Rigging, booth capturing in Thoothukudi municipality

Polling to ward number 2 under the Thoothukudi Municipality, reserved for Dalit women, reportedly witnessed rigging and booth capturing by the members of the ruling party.

Polling was by and large peaceful in the 1,064 booths across the municipal wards till Friday afternoon. However, later in the day, the DMK cadre began flouting norms and started entering booths in several wards.

Meanwhile, several cadres, led by a party functionary Raveendran, were said to have entered the polling booth at Tagore Memorial School booth in ward number 2, where they began dictating terms. The opposition to this by the AIADMK, MDMK and DMDK booth agents fell on deaf ears. Even the security men on duty turned a blind eye to the happenings.

Raveendran and the other DMK cadre allegedly threatened the agents of the AIADMK candidate A Veerammal and the DMDK-supported independent candidate E Kalaiselvi and forced them to leave the booth. The DMK men also prevented reporters, who arrived at the booth on being informed about the incident, while the police played a wait and watch game.

Though the reporters informed the DMK men that the Superintendent of Police, Y John Nicholson, had issued orders over phone that they should be let into the booth, they did not budge making the journalists wait for the DMK district secretary N Periyasamy, father of Minister for Animal Husbandry Geetha Jeevan, to arrive.

When Periyasamy finally arrived, it was the polling officer’s turn to play ‘factotum.’ The officer, who was summoned to the car, ran to the vehicle only to be instructed by the DMK district secretary not to allow scribes inside the booth.

Meanwhile, Raveendran, who was in an inebriated state, showered expletives on journalists and said that anything written about him in papers would only boost his image in the party.

Collector’s response: When this reporter contacted District Collector R Palaniyandi for his comments about the incident, he was quick to negate such an occurrence. He asked the reporter to call back later.

However, when contacted later, the Collector said that though some law and order problems had occurred earlier, the situation was under control.

When asked how polling could be conducted in a fair manner in the absence of booth agents of the Opposition parties, he said, “I cannot interfere in their (booth agents) freedom to leave the booths”.

About the polling officer coming out of the booth to meet the DMK district secretary, Palaniyandi said that it was unfortunate and added that he would look into the matter after the local body elections. The Collector further said that he had sent Thoothukudi Municipal Commissioner, Kanagaraj, who is also the Returning Officer for the municipality, along with the Assistant Returning Officer, municipal engineer Rajagopal to the spot, to set things right.

Source: New Ind Press

Titanium Dioxide project in Tuticorin

Tata Steel will invest Rs 2,000 crore in its titanium dioxide plant in Tuticorin and Tirunelveli districts.

Source: Business - Standard

Two fatally knocked down by truck

Two persons were killed and five injured when a speeding truck knocked them down at Therespuram, police said here today.

All the victims were standing at a waiting shed when the truck hit them at around 5 p.m. yesterday. Muthiah (45) and Yonevass (35) died on the spot, they added.

The injured have been hospitalised and the driver and cleaner of the truck arrested, the police said. (Agencies)

61 per cent polling in Tuticorin district

The first phase of polling held at 1,268 booths, spread over seven panchayat unions, 13 town panchayats, one municipality and one third-grade municipality in the district, was by and large peaceful.

Of the 6,79,257 electorate in the first phase, 61 percentage exercised their franchise, official sources said.

Section wise, 59.5 per cent polling was recorded in Tuticorin municipality, 69 per cent in town panchayats, 54 per cent at the third-grade municipality of Kayalpattinam and 60 per cent in panchayat unions.

The polling gained momentum only in the afternoon. Collector R. Palaniyandi and Election Observer Jatindra Nath Swain were on rounds from 7 a.m.

At around 10 a.m., it came to the notice of the election officials that a senior DMK functionary, who is an ex-MLA, was sitting inside a booth at Polnaickenpettai near the new bus stand.

The Collector instructed the police to send him out of the booth.

At Millerpuram, police chased away autorickshaws deployed by candidates to transport voters.

On complaints from AIADMK cadres of bogus voting in Ward 7 of Tiruchendur Town Panchayat, the Collector said "the matter would be looked into."

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SOURCE Kerry Logistics

International News / Press Release source: PR Newswire
Copyright PR Newswire. All Rights Reserved.

DMK-led combine gains majority in Tuticorin

The DMK and its alliance partners, which constituted the Democratic Progressive Alliance, had won in 28 out of the 51 wards, gaining an absolute majority in Tuticorin Municipality.

Of them, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam candidates have won in 23 wards, Congress bagged four, and Communist Party of India (Marxist) won one seat.

The DMK's tally had technically gone up to 24, a day after the results were announced, as K.V.K. Sami, an Independent candidate, who won from ward 11, joined the party on Thursday. Mr Sami defeated a DMK candidate, Abraham, in the electoral battle.

In the remaining wards, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Independent candidates came out triumphant in 11 each and Bharatiya Janata Party bagged two.

For AIADMK, a major setback came in the form of defeat to its candidate, R. Henry, who was the Chairman between 1996-2001. He lost to A. Balaji of DMK by a margin of 69 votes in Ward 24.

Henry's wife, Frida Henry, who was projected in the party circles as the AIADMK nominee for the post of Chairperson, too lost the electoral battle. She was defeated by T. Annam of DMK, who scored 55 votes more.

The ward 8 and ward 32 saw the closest of the battles, as the margin between the first and the second candidates was just two votes. In ward 8, N Suresh Kumar of AIADMK defeated Selvaraj of CPI, while Eswaran (AIADMK) prevailed over Jeyasingh, an independent, in the ward 32.

S. Palani, an Independent candidate contested in ward 17, registered a dubious distinction of becoming the only candidate in the entire fray to register a `duck' (blank) in the tally of votes.

The Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam, which raised great expectations failed to notch up any seat.

Source: The Hindu

Avoid bursting high decibel crackers: Collector

The Collector, R. Palaniyandi, has urged the public to refrain from bursting crackers, which produce high decibels and cause pollution during Deepavali celebrations.

He told presspersons that steps have been taken to ban sale of crackers in the district, which produce 125 decibels at a distance of four metres, when it goes off.

"Anyone selling such crackers was punishable under the Environment Protection Act, 1986," he said adding that revellers should also refrain themselves from exploding any crackers producing sounds more than 125 decibels.

Dr Palaniyandi said that public should not use crackers manufactured using high quantity of barium nitrate, aluminum powder, sodium nitrate, iron powder, magnesium powder, strontium nitrate and potassium chlorate.

"Bursting of a cracker with these contents would pollute the atmosphere since it would emit high-levels of nitrogen oxide, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide and Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) into the atmosphere, which was harmful to the human beings, when inhaled," he added.


The Collector said that the celebrators should take precautionary measures while bursting crackers.

"They should preferably wear tight cotton clothes and should not use matchsticks to light the crackers," he added.

Bursting of crackers in narrow lanes and in places where a cluster of high-rise buildings were situated should be avoided. Rockets should not be used.

Eyes should be washed with water, if any SPM goes into it.

Source: The Hindu

Nine huts damaged in rain in Tuticorin

Nine huts were partially damaged in the rain that lashed district on Thursday night and in the wee hours of Friday. Of this, five huts were situated at Tiruchendur and two each in Tuticorin and Srivaikundam.

According to Disaster Management and Mitigation Department sources, the district received a total rainfall of 297.6 mm, with an average of 15.65 mm, in the last 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. on Friday.

Following is the rainfall recorded (in mm) at various stations during the period: Ettayapuram - 35; Kadalkudi - 6; Kadambur - 15; Kazhugamalai - 6.4; Kayalpattina - 22; Kayathar - 12; Keezha Arasadi - 18; Kovilpatti -13.6; Maniyachi - 5; Ottapidaram - 18; Sattankulam - 15; Soorangudi - 10; Tuticorin - 60.3; Vyppar - 12; Vedanatham - 40 and Vilathikulam - 9.3.

Wildlife Week celebrations in Tuticorin

The Wildlife Week celebrations observed by the Department of Forests came to a close in the district with a colourful valedictory ceremony here on Tuesday.

Collector R. Palaniyandi said that mankind should not forget to conserve forest cover and natural resources in the pursuit of modernisation. "Inventions made to improve lifestyle should never come at the cost of nature," he said. Stress should be laid on peaceful co-existence of man, animal and nature.

"Children should take the responsibility to spread the message of conservation of forest and its resources to wider sections of society, as forestry is capable of withstanding the fury of nature, as in the cases of tsunamis and cyclones," he added.

Dr. Palaniyandi gave away prizes to the winners of elocution and painting competitions conducted on `wildlife' for school and college students.

The Superintendent of Police, John Nicholson, and the District Forest Officer, L. Nathan, spoke.

Heavy rain in Tuticorin

Heavy rain accompanied by thunder and lightning lashed district on Monday night and in the wee hours of Tuesday.

Official sources said a total of 614 mm rainfall with an average of 32.31 mm was recorded during the last 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. on Tuesday.

The highest rainfall was recorded in Tuticorin, which received 123.6 mm in that period, followed by 71 mm at Kovilpatti.

The precipitation was so heavy that low-lying areas were inundated in the 12 blocks. Saltpans situated along the Tuticorin coastline were submerged.

Though the rain took a break on Tuesday morning, the municipal office premises here was flooded, which forced the authorities to pump out the water.

Traffic was slow in many segments till Tuesday afternoon, as water remained on road surface, owing to poor drainage facilities.

Since power supply was disrupted in places, soon after the downpour started on Monday night, a good chunk of residents had sleepless nights, owing to mosquito menace.

Power was eventually restored only in the morning in areas like Koramballam situated adjacent to the Collectorate.

Making the matters worse, garbage, which remained uncollected in most of the wards, owing to lack of an effective solid waste management system, was seen floated in stagnant water.

District administration sources said that there was no damage or casualty reported from any part of the district.

The weather bureau had predicted more rain for the next 48 hours, but no specific warning was issued to fishermen, so far.

Following is the amount of rainfall recorded (in mm) in various parts: Tiruchendur- 32; Kovilpatti- 71; Vilathikulam - 30; Kulasekarapattinam - 34.2; Ettayapuram - 60; Vedanatham - 14; Vyppar - 35; Kazhugamalai - 47; Tuticorin - 123.6; Kadalkudi - 47; Kadambur-20; Kayathar - 9; Keezha Arasadi- 24; Maniyachi - 26; Ottapidaram - 16; Sattankulam - 9; Srivaikundam - 6.2 and Soorangudi - 10.

Source: The Hindu

Arrangements in place for counting for 22 centres in Tuticorin

The district administration has made elaborate arrangements for the counting of votes, polled during the local body elections, on Wednesday.

Speaking to media persons, Collector R. Palaniyandi said counting would begin simultaneously in 22 centres established across the district at 8 a.m., amidst tight police security.

"Of the total counting stations, 12 were to be used for counting of votes polled in panchayat unions, seven for town panchayats and three for municipalities."

The votes polled at Tuticorin municipality would be counted at Kamaraj College, Tuticorin, while the votes polled at Kovilpatti municipality and at the third grade municipality at Kayalpattinam counted at Ayiravysia Higher Secondary School, Kovilpatti, and St Thomas HSS, Veerapandiapattinam, respectively.

Mr. Palaniyandi said the votes polled at 12 panchayat unions would be counted at centres at Tuticorin, Seiduganallur, Sawyerpuram, Nazareth, Tiruchendur, Pandara Chettivilai, Sattankulam, Kovilpatti, Perilovanpatti and Pudur. Following are the centres identified for counting of votes in the town panchayats, with the names of town panchayats covered under them given in brackets: St Thomas HSS, Veerapandiapattinam (Tiruchendur, Arumuganeri, Authoor and Kanam); S U Middle School, Prakashpuram (Nazareth, Sattankulam and Udangudi); Pope College, Sawyerpuram (Sawyerpuram, Eral, Srivaikundam and Perungulam); Hindu HSS, Alwarthirunageri (Alwarthirunageri and Thenthirupathi); Bharatiar Centenary Memorial Government Girl's HSS, Ettayapuram (Ettayapuram, Vilathikulam and Pudur); Government HSS, Kazhugamalai ( Kazhugamalai); and Veerapandia Kattabomman HSS, Kayathar (Kayathar).

The Collector said that a total of 3,267 personnel were appointed for the counting process and 374 police personnel would be used to ensure protection to the 22 counting centres.

Besides, a team of senior officials was entrusted to monitor the counting in all the 12 blocks.

While the District Revenue Officer would oversee the counting to be held at centres falling under Pudur and Vilathikulam blocks, Project Officer of Mahilar Thittam was assigned to monitor counting at Kovilpatti and Kayathar blocks.

The Project Officer of DRDA would be the supervisor for Tuticorin, Ottapidaram and Karungulam blocks and Joint Registrar of Co-operative Societies would cover Sattankulam and Udangudi blocks.

The Collector himself would supervise the counting at the centres falling under Tiruchendur, Srivaikundam and Alwarthirunageri blocks.

Source: The Hindu

Smuggling activities on the wane in Tuticorin and neighbouring regions

Smuggling activities have been on the decline in Tamil Nadu over the past decade or so following a cut in the import duty on gold and electronic goods in the post-liberalisation era.

According to Central Excise and Customs Department officials, smuggling activities were now largely confined to narcotic substances and illegal dealings in gold or electronic goods were no longer lucrative.

“If at all anyone tries to smuggle valuable commodities like gold, they will be doing it at their own risk because the profit that they get for the smuggled goods is not worth the risk they take. The smuggling activities will be near zero by 2008-2009, when India also reduces its import duty to make it on a par with the ASEAN import duty, to enable free trade of foreign-origin products in the country,” a senior official from the Anti-Smuggling squad of Central Excise and Customs told this website’s newspaper.

According to him, clauses for two types of import restrictions, namely the Trade Restriction and Tariff Restriction, would be eased further and many products, which at present were in the banned or restricted import list, would be allowed for free import and tariff restriction slabs, as in the case of import of foreign cars.

“In this scenario, the smugglers will have no other option than to look for other means of earning money. Narcotics is the only product which still tops the priority list of smugglers. However, Tamil Nadu is not yet the favourable transit route of narcotics smugglers when compared to other metros like Mumbai and Kolkatta, the official said.

“Tamil Nadu has been a transit point for heroin smuggling to Sri Lanka. Only a negligible quantity of heroin has been smuggled to the State for domestic consumption. This, actually, cannot be called smuggling as the contraband has been largely brought for the individual consumption. But I am not saying that there is no commercial selling of heroin here, but it is very minimal,” he added.

The Anti-Smuggling Squad of the Central Excise and Customs, along with the Narcotics Control Bureau and Coast Guard, had been maintaining vigil on major focus areas like Tuticorin, Ramanathapuram and Rameshwaram, apart from city airports to curtail narcotics smuggling to Sri Lanka.

When pointed out that smuggling of used cars had been taking place despite restrictions, the official said, in Tamil Nadu they had not booked many cases relating to undeclared import of used foreign cars.

“There are a few people who import used cars after paying the high customs duty and sell them here for a better margin. The business involved in this is very simple. Used cars are available very cheap, many times for less than Rs. one lakh in foreign countries. Even if they pay the high import duty they can sell it for a better price here. The demand for such cars is also high in the market because of our craze on foreign cars”, the official said.

Source: NewIndPress

Polling stations ready to receive electorate

ENSURING SAFETY: The Collector, R. Palaniyandi, inspecting the locker room at the Government Polytechnic in Tuticorin on Saturday

The district administration has made elaborate arrangements for smooth conduct of the second phase of local body elections, as five panchayat unions, one municipality and five town panchayats go to polls in the district on Sunday.

A total of 4,26,194 electors will exercise their franchise in the second phase. Of them, 3,34,937 are in panchayat unions, 49,579 are in Kovilpatti municipality, and 41,678 are in town panchayats.

Five panchayat unions that go to polls are Kayathar, Kovilpatti, Vilathikulam, Pudur and Ottapidaram. The town panchayats are Ettayapuram, Kazhugamalai, Kayathar, V Pudur and Vilathikulam.

Polling in the only other town panchayat, Kadambur, which was slated in the second phase will not take place, since all the candidates have been declared elected unopposed.

The Collector, R. Palaniyandi, said that 894 polling stations were established for the polls on Sunday, of which 82 were identified as `sensitive'. "We had deployed additional police strength in and around these booths," he added.

Of the total sensitive booths, 18 fall under Kovilpatti municipal limits, 19 under Ottapidaram panchayat union, 12 under Kayathar union, six each under Kovilpatti and Pudur unions, seven under Vilathikulam panchayat union and 14 under various town panchayat limits.

He said 63 zonal teams were formed for the second phase of polls, to deliver the polling materials to the respective polling stations from the panchayat union, municipal and town panchayat headquarters, before the polling commences at 7 a.m. on Sunday.

On Saturday morning, Dr. Palaniyandi inspected a few counting centres to check if adequate security measures were provided at the locker rooms where ballot boxes used in the first phase were stored.

Rigging, booth capturing in Thoothukudi municipality

Polling to ward number 2 under the Thoothukudi Municipality, reserved for Dalit women, reportedly witnessed rigging and booth capturing by the members of the ruling party.

Polling was by and large peaceful in the 1,064 booths across the municipal wards till Friday afternoon. However, later in the day, the DMK cadre began flouting norms and started entering booths in several wards.

Meanwhile, several cadres, led by a party functionary Raveendran, were said to have entered the polling booth at Tagore Memorial School booth in ward number 2, where they began dictating terms. The opposition to this by the AIADMK, MDMK and DMDK booth agents fell on deaf ears. Even the security men on duty turned a blind eye to the happenings.

Raveendran and the other DMK cadre allegedly threatened the agents of the AIADMK candidate A Veerammal and the DMDK-supported independent candidate E Kalaiselvi and forced them to leave the booth. The DMK men also prevented reporters, who arrived at the booth on being informed about the incident, while the police played a wait and watch game.

Though the reporters informed the DMK men that the Superintendent of Police, Y John Nicholson, had issued orders over phone that they should be let into the booth, they did not budge making the journalists wait for the DMK district secretary N Periyasamy, father of Minister for Animal Husbandry Geetha Jeevan, to arrive.

When Periyasamy finally arrived, it was the polling officer’s turn to play ‘factotum.’ The officer, who was summoned to the car, ran to the vehicle only to be instructed by the DMK district secretary not to allow scribes inside the booth.

Meanwhile, Raveendran, who was in an inebriated state, showered expletives on journalists and said that anything written about him in papers would only boost his image in the party.

Collector’s response: When this reporter contacted District Collector R Palaniyandi for his comments about the incident, he was quick to negate such an occurrence. He asked the reporter to call back later.

However, when contacted later, the Collector said that though some law and order problems had occurred earlier, the situation was under control.

When asked how polling could be conducted in a fair manner in the absence of booth agents of the Opposition parties, he said, “I cannot interfere in their (booth agents) freedom to leave the booths”.

About the polling officer coming out of the booth to meet the DMK district secretary, Palaniyandi said that it was unfortunate and added that he would look into the matter after the local body elections. The Collector further said that he had sent Thoothukudi Municipal Commissioner, Kanagaraj, who is also the Returning Officer for the municipality, along with the Assistant Returning Officer, municipal engineer Rajagopal to the spot, to set things right.

Source: NewIndPress

Tuticorin Port Trust (TPT) Chairman NK Raghupathy lost in the contest JNPT deputy chairman to Maya Sinha

Maya Sinha, a 1981 batch Indian Revenue Service officer, is likely to take over as deputy chairperson of the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT).

Tuticorin Port Trust (TPT) Chairman NK Raghupathy has emerged as a strong contender for the post of chairman of the port trust.

Sources from the ministry of shipping said Sinha, who currently handles the finance portfolio of the Khadi and Village Industries Centre (KVIC) with specialisation in income tax, is expected to take charge by the middle of next week.

R Ravikumar, JNPT secretary, had the additional charge of deputy chairman of JNPT following the transfer of Neera Saggi to SEEPZ.

However, the government has not yet issued an order for appointment of a chairman for the port trust. Ravi B Budhiraja retired as chairman in May.

At present, Mumbai Port Trust Chairperson Rani Jadhav holds the additional charge of chairman of JNPT.

Shipping Secretary AK Mohapatra said: “The government is aware that JNPT’s top post is lying vacant. It will shortly appoint a chairman for the port.”

Industry sources said current TPT Chairman and Sethusamudram Corporation Chairman and Managing Director NK Raghupathy is top on the list of contenders for the chairman’s post.

“BrihanMumbai Mahanagarpalika Corporation Municipal Commissioner Johny Joseph was the first choice earlier. But Maharashtra was reluctant to relieve Joseph in the wake of incessant rains followed by floods in Mumbai,” they said.

The source that several Maharashtra cadre IAS officers are also in the race for JNPT’s top post.

Also, the post of chief manager (finance) has been lying vacant for 15 months.

Source: Business Stnadard

Local body elections in Tuticorin

10,343 candidates in fray in Tuticorin district; 992 declared elected unopposed

The stage is all set for a keen contest in the local body elections in the district to be held on October 13 and October 15.

A total of 10,343 candidates are in the fray for the posts of 2,985 village panchayat ward members, 408 village panchayat presidents, 186 panchayat union ward members, 18 district panchayat ward members, 294 town panchayat ward members and 105 municipal councillors.

Of them, 992 candidates have been declared elected unopposed. They include 42 village panchayat presidents, 908 village panchayat ward members and 42 town panchayat ward members.

Among the remaining 9,351 candidates in the contest, 1,402 are vying for the post of village panchayat presidents, 5,395 for village panchayat ward members 833 for panchayat union ward members, 57 for district panchayat ward members, 1,059 for town panchayat ward members and 605 candidates for the post of municipal councillors.

Blockwise, of the 1,402 candidates contesting the post of village panchayat presidents, to be held on a non-party basis, the maximum number of candidates (231) are competing in the Ottapidaram block for a total of 61 posts.

It is followed by 141 candidates in Tuticorin block for 25 posts, 138 in Kovilpatti for 38 posts, 120 in Kayathar for 45 posts and 119 in Vilathikulam for 51 posts.

The minimum number of candidates is in Tiruchendur block, where contest is for 58 posts of village panchayat presidents.

In the urban local body elections, 1,664 candidates are in the contest for elections to the posts of ward members in 19 town panchayats and councillors to Tuticorin and Kovilpatti municipalities and the third grade municipality of Kayalpattinam. Of them, 272 candidates are locking horns for 51 seats in Tuticorin municipality, 229 candidates for 36 seats in Kovilpatti municipality, 104 for the Kayalpattinam third grade municipality and the rest in town panchayats.

Chikungunya under control in Tuticorin

Collector R. Palaniyandi said that chikungunya was under control in the district and there was no death caused so far, owing to the disease.

"Similarly, there were no suspected dengue cases reported so far," he told media persons after reviewing the health scenario in the district at an emergency meeting of senior health department officials here on Monday.

He said that the administration had decided to strengthen information, education and communication activities to stop the breeding of Aedes Aegypti mosquito, which spreads chikungunya as well as dengue.

"We had sought the assistance of school students to intensify the IEC project," he added. The students would be taught on the methods to reduce the breeding sources of Aedes Aegypti mosquito, which uses pure water to lay eggs. The source reduction techniques included removal of stagnant water from tyres, plastic cups and any other vessels, which were left uncovered.

Mr. Palaniyandi said the trained students would, in turn, teach the source reduction methods to people in their household as well as neighbourhood.

The Collector said that special fever clinics were set up in all the 47 Primary Health Centres to treat people down with high viral fever, which was one of the symptoms of chikungunya.

Deputy Directors of Health Aliyar Liaquat Ali and Selva Kumari, District Entomologist C. Manthram, Joint Director of Medical Services Appan Raj and Dean of Tuticorin Medical College R. Sarawathy attended the meeting.

Election arrangements reviewed

Collector R. Palaniyandi and Election Observer Jatindra Nath Swain reviewed the poll preparedness in the district here on Wednesday.

Mr. Palaniyandi oversaw the preparations under way at the counting centre at Government Polytechnic here. He also checked security and infrastructure arrangements.

Similarly, a municipal team headed by Municipal Commissioner K. Kanagraj and Engineer S.A. Rajagopal checked the preparations at the counting centre at Kamaraj College on Tuticorin-Tiruchendur road.

Mr. Palaniyandi said a total of 22 counting centres were established.

"Of them, 12 were in panchayat union limits, seven in town panchayat limits and three in municipal limits," he said.

On the arrangements made by the administration for the polling dates, he said video cameras would be placed in all the 252 polling stations, which were identified as "sensitive," besides putting additional police strength around them.

"The Returning Officers would ensure that the ballot papers were stitched into bundles of fifty, with consecutive serial numbers, and the serial numbers on each ballot paper as well as on its counterfoil were identical, before being taken to the polling stations from the lockers," he said.

Source: The Hindu

Plea to promote cultivation of softwood

Match manufacturers have urged the State Government to promote cultivation of softwood trees and increase match wax production to help the match industry tide over the shortage of raw materials.

Speaking to The Hindu , J. Devadoss, joint secretary, South India Match Manufacturers Association, said the cultivation of matti trees, which yielded the most suitable softwood for making matchsticks, dwindled in Kerala over the last few years, sparking a raw material shortage.

The area planted with matti trees had come down after more farmers started growing rubber and teak, which fetched them more.

"The match industry in Tuticorin, Tirunelveli and Virudhunagar districts, which produces 95 per cent of the match boxes in the State, is dependent on matti," he said.

The second quality matti tree (`B' matti) was grown at Pollachi, Erode, Karur, Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri, but it was not adequate to meet the requirements.

Another softwood tree, `Poplar' , which could produce high quality matchsticks, was available in plenty in the northern States, but transport charges were prohibitive, he said.

"While a kilogram of matti costs Rs.12-Rs.15, the same quantity of Poplar could be fetched only at Rs. 32," manufacturers said, urging the Government to promote cultivation of the matti varieties in the Tamarabarani, Vaigai and Cauvery basins.

Match wax, the second important ingredient, was not produced in required quantity by the Chennai Petroleum Corporation, Mr. Davadoss said.

"The State Government should persuade the Centre to enhance the production of match wax at the CPC to help the match industry, which export 125 containers of match box, worth Rs. nine lakhs, through the Tuticorin port every month," he said.

Source: The Hindu

Efforts on to ensure peace during elections in Tuticorin

The police carried out a flag march in Tuticorin and nearby area on Tuesday to instil confidence among the electors that they could exercise their franchise without any fear in the oncoming local body elections.

Led by Superintendent of Police John Nicholson, 546 contingent comprising two Additional Superintendents of Police, six Deputy Superintendents of Police, 21 Inspectors, 63 Sub-Inspectors, and 454 constables marched from the south police station to Anna Nagar, after passing through 32 transit points.

Collector R. Palaniyandi flagged off the march.

Later speaking to media persons, Mr. Nicholson said a total of 1,500 police personnel would be deployed in the district on the polling dates to ensure peace.

Besides, 1,173 `Special Police Officers' would be inducted into service to assist the police.

"The team of SPOs constituted of 514 ex-servicemen, 35 Fire and Rescue Services Department officials, 10 Forest Department staff, 550 NSS volunteers and 64 retired police personnel," the SP said.

He said that 79 persons were taken into preventive custody and two detained under the Goondas Act.

Status of works on State highways reviewed

K Allaudin, Secretary, Highways Department, State Government, evaluated the status of ongoing development works on the State highways passing through the district at a meeting of senior officials of the department here on Saturday. The Collector, R. Palaniyandi, was also present in the meeting.

Briefing Mr. Allaudin, V Yesu Dhas, Divisional Engineer, Tamil Nadu Road Sector Project, explained the progress regarding the upgradation works under way on the 117.9 km Tuticorin-Rameswaram highway on an outlay of Rs.132.91 crore, which was expected to be completed before the end of 2008.

Of the total 117.9 km, the upgradation of Ramanathapuram-Edampadal sector, totalling 29.1 km, would be completed before June 15, 2007, whereas the works on Sayalkudi-Kulathur sector (38.2 km) would be completed before February 15, 2008.

According to the schedule, upgradation of Kulathur-Tuticorin sector (21.5 km) would be over before April 15,2008.

The works on Edampadal-Sayalkudi (29.1 km), which would be the last sector expected to be completed before December 15, 2008.

As part of the upgradation, 124 small bridges/culverts situated between Tuticorin and Rameswaram would be reconstructed. Of them, 82 would be located in Ramanathapuram district and the remaining in Tuticorin district.

Mr. Dhas updated Mr. Allaudin on the pre-construction activities on the sector such as shifting of electricity poles and water distribution lines, land acquisition and resettlement of houses, which were currently in progress.

Mr. Allaudin checked whether environmental and social issues along the upgradation region were addressed as per the Environmental and Resettlement Management Plan prepared by the Highways Department.

He also studied the progress of other highway development works, including the widening of Tuticorin-Tiruchendur State highway and the construction of new bridges at three different places on an outlay of Rs.11.78 crore.

Of the total project cost (Rs.11.78 crores) envisaged for the construction of new bridges, 95 per cent was procured as loans from the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund set up by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development.

Later, Mr. Allaudin attended a board meeting of Tuticorin Port Trust.

Source: The Hindu

Tickets for special trains sold out

Tickets for special trains, to be operated by Southern Railway to clear the rush during Deepawali and Ramzan, sold out within an hour after the counters opened.

Southern Railway has planned to run special trains between Chennai and Tuticorin, includes two services to Tuticorin from Chennai between October 18 and 24.

The booking, which began 8 a.m. was over by 9 a.m. Each train has a huge wait-list.Many passengers who arrived an hour later were disappointed, as they could get only waitlisted tickets. They suspected that travel agents would have booked the tickets with the alleged connivance of counter staff to sell them at a premium on the date of departure. However, railway officials said the agents were given the same treatment as normal passengers.

Special trains to Tuticorin for Deepavali

The Southern Railway will run special trains between Chennai and Tuticorin to clear extra rush of passengers in connection with Deepavali/Ramzan festivals.

Chennai Egmore - Tuticorin: Train no. 0603 will leave Egmore at 20.00 hours on October 20 and reach Tuticorin at 08.00 hours the next day. In the return direction train no. 0622 will leave Tuticorin at 21.00 hours on October 24 and arrive at Egmore at 09.00 hours the next day; Train no. 0604 will leave Tuticorin at 21.30 hours on October 22 and arrive Egmore at 09.30 hours the next day. In the return direction train no. 0621 will leave Egmore at 17.00 hours on October 23 and reach Tuticorin at 05.30 hours the next day.

Vedanta's Sterlite Tuticorin copper smelter to increase capacity to 400,000 tpa

Vedanta Resources PLC said production volumes for aluminium, zinc and copper - India during the six months to Sept 30 2006 were higher than the same period a year earlier due to the progressive commissioning of the new Korba II smelter and the ramp up of the new Tuticorin and Chanderiya smelters in the second half of the last financial year.

The de-bottlenecking project at the Tuticorin copper smelter to enhance capacity to 400,000 tpa is progressing well and will be completed by December 2006, the group said.

Vedanta said its Phase II expansion projects are progressing on schedule with orders for critical equipment and packages placed. The alumina refinery at Lanjigarh is in the final run-up for commissioning.

The group also said the inventory build up at the end of the last quarter has been largely sold down during the current quarter.

Source: Life Style Extra, London

BSNL holds customer meet in Tuticorin

The Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited conducted a customer meet here on Thursday, to commemorate the BSNL Week celebrations in the district.

N.R. Natarajan, General Manager, BSNL, explained the recently announced tariff plans to customers. He said the monthly rent of `Sulabh' plan for landline customers was reduced to Rs.75 a month. Under `Excel Ananth' pre-paid scheme, customers could make calls to any two BSNL numbers at the rate of 50 paise a minute. Out of these numbers, one should be a landline number. Corporate managers of various private companies were present.

Election materials despatched to Tuticorin

Election materials being kept at the Collectorate for the oncoming local body elections were dispatched to the 12 panchayat union headquarters on Friday.

Revenue staff checked the quality and number of poll materials such as metal seals, voting compartments, paper seals and canvas bags. The Collector, R. Palaniyandi, said that required quantity of materials from these consignments would be sent to the respective polling stations on October 12 for the first phase of polling and on October 14 for the second phase.

Meanwhile, the administration has completed the distribution of 17,75,600 ballot papers — sent by the State Election Commission for elections to the post of village panchayat presidents and village panchayat ward members — to the block headquarters. These ballot papers, which were sent with symbols printed on it, were stored at the Panchayat Union office at Pudukottai near here till Thursday.

Printing of ballot papers for elections to the post of panchayat union ward members, district panchayat ward members and municipal councillors were under way.

Hectic campaign in Tuticorin

With just a few days left for the first phase of local body elections, campaigning has reached its crescendo in the district.

The candidates in the fray, belonging to various political parties as well as independents, were resorting to door-to-door campaigns rather than holding large public meetings to impress the 11, 08,210 electors.

According to experts, personal level interactions with the electors could make a gigantic difference between victory and defeat in the civic polls.

Though it would be mostly a ding-dong battle on the cards between the candidates belonging to the constituents of Democratic Progressive Alliance against the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam combine, the presence of Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) was certain to make the tussle more interesting.

The decision of DMDK to field candidates in 80 per cent of the total 603 seats available in the elections to the post of panchayat union ward members, district panchayat ward members, town panchayat ward members and municipal councillors, could throw a challenge to the major alliances.For the AIADMK-led Democratic People's Alliance and the DMK-led democratic Progressive Alliance, dissidents who are contesting as independents too could be a headache, besides the opposition from DMDK candidates.

Meanwhile, rumours were doing rounds in the district about the differences between the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Congress, which could prove costly for the DPA.

However, K Kangaraj, District Secretary, CPI (M), denied any differences between the cadres of these two parties.

Experts feel that the winners would be the ones who would succeed in convincing the electors on how they are going to overcome the lacunae on the infrastructure front and improve basic amenities such as sanitation and drinking water supply.

Source: The Hindu

More tax exemptions to herbal product industry

At a time when the export of senna and herbals products from the Tuticorin region faces a stiff global competition in terms of price and quality, exporters here feel that the industry should be given more tax exemptions to help them augment exports multifold.

According to industry sources, the Tuticorin region comprising Tuticorin and near-by districts currently export about Rs.120 crore worth of senna and other herbal products per annum.

Raja Sankaralingam, treasurer of Tuticorin Senna Exporters' Association (TSEA) and former Secretary-General of All India Chamber of Commerce and Industry, says, "The Government should exempt the all type of services availed in the course of export and manufacturing of herbal commodities, from the purview of service tax."

Presently, the exporters have to pay service tax on various inputs, which were used in the manufacturing and export marketing chains.

It included levy of service tax on fumigation service, inspection service, forwarding fee, terminal handling charge, lorry hire, and courier charges.

"The service tax imposed on these input services increases the cost of exportable items and makes the herbal products from the region less competitive and unattractive in the international arena," Mr Sankaralingam says.

Moreover, the exporters feel that sales tax exemption given to senna leaves and pods under the Tamil Nadu Sales Tax Act should be extended to senna

stems, senna powder and other plant parts of senna too, considering the fact that large number of farmers in the region solely depend on senna cultivation.

On the quality front, the TSEA wants the Shellac and Forests Products Export Promotion Council under the Union Ministry of Commerce to set up a sophisticated laboratory in Tuticorin.

Owing to lack of testing facilities, the exporters in the belt are now forced to test their produce at labs situated as far as in Chennai, Kochi and Bangalore, which was both time consuming and expensive.

Source: The Hindu

Public hearing on nuclear project expansion postponed

The public hearing by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) at Tirunelveli District Collectorate on Friday on the proposed expansion of Koodankulam Nuclear Power Project was postponed following a strong protest from people, mostly fishermen and farmers from Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts.

Terming the public hearing as a secret hearing, environmentalists and activists, who attended the hearing, charged the TNPCB with wantonly giving advertisement about the hearing a month ago in ‘Economic Times’, the readership of which in the three districts is very negligent, and the Tirunelveli edition of a vernacular press.

‘This is a blatant violation of the Environmental Impact Assessment Notification 1994, according to which, a public hearing is to be conducted for any project with its total project outlay crossing Rs 50 crore, be notified in all vernacular dailies so as to let people in the vicinity of the project site, register their opinions if any,’ said the State committee member of Coastal Action Network (CAN) Jeeva.

The next objection was raised from the farmers in Vilavankode and Kalkulam taluks of Kanyakumari district and some parts of Radhapuram taluk in Tirunelveli district, located adjacent to Kanyakumari district, who depend on water from Pechiparai Dam for cultivation.

Former Killiyoor MLA Kumaradoss who was present on the occasion, said 11.27 million cubic metre water (30,891 cubic metre a day) was needed to meet the annual water demand (for domestic services, fire water make-up and chemical treatment) of the proposed expansion project. Drawing such huge amount of water from Pechiparai Dam could certainly affect the livelihood of the farmers, he added.

Source: NewInd Press

Govt expects pvt investment of Rs 34,000 cr in port sector

Government expects the private sector to chip in Rs 34,000 crore of the total Rs 55,800 crore required by the country's port sector, through the public- private partnership route.

"We expect private sector investment to the tune of Rs 34,000 crore in the port sector," Shipping Ministry Secretary A K Mohapatra told a conference on infrastructure here.

Of the total requirement, he said Rs 32,564 crore would be required for 76 projects for berth construction, Rs 6,034 crore for 25 channel deepening projects, Rs 2,633 crore for equipment, Rs 5,956 crore for 45 connectivity projects and the remaining Rs 8,347 crore for other 78 projects.

Elaborating on the projects, he said nine projects to connect each major port with a four-lane road is being undertaken at an expense of Rs 1,859 crore.

"The project entails almost 299.42 km of road to be built in the next 1-3 years," he said.

All the major ports would also be connected by a double line rail. Eight projects entailing an investment of Rs 2,118 crore have been identified by the Ministry.

The Secretary informed that dredging will also be undertaken at JNPT, Paradip, Mumbai, Ennore, Tuticorin, and Vishakapatnam ports.

Mohapatra said there is immense potential for greenfield ports, captive facilities, besides expansion and upgradation of existing facilities.

He also said that the government is planning an Indian Maritime University and two international size shipyards.

"Investment in in-land water transport infrastructure has also been lined up," he added.

Source: Zee News

Biosphere work takes off after a lull

After a lull since its inception, the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve Trust (GMBRT), a statutory body set up by the Government of Tamil Nadu with the support of Global Environment Fund to preserve the ecology of Gulf of Mannar, has started implementing various projects in the coastal villages of Ramanathapuram and Tuticorin districts.

The extent of GMBRT is 10,500 sq.km. with the core area covering 560 km.

It has 3,600 species of fauna and flora.

Out of the total project cost of Rs.140 crore, Global Environment Fund is funding around Rs.40 crore.

Though the office of the Trust started functioning three years ago, implementation of the project made little progress because of administrative and other problems.

Nearly 50 per cent of officials and field staff deputed from various departments showed little interest to take up their new assignments citing inadequate facilities in Ramanathapuram.

Moreover, the targeted beneficiaries of the project also felt that the project could pose a possible threat to their traditional livelihood.

After a series of confidence-building measures among the fisherfolk and solving administrative problems to a certain extent, the GOMBRT has started various micro-financing projects aimed at giving alternative employment.

"We have cleared a lot of obstacles in implementing the project. A sum of Rs.40 lakh has been given to various Village Marine Conservation Councils to start alternative livelihood programmes. A sum of Rs.4.5 crore will be spent this financial year," Mr. Melkani, Director, GOMBRT, said.

Source: The Hindu

SEZ in Tuticorin Port Land

Tamil Nadu perceives Special Economic Zones (SEZs) as centres to provide employment to skilled and unskilled labour force by utilising uncultivated fallow land. For farmers and land-owners, who are dependent upon rains and often suffer from negative returns, SEZs provide an exciting option for exit.

Irrespective of what is happening in other states, the SEZ development process in Tamil Nadu is going on smoothly. Acquisition of land by the state government or purchase of land by developers has not become a major issue in the state.

One of the reasons for this peaceful development is that most of the SEZs proposed in the state are industry-specific and they do not require land in excess of 330-400 acres. Often the land requirement is much less. This is in contrast to the big SEZs being set up in states like Maharashtra or Haryana.

In Tamil Nadu, the land is being made available to the SEZ promoters through multiple channels.

The principal source of land in Tamil Nadu is the State Industries Promotion Council of Tamil Nadu (SIPCOT) which has already acquired land, mostly ‘low biological potential land’ and dry stretches, to be leased out to industries in the periphery of Chennai and other cities and towns. All the major industries like Sterlite in Tuticorin, Hyundai at Irungattukottai, St.Gobain, Nokia, Flextronics, Motorola etc at Sriperumbudur, are being built on SIPCOT land. Some of them like Nokia are developing SEZs on the land allotted to them.

Land, previously owned by large corporate houses like Standard Motors is also being made available to the SEZs. Tuticorin and Ennore ports have proposed SEZs in their lands. Nanguneri in the south, is the large multi-product SEZ, mostly on government-owned fallow land.

In all these cases owners willingly sell their lands because agriculture in most parts of the districts close to Chennai and other cities has been a loss-making proposition and many farmers had left their land fallow for many years.

A good price and a large sum of money at one go was a great attraction for them and they readily sold the land to government agencies or corporate houses or individuals. Market dynamics play the pivotal role in getting land for non-farm activities in Tamil Nadu, says Ramesh Nair from Jones Lang Laselle.

Real estate market analysts like Rajesh Babu of RECS group says that there could be farmers resistance only if somebody ventured to acquire land in the Cauvery delta region or fertile regions in the Madurai or Kanyakumari districts.

This is most unlikely in the near future.

Source: The Financial Express

Chennai - Thoothukudi Electric traction plan

The Southern Railway has drafted a Rs 2000 crore proposal for electrifying and laying double track from Chennai to Thoothukudi.

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Child workers rescued from shops during joint raids in Tuticorin

The Tuticorin district focus greatly on the abolishment of the Child labour and conducts sevral raid throughout the city as well as the other places in the district to eradicate child labour.

Two child labourers were rescued here on Thursday during joint raids conducted by the officials of the National Child Labour Project and the Labour Department.

M. Nallaperumal, project director, NCLP, said that Sakthivel (13), son of Isakkimuthu, was rescued from a footwear shop situated at V.O.C. Market.

Balavinayagam (13), son of Madasamy, was found to have been employed at a fancy store.

Both the child workers will be enrolled in school soon, Mr. Nallaperumal said.

Tuticorin freight handling complex awarded, achieved net revenue of Rs. 323 crore

Hemant Kumar, Divisional Railway Manager, Southern Railway (Madurai division), said that the division hoped to achieve net revenue of Rs. 323 crore this financial year against Rs. 264.46 crore realised during the previous year.

Of the Rs. 179.40 crore achieved till September 30, Rs. 83.15 crore was generated through passenger movement and the rest from cargo loading, he told reporters here on Wednesday.

On cargo handling, the division has set a target of 25 lakh tonnes for the fiscal against 19.7 lakh tonnes loaded during the previous financial year.

This fiscal, till August 31, a total of 10.06 lakh tonnes of cargo was loaded, surpassing Rs. 10.05 lakh tonnes achieved during the corresponding period last fiscal.

Of the 10.06 lakh tonnes of cargo handled, 85 percent was contributed by the `Tuticorin freight handling complex' comprising Meelavittan, SPIC siding and Tuticorin Harbour stations.

An increase of 0.01 lakh tonnes in the period could be attributed to higher imports of wheat, coal and fertilizer through Tuticorin port, as well as larger quantity of gypsum and salt movement from Meelavittan station.

Payload of wagons stood at 63 tonnes.

By utilising the infrastructure in a better way, the wagon turnaround time in the division would be reduced from 1.7 days clocked in the last fiscal, and the speed of trains increased from 28 km per hour to 30 km or 477 km for an engine a day to 500 km.

Mr. Kumar gave away prizes to the staff of `Tuticorin freight handling complex' in recognition of their contribution in increasing the cargo load.

I. Jayakumar, Senior Divisional Operations Manager, and Robert Rajasekaran, Divisional Engineer, was present.

Source The Hindu

TNEB to increase production by 3,000 MW

The Tamil Nadu Electricity Board's generating capacity is set to go up by at least 3,000 megawatt (MW) in the next five years with three additional units for Ennore and Tuticorin thermal power stations getting approval.

The board is carrying out spadework for projects at the Mettur and North Chennai thermal power plants and in the Kundah group of hydel plants.

For implementing all the expansion projects, an investment of Rs. 12,000 crore will be made, considering that the average cost of one MW is Rs. 4 crore.

While Tuticorin will have two more units of 500 MW each, Ennore, Mettur and North Chennai will get one additional unit of the same capacity. At Kundah, there will be four units of 125 MW. These projects will be in addition to the TNEB's participation in a few joint venture schemes.

At present, the TNEB's plants — hydro, coal-fired and gas-based — have the total capacity of generating 5,550 MW. Besides, the State gets power from the private sector, stations run under the Central sector and other sources, accounting for around 4,530 MW. Apart from them, the total capacity of windmills, biomass and solar plants and co-generation units is about 3,365 MW.

In the case of the projects in Ennore and Tuticorin, the board will initiate the process of selecting consultants soon, sources say.

They will prepare detailed project reports (DPRs) and provide specifications of the proposed plants. Studies on environment impact assessment and environment management plan will be carried out. After obtaining statutory clearances, global bids will be floated.

Source: The Hindu

Madurai-Chennai double decker trains sought

The Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry has urged the Southern Railways to introduce double decker train services between Madurai and Chennai, similar to those introduced by Western Railway in Pune-Mumbai and Surat-Mumbai sections.

The demand was made in a memorandum submitted to the Southern Railway General Manager Thomas Varghese during his recent visit to the city.

According to a press release from the chamber, the introduction of the double decker facility will reduce the prevailing traffic congestion and demand in the sector.

The chamber also appealed for the early completion of the reconnaissance engineering-cum-traffic survey of Madurai-Kottayam sector and the subsequent implementation of the project, which would promote trade and also provide a link between Tuticorin and Cochin harbours.

Another demand put forward by the chamber was the establishment of computer reservation centre on the eastern side of Madurai at Teppakulam to cater to the needs of passengers from that side.

The sprucing up of East Madurai Railway Station with all basic amenities against the backdrop of the resumption of train services in Madurai-Manamadurai section and expected service resumption in Madurai-Rameswaram sector was also pointed out during the parley.

MADITSSIA DEMAND: The Madurai District Tiny & Small Scale Industries Association (MADITSSIA) in its memorandum submitted to the general manager during the same meeting, requested for one more day train in Madurai-Bangalore route and the introduction of a new train between Madurai and Thiruvananthapuram.

Apart from that, MADITSSIA demanded the introduction of a direct train between Madurai and Tirupathi, extension of services of Tenkasi-Chennai train on a daily basis, extension of Bodinaickanur line up to Kottayam for the benefit of Sabarimala pilgrims and laying of new track between Kanyakumari and Chengalpet.

Source: New Ind Press

Meet discusses election strategies held at Tuticorin

To ensure smooth electioneering and free and fair elections, an all-party meeting was conducted at the Collectorate here on Tuesday with Collector R. Palaniyandi in the chair.


The Collector appealed to the representatives of recognised political parties to strictly follow the guidelines of State Election Commission during the poll and on the days of polling.

He said the functionaries and leaders of parties should desist from personal criticism against candidates, using places of worship for campaigning and bribing voters, to ensure smooth polls.

Superintendent of Police John Nicholson and District Revenue Officer P. Anbarasu participated.

District deputy secretary of Communist Party of India M. Pothiyadiyaan, district executive committee member of Communist Party of India (Marxist) K. Arjunan, district literary wing secretary of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam A. Natarajan, town secretary of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam M. Jayapandian and State literary wing deputy secretary of Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Maharajan represented their parties.

Dengu brings more concern after Chikungunya

  Even as the State is battling with cases of chikungunya, the Directorate of Public Health (DPH) has issued an alert for dengue fever following the outbreak of the disease in northern parts of the country.

As both the diseases — chikungunya and dengue — share common factors and are caused by the same mosquito, the Directorate of Public Health is holding a review meeting at Tuticorin on Wednesday to take stock of the situation in 10 southern districts, including Madurai.

Joint Director of Public Health S. Elango said on Tuesday that the State Government had put the health machinery on alert and asked the district health authorities to step up surveillance.

"We have given instructions to the health staff to investigate all cases of fever and evaluate its intensity. If there is any suspicion, the cases should be reported to the DPH immediately," Dr. Elango said. Health Secretary V.K. Subburaj and Director of Public Health P. Padmanabhan would monitor the progress of `Operation Chikungunya' project.

Open Letter to Kofi Annan - Secretary General of United Nations

CONCERNED CITIZENS OF INDIA AND SRI LANKA RE: THE DANGERS OF THE SETHUSAMUDRAM CANAL PROJECT

To
Kofi Annan
Secretary-General
Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General
United Nations, S-378
New York, NY 10017
Tel. 212-963-7162
Fax. 212-963-7055

Honorable Secretary General,

"THAT A MEGA scheme such as the Sethusamudram Ship Canal Project (SSCP), which undoubtedly will change the face the earth in two countries and might exacerbate the possibility of sudden natural disasters such as Tsunamis, Tidal waves or Cyclones.

It could also create the conditions of slow disasters such as the destruction of the ecological system of the Gulf of Mannar (GOM) or the Palk Bay, destroy the breeding grounds for the marine life and thereby ruin the livelihood of millions of fisherman in Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka or ruin the farmers of the Northern Province by gradually increasing the salinity of the ground water.

The serious ramifications and consequences of such an occurrence has been brought to the fore by the recent Tsunami on December 26, 2004, and the 8.7 Earthquake, with the epicenter around the same spot, causing great fear of a repetitive Tsunami tidal wave on March 28 2005. Being rudely awakened just before midnight and running for their dear life would have created a greater "fear psychosis" than last year among the fisher folks and coastal residents, which the pundits in Delhi, Chennai or Colombo might be unable to comprehend. What is more shocking is that all the politicians of both countries have shown a callous disregard to the feelings and sentiments of the POOR fisherman or Farmers, and are only competing with each other for political glory and credit without realizing that this project would not only be a commercial disaster but an ecological disaster as well. The Billion-Dollar question is whether the politicians or the pundit care?

There is also the fear of pollution caused by a marine accident, war, or subversive groups actions, or a slow process of pollution, which will have disastrous effects on marine life, fisheries, and the virgin beaches of both countries. It is an undeniable fact that India as a nation has fought bitter and regular wars with all its neighbors namely Pakistan, Bangla Desh (then, East Pakistan), China and Sri Lanka. There is also news that there are secret plans and schemes within the Indian military to build the Nuclear Sub Marine bases within the Sethu Samudram Canal (SSC) and Palk bay, which will be protected by the landmass of both Sri Lanka and India. Koodankulam in the next 5 years is scheduled to produce over 40 per cent of the Nuclear fuel in India.

Where will a prudent military and government store their nuclear fuel? It would obviously not expose their Nuclear fuel to its sworn enemies. It would be smart and prudent for Delhi to store such Nuclear fuel in the Palk Bay, protected by its fleet of Submarines and the Navy, as well as the friendly neighbor Sri Lanka.

Besides that, the region around the SSC is sparsely populated and only littered with poor fisherman and laborers who have been devastated by the TSUNAMI tidal wave. If there is a nuclear accident, an incident due to war or deliberate acts by certain subversive groups, Tamil People in Tamil Nadu and the Tamils of the Northern Province would suffer immensely. The effects of radiation will most affect both Sri Lanka and South India due to the wind pattern of that region, and ocean currents. Let us not forget the Madras Atomic Power Station (MAPS) Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam was nearly destroyed and many died, forcing the Government of India [GOI] to shut it down. The casualties and damage is still a secret. A more direct hit would cause a huge human disaster worse than Hiroshima and Nagasaki. That is what will happen if Koodankulam takes a direct hit due to cyclone, tidal wave or by an earthquake. There is nowhere to run for the South Indians, particularly Tamil Nadu people or the 20 million Sri Lankans.

For whatever reason, politicians and the Ministers of Indian Government seem to be in a great big rush to execute a SSCP that was conceived not less than 145 years ago by the British. There may be unanimity among political parties in Tamil Nadu on the need for the SSCP; and a sense of righteous indignation that it has taken so long for the Center to implement it. But that does not justify the manner in which the public hearings are being manipulated and handled by certain section of the political parties in the coastal districts of Tamil Nadu, and opposition to the project is being callously dealt with, when people are even beginning to question the independence of the regional judiciary. There may be a host of advantages claimed by the State and the Tuticorin Port Trust [Nodal Body] of the SSCP, under the mistaken illusion of reshaping shipping routes of South Asia like the Suez or Panama Canal. But the government officials fail to DISCLOSE to India, Sri Lanka, and the International community that more than 70 percent of the cargo has to bypass the canal due to the draft restrictions (Not greater than 36,000 tonners) as the canal would be unable to handle most of the oil and gas tankers, grain and bulk carriers, or the container vessels. Furthermore the officials are deliberately miscalculating the distance saved transiting the canal compared to circumnavigating Sri Lanka, nor have they given any time allowance for the transit of the high canal fees and dues for transit as well as pilotage and shipping agency fees. Security issues considering the high security and nuclear zones in the canal, as well as other labor or weather delays has been carefully camouflaged or omitted. The possibilities of navigational errors, and accidents with local fishing boats cannot be discounted, as Murphy's law would be quite alive. When one considers all the factors there might not be even any saving on time, fuel, or other additional costs involved. It is also a fact that GOI is not disclosing the secret long term military plans, and nuclear weapons program for the region.

All these problems were publicly and privately chronicled many months before the Tsunami Tidal wave. With the effects of the Tsunami, and serious Earthquake, and the tremors felt in South India and Sri Lanka there is insufficient oceanic and geological information available to both India and Sri Lanka to permit such an undertaking of this magnitude. The SSCP also involves massive dredging, an estimated 85 million cubic meters of sand and spoil that will need safe disposal. This issue must be addressed honestly and transparently, with the consultation of our neighbour. The near extinction of several marine species unique to the Gulf of Manner [GOM], and the region, as well as the damage to the coral reefs which would lead to loss of fishing and breeding grounds has been very well documented by several professional groups. This also leads to sea erosion, and the effects during tidal waves and cyclones have been practically demonstrated both in 1964 and 40 years later in 2004. We do not need any further proof, and afford to risk the submergence of small islands North of Sri Lanka, which could also have effects on the 1500 atolls of the Maldives, as well as wipe out coastal regions.

India and Sri Lanka should ignore the political exigencies of a few, and give sufficient consideration to the humanitarian issues of the fisherman and the farmer, as well as respect the ecological damages the construction would cause. Tsunami has shown that oceans although within territorial waters of certain nations belong to the whole world or region. India should also keep in perspective and respect the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which both Sri Lanka and India ratified and acceded to, in the mid-1990s. Government of India is obligated to brief the Government of Sri Lanka in a friendly way without economic or military cohesion on the SSCP to rule out any kind of future bilateral problem. The shipping community in Colombo nor the Government of Sri Lanka do not foresee the dangers of the canal and the subsequent loss of container transshipment cargos to and from India, with the major development of the Vallarpadam and Tuticorin Container ports and terminals as well as the major investments in the Indian railways and highways connecting these two ports efficiently with the Industrial cities in the West and Northern India. Colombo port instead of a hub port would be be reduced to a feeder port in the near future.

We urge the citizens of both India and Sri Lanka to commence a Signature Campaign district by district, region by region to let the judiciary, government officials, and their elected representatives at every level to know their genuine fears, sentiments and concern.

So, we urge the judiciary, government officials, and their elected representatives that there should be International Independent Investigations and research done by professional groups and experts prior to going ahead of this Sethusamudram Ship Canal Project.

Source: Siber News

Status of works on State highways reviewed

K Allaudin, Secretary, Highways Department, State Government, evaluated the status of ongoing development works on the State highways passing through the district at a meeting of senior officials of the department here on Saturday. The Collector, R. Palaniyandi, was also present in the meeting.

Briefing Mr. Allaudin, V Yesu Dhas, Divisional Engineer, Tamil Nadu Road Sector Project, explained the progress regarding the upgradation works under way on the 117.9 km Tuticorin-Rameswaram highway on an outlay of Rs.132.91 crore, which was expected to be completed before the end of 2008.

Of the total 117.9 km, the upgradation of Ramanathapuram-Edampadal sector, totalling 29.1 km, would be completed before June 15, 2007, whereas the works on Sayalkudi-Kulathur sector (38.2 km) would be completed before February 15, 2008.

According to the schedule, upgradation of Kulathur-Tuticorin sector (21.5 km) would be over before April 15,2008.

The works on Edampadal-Sayalkudi (29.1 km), which would be the last sector expected to be completed before December 15, 2008.

As part of the upgradation, 124 small bridges/culverts situated between Tuticorin and Rameswaram would be reconstructed. Of them, 82 would be located in Ramanathapuram district and the remaining in Tuticorin district.

Mr. Dhas updated Mr. Allaudin on the pre-construction activities on the sector such as shifting of electricity poles and water distribution lines, land acquisition and resettlement of houses, which were currently in progress.

Mr. Allaudin checked whether environmental and social issues along the upgradation region were addressed as per the Environmental and Resettlement Management Plan prepared by the Highways Department.

He also studied the progress of other highway development works, including the widening of Tuticorin-Tiruchendur State highway and the construction of new bridges at three different places on an outlay of Rs.11.78 crore.

Of the total project cost (Rs.11.78 crores) envisaged for the construction of new bridges, 95 per cent was procured as loans from the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund set up by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development.

Later, Mr. Allaudin attended a board meeting of Tuticorin Port Trust.

Source: The Hindu

Meet discusses procedures on allocation of symbols

The Election Observer for the district, Jatindra Nath Swain, reviewed the preparations made by the administration for the ensuing civic polls at an emergency meeting of revenue and police officials at the Collectorate here on Friday.

Mr. Swain explained the procedures that needed to be followed while allocating the symbols to the candidates for election to the posts of panchayat union ward members, town panchayat ward members and municipal councillors.

"The candidates of recognised political parties should be given their respective party symbols, while the candidates put up by registered but unrecognised political parties as well as Independent candidates should be allocated free symbols," he added. The free symbols were allocated according to the preferences mentioned by the candidates in the nomination papers.

"If more than one candidate opted for the same symbol as their choice, selection will be done through lots," the official said.

In the case of elections to the posts of village panchayat ward members and village panchayat presidents, both of which were held on a non-party basis, symbols would be allocated completely through lots.

Briefing the poll preparations to the Observer, Collector R. Palaniyandi said that a total of 14,080 polling personnel had been assigned for duty to the 2,174 polling stations in the district.

He told Mr. Swain that three types of ballot boxes would be used on the polling date in the district.

"While Tansi (special) model, having a size of 280 mm X 335 mm X 470 mm (length X breadth X height), is capable of accommodating a maximum of 1,600 ballot papers, Tansi (medium) type boxes with a size of 260 mm X 280 mm X 290 mm could accommodate 1,200 ballot papers," he said.

The third model with a size of 200 m X 175 mm X 225 mm is capable of accommodating 500 ballot papers.

He also scrutinised the modus operandi adopted for publication of electoral rolls and security arrangements made by the police to ensure fair polls.

Superintendent of Police John Nicholson, Assistant Superintendent of Police Aswin Kotnis Mukund, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Town) Mohammed Ghori, and Returning Officers appointed for the elections, among others, attended the meeting.

Source: The Hindu

153 nominations rejected in Tuticorin district

A total of 153 nominations were rejected in the district after the scrutiny of 12,026 nominations submitted for the oncoming civic polls was completed here on Friday.

Official sources said that of the total 6,969 nominations submitted for the post of village panchayat ward members, 81 were rejected, while 25 out of the total 1,922 nominations filed for elections to the post of village panchayat presidents were rejected.

The election officials have accepted 1,287 nominations out of the total 1,310 filed for the post of Town Panchayat ward members.

Of the 604 nominations received for elections to the Tuticorin and Kovilpatti municipalities, 15 were rejected owing to non-compliance of official norms.

Similarly, six out of the total 1,014 nominations filed for the election to the post of panchayat union ward members and two out of the 78 nominations filed for the post of district panchayat ward members were rejected.

Fire and Rescue Service conducts mock drill on Tuticorin shore

The Fire and Rescue Service Department conducted mock `search and rescue operations' on the seashore adjacent to the Tuticorin Thermal Power Station here on Thursday.

R.G. Jayakanthan, District Fire Officer, said the operation was conducted to create awareness of evacuation and rescue techniques to the coastal people, prior to the onset of North East monsoon, when there were possibilities of sea getting rough and waves flooding their hamlets.


As part of the exercise, a person who was `taken' away by the tides was `rescued' by the Fire and Rescue Service personnel.

He was then `carried' in an ambulance to the first aid centre, where his life was brought to `normal'.

The Fire service personnel also demonstrated how to rescue a person who got stranded on the top of a building, while the area was flooded by the intrusion of sea, using ropes and ladder.

In all, two fire tenders, an ambulance and other life saving gadgets were used for the mock drill.

The Collector, R. Palaniyandi, and senior officials from the Fire and Rescue Service Department, were present.

Source: The Hindu

Tuticorin anganwadis to have better facilities

The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), under the Department of Elementary Education and Literacy, plans to augment infrastructure facilities at anganwadis in the district with an outlay of Rs 10.98 lakh during the current fiscal under the Early Childhood Care Education (ECCE) project.

S. G. Kumaradoss, assistant district programme co-ordinator of the SSA, told The Hindu that child-friendly environment would be created at 366 anganwadis in 13 blocks. Twenty eight anganwadis each in Alwarthirunageri, Karungulam, Kayathar, Kovilpatti, Ottapidaram, Pudur, Sattankulam, Srivaikundam, Tiruchendur, Tuticorin rural, Udangudi and Vilathikulam blocks and 30 anganwadis in the Tuticorin urban block had been selected for infrastructure upgradation.

"We will provide learning material, fans, mats, pillows, low-level boards and other necessary equipment, worth Rs. 3,000, to each of the selected anganwadis on a need basis, so that the children will have a conducive learning environment," he said.

The new facilities would give emphasis on pleasure, perception and participation of children in schools, in a better manner. "The integrated approach of meeting the needs of children at anganwadis will recognise the continuum of learning and development," Mr. Kumaradoss said.

Besides upgrading anganwadis, 24 cluster resource centres (CRCs) and 40 additional classrooms would be established under the SSA programme in the district during the current fiscal.

The new CRCs will come up on school premises across 13 blocks, with a maximum of two in each block.

"We have also set plans to electrify 130 schools before March 31, 2007."

Source: The Hindu

Railways plan doubling of Chennai-Tuticorin section

The Southern Railway has sent a detailed proposal to the Railway Board for the electrification and doubling from Chennai to Tuticorin at a total cost of Rs. 2,000 crore, Southern Railway General Manager Thomas Varghese has said.

Addressing the media here on Wednesday, he said the single line section was "choked" and the Railways were unable to run more trains in this sector. The proposal has been drawn up keeping this in mind.

Mr. Varghese, who earlier reviewed the status of the ongoing major works in the Tiruchi and Madurai Railway divisions with officials here, said the Southern Railway would recommend to the Railway Board the closure of the 125 km Villupuram-Mayiladuthurai metre gauge section from January 1 for completing the gauge conversion work within a year by the Rail Vikas Nigam Limited.

With regard to the Thanjavur-Tiruvarur broad gauge section, Mr. Varghese said though the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) had cleared the operation of train services between Thanjavur and Needamangalam, he wanted the authorities to take up some safety measures and precautions in the stretch from Needamangalam to Tiruvarur. The safety related measures would be completed by October between Needamangalam and Tiruvarur, after which the CRS would be invited for inspection. The ongoing Vriddhachalam-Attur-Salem gauge conversion work would be completed by the end of this financial year.

The Southern Railway has laid emphasis on improving passenger amenities and additional funds would be provided to all divisions under its jurisdiction for this purpose.

Six stations in Tiruchi railway division, including Tiruchi, Thanjavur, Pondicherry and Kumbakonam and five in Madurai division, including Madurai, Tirunelveli and Dindigul had been identified for improvement of passenger amenities. Extension of platforms, better lighting and electronic display board were being planned.

On the security front, surveillance cameras and closed circuit television sets would be installed in major stations in the zone. Bomb Disposal and Detection Squads would be set up in all the divisional headquarters, Mr. Varghese said.

On the performance of the Southern Railway, he said the zone had witnessed marked increase in passenger, freight and total earnings from April to September 20. The total earnings had risen from Rs. 1226 crore to Rs. 1,401 crore from April 1 to September 20 recording an increase of 14 per cent.

Source: The Hindu

Floating in sea for harmony at Tuticorin

It was a indeed sight to watch Mohammed Ibrahim (55), a native of Ramanthapuram district, stay afloat in the inshore waters near Threspuram coast in Tuticorin, for just over an hour, to bring in harmonious relationship between India and Pakistan.

He also wanted the cross border terrorism that was disrupting the normal life in the country to end.

He carried the Indian and Pakistani flags tied to a bamboo pole while floating.

For Mr. Ibrahim, floating in the sea carrying messages was not new.

He had performed similar stunts against AIDS and for protecting the coral reef eco-system in the Gulf of Mannar.

Source : R. Vimal Kumar

2,560 chikungunya cases in Tuticorin

As many as 2,560 people have been affected by chikungunya viral fever in the district in the recent months, official sources said here yesterday.

However, the figures could be higher as several people get treated at private hospitals, unnoticed by the health department officials.

Necessary steps have been taken to prevent spread of the disease, they said, adding the first case of chikungunya fever was reported in Sattankulam area on April 29.

Dusthagir assured of title

 Dusthagir Ibrahim of Madurai is assured of the title, with a round to spare, in the 19th SPIC Trophy FIDE-rated open chess tournament at Tuticorin. On Saturday, he drew with P. Phoobalan of ICF in the tenth and penultimate round and continues to be the sole leader with 9 points. Three players, top seed International master D.P. Singh of Jharkand, Balasubramanian Ramanathan and Vinoth Kumar of Chennai are on the second spot with 8 points each.

Important results (tenth round): M. Dusthagir Ibrahim (9) drew with P. Phoobalan (7.5); Ramanathan Balasubramanian (8) bt R.R. Laxman (7.5); C. Natarajan (7) lost to D.P. Singh (8); Vinoth Kumar (8) bt Syed Anwar Shazuli (7); M.B. Muralidharan (7) drew with P. Stanley Samson (7); P. Shyam Nikil (7.5) bt Vishnu Prasanna (6.5); M. Kunal (6.5) lost to S. Nitin (7.5).

Indian Bank (Chennai) recovered after losing the first set to beat Integral Coach Factory (Chennai) 19-25, 25-14, 25-22, 25-20 to post its third win in the State-level invitation prize money volleyball tournament at Karaikudi on Friday night. Indian Bank now leads the table with six points in the five-team league.

Indian Overseas Bank recorded its second win defeating Sports Hostel of Excellence (Chennai) 29-27, 25-23, 23-17 and is in second spot with 5 points along with Integral Coach Factory, Chennai which also has the same points.

Sri Lanka Telecom links up with India’s BSNL to offer wider choice

India’s Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited Thursday officially kicked off a 1.8 billion rupee undersea cable unit with Sri Lanka Telecom, which will bring down call rates between South Asian countries.

The optical fibre cable, which run between Mt Lavinia (Sri Lanka) and Tuticorin in India, will enable SLT customers to enjoy high speed broadband services such as audio and video streaming.

“This project, historically, would be the biggest joint investment between India and Sri Lanka,” Sri Lanka Telecom said in a statement.

The Bharat Lanka Cable’s bandwidth of 10 gigabits per second, will be scaled up to a maximum of 160 gigabits per second at a later date, giving customers more connectivity options via Sri Lanka.

SLT also provides high speed global connectivity to South Asian countries through its investments in international submarine cables such as South East Asia, Middle East, Western Europe (SEA ME WE) 3 cable and the SEA ME WE 4.

The country’s biggest fixed line operator with 85 percent market share, SLT is also in the process of laying a submarine link between Sri Lanka and the Maldives through its telco partner Dhirragu.

Japan's Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp. (NTT) controls 35.2 percent of SLT, the Sri Lankan government owns 49.5 percent and the public 15.3 percent.

Source: Lanka Business Online

Electrification of Tuticorin – Chennai line

Southern Railway has sent proposals for doubling and electrification of Tuticorin – Chennai line as per the directions of the Railway Board, he said.

Regarding electrification of Tiruchi - Villupuram section, he said the SR had sought concessional tariff for power and was awaiting the Tamil Nadu government's approval.

Union Minister of State for Railways R Velu has sanctioned Rs 28 crore for improving passenger amenities, he said. Facilities including AC dormitories and touch screens would be introduced at Tiruchi, Thanjavur, Kumbakonam, Puducherry, Madurai, Dindigul, Tirunelveli, Tuticorin and Virudhunagar stations with this money.

Surveillance cameras would be installed and bomb disposal squad would be strengthened further.

Cochin Port sets sights on cargo through Colombo

Sri Lanka’s bustling Colombo Port could soon face a serious challenge from India’s Cochin Port, which is being developed into an international trans-shipment hub.

Port authorities said Cochin Port would in eight years handle around 15 times the number of containers that it processes today, thanks to the Vallarpadam International Trans-shipment Container Terminal project being constructed by Dubai Ports.

And in order to woo away international shipping liners that usually dock at Colombo, it is offering an attractive 50 per cent discount on vessel-related charges to mainline vessels from September 1.

According to Cochin Port Chairman N Ramachandran, with the Vallarpadam Container Terminal project being implemented, Cochin Port will handle around 4 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2014 from the current 250,000 TEUs.

A huge chunk of cargo from India is now moved to Colombo using feeder vessels, from where it is shifted to mother vessels that carry the goods to their final destinations across the globe.

International liners carrying containers from West Asia to Europe, the US and to South East Asia, for instance, also avail the trans-shipment facility offered by the Colombo Port.

However, once the Vallarpadam terminal comes into existence, these international shipping liners can choose between Colombo and Cochin.

Indian exporters would save about a fortnight’s transit time once they start trans-shipping containers from Cochin instead of Colombo, said Ramachandran.

Colombo Port has the capacity to handle around 4 million TEUs. Cochin Port, on the other hand, handled only around 202,000 TEUs of container cargo last year.

Ramachandran said with Cochin Port being developed into a trans-shipment hub, it would become the preferred port for cargo from anywhere in the country.

“We expect that a good deal of container traffic will head straight to Cochin Port,” he said, playing down the stiff competition that is expected to ensue between Colombo and Cochin.

“Ours is the only port that has surplus capacity. Most ports in India are congested,” he added.

Some of the cargo that is now handled by ports such as Tuticorin and Chennai may end up being re-routed through Cochin Port.

According to Ramachandran, the port is also preparing to receive mother vessels with the draught being further deepened to 14 metres from 12.5 metres.

This will enable the port to handle ships that can carry more than 8,000 TEUs, whereas the largest vessel to be serviced at Cochin Port now is a mainline vessel that can carry around 3,000 TEUs.

Almost as if to gear up for the competition, the Sri Lankan government has entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Asian Development Bank for financing the expansion of Colombo Port.

Stage I of the port facility with one 1,200 m long terminal having the ability to berth at least three container ships is expected to be completed by 2009. This will enhance Colombo Port’s capacity by 2.4 million TEUs.

Source: Business - Standard 

Rs 7,000-cr investment for port linkage

 India’s maritime trade is set to witness a major boost in the coming years with strengthening of road and rail connectivity to the major ports. Projects worth Rs 7,000 crore have already been sanctioned so far, this year, for rail and road connectivity to ports.

These include ten road projects to be completed by 2007, and four projects, which are to be sanctioned soon. Eight rail projects for port connectivity are also to be completed by 2008, while five are awaiting clearance. The ports that will gain the most from these projects are Paradip, Haldia, and Tuticorin port. Ports at Kolkata, Ennore, Kandla and Cochin will also see major connectivity work.

Much of the connectivity work is in the form of four-laning of national highways and doubling of railway lines. In the pipeline is also the dedicated freight corridor of the railways. The two corridors, which are being constructed at present, will provide connectivity to Mumbai and Kolkata ports. However, new sections of the corridor, to be constructed during the 12th Five Year Plan aim to connect ports on the eastern and western coast, while another is being planned exclusively for the eastern ports.At present, the 12 major ports handle about 75% of the maritime cargo.

The Centre is aiming for a GDP growth of 8% in a sustained manner and for this, a quantum growth in development and modernisation of port infrastructure, especially for ensuring global competitiveness, is required.A report on the subject by the committee of infrastructure, headed by the Prime Minister, has underlined the need for infusion of new technology and capital building to enhance connectivity of major ports with the hinterland. It has projected a compound annual rate of growth of traffic of 7.43% at these ports by 2014.

For meeting these traffic demands, it had suggested in its report, “Each major port should have at least four-lane road connectivity as well as double line rail connectivity.”

Source: Finiancial Express

Sical to Acquire Singapore-Based Bergen Offshore Logistics

Sical Logistics Ltd, India’s leading provider of integrated multi-modal logistics for bulk and containerized cargo, today announced that it has acquired Singapore-based Bergen Offshore Logistics Pte Ltd, a provider of specialized logistics for offshore oil and gas exploration. The acquisition is a logical extension of Sical’s existing offshore logistics business which operates and manages 17 offshore supply vessels for India’s leading energy exploration company, ONGC Ltd.

Under the terms of the share purchase agreement between Sical Logistics and Bergen Offshore, Sical will pay an all inclusive consideration of USD 96.9 mln towards acquiring 100 % equity in Bergen as well as 3 anchor handling tugs and 1 platform supply vessel.

The acquisition is being funded via USD 16.9 million from the company’s recent FCCB offering and the remaining via a structured loan of USD 80 million from NIBC Bank, Singapore.

Sical’s Vice chairman Ashwin Muthiah said that Sical’s latest acquisition signals Sical’s commitment on offshore logistics as a key focus.

“Globally, in the face of the continuing high demand for energy, the offshore energy exploration space has become very active, and this has created large demand for new generation, deepwater capable support vessels. We see a favorable demand-supply mismatch for the next few years. Customer acquisition will not be an issue as we have demonstrated our expertise in offshore logistics by successfully working with ONGC for a few years now,”Mr Muthiah said.

“With Bergen’s acquisition, Sical has taken its first firm step towards achieving global presence in offshore logistics,” he added.

ABOUT SICAL

Sical Logistics Ltd is India’s leading provider of integrated multi-modal logistics for bulk and containerized cargo─port logistics; inland transportation and warehousing; container stations; and offshore supplies logistics. Sical's delivery network includes an exclusive walk-in berth at Chennai for ships carrying bulk cargo; a container terminal at Tuticorin, 1.9 million square feet of storage across 104 warehouses; owned and regularly contracted fleet of over 2400 transport vehicles, and container freight stations at 4 locations across India. Sical's FY2005-06 revenue was Rs 9.60 billion on Rs 301.9 equity capital.

Source: http://www.businesswireindia.com