Untouchability still practised: CPI(M) - The Hindu
Special Correspondent
Party gives representation to Cuddalore Collector
Double-tumbler system in tea shops at Nallathur
Graveyards allotted to Dalits encroached upon
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.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
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.
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.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
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.
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.
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
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Next edition of the conference on ocean engineering in 2013
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
---
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Next edition of the conference on ocean engineering in 2013
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
---
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>>
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>>
Thursday, January 22, 2009
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.
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.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
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.
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 :NagarNo 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.
Friday, January 16, 2009
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:
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.
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.
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.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
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
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.
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.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
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
Hospital Road near the west end of GHThursday, January 08, 2009
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 .
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 .
Sunday, January 04, 2009
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.
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
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>>
- 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.
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.
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.
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