Tuticorin Noted as Place of Weapons of Mass Destruction

The Global Security.org, an International Military and Security Website has placed Tuticorin in its website as a Place of Weapons of Mass Destruction and as India's Special Weapon Facility.

This is due to the Heavy Water Plant, located in Tuticorin City. As this plant Heavy Water and other materials for Nuclear Plants, our city has been under the watch of the International Security Agencies and also faces a threat from Terrorist Attacks.

See the listing here

Tuticorin Port sets record in handling Granite

On December 2nd Tuticorin Port set a new record by loading 8,710 Metric Tonnes of Granite to the vessel MV.VELASQUES at Berth No.8. This is the highest quantity of Granite loaded in a single day so far in the Port. The previous record was 8,638 Metric Tonnes on 22.5.2006 per vessel mv."WINDSOR CASTLE".

Tuticorin to Promote Tuna Fishing alon with other Chennai, Kochi, Mumbai

Tuna appears to be the marine product for the year, given the growing global interest. And if plans do not go haywire, India should see at least 3,000 tonne shipped out at an average price of $5 a kg.

Already higher Indian tuna grades (sashmi) are fetching as much as $17 and medium ones $7-8. Over the last one year Indian tuna has made it to major markets, especially Japan, at an astounding pace.

As part of the promotion of tuna fishing, the thrust areas would be Kochi, Tuticorin, Kollam, Chennai, Mangalore, Veraval, Vizag and Mumbai where there would be dedicated tuna-handling facilities.

Aquaculture, quality control and value-addition were the other areas which could help the sector in a big way in the coming years. The authority had several schemes, for this, in place, he added.

Seafood Exporters Association of India national president AJ Tharakan also felt that tuna, the third largest globally traded fish item after shrimp and cephalopods, was going to make waves for the country.

Source: Finiancial Express

Red Sanders worth Rs 72 lakh seized in Tuticorin

The Tuticorin Directorate of Revenue Intelligence has seized 501 logs of red sanders, which are valued at approximately Rs.72 lakh in the International Market on December 28th.

Dr P Babu, The Additional Director General, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence said that the wood, weighing 14.34 tonnes, was found at a container freight station, Thoothukudi.

According to the export documents, 400 bags of aluminium sulphate were to be exported to Malaysia in the name of a Thoothukudi-based company through the seaport.
An examination of the container revealed that it was stuffed with red sander logs and not aluminium sulphate.Further investigations are under progress.

Thoothukudi fishermen to keep off sea

In view of the second anniversary of the tsunami, more than 500 mechanised and country boat owners in the districts of Thoothukudi , have decided to abstain from fishing in seas on Tuesday (ie.) 26th December.

In order to pay tributes to those who had lost their lives in the tragedy, special prayers would be held in temples and churches at fishing hamlets in both districts.

Around 250 mechanised fishing boats and more than 200 country boats in Thoothukudi district would remain anchored on Tuesday, said an office-bearer of the Thoothukudi District Mechanised Fishing Boats’ Association.

Tuticorin Flight Timings

Air Deccan           Departure    Arrival
Chennai - Tuticorin   9.10 AM    10.30 AM
Tuticorin - Chennai  10.55 AM    12.20 PM

Tuticorin City Land Rates

The rate of the Lands in Tuticorin City is released by the Government Authorities. The rate per square feet ranges from Rs.150 to Rs.539. Here are the rates for places that come under various categories.

Tuticorin Urban

• Ettayapuram Road, Palayamkottai Road are classified as Level 1 Commercial areas. The land rate in these regions is Rs.370 per square feet.
• Jeyaraj Road, VVD Road are classified as Level 2 Commercial areas. The land rate is fixed as Rs.310 per square feet.
• First Level Residential Areas
  Mani Nagar, Meenakshi Puram East, Meenakshi Puram West, Doovypuram Main Road, 1st to 12th streets.
  Rate – Rs. 300 / Square feet.
• 2nd Level Residential Areas
  Ettayapuram Road Extension, Polepettai.
  Rate – Rs. 210 / Square feet.
• 3rd Level Residential Areas
  Ambedkar Nagar, Sundaravelpuram 1st to 5th Streets.
  Rate – Rs. 160 / Square feet.

Tuticorin Sub-Urban

• Level 1 Commercial Areas
  Devarpuram Road, East Car Street, East Car Street Extension, Ettayapuram Road , Ettayapuram Road Extension, North Car Street, North Sambanthamoorthy Street, Palayamkottai Road, Telegraph Office Road, VE Road, Mela Car Street, West Great Cotton (WGC) Road.
  Rate – Rs. 539 / Square feet.
• Level 3 Commercial Areas
  Andaal Street Rs. 351 / Square feet.
  Poldenpuram Rs 212 / Square feet.
• Level 1 Residential Areas
  Priyal Street, Jeyalani Street Extension, Perumalpuram, Subramaniapuram.
  Rate – Rs. 249 / Square feet.
• Level 2 residential Areas
  Alagesanpuram, St. Antony’s Church Road, Gibbsonpuram, Kanagasapapathi Street, Kumar Street, MK Street, Melashanmugapuram 1st & 2nd Streets, Melur Bangla Street, Muniyasamypuram 2nd Street, Muniyasamypuram Street Extension, Nandhagopalapuram, Nandhagopalapuram West, North Car Street Extension, Bathrakali Amman Kovil Street, Perumal Street, Polepettai, Rahamathullapuram (East), Rahamathullapuram (West), Ranganathapuram, Ranganathapuram East, Ranganathapuram West, Sankarapuram 7th Street, Vannar Street, Shanmugapuram, Sivan Kovil Street, Sivianthakulam 1st, 2nd & 6th Streets, South Puthu Theru (New Street), SPG Kovil Street, Subbiahpuram, Brahmin Colony, Theppakulam Street, Theppakulam 1st & 2nd Lanes, Vannar 5th & 6th Streets, Varadharaja Puram
  Rate – Rs. 212 / Square feet.
• Level 3 Residential Areas
  Alagesanpuram 2nd Street, Bala Ayya Nagar, Innasiyar Puram, Khandha Samy Puram, Kathireesan Kovil Street, Levingipuram 1st , 2nd & 3rd Streets, Nandhagopalapuram East, Nataraja Puram, Poltenpuram 1st, 2nd & 3rd Streets, Ramasamy Puram 1st, 2nd & 3rd Streets
  Rate – Rs. 182 / Square feet.
• Level 3 residential areas in Subramaniapuram Rs. 150 / Square feet.

If you’ve any complaints, doubts or suggestions regarding the rates you are requested to contact the Collector of Tuticorin District.
Source: Dina Thanthi (Dec. 19th)

Handicrafts Exhibition in Tuticorin

An exhibition on handicrafts from the state of Uttar Pradesh, “Kalanjali Craft Bazaar 2006” was launched on December 18th in Tuticorin. This exhibition is organized at Ramaiah Hall, Near Cruz Fernandez Statute in Tuticorin City.

More than 60 craftsmen have their handiworks displayed in this exhibition and they are also available for sale. A few self help Women Groups have also displayed their works here. The price of the products showcased here ranges between Rs. 10 and Rs.22000.

This exhibition showcases Teak wood products with decorations, Brass from Moradabad, Bangles from Jaipurlak, Terracotta Porcelain Products, Statutes, Handbags, Hyderabad Pearls, Rasi Stones, Jewellery and several handcrafted products for sale.

This exhibition is being held by the Association of Handicrafts Craftsmen of Uttar Pradesh. A discount of 10% on handicrafts and 20% discount on woven products are also provided.

The timings of this exhibition are from 10AM in the morning till 9PM in the evening. This exhibition will be conducted during the Christmas and New Year Holidays till 01.01.’07 (Wednesday).

SPIC Trophy district-level kabaddi tournament at Tuticorin

The SPIC Central Sports Council will organise the SPIC Trophy district-level kabaddi tournament at the SPIC Nagar ground (Tuticorin) under floodlights from January 19 to 21.

Entries close on January 10.

For details, contact P. Ramesh. Ph: 94434-55117.

Geeta Jeevan commissions various civic amenities in Tuticorin

The Minister for Animal Husbandry, P. Geeta Jeevan, inaugurated a milk booth and a computer-cum-copying centre at `Poomalai' marketing complex operated by the District Rural Development Agency at Tuticorin on 14th December.

The milk booth will be run by Vasuki women self-help group, and the copying centre by Arivoli women SHG. Both the groups are based in Tuticorin taluk.

While Indian Bank extended a credit of Rs. 2 lakh for the milk booth, Canara bank disbursed a loan of Rs. 3 lakh for the computer centre.

At the inaugural function, Ms. Jeevan gave away loans amounting to Rs. 17.17 lakh to 16 women self-help groups under a direct linkage scheme. Of the total loans, Rs. 9.67 lakh was disbursed by Pandian Grama Bank, Rs. 4.5 lakh by Indian Bank and Rs. 3 lakh by Canara Bank.

S. Somasundaram, branch manager, PGB, said the Tuticorin branch of his bank would extend credit to 300 women SHGs during this financial year. "Of the target envisaged, we had credit-linked 160 groups to the tune of Rs 150 lakh."

Automatic weather station set up at Tuticorin Fisheries College

Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS) in association with the Indian Space Research Organisation and Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) has set up an automatic weather station (AWS) in Tuticorin Fisheries College.

The station was established at a cost of Rs 2.5 lakh on the Fisheries College and Research Institute (FCRI) premises.

V.K. Venkataramani, Dean, FCRI, said the intelligent data-logger of the AWS made precise meteorological data available through an ultra high frequency (UHF) wireless link, which would be useful for various fishing-related activities, water management and disaster management.He said gadgets in the automatic station such as rain gauge sensor, solar radiation sensor, wind direction sensor, barometer, relative humidity and atmosphere temperature senor would provide readings pertaining to sunshine duration, relative humidity in percentage and wind direction in degree.

Data on clouds, precipitation, temperature, atmospheric pressure, wind and visibility would help fisherfolk identify `safer zones' for fishing and return to the shore without running into rough weather.

Dr. Venkataramani said the recorded data would be computed and automatically transmitted to the ISRO station in Bangalore via Kalpana, an artificial satellite positioned over 74 degree East longitudinal line.

He said plans were in the offing to add more features to the AWS, which would help in forecasting productive fishing zones in the Gulf of Mannar.

The second phase of dredging in Tuticorin fishing harbour

The second phase of dredging works at the fishing harbour at Tuticorin in India was inaugurated by Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, T R Baalu, earlier this week.

"Under this phase, 60,000 cubic metres of silt will be removed from the harbour bay and the approach channel by the Kerala State Maritime Development Corporation Limited. The works will be completed before the end of the current fiscal," said the Minister.

Local news sources said the depth in the harbour will be increased to 3.3m. During the first phase, 35,000 cubic metres of silt was removed.

at the fishing harbour at Tuticorin in India was inaugurated by Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, T R Baalu, earlier this week.

"Under this phase, 60,000 cubic metres of silt will be removed from the harbour bay and the approach channel by the Kerala State Maritime Development Corporation Limited. The works will be completed before the end of the current fiscal," said the Minister.

Local news sources said the depth in the harbour will be increased to 3.3m. During the first phase, 35,000 cubic metres of silt was removed.

Source: Dredging News Online

Doubling of the Villupuram-Tuticorin rail route at a cost of Rs 2,700 crore.

The four metros and 19 cities will have their railway stations improved to world-class standards with underground super markets like those in Russia and England, Velu said.

In Tamil Nadu, the electrification, broad-gauge conversion and doubling of the Villupuram-Tuticorin route will be done at an estimated cost of Rs 2,700 crore.

Source: Finiancial Express

Pakistan behind Explosives smuggling to Sri lanka through Tuticorin

The Indian and local media has highlighted attempts to smuggle in to
Sri Lanka via Palk Straits from India arms, explosives and accessories
to be used with explosives. There have also been incidents frequently
reported of attempts by the LTTE to smuggle arms into the north and
east of Sri Lanka.

The Hindu reported in September 2006 to a "major arms haul in A.P "
written by Suresh Krishnamoorthy with a photograph by K.Ramesh Babu of
Rocket launchers and empty shells seized from a transport company in
Mahabubnagar, Andhra Pradesh. The consignment consisted of 42 rocket
launches, 1000 empty shells and 35 improvised land mines to be used on
"police stations "according to the Police Chief Swaranjit Singh. The
arms haul included two tons of spares to rig 16 rocket launchers, 600
shells, high tensile springs used to propel explosives from shells,
fins that could be attached to shells...". It is significant that some
"rigs" for rocket launchers, hidden by the LTTE were recovered in the
Jaffna peninsula recently by Sri Lankan troops.

In Kozhikode, Kerala, the Hindu reported in an article titled "
Kozhikode coast turning into a hub of arms smuggling" dated 15.7.2006
that the Director General of the Coast Guard, Suresh Mehta has said
the area is fast becoming a center for "arms and narcotics smuggling".
It may be too early to draw conclusions whether the LTTE attempts to
smuggle "warlike material" has any links to these attempts as
investigations are still proceeding.

There was another report titled " 724 kg RDX seized, steps taken to
prevent smuggling of arms". The explosives amounting to about 724 kg
of High Explosive RDX type was seized by the Indian Security Forces
and the Indian police in different parts of the country. In 2005 about
1021 kgs were seized but there was no indication that it was smuggled
via Indian Airports.

The report also referred to action taken by the Government in New
Delhi to prevent arms been smuggled "across borders".

The latest reports in the Indian and local media refer to 400,000 non
- electrical detonators which were detected in Tamil Nadu. There were
also reports that the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister had ordered an
investigation on Saturday "after police detained a vehicle carrying a
large quantity of non -electrical detonators". An "official" on
condition of anonymity had stated the "Indian media described the
consignment as explosives which were shipped from Tuticorin to the SLN
(Sri Lanka Navy). This was a part of their strategy to conceal
clandestine LTTE operations in Tamil Nadu". The Indian police had
prevented "an attempt to move a consignment of gelex boosters to the
LTTE" The detection was made by the Manamadurai police and from Andhra

Pradesh. There is speculation that "Chennai is being used as a transit
point to move contraband across the Indo- Lanka maritime boundary".
However the Sri Lankan mission in Chennai had clarified that the order
for the 400,000 non electrical detonators had been placed last year
and had contacted the government "even before " the Chief Minister
ordered the probe". The report also states the Chief minister had
"ordered the probe after Union External Minister Pranab Mukerjee and
Defence Minister A.K.Anthony denied that the government allowed the
export of explosives to Sri Lanka".

According to media reports the SLN placed the order which as to be
"issued through the Commercial Explosives and Firearms Unit for
commercial purposes".

Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Navy has "intercepted several vessels in the
Gulf of Mannar " in the year 2006 and there was an instance when the
Navy seized an Indian trawler with 60,000 electrical detonators
"destined for the LTTE".

An Associated Press report published on 16.11.2006 quoting the Sri
Lankan government spokesman states, "We now have credible evidence
(that) fishing trawlers registered in India are being used by the
Tiger's " and that the government has formally asked India to " take
steps to stop the alleged arms smuggling".

Source: nnseek.com

Qatar Tamizhar Sangham (QTS) submits plea to Upgrade Tuticorin Airport

THE Qatar Tamizhar Sangham (QTS) on Tuesday hosted a reception in honour of visiting Tamil Nadu Minister of Sports and Environment Affairs, Moideen Khan. The minister was in Qatar to attend the 15th Asian Games.

The QTS officials sought the intervention of the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Muthuvel Karunanadhi for the introduction of a direct flight from Chennai to Doha. They also submitted a memorandum on the issue to the minister.

The issue of upgrading the airport at Tuticorin also figured prominently at the meeting. This would immensely benefit non-resident Indians hailing from Ramnad, Tirunelveli and Tuticorin districts, QTS president A B K D Charles said at the meeting.

Source: Gulf Times

New desalinated water Plant in Tuticorin Soon

Under the technology, developed by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), warm water is pumped into a vacuum flash chamber and the resultant vapour is condensed using cold water to get crystal clear potable water.

'Not only is our desalinated water of a better quality, but the cost is only six paise per litre,' Dr S. Kathiroli, director NIOT, told IANS.

'Our attempt is to further reduce the cost to four paise per litre,' Kathiroli said while on a visit to the ministry of earth sciences, the nodal administrative centre for the institute.

According to the scientist, while drinking water requirement in Chennai was around 500 million litres a day, his institute hoped to supply one million litres from January next year.

'In January 2008, we plan to raise our desalination capacity to some 10 million litres per day.'

Kathiroli said the Low Temperature Thermal Desalination (LLTD) technology had been utilised by the institute in a pilot project of 100,000 litres a day set up on the Lakshadweep island of Kavaratti, where it has been meeting the drinking water demand since May 2005.

'Though the concept was known for long, due to practical difficulties it was never attempted. It offers a viable option for islands like Kavaratti where there is no other source of fresh water and the environment is fragile.'

According to Kathiroli, his institute has another pilot plant off Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu with a capacity of 100 cubic metres per day, which he said demonstrated that it was possible to produce good quality water continuously at a low cost.

NIOT, an autonomous society based in the Tamil Nadu capital, has also been working on developing technology to solve engineering problems associated with harvesting of non-living and living resources in Indian territorial waters, which is about two-thirds of the land area of the country.

'Once we have proved that it is possible to provide low cost drinking water using our new technology, which can be taken to any coastal location, we would like to partner private investors to provide the technology.'

Source: IndiaPRWire.com

Over 4 lakh to get free dhoties, sarees

Around 4,03,108 beneficiaries, having their annual income below Rs. 24,000, would receive dhoties and sarees under the free dhoties and sarees distribution scheme in Thoothukudi district, said District Collector R Palaniyandi here on Monday.

The State Government is distributing sarees and dhoties to the family card-holders, having a monthly income of below Rs. 2,000 every year at the time of Pongal festival.

This year, under the scheme, it has been planned to give the free dhoties and sarees to 4,03,108 family card-holders in the eight taluks in Thoothukudi district. Among the beneficiaries identified, as many as 3,07,280 have their monthly income below Rs. 1,000 and around 95,828 between Rs. 1,000 and 2,000.

Source: New Ind Press

Two more farmers' clubs formed in Tuticorin

Two farmers' clubs formed under the ambit of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) at Thirupanichettikulam and Valasakaranvilai under Srivaikundam block, were inaugurated by G. Venugopal, Senior Regional Manager, Indian Overseas Bank, on 8th December, 2006.

With this, a total of four Farmers' clubs had been formed in the district this week. On Thursday, two clubs at Puthumanai and Puliyanagar villages were opened.The two new clubs will be credit linked to Indian Overseas Bank, Sawyerpuram branch.

Each of the two newly formed clubs will have two office bearers headed by a Chief Co-ordinator and assisted by an Associate Co-ordinator. The clubs will raise their resources through contributions from its members and by undertaking certain business like procurement of inputs and collective marketing of agricultural produces.

These clubs would be a tool for the financial institutions not only in the matter of credit, but also in facilitating the promotion of self-help groups in their respective areas, micro credit and convergence of services.

The clubs would act as an informal village forum to transfer the latest agricultural practices from laboratory to the field.

TMB launches its 174th branch and Tuticorin's 4th Branch

The Tuticorin based Tamilnad Mercantile Bank Ltd. today add a new branch branches to their network ,with the addition of our 174th branch at Tiruchendur Road, Kamaraj College Campus, Thoothukudi - 628 003. This is the Fourth branch in Tuticorin City.

Arms Smuggling to Sri Lanka through Tuticorin

The Indian and local media has highlighted attempts to smuggle in to Sri Lanka via Palk Straits from India arms, explosives and accessories to be used with explosives. There have also been incidents frequently reported of attempts by the LTTE to smuggle arms into the north and east of Sri Lanka.

The Hindu reported in September 2006 to a "major arms haul in A.P " written by Suresh Krishnamoorthy with a photograph by K.Ramesh Babu of Rocket launchers and empty shells seized from a transport company in Mahabubnagar, Andhra Pradesh. The consignment consisted of 42 rocket launches, 1000 empty shells and 35 improvised land mines to be used on "police stations "according to the Police Chief Swaranjit Singh. The arms haul included two tons of spares to rig 16 rocket launchers, 600 shells, high tensile springs used to propel explosives from shells, fins that could be attached to shells...". It is significant that some "rigs" for rocket launchers, hidden by the LTTE were recovered in the Jaffna peninsula recently by Sri Lankan troops.

In Kozhikode, Kerala, the Hindu reported in an article titled " Kozhikode coast turning into a hub of arms smuggling" dated 15.7.2006 that the Director General of the Coast Guard, Suresh Mehta has said the area is fast becoming a center for "arms and narcotics smuggling". It may be too early to draw conclusions whether the LTTE attempts to smuggle "warlike material" has any links to these attempts as investigations are still proceeding.

There was another report titled " 724 kg RDX seized, steps taken to prevent smuggling of arms". The explosives amounting to about 724 kg of High Explosive RDX type was seized by the Indian Security Forces and the Indian police in different parts of the country. In 2005 about 1021 kgs were seized but there was no indication that it was smuggled via Indian Airports.

The report also referred to action taken by the Government in New Delhi to prevent arms been smuggled "across borders".

The latest reports in the Indian and local media refer to 400,000 non – electrical detonators which were detected in Tamil Nadu. There were also reports that the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister had ordered an investigation on Saturday "after police detained a vehicle carrying a large quantity of non –electrical detonators". An "official" on condition of anonymity had stated the "Indian media described the consignment as explosives which were shipped from Tuticorin to the SLN (Sri Lanka Navy). This was a part of their strategy to conceal clandestine LTTE operations in Tamil Nadu". The Indian police had prevented "an attempt to move a consignment of gelex boosters to the LTTE" The detection was made by the Manamadurai police and from Andhra Pradesh. There is speculation that "Chennai is being used as a transit point to move contraband across the Indo- Lanka maritime boundary". However the Sri Lankan mission in Chennai had clarified that the order for the 400,000 non electrical detonators had been placed last year and had contacted the government "even before " the Chief Minister ordered the probe". The report also states the Chief minister had "ordered the probe after Union External Minister Pranab Mukerjee and Defence Minister A.K.Anthony denied that the government allowed the export of explosives to Sri Lanka".

According to media reports the SLN placed the order which as to be "issued through the Commercial Explosives and Firearms Unit for commercial purposes".

Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Navy has "intercepted several vessels in the Gulf of Mannar " in the year 2006 and there was an instance when the Navy seized an Indian trawler with 60,000 electrical detonators "destined for the LTTE".

An Associated Press report published on 16.11.2006 quoting the Sri Lankan government spokesman states, "We now have credible evidence (that) fishing trawlers registered in India are being used by the Tiger's " and that the government has formally asked India to " take steps to stop the alleged arms smuggling".

Source: National Security Media Center, Sri Lanka

Ports to prepare Growth plans by January

The shipping ministry expects all the 12 major ports to file their business development plans in tune with global shipping trends by January 2007. While all the ports have appointed consultants, only a few have so far submitted interim reports.

The Indian Ports Association (IPA), the apex body of all ports under the ministry that will formulate the overall business policy, has appointed an apex consultant.

Ministry officials told FE that the business plan, a part of the national maritime policy, will be framed with a 20- year perspective but the action plan would be for seven years.

IPA consultant T Balakrishnan said, “The ministry has roped in Rotterdam port as the advising consultant and coordinator for the plan. The 12 major ports have appointed their own consultants through the global tender route.”

While Mumbai, Kandla and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust have appointed KPMG as their consultant, Kochi, Paradeep and Tuticorin have given Transcare the job. Vizag and New Mangalore have appointed Rotterdam Port, Ennore has appointed Hamburg. For the Kolkata Port Trust, which runs the port systems of Kolkata and Haldia, Royal Haskoning is doing the job with Crisil.

RK Jain, the IPA’s MD, said the interim reports received have already been forwarded to the ministry. “Although each port will have its own line of business development initiatives suiting its condition, a broad business development plan will evolve from each consultant’s study,” Jain said.

India needs to lower the transaction costs particularly for exports, as these have been going up.

Source: Finiancial Express

SPEED 2006 attracts investment in southern districts ,Textile Special Economic Zone in Tuticorin

Tuticorin gets Textile Special Economic Zone

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has mooted the formation of a joint body, including representatives of the Government and the industry, to facilitate a hassle-free industrialisation of southern districts.

Addressing media persons here on Monday on the impact of the recent three-day Southern Prosperity through Enhanced Economic Development (SPEED) 2006, a meet organised to showcase the strengths of the southern districts, T. Kannan, its chairman, said that a joint body had become imperative when investors were looking at Madurai in a big way.

During the meet, industrial commitments to the tune of over Rs.5000 crore were made. They included Rs.4500 crore investment in a proposed IT park by RR Industries, Rs.120 crore in a heritage hotel, mall and a convention centre by ETL Infrastructure Services, Rs.10 crore in a rice bran oil refinery, Rs.30 crore in a joint venture by Madras Holland, Rs.450 crore in a textile special economic zone in Tuticorin and Rs.25 crore in a cancer hospital by Apollo Hospitals. These were in addition to the joint initiative of Thiagarajar College of Engineering with MICO (to train carpenters, electricians and plumbers) and TVS ICS for research in mobile connectivity.

The State Government, he said, should come out with a master plan for the development of southern districts, providing a clear perspective. The CII would create a special cell and similar cells had to be created in government departments and ELCOT for project information and development.

Security beefed up in Tuticorin

The police have beefed up the security in Tuticorin and other parts of the district in view of the Babri Masjid demolition anniversary on December 6.

Besides, night patrolling had been strengthened and pickets were established near the places of worship across Tuticorin district.

About 1,000 policemen had been used for bandobust duties.

Patrolling along State's coast to prevent heroin smuggling to Sri Lanka

Narcotic drug enforcement authorities have noticed a lull in smuggling of heroin to Sri Lanka from the Tamil Nadu Coast in the last one-and-a-half months.

The escalating conflict in the island nation and intensified patrolling along the State's coast by various agencies have considerably reduced smuggling activities.
Indian and Sri Lankan Navies have stepped up vigil. Following the seizure of a lathe machine off the Rameswaram coast, boosters from a vehicle at Othakadai near Manamadurai and a rocket packed in a wooden box near the International Maritime Boundary Line, the police have intensified patrolling along the coast.

Analysis of the seizures in October and November showed there had been a fall in the quantity of brown sugar smuggled to Sri Lanka. There was no major seizure in November, except a case at Tuticorin involving 1.960 kg.

Mr. Raghavan said within a week in October, the NCB seized about 30 kg of heroin, destined for Sri Lanka, from various places in the State. In one case, 16.05 kg of heroin was seized from two cars at Rose Garden junction, Udhagamandalam. Besides documents, Rs.1.55 lakh was seized.

Tuticorin Traders apprehensive of port at Colachel

The State Government’s appeal to the Central Government to develop the existing Colachel fishing harbour in Kanyakumari district into an international transshipment hub port has created apprehension among the business community here over the prospects of Tuticorin Port being severely affected or minimised to a considerable extent.

The expansion plan of the inner harbour and the outer harbour of the Tuticorin Port in a phased manner at a cost of Rs 4571.75 crore under the National Maritime Development Project (NMDP)-Phase I and II-will further enhance the port’s infrastructure.

Though some members of the Tuticorin Hub Port Development Council (THPDC) concede that Colachel has some advantages like the natural depth of about 15- meter-draft and the minimal distance from the major sea routes, they say that it cannot be a better choice than the Tuticorin Port, which receives more mainline vessels from Europe and the US next only to the Mumbai Port.

According to an expert study undertaken by Tuticorin Port Trust, a copy of which is available with ‘The New Indian Express,’ among Chennai, Cochin, Tuticorin, Colachel and Vizhinjam ports, Tuticorin Port has the best chance, followed by Chennai and Cochin, to be developed into a transshipment port in South India.

Even in terms of the network of established services, hinterland, connectivity (including the ongoing projects) and the existence of established port facilities, Tuticorin had an edge over any other port in the south, it said.

The study further revealed that weather played an important part in Tuticorin Port scoring over the proposed Colachel Port. The sea off Colachel was rough and unstable by nature, unlike off Tuticorin Port. During the tsunami havoc two years ago, no big damage was caused to Tuticorin Port whereas Colachel was one of the worst tsunami-hit areas in the country, the study further stated.

The only advantage of the Colachel Port was its strategic location on the east-west sea routes, it said.

Though the members brushed aside the advantage, they did not rule out the possibility of development of Coalcehl into a port becoming detrimental to the interests of the Tuticorin Port as the construction of the Navha Sevah Port affected the business prospects of the Mumbai Port.

CPM district secretary Kanagaraj, whose party in Kanyakumari district is lobbying for the Colachel Port, said the importance being given to setting up an international transshipment port at Colachel would create a favourable situation to Vizhinjam for which the Kerala Government was lobbying hard.

Colachel, being situated within 40km from Vizhinjam Port, too would be another advantage for Kerala’s claim for making Vizhinjam a transshipment port,’ Kanagaraj claimed.

“Colachel fishing harbour, which is located very close to the residential area, could at best be a modern fishing harbour”, he observed.

The sea off Colachel is rough and unstable by nature, unlike the one off Tuticorin Port

Source: NewIndPress

LTTE Smuggle through Tuticorin

The LTTE drug business is a multi faceted trade and a well-organised outfit. They are closely knit and dictatorial in their niche. This makes infiltration in to these organisations almost impossible unless well-trained and intelligent. It is proven that the LTTE has exchanges with the Asian drug business. LTTE has links to the ‘Golden Triangle’ and the ‘Golden Crescent’ via Thamil Nadu and officials have proof stating that these drugs are smuggled out from India from the famous South Indian coastal area ‘Tuticorin’. The historical notorious smuggling port of Sri Lankan Northern peninsula, Velvetithurai a.k.a. VVT, the home of the tiger ruler Prabhakaran and many leaders of their ‘core’ groups, smuggles in not only drugs but also weapons, injured cardres, medicines, expertise and all necessities to wage the combat against the Sri Lankan government.

Source: Lankans Online

Tuticorin Railway Station identified as Model Station

The following stations have also been identified for development as Model stations in the State of Tamil Nadu:

Arakkonam Jn., Chengalpattu, Chennai Beach, Coimbatore, Erode Jn., Kanniyakumari, katapadi, Madurai, Mambalam, Rameswaram, Salem Jn., Tiruchchirappalli, Tirunelveli, Tiruttani, Tuticorin, Jolarpettai, Dindigul, Tiruppur, Thanjavur, Nagercoil, Ambur, Kovilpatti, Virudhunagar, Villupuram Jn. and Hosur.

This information was given by Shri R.Velu, Minister of State for Railways in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.

Source: Press Information Bureau

Tuticorin Technical Institutes come under Anna University, Tirchy

Two more technical universities will be established at Tiruchi and Coimbatore. The Assembly passed the Bills on Thursday.

The new universities will be named Anna University, Tiruchirapalli, and Anna University, Coimbatore. The existing Anna University will be known as Anna University, Chennai.

Replying to the debate, Minister for Higher Education K. Ponmudi said managing the affairs of more than 240 affiliated engineering colleges in the State had become a near impossibility. To ensure better and effective monitoring of the colleges the new universities were being set up.

About 150 engineering colleges in Chennai, Kancheepuram, Thiruvallur, Vellore, Thiruvannamalai and Villupuram districts will come under the purview of Anna University, Chennai. The Tiruchi university will have control over 75 engineering colleges in Tiruchi, Cuddalore, Kanyakumari, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Tuticorin, Virudhunagar, Nagapatinam, Pudukottai, Ramanathapuram, Sivagangai, Thanjavur, Perambalur, and Thiruvarur districts.

A total of 53 engineering colleges in Coimbatore, Dindigul, Erode, Karur, the Nilgiris, Theni, Dharamapuri, Krishnagiri, Namakkal and Salem districts will be affiliated to Anna University, Coimbatore. The new entities will be independent and have separate vice-chancellors and registrars.

Source: The Hindu

Tamilnad Mercantile Bank gets new MD

G Narayana Moorthy has taken over as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Tamilnad Mercantile Bank Ltd.

The Reserve Bank of India has approved his appointment for a period of two years, the Tuticorin-based bank said in a statement.

Credited with long years of service with public sector banks, Moorthy has served Canara Bank for 30 years in various positions and Indian Overseas Bank for 5 years as General Manager and Chief Vigilance Officer.

Source: Chennai Online

Rs.17 crore granted to Tuticorin Medical College

V.K. Subburaj, Secretary, Tamil Nadu Health and Family Welfare Department, said that the modalities for implementation of the Rs.2500-crore scheme to provide modernised infrastructure to medical colleges with hospitals in the State were being worked out. Among the grants made recently to medical colleges, he listed Rs.17 crore granted to Tuticorin, Rs.24 crore to Thanjavur and Rs.5 crore to Stanley Medical College in Chennai. The project of computerising and providing upgraded infrastructure to the district and taluk hospitals at a cost of Rs. 480 crore was expected to be completed in a year.

NABARD to set up fish farmers' club in Tuticorin

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development will establish a fish farmers' club for the first time in the district under the Vikas Volunteer Vahini scheme.

Official sources said the proposed club would come up shortly at Taruvaikulam, one of the most prominent fishing hamlets in the district, with about 20 fishermen in its fold. Earlier, all of the 19 clubs formed in the district under VVV scheme of the NABARD comprised agricultural farmers. (i.e. this is the first time the club was going to be formed exclusively for fish farmers)

Speaking to The Hindu, R Bharat Kumar, Assistant General Manager, NABARD, said the main objective of forming the club was to make the farmers' help the banks to know the credit needs of the respective villages and thereby strengthen the credit delivery system in the rural areas.

About the activities of the club, Mr. Kumar said the members would be convening regular meetings to discuss various topics pertaining to fishing and its related activities and measures that need to be adopted to bring on value-addition to their profession.

Besides, plans for product diversification and adoption of techniques like crab and lobster fattening, that fetch better unit value realization would come up for discussion in the meetings.

The NABARD official said the members of the club would also contemplate alternative income generation activities like seaweed culture, which need to be practised during the lean fishing seasons.

"This will avoid over dependence of fishing alone," he added.

On the financial assistance to the club, he said the NABARD would provide Rs.3,000 each year as maintenance grant, apart from meeting the expenses of seminars and exposure visits conducted by the club.

"By providing fianancial aid for seminars and exposure visits, fish farmers would be able to get a platform to assimilate latest fish farming techniques prevailed elsewhere," he added.

To meet the credit needs of its members, the club would tie-up with one of the regional rural banks in the district, Pandyan Grama Bank, Taruvaikulam branch.

Mr. Kumar said the tie-up would be of immense use to the bank too, as the club in return would help the bank in identifying fresh borrowers from the area and assist the bank officials in their loan recovery drives.

Thus the club would act as a bridge between the branch and the village.

Source: The Hindu

50,000 jobs in Information and Communication Technology sector over 5 years in Southern Districts of Tamilnadu

Having a good business environment, abundant availability of skilled manpower and quality educational institutions, Madurai and other southern districts of Tamil Nadu, had a potential to create 50,000 jobs in the information and communication technology sector over next five years.

Addressing Connect Madurai 2006, organised as part of Speed 2006, Gopal Srinivasan, chairman, Connect 2006, said the ICT sector could generate a revenue of Rs 3,000 crore (Rs 30 billion) to Rs 4,000 crore (Rs 40 billion) to the local economy, thus triggering the overall growth of the region.

Madurai and other southern districts including Tuticorin, Tirunelveli, Sivaganga, Virudhunagar, Ramanathanpuram and Kanniyakumari, could be key contributors to the state in achieving the envisaged target of $25 billion ICT revenue, contributing 25 per cent to the country's IT exports, over the next five years.

At present, the state's ICT revenue is $4 billion, which is 14 per cent of the country's ICT revenue.

Madurai and southern districts produce over 15,000 engineering graduates annually, 6,000 of whom are being hired by companies in Chennai and Bangalore. These districts contribute around 19 per cent of the state's GDP (2003-04).

Source: Rediff

Sethusamudram project to aid coastal villages

The Sethusamudram Corporation Limited has identified as many as 12 coastal villages in Thoothukudi and Ramanathapuram districts, for creation of micro infrastructure under the coastal community development programme.

The corporation has sanctioned Rs. 32.15 lakh for developing micro infrastructure such as construction of school buildings, provision of solar street lights and improvement of water supply, said its chairman and Managing Director N K Raghupathy in a statement.

The coastal areas covered under the first phase of the programme include Periyasamipuram and Thoothukudi town in Thoothukudi district, Mukuntharayar Chatram, Dhanushkodi, Thavukaadu, Kambipaadu and Chinnapalam, Mangaadu, Sambai, Olaikuda, Karaiyur, Vadakaadu, Ramakrishnapuram and Muthuramalinga Thevar Nagar in Rameswaram in Ramanathapuram district.

According to Raghupathy, the detailed project report of the Sethusamudram Ship Canal Project (SSCP) provided funds up to Rs 60 crore for the development of facilities in the project area, which would directly benefit the local population, especially fishermen, of which Rs 5 crore is earmarked for provision of micro infrastructure in coastal villages.

It has also been proposed to the Government that funds up to Rs 5 lakh per village could be utilised under the scheme, so that 100 villages could be benefited, he pointed out.

Micro development projects had been taken up in accordance with the general condition laid by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, to take appropriate community development and welfare measures, including drinking water facilities for villagers in the vicinity of the project site.

The Government, he said, had also laid among other things, a specific condition to provide sustainable opportunities to coastal community, allocating appropriate budgetary provision in the project cost in a bid to offset any impact on the fisheries.

Source: New Ind Press

More cruise ships to Tuticorin,if road links are developed

Tuticorin Port, which has better facilities than Panama, would be able to attract more cruise ships carrying tourists if road links to tourist centres like Tirunelveli, Ramanathapuram and Kanyakumari were developed, Port Trust Chairman N K Raghupathy said at SPEED held in Madurai.

Speaking at a conference on "Development of Cruise Tourism and air connectivity in Southern Districts of Tamil Nadu", he said that the Port had invested in a cargo complex and on developing the Tuticorin-Tirunelveli National Highway. It has all advantages like a clear water harbour and clean berths and is ideally located, just eight hours from Colombo port, which receives many international cruise ships, he said.

He suggested that the Tuticorin airport be upgraded along with Madurai, to enhance tourist inflow.

Observing that cruise ships berth only for a day at the Port, which offers 33.33 per cent concession, he said tourists should be taken to the nearest tourist spots within five or six hours and brought back. "But this will be possible only if there were good road links," he said.

On the potential benefits, he said each cruise traveller spends about $500. "If 200 passengers arrive in a cruise ship, we can imagine how much they will spend."

He said, productivity at the Port had been affected as the infrastructure was not enough to handle more ships calling on the port. But steps were being taken to improve facilities.

He said, environmental clearance for the second container terminal had been given and it would come up before 2008. Due to optimum utilisation of facilities, the number of ships waiting outside the port had come down to 13 from 23, he said.

Sterlite Tuticorin copper smelter to expand its capacity

The Tuticorin copper smelter to expand its capacity to 4,00,000 tpa, is now complete and the smelter is now fully operational. This increase in capacity 1,00,000 tpa has been achieved ahead of schedule.

The smelting and refining costs at Tuticorin are one of the lowest worldwide and were at a level of US cents 5.2 per pound for the six months ended on September 30, 2006. The above expansion will further help in reducing the costs of production.

Source: Business Standard

Need for developing Tuticorin Port stressed

The Tuticorin Port should be developed in order to promote ‘cruise’ tourism, said Tuticorin Port Trust (TPT) Chairman N K Raghupathy.

Speaking at the CII’s ‘SPEED 2006’ conference on ‘Development of cruise tourism and air connectivity in southern districts of Tamil Nadu’, he said the Tuticorin port, which had ‘‘better facilities than Panama’’, would be able to attract more cruise ships carrying tourists if road links to places of tourist importance like Rameswaram and Kanyakumari were developed.

The port, he said, had all advantages like a clear water harbour and clean berths and was ideally located, providing an ingress to South Tamil Nadu.

Source: New Ind Press

Geeta Jeevan inaugurates 54 anganwadis in Tuticorin

A total of 54 anganwadis, established under the Integrated Child Development Scheme, started functioning in the district on 1st Dec.

At a function held at Davispuram near Tuticorin, the Minister for Animal Husbandry, P. Geeta Jeevan, dedicated the anganwadis to the public. With this, the total number of anganwadis rose to 1,310. Official sources said so far, 31,117 children aged between three and six years were studying at the 1,256 anganwadis (i.e. excluding the 54).

All the children enrolled at the anganwadis were provided with nutritious meal in the afternoon.

The Collector, R. Palaniyandi, said that children from six to 36 months old, totalling 16,158, were given `weaning' food at the 1,256 anganwadis at the moment.

Besides, 12, 469 breastfeeding and pregnant women were supplemented with nutrient food through the anganwadis in toto.

Pensioners, numbering 220, were given lunch daily at the anganwadis across the district.

Tuticorin lacks Infrastructure development says Finance Minister Chidambaram

Claiming that India is riding an "investment boom" whose growth had touched 57 per cent, Finance Minister P Chidambaram today said this should be maintained for the next four to five years to sustain economic growth of eight to nine per cent.

Delivering a special address at "Speed 2006 - conference on southern prosperity through enhanced economic development", he said India should welcome investments from any source -- private, public or foreign.

Investements are needed for infrastructure development, which should keep pace with economic growth or else productivity would be affected as in the case of Tuticorin Port, Chidambaram said.

Many foreign investors were willing to invest in India because there was saturation of investments in their countries. "They should be welcomed to develop this country," he said.

Attributing the telecom sector's success in India to competition between the private and public sectors, he said if other industries were to succeed, there should be similar competition.

"Though the government has decontrolled and the licence raj has gone, a few departments are still controlled (by the government). I am not satisfied with the present investments by the private sector. They should be given more space in investments," he said.

Save Rajaji Park !!

Tuticorin Medical college is planning to construct hospital which will be the extension of the current Govt. Hospital. The location chosen as of now is Rajaji Park which is known as Water Tank situated near the current Govt. Hospital .Other location for the construction is near to the Medical college.

As per the All India Medical Councel ,hospital has to be situated near the college . we hope and wish the hopital is constructed near to the College.

Already we lost Evans Park to All India Radio, opp. to VOC College.

Tamilnad Mercantile Bank Limited is 85 years old

The 85th anniversary celebrations of Tuticorin based Tamilnad Mercantile Bank Limited were held with pomp and gaiety here recently.

Commemorating the occasion, the bank disbursed the sanction orders/proceeds of loans worth Rs.273.9 lakh to members of various self-help groups and individuals.Of this, Rs.87.28 lakh was given to 87 self-help groups for different economic activities, Rs.13.27 lakh to 25 beneficiaries covered under Prime Minister's Rozgar Yojana scheme, Rs 6.58 lakh to two students to pursue higher education, Rs.18 lakh to three industrial units classified as Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Rs.61 lakh to 12 individuals as home loans. P.R. Varatharajan, General Manager, TMBL, said so far, the bank had credit linked 1,409 self-help groups to the tune of Rs.11.43 crore, which included the 87 groups financed at the function. Earlier, TMBL Director, Prem Vetty, inaugurated the 41st ATM of the bank.

Aravind eye clinic inaugurated in Tuticorin

A community eye clinic, established by Aravind Eye Hospital here started functioning from 27th November, at Chidrambara Nagar.

The clinic is equipped with an outpatient department, manned by two ophthalmologists and eight paramedical staff, to test disorders and diseases such as refractive errors, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, among others.

Modern eye testing gadgets such as slit lamp bio-microscope to screen the retina and the nervous system and auto refractometer to check eye power and refractive errors had been installed.

A `non contact tonometre,' an instrument to test eye pressure without making contact with eye, and facilities for optical grinding and fitting of spectacles were also there. The clinic would treat squint eye, refractive errors and cataract in children.

The hospital plans establish `vision centres' at Srivaikundam in Tuticorin district.

Rain lashes Thoothukudi again

Unexpected rains after a gap of a week, lashed Thoothukudi districts, when it was slowly recovering from the inconveniences caused by the recent showers, resulting in breach and overflow of tanks on Monday.

MoU for second phase of dredging in Tuticorin

The Tuticorin Port Trust on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding with the Kerala State Maritime Development Corporation Limited (KSMDCL) to execute the second phase of dredging work in the fishing harbour here.

Official sources told The Hindu that the KSMDCL would dredge the harbour bay and the approach channel at a cost of Rs. 144 lakh.

"Approximately, 60,000 cubic metres of silt would be removed from the area so that the depth would be increased to 3.3 metres from the present 1.5 metre," sources said.

The dredger, TSHD Sindhuraj, which was originally owned by the Union Ministry of Agriculture and currently in the possession of the KSMDCL, will be used for the operation. The work will commence on December 10 and will be completed within three months.

The first phase of the dredging work was executed by the Tuticorin Port Trust for a width of 21 metres from the wharf.

The total cost of the work (first and second phase together) was estimated to be at Rs. 203 lakh and the entire amount was handed over to the TPT by the State Department of Fisheries.

The dredging works were carried out as a component of the project being executed to upgrade the facilities at the harbour at an overall cost of Rs. 504 lakh.

N. C. Jojo, Chief Engineer (in-charge), TPT, and Hari Achuta Varrier, Managing Director, KSMDCL, signed the MoU in the presence of N. K. Raghupathy, Chairman, TPT, Prabhakaran, Joint Director of Fisheries, P. J. Ranjan, Assistant Executive Engineer, Department of Fisheries, and senior officials of TPT.

Source: The Hindu

Tuticorin Chamber of Commerce and Industry is 100 years now

The Tuticorin Chamber of Commerce and Industry has turned `100' on Friday.

Established on November 24, 1906, as Tuticorin Chamber under the chairmanship of M. J. Milligan, an European, it was subsequently re-christened in 1967 to obtain its present name.

Started with 12 European members, the Chamber opened its membership to the Indian merchants and companies on the eve of Independence in 1947.

The Chamber at present has 26 members in its fold, which included 10 corporate members like SPIC and Tamilnad Mercantile Bank, eight shipping companies and eight individuals.

"Traditionally, the Chamber was very selective in awarding membership, with focus on high quality of service to the merchant fraternity and hence the list of representatives remained short, without any overcrowding," says P.S. Sundaram, its secretary.

However, the chamber now plans to slightly enlarge the membership repertoire to 50 during the centenary year, after growing pressures from the traders and professionals (i.e., 24 more members to be inducted).

According to Mr. Sundaram, professionals like chartered accountants will be inducted as members.

"Our aim is to use the wisdom of the members to train youngsters on entrepreneurial skills and make them bring more capital to Tuticorin," he says.

On the `vision' of the Chamber, Mr. Sundaram said that it would put pressure on the Centre to augment the facilities at the Tuticorin port on a war footing, for the growth of trade and tourism in the region.

The Chamber is now planning to take up the request for more number of North-bound trains from Tuticorin and pressure the Centre strongly.

"We will ask for frequent shuttle trains to connect Milavittan with Maniyachi, so that the public can have access to all trains coming from Tirunelveli going to Chennai and other destinations in the North, at Maniyachi," Mr Sundaram says.

Source: The Hindu

Tuticorin's Vikasa School reigns in TAA Trophy

Vikasa School, Tuticorin dominated both the boys and girls sections to win the TAA Trophy with a tally of 233 points in the Vass Exports and Sterilite Industries Tuticorin and Tirunelveli District Schools swimming meet, organised by Tuticorin District Aquatic Association and SPIC Central Sports Council, at Spic Nagar swimming pool on Saturday. BMC Group of School, Tuticorin finished second with 61 points.

Kalyan Jewellery to open Showroom in Tuticorin

On a major expansion drive, Kerala-based Kalyan Jewellery will invest Rs 1000 crore for opening 13 new showrooms in Kerala and Tamil Nadu and one at Dubai, besides setting up a shopping mall with a multiplex at Kochi.

The Thrissur-based jewellers will invest Rs 300 crore each for setting up six showrooms in Kerala and seven in Tamil Nadu, and an overseas showroom at Dubai, Managing Director, T S Kalyanraman, told reporters here.

The showrooms in Kerala would be at Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram, Alapuzha, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kottayam, he said adding, preliminary work for the Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram showrooms have already begun. Kalyan's second showroom at Thrissur will be inaugurated in April. The four-storeyed showroom will showcase diamond, silver and platinum jewelleries, he said.

A Rs 150 crore shopping mall with multiplex will be opened at Kochi, which is expected to be ready by 2010, he said.

The group, which already has a showroom at Coimbatore, will be making its presence felt at Tiruchirappalii, Salem, Madurai, Erode, Pondicherry, Nagercoil and Tuticorin.

Malayalam film actor Mamootty, who is the brand ambassador, will be projected in Kalyan's campaign of 'fight against impure gold', Kalyanaraman said.

He said the 'Gold card' introduced for customers had been very successful. Every customer, who purchases goods worth Rs 1000 will get customer gold card which would enable him to get free gifts and other benefits.

The group has at present three showrooms at Thrissur, Palakaad, Perinthalmanna and Coimbatore.

Source: The Hindu

Tsunami warning centre in Tuticorin

A three-member team from Survey of India visited Kanyakumari as part of its initiatives to set up a tsunami warning centre there.

Speaking to reporters, Dr B Nagarajan, Director, Geodetic and Research branch of the organisation, who leads the team said 36 such centres would be set up at different parts of the country.

In Tamil Nadu itself, centres will be set up at Tuticorin, Rameswaram, Chennai, Cuddalore and Nagapattinam.

Work on these centres have already started at many places.

Postal dept's business promotion plans to be launched in Tuticorin

The Postal department in Madurai sector is negotiating with various establishments for providing service and augmenting its business, K Balasubrahmanian, Director of Postal Services, Madurai region, said today.

"We have started negotiating with newspapers and universities for delivery of magazines, study materials etc. and hope to sign an agreement shortly," he told a press conference here.

He said the department was also negotiating with the bandage industry at Rajapalayam and other industries for providing regular courier services.

The service involving transport of goods at 50 paise a kg for larger volumes and one rupee for smaller volumes, does not charge for loading and unloading of goods weighing up to 500 kg. The Rs 100 charged for goods weighing above was also negotiable, he added.

In the sector, a dedicated route has been introduced between Madurai and Virudhunagar and Kovilpatti and Nagercoil via Tirunelveli.

Besides goods would be picked up and delivered at the doorstep as in the case of courier services, he added.

Though the present capacity of Madurai division is just four tonnes, it will be increased depending upon demand. The department plans to operate service to Tiruppur and Tuticorin shortly, he said.

Source : Chennai Online

Luxury liner calls on Tuticorin

For an 18-hour halt, the luxury cruise liner, M.V. Spirit of Adventure, carrying 268 tourists (all Britons) and 206 crew members, arrived at Tuticorin port on Tuesday.

The 139 metre long and 17.5 metre wide vessel, owned by Saga Group based in the United Kingdom and registered at Bahamas, was equipped with 206 cabins spread over six passenger decks, outdoor and indoor swimming pools, a hospital, cafeterias, library with a collection of 3,000 books and health clubs.

The District Tourism Officer, T Chellappa, and the Public Relations Officer of the Tuticorin Port Trust, Arunachalam, received the tourists at Berth 8 in a traditional manner to the accompaniment of `Nagaswaram,' before they embarked upon a sightseeing trip to the Nellaiappar Temple and ancient Cathedrals in Tirunelveli district and a fruit farm at Sawyerpuram in Tuticorin district.

A bullock cart drive was organised at the fruit farm for the tourists.

Hardman, a cafeteria owner from Manchester, was ecstatic about the trip to India. "The cultural diversity, food and pristine locations in the country were fantastic," he said.

This set of tourists, who boarded the ship at Port Sultan Qaboos in Muscat on November 8, touched the Indian coast in Mumbai on November 12.

It was followed by visits to Goa, Mangalore and Kochi before reaching Tuticorin.

Martin Breen, captain, echoed the tourist's words. "Even the entry into India was something to cherish since Mumbai skyline looked majestic from the sea, which simply cannot be matched, if one enters the city by other means of transport," he said.

The vessel will sail to Colombo in the early hours of Wednesday, where a fresh set of tourists will join.

The Tuticorin Port Trust gave a 33 per cent concession on berth hire charges to the vessel, to promote cruise tourism in the region

TASMAC employee hacked to death in Tuticorin

A TASMAC shop employee was hacked to death in a running bus at Ootapidaram near Thoothukudi on Monday. Police said, Paulraj (35) residing at Kappikulam near Ootapidaram, working in a TASMAC shop in Kovilpatti, while returning home from Kovilpatti in a bus, Balamurugan (34) boarded the bus and hacked him indiscriminately. In the incident, he succumbed to injuries on the spot.

Police have registered a case and are investigating.

Source: New Ind Press

HDFC loans at doorstep launched in Tuticorin

Housing Development Finance Corporation Ltd. (HDFC) has come out with an innovative housing loan scheme for which the finance company will visit the customer at home for three days.

Titled `Doorstep Assistance' in 30 minutes, the scheme will be available for customers across the State and also for people in Thirunelveli, Kanyakumari and Tuticorin districts of Tamil Nadu from Friday to Sunday.

Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, C.V. Ignatius, General Manager, Kerala, HDFC, said that the interest rate on the loan will be at 9 per cent (floating) compared to the company's usual interest rate of 9.5 per cent.

The company has a network of 11 offices in the State and the doorstep assistance will help reach out to customers in about 250 locations in Kerala and the neighbouring districts of Tamil Nadu.

Mr. Ignatius said that HDFC would like to make taking loans an easy procedure with little inconvenience to the customer, as the company's personnel would counsel them on their loan requirement and the relevant documents that were needed.

"In the past, the customers came to us for their home loan requirements, but now we are going out to meet the customers to assist them at their doorstep in the shortest possible time."

People availing of loan through this scheme would benefit with a personalised service by the company, he said.

For more information, contact 9895303953.

SPEED (Southern Prosperity through Enhanced Economic Development)

In a bid to project Madurai as the next IT destination after Coimbatore, the Tamil Nadu Government has tied-up with the Confederation of Indian Industry –Southern Region (CII-SR), to organize a unique exposition-cum-conference called SPEED (Southern Prosperity through Enhanced Economic Development).

The three-day event to be held at Madurai from December 1, 2006 will be an interactive and demonstrative exhibition, along with a two-day conference and a buyer-seller meet. The main focus of the event would be to promote Madurai and other Southern Districts, as the next IT destination in Tamil Nadu.

Addressing the media, R Dinesh, executive director of TVS & Sons, and co-chairperson of SPEED 2006, said that the objectives of the event are to quantify and to project the strengths of the southern districts of Tamil Nadu by creating hubs, satellites and corridors with the focus on emerging sectors, apart from education, food processing, textiles, health care services and tourism sectors.

“The southern districts contribute over 19 per cent of the GSDP, have already attracted infrastructure investments of over Rs 33,000 crore. Since the region is abundant with skilled manpower, the region will continue to attract fresh investment in infrastructure and the manufacturing sector, which has the potential to create 80,000 new jobs in the next three years,” he said.

“SPEED would harness new investment initiatives and business opportunities for the southern districts of Madurai, Sivagangai, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Virudhunagar, Ramanathapuram and Kanyakumari; initiate new innovative ideas; create platform for partnership and networking opportunities and encourage entrepreneurship among students,” Dinesh said.

CII has proposed a strategy to create a manufacturing hub in Madurai and satellite hubs at Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi, an export-cum-services hub at Thoothukudi, knowledge corridors at Madurai, Virudhunagar and Tirunelveli, and tourism corridors at Madurai, Karaikudi, Ramanathapuram and Kanyakumari.

Dinesh said the conference would discuss services & IT excellence in SPEED, opportunities in IT/ITES, educational infrastructure and competitiveness in southern Tamil Nadu, opportunities in automotive/textiles/food processing, key trends and opportunities in health Tourism, destinations in Southern Tamil Nadu and connectivity issues, among others.

“A Skills Training Institute is also proposed to be set up in Madurai to promote soft skills for diploma-holders in particular, which would help improve employability and higher levels of jobs,” Dinesh added.

Source: CIOL

Good show by St. Xavier's HSS of Tuticorin

St. Xavier's HSS, Palayamkottai, had the distinction of scoring two doubles by winning the under-19 and under-17 titles in football and hockey in the Tirunelveli Divisional inter-educational district school games meet at Tharuvai Stadium, Tuticorin, on Wednesday.

The results (all finals):

Football: U-19: St. Xavier's HSS, Palayamkottai, 2 (Arun Selvam, Sivakumar) bt Santhosh HSS, Donavur 0; U-17: St. Xavier's HSS 1 (Praveen) bt Margoschis HSS, Nazareth 0.

Hockey: U-19: St. Xavier's HSS 6 (Selvaraj 2, Navaneethan 2, Selvamathi, Sudhakar) bt VOC HSS, Kovilpatti, 1 (Sudhakar); U-17: St. Xavier's HSS 2 (Karthik) bt Lakshmi Mills HSS, Kovilpatti, 1 (Anandasekar).

Volleyball: U-19: Caldwell HSS, Tuticorin, bt St. Mary's HSS, Vikramasingapuram, 25-22, 25-22; U-17: Caldwell bt Sacred Heart HSS, Irudayakulam, 25-13, 26-24. Basketball: U-19: St. Xavier's HSS, Palayamkottai, bt SAV HSS, Tuticorin, 58-34; U-17: Caldwell HSS bt St. Xavier's HSS, Palayamkottai, 67-49.

Kalaivanar Football Club, Kalanivasal, helped by a brilliant hat-trick from T. Ramaraj, a brace by L. Prabhakaran and a goal by Abdul, thrashed Amaravathi Puthur Football Club 6-1 in the Sivagangai District Football Association `A' division league at Kaleeswara Football Club ground, Kalanivasal, Karaikudi, on Tuesday. The consolation goal for Amaravathi Club was scored by Karthikeyan.

Other results: Blues FCK, Velangudi, 3 (R. Moorthy 2, N. Balasubramanian) bt Black Friends FC, Kottaiyur, 0; Kaleeswara FC 3 (T. Ramaraj, C. Pandi, R. Somasundaram) bt Thennarasu FC, Pallathur, 2 (Sakthivel, M. Karthik); Amaravathi Puthur FC 1 (Raja) bt Kaleeswara FC 0.

Source: The Hindu

Tuticorin airport to be Reviewed for Security

Two senior police officers in charge of reviewing security at airports in the State have completed the process with regard to two airports.

The review of three other airports is expected to be completed in the next few days. The officers had reviewed the security along with Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) officials at theChennai and Tiruchirappalli airports. In general, security arrangements were found to be satisfactory.

The exercise is yet to be undertaken for airports in Madurai, Coimbatore and Tuticorin. A report would be submitted thereafter.

While the CISF was in charge of security inside the airports, security outside was taken care of by local personnel.

One aspect that needed to be considered was whether security inside the airports should be increased given the volume of flights handled, a senior police officer told The Hindu .

The matter relating to parking of government vehicles in front of the terminal building of the Chennai airport remained to be sorted out.

Following the receipt of an anonymous letter by the Tiruchirappalli airport, warning of a threat, Director-General of Police D. Mukherjee asked the Inspector-General of Police, Intelligence, and the Superintendent of Police (Security), to review the security in major airports.

Even as this was on, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation alerted security agencies in the country on possible attacks by Al-Qaeda terrorists on airports and vital installations. Patrolling outside the Chennai airport had been increased and constant vigil was on with regard to access control.

Source: The Hindu

Special trains from Tuticorin to Melmaruvathur

The Minister of State for Railways, R.Velu has ordered that 162 special trains be run to Melmaruvathur from various places and back and stoppage for other trains at Melmaruvathur for a minute from December 15 to February 2 in connection with the Irumudi festival in Melmaruvathur.

The special trains would be operated from Coimbatore, Erode, Palghat Town, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, Dindigul, Tuticorin, Kanyakumari, Madurai, Tirumangalam, Virudhunagar, Rajapalayam, Sivakasi, Srivilliputhur, Manamadurai and Sattur.

Tatas Steel to invest Rs 2500 cr in Tuticorin

Tata Steel will be investing Rs 2,500 crore in its titanium dioxide project in Tamil Nadu.The company has completed the feasibility study and is likely to start production in the first quarter of 2009.

Sources said the size of the project would be 5 lakh tonne of ilmenite (iron titanium oxide from which titanium dioxide is extracted).

The new business will generate significant revenues for the company as titanium dioxide pigment in India is selling at Rs 1-1.2 lakh per tonne.

Tata Steel will have a technology partner for the project and can even explore the possibilities beyond just a technical partnership. “We will need a partner, if only someone want to come on board,” said the sources.

The feasibility study was conducted with a consortium of partners comprising Outokumpu Finland’s physical separation division based in the US, Outokumpu-Lurgi,Germany, Pincock Allen and Holt, US, a resource and mining consulting company, and L&T.

The company was granted prospecting license over 80 sq km area in Tamil Nadu in Tirunelveli and Tutitcorin districts. Tata Steel was supported by MN Dasturco and TZMI, Australia-based marketing and process consultants. The study was designed to be carried out in two parts, the geological resources evaluation and the mineral separation, validation and optimisation of flow sheets.

The sources said the feasibility study had shown that there was not enough water and the company have to set up a sea water desalination plant.

The construction time for the project will be 18-24 months. The project will be in phases with the first one involving mining, mineral separation and value addition.

The final phase will see production of titanium dioxide or pigment, a key ingredient for the paints industry, among others.

However, the project is running 6-7 months behind schedule due to delay in possession of the land. The target was to start the project in the middle of 2008.

Tata Steel requires 5,000 acres of land for the project, which will come up near Tuticorin. The company signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Tamil Nadu government in the middle of 2002.

Source: Business - Standard

Tuticorin will soon become Corporation

In a public meeting held at P&T Colony of Tuticorin, Mrs. Geeta Jeevan, State Minister andMrs. Kastuti Thangam, The Tuticorin Municipal Chairman collected the public requirements from the P&T Colony people and said that these steps are taken so that Tuticorin can satisfy all the needs to become a Corporation. She also said that Minister Stalin has promised that Tuticorin will be made a Corporation soon.

Tuticorin Port Deepens its channel to 14.7 metre

Baalu said the Tuticorin port has taken up a project to deepen its channel to 14.7 metres from the present 12.5 metres. The Rs 450-crore project assumes significance in the light of the ongoing Sethusamudram Ship Channel Project, scheduled to be completed by 2008 at a cost of Rs 2,427 crore.

Once Sethusamudram project in Palk Bay is completed, Tuticorin port is expected to become a port that would attract several bulk carriers that go to Colombo for transhipment, he said.

Tuticorin Airservice profitable from first day - says Air Deccan

Interestingly, Kumar informed that not all new routes take time to mature. Some of them are profitable from the first day or first week itself. Giving example of such routes, he said Delhi-Dehradun, Delhi-Kulu and Chennai-Tuticorin started generating profit on day one while Coimbatore-Hyderabad, an airbus flight, turned profitable in a week’s time.

Source: DNA

New Hi-Tech Shopping Complex in Tuticorin

The Tuticorin based, DSF(Diamond Sea Foods) Group that has many Sea Food Processing and Exporting Facilities in Tuticorin recently bought the Charles Theater in V.E. Road of Tuticorin and started the construction of their Shopping Complex there.

The new shopping complex is named as DSF Grand Plaza. It has 5 floors and an underground parking facility. The complex will incorporate Electronic Escalators which is first implemented in southern Tamilnadu for the first time.

The Plaza will include shopping malls and a 3 Star Hotel in it. Still the construction of this complex is being done and we can expect more features.

Tuticorin is now becoming more modernised like Chennai with the development of new Hi-Tech infrastructures.

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court asks Collectors to remove encroachments in public places in regions within its jurisdiction.

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Wednesday asked Collectors under its jurisdiction to strictly comply with its orders, passed on April 26 last year, to remove encroachments in public places.

Madurai, Theni, Dindigul, Sivaganga, Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli, Tuticorin, Ramanathapuram, Kanyakumari, Pudukottai, Thanjavur, Tiruchi and Karur come under its jurisdiction.

A Division Bench comprising Justice D. Murugesan and P. Murgesen pointed out that there had been large-scale shuffling of officers since the orders were passed and hence the incumbents should be made aware of the 2005 orders, which mandates filing of periodical status reports to the Registrar (judicial) of the Bench.

The judges said even now several writ petitions seeking to remove encroachments were being continually filed before the Bench, despite the categorical orders passed by a Full Bench.

The observations were made while hearing a writ petition seeking a direction to remove some encroachments adjacent to the Government Hospital at Tirupattur in Sivaganga district. The Collector, M.A. Siddique, was present during the hearing.

Initially, passing orders on a public interest litigation petition, a Division Bench of Justice P.D. Dinakaran and Justice Prabha Sridevan on February 17, 2005, directed the Collectors/ Municipal commissioners/ local body authorities in the 13 districts to take effective steps to remove the encroachments by following due process of law.

Pursuant to the Division Bench orders, numerous petitions were filed before the Bench alleging that the officials were evicting residents and demolishing structures by simply citing the High Court order without even issuing a prior notice.

Hence, a Full Bench comprising Justice P.K. Misra, Justice D. Murugesan and Justice A.R. Ramalingam was constituted to resolve the issue.

The Full Bench on April 26, 2005 laid down elaborate procedures to be followed under different statutes such as the Tamil Nadu Municipalities Act, National Highways Act, Tamil Nadu Public Premises (eviction of unauthorised occupants) Act and so on.

Session on human rights for tsunami-hit held at Tuticorin

A two-day `Human Right Defenders' (HRD) training for tsunami victims' organised by the People's Watch and Tsunami Legal Action Committee, both human right organisations, started here on Saturday.

A total of 40 persons from Vilathikulam and Ottapidaram taluks were imparted training on topics such as `Understanding human rights', `Tsunami issues from a right perspective', `Rights and challenges of coastal communities', `An introduction to coastal regulation zone', and `Effects of proposed Coastal management Zone on fishermen'.

Sources said that those who got trained at the programme would in turn educate the entire tsunami-hit fisher folks in their respective blocks, who were yet to receive the relief packages from the Government, on their rights.

Christal Babitha, a lawyer and resource person, explained the salient features of the notification on Coastal Regulation Zone, an area which extends from the high tide line upto 500 metres towards landward area.

She said the proposed amendment on the CRZ notification to form an Integrated Coastal Management Zone (ICMZ) would affect the livelihood opportunities of the fishermen community to a great extent.

"The recommendations to constitute the ICMZ had not taken the housing rights of the fishermen into consideration and hence, it should be feared that they would be uprooted from their `traditional bases' (i.e., beaches), once it was declared as a zone," she added. Thus the notification would alienate the fishermen from their sources of livelihood.

Ms. Babitha said that under the circumstances, the proposed move by the Central Government to amend the CRZ notification was unwarranted.

Source: The Hindu

Man Detained under Goondas Act at Tuticorin

The Collector, R. Palaniyandi, on Tuesday ordered the detention of Chinnaraj (21), an accused in multiple cases, under the Goondas Act.

Aources said the detention was made on the basis of the recommendations by the Superintendent of Police John Nicholson.

Inspector Murugesan of Kovilpatti (west) police station served the order to Chinnaraj at the Central Jail in Palayamkottai, where he is currently undergoing sentence after he was arrested on October 1.

He is involved in 12 cases of murder, extortion and robbery.

Source: The Hindu

Water overflowing from Srivaikundam dam

The dam at Srivaikundam constructed across the Tamiraparani brimmed on Sunday, after water was released from various reservoirs in Tirunelveli district.

The water started overflowing from the dam, after the sluices of the Marudhur dam situated in the upstream were opened.

To avoid flooding in the downstream areas, the district administration immediately diverted a large quantity of surplus water from Marudhur dam to Sadayaneri channel.

This move controlled the water flow through the Srivaikundam dam.

The Collector R. Palaniyandi said the water diverted through the Sadayaneri channel was taken to Puthentharuvai tank situated in Sattankulam taluk, which was constructed primarily to recharge the groundwater table in the region.

The Collector said that the administration would chalk out a comprehensive plan to utilise the water that was drained without any use into the sea once it crossed the Srivaikundam dam.

"We would make efforts to conserve it for irrigation," he said.

A break in the overcast gave sunny spells in the town on Sunday, after incessant rain lashed over the last few days.

However, 25 houses in the district suffered damage, owing to heavy rain on Saturday and in the early hours of Sunday.

Of them, 18 houses situated at Ettayapuram, Kovilpatti, Tiruchendur, Srivaikundam and Tuticorin taluks, suffered partial damage, while one house at Sattankulam, and two houses each at Srivaikundam, Tiruchendur and Kovilpatti, were destroyed.

The district received a total of 293 mm rainfall, with an average of 15.42 mm, during the last 24 hours ending at 8.30 a.m. on Sunday.

Following is the rainfall recorded (in mm) in different places: Tiruchendur-53; Kayalpattinam- 55; Kulasekarapattinam-40; Vilathikulam- 12; Kadalkudi- 16; Vyppar-10; Soorangudi- 16; Kovilpatti-7; Kayathar-11; Kazhugamalai- 5.2; Ottapidaram-2; Vedanatham - 5; Keezha Arasadi-6; Ettayapuram- 7; Sattankulam- 20; Srivaikundam- 11.4 and Tuticorin - 16.4.

Three girls drown in village tank near Tuticorin

Three girls drowned in a tank in Muppilipatti village near Oddapidaram in Tuticorin district yesterday, police said today.

According to police, five girls had gone to the tank for bathing. The tank was full following heavy rains the village and surrounding areas.

Three of them went to deep waters and drowned. The local people retrieved the bodies later.

Four passengers injured in a bus plying between Sayalkudi and Tuticorin

Four persons were injured when a bus plying between Sayalkudi and Tuticorin overturned near here on Tuesday. The injured were admitted to the Tuticorin Government Hospital.

The incident took place when the bus was crossing T. Saveriyarpuram, after the driver tried to give way to a van. According to sources, bus was overcrowded with about 70 passengers.

The Thalamuthu Nagar police have registered a case.

Semen bank building and an in-patient shed at a total cost of Rs 38.26 lakh, at Tuticorin veterinary hospital

Minister for Animal Husbandry, Geetha Jeevan inaugurated a semen bank building and an in-patient shed at a total cost of Rs 38.26 lakh, at a veterinary hospital, here on Tuesday.

While the semen bank building with 447.2 square feet area, was set up at a cost of 34 lakh, the in-patient shed with 220 square feet area was constructed at a cost of Rs 4.26 lakh.

The Semen building constitutes a lobby, a room for doctors, an office room, a laboratory, a storage room, a container room and a toilet.

The Minister, in his inaugral address, said that under the Tsunami Reconstruction Project, training would be imparted to as many as 1,200 farmers living along the coastal areas of the district, in various animal husbandry activities, to increase their income.

Source: NewIndPress

Madurai - Tuticorin NH Project Exempted from Standard Procedures to Speed-up process.

The Union Cabinet's Committee on Economic Affairs, which also met on Thursday, decided to exempt 12 sub-projects under the National Highways Development Project from going through the procedures of the Public Private Partnership Appraisal Committee as the bids for them had been either already decided or awarded.

The bids had already been awarded in the case of eight sub-projects: Gwalior bypass, and Tindivanam-Ulundurpet, Ulundur-Padalur, Padalur-Tiruchi, Thanjavur-Tiruchi, Madurai-Tuticorin, Jhansi-Lalitpur, and Lakhnadon-Madhya Pradesh/ Maharashtra border sections.

Source: PIB

Reliance plans to extend its prposed Pipeline project upto Tuticorin

Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) plans to link Kakinada and Basudebpur, the landing points of its two mega gas sources --- the D6 block in the Krishna Godavari basin and the NEC-25 block off the Orissa coast -- with an 890-km pipeline.
While Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh is the landfall point for gas coming from the D6 block, gas from the NEC-25 block will land at Basudebpur in Orissa.

Going by discoveries already announced by RIL, the current estimated gas reserves from these two blocks stand at over 25 trillion cubic feet.

According to a plan submitted by RIL to the petroleum ministry, such a multi-source system will not only ensure continuity in supplies to consumers but also enhance their reliability and security.

RIL has planned a large network of pipelines to evacuate gas from these two gas sources. With an investment running into billions of dollars, the three mega gas pipeline projects proposed by the company include the 1,500-km Kakinada-Uran (Maharashtra), 1,400-km Kakinada-Chennai-Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu) and the 1,100-km Kakinada-Basudebpur-Howrah (West Bengal) routes.

The petroleum ministry has already floated expressions of interest for booking capacities from these three pipelines, to be built on a common carrier basis.

In addition, Reliance also proposes to extend its pipeline from Chennai to Tuticorin, besides covering Bangalore and Mangalore.

Two more pipelines have been planned from Basudebpur to Cuttack in Orissa and Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh, and from Basudebpur to Howrah, Hooghly and Bardhaman in West Bengal. RIL has also written to the ministry to later extend them to cover Chattisgarh and Bihar.

Following the upscaling in production from its KG basin D6 block, from 40 mmscmd to 80 mmscmd, Reliance has for the time being put on hold plans to develop its NEC-25 offshore gas block in Orissa.

As a consequence, the markets of West Bengal, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, which Reliance had earlier proposed to supply gas from its offshore block, will now be fuelled by supplies from its D6 blocks from 2008-09.

Source: Finiancial Express

Reliance plans to extend its prposed Pipeline project upto Tuticorin

Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) plans to link Kakinada and Basudebpur, the landing points of its two mega gas sources --- the D6 block in the Krishna Godavari basin and the NEC-25 block off the Orissa coast -- with an 890-km pipeline.
While Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh is the landfall point for gas coming from the D6 block, gas from the NEC-25 block will land at Basudebpur in Orissa.

Going by discoveries already announced by RIL, the current estimated gas reserves from these two blocks stand at over 25 trillion cubic feet.

According to a plan submitted by RIL to the petroleum ministry, such a multi-source system will not only ensure continuity in supplies to consumers but also enhance their reliability and security.

RIL has planned a large network of pipelines to evacuate gas from these two gas sources. With an investment running into billions of dollars, the three mega gas pipeline projects proposed by the company include the 1,500-km Kakinada-Uran (Maharashtra), 1,400-km Kakinada-Chennai-Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu) and the 1,100-km Kakinada-Basudebpur-Howrah (West Bengal) routes.

The petroleum ministry has already floated expressions of interest for booking capacities from these three pipelines, to be built on a common carrier basis.

In addition, Reliance also proposes to extend its pipeline from Chennai to Tuticorin, besides covering Bangalore and Mangalore.

Two more pipelines have been planned from Basudebpur to Cuttack in Orissa and Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh, and from Basudebpur to Howrah, Hooghly and Bardhaman in West Bengal. RIL has also written to the ministry to later extend them to cover Chattisgarh and Bihar.

Following the upscaling in production from its KG basin D6 block, from 40 mmscmd to 80 mmscmd, Reliance has for the time being put on hold plans to develop its NEC-25 offshore gas block in Orissa.

As a consequence, the markets of West Bengal, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, which Reliance had earlier proposed to supply gas from its offshore block, will now be fuelled by supplies from its D6 blocks from 2008-09.

NLC to invest Rs 4,500 cr to set up a 1,000 MW plant in Tuticorin

State-run Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd on Tuesday said, it plans to invest Rs 4,500 crore to set up a 1,000 MW power plant in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu.

"We have received approval from our Board to set up a lignite-based power plant. In a week's time, we will send the proposal to the Union Power Ministry for clearance," NLC Chairman and Managing Director S Jayaraman told PTI.

Jayaraman said the company would finance 30 per cent of the project cost from its internal accruals, while the rest would be borrowed from the domestic market.

The company hopes to receive all the necessary approvals in the next six months.

"We have started working on the tendering process," he said, adding the company would place orders for machineries after getting Government clearance.

NLC has already signed an MoU with Tuticorin Port Trust for the project that would come up on a 200 acres of land.

The company would feed the plant with its captive lignite mines. Lignite is known to have far lower ash content than coal and, so, becomes a clean option for thermal energy.

The project has also received clearance from Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, he added.

"The project will be completed in 42 months from the zero date of construction work," he added.

NLC currently generates 2,490 MW of power.

Source: Businness

Tuticorin-Chengalpattu BG line doubling in phases

Doubling and electrification of the Tuticorin-Chengalpattu broad gauge line will be done in phases, Minister of State for Railways R. Velu said here on Saturday.

Flagging off the Chennai Central-Coimbatore (weekly) and Central-Mangalore (tri-weekly) superfast expresses, Mr. Velu said preliminary work on doubling the Madurai-Dindigul section had begun. Sanction had been given for the Chengalpattu-Villupuram section. Doubling of the remaining stretches between Villupuram-Dindigul and Madurai-Tuticorin was under consideration.

Mr. Velu said doubling of the BG line from Chennai Egmore to Tuticorin had become imperative in view of the growing passenger traffic. Southern Railway had to run special trains during festival and peak seasons on the sector.

He said in the last two years 40 new trains were introduced, services of 20 others extended and frequency of nine trains increased. As the zone was passenger oriented, the Ministry wanted to provide additional amenities. In the current financial year, the zone had been permitted to spend about Rs 40 crore.

Responding to State Transport Minister K.N. Nehru's demand for bullet train services from Chennai to Madurai and Coimbatore, the Minister said a policy decision had to be taken for introducing bullet trains.

Earlier, Mr. Nehru said the State Government would soon introduce feeder bus services from major railway stations in the State for the convenience of passengers from the North.

Source: The Hindu

17 houses damaged due to rain in Tuticorin

Seventeen houses were damaged in the heavy rain that lashed district on Friday night and in the early hours of Saturday.

Of this, 13 houses situated at Srivaikundam, Sattankulam and Tiruchendur blocks were partially damaged, while the remaining were fully destroyed.

Meanwhile, pulses such as blackgram and greengram cultivated over 400 hectares were submerged in the district owing to heavy rain the last few days.

Of the total 400 hectares, 80 ha falls at Thenthiruperi village, 70 ha at Gurukatoor, 150 ha at Thurayoor, 20 ha at Suganthalai and 80 ha at Rajapathi village.

S. Subramaniam, Joint Director of Agriculture, the loss could be estimated only after the water got drained from the fields.

Official sources said the district received an average of 30.1 mm rainfall in the last 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. Following is the rainfall recorded (in mm) at various places during the period: Tiruchendur - 32; Kayalpattinam - 70; Kulasekarapattinam - 37; Vilathikulam - 22; Kadalkudi - 38; Vyppar - 6; Soorangudi - 8; Kovilpatti - 43; Kadambur - 16; Kazhugamalai - 52.4 mm; Ottapidaram - 4; Maniyachi - 62; Vedanatham - 7; Keezha Arasadi - 16; Ettayapuram - 22; Sattankulam - 10; Srivaikundam - 121 and Tuticorin - 4.7.

Source: The Hindu

Strategies to eradicate child labour reviewed at Tuticorin

The Collector, R. Palaniyandi, reviewed the strategies adopted to eradicate child labour in the district after the State Government prohibited child labour in `home and hospitality sectors' from October 10, at a meeting of officials from various departments here on Friday.

He asked officials from National Child Labour Project (NCLP), Labour Department and other line departments to step up the vigil and prevent employment of children below 14 years in houses, resorts, road-side eateries, spas and other recreational centres across the district, with the help of a detailed action plan.

"The notification for the ban on child labour in these sectors was an important step since youngsters employed in these occupations have long working hours and live in extremely difficult conditions without basic amenities like toilet facilities and place for resting," he added.

Such employment forces the children to undertake many hazardous activities, which would affect the psyche and health of them.

"At times, they were even subjected to physical violence, psychological trauma and sexual abuse, which otherwise might go unreported," Dr Palaniyandi said.

Reiterating the need for convergence of services to achieve the newly set goals in the eradication of child labour, he said departments of Education, Labour, Factories, Social Welfare and Rural Development should join hands to conduct awareness campaigns on a massive scale.

The Collector instructed the officials to enforce the Child Labour Act, Factories Act, Catering Establishment Act, Minimum Wages Act and Motor Transport Workers Act, more stringently without any impediment.

He also gave directions to them to conduct exclusive meetings for flat owners associations, NGOs, and hotel owners associations, to sensitise them to the provisions of Child Labour Act.

"A survey on child workers in respect of domestic employment should be conducted, to find out the prevalence of children in such occupations, if any," he said.

Dr. Palaniyandi warned that a fine of Rs 20,000 and imprisonment would be awarded to those who employed children below 14 years in the `home and hospitality sectors'.

The Collector urged the public to report the cases of child labour to the special cell set up at the Collectorate. (Telephone numbers: 0461-2340606 and 2335095)

M. Nallaperumal, Project Director, NCLP, and senior officials from various departments attended the meeting.

Source: The Hindu

High Court Bench restrains Tuticorin Collector from handing over the keys for Tsunami Relief House

The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court has restrained the Tuticorin District Collector from handing over the keys of 75 houses constructed for tsunami victims at Vembar village in Vilathikulam taluk.

A Division Bench comprising Justice N. Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice P. Murgesen granted the interim injunction on a public interest litigation petition moved by a villager.

The petitioner, K.S. Rajagopal, said that the Revenue officials had evicted fishermen living on the Vembar seashore during December 2004, when tsunami struck the coastal areas of the State. The officials promised to build houses for all those who had been displaced.

Subsequently, 75 houses were constructed with the assistance of a non-governmental organisation and they were now ready for occupation. But the list of beneficiaries for whom the houses had been allotted included only 26 families living within 200 metres from the seashore and 32 families dwelling beyond 200 metres. The rest of the houses were allotted to the families from other districts, the petitioner said and alleged that many deserving families did not find a place in the list.

Source: The Hindu

New chairman of Thoothukudi district panchayat assumes office

The newly elected chairman of Thoothukudi District panchayat, N Chinnadurai, assumed office, here at the district panchayat council hall in the District Collectorate, on Friday, in the presence of District Collector R Palaniyandi, Secretary of the panchayat Mahadevan Pillai.

Chinnadurai of AIADMK was elected as the chairman of Thoothukudi District panchayat along with MDMK’s Mavelrajan as the deputy chairman in the indirect election held on October 28.

Former minister and the sitting Tiruchendur MLA, Anitha R Radhakrishnan along with other AIADMK MLAs, Sathangulam panchayat union chairman, Anandaraj, Thoothukudi Muncipal councillor, Suresh Kumar and the MDMK district panchayat councillors, participated in the function.

Speaking to reporters, he said that he would strive for the development of the district by giving priority over the basic needs of the people like drinking water and road.

Source: New Ind Press