At a time when crores of rupees are spent on better sanitation by building toilets in schools and public places, here is a public facility that remains idle even after its inauguration two years ag

It was restored by Salem Citizens Forum under public initiative

Environmentalists here are waging a grim battle to keep the picturesque Mookaneri Lake alive. The Public Works Department’s (PWD) 39-acre water spread, resurrected in 2010 by Salem Citizens Forum at a cost of Rs. 87 lakh under the public initiative, is now a sweet home to birds and flora of all hues.
The lake has turned into a tourists’ paradise today with forum members planning to carry out further development projects such as park and other basic amenities.

Industrial units urged to establish solar energy projects to produce power to meet their industrial needs

Speakers from expert fields highlighted issues that focused on solar energy and different types of energy savers at a seminar organised jointly by the German based FRIEDRICH-NARMANN- STIFTUNG and Salem District Small Scale and Tiny Industries Association here recently. The seminar on “Solution and Road Map to minimise Power Crises through Solar Energy Projects,” was inaugurated by K. Dhanavel, Secretary, Department of MSME, Tamil Nadu.

It uses coconut shells, husk, fibres, castor stalks and plant waste

With power crisis crippling the State, educational institutions are looking at an alternative mode of sourcing electricity, so that the studies of the students are not affected during night hours. Recently, a biomass gasifier was installed at Golden Gates Matriculation Higher Secondary School here so that electricity produced from it could help in running 250 to 300 tube lights or a 15 HP motor capacity.

Officials told to expedite works to finish projects in time

A three-member team from the World Bank inspected various works being carried out under the Underground Drainage (UGD) project, Mettur – Salem Dedicated Water Supply Scheme and Thirumanimutharu River project in the city on Tuesday.

The team members Raghu Kesavan, senior infrastructure specialist, Mohan, senior infrastructure engineer, and Reddy, environment consultant, visited Nagaramalai Adivaram where work was on to lay pipelines under Pack II of Mettur – Salem Dedicated Water Supply Scheme. The scheme was implemented at a total cost of Rs. 315.54 crore of which the World Bank was funding Rs. 285.54 crore and the Corporation Rs. 35 crore.

As per the Land Acquisition Act, the government approval is necessary when the award sum exceeds a certain limit, the Madras High Court has said.

In his order on a writ petition, Justice V. Dhanapalan said the very object of Section 11(1) of the Act was to get approval from the appropriate government or the officer authorised for that purpose to accord approval, wherein the limit had been fixed. As per a G.O. when the compensation exceeded Rs.10 lakh, the authority should get government approval. It could not be construed that as there was government approval for the earlier notification and declaration, that per se was sufficient for passing the award.

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.

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.

Mild tremors in parts of Salem, Dharmapuri and Erode districts triggered panic among residents in the wee hour of Thursday.