Groundwater level has increased by 0.6 metres
Rs. 20 crore has been allocated for supplying water across the State, says TWAD Board managing director The groundwater level has increased from 18.10 metres below ground level (pre-monsoon) to 17.5
Rs. 20 crore has been allocated for supplying water across the State, says TWAD Board managing director The groundwater level has increased from 18.10 metres below ground level (pre-monsoon) to 17.5
The 90 bird watchers in 18 teams, who are part of the SACON’s second edition of bird race here on Sunday, spotted more than 250 species from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.. The event was organised by Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History along with HSBC Bank and Yuhina Eco-media. Three teams ended up sighting 133, 132 and 131 bird species, respectively. The birders identified almost all common birds of Coimbatore. There were many rare observations such as Redwinged Crested Cuckoo, Rufous Bellied Hawk Eagle and Pallied Harrier from unexpected locations, said P. Pramod, senior scientist of SACON.
Noted poet and lyricist Vairamuthu turned the attention of youth towards climate change and vanishing agricultural lands at the alumni meeting of the Nehru Memorial College (NMC), Puthanampatti, here recently. In an address that was inspired by his recent book, ‘Moondram Ulaga Por’, Vairamuthu issued a clarion call to youth to prevent the next world war which may arise due to annihilation of agriculture and climate change, said a release issued by the college. Each individual has the potential to achieve success but lack of emotional quotient stands as a hurdle, he observed, adding the man who has control of his mind will rule the world. Encouraging the audience to cultivate a practical and open mind, the lyricist said a developed nation was made of developed minds and souls.
Urge State and Centre to expedite disbursal of compensation Farmers affected by industrial pollution in the district have called upon the State and the Central government to expedite disbursal of compensation to those distressed by pollution by dyeing units besides making efforts to protect the precious natural resources. “Failure to protect our genuine interests will force us to put up our own candidates in the Lok Sabha elections,” the affected farmers have threatened.
Seeks remainder of what was originally demanded earlier this month With the imminent closure of the Mettur dam for irrigation looming large, the State government has decided to move the Supreme Court, seeking around 20 thousand million cubic feet (tmc ft). The quantum is the remainder of what (30 tmc ft) was originally demanded by Tamil Nadu before the court early this month. Subsequently, the Cauvery Monitoring Committee (CMC) directed Karnataka to release 12 tmc ft. Since the beginning of this month, the State realised about seven tmc ft of the Cauvery water.
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.
A public interest litigation petition has been filed in the Madras High Court seeking a direction to authorities, including State Transport Corporation heads, to operate more buses and avoid overloading in buses. The petition has been filed by K.R. Ramaswamy alias ‘Traffic’ Ramaswamy, a social activist, in the wake of the recent accident at Kandanchavadi here in which four students travelling on the footboard died.
Consultative meet of presidents on panchayat administration A group of panchayat presidents, including women and Dalit presidents, have called upon the government to appoint full-time resource support groups at the block level and full-time project officers at the district and block levels dedicated to oversee the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA).
United States Consul General, Chennai, Jennifer McIntyre on Thursday inaugurated a sewage treatment plant on the campus of the College of Nursing of Christian Medical College (CMC) at Kagithapattarai. The project was funded by US Agency for International Development’s (USAID) American Schools and Hospitals Abroad (ASHA) programme with matching grants from CMC, Vellore.
Chennai Corporation’s new programme to improve lighting in the city will focus on replacement of around 60,000 old streetlights in eight added zones. Mayor Saidai S. Duraisamy at a meeting on Tuesday announced the commencement of the programme to improve streetlighting system in eight zones. The initiative of the civic body is likely to be a stepping stone for replacement of tubelights with energy-saving lights such as induction lamps, LED lights and compact fluorescent lamps in Tiruvottiyur, Manali, Madhavaram, Ambattur, Valasaravakkam, Alandur, Perungudi and Sholinganallur. All the new 60,000 streetlights will be LED lights as they last five times longer than sodium vapour lamps.
Plea to invest one per cent of agricultural GDP in research “The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is asking the Government to invest one per cent of the total agricultural Gross Domestic Product in agricultural research for the XII Five Year Plan,” S. Ayyappan, Director General of ICAR, said here on Wednesday. Delivering the convocation address of the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, he pointed out that the agricultural research system at the national level was so strong that it was able to provide for the 122 crore population.