How can we arrest people when we know there are not enough public toilets in the city? } Using roads as public toilets is a common sight in the city. Yes, it is banned, but do people care? Yes, there is a shortage of public toilets in the city, but are the existing ones being properly used? Do we at all have civic sense? Express takes stock of the situation Chennai

M Rafi Ahmed | ENS Coimbatore M Yoganathan is in his elements on Route No 92. The conductor ushers people to their seats on his bus between Marudamalai and Cheran Mahanagar. Professional chore done, passion takes over. The eco activist in him surfaces and tries to bring passengers closer to appreciating nature. His affable nature gets him passengers' ears, eyes and hearts. Having lived and tasted nature's bounty , Yoganathan was pained to see cutting of trees at Kotagiri in the Nilgiris. He resolved to protect and preserve nature.

The oil price hike burdens already strained State finances and threatens to jeopardise welfare programmes run by State governments. THE Union government's decision to raise the prices of petroleum products has placed State governments in a quandary. While taxes on petroleum products constitute a significant proportion of a State's revenue, a reduction of these taxes could undermine the State's fiscal balance.

Petroleum refinery unit to come up near Cuddalore Chennai CHIEF Minister M Karunanidhi on Wednesday laid foundation for two major projects - Petroleum Refinery Project near Cuddalore and Thiruchopuram port project - with a total investment of Rs 7,290 crore. The Chief Minister unveiled the plaques marking the foundation for both projects at the Secretariat. The two projects would generate direct employment opportunities for 5,700 persons and indirect employment for 11,300 persons.

Chennai THE GO dated September 3, 2007 of the Environment and Forest Department, which exempted 36 species of trees from the purview of Timber Transit Rules (TTRs) will not be implemented, the Madras High Court was told on Wednesday.

V NarayanaMurthi | ENS Vellore THE experimental trials conducted in Vellore district on the new vaccine evolved by the Tamilnadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS), to combat the deadly anthrax, have proved to be successful, according to its vice-chancellor Dr P Thangaraju. He was here on Wednesday to visit the Veterinary University and Training Center, functioning since 1981 for the benefit of livestock and poultry.

Chennai The Madras High Court has directed the Pollution Control Board (PCB) to issue notice to the stone crusher units in the cluster areas in Tirusoolam and Pallavaram near Chennai asking why their units should not be closed down if operated without the consent of the PCB and without complying with the norms laid down by the NEERI, irrespective of their distance from the residential area.

Tirunelveli FARMERS in and around Tirunelveli and Palayamkottai, who cultivated cotton, vegetables, and sunflower, are in a shock over a mysterious disease, which caused heavy damage to the crops. Farmers from Gangaikondan, Anaithalaiyoor, Paruthikulam, Maanur and other areas surrounding Tirunelveli and Palayamkottai have cultivated cotton, vegetables and sunflower on 600 acres. They bought seeds from private companies and recently they noticed, a white liquid secreting from the stem of cotton.