To provide value-addition in farming activities and arrest the falling farm incomes in the district, the Department of Agriculture is set to introduce ‘Integrated Farming System' practices on a commercial basis in the entire 13 blocks.

The integrated system is the concept of judicious mixing of poultry, mushroom cultivation, fisheries, agro-forestry, goat/cow rearing and sericulture along with the main agricultural crop cultivation on a unit area which could help bring prosperity to farming.

The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) has caught a small-scale dyeing unit for unauthorised operations during raids at Venkateshapuram in Tirupur knitwear cluster on Tuesday.

“We will be recommending to the TNPCB head office to seal the unit and direct the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation to disconnect the power supply to the edifice from which the unit has been functioning,” sources said.

CHENNAI: Seven Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) projects in Tirupur have got the green signal by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, according to Minister for Handlooms and Textiles Dr S Sundararaj.

According to the policy note of handlooms and textiles tabled in the assembly, the government has to set up 18 CETPs at a cost of Rs 742.93 crore following the directions from the Supreme Court and High Court.

Intense criticisms on the lackadaisical approach of the administration when it comes to tackling the drinking water crisis and sanitation issues dominated the proceedings in the Corporation council meeting held here on Monday.

“It is a pity that councillors are raising the issue of acute drinking water shortage in every meeting but no sincere effort been taken by the administration after promising corrective steps on the floor of the house.

Says agriculture has been affected severely because of the imposition of power cut. The Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) has called for the use of solar-powered farm pump sets to tide over the problem of power shortage in rural areas.

Stating that agriculture had been affected severely because of the imposition of power cut, the party, in its document on agriculture, stressed the need for tapping solar energy. Steps should be taken for the distribution of solar powered-farm pump sets at concessional rates.

An environmental activist has sought details from State Environment Department whether interest-free loans have been given to Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) in Tirupur as reported in the media.

He asked why so many CETPs were running to test zero liquid discharge (ZLD) systems on trial basis. In a ‘personal notice' sent to the Principal Secretary (Environment and Forests) to State Government,

For letting out the effluents into the patta lands

Members of Athoor Pattadhar Sangam, a farmers' association in Athoor block demanded action against textile processing units functioning near the bank of Kudaganar River and Athoor Kamarajar dam, and letting out effluents into the patta lands.In a petition submitted to the Athoor Tahsildar here on Tuesday, they also insisted that the district administration must initiate action against these units and seize machineries.

Rectify leakages in pipelines to stop water stagnation on road

Collector M. Mathivanan has said the departments concerned had been asked to explore the possibilities of providing multi-level parking facilities to ease the traffic congestion along arterial roads such as Kumaran Road and Park Road.

To make monitoring of effluent discharge by dyeing units in Tirupur and Erode districts more effective, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) will have an online water quality monitoring system this year in the Noyyal river and Kalingarayan canal.

In the policy note tabled in the Assembly on Tuesday, Environment Minister B.V. Ramanaa said the process of procurement of instruments for continuous online monitoring of water quality in Noyyal river and Kalingarayan canal will be completed by May 31.

A 65-year-old farmer from Tirupur is being treated for swine flu (H1N1) in the isolation ward of the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH).

Pommu Naiker of Nathakattupudur in Ward 19 of Tirupur Corporation was confirmed to be infected by the H1N1 virus at a private hospital in Coimbatore on Tuesday night. He was brought to the CMCH around 10 p.m. The test was done at a private laboratory.