Coimbatore Live

Hospitals briefed on insurance scheme

2009-12-08T07:25:00.001+05:30

he hospitals enlisted in the Chief Minister’s Insurance Scheme for the poor were recently briefed on the procedural formalities to be adhered to while treating a patient covered under the scheme.

Rural Industries and Animal Husbandry Minister Pongalur N Palanisamy, the Project Director of Tamil Nadu Hospital Services Project and Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society, S. Vijaykumar, Chief Medical Officer from Star Health Insurance Dr. Prasad, Project Director Vinay Kumar, Deputy Director of Health Department Dr.Vijaylakshmi, Collector P. Umanath and others took part in the meeting.

The representatives of the hospitals in the four districts i.e., the Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Tirupur, Erode were briefed on the procedures to be adhered to while admitting a patient covered under the scheme. The hospitals were told to avoid a situation of informing the Government and the insurance firm on completion of the surgery.The meeting reviewed the number of cases performed. Sri Ramakrishna Hospital, Coimbatore in general and its Oncology Department had treated the highest number of patients under the insurance scheme.

In Coimbatore, so far total claim of Rs. 3 crore had been disbursed

Training for women

2009-12-08T07:23:00.000+05:30

he Department of Adult and Continuing Education, Avinashilingam University for Women, is starting a new batch of a number of courses shortly.

According to a release, following will be the courses: herbal beauty therapy, spoken Hindi, spoken English (all three months); advanced facial techniques, embroidery and painting, basic computer applications ( all two months); soft toy creation (15 days), paper bag making , artificial flower making, hair styles, artificial jewellery making, masala powder making, soups and salads, bakery techniques, nutritious fast foods, bouquet making, herbal cosmetic preparation and gift articles making (all one week). Those interested may contact K. Vasantha, Department of Adult and Continuing Education, Avinashilingam University for Women, Coimbatore 641 043. Ph: 0422-2449715.

Youth urged to become entrepreneurs

2009-12-08T07:21:00.000+05:30

Youth should be entrepreneurial and strive to become job givers and not job seekers, Kiran Bedi, former Indian Police Service officer and recipient of the Ramon Magsaysay Award, said here on Saturday.

Speaking at a three-day youth convention organised by the Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya, she said that by 2020, India would be the youngest country with a large number of youth. This was a challenge as there would be abundance of energy. Even today, India needed about 450 million jobs. The government sector offered only 20 million jobs and the private sector generated just 10 million jobs. In such a situation, to meet the jobs needs, youth should become job givers. The financial institutions, educational institutions and government should work together for this.

Education should give not only knowledge and information but it should also train a person in human values. It was important to have the intelligence quotient working with the emotional quotient, she said. Youth should be prepared to serve and work for society. Students should receive education of the head, heart and hand, she said.

They should develop a positive attitude, start believing in oneself and be caring (ABC of Life).

They should not give room for even small mistakes in life. She urged the students to weed out corruption. Youth should not accept or give dowry.They also had certain responsibilities as citizens. Students should be enlightened, know about their right to information and exercise the Rule 49-O if they do not like a candidate contesting in the election, she said.

Drive on parking space paying off: Corporation

2009-12-08T07:04:00.001+05:30

The Coimbatore Corporation seems to be on a mission to prove that nothing works like enforcement and follow-up. It says that these two vital factors have led to commercial complexes offering to provide space for visitors/customers to park their cars.

A multi-storeyed textile showroom on Cross-Cut Road has even begun efforts to put up a hydraulic parking facility while some others on the busy D.B. Road at R.S. Puram and at Saibaba Colony are working to keep their promise to the civic body that they will remove the unauthorised structures from the basement meant for parking.

Corporation Commissioner Anshul Mishra has formed a special demolition squad that identifies structures with building rule violations. The main focus is on the non-provision of parking space in the buildings. The Corporation is of the view that this leads to congestion on the roads as hundreds of parked vehicles hamper smooth flow of traffic.

“There are some positive things happening because of our sustained drive. Some of the commercial establishments are into creating the parking space themselves,” Mr. Mishra says.

Chennai Silks, the textile showroom on Cross Cut Road, has put up two hydraulic parking bays in its basement that is supposed to be only for parking. The 8,000 sq.ft. basement had been used for commercial purposes till the Corporation put a stop to it recently and asked the showroom to allocate the entire area only for parking vehicles. In the presence of an Assistant Town Planning Officer, the branch head of the showroom and a few other staff demonstrated the two hydraulic parking bays and explained how the rest of the basement will be covered by similar facilities in the next few months. A Pune-based company will supply the equipment. If only the actual floor space can be used, only 40 cars (of the low roof category) can be parked. If the entire basement is provided with the hydraulic facility, another 30 cars can be accommodated in a two-tier arrangement. The showroom staff point out that enough space is needed for negotiating turns in the basement. Therefore, the number of cars cannot exactly be doubled. As for the bigger vehicles, an open space has been allocated on a bylane.

Six-a-side cricket to be conducted !!

2009-12-08T07:00:00.001+05:30

It’s going to be a real test for cricket’s big hitting boys when the Active 24 Super Sixes cricket tournament gets under way at various venues here January next.After successfully seeing through two editions of the Twenty20 version this year, Active 24 HR Services decided to dish out something special for the cricket crazy fans of the city. And, that’s how the ‘Six-A-Side’ cricket idea took shape.

The tournament, which features six players, six overs and played in a span of six days, offers fast and furious action in a festival atmosphere.“We had the Super Sixes on our mind for quite some time. But, we preferred to go slow on it as it involved the right kind of planning and a good amount of hard work,” says Rachna D’Silva, Managing Director, Active 24 HR Services.

“We know it is not going to be an easy task for us considering the size and craze of the tournament. But, thankfully we have an efficient team to see through the event with ease,” she adds.“The participants will be split into four separate pools such as schools, colleges, corporate and open.“The toppers from each pool will clash in the semi-final,” says Marvin D’Silva of Active 24 HR.

“There is going to be something for every player, leave alone a team, as we have shortened the boundary lines. So, sixes are going to come easy and with it the rewards,” he adds.

“Serious cricket is being played in every nook and corner of the city but not such a fun filled event. It is happening for the first time, and believe me the fans are going to crave in for more such events,” says Rachna. The Super Sixes champion will walk away with a cash purse of Rs. 25,000. The next in line will take home Rs.10,000.

Special prize

There will also be a special cash prize of Rs. 5,000 for the batsman who scores the maximum sixes besides gift vouchers for the hat-trick and double hat-trick sixes in every match.

Entries close with the organisers on December 15. For registration details, contact 9092366666 and 90920 99221.

Price of coriander may go up

2009-12-07T07:01:00.002+05:30

While the price of coriander might go up, that of cumbu might hold firm in the ensuing Karthigai pattam (season).

According to a study conducted by the Domestic and Export Market Intelligence Cell of the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, the price of coriander, which is ruling around Rs. 3,950 a quintal, might go up to Rs. 4,000 to Rs. 4,200 during February-April next. At the same time, it has noted that the price during last year was as high as Rs 5,700 to Rs. 6,000.The study points out that the price of coriander was Rs. 5,500 per quintal in January this year and it stabilised around Rs. 4,300 per quintal in the last six months. “The price is half of the price that prevailed in 2008.”

It is because the crop was good in Rajasthan which produces 60 per cent of the total 2.87 lakh tonnes of coriander in the country. Export of coriander seed has increased from 14,175 metric tonnes (MT) valued at about Rs. 93 crores in April-August 2008 to 21,000 tonnes valued at Rs. 104 crores during the corresponding period this year.

But, this year, expecting a good crop in Rajasthan, the stocks were released leading to a decline in price by Rs. 300 to Rs. 400 a quintal.In Tamil Nadu, coriander is cultivated in 24,748 hectares and Thoothukudi District has the maximum area followed by Virudhunagar, Coimbatore and Cuddalore districts.Based on the analysis of the price data from Virudhunagar market, it has been concluded that the price of coriander seed during February-April 2010 (the harvest season) will be in the range of Rs. 4,000 to Rs. 4,200 a quintal.

Cumbu is grown in about 98,000 hectares in Tamil Nadu with a production of 1.24 lakh tonnes. Thoothukudi district has the highest area of 20,965 hectares followed by Villpuram. This year, the area under cumbu has shot upto 65 lakh hectares in Rajasthan.As against the last year’s price of Rs. 700 to Rs. 750, it ruling around Rs. 800 now. It could decline to Rs. 710 to Rs. 750 during February-April 2010.

Wild jackals kill 39 sheeps !

2009-12-07T07:00:00.000+05:30

As many as 39 sheep were killed and 10 others injured seriously in an attack by wild animals at a pen located between Somayampalayam village and the Thadagam Reserve Forests in Coimbatore district late on Saturday night.Forest Department officials visited the spot on Sunday to assess the damage and find out what type of animals could have attacked the pen.

The Wildlife Veterinary Officer, Coimbatore Range, N.S. Manoharan said he and his team had studied the pug marks, the nature of attack and also the eating pattern of the meat of the sheep. The preliminary assessment based on these three factors suggested that a pack of 10 jackals or wild dogs might have attacked them.

“The attackers were canine and not feline species such as leopards,” he said. There were gaps in the fence through which the pack would have forced its way into the pen that was located less than a kilometre from the forests. Dr.Manoharan said villagers who were into sheep rearing had put up seven or eight pens between the village and the forests. The sheep were taken too close to the forests for grazing. This enabled the wild animals to pick up the scent of the sheep up to the pens.

There had been earlier instances of attacks on the pens, but the farmers had not reported these because they had lost only a couple of sheep. This time, the toll was heavy: 16 adult sheep, nine sub-adults and 14 kids.

Actually, there were about 70 sheep in the attacked pen. The pack of jackals or wild dogs had bitten and mauled more than half this number.

New locations on ghats for a trip !!

2009-12-07T06:55:00.001+05:30

Ficus, wildlife and natural history tours, has scheduled four treks in South India. The trip to Point Calimere(January 7 to 10, 2010) will see participants go on a birding expedition to the globally recognised wetland (Ramsar site) during the peak wintering season of birds.

This is an ideal tour for bird-watchers keen on recording several sub-continental wetland rarities among the 250-plus species of birds recorded from the location. Sometimes, dolphins and the threatened dugongs, a large sea mammal, can be sighted. The trip costs Rs. 12, 500 (Ex-Chennai, per person), and the last date to sign-up is December 25.

Ghermalam (January 30 to February 2, 2010), located at the junction between the Eastern and Western Ghats, where the BR Hills and Nilgiris meet, is rich in peninsular wildlife, birds and scenery of the surrounding, forested hills.

The landscape is within an important migratory corridor for elephants, and is home to tigers and leopards. Birdlife is excellent. The trip costs Rs. 10,500 (ex-Coimbatore, per person).

Pampadum Shola National Park (February 5 to 8, 2010) is located in a landscape of ‘shola' and plantation forests in the junction between the Palani and Cardamom Hills. This trek is ideal for wildlife and bird enthusiasts, photographers, naturalists and adventurers. The group will explore a fine patch of ‘shola'in the Western Ghats of Kerala.The cost will be Rs. 12,500 (ex-Cochin, per person).

Gavi (February 19 to 22, 2010) is ideal for wildlife and bird enthusiasts, photographers, naturalists and adventurers. Gavi is located among moist tropical forests and grasslands, adjacent to the famous Periyar Tiger Reserve, in Kerala. You can sight the Asian elephant, tiger, leopard and gaur, besides the endangered lion-tailed macaque, brown palm civet, brown mongoose and Nilgiri marten. The trip costs Rs. 12,500 (ex-Chennai, per person)

For details, mail contact@ficuswildlife.net, visit www.ficuswildlife.net or call 99419-18519 or 93831-14321.

Biometric survey under houses for urban poor scheme

2009-12-07T06:54:00.000+05:30

Members of 240 families at a slum at Anna Nagar in Ward 16 of the Coimbatore Corporation went through a biometric survey on Friday and Saturday to register for the scheme to provide houses for the urban poor.

The survey involved the scanning of the thumb impression of the beneficiaries and creating a database that contained their family details and other information required under the project that was being implemented by the civic body under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, an infrastructure development programme of the Central Government.Of the many mission schemes being implemented in 63 cities across the country, a prominent one was for creating slum-free cities. The Basic Services for Urban Poor scheme envisaged concrete houses and other facilities such as drinking water supply, drainage, roads and streetlights.

The biometric survey had already begun in a couple of wards in the city to register eligible families for the scheme. The latest one was for enabling the laying of a 40 ft scheme road to link Avanashi Road with Tiruchi Road ahead of the World Classical Tamil Conference.Deputy Mayor N. Karthik, who represents Ward 16, said on Saturday that the 240 families, with three to five members each, would be relocated in the multi-storeyed tenements the Corporation was building at Ukkadam and Ammankulam.

The huts in which these families lived for about 20 years encroached a canal and even either side of the water way. A 40 ft space on the eastern side of the canal was earmarked for the scheme road. The Anna Nagar slum was among the 172 in the city that the Corporation wanted to re-locate under the BSUP scheme.While 80 slums were on patta lands and houses were being built in the existing locations, the other 92 slums were on water bodies. The Deputy Mayor said the Corporation was constructing 9,600 houses and the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board 2,800 houses.

“The people are keen on shifting out after we told them about the benefits of the scheme and also about a court order that encroachments cannot be allowed on water bodies,” Mr. Karthik said. “We also told them specifically about the benefits of living in hygienic conditions, compared to those in the slums.”

BEML opens its Vendor Dev Office !!

2009-12-07T06:51:00.000+05:30

BEML, formerly known as Bharat Earth Movers Limited, has opened a vendor development and sourcing office here.

BEML is setting up a green field project for defence equipment and rail coaches at Kanjikode in Palakkad district of Kerala and Coimbatore is a potential area to supply components, mainly sheet metal fabrication, castings and forgings, according to the company’s Deputy General Manager for Corporate Purchase H.S. Ranganath.Mr. Ranganath said at a buyer-seller meeting organised here on Friday by the Confederation of Indian Industry that the company’s procurement target through outsourcing was over Rs. 1,080 crore for 2010-2011 and Rs. 900 crore for 2009-2010. Of the Rs. 580 crore outsourcing in 2008-2009, nearly 12 per cent was from Coimbatore region.

The need for an office here was felt to improve communication with the vendors.The office here currently has three engineers and the strength would be increased in the coming months.BEML certainly required more vendors and the units that would be able to the meet its requirements had opportunities, he said.H.S. Prakash, Chief General Manager – rail coach division, said that the site was getting ready at the Kanjikode facility and the unit would be commissioned by March next year.The unit would manufacture defence equipment and aggregates for rail and metro cars.

With Kanjikode only about 40 km away, Coimbatore could make use of the advantage of location and tap the opportunities in outsourcing.

Helmet must from 10th dec !!

2009-12-04T08:08:00.002+05:30

City Police Commissioner P. Sivanandi has said that the police will start cracking the whip against riding two-wheelers without helmets, driving cars without fastening seat belts and talking on mobile phones while driving.Beginning Friday police personnel would be asked to advise motorists on the need to wear helmet, fasten seat belts. But from December 10, motorists who violate these rules would be fined. Talking to mobile phones using hands free kit while driving is also punishable, he said.

Accident rate has declined in the city. Fatal accidents had come down from 295 to 237 this year when compared to the previous year.Similarly non-fatal accident rates had come down from 1,082 to 750 this year.

The average accident rate a month had come down to 18 from 25 to 30. Of the 24 deaths in September, 12 were two-wheeler riders without helmet and in October nine two-wheeler riders killed were without helmets. Hence was the decision to enforce the rule. From December 10, the changes in six lane traffic system would be enforced. Next to the centre median, the first lane would be for two-wheelers and the second lane would be for cars and the third lane would be for buses as it was suggested or pointed out by road users.

Bus stops

Five bus stops that were located at wrong places causing set back to the flow of traffic had been shifted and the work for installation of surveillance cameras had begun, Mr. Sivanandi said.

Robert Bosch Corner at CIT

2009-12-04T07:56:00.001+05:30

The Robert Bosch Corner at Coimbatore Institute of Technology (CIT) was opened to the students and faculty on Wednesday.According to a CIT release, this follows the MoU the institution signed with Robert Bosch India (RBIN) Limited in June, 2007.

The primary goals of the MoU are to develop and foster strategic linkages with CIT and technical departments at RBIN, to assist the students and enhance their knowledge about the latest technologies in which RBIN is involved and to understand the needs and expectations of both the institute and the organisation and to identify the measures required to meet the requirements therein.

The corner was opened by S.R.K.Prasad, Correspondent, CIT, along with Manu Saale, Department Head, Engineering Services – Hardware, RBEI.V.Selladurai, Principal, CIT, and R.Prabhakar, Secretary, attended the opening ceremony.This facility is established in the library building of CIT.Robert Bosch has used this facility to display Bosch’s products, technical findings, reports, books and periodicals in the field of automotive industries, embedded systems, IT and other niche areas.

Award

One of the outcomes of the MoU is the constitution of the “Bosch Award for the best project at CIT”.The award includes a cash prize for Rs. 10,000 along with a citation and medal. The award goes to the best project work in the area of Electronics and Communication.

Bosch Award for the academic year 2008-09 was given to Arun Prasanna, Purushothaman, Sakthi Priyan and Sylvester Pious.

Surgery can help avoid corneal transplant

2009-12-04T07:54:00.000+05:30

A private eye hospital in the city has claimed that an advanced surgery can help in avoiding corneal transplant that was so far considered the final solution to keratoconus, explained as thinning and protrusion of the cornea.This led to impairment of vision.

The Eye Foundation Director and surgeon, D. Ramamurthy, told presspersons on Thursday that only two to three centres in the country had done this surgery, but very soon many other centres in Coimbatore and elsewhere in the country would start doing this procedure as the benefits to the patients were huge.

Presenting a woman patient whom he operated on at his hospital for keratoconus, Dr. Ramamurthy said six to eight out of 1,000 persons worldwide were found to be suffering from this problem. For decades, glasses that were up to minus 12 in cylindrical power were provided to the affected persons. But, even this did not provide a permanent solution. Therefore, these patients had to wait for corneas to be donated to them.

Teenage

Dr. Ramamurthy said this problem normally occurred from teenage to the mid-thirties. And, this problem was being detected more because of the advent of lasik.“There is a much closer examination of the cornea for the lasik treatment to correct vision problems. In the process, we are able to detect keratoconus also. But, if this problem is found, the lasik treatment should be dropped immediately,” he said.

The treatment being done now was called corneal collagen cross-linking.Under this, riboflavin drops were applied on the cornea and the eye was exposed to ultraviolet rays. The riboflavin underwent a chemical process that led to the release of oxygen-free radicals.These cross-linked the collagen fibres of the cornea and provided it with immense tensile strength.Apart from this procedure, rings made of a plastic material (polymethyl methacrylate) were inserted into the cornea to flatten the excess curvature. “This improved the functional vision of the patient,” Dr. Ramamurthy said.

The surgeon said there were two factors causing this problem.One was the genetic factor. If the parents suffered from this problem, the children were certain to get it, he said. The other was an allergic condition called spring catarrah (that occurred during spring). An indication of the problem was when children rubbed their eyes vigorously during this season and complained of irritation in the eye.

Kamal Nath thanked !

2009-12-04T07:47:00.001+05:30

The Chairman of the Confederation of Indian Industry, Coimbatore, Ravi Sam, thanked the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Kamal Nath for agreeing to expedite the works for widening the National Highway Number 47 from Chengapalli to Walayar and has appealed to the Minister to order the widening of the National Highway Number 67 from Coimbatore to Mettupalayam. Ravi Sam pointed out that improvement to the road from Coimbatore to Mettupalayam (NH 67) is paramount.

The road accounted for thickly populated residential areas on either side besides accommodating a large number of heavy industries.

Bypass road

The proposed bypass road from Neelambur to Mettupalayam will just not be a solution for the growing traffic on the existing Mettupalayam Road, he pointed out. On the railway network, the primary need was for overnight train connectivity to Bangalore and improvements to the airport. The city and district definitely required attention on the infrastructure before the World Classical Tamil Conference. The choice of Coimbatore as a venue for the conference is expected to bring immense good to the city addressing the long pending infrastructure related issues, he added.

Link roads

He also pointed out that the proposed scheme/link roads from Avanashi Road connecting Tiruchi Road and another road connecting Avanashi Road with 100 feet road would do immense good to the city in terms of melting away the traffic. CII is also preparing an animated presentation on how Coimbatore would be down the line, if the demands of CII are implemented.

Thanking the Government for planning to shift the Coimbatore Central Prison and for setting up a botanical garden, Mr. Ravi Sam said that there should be an advisory committee constituted to explore the ways in which the space could be used to ensure greenery instead of having more concrete structures which would deny the city a green lung space.

L & T Opens its casting unit !!

2009-12-04T07:34:00.002+05:30

Chairman and Managing Director of Larsen and Toubro (L & T) A.M. Naik inaugurated a casting manufacturing unit here on Wednesday. The capacity of the Rs. 120-crore plant is 30,000 tonnes a year.

Full capacity

Mr. Naik told presspersons after the inaugural that the foundry would take about two years to reach full capacity production. It would cater to the casting needs of the wind turbine industry.The Coimbatore campus of L & T focused on precision manufacturing and light engineering products.The company’s investment in its facilities here so far was about Rs. 320 crore and direct employment was nearly 500. The company planned to increase this to about 3,000 in a decade.

L & T’s investment commitment in the State in roads, ports and shipyard was about Rs. 4,000 crore. This was expected to go up to Rs. 5,000 crore next year. “Tamil Nadu is extremely important for L & T,” he said.

Total order

Mr. Naik also said that it would start construction of power generation projects (totalling about 7,000 MW) in a couple of years in different parts of the country.The total order book for the company was for nearly Rs. 90,000 crore now.Speaking at the inaugural, Mr. Naik said the company saw a lot of opportunities in the State.It worked with the objective of national building, having a cleaner planet and corporate social responsibility.

State-of-the-art

Senior Vice-President S. Raghavan said that the foundry here was established in less than 18 months. It had unique features such as 98 per cent sand reclamation and high quality sand mixers.According to a release from the company, the foundry was located on a 15-acre plot and incorporated state-of-the-art pollution control, fire control and environment conservation measures. The foundry was the sixth facility of L&T in Coimbatore.

Public help sought to raise ground water level

2009-12-04T07:23:00.002+05:30

Public participation was vital in promoting rainwater harvesting, District Collector P. Umanath said on Wednesday after inaugurating a rainwater harvesting structure at Ram Nagar in Coimbatore.The project to promote rainwater harvesting in the city is an initiative of the Ministry of Water Resources. It was being executed in association with the District Administration, Coimbatore Corporation and Siruthuli.

Dr. Umanath said that rainwater harvesting structures had been proposed in over 215 places. In such places, dug up wells would enable percolation of rainwater through aquifers close to bore wells.Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) had sanctioned Rs. 1 crore to erect these structures through a District Level Technical Co-ordination Committee (DLTCC) led by the District Collector.

Siruthuli, the implementing agency for the project, had been advised to consult the Collector and CGWB officials while implementing the project. Siruthuli had been asked to complete the project by March 31, 2010.

Of the 215 structures, 130 were planned in open places while the remaining 85, identified after considering suggestions from public, would come up near roadsides where water logging was noticed.The Collector expressed concern over excessive use of ground water. He said that people should conserve the run-off water during rainy season to overcome the water scarcity in summer.

Councillors raise concerns over plan approval scheme ??

2009-12-01T06:53:00.000+05:30

Facing a volley of questions by members crossing across political affiliations on the proposed plan approval scheme, Corporation Commissioner Anshul Mishra assured to look into the concerns voiced by the members and said that a comprehensive plan would be evolved.The Commissioner’s response came at a council meeting on Monday presided by Mayor R. Venkatachalam along with Deputy Mayor N. Karthik.

Even as the zero hour began, members from Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Congress and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam expressed concerns over the viability of the proposed plan approval scheme brought in by Mr. Mishra.Leader of the Opposition V.N. Udayakumar, AIADMK floor leader P. Rajkumar said that the scheme would be detrimental to the interests of the poor, especially those with a very small house sites. This would make the entire process more cumbersome for the poor and middle class.

After the question hour, the Commissioner responded to all the observations made by the members.Responding to a charge that the Commissioner’s functioning had widened the gap between the officials and the elected body, Mr. Mishra said that “no action or gesture was intentional.”The decisions are taken only in accordance with the law and rules prescribed.Requests or demands that were not valid could not be conceded.

But it did not mean that officials have little regard for elected representatives.On the observation that elected representatives could be consulted on decisions that have an impact on the public, Mr. Mishra said that decisions were well within the purview and framework of law and in future the elected representatives would be consulted.“When it comes to professional life, there has to be a limit.“Any request, suggestion or feedback within the legal frame work will be looked into,” he added.The objective of the new building plan approval initiative was to ensure a culture of compliance.

Mr. Mishra said that sites which were less than 1,000 sq ft could not be regularised. In such cases, the applicants could be asked to pay tax and penalty for approval.In cases where sites measured 1,500 sq ft, the applicants could turn up at the Corporation main office and go through the Auto Development Control Rule (Auto DCR) procedures and take the approval online.

This had been made possible in Mysore, Mr. Mishra pointed out. He also said that the corporation would go through the pre-DCR procedures and avail of the services of a panel of Licensed Building Surveyors (LBS).

Aviation industry has grown up by 25 per cent

2009-12-01T06:35:00.001+05:30

In spite of the recession, the aviation industry in the country has witnessed a 25 per cent growth and the number of aircraft has increased from 100 to 375, said M.R. Vasudeva, Airport Director.

He was speaking at an Aviation Conclave organised by the Nehru College of Aeronautics and Applied Sciences. Air travel was no longer unaffordable for the common man. Even if it is recession, there is crowd in the Airports and the Airlines.

There is a demand for manpower in the sector.Students should concentrate on improving English skills.The growth in the aviation industry has contributed to the growth of tourism and other associated sectors.Nearly 140 million passengers travel by air in India.

At the Coimbatore Airport, the air traffic has increased from 2 lakh passengers to 8 lakh passengers from 2005-2009.

It was necessary to have more airports, he said. Selvaraj, Station Manager, Air India, Alexander George, Sales Manager, SilkAir, spoke.Muthusamy, Director for MBA, Airline and Airport Management, welcomed the gathering.P. Krishna Kumar, Secretary of Nehru Group of Institutions, Wing Commander (Rtd) R.T. Ramanujam and MBA Faculty Ramdas spoke at the conclave.

Applications invited from Indian artists

2009-12-01T06:33:00.001+05:30

The Charles Wallace India Trust has called for applications from emerging and mid-career Indian artists to undertake a residency at Spike Island.According to a British Council release, the Trust has supported research residencies for emerging and mid-career Indian artists at Spike Island since 1999.

Artists hosted to date include Aditi Kulkarni (2009), Sukanya Ghosh (2008), Chintan Upadhyay (2004), Sanchayan Ghosh (2003) and Sudarshan Shetty (1999).“This is an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and dedicated practitioner who feels that he would benefit from the time, space and opportunity to undertake a residency at Spike Island”.For the first time, Spike Island is accepting applications directly for the 2010 residency and will then make a recommendation to the Charles Wallace India Trust.

Decision

A decision will be made in liaison with the Trust and the artists will be notified by the end of January 2010. The award for three-month residency covers international airfare, accommodation and living costs, private studio, on-going curatorial support, pastoral care and some technical assistance .The deadline for applications is January 10, 2010.

According to the release, Spike Island has a vibrant exhibition and events programme which brings in regional, national and international audiences with whom the Charles Wallace India Trust Residency Artist can engage.For further information and application details visit:

www.spikeisland.org.uk/residencies/charleswallace/2010

ongestion in underpass, a cause for concern

2009-11-30T06:41:00.002+05:30

Two-wheeler riders using the underpass of Avanashi Road flyover are riding through a problem zone every day facing traffic snarls.The decision to divert two-wheelers through the underpass leaving the flyover for three-wheelers and four-wheelers is a welcome decision and would definitely ease congestion on the flyover, pointed out K. Kathirmathiyon, Secretary of Coimbatore Consumer Cause. But the present traffic pattern has some teething problems, which requires attention, intervention and remedial measures, he added.

The two-wheelers proceeding from Avanashi Road to Brooke Bond Road and from Mill Road to Avanashi Road are intercepted by vehicles from Brooke Bond Road. There use to be police personnel earlier to regulate the flow of traffic, motorists added.

Owing to pollution levels, non-availability of a police constable could not be a complaint, Mr. Kathirmathiyon said. There has to be a mechanism to regulate the flow of traffic. One suggestion put forth by motorists was to ask the two-wheeler riders from Brooke Bond Road to use the flyover or make arrangements for regulating the flow. Similarly, a drainage running along the railway bridge is another cause of concern for motorists who fear leakage. If these problems are sorted besides relaying the battered stretches of the underpass, it could become more motorist-friendly.

Strike aimed at drawing government attention

2009-11-30T05:59:00.001+05:30

Students of the Forest College at Mettupalayam, who have been on a strike since November 20, have clarified that they have not indulged in any violence damaging the college property.The strike is only aimed at drawing the attention of the government to their 25-year-long “genuine demand” and to invite them for talks.In a release, the students said that blocking road at Mettupalayam recently was only to bring their demand for job prospects to the attention of the government.

“There had not been any instigation” and this was the fifth massive protest by the students for the same demand, the release added.A number of political parties had expressed their support to the students understanding the anxiety and uncertainty of career foreseen by the students. The students were not in a position to refuse such moral support and it should not be seen or described as an excuse to give political colour to the agitation, the release added.

Reacting to the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission’s (TNPSC) contention that B.Sc Forestry was just like any other degree course, the students pointed out that B.Sc Forestry was a four-year professional course started specifically with an objective to provide professionally trained manpower to meet the forestry needs.

Krishna Sweets opening outlets in BPCL bunks

2009-11-30T05:49:00.001+05:30

Sri Krishna Sweets is now teaming with Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) to open its outlets at the latter’s bunks. The first such outlet will be at the BPCL bunk at the TN Palayam Junction, near Ettimadai, Palakkad Main road, Coimbatore.According to a release, it has roped in AJK College of Arts and Science for this venture.

Called “SKS and AJK Fine Dine Restaurant”, these vegetarian outlets will be operated by students. It will be a motel which will also cater to the rural population. This will provide direct exposure to the students of Hotel Management and Catering and they can earn while learning. Apart from the products of Sri Krishna Sweets, these outlets will provide “speed lunch”, chat counter, etc. Theme food festivals on weekends and sweet buffet during festival seasons are also planned.It is also proposed to open five more outlets including at RS Puram, Avanashi Road and Ukkadam.

A memorandum of understanding in this regard was exchanged between M.Krishnan, Chairman and Managing Director, Sri Krishna Sweets Pvt. Ltd. and Ajeet Kumar Lal Mohan, Secretary and Managing Trustee, AJK College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore, in the presence of Somasundaram, Territory Manager, Sales, BPCL, Coimbatore.

Louis Cruises to launch service from Kochi

2009-11-30T05:45:00.002+05:30

The demand for cruising is increasing by 12 per cent to 15 per cent annually in the country, according to Vijay Puthran, Country Head – Sales and Marketing of Louis Cruises.

Mr. Puthran, who was here on Tuesday, told during the last 10 years, about 10 million people in the country had gone cruising and the nearest destination they went to was Singapore. The demand was always on the rise. In India, “we sail from October to Mid-May since the monsoon will intensify after that,” he said. The Mediterranean-based Louis Cruises would operate short-duration cruises from Kochi. The company had decided to base the ship, MV Aquamarine, in the Kochi port as Kerala was known world-wide as a tourist destination. It received the maximum number of tourists in the country. Maldives and Colombo were easily accessible from the Kochi Port and the Indian Ocean did not have a cruise service, he said.

Hence, the company had entered into a five-year agreement with Kerala Tourism and appointed The Great India Tour Company as its passenger sales agent to promote its cruises. The ship would reach Kochi by December 1. Currently, the company offered three itineraries: Kochi-Maldives-Kochi, Kochi-Colombo-Kochi and one night cruise on the high seas. The demand was high for one-night cruises, especially in the weekends. The company targeted family travellers and corporate companies.

The company had launched bookings in Coimbatore too, he said.

Protest over poor condition of Mettupalayam Road

2009-11-30T05:41:00.001+05:30

Members of the Mettupalayam Road Protection Association have intensified their protest over the poor and deplorable condition of the Mettupalayam Road that forms part of NH 67.

NH 67 is the crucial road linking Coimbatore City with Mettupalayam, the gateway for the tourist hill station Udhagamandalam. The road that accounted for educational institutions and industrial units on either side witnesses a heavy flow of traffic. The vehicular traffic includes office goers , students besides tourists. In the absence of adequate train service between Coimbatore and Mettupalayam, road transport density had increased manifold.

The stretch had become a nightmare for the motorists because of the narrow roads, bridges and pot holes. Strengthening and relaying of the road had not been done for many years and the growing traffic has made widening of the road into a four lane an essential need of the hour, the association contended.

The heavy volume of traffic on the road has increased the travel time between Coimbatore – Mettupalayam and vice-versa. In addition, the entire stretch has become highly accident prone. The recent campaign by the protection association was to draw the attention of the Government towards this neglected stretch. The posters accused the rulers and the VIPs of having forgotten this road. The association made it clear that more than the bypass road projected from Neelambur to Mettupalayam, there is a pertinent, imperative and urgent need for strengthening, relaying and widening the existing Mettupalayam Road into a four lane road, since the distance in the proposed bypass road would be much more than the existing road.

The association made it clear that even after the laying of bypass road, the present Coimbatore – Mettupalayam Road would continue to have the same amount of traffic.National Highways Authority of India sources when contacted made it clear that along with the bypass road proposal an estimate for Rs. 15 crore was in final stages of tender process for improvements to the existing Coimbatore – Mettupalayam road. However, the association people pointed out that Rs. 15 crore would be insufficient and it would only serve the purpose of patchwork.

Industries evince interest in water purchase

2009-11-25T06:56:00.000+05:30

Three industries here have expressed interest in purchasing water that will be treated by the Coimbatore Corporation at its sewage treatment plants.At a workshop on water management, organised here on Tuesday by the Confederation of Indian Industry, Corporation Commissioner Anshul Mishra said the total capacity of the sewage treatment plants at Ukkadam, Nanjundapuram and Ondiupudur, which would come up as part of the Underground Sewerage Scheme, would be 170 million litres a day (mld). The treatment would be started soon and initially about 20 mld would be treated. Three industries had come forward to purchase the treated (non-potable) water.

The Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, was studying the feasibility of selling the treated water and the pricing issue. The Commissioner said he had suggested to the industries to form a consortium. For the treatment plant that would come up at Ondipudur, the Corporation was looking at the public-private partnership mode.

On rejuvenation of the water bodies, he said the Corporation had taken up the work at eight water bodies here under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission at a cost of Rs. 130 crore. There should be a system to maintain the water bodies after the rejuvenation works. “We need a sustainable system,” he said. The Corporation had prepared a project report and would consider the public- private partnership mode to create facilities to generate revenue.

Mr. Mishra also highlighted the need to economise water usage and minimise distribution losses. “We need to increase the standards in water supply management,” he said.