Talent search examination held in Tuticorin

A talent search examination jointly organised by State Bank of India and Sakthi Vinayakar Hindu Vidyalaya was held on the school premises in Tuticorin on 28th October.

The test was conducted to identify brilliant students and to extend educational loans to them for pursuing higher studies as per the norms set by SBI.

The knowledge of students in Science, History, Geography, Mathematics, Computer Science, General Aptitude, Literature and English was tested in the examination. The tests were conducted in two categories. The students studying in Standard VI to IX were pooled into Category ‘A’, while pupils in Standard X to XII were allocated into Category ‘B’.

A total of 1,200 students (836 in Category ‘A’ and 364 in ‘B’) from 13 schools in the district took part in the event. The results would be declared on a later date.

The winner and runner up in each of the section would get Rs.1,000 and Rs.750 respectively.

A rolling cup would be given to the winners in each of the groups provided they score more than 50 per cent. If the candidates scored more than 60 per cent, they would get a bonus cash award of Rs.500 along with the rolling cup.

‘Orissa Art and Craft Fair’ begins in Tuticorin

A 12-day ‘Orissa Art and Craft Fair’ organized by Utkal Hastasilpa Society, Bhubaneswar, got off to a colourful start at Ramaiah Mahal on 27th October.

An extensive gamut of handloom and handicraft products prepared by traditional artisans from different parts of the country, are on display at attractive prices.

Some of Orissa’s hand woven textiles like saris, which are unparalleled in range and style, are available in a wide range of prices catering to the needs of different sections of society.

Sambalpuri, Bichitrapuri, Bomkei, Pittol and Maniabandhi saris’, priced between Rs.300 and Rs.3,000, have a distinctive elegance about them with its unusual patterns and vibrant yet subtle blend of colours.

Attractive kurtas for men from Jaipur (Rs.180 to Rs.240) and churidars from Punjab made of handloom fabric with embellishments on it (Rs.360 to Rs.1,200), are available.

A good collection of curtains for doors and windows, stitched by artisans from Ludhiana on cotton fabrics, and bed sheets from Haryana and Rajasthan, is offered at tempting prices. Minister for Animal Husbandry P. Geetha Jeevan inaugurated the expo.

Heavy Rain Lashes Tuticorin

Heavy rain is continuing in various parts of Tuticorin.

A house collapsed and one goat was killed at Aadinathapuram village under Tiruchendur taluk in Tuticorin district on Friday. The goat was killed after a compound wall caved in. The district received a total rainfall of 408.4 mm in the last 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. on Friday.

Following is the rainfall recorded ( in mm) by various rain gauge stations during the period: Tiruchendur 3; Kayalpattinam 5; Kulasekarapattinam 2; Vilathikulam 24; Kadalkudi 24; Soorangudi 12; Kayathar 101; Kadambur 52; Kazhugumalai 17; Kovilpatti 4.2; Ottapidaram 11; Maniyachi 59; Keezha Arasadi 3; Vedanatham 2; Ettayapuram 24; Sattankulam 5; Srivaikundam 52 and Tuticorin Harbour 8.2.

Bank of Baroda's Exporters meet in Tuticorin

The Bank of Baroda organised an exporters’ meet in Tuticorin on 26th October evening to elucidate salient features of various export- friendly products promoted by the organisation and to answer queries of their clients pertaining to schemes.

Interacting with exporters, D. Sarkar, General Manager (Southern Zone), said that the exporters having confirmed export orders or having letter of credit from a recognised bank could avail export credit facilities offered by the bank.

“We are offering pre-shipment and post-shipment credits to exporters from the country through rupee-denominated loans as well as foreign currency loans,” he added.

To arrange tailor-made solutions for loan syndication, the bank has opened Regional Syndication Centres (RSCs) in Dubai, London and Singapore. He said that a new on-site ATM would be installed in Tuticorin shortly.

He called upon the exporters to make use of Core Banking Solution facilities offered by the bank in about 1,800 branches in the country and abroad.

Tuticorin BSNL introduces a series of special offers

The Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has introduced a series of special offers for its customers in Tuticorin, in connection with the Navarathri and Deepavali festivals.

Official sources said that individual customers could now get landline or WiLL (Wireless in Local Loop) connection on payment of just Rs.100.

Those who opt for the offer will be given a prepaid card or a post-paid connection without activation charges being levied for them.

As value addition, they will also be allocated an account to access internet free for 25 hours, a caller ID facility worth Rs.50 and an attractive tele-shoppe bag.

In the case of companies, security deposits will not be levied, if the firms apply for a minimum of five mobile, landline or WiLL connections.

The entire offer is valid till November 11.

To help the special offers ‘reach’ the customers, the BSNL conducted a ‘Navarathri telephone mela’ across the district starting at Chidambara Nagar and Mudivaithanendal scheduled on October 22.

The mela was held at at Krishnarajapuram, Kurumbur and Seidunganallur on October 24.

It will be followed by phone galas at Kayalpattinam, Sattankulam, Sonakkanvilai, Srivaikundam, Maniyandi and Kodiankulam on October 25 and at Tuticorin Harbour and Vallanadu on October 26.

The landline and prepaid mobile connections will be provided immediately, if the customers books connection through this melas.

The BSNL has released ‘Call Now’ STD and ISD cards in different denominations of Rs.100, Rs.300, Rs.500, Rs.1,000 and Rs.2,000.

The validity of ‘Call now’ cards in the denomination of Rs.100 will be one month. For other denominations validity has been set at three months.

Using these cards, customers can make local or STD calls to the BSNL network at the rate of Re.1 per minute. For calls made to landline or mobile phone functioning under other networks, Rs.1.50 to Rs.2 will be charged.

Tuticorin Chemists and druggists’ association plea to Government

Members of Tuticorin Chemists and Druggists Association observed a fast in Tuticorin on 23rd October, to press their charter of demands.

According to the agitators, the authorities concerned should not allow the entry of multi-national companies and foreign investment into the retail pharmaceutical sector.

They also wanted the Government to simplify the Value Added Tax (VAT) procedures in the sector immediately.

M. Murugesan, N. Iyankannu and S. Veerabadran, president, secretary and treasurer of the association, respectively, and senior office bearers, S. Karuppiah, E. Arumugam, R.S.P. Gopal and A. Alagarsamy, spoke.

Later the agitators submitted a memorandum to Collector R. Palaniyandi seeking expeditious implementation of their demands.

Green turtle washed ashore

The carcass of a turtle spotted by scientists of the Fisheries College and Research Institute at the Valinokkam coast near Tuticorin a few days ago, was identified as that of ‘Chelonia Mydas,’ a marine green turtle.

It was traced by the FCRI team. The turtle measured 1.2 m in length, 0.75 m in breadth and weighed 25 kg.

CII Workshop conducted in Tuticorin

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Madurai Zone, conducted a workshop on ‘Managing customer service and relations’ in Tuticorin City on 18th October, to enhance the skills and capacity of executives at various levels in industrial units.

Delivering the keynote address, M.M. Balasubrahmaniam, Director, Centre for Organisation and Professional Excellence (COPE), Chennai, said that industry people should give utmost care to improve relations with their customers, if they had to widen their business repertoire.

According to him, customer satisfaction and customer retention was important considering that supply of any particular consumer item was seven times the demand after liberalisation and globalisation set foot in the country.

Satisfied customers would become ‘unpaid salesmen’ of a product provided the customer care services were excellent, as they would propagate his good experience to larger sections of the society.

Conversations over telephone with the customers should be carried out carefully since a company executive was forced to rely on the voice alone without the ‘support’ of body language. Listening skills should be developed if any firm wanted to cater to the changing needs of its customers comprehensively.

Mr. Balasubrahmaniam asked the companies to ‘delight’ the customers by providing them with sundry services that gives value addition to the products and customer relations.

R. Ramasubramanian, chairman, CII (Tuticorin district) and R Edwin Samuel , convener (logistics panel), CII (Madurai zone), spoke.

A total of 48 executives representing 16 companies attended.

Applications invited for award for SHG

The Tuticorin district administration has invited applications from Self-Help Groups and Panchayat Level Federations in the district for Manimegalai Award instituted by the Department of Rural Development.

Official sources said that five best PLFs and 10 best SHGs at the state level would get cash awards of Rs.1 lakh and Rs.50,000 each, respectively. Likewise, one best PLF and three best SHGs at the district level would get Rs.50,000 and Rs.10,000 each, respectively.

As regards eligibility criteria, sources said that SHGs should have been in operation for at least four years, if they had to be considered for the award.

The groups should also have been graded by Mahilar Thittam twice based on the credit rating. Similarly, PLFs would be eligible to contest for the award only if it was functioning for a minimum of two years.

All the SHGs functioning in the respective panchayats should be the part of PLFs, if that particular PLF should qualify for the award.

Sources said that the applications should be forwarded at the earliest to the office of Project Officer of Mahilar Thittam functioning at the Collectorate.

Security beefed up in Tuticorin

The police beefed up security in Tuticorin City and other parts of the district, on 12th October following the bomb blast at the dargah of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinudin Chishti at Ajmer in Rajasthan.

Superintendent of Police Deepak Motibhai Damor said security was beefed up near worship places.

TWAD Employees General body meeting held in Tuticorin

The State general body meeting of Central Organisation of Tamil Nadu Water and Drainage Board Employees was held here on 13th October.

The meeting resolved to carry out a signature campaign against the move to privatise water supply schemes. We would submit a memorandum signed by 10 lakh people to the government, V. Kumar, State Assistant General Secretary, Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), said. The Government must fill about 7,000 vacancies in the TWAD Board. Services of 4,564 contract labourers deployed must be confirmed.

Bonus must be raised from 8.3 per cent last year to 25 per cent.

Faults at thermal plants affect power generation in TN

Power generation has come down by 1,000 MW in Tamil Nadu due to the technical faults at the thermal plants at Neyveli, Tuticorin and North Chennai, Tamil Nadu Electricity minister Arcot N Veerasamy has said.

Two units in Neyveli plant, one in Tuticorin and another in North Chennai were under repair, affecting power generation to the tune of 1,000 MW, he told reporters.

Round-the-clock repair works were going on and in another three days power distribution would be streamlined, he said.

'1977' Shooting begins in Tuticorin

The shooting for Sarath Kumar starrer '1977' commenced at Tuticorin. The movie stars Sarath and Namitha together again after films like 'Chanakya' and 'Aei'.

With his recent release 'Nam Nadu' doing an average business, Sarath Kumar is keen to making his forthcoming movies count at the box office. The actor will have his next 'Vaitheeswaran' release tentatively for Deepavali.

According to Sarath,’ '1977' is an action-packed movie with a strong message for the society. I was impressed when I heard the storyline and readily agreed to do the movie'.

Sarath Kumar, who floated his own political party, is also gearing up to hold the maiden State-level conference of his party, 'All India Makkal Samathuva Katchi', very soon.

Source: IndiaGlitz

Forest Week celebrations concluded in Tuticorin

Forest Week celebrations, organised by the Department of Forests, concluded with a glittering closing ceremony here on 12th October.

Rampati Kushwaha, Conservator of Forests, Tirunelveli, distributed prizes to winners of cultural competitions conducted for students.

Forest rangers, forest watchers, administrative staff and forest guards, who had put in meritorious service during this year, were honoured on the occasion. L. Nadhan, District Forest Officer, was present.

TMB to become clearing banker for MCX

Tuticorin-based Tamilnad Mercantile Bank (TMB) has entered into an agreement with Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) to become its clearing banker.

The tie-up paves the way for brokers to open accounts for settlement purpose. Through this alliance, the bank wants to increase its fee-based income and no-cost deposits, the bank said in a statement.

MCX is an independent and de-mutualised multi-commodity exchange which deals in products such as gold, oil, metals, fiber, pulses, spices, energy and plantations.

TMB has already become a clearing banker for NCDEX (National Commodities Derivative Exchange), thus becoming the only private sector bank in the country to act as clearing banker for both the exchanges.

The agreement was signed by TMB Managing Director and CEO G Narayanmoorthy and MCX deputy Managing Director Joseph Massey.

Source: EconomicTimes

Buckle Canal to be revived at a cost of Rs.25 crore in Tuticorin

The municipal administration here has come out with an ‘interim detailed project report’ to revive the glory of historic Buckle canal passing through the heart of the town, where free flow of water is blocked now.

The report, which was prepared with the technical assistance from Wilbur Smith Associates Private Limited, Chennai, envisage improvement of the 5.88 km long waterway starting from ‘Mundram Mile’ and ends at the ‘Gulf of Mannar’, on an estimated outlay of Rs.25 crore.

The canal which was constructed by the Britons to drain the rainwater into the sea to prevent flooding of the town, has been dying for the last few decades owing to indiscriminate dumping of solid wastes into it.

Official sources told The Hindu that the document was drafted after making scientific assessment of deficiencies of the existing features and alignment of the canal.

A manuscript suggests methodology to overcome the inadequacies pertaining to environment, topography, hydrology, traffic bottlenecks and social parameters.

The study has suggested a constant width of 12.9 metre all through the course of canal by carrying out deweeding, desilting and removal of encroachments.

According to the report, 224 permanent and 196 temporary encroached structures have come up along the canal over the last few years.

“Presently, the width of canal varies from 6 metre to 28.8 metre at different points,” sources said.

Sources said that new minor bridges and causeways would be constructed at 11 places as part of the scheme.

Landscaping will be established and roads will be constructed alongside the canal to beautify its surroundings.

Once the project has been completed, fencing will be provided to prevent solid waste being dumped into the canal and thereby help the canal to retain its aesthetic look. Municipal sources said the project would generate proper drainage facilities and would avoid hardships to the residents owing to inundation.

Source: The Hindu

Precision farming to be introduced at a cost of Rs.16.76 lakh in Tuticorin

Precision farming, a relatively new ‘agriculture management philosophy’, will be introduced in the Tuticorin district by the Department of Horticulture during the current fiscal on an outlay of Rs.16.76 lakh allocated by the Central Government.

The project is aimed at doubling the productivity of hybrid varities of vegetable crops like bhendi, tomato and brinjal.

Mr.S. Sundaram Pillai, Assistant Director of Horticulture, said that the concept would be implemented over 20 hectares of farm in a selected block covering about 30 to 35 farmers.

As part of the scheme, farm development and farm management activities would be taken up from agronomical, technical, environmental and economical perspectives.

Mr. Pillai said that hybrid seeds of bhendi, tomato and brinjal worth Rs 10,000 would be distributed free to beneficiaries for every hectare of land holding.

They would also be provided with water soluble fertilizers like NPK (Nitrogen Phosphorous and Potassium) costing Rs.30,000, and plant protection chemicals worth Rs.10,000, for each hectare.

Under the project, financial assistance at the rate of Rs 28,800 per hectare would be extended to farmers to establish drip irrigation system.

“The facility will optimize the yield with limited use of water and nutrients,” he added.

Owing to use of lesser quantity of water, fertilizers applied at the roots would not be washed away quickly.

A team of resource persons from Agricultural College and Research Institute (ACRI) at Killikulam near here, a constituent college of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, would give technical assistance to the farmers on precision farming methodology at each stage of crop raising.

The farmers would be taught on soil and weather conditions, forewarning of pest attacks and weather mapping.

BSNL Employees Stage Demonstration in Tuticorin

The telecom employees affiliated to Joint Forum of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited Unions/Associations staged a demonstration in front of their General Manager’s office in Tuticorin on 11th October, to pres their charter of demands.

J. Linga Bhaskar, president of the forum, said that the authorities concerned should take steps to procure gadgets to establish third generation Global System for Mobile communication lines at the earliest.

The BSNL should be granted ‘Navaratna’ status, as the organisation was graded ‘excellent’ for the past two years and ‘very good’ during this year.

The decision to increase the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in private telecom companies should be cancelled. The Access Digital Charges and Universal Service Obligation fund should not be phased out.

Mr. Bhaskar said that the stipulation which asks the BSNL to pay the balance sum to the Government if pension amount was computed more than 60 per cent of the total payment by the organisation towards dividend, license fee, corporate tax, excise duty and service tax, should be cancelled.

The forum wanted the Government to take quick action to ensure absorption of entire Group ‘A’ and Indian Telecom Service officers into the BSNL fold. “Presently, most of them are stuck with the Department of Telecommunications even seven years after BSNL was constituted in 2000 and are now working for BSNL on deputation basis, which was affecting the growth, development and expansion of the firm,” he said.

The Government should grant the merger of 50 per cent of DA with the basic pay with effect from January 1, 2004. About 150 employees took part in the agitation.

Risk management system for Tuticorin Customs

Pursuant to the decision of Central Board of Excise and Customs to introduce the ‘Risk Management System’ in major customs locations, where the ‘Indian Customs Electronic Data Interchange System (ICES)’ is operational, the Tuticorin Customs launched the RMS on 9th October.

According to the Commissioner of Customs, Tuticorin, D.P. Singh, the ever-increasing volumes of international trade pose formidable challenge to the Customs. Hence the traditional approach of scrutinizing every document and examining every consignment will only increase the workload. Moreover, there is always a need to reduce the ‘dwell time’ of cargo at the ports and also to reduce the transaction costs in order to enhance the competitiveness of the Indian businesses. At this juncture, advancements in the field of information technology have come to the rescue of the Customs in the form of RMS, “which is expected to strike a balance between facilitation and enforcement and to promote a culture of compliance”.

With the introduction of RMS, the present practice of routine assessment, concurrent audit and examination of all Bills of Entry will be discontinued and focus will be on the quality assessment, examination and Post Clearance Audit of Bills of Entry selected by RMS Bills of Entry and Import General Manifest filed electronically in ICES through the service centre or the Indian Customs and Central Excise Electronic Commerce/Electronic Data interchange (EC/EDI) Gateway will be transmitted to RMS.

It will process the data through a series of steps and produce an electronic output for the ICES. This output will determine whether the Bills of Entry will be taken up for action, appraisement or examination or both or be cleared after payment of duty and out of charge given directly without any assessment and examination. The short of levy, if any, detected during the Post Clearance Audit to be done within 48 hours of clearance of goods, will be recovered from the importers as per law, Mr. Singh said.

The Joint Commissioner, Tuticorin Customs will be the administrator of the RMS and he will be available at 0461 – 2352078 or jagan@tuticorincustoms.org

The Additional Director General (Systems), Mumbai, B. Bhattacharya, launched the system.

Over 7000 works to be carried out at a cost of Rs.56.32 crore in Tuticorin

Collector R. Palaniyandi has said that the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) would execute 7,308 infrastructure development works on a total outlay of Rs.56.32 crore in the district during this financial year.

Speaking to reporters at the grievance day meeting in Tuticorin Collectorate on Monday, he said that of the total allocation, Rs.14.75 crore earmarked under Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana would be utilised to provide additional employment in rural areas as also food security, alongside creation of durable community, social and economic infrastructure.

Under the scheme, anganwadi buildings, bus shelters, causeways, cremation sheds, retaining walls, concrete roads, water bound macadam roads, drainage facilities, drinking water supply and buildings for Public Distribution System (PDS) outlets would be established.

A total of 2,376 houses would be constructed and 528 kuchha houses would be upgraded under Indira Awas Yojana (IAY) at a total cost of Rs.9.45 crore for people from SC/ST community, freed bonded labourers and non SC/ST persons living below the poverty line. Of the total allocation under IAY for the fiscal, 40 per cent would be used towards construction of dwelling units for beneficiaries from non SC/ST category.

He said that sanitation facilities in mofussil areas would be enhanced at a cost of Rs.19.7 lakh under Restructured Central Rural Sanitation Programme. As part of the project, individual household latrines, school toilets, community sanitary complexes and anganwadi toilets would be set up at 55 places. The remaining amount (of the total outlay) would be used to establish biogas units, free houses for beedi workers, street lights and community centres.

Later, he gave away a solatium of Rs.1.45 lakh to the kin of K. Murugesh Kumar, who died in harness while employed as a supervisor at TASMC outlet situated at Seidunganallur near here recently. Likewise, the Collector distributed an accident relief of Rs.84,209 to another TASMAC employee, K. Balamurugan, who was injured in an accident recently.

Sterlite bags ‘Qual Tech Prize-2007’

The Tuticorin Based Sterlite Industries Limited has bagged ‘Qual Tech Prize-2007’ instituted by Qimpro College Mumbai recently. The award was given for the company’s innovative project on ‘recovery of nickel from electrolyte stream’.

Vikram Patni, head of SIL production unit at Sylvasa, and his team, received the award from Alka Mitra, General Manager of Reliance Industries, at Mumbai, recently.

FCRI to develop ‘cell line’ from clown fish

The Fisheries College and Research Institute (FCRI) in association with the National Centre for Cell Sciences, Pune, will carry out a three-year research project using a grant of Rs.42.73 lakh from the Centre, to develop ‘cell line’ from clown fish for first time. Dr.V.K. Venkataramani, Dean, FCRI, said that the development of cell lines from clown fish would help the scientific fraternity to monitor viral diseases in marine ornamental fishes in a systematic manner.

A research team comprising Rosalind George, Riji John (both associate professors at FCRI) and Ramesh R Bhonde, Milind Patole (both scientists at NCCS), will first develop primary cell cultures from brain, fin, caudal peduncle and kidney of juvenile clown fish collected from the Gulf of Mannar.

The primary cultures will then be subjected to various sub-culturing procedures in different types of cell culture media to develop permanent cell lines.

“During the third phase of the study, characterisation of the newly developed cell line in terms of growth, karyotyping and cryopreservation will be carried out using standard protocols,” the Dean said.

The susceptibility to different fish viruses and isolation of fish viruses using the developed cell lines will be examined.

Dr. Venkataramani said that new fish cell line would be of great importance for the development of diagnostics and vaccines for viral diseases which might emerge periodically in cultural systems.

Besides, cell line will be helpful to produce diagnostic reagents like monoclonal antibodies or nucleic acid probes and to conduct eco-toxicity screening.

It can also be applied in biomedical research for screening pharmacological and therapeutic substances.

The Dean said that development of more and more cell lines from different fish species looks to be the need of the hour to carry out in –depth toxicological studies, carcinogenesis, cellular physiology, gene transfer and genetic regulation.

SHG Women get training in Baking

A 13-day training programme organised to enhance the skill of women members of self-help groups under Micro Enterprise Development Programme (MEDP) of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) concluded in Tuticorin on 6th October.

Thirty women from six SHGs received hands-on training in the preparation of bakery products at the Food Processing Centre operated by the V.O. Chidambaram Educational Trust. They learnt making of different types of biscuits, jams, juices, puffs and cakes.

R. Bharat Kumar, Assistant General Manager of NABARD, said that the MEDP was aimed at augmenting the skills and entrepreneurial qualities of members of ‘matured SHGs’ (those groups which were in existence for more than three years) and thereby enhance their income generation capabilities.

“The objective was achieved through short duration, location- specific training and capacity building programmes,” he added.

Tuticorin port to get Electronic Data Interface

An Electronic Data Interface (EDI) would become operational in the Tuticorin port soon, enabling speedy use of port services.

The EDI system, costing Rs 90 lakh, would be installed before December 21, Subbiah, Deputy Chairman Tuticorin Port Trust said addressing the golden jubilee celebrations of Tuticorin Custom House Agents Association (TCHAA).

The system envisages reducing the transaction time for port-users, he said.

On the port's future plans, he said it aims at handling 50 million tonnes by 2012 and 100 million tonnes by 2021.

The Joint Commissioner of the Port Trust, Jeganathan, laid the foundation stone for the Association's new building.

TCHAA's website was also launched at the function.

Hoardings Removed in Tuticorin City

The municipal administration conducted an eviction drive in various parts of the town for the second consecutive day on 5th october.

A total of 19 digital hoardings were removed from West Great Cotton Road and Beach Road.

The drive was conducted by a team led by Municipal Town Planning Officer, M. Rakkappan.

Tuticorin Port sets new Record in handling cargo

The Tuticorin Port Trust has handled 10.032 million tonnes of cargo during the first half of the current financial year.

A. Subbiah, deputy chairman, TPT, said that the performance was 17.98 per cent higher vis-À-vis accomplishment during the corresponding period last fiscal.

He attributed the achievement to handling of more thermal coal, containerised cargo, fertilizers like urea, fertilizer raw materials like rock phosphate, timber and copper concentrate than the pervious fiscal.

According to him, the TPT has taken proactive measures to achieve the annual cargo handling target of 20.3 million tonnes set by the Ministry of Shipping for the port.

“A trade promotion meeting was organised in Chennai recently and issued notices for handling cargo at anchorage,” he said.

The TPT now plans to hold a series of trade promotion meetings and road shows in the coming months to attract more cargo through the port.

Mr. Subbiah said that mechanised handling of timber logs was introduced to improve productivity.

Evening courts opened in Tuticorin

An evening court was introduced in the Thoothukudi district on 3rd October. The court will function at the District Court Complex in Tuticorin city.

Delivering the inaugural address, Principal District Judge B. Gokul Doss said that the introduction of evening court would be of immense help to reduce the case backlog. The court would deal with cases pertaining to minor offences.

The court sources said that two magistrates, S. Sasirekha and T.V. Hemanantha Kumar, were allotted to the evening court on a rotation basis.

Sources added that of the 5,544 cases filed before the judicial magistrates at the district headquarters, 5,422 were disposed during last year.

Likewise, 4,828 cases were disposed of the total 5,095 cases filed before the same magistrates during this year till September-end.

Superintendent of Police Deepak Motibhai Damor said that the evening courts, which were introduced for the first time in Gujarat, were a step towards ensuring speedy justice to common man.

He reiterated the need to popularize innovative methods like video conferencing in the trial process.

Collector R. Palaniyandi was present.

Skill development training for coastal youth in Tuticorin

A skill development training on different trades organised by the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve Trust and Government Polytechnic College, Tuticorin, for youth living in the coastal areas, commenced in Tuticorin on 3rd October.

Official sources said that the training was aimed at enhancing the employment potential of the youth thereby reducing their dependency on marine resources for livelihood.

The training was imparted in computer, welding, auto CAD ( Computer Aided Desgining) in civil engineering and mechanical engineering applications, computerized numerical control lathe works and earth mover operation. All the training programmes expect that of computer course would be completed in three months.

The computer training, which covers usage of MS Word, Excel, Power Point, Tally and Internet, would be given over six months.

A total of 162 youth from 67 coastal villages attended the training.

V.K. Malkani, chief conservator of forests, inaugurated the programme. V.K. Venkataramani, dean, Fisheries College and Research Institute, M. Madasamy, project officer of Mahilar Thittam, and A. Nagarajan, Principal, Government Polytechnic College, were present.

Sun TV to launch FM stations at Tuticorin

Sun TV Network Ltd has announced the launch of FM radio stations at Madurai and Tuticorin under the Suryan FM brand from October 5 through its subsidiary, Kal Radio Ltd.

These stations can be heard at 93.5 MHz frequency in Madurai and Tuticorin.

The total number of operational FM Stations of the Sun TV group now goes up to 11; it already operates FM stations at Chennai, Coimbatore, Tirunelveli, Visakhapatnam, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Bhubaneswar and Tirupati.

Sun TV holds licences for 45 FM radio stations across India and will be one of the largest radio broadcasters in India when all remaining 34 stations becomes operational.

Source: Business Line

Khadi discount sale begins in Tuticorin

Collector R. Palaniyandi inaugurated the Deepavali discount sale of khadi products sold by Tamil Nadu Khadi and Village Industries Board (TNKVIB) at a function held in Tuticorin on 2nd October.

Official sources said that the board had planned to achieve a target of Rs.90 lakh during this Deepavali season through discount sale of shirts, saris, soaps, dhotis, towels and bedspread through its five ‘khadi kraft’ outlets at Kovilpatti, Tuticorin, Tiruchendur, Nazareth and Nagalapuram.

A 30 per cent discount was being offered on khadi cotton and khadi polyester cloth materials, while 20 per cent discount was given on khadi silk saris.

The discount sales will end on November 7. During the last Deepavali , products worth Rs.86.33 lakh were sold in the district against a target of Rs.91.68 lakh, sources said. Dr. Palaniyandi said that yarn worth Rs. 2.72 lakh was produced by the TNKVIB in the district during the last fiscal through its centres at Mudalur, Ottapidaram, Mookkuperi and Pandarachettivilai.

Similarly, 2,237 metre of khadi fabrics was weaved at the units in Tuticorin and Kulasekarapattinam last fiscal.

District Revenue Officer P. Anbarasu, Municipal Chairperson R. Kasturi Thangam, Assistant Khadi Officer S. Muthusamy and Special Officer of Palmgur Federation K. Rathnakumar were present.

Modern slaughterhouse coming up in Tuticorin

The Tuticorin city is set to have its first modern slaughterhouse soon. The facility being built by the municipal administration here on an outlay of Rs. 20 lakh is expected to be commissioned during the third quarter of this fiscal.

The Municipal Commissioner, R. Lakshmi, said that the modern abattoir was planned to supply meat of goats and sheep produced as per the food production standards prescribed by the Government to customers.

“Modernisation of meat establishments has become mandatory to prevent hazards to health of humans. It will help to slaughter the animals in a humane manner and handle the meat hygienically,” she added.

The slaughterhouse will have an entrance and an exit to facilitate the entry of animals at one end and the removal of dressed carcasses and offal through the other end.

The other features of the edifice include a ‘holding pen’ to keep awaiting animals, non-slippery floor, hide store to preserve the skin of animals till they were despatched to tanneries, offal room, storeroom, slaughter hall, hanging hall and delivery hall.

A floor space of at least three square feet will be provided to each of the animals brought to the slaughterhouse.

Ms. Lakshmi said that a ‘condemned meat room’ would be set up inside the building to keep the organ, meat or whole carcass, which were found to be unfit for human consumption during the inspection of dead animals conducted immediately after the slaughtering.

According to her, special care would be taken to ensure that no animal which was pregnant or having an offspring of less than three months old would be slaughtered. The goats and sheep below three months of age too would be spared from slaughtering.

Steps would be made in such a manner to ensure that no animal would be slaughtered in sight of another animal.