishing village of Sonanchavadi in SIPCOT Phase II. According to the villagers neither the Company nor the Government have informed them about the dangers of the facility, the types of chemicals used nor have they sought permission from the village.

Aria Chemicals has received environmental clearance to set up a 20000 TPA capacity Chlorinated Polyethylene facility in Sonanchavadi village of SIPCOT Cuddalore. The unit will use 40 tonnes of chlorine per day as one of its primary raw material. They will also use at least 3,10,000 of water per batch of production.

The villagers submitted petitions supported by more than 600 residents of SIPCOT area against the proposal of setting up of Aria Chemicals and also announced that they will continue with various forms of peaceful agitation till their demands are honoured.

Participants of the meeting also included – Sonanchavadi Fishing Panchayat and Residents; Semmankuppam Village Youth Group and Women's Group; Eachangadu Women's Self Help Group; Venpura Social Welfare Organisation; Tarasu People's Forum, Liberation Tigers of Fishermen; Human Rights organisations from Cuddalore, Lawyers and Lawyer's Clerk Association; Killai Fishing Village Panchayat; Dalit Panthers; Tamil Nadu Progressive Writer's Association; Tamil Nadu Environmental Kazhagham; Consumer Organisations; SACEM.

For more details visit
www.sipcotcuddalore.com

Join the residents of SIPCOT demading no more chemical/pollution industries in Cuddalore

INVITATION

Join the Residents of SIPCOT in Demanding

"No Further Industrialisation of SIPCOT Cuddalore with Chemical and Polluting Industries"

What:
Public Meeting

When:

22 August 2008 (Friday);
4.00 pm to 6.00 pm

Where:

Opposite Collector's Office in New Town Cuddalore

Background:

Cuddalore is reeling under pollution, and its people are suffering. Chemical industries in Cuddalore have destroyed lives and livelihoods of thousands. According to a latest scientific report prepared by Nagpur-based National Environmental Engineering Research Institute on air pollution in and around SIPCOT chemical industrial estate, there are atleast 94 chemicals in the ambient air, including 15 that are known hazardous air pollutants. The report also estimates that SIPCOT Cuddalore residents are at least 2000 times more likely to contract cancer in their lifetimes due to their exposure to high levels of toxic gases from chemical industries in the region.

Anybody traveling on the Cuddalore-Chidambaram highway can smell the horrible smells from the industrial estate. Entire villages live inside the industrial estate, adjacent to hazardous factories. Gas leaks and industrial accidents are a common feature in SIPCOT Cuddalore.

Rather than take action to reduce the pollution and preventing toxic exposure to the community and environment, the Tamil Nadu Government has earmarked coastal Cuddalore for locating the dirtiest and most hazardous industries in the area. According to senior Government officials, the Government has decided to concentrate polluting industries in Cuddalore based on the perverse logic that it is wiser to pollute an already polluted place.

In the most recent move to pursue its agenda to sacrifice the communities of Cuddalore for the "larger good" the Government has given environmental clearance to a Chlorinated Polyethylene manufacturer – Aria Chemicals to set up its facility in the neighbourhood of Sonanchavadi, a fishing village in SIPCOT phase II.

Aria Chemicals will manufacture 20000 tonnes of Chlorinated Polyethylene. It will use at least 40 tonnes of deadly chemical chlorine daily to achieve its target production. Chlorine is a known toxic volatile gas used regularly in the industrial processes. Exposure to low levels of chlorine can cause eye and nose irritation, cough, change in heart beat and extreme exposure could even result in death.

The Government also has plans to set up the following toxic projects for the region in the future:

1. Nagarjuna Oil Refinery, Thyagavelli Panchayat: The 6 million tonne/year refinery is coming up near the coast. This will cause widespread air pollution (see Manali area in North Chennai), and will pollute the sea with oil. Effluents will be disposed at sea. Groundwater will be extracted.
2. 1350 MW capacity coal-fired thermal power plant, Naduthittu: The plant will generate more than 300,000 tonnes of toxic flyash, and air pollution.
3. SIMA Textile Park, Chinnandikuzhi, Periyapattu village: Much bigger than the Tiruppur dyeing factories, units in this park are set to come up on prime agricultural land. The toxic effluents will be disposed into the sea.
4. Shipbuilding Yard, near Cuddalore harbour.

The communities in Cuddalore is up in arms against pollution and polluting industries.

Support their struggle for a toxic free future.

For more details contact:

In Chennai – Shweta Narayan – 9444024315
email: nopvcever@gmail.com

In Cuddalore – T. Arulselvam – 9443737134

Visit: www.sipcotcuddalore.com
Protest against new chemical/ polluting industries in SIPCOT Cuddalore

SIPCOT Cuddalore gets a surprise visit - SACEM

SIPCOT Cuddalore Gets a Surprise Visit from Higher Officials; Errant Units Under Scanner

Cuddalore, 20 August 2008: SIPCOT Cuddalore got a surprise visit from a high powered team of Tamil Nadu government including the Industry Secretary M. F. Farooqui, Energy Secretary Smita Nagraj, Chairperson of Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) R. Balakrishnan, Member Secretary of TNPCB R. Rmachandran and the District Collector and District Revenue Officer (DRO) of Cuddalore. The committee inspected various industries in SIPCOT including CUSECS and Chemplast facility. According to the sources the purpose of the visit was to check on irregularities by the existing units and site visit for the proposed Power Plant, Refinery and the Port.

The committee after inspecting Tantech, a pesticide manufacturing unit in SIPCOT ordered an immediate power cut to the facility acknowledging the existing violations. This measure came as a relief to the communities who have been complaining about Tantech's violations for a very long time. More than 400 members of the community also met with the committee members at the end of their visit to petition them about the existing pollution in the region, ongoing violations of CUSECS and Chemplast facility and to reiterate their demand on no new chemical or polluting industry in the region.

The committee assured the community members that their grievances would be addressed without delay.

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Date:20/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/20/stories/2008082054770300.htm

Surprise visit

CUDDALORE: A high-level official team led by Industry Secretary M.F. Farooqui made a surprise visit to the SIPCOT Industrial Estate here on Sunday to study various issues.

Energy Secretary Smita Nagaraj and Chairman of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board R. Balakrishnan were part of the team. Primarily, the team inspected the effluent treatment plant being managed by the special purpose vehicle, the Cuddalore SIPCOT Industries Common Utilities Ltd., and verified whether the units were adhering to pollution control norms.

Visit www.sipcotcuddalore.com for regular pollution updates

Our kind of rennovation

Historically we are the kind of people who bother least about conserving heritage sites and buildings. Lack of fund was stated as the reason by the state. But the recent economic boom has only worsened the situation. Worst destruction for the heritage buildings come in the name of renovation. Mindless renovation indeed.

Recently there was news about the destruction(cum renovation) of 500-year-old Varadaraja Perumal temple at Kancheepuram and demolition of 250-year-old Admiralty House in Chennai and 184-year-old Collectorate building in Salem. Such "assault on heritage" buildings gets noticed when there is massive large scale destruction. But minor renovations which goes unnoticed are equally destruction in course of time.

It is this kind of destruction that is happening in many of the government buildings in Cuddalore including District Collector's Office. This beautiful building is an classic example of a building in Indo-Saracenic style. The building under goes a continuous destruction for installing wiring, computers and air conditioners. Internal floor and walls of the building are covered with tiles (horrible colours). Glass doors and windows are taking the place of wooden doors and windows (for air conditioning the rooms/halls), which in no means fits architectural style of the building.

New portico and compound wall in Collector's Office, Cuddalore

A new portico was recently built at the entrance of this building. I could not imagine the need for such a structure at that place. This concrete structure at the front side of the building again doesn't fit the style of this old building. Another pity thing is that the building which houses Collector's Office and Government Treasury has ran out of space long back and lacks modern facilities, even which is available in neighbouring district like Villupuram. A new building is the only solution to get modern facilities and to prevent the building from further destruction.

In some cases, the sole reason for renovating the government buildings is to allocate fund to corrupt it to maximum extend. Tiles in the walls of government buildings has a reason - it is the tactics used by the corrupt PWD officials to show the world some work has taken place after corrupting away the allocated fund. Wood works in the old buildings are attractive targets of these corrupt officials. There are instances were century old buildings brought down completely to loot away the wood in it.

As this is the case with our government buildings, temples faces a different of threat. In many cases white wash is equated to renovation. Old inscription ? rare mural painting ? who cares, just wash - this is how renovation is viewed by educated and uneducated alike. In worst cases as with Varadaraja Perumal temple above, century old structures are demolished and replaced with concrete structures. Lakhs of "devotees" who plunge these temples don't pay any attention to depicted art forms. They are neither interested in knowing how our culture has evolved, nor they realise these art forms are windows to our past. As long as people are insensitive about protecting our monuments, it is easy go for government and its corrupt officials. If at all we have some heritage building left intact in our country, it is because of few good people in Archaeological Survey of India and organisations like INTACH.

Police lathicharges workers demanding safe working conditions

Police lathicharges workers demanding safe working conditions

Cuddalore, 12 August 2008: The Cuddalore police lathicharged more than 300 workers of CITU Union from Pioneer Miyagi yesterday for blocking the entrance of the unit while on strike. According to the sources this incident took place at about 4 pm yesterday when the workers from the unit and their family members full story>>

For regular pollution updates visit www.sipcotcuddalore.com

Vehicle accident on Pennar Bridge

The mangled remains of the vehicle which was involved in a collision on the Pennar Bridge. This accident which occured today morning at about 6.15 a.m. had left two people dead.

Good morning Cuddalore

An enchanting sunrise on the river Pennar.
Location: Pennar River Bridge on Cuddalore - Pondy road.


Early morning Cuddalore
Anna bridge, River Gadilum