Tourism Dept. and Tsunami Rehabilitation stalls

Hadloom, Fisheries and Horticulture department stalls

Fountain in the beach

Stalls and exhibits

Inaguration

From left: Backward Classes Welfare Minister Mr.M.R.K. Paneerselvam, State Tourism Minister Mr.N Suresh Rajan, Disctrict Collector Mr.Gagandeep Singh Bedi.

Fire in stall

Fire broke out in one of the stalls just before the inaguration of the function. The accident happend in an eatable shop. Fire extinguishers were ready at the venue which prevented fire from spreading futher. District Collector Mr.Gagandeep Singh Bedi rushed to the scene within seconds and put things in order. Power supply was put down immediately and fire was put out in less than a minute.This time thoughtfully 'tin sheets' were used instead of thatch roofs. If thatch roofs were used, Cuddalore would have seen yet another tragedy. The speed with which the fire was put out shows the level of preparedness by the district adminstration.

Getting ready for the festival

Summer Festival is to start in a few hours from now. Elaborate arrangements are done by the district administration. South Esplanade Road (Beach Road) is broadened and a new black topped road is laid. An arch is put up near Hotel Arcot Woodlands. The makeshift bridge over Uppanar backwater is guarded on its both the sides with parapet made of ca stem. To my surprise the old bridge (over Uppanar) which is of great historical importance is put into use for pedestrians. A part of the bridge was broken when a huge pit was dug for the construction of the new bridge. But now the broken parts are reconstructed. A huge parking lot is setup in front of Marine House. Stalls are put up in the green spread to the east of White House (SP Bungalow) and the finishing works are underway. People from the agricultural department is sowing a patch of land.

A ten member team of municipal workers are cleaning up the thrown outs, especially plastic wastes. (It would not be appropriate to say 'Cleaning up', since they are not actually cleaning, but collecting the plastic wastes and dumping it in 10's of approximately 3x3 foot pits, right in sandscape- a myopic and dangerous practice.)

This time roofing for the stalls are made with tin sheets. Also this time there are no 'gigantic' tora tora and Columbus, they are replaced with a smaller version of them. Wiring works are going on in the auditorium to east of Periyar College of Arts & Science. Being here one could get the real sense of the festival.

(as of 9am)

Government Technical Training Institute in Semandalam without a compound wall.

SIMA Textile Processing Park in Cuddalore

It is almost certain that an Integrated Textile Processing Park is coming up at Cuddalore with world-class infrastructure facilities for setting up textile units. The South Indian Mills Association proposed a common infrastructure project for textile wet processing at Cuddalore on September 2004. Since then a tremendous progress has been made. Nine leadings textile firms ( Super Spinning Mills Limited, Premier Mills Private Limited, Premier Fine Yarns Pvt Ltd, Bannari Amman Spinning Mills Limited from Coimbatore, Thiagarajar Mills Limited, Madurai, Loyal Textile Mills Limited, Chennai, BKS Textiles Private Limited, Palladam, Rajapalayam Mills Limited, Rajapalayam and Bangalore-based Subadra Textile Private Limited. Source:SIMA proposes Greenfield projects at the Textile Processing Park -Fibre 2 Fashion) will investment a sum of Rs 475 crore to generate annual production worth Rs 500 crore initialy. SIMA expects conformation of six others.

The initiative comes in the wake of the Sathyam Committee set up by the Textiles Ministry to look into the textile chain. Apart from one at Cuddalore permission had been grated to Gujarat Eco Textiles Park, Surat, Metro Hi-Tech Cooperative Park, Kohlapur and Jaipur Texweaving Park,Silora.(Source:Panel clears 4 projects under textile parks scheme — To bring investments worth Rs 1,756 cr -Business Line). Apart from these Central Government is planning to setup 25 such parks throughtout India before 2007.

SIMA, had sought land from the State Government, and the government has offered 300 acres at the SIPCOT industrial estate Phase III with a provision to take up another 800 acres. It is said that the project will provide direct employment to 5000 and indirect employment to 50,000 persons.

This project may lead to the developement of the region. But will it lead to a 'sustainable' developement. Why all in a suddenly Cuddalore became an attractive destination for these leading mills in the industry will be the question in every mind. The answer could be easily infered from the statement issued by the Chairman of SIMA .In a SIMA meeting he said "Cuddalore has plentiful ground water and also the facility for marine disposal of wastes."

Though it promises to employe water frugal technology and biological treatment for disposal of the solid effluents, from the past experiences one can be sure that there will be open violation of all norms and standards .

Cuddalore Port to be deepened

The news that Cuddalore Port will be deepened at the cost of Rs.15 crores is a bit disappointing when the shipping ministry in union government is with the party of incumbents in the state, and so when we are expecting something big. This measly allocation will hardly be enough to desilt certain portions of the harbour to facilitate the easy movement of fishing vessel, and nothing more.

Cuddalore port is in a neglected state for more than two decades. Even on early 70's, it set records on goods handling. But fell there after. It is customary for politicians (of minister cadre) to make a visit to the port once in around every five years and make some big promises. But no notable efforts were taken.

Around 2001-02 when then (state) government was in its early stages of its term, put forth a proposal to to built a 'mega' port in Cuddalore and the task the was to be vested in the hands to a Singapore firm.

But what followed was a 'mega' chaos. It was the time when projects like Nagarjuna's refinery and Relaince's thermal power project was getting into shape.So coal from Australia and and crude oil from middle east were to be the major imports of the proposed port. It was said that, then Chief Minister of Andra Pradesh Mr.Chandrababu Naidu put pressure on Nagarjuna Group to setup the refinery in Andra Pradesh itself. At certain point of time, work on the refinery project was progressing slowly (which was partly because that Nagarjuna could not attain financial closure). It was around this time feasibility test was conducted for the port. Government stated that, since both the refinery and power plant project were dropped, it is dropping its proposal to bring up the mega port in Cuddalore.

After government dropping the new project for the port, Reliance which was actually much eager to setup the power plant here, reciprocated by dropping its plan on the grounds that the port is not to comeup here (It later setup power plant in Tuticorin). Government dropped its port project and Reliance dropped its power plant project, pointing out each other. Cuddalore lost both the 'mega' projects.

Shift chemical units to safer places: forum

From THE HINDU

Shift chemical units to safer places: forum

CUDDALORE: Cuddalore District Consumer Protection Organisation general secretary M. Nizamuddin called for the shifting of chemical units (on the banks of the Uppanar) to safer places for the safety of residents near the industrial estate and marine life.

The premises of certain chemical units in the SIPCOT Industrial Estate were flooded with water up to five feet in height during the tsunami and the recent floods.

When the water drained, hazardous chemical waste dumped here was washed off into the Uppanar.

In a representation to the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, Mr. Nizamudeen alleged that certain units were producing chemicals not permitted by the TNPCB, and in certain others, the quantity produced was far more than that allowed.

Some units constructed additional buildings without the permission of the TNPCB. He said since they did not observe the zero discharge norms, untreated effluents were let into the Uppanar.

Employees handling the common effluent treatment facility were not given security cover. Mr. Nizamudeen said uncleared chemical dumps in certain units were potential hazards to human safety.

Primary health centre

The forum official appealed to the TNPCB to permanently post an assistant engineer in the industrial estate to deal with problem immediately.

He called for setting up a Primary Health Centre in the estate to provide medical attention to people in nearby villages.

Automatic equipment with computer backup should be set up in the estate to monitor the pollution level round-the-clock, Mr. Nizamudeen added.

IOC to formalise tie-up with Nagarjuna Oil

Source: IRIS NEWS DIGEST

Indian Oil Corporation intends to enter into an agreement with Nagarjuna Oil Corporation Ltd for buying petro products from the 6-million-tonne refinery that Nagarjuna is putting up in Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu, reports Business Line.

However, the agreement will not bind IOC into a committed offtake. The PSU oil major will have the right of first refusal Nagarjuna will have to offer its products first to IOC, informed the company.

Nagarjuna Oil Corporation is putting up a 6-million-tonne refinery at a cost of Rs 47.5 billion at Cuddalore. The Tatas are taking 26% stake in the company.

The IOC board had okayed a Rs 23.7 billion budget for the marketing division of IOC, of which Rs 11 billion would go only towards putting up more retail outlets and doing up existing outlets.

Bombay Stocks Jump Again-Indian Oil gains 8.6%

An excerpt from TheStreet's
Bombay Stocks Jump Again

Indian Oil gained 8.6%. It reached an agreement with Nagarjuna Oil for buying petro products from the 6-million-tonne refinery that Nagarjuna is putting up in Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu. full story>>

Tatas to pick 26% stake in Nagarjuna refinery

NOC drama never seems to end. After lots of twists and turns, now Tata enters the game. Below I have pasted an excerpt from Iris News Digest.

Tata Sons is all set to pick a 26% stake in the Nagarjuna refinery at Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu. The Tatas will spend close to Rs 3,500 million for its stake in the Rs 13,700 million equity of the project, reports Business Line.

With this, Nagarjuna Oil Corporation Ltd, which is putting up a six million tonnes a year refinery, is all set to achieve financial closure shortly. IDBI has sanctioned its part of the Rs 33,800 million debt for the project and is also syndicating the loans, including the foreign currency debt.

With the Tatas coming in as an equity partner, the project is expected to get a boost and proceed smoothly. It was originally scheduled to go on stream in 2002, but the date was later put off to 2005.

The Nagarjuna group, as main promoters, will hold 51% equity in the project followed by Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO), a State Government undertaking, 5%; Krupp Uhde, the technical collaborator, 7%; and Sun Itera, a joint venture between the Itera group, a leading producer and trader of natural gas in the CIS countries, Sun Energy of India, 10% and IDBI 1%.

TIDCO, which has been actively pursuing this project, is expected to convince the State Government to provide financial incentives as per the industry policy in vogue.

News report from SACEM

CUSECS shut down after the death of a worker; effluents overflow in SIPCOT

All the effluent collection stations of CUSECS in SIPCOT Cuddalore were shut down today by striking workers who were demanding compensation for the death of their co-worker. 33 year old Kathavarayan. Kathavarayan, a worker in CUSECS IV, succumbed to leukemia last evening after a futile fight against the disease for more than a year. He had worked at the effluent collection and forwarding facility for more than four years. With assistance from Rotary Club, Kathavarayan had undergone a few months of treatment. But that assistance stopped shortly after he was diagnosed with cancer at the Cancer Institute in Chennai. Employee State Insurance hospitals that run on contributions paid by workers and matched by the State and the Government have been set up expressly to render assistance to workers and their families. Also, the Insurance is meant to compensate injured workers and pay pension to those unable to work for a living. However, neither the company -- CUSECS Ltd -- nor the contractor have approached the ESI to secure medical assistance or compensation for the worker.

Other CUSECS workers suspect that the disease was caused by the unsafe working conditions and high levels of pollution in the facility. The striking workers are demanding better working conditions and safety equipment. The strike led to an overflow of effluents from the CUSECS pumping stations. SIPCOT Area Community Environment Monitors who were on the spot said the effluents from CUSECS 3 and 6 were overflowing into the River Uppanar.

The TNPCB arrived promptly upon being notified by the Monitors, and operated the pump to empty the overflowing effluents into the sea. SACEM has pressed for action against CUSECS and is urging the authorities to ensure that the worker's family is adequately compensated.

An air sample taken from CUSECS by Monitors found seven chemicals, including at least four chemicals that exceeded levels considered safe by the US Environmental Protection Agency. Hydrogen Sulphide was found 874 times higher than safe levels. Methylene Chloride, a carcinogen, was more than 900 times above USEPA screening levels. Trichloroethene, another carcinogen, was present at more than 700 times above safe levels.

Commercial complex in busstand premises in dilapidated state

Interesting post I recently came across

No Horn Please.....

Last week i had the opportunity to go to Cuddalore (visit cuddalore.nic.in) , a small town in east coast some 180 kms down south of Chennai. It came to limelight after the Tsunami devasted this town. It became after the visits of Bill Clinton and Vivek Oberoi. Vivek Oberai stayed there for weeks and helped the people in re construction.
When i talk about Cuddalore, I need to mention about its collector Shri Gagan Singh Bedi. A dynamic person, who speaks a broken Tamil, has done a lot for the district both during pre and post Tsunami period. When i hear about him i think that India does require such Civil Service peoples more

New bridge construction

Construction of new bridge which is connect Devanam- pattinam makes progress at a great pace.

International Consumer Rights Protection Council

Visit the url
http://www.icrpc.org/icrpc.org.beware.htm

and know the frauds done by popular bussiness establishments. Be informed so that we shall not fall prey to these type of frauds.

Summer Festival by the end of June

Department of Information and Public Relations will be conducting 'Summer Festival' in Silver Beach for the first time after tsunami, by the end of this month. As NinA wrote Silver beach awaiting Summer festival .So are the people. This time, as usual the festival will be conducted when the summer is almost over and children has already gone back to school. This time the festival will be for 5 days. Each day will have a special event/competition.

Though the festival provides good entertainment for the locals residents, it should not end in itself. The festival must showcase Cuddalore's beautiful beaches to outside world to attract both domestic and foreign tourists(If Pondicherry can attract 25,000 foreign tourists a year, Cuddalore can attract atleast one fourth of it if a little effort is taken). To achieve this getting the attention of the media is necessary. And media attention can be got by adding some new attractive events/competitions (in addition to the existing) to the schedule.

Making of sand sculptures and organising a competition for the same, will greatly attract media people.It might be difficult for the first fews years to attract a large no. of competitors.But as the event gets popular there will be more competitiors. Students and staff members of 'Barathiyar Kalaikoodam' are well versed in making sand scluptures. To begin with, their expertise can be sought.

Beach volley ball used to be a event once.Over the years the event has disappeared. Necessary arrangements can be made to bring back the event.

'Kite Festival' is another attractive event.(If wind in this part of the year isn't strong enough, a seperate festival for flying kites can be held around the month of August (or when the wind is strong) with the assistance of Department of Tourism.)This will greatly attract the foreign tourists.

Similarly firework display (preferably from offshore) by the late evening hours will attract more crowd and will get the much needed media hype.

This time, I hope, some stalls will be reserved for conveying information about disaster manage -ment, awarness towards disasters and importance of coastal vegetation. Usually stalls use to come up in the beautiful green spread to the east of 'White House' (SP's official residence). But now Government of Rajasthan's makes bricks here for its tsunami rehabilitation project (thus spoiling a part of the green spread). It would not look tidy to have stalls arround this. It is too early to guess the solution the district administration will come up with.

Construction of new bridge is another problem faced this time.The make shift ground level bridge near the old one will be unsafe for such huge crowd that would turn up. Though it is said that the other bridge connecting Cuddalore straight to Devanampattinam is ready this time, its still not clear what other arrangements will be made (apart from wooden bridge for pedestrains).

I will keep updating the developements as it happens.