“The project to ‘Alleviate Poverty and Malnutrition in Agro Biodiversity Hot Spots’ in Kolli Hills that is jointly implemented by the University of Alberta (UA), Canada, and M.S.

Vehicles proceeding towards Omalur Main Road diverted for three hours. Farmers from seven districts gathered in protest against the Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) gas pipeline cutting through their farmlands on Tuesday. They assembled near the Five Road Junction and attempted to lay siege to the GAIL’s office. Police removed 834 persons, including 80 women. They were later released in the evening.

The National Green Tribunal, Southern Bench, on Tuesday ordered notice to the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) and other authorities, including the District Collector, Namakkal, asking them to explain the steps taken against illegal dyeing units running near Rasipuram in that district without effluent treatment plants and which were closed in Tirupur and Erode on orders of the Madras High Court.

J.Srinivasa Mohan, counsel for the villagers, said, “Following the orders of the Madras High Court, dyeing units running without effluent treatment plants were closed. However, illegal units are being set up rampantly in other parts of State such as Rasipuram.

Collector D.

They dump tonnes of effluents into Cauvery, Bhavani rivers that feed lands of thousands of farmers

Erode and Namakkal have emerged safe havens for scores of dyeing units that had to shut shop in Tirupur after the Madras High Court ordered their closure for flouting pollution norms two years ago. In spite of the efforts of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB), several illegal units continue to flourish in these districts and dump tonnes of effluents into the Cauvery and Bhavani rivers that feed agricultural lands of thousands of farmers.

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.

Drive carried out by Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board

Nine illegal dyeing units that were functioning near River Cauvery at Pallipalayam in Tiruchengode Taluk were removed in a drive carried out by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) on Wednesday. TNPCB sources said that all the units were manual dyeing units.

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.

Tests conducted on soil samples to determine level of macro and micro nutrients

Study on the availability of micro and macro nutrients in soil samples collected from Valapurnadu Panchayat atop Kolli Hills reveals that it lacked three of the four main macro ingredients – organic carbon, nitrogen and potash. “On the other hand availability of zinc (micro nutrient) is also below average,” M. Janakiraman, a Soil Pedologist and Consultant said.

Will be valid for a period of five years

The State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) has granted environment clearance for 11 more sand quarries in the Cauvery-Coleroon river basin. A few days ago, the SEIAA had granted clearance for 10 new sand quarries in Tiruchi, Karur, Ariyalur, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur and Namakkal districts. In the second batch of clearance, 11 quarries have been approved, sources told The Hindu on Friday.