Inadequate fund allocation is hampering the ambitious Noyyal river system revival or restoration project and the meagre allocation of Rs. 30 lakh per annum is just proving to be insufficient even for carrying out emergency repairs to the channels and tanks.
Noyyal that originates in Western Ghats near Poondi and runs through Coimbatore, Tirupur and Erode, to become a tributary for Cauvery, is the lifeline of these districts. It runs for 65 km in Coimbatore, 34 in Tirupur and 39 in Erode before joining river Cauvery in Kodumudi. The system was once catering to the irrigation needs of over 36,000 acres.
Vaccine Vial Monitors to allay apprehensions of public regarding the dosage’s potency
A total of 3.39 lakh children in the age group of zero to five years have been targeted in Coimbatore district during the first phase of 18{+t}{+h}annual Pulse Polio Programme on Sunday (January 20). To allay public apprehensions on efficacy of the vaccine, Deputy Director of Health Services R. Damodharan informed that all vials contain ‘Vaccine Vial Monitors,’ a thermo-sensitive paper containing a white square inside a blue circle that would reflect the temperature of the vaccine which was susceptible to heat variations.
Many industrial units functioning near Kalingarayan Canal
Farmers in the Kalingarayan ayacut areas in the district are now forced to use water from Kalingarayan Canal that is mixed with untreated effluents and waste water discharged by textile processing and tannery units. The Public Works Department stopped on December 20 the discharge of water in the canal that feeds the ayacut. But the 56-and-a-half mile long irrigation canal connecting River Bhavani with River Noyyal still carries water. “The canal should be dry by this time. But there is still good flow in the canal because the industrial units are dumping thousands of gallons of untreated effluents and waste water every day,” alleges Kalingarayan Pasana Sabhai president V.M. Velayudham.
This paper examines the emergence of specific commodity complexes and transactional forms in eight interior districts in Tamil Nadu focusing on gherkins, marigold, broiler, cotton and papaya. Their growing importance is a response to the structural changes in the larger economy and the contextual constraints on agriculture in the region. It posits that this phenomenon represents an inflection in the trajectory of agricultural growth in the region because of three distinct features. First, the new commodity complexes have strong links to agribusinesses and global markets.
Population of tigers in Sathyamangalam reserve forest areas in the district has risen to 25 in 2012 as against 18 last year, a census by forest officials stated.
Team of unknown persons is conducting unauthorised raids
A group of persons, which claims to be working under the direction of a Standing Committee of Chennai Corporation Council, has emerged as an obstacle to the campaign against the trade of illegal plastic bags. These persons, claiming to represent the Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare of the council, have been allegedly visiting business units involved in the trade to ‘seize illegal plastic bags.’ However, they have been permitting the trade of below-40-micron plastic bags with ‘the permission of the Committee,’ allegedly after collecting money for the same.
They were found to be discharging effluents into waterways
The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board demolished 11 unauthorised textile processing units, here, on Monday. The units, located in Surampatti dam, Kasipalayam, Kollampalayam and Choolai areas, were found pumping huge amount of untreated, toxic effluents into the waterways, causing irreversible damage to the environment, officials from the board said.
The human-elephant conflict has intensified in Sathyamangalam region as the number of crop raids has witnessed a sharp rise. In the last few weeks, the region saw more than 30 elephant raids that resulted in heavy economic loss to the farmers.
A farmer in a remote village in Thalamalai had even attempted suicide on Monday after elephants damaged his ragi field. It was said the farmer, Puttunathan (55) of Thottapuram village in Thalamalai hills resorted to the act after elephants raided the crops in his field frequently.
Environment Minister M.C. Sampath chaired a review meeting here on Saturday to discuss the pollution situation and steps to be taken to bring down pollution by industries. Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) officials of Salem, Namakkal, Erode and Krishnagiri Districts along with Industries Minister P. Thangamani were also present.
Mr. Sampath asked TNPCB officials to inspect effluent treatment plants and functioning of the air pollution preventive equipment every month. He emphasised the need for proper plastics disposal mechanism.
