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
This summer, Chennai Metrowater’s well fields in Tiruvallur district will be rejuvenated after a gap of nearly a decade to tackle water shortage in the city. The fast-depleting resources in the reservoirs, the major suppliers of drinking water to the city, have set the focus on well fields in Poondi, Tamaraipakkam and floodplains near Kosasthalaiyar river. Besides rejuvenating the 20 borewells in these well fields, the water agency plans to sink 16 more borewells to augment water supply.
Illegal sandmining, plotting out of agricultural lands, and allegations of departmental apathy ignited sparks at the farmers grievance meeting here on Thursday. Allegations against some panchayat presidents abetting transfer of cultivable lands to real estate was brought to the attention of the Collector T.Munusamy. Speaking of increase in the letting of agricultural lands to real estate plots, Kaveri Danapalan, Cauvery Delta Farmers Protection Association called for reining in of illicit transfers. Similar complaints on sand quarrying were raised, and the administration was requested to divert sand quarrying to water bodies that required rehabilitation.
A Public Interest Litigation has been filed at the Madras High Court bench here to curb alleged illegal sand quarrying activities in Karur district. The petitioner, P. Ettikan, from Karur, has claimed
“The total area of the Vandiyur lake has shrunk from 640 acres to 577 because of encroachment”. Inadequate maintenance has resulted in heavy siltation of the 640-acre Vandiyur lake here and the lake is
Scarcity looms due to lack of rainfall, indiscriminate extraction. Insufficient rainfall and a prolonged spell of dry weather have taken a toll on the groundwater resources in and around the city. The
For the residents of the city battling traffic congestions every day, there could still be some hope. The State government on Thursday announced that it would take up a study on multi-modal integration of transport in Chennai this year. Finance Minister O. Panneerselvam, in his budget speech, underscored the need for a combination of different modes of transport such as buses, suburban trains, Metro Rail and monorail, and also new innovative systems such as the Bus Rapid Transport System, which virtually remains a non-starter in the city.
Siruthuli’s study findings to be released today It is 10 years now since a citizens’ initiative to rejuvenate water bodies began in the city. Eight tanks in the city and another in the periphery were desilted. So were the canals that brought water to these tanks. The efforts proved to be good in 2004 when a good monsoon filled up the tanks. But, 10 years down the line – after Siruthuli’s launch in 2003 – the tanks and canals present a sordid sight: some are bone dry while the others hold more of sewage.
90 per cent areas suffered more than 50 per cent crop loss Finding almost 90 per cent of the area cultivated in the district last year to have suffered more than 50 per cent loss, district administration has issued annevari certificates to about 1.58 lakh farmers so that their crop loans could be restructured, District Collector Darez Ahmed announced here on Thursday. Speaking at the farmers’ grievances day meeting here, he pointed out that the banks had already received a circular that they need not even wait for the annevari certificate from the district collectors for restructuring the loan.
Lion’s share of credit earmarked for agriculture, allied activities in PLP Even as the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has earmarked a lion’s share of credit for agriculture and allied activities in its Potential Linked Credit Plan (PLP) for Ariyalur district, one of the most backward districts in the State, it has suggested a number of steps to boost agriculture there.
Owners reaping profit at the expense of environment The district administration has come under severe criticism yet again for the inordinate delay in sealing large number of dyeing units caught for illegal operations. Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board sources told The Hindu that over 30 dyeing units, which were caught over the last six months, were yet to be sealed though the Board had given directives to the District Collector many months back.