The jatropha puzzle has finally been solved.

In 2005-06, most of the districts in the State were abuzz with the talk of jatropha. In press conferences, the then District Collectors, especially in those adjoining western and eastern ghats, talked of largescale jatropa plantations as the oil extracted from its seeds (blended with diesel up to 20 per cent) could be used as a substitute to petroleum diesel.

Drinking water schemes seeking to serve 44.36 lakh people in eight districts will be implemented at a cost of over 1,500 crore in 2012-13, Minister for Municipal Administration and Rural Development K.P.Munusamy told the Assembly on Monday.

Replying to the debate on the allocation for departments under him, the Minister said the schemes, to be implemented in Cuddalore, Villupuram, Pudukottai, Theni, Sivaganga, Coimbatore, Tirupur and Tirunelveli district, would benefit 8,134 habitations in five Municipal Corporations,

Wind mill installations going on across the State

With the winds expected to start in two months in the State, wind mill installations are going on across the State. For Coimbatore, wind energy sector has large-scale investments from here and it is also one of the main wind energy sites in Tamil Nadu. Nearly 70 per cent of the installations are in the Palakkad Pass region, covering Thenkasi, Theni, Dinidgul, Udumalpet, Pollachi and Palladam areas, says K. Kasthurirangaian, chairman of the Indian Wind Power Association.

Even as two-member technical team from Pune is intensifying drilling work to collect sample of construction materials to confirm the strength of the Mullaperiyar dam, protests rallies and demonstrations against Kerala government and in support of the dam issue has been continuing as usual in the district on Thursday.

Around 500 members of Federation of Marvar Associations took out a rally on Theni-Madurai Highway and staged demonstration on Sri Bagavathi Amman Temple ground in the town this morning.

Kerala Irrigation Department engineers accompanied it

The Supreme Court-appointed Empowered Committee on Sunday inspected Tamil Nadu Hydel Power generation station at Lower camp and Vaigai dam as part of its inspection of Mullaperiyar dam here.

Police use force to disperse them.

Thousands stage demonstration in Cumbum and Goodalur

Members belonging to various farmers' associations and the local people in Cumbum and Goodalur took out massive rallies and staged demonstrations on the Mullaperiyar dam issue here on Sunday. A total of 20,000 farmers thronged Goodalur town and staged a demonstration on Theni-Kumili highway demanding protection for the dam and increase in water level to 142 feet.

Expressing dissatisfaction over the action taken so far by the Centre and Tamil Nadu governments on Mullaperiyar row, DMK chief M.