Coimbatore Short News 31.07.2008

Power shutdown :
Power supply to the following places will not be available on August 2 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. owing to maintenance works at the Annur substation. Annur, Kuppepalayam, Odderpalayam, Kembanaickenpalayam, Kariyampalayam, Paduvampalli, Pongalur, Ganesapuram, Pasur, Chokkampalayam, and Kumarapalayam.

Workshop:
Karpagam College of Engineering will organise a one-day national workshop on “Emerging Trends in CAD/CAM” on August 1. The workshop is open to students, teachers, research scholars, and personnel from the industry. Those interested can contact: 0422-2619042.

World breast-feeding week :
PSG College of Nursing will observe World breast-feeding week from August 1 to 7 at maternity centres, PSG Hospitals, Vedapatti health centre and Arasur. The theme of the celebration will be “Mother Support: Going for the Gold.”

National workshop:
Karpagam College of Engineering will organise a one-day national workshop on “Emerging Trends in CAD/CAM” on August 1. The workshop is open to students, teachers and research scholars. For details, contact: 0422-2619042.

Inauguration :
United Bank of India will inaugurate its branch at Ganapathy on August 4 at 10 a.m. M. Krishnan, Managing Director, Sri Krishna Sweets, will be the chief guest.

Slver Jbilee Clebrations

About 70 students and 40 teachers of the 1983 batch of Carmel Garden Matriculation Higher Secondary School attended the silver jubilee celebrations of their alumni association. On behalf of the class of 1983, the alumni association handed over a cheque of Rs. 1 lakh towards the Teachers’ Pension Fund to the school. All the teachers present at the function were honoured by the students with mementos. Former principals of the school, Fr. A. Maria Mudiappan and Fr. G. Joseph Felix and the present principal, Fr. A. Paulraj, attended the function.

TNAU Director Awarded

M. Thangaraju, Director, Students’ Welfare, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, has been awarded the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) fellowship. According to a university release, Mr. Thangaraju is entitled to visit the Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops, Grossbeeren and Erfurt, Germany, for a month under the bilateral exchange programme between India and Germany.He will be engaged in collaborative research in mycorrhirzal symbiosis and synthesis. He will also visit the universities of Bonn, Giessen and Hannoner in Germany to discuss student exchange and joint degree programmes and research linkages.

Tata Crucible Business Quiz

Tata Group will organise a “Tata Crucible Business Quiz” for corporate companies in 16 cities starting on August 3. This year, the quiz will be held in four more cities – Coimbatore, Jaipur, Panaji and Lucknow. According to a release from Tata Group, the cash prize for the national winners is about Rs. 4 lakh. This year, the quiz will follow the “nano quizzing” format.

Each regional round winner team will receive a cash award of Rs. 75,000 and the runner-up team will be given a cash prize of Rs. 35,000. The competition does not have an entry fee. Each team will comprise two members from the same organisation. Any number of teams from the same organisation can take part. The top six teams from the preliminary round will make it to the regional finals. The top team from each regional round will make it to the national finals.

Eight teams from all over the country will take part in the national final for the ‘Tata Track.’ A total of 16 teams will take part in the ‘Non-Tata Track’ category. In Coimbatore, the competition will be held at The Residency at 5.30 p.m. For registration, log on to http://www.tatacrucible.com/.

Varumun Kappom Camp

Residents of Karumbukkadai being screened at a ‘Varumun Kappom’ camp organised by the Coimbatore Corporation on Wednesday. The health department of the Coimbatore Corporation has screened 16,334 people free of cost at 15 camps conducted under the preventive healthcare scheme of the State Government – Varumun Kappom.Inaugurating a health camp at Karumbukkadai on the city’s southern border on Wednesday, Mayor R. Venkatachalam said the camps helped in promoting preventive healthcare among the urban poor in a fast-growing city.

The camps were being held thrice a month for areas with a population of 50,000. The Corporation had to hold a total of 20 such camps in the city. The camps held so far had helped in screening people for problems in the following areas: cardiac, renal and gynaecology. The Corporation said 10,400 people underwent investigations for problems in the kidney, including those that might have been caused by diabetes or some other disorders. A press release from the civic body said 1,598 pregnant women underwent scanning and electro cardiogram check-up was done for 859 persons.

Totally, 11,714 people had their blood samples tested for various problems. Another 3,161 underwent specific tests for diabetes. The blood tests were also done to detect cases of malaria.Pap smear tests were also done for women to check for cancer of the cervix.The Corporation said it had so far spent Rs.1.42 lakh on providing medicines free of cost to those covered by the camps. It wanted the poor sections in the city to make use of the scheme, as the camps could detect health problems and refer cases for specialised care.

Dispute In Irugur Container Depo

Dispute over right to work among headload workers has affected the functioning of the container depot at Irugur on the outskirts of the city. Southern Railway developed a container depot for cargo handling at the Irugur Railway Station in a bid to reduce the workload at North Coimbatore Junction and minimise the entry of trucks into city. But North Coimbatore Junction continued to handle cargo and the cargo handling and forwarding agencies continued to operate from there.

Irugur being on the outskirts of the city and well connected by bypass road, served as an ideal location for container depot. The depot has two cargo releasing lines. Work on one line has been completed. The depot started operations nearly one year ago. The cargo lines can accommodate 40 wagons at any given time. The depot was handling commodities such as food grains, cement, poultry feed and a number of other items. The first labour unrest erupted immediately after commencing the cargo operations. Headload workers of the North Coimbatore Junction demanded right to employment and priority over cargo workers from Irugur, Singanallur and Ondipudur.

The dispute was referred to the Central Assistant Commissioner of Labour. Trade unions moved the Madras High Court against the decision stating that major trade unions were not consulted. The case is pending disposal. Southern Railway officials expressed concern when consignees started taking the “short cargo” to Tirupur, Erode and even Salem. This has resulted in headload workers losing jobs and truckers their earnings.

The Revenue Divisional Officers, M. Balachandran (Coimbatore) and B. Murugesh (Tirupur), held talks with trade union representatives and railway officials at Coimbatore on Tuesday. The meeting resolved to wait till the case was disposed by the High Court. Cargo operations could continue according to the interim decision by the then Assistant Commissioner of Police (Law and Order-East), at a meeting held on August 18, 2007. It stipulated that trade unions would get the agreed share of work in terms of the number of wagons that arrived in a rake of one goods train.

Milk Producers Request Price Hike

The Coimbatore District Milk Producers Welfare Association has asked the Commissioner of Tamil Nadu Milk Producers Federation to pay higher price for the milk procured during the low production period. In a memorandum, the patron of the association, S.R. Rajagopal, said that the State Government increased the milk procurement price only in March. After the price rise, the inputs for dairy farming had gone up by Rs. 2 a kg while the cattle feed prices had gone up by 100 per cent. Hence, there was a pertinent need for increasing the milk price.

Mr.Rajagopal said that Coimbatore District Milk Producers Union has been netting substantial profit during the last four years. With the failure of monsoon, milk production was also coming down. Hence, to encourage dairy farmers during the low milk production period, the union should enhance the procurement price. A resolution to this effect had already been forwarded to the federation.According to the resolution an additional 0.25 paise a litre should be paid for the period between October and March of 2006-07 and Re. 1 a litre for the milk procured during 2007-08.

Hailing the Government decision to start 200 integrated dairy farming centres with 3,500 cows and 1,500 buffaloes through Women’s Self-help Groups, the association wanted the federation to ensure that milk producers who have been part of the milk producers associations for the last 20 to 30 years benefited from the scheme. The association said a minimum of two beneficiaries should be included in the panel being formed to buy the cattle for the scheme. Since there was a court stay on enlisting milk suppliers as union members with voting rights, the association suggested that even in the absence of voting rights, the union should take steps to give them a share of the profits.

The association said that the margin money being given to milk unions should not be less than 5 per cent. It should be given by the unions from the profits instead of deducting it from the milk producers. Mr. Rajagopal said that salaries for employees could be fixed on the basis of procurement and profit made by every union as an incentive to encourage the employees.

BU Withdrawn Book

The textbook that will no longer be used by Bharathiar University. Thousands of copies of the textbook Communication Skills in English, prescribed for second year undergraduate students, will be withdrawn and replaced with those published by Bharathiar University. This follows a directive from Vice-Chancellor G. Thiruvasagam.

The book, prepared by the university’s Undergraduate Board of Studies of English and published by a reputed publishing house, was found to have many errors. Following reports in the media and representations by several English faculty members of colleges, the Vice-Chancellor held an inquiry and found that the board as well as the publisher had erred. “I have dissolved the Board of Studies and ordered the publisher to withdraw the books (Rs. 78 each).

An ad-hoc committee consisting of faculty from the university’s Department of English and Foreign Languages has started preparing material based on the same syllabus.The first unit will be available on the university’s website http://www.b-u.ac.in/ in the first week of August,” the Vice-Chancellor told The Hindu on Wednesday. Once the committee prepared the whole material, it would be given to the same publisher only for printing. And, the university would not pay for it. “Once the books are available in the market in August, the students can exchange the old book for the new one”.

An upset Vice-Chancellor said he was driven to taken such a drastic measure as replacing a book of a publisher because it was for a subject that was part of the regular curriculum. This was the first time the university was introducing communicative skills as a regular subject in the third semester for second year students. “The book is a result of poor efforts put in by the members of the Board as well as the publisher. It is very sad that students have been inconvenienced. The new book will be a much better one with more practical components,” said Mr. Thiruvasagam.

Efforts To Speed Up Pillor Phase-II

Unless the Phase II drinking water scheme is implemented, the city will not be able to reap the full benefits that the Pilloor Dam offers. The sight of 12,000 cusecs overflowing from the Pilloor Dam is at once heartening and disheartening for the Coimbatore Corporation. The civic body is happy that the dam is full, but upset that it is not able to tap the surplus for providing more drinking water in the city. Mayor R. Venkatachalam admits that unless the Corporation implements the Rs.113-crore Pilloor Phase II drinking water scheme, any amount of surplus in the dam is not going to bring huge benefits.

“When we draw 125 million litres a day (mld) from the dam, with 65 million litres for the city, the surplus will be helpful only to the extent of keeping the dam full. Had the Phase II scheme been implemented, the benefits may have been two-fold now,” he says. “The present scheme has the capacity to supply only 125 mld. That is why we cannot tap the surplus,” the Mayor explains. The Phase II scheme, to be implemented with Central Government grant under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, holds the key to the city’s development, the Mayor points out.

“The Corporation pins hopes on this scheme to provide 24-hour water supply across the city,” he says. The mission offers the grant on the condition that water supply should be round the clock. With the water from Pilloor Phase I and Phase II schemes, the city and the local bodies beyond its eastern and northern borders will have their entire drinking water requirement met. The Mayor indicates that the Corporation is unhappy the scheme is yet to take off despite having been mooted 10 years ago. He is also aware of the resentment over the delay even after the Chief Minister laid the foundation for the scheme in February 2007. But, the civic body is now keen that the project takes off in three months, he asserts.

Mr. Venkatachalam attributes the delay to fresh tenders being ordered by a scrutiny committee of the State Government. The project is to be implemented as six packages. And, the Corporation has been asked to go in for re-tender for four of them as the rates quoted had been found to be high. Fresh tenders will be invited early next month and the entire scheme will be speeded up, the Mayor says.

Effluent-mixed Rainwater

Effluent-mixed rainwater stagnating at LIC Colony at Selvapuram in Coimbatore. “We have stagnant effluents in almost every colour in our colonies,” an anguished K. Subbulakshmi said on Wednesday to explain the ordeal 300 families undergo at a few colonies at Selvarpuram in the city. Ms. Subbulakshmi, a Coimbatore Corporation councillor from Ward 55, said she and the residents were now determined to put to an end to the pollution that had been troubling them for more than 15 years.

“Untreated effluents are being discharged into the Raja Vaikkal (a major canal in the Noyyal River system) by the dyeing and bleaching units at Telungupalayam. This is happening despite the units being warned by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board against doing so,” she said. On Wednesday, the councillor and the residents of Sridevi Nagar, LIC Colony, Raju Nagar, Sarojini Nagar and S.A. Nagar gathered at the spots where effluents mixed in rain water had formed pools of various colours.

They insisted that the owners of the units or their representatives and the officials of the pollution control board should come to the spot and assure them of a permanent solution. “Heavy flow in the canal pushes the effluents towards the residential colonies. Some people are not able to step out of their houses because of the stagnant effluent. Wading through it causes itching in the feet. If people remain at home, they have to endure a pungent smell,” Ms. Subbulakshmi said.

People working in private and government establishments, industrial unit workers and students were not able to go to work or school when effluent mixed water stagnated around their houses.Vanita Mohan, Managing Trustee of Siruthuli, a public initiative to conserve water resources, said it was sad that people were held captive in their houses by the effluents. “But, it is astonishing that they have been enduring this for a long time. Apparently, they had not been aware of the environmental and health hazards posed by the effluents, until Siruthuli stepped in to highlight these following complaints from farmers,” she said.

People owning farms in nearby areas were members of the Farmers’ Forum of Siruthuli. They complained of their wells getting polluted. Project Co-ordinator of Siruthuli K. Mylsami said there were already reports of bore well rig operators finding effluents up to a depth of 50 ft. “They say that good water is found only after nearly an hour of drilling. If this continues, effluents will pollute the aquifer,” he said.

KG Complex Closed For Renovate

Come Diwali and the KG Complex at Race Course will have a new look. Having tied up with Ad Labs recently, KG Entertainment, part of diversified KG Group, has planned to renovate the complex to make a head start ahead of the competition that it expects from various multiplex complexes that are planned to enter Coimbatore soon. The KG Complex, which will telecast its last show on Thursday, will be rechristened KG AdLabs after renovation. R Saravana Prabhu, executive director, KG Entertainment said renovation of the whole complex is estimated to cost Rs 3 to 5 crore.

“Celebrating the company’s crossing of six crore customers in our 27th year, we have joined hands with Ad-Labs to offer the best film going experience and focus on quality film content,” he said. “We will get our theatre complex ready by Diwali (October 27) so that we will have a head-start in the competition that we expect to face from various multiplexes including the Brofiel Complex, which will start its operations from January 2009 in Coimbatore,” he added. According to him, the company has bigger plans of converting the complex into a multiplex studded with food court, shopping complex and theatres in the near future. “But as of now, we have tied up with AdLabs and are going for the minimum expansion, which includes, more spacious seats and 5-star quality toilets,” he added.

The renovation plan includes, reducing the number of seats from 3,030 to 2,250 to provide extra leg space and other facilities like upgraded air-conditioning. They are going in for automatic generator with 500 KVA capacity for non-interrupted viewing. AdLabs will also upgrade the theatre to international standards with DTS sound and Xenon projection systems. The firm will have booking facilities through internet, mobile and telephone. For AdLabs, this will be the first multiplex that it will associate with in Tamil Nadu. The AdLabs will release the movie and decide on the content,” said Prabhu, adding that they will be renting the complex to them for a minimum period of two years. “We have an arrangement with them for maintenance,” he added. When questioned about the non-release of Kamalstarrer Dasavatharam, Prabhu said that since the company was planning to start the renovation work a month ago, they didn’t go for that movie.

Drive Against Motor Vehicle Violation

The Transport Department in a drive conducted against violation of Motor Vehicle Rules for four days from July 22 to 26 checked 4,423 vehicles and booked 562 cases.In a release, the Deputy Transport Commissioner, T. Gunasekaran, said that during the drive the authorities came across complaints of overload by goods, overload by persons, misuse of permit, plying without insurance cover, without records, without driving licence, booking unaccompanied luggage in buses besides other minor rule violations. The authorities also detained as many as 16 vehicles for serious violations.

During the four day long drive, the authorities collected Rs. 3,60 lakh as tax besides collecting a compounding fee of Rs 2.27 lakh for the violations. The authorities also proposed Rs 7.60 lakh as compounding fee to be realised by the respective registering authorities after adhering to procedures such as serving of notices seeking explanation.

CDCRF Ordered UPS Firm

Coimbatore District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum (CDCRF) has ordered Kovai Power Control, selling uninterrupted power supply (UPS) systems, to pay Rs.7,400 towards the cost of the UPS and battery and Rs. 10,000 for mental agony and litigation cost of Rs. 1,000 to a complainant for deficiency in service. According to a release from Coimbatore Consumer Cause (CCC) president C.R. Rajkanth, CDCRF president S.A. Sree Ramulu passed the order while disposing a petition by CCC secretary K. Kathirmathiyon.

The complainant had purchased an UPS with battery from Shri Rajan, Kovai Power Control, Kavundampalayam, on May 7, 2006 for Rs. 7,400. The seller had promised that it would work for a minimum of four hours and at least for three years. Mr. Rajan used to do the monthly maintenance of the system and collect charges for it.During July 2007 when the system stopped functioning, the complainant had the battery and the system serviced and re-installed.

Even then it did not work properly. He then sent a letter on October 22, 2007 to the company to rectify the defects. During the second week of November 2007, the system failed to work for even two minutes and the request for a standby system was not considered. The complainant had accused the seller that he had supplied a defective UPS and battery.The seller failed to receive court notices and appear in the court. The court decided the case ex-parte. On July 21 the forum ordered the company to pay the above compensation within a month from the date of the order.

Collector Announcement

The District Collector, V. Palanikumar, has announced that stringent legal action would be taken besides suspending the stamping vending licence if the administration came across complaints of selling non-judicial stamp papers and court fee stamps at excessive rates.In a release, the Collector said that there had been complaints at the consumer protection council meetings about stamp vendors selling stamp papers and court fee stamps at premium rates i.e., over and above the denomination value.

In the event of any complaints with evidence, action would be taken against the stamp vendors, he said. Mr. Palanikumar has also announced that people having a single cylinder Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) connection could avail the Government subsidy of Rs. 30 a cylinder by furnishing the cylinder bill along with the PDS family card.Following the steep hike in prices of LPG cylinders, the State Government announced a subsidy of Rs. 30 a cylinder.The subsidy was being factored into the bills while delivering the cylinders. In the event of any public not having availed the subsidy they could approach the District Supply Office with the bill and family card, the release said.

Financial Assistance

The District Collector, V.Palanikumar, has announced that education incentive for school students hailing from minority communities will be provided by the Minorities Welfare Department and Tamil Nadu Minorities Economic Development Corporation. In a release, he said, 15,340 students from the Christian, Muslim and other minority communities studying in Standards I to X were eligible to get the assistance.

Under this incentive scheme, day scholars from Standards I to V would be eligible for Rs.100 a month for 10 months. Students of Standards VI to X would be eligible for reimbursement of the actual admission fee remitted, subject to a maximum of Rs.500. They would also be eligible for the actual tuition fee remitted, subject to a maximum of Rs.350. They could get the actual maintenance fee remitted, subject to a maximum of Rs. 600.

The beneficiaries should have scored a minimum of 50 per cent in the annual examinations the previous year and should not have received any other financial assistance for education under the schemes of the Backward Classes and Adi Dravidar Welfare Department.The students should have had regular attendance in classes and their parents’ income per annum should not be more than Rs.1 lakh. Income proof should be submitted in the prescribed format on a stamp paper of the denomination of Rs. 10.

Computer Distributed

Mayor R. Venkatachalam presenting a computer to the headmaster of a Corporation school at a function held in Coimbatore on Monday. R. Kalyanasundaram (second from left), Chairman, Corporation Education Committee, V.K.Shanmugham, Corporation Commissioner (second from right) and N.Karthik, Deputy Mayor (right) are in the picture. The Coimbatore Corporation distributed 32 computers to 16 Corporation Higher Secondary Schools at a function held in the city on Monday.

Each of the 16 higher secondary schools that offer computer science as a subject were given two computers, R.Kalyanasundaram, Chairman, Education Committee, Coimbatore Corporation, said. The Corporation Committee for Education was taking efforts in providing quality education at Corporation schools and this step was taken in this direction, he added. The Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu had earlier supplied laptops to Head Masters and Head Mistresses of Government Schools in order to help them to use the computer and the Internet for effective school administration.

The Corporation will continue its efforts in providing at least five computers to each Corporation school, Mr.Kalyanasundaram said. Earlier, about seven schools had been provided with multimedia projectors along with computers. Multimedia computers were handed over to two more schools at the function.

Coimbatore Short News 30.07.2008.

Driver Killed:

Two van drivers were killed in an accident on Tirupur – Gobichettipalayam road on Tuesday.
According to the police, three courier vans were proceeding towards Coimbatore. When one of them tried to overtake another it collided head on with another van laden with oxygen cylinders for hospitals proceeding from Thekkalur towards Tiruchengode. In the collision, the drivers of the vans Mohan (25) and Thiagarajan (27) were killed. The cleaners of the vans sustained injuries and were rushed to a hospital. Traffic on the road was disrupted for nearly an hour.

Poultry birds killed:
As many as 4,200 birds were killed when a fire broke out in a poultry unit at Gundalapatti, near Udumalpet, on Monday night. The cause of the fire and the extent of damage were under investigation.

Windmill propeller collapses :
Gusty winds led to the collapse of a windmill propeller at Komangalampudur, near Pollachi, on Monday night. The windmill tower collapsed and fell on the ground while the propeller fell on two nearby houses damaging the roofs. The collapse led to snapping of power lines. Case registered
The city police have registered a case in connection with a letter purportedly written by Al-Umma threatening to kill P. Govindarajan, Additional Superintendent of Central Prison (holding charge as Superintendent), Coimbatore. The letter was handed over to the city police.

Office burgled :
Burglars broke open an LPG cylinder agency in Ganapathy KRG Nagar in the city on Monday night and had decamped with Rs. 50,000 cash. The city police had formed special teams to nab the culprits.

Seeds ANd Inputs To Farmer

South India Cotton Association president C. Soundararajan (third right) giving away seeds and inputs to a farmer at a function organised by Cotton Corporation of India at Vadapudur in Pollachi Taluk on Tuesday. Vishal K. Sinha, branch manager of the corporation (second right), is in the picture. Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) distributed seeds and inputs free-of-cost to 130 farmers at Vadapudur in Pollachi Taluk on Tuesday. The seeds were distributed by the South India Cotton Association president C. Soundararajan.

A. Krishnamoorthy, deputy manager of the corporation, said that 180 acres would be covered under the frontline demonstration programme, technology mission on cotton, mini mission three.Under this initiative, scientists from the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Central Institute of Cotton Research and Krishi Vigyan Kendras would also guide the farmers for a hassle-free crop growth. The farmers are given seeds of extra long staple (Bt) varieties since the domestic mills are in need of this variety of cotton.

The Bt variety was chosen since the productivity is high. The corporation will buy back the cotton from the farmers under the contract farming model. Similar projects would be taken up by the corporation at Avinashi, Udumalpet, Annur, Karamadai and Pollachi. The total number of beneficiaries would be 430, covering nearly 630 acres under extra long staple cotton. The farmers would have to follow the guidelines of the CCI in cultivation.

Campaign At Tribal Hamlets

The District Administration, as part of the “valarkalvi” scheme, has launched a one-day campaign at tribal hamlets to teach tribal people how to sign. This is aimed at eradicating the practice of using thumb impressions. According to an official release, District Collector V.Palanikumar had reviewed the progress of “valarkalvi” schemes in various blocks and directed the officials to open “valarkalvi” centres in new blocks.

He had also directed the Panchayat Union Commissioners, Municipal Commissioners, and executive officers of Town Panchayats to provide basic amenities such as buildings and power supply to these centres. He had urged the officials to implement special literacy programmes through women for the benefit of the tribal population. Through such measures, the district would become a pioneer in innovative approaches in implementing valarkalvi, he said.

As part of this initiative, Mr.Palanikumar had also called for a one-day campaign for teaching the tribals in the tribal pockets of Anaimalai, Udumalpet, Madukkarai, Perianaickenpalayam, Thondamuthur and Karamadai Panchayat Unions. This was expected to enlist tribal women in literacy programmes and motivate them to utilise the facilities provided at the “valarkalvi” centres. As a continuation of this, the one-day campaign on how to sign would be extended to Adi Dravida habitations and slums too, the release said.

Homage To Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw

Officers in uniform pay homage to Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw at a ceremony organised by Kural in the city on Tuesday. Kural, a voluntary organisation known as the Voice of Coimbatore, paid rich tributes to Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw who passed away recently.At a ceremony organised at the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Hall on Avanashi Road, Kural screened a short film on Sam Manekshaw taking the audience through the life of one of the icons in the history of Indian Defence Forces.In the short film where Manekshaw’s grand son interviewed him, he narrated his experiences in the 1971 war.

The film also had scenes where Manekshaw was presented with coveted awards.Humane face
Air Commodore P.K. Srivastava, Air Officer Commanding of the 5 Base Repair Depot of the Indian Air Force Station, Sulur, said that Manekshaw was an inspiring name for those who served during his days and also for those in service today. He also recalled the humane face of Manekshaw despite being an officer in uniform narrating the compassion and concern displayed by him towards the prisoners of war.

Col.K.S. Rajamani, president of the Retired Defence Officers Association, presented anecdotes relating to the career and life of Manekshaw. Founder Chairman of Kural, B.K. Krishnaraj Vanavarayar, said that it was time for the society to create an ambience and atmosphere to make more Manekshaws by inspiring the youth of today.As a mark of respect, Last Post and Reveille were sounded.

TAPMA Demands Uniform Power Holiday

The Tamil Nadu Pumps and Spares Manufacturers Association (TAPMA) has appealed to the State Government to avoid discriminatory treatment to the indigenous industries while pampering the multinationals.R.Kalynansundaram, its president, pointed out in a statement here that the State was facing severe power cut. Apart from two hour daily power cut, the industries had been prohibited from using power from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. In addition, every Saturday had been declared as “power holiday.”

Apart from demanding withdrawal of power cut, the association pleaded for a uniform power holiday all over Combatore District on Sunday. In this connection, it had planned to organise a demonstaaration in Coimbatore on August 4.He also submitted that the members of the association had been facing serious strain because of the huge rise in prices of all raw materials, including iron and steel. As against the price of Rs. 24,000 a tonne of pig iron during July last year, the current price was Rs. 40,500. Similarly, the price of casting had shot up from Rs. 35,000 a tonne to Rs. 57,000. Stainless steel rod weighing 1 kg, which was quoted at Rs. 54 last year, was now ruling around Rs. 90. Besides, the price of copper, which was Rs. 390 a kg, had now shot up to Rs. 460.

Because of the increase in price of raw materials and also petroleum products, a large number of small units might have to close down thus rendering thousands of workers jobless. Hence he pleaded for appropriate action by both the Union and State Governments to reduce the prices of raw materials.Pointing out that the manufacturers had to pay Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 50,000 per annum for obtaining ISI mark, he said. this had resulted in some of the small units with three or four ISI licences to shell out lakhs of rupees in this regard.Hence, he appealed to the Government to club all the pumps under one single licence that could be obtained at a nominal fee.

Tree Planting Campaign For NCC

Associate NCC Officer Tamilvanan, 2(TN) Air Sqn NCC (right), receiving a sapling on behalf of the unit from Vice-Chancellor of Bharathiar University G. Thiruvasagam at PSG College of Arts and Science in the city on Monday. Wing Commander V. Mohan, Commanding Officer, 2(TN) Air Sqn NCC (left), and Sheela Ramachandran, principal of the college, are in the picture.

Apart from environmental awareness, the cadets of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) should involve themselves in activities of poverty alleviation, especially that of rural India, Bharathiar University Vice-Chancellor G. Thiruvasagam said here on Monday.Launching the tree planting campaign of the NCC Group of Coimbatore at the PSG College of Arts and Science, the Vice-Chancellor said poverty could not be alleviated by giving employment or money, but by putting in place effective literacy programmes, to be implemented by the NCC cadets.

He planted saplings on the college premises and also handed over saplings to 1,200 cadets of schools and colleges.He pointed out that the university had made NCC a compulsory part of the Choice Based Credit System for those pursuing graduation in the university and affiliated colleges. Those who chose NCC as one of the electives, would get two credits, the Vice-Chancellor said.Wing Commander V. Mohan, Commanding Officer, 2(TN) Air Squadron NCC, said that though the original scope of NCC was limited to military training, with the changing politico-social conditions, the NCC had evolved as a larger organisation with broader aims and assumed enhanced social responsibility.The cadets took a pledge to nurture the saplings that they would be planting in their schools and colleges. Earlier, an aero-modelling flying show was performed by the cadets of the 2(TN) Air Sqn NCC on the college premises.

Panel Visited CMCH

The Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, D. Yasodha, watches an audiogram being taken at the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital on Tuesday. The Public Accounts Committee of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly led by chairperson D. Yasodha on Tuesday visited the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital.

The panel visited the Cardiology Department and ENT Department and enquired the patients on the treatment and services.Ms.Yasodha said that the Government had sanctioned five Regional Diagnostic Centres including one for Tirupur and equipment were procured at Rs. 45 crore. The blood purification unit and breast cancer detection equipment that were procured for Tirupur were installed at the CMCH owing to shortage of manpower in Tirupur. Expressing satisfaction over the functioning of CMCH, Ms.Yasodha said that the equipment had been put to the best use. Every day the hospital was getting 4,000 to 6,000 patients of which 1,000 were admitted as in-patients. The panel would recommend to the Government to permanently place these equipment in Coimbatore.

The panel visited the Indira Memorial Housing Scheme at Kurudampalayam in Periyanaickenpalayam Panchayat Union where houses were being constructed for 24 familiesIt advised the Project Officer of the District Rural Development Agency to ensure quality in construction works. The committee also inspected the Sidhapudur Corporation Higher Secondary School and the anganwadi centre at Puliakulam VCV School.

It checked the quality of food provided to the children there. The committee visited the gold covering jewellery manufacturing unit run by Annai Sandhya Women’s Self-Help Groups with the help of Tamil Nadu Adi Dravidar Housing Corporation at Puliakulam. The panel was accompanied by Collector V. Palanikumar, Corporation Commissioner V.K. Shanmugam, DRDA Project Officer P. Anandraj, THADCO Manager Gopal, Deputy Director of Public Health Porkai Pandian and District Rehabilitation Officer Ms.Jasmin.

Disel Shortage Hit Indusrties

With the industries here going out without power for at least two hours every day apart from the weekly power holiday, the use of generator sets has also shot up. The units, however, face the additional problem of shortage in availability of high speed diesel oil to run the sets. Says K. Illango, president of Coimbatore District Small Industries Association: “An industry that was buying about 12,000 litres of diesel on alternate months directly from the oil company earlier, now finds it difficult to get the same quantity of diesel.

The oil companies give various reasons, but industries are unable to get adequate quantity of diesel (in bulk) even if they have storage facility. Any unit that has 500 KVA or higher capacity generator sets must have been buying diesel in bulk directly from the companies. Now, there is a shortage even for those who were already buying,” “If this situation continues, and if there is an incremental usage of generator sets, what is the solution for the industries,” he asks. “If diesel is not available, we only have to shutdown at times of power cut and keep the workers idle,” he observes. Mr. Illango says the oil companies should come out with a system to meet the demands of the industry.

Sources in petroleum corporations said they had a systematic assessment of the demand, based on the indents received. The product was procured based on the requirement forecast.The supply for industrial use was dealt with separately since the huge off-take by industries should not lead to scarcity in the retail market. There was sudden spurt in diesel consumption by industries because of the power disruptions and the corporations were taken by surprise at the increasing demand. Because of the energy efficiency and cost factor, more industries were switching over to diesel from fuels such as Low Sulphuric Heavy Stock (LSHS) and Low Speed Diesel Oil (LSD) thus increasing the demand for diesel.

With the industrial fuel not having major subsidy, petroleum corporations would not be reluctant or deny supply. It could be due to temporary reasons such as availability. The industries could always approach the corporations with their regular projected requirement so that the latter could provide adequate stocks, the sources said.

Ganapathy Bridge

The narrow bridge, near Ganapathy, in Coimbatore on the busy Sathyamangalam Road. The Coimbatore Consumer Cause has thanked the National Highways Department and the Union Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways for according approval to construct two separate two lane minor bridges on NH-209 Sathyamangalam Road near Ashwin Hospital.

In a memorandum, the association secretary, K. Kathirmathiyon, said that at present the low-lying narrow bridge was leading to traffic congestion and frequent accidents. The work for two separate two lane elevated bridge was originally approved by the Ministry on December 14, 2004 for Rs.1.17 crore in the annual plan 2004-05. Even though the tender proposal was submitted, the work orders could not be awarded within the validity period of 5 months time before May 13. Hence extension of time was sought for which there was no response from the Government.

Hence a revised estimate was submitted for Rs. 1.23 crores during September 2005, which was not sanctioned by the Ministry. According to the Ministry’s instruction, if the work was not awarded within 12 months of date of sanction, it stands cancelled. Hence in the annual plan 2006-07 the proposal was again submitted with a revised estimate of Rs.1.45 crores which was sanctioned by the Ministry on February 15, 2007. But when the tender was called for on April 26, 2007, the contractor quoted 28 per cent above the estimate rate. If tender percentage exceeded 5 per cent of the sanctioned cost, sanction of the Ministry had to be obtained. Hence re-tenders were invited on March 17, 2008 and it too exceeded 35 per cent of the estimate rate.

The National Highways submitted another proposal for Rs 1.98 crores with revised estimate according to the 2008-09 rates to the Ministry for approval. The Divisional Engineer of the National Highways, G. Thangamuthu, said that works would begin shortly. Similarly, National Highways was also working on a proposal in advance stages for constructing a two-lane railway overbridge on Sathyamangalam Road near Textool. It would come up next to the two-lane bridge being constructed by the railways. After its construction, another two-lane would be constructed with the funds from the National Highways Department.

Regional Review Meeting

Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments K.R.Periyakaruppan (second right) having a word with HR and CE Special Commissioner T. Pichandy (second left) at the regional review meeting of the department in the city on Tuesday.

Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments K.R. Periyakaruppan on Tuesday directed officials to retrieve temple properties. He was presiding over a meeting to review the performance of the HR&CE Department in Coimbatore, Erode and the Nilgiris districts along with Commissioner for HR&CE T. Pichandy and Joint Commissioners K.K. Raja, Haripriya and M. Ashok.

Mr. Periyakaruppan asked the officials to improve the conditions and amenities in temples. They should ensure proper maintenance of records relating to temples, especially title deeds of properties, which had been usurped by encroachers who had not been paying the lease rent.An action plan had to be evolved for realising the lease rent revenue. Across the State, 21,000 families had either usurped or encroached upon temple properties and were not paying even rent to temples, he said.

The Minister said that efforts had been taken to ensure that kumbabishegams were performed to all the temples once in 12 years after taking up complete renovation. A sum of Rs.9.87 crore had been allocated for 48 historically important temples to protect and preserve them. For temples that find a mention in the ancient literature a sum of Rs.3.25 crore had been set aside.During the last regime, only 17 temples got golden chariot. During the present regime already golden chariot works had been completed in eight temples while works were under way for 14 more temples. Of the 962 temples with wooden cars, 300 temples had been given Rs.10 crore as special fund for renovating them.

In the last two years, the government had spent over Rs.157 crore for renovation and upkeep of temples, he said. The Minister inspected the renovation works at Karamadai Aranganathar Temple and participated in the Kundam festival at Bannari Amman Temple. He also gave instructions to the officials for stepping up security at temples in the wake of terror attacks in other parts of the country.

Heavy Rain Pillor Dam Full

A full Pilloor Dam (left) and water overflowing from it (right) on Tuesday. The city’s saviour on the drinking water front – Pilloor Dam – is filled to capacity. The water level touched the full reservoir level of 100 ft late on Sunday night and was is now overflowing into River Bhavani.

Heavy rain in the Nilgiris and the Pilloor catchments is bringing substantial inflow through River Bhavani. After filling the dam, the river takes away the surplus and joins River Cauvery at Kodumudi in Erode District. Corporation officials said on Monday that an overflow at the dam meant much for drinking water supply in the city and the eastern suburbs.

Mettupalayam Tahsildar K. Damodaran said: “The dam is said to getting an inflow of 12,000 cusecs. This is the amount being released into the river. So, we have asked people living in the low-lying areas along the river in Mettupalayam to shift to safer places.” Mayor R. Venkatachalam said the overflow was very good news for the city, especially when there was an anxious wait for things to improve at the Siruvani Dam that supplied water under another scheme. The Pilloor drinking water scheme had always played saviour for the city, when crisis hit the Siruvani scheme.

Assistant Engineer K. Karuppusamy, who is in charge of Pilloor supply in the city, said the eastern parts of the city might be able to get their full quota of 65 million litres a day if the overflow continued. The scheme supplied another 60 million litres to 22 town panchayats and 536 village panchayats. As for the city, the scheme provided drinking water to 29 of the 72 wards. The Corporation said the removal of silt from Pilloor Dam recently by the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board would enable the dam to hold water almost to its capacity – 1,568 million cubic feet.

According to the civic body, a lot of development in the city depended on how much water the Pilloor Dam could supply. The Corporation itself had embarked on implementing the Pilloor Phase II scheme to supply 125 million litres a day because of the scheme’s source – the Bhavani – being a perennial river. Real estate or information technology parks, River Bhavani and Pilloor schemes held the key to development in these areas. The Corporation said the Siruvani scheme was vital for the city, but not as dependable as Pilloor. Mr. Damodaran said there was forecast of heavy rain in Upper Bhavani. This meant more water would be let into the river from the dam.

Police and revenue officials were warning people of a spate in the river in the Mettupalayam region. “People in Odanthurai, Sirumugai and Nellithurai villages are familiar with the increased discharge of water from the dam. They shift to safer places during monsoon”, he said.Habitations along the river were not alien to substantial amount of water being let into the river.They knew when to cross the river and when not to. This was because the discharge was done every 36 hours because of power generation at the dam. Only extra caution was exercised in the event of an overflow during monsoon.

OFFICE1 SUPERSTORE Thinks Coimbatore Entry

OFFICE1 SUPERSTORE, which offers office supplies ranging from paper clips to computers under the same roof, with a footprint of 600 stores across 40 countries entered the South market with the launch of its store on Taramani link road in Chennai on Tuesday. It also opened a store in Puducherry through its regional franchisee for TN and Puducherry, Retail Office Architect. The global brand’s master franchisee for India is Indo Rama Retail Holdings, which operates 7 of the 10 Office1 Superstores in Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and UP.

The rest is company-owned and company operated. “This brand is the first to introduce the franchise model in India, where existing retailers or fresher with a minimum of 500 sq ft of retail space and an investment capability for Rs 15 lakh, can apply to be a franchisee of the store,” says Indo Rama Retail Holdings COO Ashok Srivastava. The franchisees will be paid back according to sales. Office1 Superstore plans to roll out 200 stores in India in 2-3 years. Of this, 25% will be company owned and company operated, while the rest will be franchised out. The retailer has plans for tier towns like Coimbatore, Trichy, Madurai and Salem in Tamil Nadu. “There are a large host of companies which operate in this region, and we look forward to being their suppliers,” said K Srikumar of Retail Office Architect.

RIL In Coimbatore

RIL, which is set to become the single largest gas producer in the country once its Krishna Godavari gas hits full production, may also become the largest gas distributor soon with operations in 52 major cities. Reliance Gas Corporation (RGCL), a subsidiary of RIL, has emerged as the sole entity to submit expression of interest (EOI) for these cities. The company would have an exclusivity over gas distribution in these cities for five years as per the gas distribution policy.

RIL’s city gas business is backed by its claim that the price of the piped gas to be supplied would be cheaper by one-third (33%) of the price of conventional cooking gas (liquefied petroleum gas) supplied in cylinders. Responding to queries at the India Economic Summit some time back, Mukesh Ambani, chairman and managing director of RIL said, “Our gas would cost one-third less than that of LPG.” Consumers, today, enjoy a subsidy of more than Rs 300 per cylinder of cooking gas. Gail India, which has been the leading city gas distribution company with operations in Mumbai and New Delhi, has taken a backseat with regard to EoIs for major cities.

Gail is at a disadvantage vis-a-vis RIL as it has to depend on the third-party for gas supplies. RIL, on the other hand, is vertically integrated and will source its gas from its own fields. RIL has said in its application that RGCL will source gas from its parent company RIL, which has 35 exploration blocks. Interestingly, RIL has successfully leveraged its tie-up with its competitor Gail for transportation of gas. “RIL has proposed to use Gail’s HBJ and DUPL pipelines for many cities where it plans to set up its city gas business.

But, Gail could has not leveraged the arrangement between the two parties for its projects,” an official said. On March 15, 2007, RIL signed an MoU with Gail for co-operation in gas sector. Identified areas of joint co-operation has been natural gas pipeline transmission and marketing, CBM gas opportunities— city and local gas distribution—operations and maintenance (O&M) services, exploration & production and technology and knowledge sharing. The list of 52 cities where RIL is the sole interested party includes Noida, Faridabad, Gurgaon, Navi-Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Chennai, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Surat, Nasik, Agra, Jaipur and Coimbatore.

Adventure Sports Camp

Mountaineering and Adventure Sports (MASSINDIA), Coimbatore, is presenting the Survivor Adventure Series, an annual feature on the Coimbatore adventure sports scene.Survivor 2008's preliminary stage will end on August 31. Each camp will have 25 participants battling it out for two days in the spheres of Tent Pitching, Basic Rock Climbing, Rappelling and River Crossing, etc.

The second stage of the adventure contest consists of Advance Rock Climbing, Shoulder Rappelling, Survival Techniques, Sequence Climbing, Rope Walk and Night Trek. At the end of the second phase, a group of 80 will be selected. The third stage will seethem undergo a three-day trekking in the Western Ghats. The grand finals will team up with Trekking, Jumaring, Night climbing, Survival Nights, Wild River Crossing and Stomach Rappelling. These selected survivors will compete for the grand prize - the tag of the Best Rock Climber, Best Survivor, Best Team Leader, Outstanding Campers and Excellent Performer Award. More details, mail massindia@gmail.com.

Certification Programme For Insurance Industry

ICICI Prudential Life Insurance has launched a six-month certification programme with focus on the insurance industry. A release from the company said it had partnership with 10 business schools in 20 centres in the country to offer the course. This is a full-time programme with theoretical and practical inputs to provide career opportunities for graduates in life insurance industry.

Judhajit Das, Chief of Human Resources of the company, said there was a gap between the demand and supply of skilled professionals in the industry, with the pre-requisite skill sets. The programme will give the students an opportunity to be industry-ready in six months. The candidates will be selected through a written test, group discussion and interview.

Thirukkural Competition - Winners

Winners of the Thirukkural competition held by Shriram Chits in Coimbatore. Shriram Ilakkia Kazhagam, a literary wing of the Chennai-based Shriram Group, conducted the first round of the annual Thirukkural oratorical competition at the Suburban Higher Secondary School.About 250 students from Coimbatore and neighbouring districts participated in the competition. The competitions were held separately for the students of classes VI, VII and VIII, high level (IX and X) and higher secondary level (Plus One and Two). The final round will be held on August 30 at Chennai.

Coimbatore Short News 29.07.2008

School Building Collapsed:

The building of the government school at Kaliannanpudur, near Kinathukkadavu, collapsed on Sunday due to dampness caused by the last three days rain.

Five hurt:
Five members of a family of Sakthivel (40) of Indira Nagar in Selvapuram sustained injuries when the car in which they were travelling was hit by a Pollachi – Podanur passenger train at the Kodavadi railway level crossing on Sunday evening. The train hit the car from behind and the car was thrown off the track when it tried to cross the railway gate even as the train was approaching.

HMK cadre removed :
The police on Monday removed 15 Hindu Makkal Katchi cadre when they attempted to stage a rail roko agitation in protest against the serial bomb blasts at Bangalore and Ahamedabad recently. The agitators raised slogans urging the governments to initiate stern action against communal outfits that took to violence and terror for accomplishment of their objectives.

Demonstration :
The Pattali Makkal Katchi cadre, led by party floor leader in the Assembly G.K. Mani, staged a demonstration in front of Red Cross Society Buildings on Huzur Road demanding the release of party workers Das and Rajendran. The Tirupur police had arrested them in connection with the burning of a Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation bus in Tirupur on July 7, sources said.

Pigs Removed:

The Coimbatore Corporation wants pigs removed from the city. In a press release issued on Monday, the civic body said that pigs posed health hazards in the city. The Corporation said pig rearers should ensure that the animals were out of the city by August 15. If they did not do so, the Corporation would remove the animals and claim the cost from the pig rearers.

Ashok Singhal And Praveen Togadia In Coimbatore

Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leaders Ashok Singhal and Praveen Togadia in Coimbatore on Monday called upon the Centre to enact “anti-jihadi terrorism laws”.Talking to reporters, Mr. Singhal, international president of the VHP, said the United Kingdom, known for very liberal laws with the focus on human rights, had a strong anti-terror law, while India had withdrawn the Prevention of Terrorist Activities Act (POTA).

The recent incidents indicated that ‘jihadi’ militants wanted to terrorise and kill politicians, industrialists and intellectuals, Mr. Singhal said. The arrest of a person with explosives at Tirunelveli on Sunday proved that no corner or part of the State was free from ‘jihadi’ activities.Mr. Singhal said the VHP would observe anti-‘jihadi’ terrorism campaign from July 29 to August 3 to create public awareness.

He urged Home Minister Shivraj Patil to ban the proposed freedom march on August 15 by the Popular Front of India at Madurai, Wayanad, Kochi and Mangalore. There was widespread resentment over the denial of land for the Amarnath Shrine Board, Mr. Singhal said. Accusing the government of giving wrong information about Ramar Sethu -- that Ram himself had destroyed the bridge -- he said the Centre should declare Ramar Sethu as a historical monument before Pooja holidays, failing which Hindu organisations would launch agitation.

Tight Security In Coimbatore

Police scan a travel bag with a metal detector at the Coimbatore Junction on Monday in wake of the serial blasts in Bangalore and Ahmedabad. In the wake of the serial blasts in Bangalore and Ahmedabad, more than 2,000 police personnel have been deployed across the city for security. City Police Commissioner K.C. Mahali said on Sunday that armed police pickets had been put up at the airport, and all the three railway stations and five bus stands.

He also said that 23 vital installations such as All India Radio, Doordarshan, oil depots and telephone exchanges had been brought under tight security. Armed police personnel had been posted at more than 20 places of worship. Patrolling across the city had been stepped up with 37 motorcycle and 23 jeep patrol units. Policemen were covering even small lanes on foot. In addition to checking in lodges, vehicle checks had been stepped up with the help of check posts on seven arterial roads. Anti-sabotage teams had been put on alert, Mr. Mahali said.

Following a meeting with the District Collector, the Coimbatore District Bus Owners’ Association (South) president S. N. Sekar announced that drivers and conductors had been advised not to leave the buses especially during night halts. They had been asked to keep an eye on the passengers and their luggage.

Youth Helping Hands Plans Short Film

Youth Helping Hands, a network of college students and young professionals in Coimbatore working for the welfare of children living in orphanages, is planning to come out with a short film on the trials and tribulations faced by orphaned children. “The story is about the way society treats a child who has come from an orphanage - about the chances that are denied to him or her. It tells the story of the children who have been shunned by their own parents,” says R.Arun, founder of Youth Helping Hands (YHH).

The work on the film has begun and it is being shot at various locations in the city with the help of youth volunteers of YHH. Children with disabilities at orphanages would be part of film too. “Right from good food, care and education, the basic needs of children living in orphanages are not met. The film is aimed at creating awareness on the need to understand the problems of these children and make them better individuals,” Mr.Arun says.

Through the film, Mr.Arun also plans to tell the world, the stigma and discrimination he had to endure having been brought up an orphanage himself. The funds for making the film are being raised by the members of YHH by conducting music programmes and other shows. However, those interested to contribute to the cause can contact Mr.Arun at 9345559815. The film is expected to be released in January next year.

Airtel Painting Contest Held

Children taking part in the painting contest conducted by Airtel in the city on Sunday.Children unleashed their creativity at the ‘Airtel Super Artist Award’ painting contest held by Airtel along with Aavishkaar India at R.S.Puram on Sunday.About 1,700 children in the age group of three to eight took part. The topic given to the participants was “Super India.” They could paint in water colour, crayons or colour pencils whatever images occurred to them on the given topic.

Some of the paintings had villages, cultural festivals, monuments, jungles, national leaders, personalities such as former President of India A.P.J.Abdul Kalam and film star Rajnikant, one of the organisers said. Each one of the participant was given a children’s planner called ‘My Big Book,’ where he or she could jot down their activities.

Another speciality of the event was that each one of the participant would be given a book with their painting printed on its title page. The books would reach the students by the end of September. The results would be announced on August 12 and the gifts would be handed over to the students through their schools on August 15. The gifts included cycles, watches, cameras and other art materials. Students from more than 45 schools took part. This is the third consecutive competition conducted by Airtel.

Adulterated Milk Seized

Watched by health officials, workers of the Coimbatore Corporation dispose of adulterated milk seized during a drive in the city on Monday. Four teams of officials and staff from the health department of the Coimbatore Corporation seized 1,550 litres of milk from various parts of the city in a drive against adulteration on Monday. The workers poured it into the drainage at the Corporation’s main office to dispose it of. The Corporation said the drive, led by City Health Officer (in-charge) S. Thirukumaran, would continue. Mayor R. Venkatachalam said adulterated milk posed health hazards to people, especially children.

The Corporation said it had also sent 12 samples to the food testing laboratory in Salem.Legal action would be initiated against those found guilty of adulteration. More samples would be lifted across the city, it said. Dr. Thirukumaran said 12 Food Inspectors of the Corporation were divided into four teams. Along with other staff of the health wing, the teams seized milk from merchants dealing with bulk quantity, say 150 litres to 200 litres. “We will check the retailers in the next drive,” the official said.

The health teams used lactometers to check the quality of milk. On what items were used for adulteration, Dr. Thirukumaran said the most common one was water. Another form of adulteration was the mixing of packaged milk or soya powder in skimmed buffalo milk. “Cow’s milk is not pure white. To give adulterated milk the natural cream colour, kesari or jelabi mix powder is added to it. The milk turns sour. Children suffer from diarrhoea when they consume it,” he said.

Cheque To Slum-dwellers

Mayor R. Venkatachalam (second left) and Corporation Commissioner V.K. Shanmugham (left) handing over cheques to slum-dwellers for construction of houses under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission at K.K. Pudur in Coimbatore on Monday. The Coimbatore Corporation released on Monday Rs. 28,000 each for 29 families towards the construction of houses for them. This was the third instalment given to these beneficiaries of the Basic Services for the Urban Poor (BSUP) programme under the Central Government’s Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.

The beneficiaries were from Mayor R. Venkatachalam’s ward (no.63) at K.K. Pudur. The Mayor said 55 families had submitted applications. Of these, 49 were selected after it was found that they had all the required documents. And, 47 of them had been provided with the first instalment of grants from the Central and State Governments. The cost of each house, measuring less than 200 sq.ft., was Rs. 1.12 lakh. Of this, the beneficiaries had to contribute Rs. 48,000. The rest of the amount, in the form of grants, was being released at various stages of construction. “The construction is on at a good pace,” the Mayor said. Quite a number of beneficiaries had got the third instalment of funds.

According to the Corporation, the Rs. 373-crore BSUP scheme aimed at providing houses to more than a lakh people living in the slums in the city. The slums would be covered in three phases. In the first phase, 5,186 houses would be built at Rs. 58.51 crore for 23,337 people. In the second phase, 10,947 houses would be built at Rs. 199 crore for 46,279 people. Under the third phase of the scheme, the Corporation planned to re-locate 91 slums on water bodies and road margins. For this, the Corporation planned to use its lands to constructed tenements for these slum-dwellers or acquire land for the purpose.

When pointed out that slum-dwellers could not afford loans at high interest rates to pay their share of the project cost, the Mayor said the Corporation had enabled the beneficiaries to get loans at low interest rates. He said a nationalised bank offered loan at 4 per cent interest, treating this as a special case. The Mayor said that in Ward 62, 90 of the 110 applicants had been chosen under the project. While work orders to build houses had been issued to 42 of them, the first instalment of government funds had been released to 16 families.

Expressions 2008

Participants in the dancing event and (left) one of the entries by students in the "Flameless Cooking" event at ‘Expressions 2008’ an inter-school cultural meet organised by National Model Schools in the city on Saturday. There was at least one contest for every student at Expressions, a cultural competition conducted by National Model Schools recently.

Over 1,700 students (L.K.G to Plus Two) from over 60 schools in Coimbatore took part in various events of the competition. Dazzling Art, the painting competition for kindergarten children had the maximum number of entries. Children flocked to the venue with colour-pencils and paint brushes. Flame Free Dish was a new event that tested the culinary skills of the students. They had to prepare dishes without cooking. Most of the participants made fruit and vegetable salads, fresh juices, milk shakes and even sandwiches. They even took care in decorating the dishes with cherries and other materials generally used for garnishing.

Some of the participants gave a description of their dishes – the ingredients used, the calorific content and the nutritious value of the dish. The names of the dishes were quite fanciful too - Italian stuffed cakes, beg pan cheese burger, and veg thattoos, all made using a variety of vegetables, bread, sugar, cocoa, wheat flour, coconut and spices. Conducted every year, the exhibition gives a platform for students to explore their creativity, said P.Mohan Chandar, Secretary of the schools. “Children would also learn to get over their stage fear, he added.

The tiny tots had a fancy dress competition too, where they dressed up as Kannagi, lord Krishna, Geisha doll, Mother Teresa and even as an astronaut with a space suit made out of silver foil. One of the participants spoke about child labour and the need to abolish it. Among the other competitions were Twist and Turn, a fusion dance competition, which was a blend of classical and western dance, clay modelling, greeting card-making, and ad zap, where the students had to enact an advertisement.

Coimbatore Short News 28.07.2008

Uniforms Distributed:

The Rotary Club of Coimbatore Herit-age distributed uniform sets to 210 students of Kavundampalayam Eleme-ntary school recently and assistance to build rain water harvesting struct-ures. Notebooks and furn-iture were donated to students of the Thonda-muthur Government Sch-ool, medical assistance of Rs. 10,000 was given to an acute diabetic and Rs. 20,000 was given for road safety projects of Krishna-mmal College Rotaract Club.

BU Invited Applications:

Bharathiar University has invited applications from candidates who wish to appear for the State Eligibility Test to be held on November 2.According to a release, the applications can be downloaded from the university’s website www.b-u.ac.in.Last date for receipt of filled-in applications is August 29.

Elected:

The following were elected district office-bearers of Hindu Baktha Jana Sabai:
Mohan Ram (President), K.P. Ayyappan (vice-president), K. Sundararajan (treasurer) and Vanaja Jayachandran (treasurer).

Code Quest 08

Allied Solutions Group, a U.S.-based multi-national company, organised Code Quest 08 here recently for college students. According to a release, this was an initiative of the company, which was a certified partner for SAP, Oracle and Microsoft, to provide opportunities for computer graduates in local colleges to take part in new business initiatives. Nearly 200 students participated and the winners received cash awards and part-time job opportunities to work on CertoSQL continuous development, the release added.

Training In Preparing Bakery Products

The Tamil Nadu Agricultural University will organise a training in preparing bakery products on July 29 and 30 at the university premises. According to a university release, the training will cover the following aspects: basic bakery formulations, fancy and decorative items, fast food preparations, breads and rolls, and plain and flaky pastries.

Those interested can attend the training by paying a fee of Rs. 1,000. For details, contact Professor and Head, Post Harvest Technology Centre, Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore – 641003. For details, contact 0422-6611340.

Early Intervention Programme

The Department of Special Education, Avinashilingam University, offers early intervention programme for children with disabilities.According to a press release from the university issued here, children till six years of age with developmental delay, cerebral palsy and Downs’ Syndrome could attend the programme.

After undergoing training, these students could be integrated into the mainstream, the release said. The parents would also be given training in order to equip them with necessary skills to handle their children with disabilities, it added.

Vocational Centre Opened

The Government was offering a lot of concessions to people with disabilities, Jasmine, District Disability Rehabilitation Officer, said here recently. Inaugurating a vocational and recreational resource centre for people with disabilities set up by Saradhambal Educational and Charitable Trust, she said the concessions were also for their family members. Ms.Jasmine stressed the role played by NGOs in extending help to people with disabilities. She urged the public too to extend support.

L.Sivasami, Deputy Director of Employment and Training, Employment Exchange, said people with disabilities should be given opportunities to utilise their potential. Swami Dayananda Saraswati of Anaikatti Ashram, said the ashram would provide Yoga and meditation services to the new institution. The centre will collect database about disability in Anaikatti. It will offer vocational training, placements and recreational facilities. Meetings will be arranged on a weekly basis to showcase their skills. A marriage bureau will also be started for the benefit of people with disabilities.