Air-conditioned co-operative medical shop opened

Higher Education Minister K. Ponmudy inaugurated the fully air-conditioned medical shop set up by the Cooperative Department on the K.K.Road, opposite Central Bank of India, here on Monday.

The cooperative medical shop would stock all kinds of drugs and would dispense the medicines at concessional prices. The medicine sold through this shop would not suffer (OOTC:WLVTQ) any sales tax.

For life-saving drugs a discount of up to 12 per cent would be given to all sections of the society and further, the senior citizens would enjoy an additional benefit of 0.5 per cent (on the prices of drugs).

The medical shop would be open on all days, including on Sundays, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Computerised billing would be generated for every purchase made from the shop.

The Minister further said that the shop was opened in tune with the announcement made by Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi in the budget session of the State Assembly that every district would have two medical shops run by the Cooperative Department.

One more cooperative medical shop would be opened soon, Mr. Ponmudy added. District Collector R.Palanisamy, Joint Registrar of Cooperative Societies J.Malarvizhi, Special Officer Renukambal, S.Pushparaj, MLA, and others participated.

Women’s rights activists slam DMK government

CHENNAI: Women’s rights activists on Thursday slammed the DMK government for its alleged “anti-woman” and “anti-Dalit” policies and framed a chargesheet against the regime.

The meeting was organised by All India Democratic Women’s Association to mark the International Day against Violence. Association state general secretary U Vasuki said that a chargesheet has been prepared against the government for violation of various sections of the Constitution and also several cases of harassment against women.

These include insult and abuse of women using vulgar language during agitations, she said while citing the examples of the attack on MLA Latha while seeking entry for Dalits in Draupadiamman Temple in Kangiyanur in Villupuram district.

“Another woman activist Poongothai, who is also the secretary of AIDWA, was allegedly injured in the protest in the Uthapuram issue,” said Vasuki, adding that these kinds of assaults on women should be punishable under IPC Section 324/325/326 and Section 307 that includes life term imprisonment and a fine. She also highlighted the price rise of essential commodities during the DMK regime and said the government should resign for failing to curb the trend. “The government should be charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act for using public money for organising ruling party functions besides conducting government functions in a grandiose manner,” she added.

Vasuki was also harsh on the government for diverting Special Component plan fund for Dalits to populist schemes besides not giving freedom to Dalit panchayat presidents and non-implementation of Tribal Protection Act.

As the series of violations were read out, activists symbolically burst balloons highlighting the filing of chargesheet.

Monsoon toll goes up to 87 in Tamil Nadu

CHENNAI: With the northeast monsoon lashing several parts of Tamil Nadu, more than 80 people have been killed in house collapses, flash floods and lightning strikes. Putting the death toll at 87 since the onset of the monsoons on November 1, the DGP's office said the highest number of deaths, at least 17, were recorded in Villupuram district.

Reservoirs brimmed and rivers overflowed, flooding several places in south, central and western Tamil Nadu. The state revenue department placed the death toll at 57. The figures were yet to be updated for deaths that occurred in the past week, revenue secretary K Dhanavel said.

Chennai meteorological department director S R Ramanan predicted more rains in the southern districts.
Residents of low-lying areas close to Amaravathy in Karur and Cooleroon in Tiruchi have been warned by PWD officials about impending floods. Though no flood alert has been issued, residents have been asked to stay away from the river banks. Due to incessant rains in the region in the past few days, Amaravathy and Cauvery rivers are filled to the brim in Karur district.

In Coimbatore, a 10-year-old girl hailing from Bihar died at Kuniamuthur in the city when the mud wall of her house collapsed early Monday morning. In Villupuram, the latest casualty was a 75-year-old woman, N Kanangambaram, who was crushed to death when the walls of her house collapsed following incessant rain on Sunday in Athichanallur village in the district. Her 80-year-old husband, Narayanasamy Reddiar, was injured and has been admitted at Tirukovilyur government general hospital.

In another recent rain-related incident, a couple were crushed to death while their son and daughter sustained severe injuries when their house collapsed due to incessant rains at Ashokapuri village in Villupuram district.

Met director Ramanan said 11cm rainfall was recorded in Ambasamudram of Tirunelveli district and Dharapuram of Coimbatore district in 24 hours. He said the trough of low pressure that formed off the Sri Lankan coast on Friday moved westwards and now extends from Sri Lanka to south Tamil Nadu. This is likely to bring more rains to Tamil Nadu.

Karunanidhi asks ministers to help in flood relief

Chennai, Nov 23 (IANS) With heavy rains lashing Tamil Nadu and a flood warning issued in many districts, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi Tuesday appealed to ministers and DMK party men to assist in the rescue efforts in affected areas.

The northeast monsoon has been active over Tamil Nadu since Oct 29 and the southern districts in the state have experienced good rains.

In a statement issued here, Karunanidhi said: 'Even though district collectors and other state government officials are working hard in flood relief activities due to heavy rains, state ministers and party men should cooperate with government officials in the relief operations, assess the damage and report it to the government through district collectors.'

In Madurai, the gates of the Vaigai Dam were opened Tuesday morning as the water level was rising fast and flood warning was issued to nearby districts.

At least five people have lost their lives due to rains in the state following wall collapses in different incidents in Madurai, Villupuram and Coimbatore since Sunday.

The weatherman has predicted isolated heavy rain over Tamil Nadu and Puducherry for the next two days.

Education Minister K. Ponmudy says; Over 2,500 students given education loan

Villupuram, 22nd Nov: Higher Education Minister K. Ponmudy disbursed educational loan of Rs. 26.53 crore to a total of 2,512 students at a function held here on Saturday. He said that three decades ago, higher education was beyond the reach of the economically weaker sections.

It was a pipe dream especially for students belonging to the poor and the depressed classes because they did not have the financial backing or wherewithal to pursue higher education. If at all banks came forward to provide financial assistance, they did so based on the strength of collaterals.

Having realised the difficulties of the vast majority of students who could not take up higher education without monetary support,
Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi had launched the educational loan scheme. It had come as a great relief to parents who could not even pay the government fixed tuition fees of Rs. 32,500 for engineering courses.

Mr Ponmudy said that the government's proposal to give free education to the first generation engineering graduates had benefited 75,000 candidates this year. The parents who were keen on getting bank loans for the education of their wards should promptly repay loans. Other students would be able to derive similar benefits only if loans are repaid.

In the sphere of education, Tamil Nadu was forging ahead and it could be seen from the fact that the number of government engineering colleges that stood at six in the past 50 years had leapfrogged to 12 now.

A nursing college would be opened on the premises of the old government hospital here next year. With the setting up of two government engineering colleges, a postgraduate extension centre of Thiruvalluvar University, a government arts college at Thiruvennainallur and a polytechnic college at Thirukkoilur had now become a model district in terms of higher education.

Collector R. Palanisamy said that in the past four years total educational loan of Rs. 254.14 crore was disbursed to 22,883 students.

Training programme on grassy weed managment

The Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU),Coimbatore Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Tindivanam in Villupuram District and the Salem branch of New Delhi based Dhanuka Agritech Limited organized a field day cum farmers training programme on grassy weeds management.

The training was on using Targa Super Herbicide (5 per cent EC Technology) on pulse crops.

Pulses, particularly such as blackgram are predominantly cultivated in Rabi season in Villupuram and Cuddalore Districts at KVK Tindivanam.

Field visits

Farmers were taken to the blackgram fields in the KVK farm and shown how the difference between herbicide sprayed field (to control grassy weeds), compared with the nearby unsprayed control, where the main blackgram crop was not visible due to heavy weed growth.

The farmers were informed about the various schemes and support given by the State Agriculture Department to increase pulses growing area and production to farmers.

“The need of the hour was to increase the per hectare productivity of pulses by adopting the crop improvement technologies developed by the University,” said Dr.N. Sathiah, Professor and Head, KVK .

Detailed information

A detailed information session about Targa super herbicide, dose per acre, mode of action, time and stages of application and recommended crops was also conducted for the them.

Clarifications regarding rain fastness, effects on succeeding crops and packing availability were done, followed by presentations on importance of seed treatment wetting agent, pest management and mechanisation in pulse crops.

More than 100 farmers from in and around Tindivanam participated in the training programme.

TNAU Forecasts Prices Of Karthigaipattam Crops

In Tamil Nadu Bengal gram, Coriander and Cumbu are three important food crops grown in Karthigaipattam season (October ,November sowing).This year, with an expectation of normal north east monsoon season farmers intend to cultivate these important food crops.

To facilitate farmers in order to take cultivation decisions in getting better price for their products Domestic and Export Market Intelligence Cell (DEMIC) functioning in Centre for Agricultural and Rural Development Studies (CARDS), Tamil Nadu Agricultural University analyzed the prices of above crops.
BENGAL GRAM:

Globally Bengal gram was cultivated in 11.08 million hectares leading to a production of 9.77 million tonnes in 2009-10. India stands first in Bengal gram production with a share of 70 per cent along with a consumption of 90 per cent of world production. It was cultivated in 7.5 million hectares in 2009 and the production was 6.54 million tonnes.

In Tamil Nadu Bengal gram is normally sown in Karthigai (November) and harvested in February-March. It was cultivated in 0.68 million hectare leading to a production 0.45 million tonnes in 2009. Coimbatore district occupied 81 per cent of the crop followed by Dindigul and Dharmapuri districts.

Trade sources revealed that expected arrivals from other major producing countries during November-December followed by local arrivals during February- March will keep its prices firm. Bengal gram prices prevailed in Udumalpet market for last nine years were collected and analyzed. NAIP-DEMIC analysis confirmed that the price of Bengal gram will hover around Rs. 2400-2500 per quintal during February-March, 2011, i.e. during harvest period.
BAJRA:

Cumbu or bajra is one of the major coarse grain cereal crops. It is also one of the most drought resistant crops among cereals and millets. It is also used as poultry feed and green fodder for cattle. In India, during 2008-09, Cumbu was cultivated in 9.71 million hectares with a production of 8.88 million tonnes. Cumbu is cultivated mostly in Oct-Dec. Mainly it is sown during October based on the rainfall occurrence. Also during summer it is grown in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Punjab and Gujarat as an irrigated crop.

In Tamil Nadu, it is grown in an area of about 0.59 lakh hectares with a production of 0.85 lakh tonnes and productivity of 1436 kg per hectare. Villupuram district has the highest area of 15,172 hectares followed by Thoothukudi, Madurai, Thiruvannamalai and Dindigul districts.

During the last harvest season (January, 2010) the price was Rs. 8 per kg .Trade sources revealed that there was a shift towards maize crop because labour charges are more in cumbu than maize. Hence this year, the area and production of cumbu is likely to see a downtrend.

As per the econometric analysis done by Domestic and Export Market Intelligence Cell, on the last 15 years cumbu price of Kovilpatti market, the price of cumbu during Feb-March 2011, i.e., during harvest of karthigai sown crop would revolve around Rs, 750-875 per quintal. Based on this price farmers are advised to take their decision on sowing of cumbu.

Greens cry foul over new Puducherry harbour

Environmental activists, farmers and NGOs have raised serious concerns over the construction of a fish-landing facility in Murthikuppam hamlet near here. They say the project will trigger erosion along the coast and adversely affect the livelihood of the coastal population.

Activists and NGOs under the banner Alliance for Good Governance have submitted a memorandum to Union minister for environment and forests Jairam Ramesh and Puducherry Lt. Governor Iqbal Singh, urging that the construction of the new harbour be stopped. Puducherry harbour, constructed by the port department in 1989, has already destroyed the coastline north of the harbour including many villages in Villupuram district in Tamil Nadu.

“The project affected the livelihood of over 7,000 families and the coast has become vulnerable to cyclones and tsunamis. Instead of tackling the problem, the Puducherry government is now constructing another harbour in Murthikuppam, which will destroy what remains of the Union Territory’s coastline,” PondyCAN member Probir Banerjee told Deccan Chronicle. “The project is a man-made disaster in the making.”

Another fallout of the new harbour, environmentalists note, will be accretion of sand in the south which will block the mouth of Pennayar River and cause flooding of the area. The proposed project includes dredging in the mouth of Mullodai Canal and construction of two breakwaters to reduce the accumulation of sand in the canal mouth.

The environmentalists say the PWD has taken up construction of the harbour under the false claim that during the tsunami on December 26, 2004, the mouth of the link canal was blocked with sand dunes, preventing fishermen from bringing in their boats to safety. However, Survey of India maps show sand dunes separating Mullodai Canal from the sea. Environmentalists claim the village was saved during tsunami due to the presence of the sand dunes. While hundreds died in Cuddalore district 2 km south of this village, no major damage was reported in Murthikuppam.

“PWD officials are making false claims that the construction will not cause any erosion even though they know that large chunks of land on the Puducherry-Tamil Nadu coastline are being gobbled up by the sea every year due to the present harbour at Thengaithittu,” an activist said.

“If the sand dunes are destroyed, villages on the coastline will be more vulnerable when cyclones and tsunamis strike.” When contacted, a senior PWD official pointed out that Environment Impact Assessment had not been conducted for the project as work only involved removing the blockage. “There will be no erosion due to construction of the harbour,” he maintained.

Cyclone Jal brought rain to districts, not city

Though Cyclone Jal did not bring much rain to Chennai, many of the interior districts received copious amount of rain. “At least 10 districts in the state received substantial amount of rain,” said Dr Y.E.A. Raj, deputy director general of the Regional Meteorological Center (RMC) here. “Interestingly, some of the drier districts got more rain that the usual rain-prone regions.”

Districts that received good rains over the last few days include Gingee (16cms), Panruti (15cms), Ambur (13cms), Tiruvannamalai (12cms), Villupuram (10cms), Tindivanam (10cms), Polur and Vandavasi (8cms). Even Chengalpattu (8cms) and Tiruvallur (7cms) districts received more rainfall than Chennai.

However, the good news for Chennaiites is that even though the northeast monsoon has been active only for a couple of weeks, the city has already received the average annual rainfall for the year.

“The annual rainfall for the city is 122 cms and we have already received 116 cms of rain so far, this year,” said Dr Raj. “We still have at least five to six weeks of active monsoon season. As in the recent past, Chennai is likely to receive above average rainfall this year too.”

Weather experts say that there has been a substantial increase in the amount of rains received by the city over the last 40 years. “Our records indicate that the annual rainfall for Chennai between 1969 and 2009 has been around 140 cms, which is a significant increase from the earlier years when the average was just around 122 cms,” said a senior official of RMC.

Despite this, the city is usually projected as a water-starved metropolis because of the exponential growth in population and the hot, humid climate. “We have water scarcity only during summer because we are bad at managing rainwater and not because there is not enough rain,” said the official.

“We are getting more rain now than ever before.” added the official of the meteorological center .