Shipyard planned for Tuticorin

Tuticorin Port Trust plans to establish a shipbuilding yard on its premises, to be built on build-operate-transfer (BOT) or lease basis.

Korea Maritime Consultants Company Limited, which conducted a feasibility study, submitted its report to the port authorities

The yard would have a building dock of 1,279.5 ft. in length, 213 ft. in breadth and 32.8 ft. in height and five berths with a total length of 3,937 ft

About 60,000 to 66,000 tons of steel meant for shipbuilding would be handled at the yard in a year

UNICEF to set up salt testing units in Tuticorin

The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) will establish 38 mobile salt testing units in the State during the current fiscal at a cost of Rs. 3 lakh, to ensure that adequate quantity of iodine is present in the salt meant for human consumption.

Speaking to The Hindu , Eric-Alain Ategbo, Project Officer (Nutrition), UNICEF, said the units would be established with the help of the Salt Department, Government of India, in major salt producing districts such as Tuticorin, Ramanthapuram, Nagapattinam, Villupuram, etc.

"Apart from bearing the entire expenses towards establishment of the units, we will extend support to train the technicians appointed by the consortia of salt manufacturers at these units," he added.

Mr. Ategbo said the testing units would help the manufacturers confirm that salt at the manufacturing site contains 30 ppm (parts per million) of iodine.

"The tests, in turn, will ensure that the salt available at the consumer-end will have, at least, 15 ppm of iodine, even after the losses during transit, which is the minimum iodine content required for the human consumption to overcome the iodine deficiency disorders (IDD)," he added.

The UNICEF plans to join hands with Micronutrient Initiative, a Canadian organisation that fights for the elimination of mineral deficiencies, to create awareness among the small-scale manufacturers to sell the salt for human consumption in consumer packs, rather than in bulk packages.

"Iodine can be preserved better in small packs, which also increases the profitability," he added.

Mr. Ategbo said talks are on with the Salt Corporation of Tamil Nadu to orient the staff of Public Distribution System and Civil Supplies' outlets on the importance of selling iodised salt.

Source: The Hindu

Opinion sought on new projects in Tuticorin

The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) conducted a public hearing at the Collectorate here on Thursday, to elicit the views of the public on the proposed multi-crore projects to be taken up by three private firms in Tuticorin on an outlay of Rs.1,583.79 crore.

The Collector, R Palaniyandi, chairman of the Public Hearing Committee, recorded the opinions on the Rapid Environmental Impact Assessment (REIA) report presented by the Sterlite Industries (India) Limited, Ind-Barath Power Gencom Limited and DCW Limited, on their projects.

The DCW Limited plans to upgrade its plant at Sahupuram, near here, at a cost of Rs.475.79 crore, including establishment of a plant to convert mercury cell to membrane cell at a cost of Rs.160 crore to avoid pollution, a reverse osmosis nanosystem and synthetic grade iron oxide plant at a cost of Rs.125 crore and a co-generation power plant on an outlay of Rs.175 crore.

The remaining amount was earmarked for other development works.

The Ind-Barath Power Gencom Limited proposes to establish a 3X63 mw thermal power plant at Keezha Velayudhapuram at an estimated cost of Rs.598 crore. Presenting the REIA, the company officials said the power generated would be distributed to the State grid and to industries situated near the plant.

The Sterlite Industries proposes to establish 2X60 mw coal based power plant to generate power to meet its captive requirements and export a share to the State power grid at an estimated cost of Rs.510 crore.

A group of social activists led by Anton Gomez of National Union of Fishermen walked out from the public hearing, expressing dissatisfaction over the pollution control measures taken by the Sterlite Industries in their previous ventures.

Refuting the allegations, A. Thirunavakarasu, General Manager of Sterlite, stated that adequate amount was earmarked to combat pollution in the proposed project too.

Dr. Palaniyandi asked Tagore De Rose, another activist, to confine his views to the project, when he tried to praise previous projects of Sterlite Industries as a counter to the allegations made against the company by a section of the public. Tension prevailed for a while when members of various NGOs, who supported the DCW's project and those who opposed it, got engaged in verbal duels. S. Shanmugasundaram, District Environmental Engineer, TNPCB, was also present.

Source: The Hindu

Chamber for BG line to Kottayam soon

The Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry has sought early implementation of the Madurai-Kottayam broad gauge line.

In a memorandum submitted to the Union Minister of State for Railways, R. Velu, its president S. Rethinalvelu said that the line would enhance freight traffic and trade between Tamil Nadu and Kerala and boost earnings for the railways.

The proposed line would also link the Tuticorin harbour with Kochi port.

The chamber had conducted a survey on the project and submitted its findings to the Chief Operations Manager (Survey and Construction), Southern Railway.

The need for opening a computerised reservation centre on the eastern parts of Madurai, expediting the construction of road overbridges at Ellis Nagar, Sellur and Koodal Nagar and introduction of escalator facility at Madurai railway station were emphasised.

The chamber urged the Railway Minister to speed up the Madurai-Dindigul broad gauge doubling work, as it would enable introduction of new trains.

Adequate funds should be allocated to the project since the utilisation of the existing single BG line had crossed 140 per cent.

Source: The Hindu

Tuticorin-Ramanathapuram highway to be upgraded

The State Highways Department plans to upgrade the 117.9-km road stretch between Tuticorin and Ramanthapuram to national highway standards by December 15, 2008, on an outlay of Rs. 132.91 crore. This stretch is a component of the `eastern corridor,' connecting Tuticorin with Nagapattinam.

Speaking to The Hindu , V. Yesu Dhas, Divisional Engineer of Highways (Tamil Nadu Road Sector Project), said that the crust thickness of 17 district and village roads on this stretch would be raised uniformly to 70 cm. It would facilitate in bearing heavy volume of traffic envisaged in the sector once upgraded. The road would be widened to seven metres from the present 3.7 metres to facilitate two-lane traffic movement; 124 culverts and seven bridges would be reconstructed.

Preliminary works such as soil testing commenced recently. Wherever subsoil was found expansive in nature with higher clay content, it would be replaced by gravel sand to strengthen the base, Mr Dhas said.

Pre-construction activities such as shifting of water supply lines and electricity poles, resettlement of houses, besides land acquisition, is under way.

Mr Dhas said that 37.5-km long water pipes were shifted at a cost of Rs. 143.96 lakh with assistance from the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board.

Besides, 465 electricity poles and three transformers were shifted to facilitate widening of the road.

The remaining 130 poles and a transformer would be shifted before this month-end, Mr. Dhas said.

Under resettlement and rehabilitation component of the project, 15 houses and four shops were constructed in Tuticorin district and three houses in Ramanathapuram district, to rehabilitate those who were shifted from the roadside.

Mr. Dhas said the upgradation of the road between the two towns would act as a catalyst for the development of 22 revenue villages (11 villages in each district).

Source: The Hindu

Chamber for better coaches in trains to and from Tuticorin

All-India Chamber of Commerce and Industries has urged the Centre to attach coaches in a better condition to the Pearl City Express running between Tuticorin and Chennai.

Its president J.P. Joe Villavarayar said that invariably all the air-conditioned, sleeper and unreserved coaches attached to the train were old and ill maintained whereas the coaches of trains operated to nearby places from Chennai were new and neat. The authorities concerned should end this `step-motherly' attitude, considering the fact the Railway was collecting the same fare as charged for similar trains with better coaches.

The departure time of the Pearl City Express should be changed from 6.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. to benefit a larger section of the passengers.

Mr. Villavarayar urged the State Government to establish new industrial complexes around a 50-km radius from Tuticorin to meet the exponential industrial growth in the region. He said the infrastructure development of the peripheries was essential to create a conducive investment climate. Moreover, the Government should offer incentives to agro-based industries.

The SIPCOT and SIDCO industrial estates in Tuticorin should be expanded.

Steps should be taken to establish an apparel park in Tuticorin to give an impetus to the readymade garment cluster at Puthiyamputhur near here. Proper support from the government would catapult the industry to greater heights.

Source: The Hindu

Demonstration against Sethusamudram project

Members of various non-governmental organisations staged a demonstration in front of the municipal office here on Friday, demanding the authorities to stop the implementation of Sethusamudram Ship Canal Project.

They alleged that owing to the dredging activities under way, fishing nets worth Rs. 1.5 crore had been damaged till date.

The agitators said that ever since the dredging operation affected fishing activities in the Gulf of Mannar and the project was harming the coral eco-system in the region.

They pointed out that a good part of the soil and silt, which were dredged, were flowing back to the channel owing to improper techniques adopted, thus wasting the taxpayers' money. About 150 persons took part in the demonstration.

Source: The Hindu

Baking course for women held at Tuticorin

A six-day course on `Baking and Food Processing' organised by the Holy Cross Home Science College for the benefit of Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe women belonging to self-help groups, will commence on the college premises here on September 18.

The training is sponsored by the Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology, Chennai, to empower women and help them establish business ventures. The training will be given to 30 women on methods to manufacture biscuits, cakes, pickles and other value-added items. Interested candidates should report at the venue at 9 a.m.

Another training programme on fashion designing for 50 SC/ST women, which started last month, will come to a close on September 16.

Source: The HIndu

Entire work for Dredging Corporation

The Tuticorin Port Trust, the nodal agency to implement the Sethusamudram project, has decided to hand over the entire work of executing the project to the Dredging Corporation of India.

It has also started mobilising dredging equipment to the Rameswaram coast to start dredging in the third week of October.

Port Trust Chairman N.K. Raghupathy told The Hindu that the international competitive bids quoted by the foreign companies for three packages of the dredging were higher than the estimated total cost of the project. Moreover, the performance of the Dredging Corporation of India, given the last stage of work (package D), was satisfactory. It had completed six million cubic meters of dredging out of the allotted 13.5 million cubic meters. The DCI would also undertake dredging in the Adams Bridge and the Palk Strait.

Mr. Raghupathy said dredging equipment had started moving to Dhanushkodi. The Port Trust planned to start dredging at the Adams Bridge during the first week of November. However, chances were bright for starting the work in the third week of October. An office established by the Port Trust at Rameswaram had started functioning.

Source: The Hindu

On the art of writing judgements

A workshop on `Appreciation of evidence' and `The art of writing judgement' organised by the Tamil Nadu State Judicial Academy was held at the district court premises here on Saturday. J. Prabhudas, Chief Judicial Magistrate, said the art of writing judgement is always an important quality required for a judge or any other judicial officer, to excel in service.

"Every judicial officer should render foremost attention to acquire perfection during the rendition of judicial pronouncement as the judgements are always a decision of proclaiming rights of the parties in respect of the claim involved," he said. To improve the art of judgement writing, a judge should develop a style conducive to him but within the boundaries of law and available evidence. "The judgements should always be in simple language so that even a man with ordinary abilities can understand it," he said, adding "brevity in writing judgement is a virtue."

On `Appreciation of evidence,' Mr. Prabhudas said the extra judicial confessions should always be subjected to rigorous tests. "If it passed the test, such confessions could be the basis for conviction though it's a weak type of evidence." R.V.R Deenadayalan, subordinate judge, S. Ramamoorthy, Additional District Judge, G. Anuradha, Additional District Munsif and T. Sambath Kumar, District Munsif, spoke.

Source: The Hindu

Youth arrested on murder charge

he police on Saturday arrested Venkatesh (22) on the charge of murdering Suresh Kumar, a salesman at a private firm, and seriously injuring Abbas Ali (26) at Kovilpatti on Friday night. The Superintendent of Police, John Nicholson, said the accused, who came in a car stopped the van in which Abbas Ali and Suresh Kumar were travelling to Nalatinpudur from Kazhigamalai. In the pretext of asking the tool kit, Venkatesh attacked the duo with a sickle. While Venkatesh died on the spot, Abbas Ali was admitted to Tirunelveli Medical College and Hospital with injuries. The accused took away Rs 25,000 kept inside the car.

Mr. Nicholson said, Babu (29), who was an accused in another murder that took place at Srivaikundam a month ago, too was arrested on Saturday.

Infrastructure Development - DELL Manufacturing unit

The infrastructure development in and around Tuticorin is essential to create a good investment climate.
Incentives to Hardware manufactuing unit should be provided.Similarly more incentive should be given to agro based industries as well.Also , to tap the potential of pudhiyamputhur , an apprael park should be established.

Recently DELL announced to set up its Manufacturing unit near Chennai.Though Tuticorin has excellent infrastructure facility, it is unfortunate that there is not much encouragement from the state government to consider/recommend Tuticorin for DELL's investment.

Continuous improvent in the infrastructure facility is required.Tuticorin Port should be connected with Cochin Port through rail .

Existing industrial estate has to be expanded.Tuticorin-Madurai should be made 6 lane soon.

Hope the Government takes notice of this and take the necessary actions immediately.

NHRC urged to intervene

Presidents of 30 panchayats in Vilathikulam constituency in Tuticorin district have requested the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to take action to stop illegal sand mining from Vaippar river bed in the district.

In a memorandum to NHRC member R S Kalha, they said the water table had depleted considerably and sea water had seeped into their borewells making water undrinkable and unfit for irrigation purposes. Illegal sand mining was affecting the livelihood of more than 250 villages, they said.

The quarries violated all government guidelines and had been operating from the check dam site and also from near the borewells which get recharged during rainy seasons.

They said their plea for another check dam near the coastal area to prevent water from going waste into the sea had also been put on hold, though the government had sanctioned Rs 7 crore. Drinking water now cost Rs 2 per pot in the area. The government, they said, could get a bad name if the sand mining was not stopped immediately.

Meanwhile, People's Watch, an NGO and human rights organisation, which sent a fact-finding team to the area, said that the panchayat presidents also charged the police with terrorising them and protecting the sand miners.

Police had clamped prohibitory orders under Section 144. The police, instead of helping people get water, were harassing them, the release alleged.

Source: Chennai Online

93 colour TV sets distributed in Tuticorin

Tamil Nadu Animal Husbandry Minister P Geetha Jeevan inaugurated the free color television scheme today and distributed 93 sets to beneficiaries at Lingampatti Samathvapuram (colony of all communities) at Kovilpatti in Tuticorin district.

A total of 527 beneficiaries have been identified in the first phase in six Samathvapurams - Lingampatti, Pudur, Nagalapuram, Alankanallur, Perurani, Kedayaneri, Tiruchendur. The remaining television sets would be distributed before March 2007.

She said that a total of Rs 750 crore had been alloted for the programme this financial year, to benefit 25 lakh families.

District Collector Palaniyandi and other top officials participated in the function.

The revenue divisional officer of Kovilpatti, Sudarpandian, welcomed the gathering.

Source: ZeeNews.com

Govt to change port projects bid norms

The ministry of shipping is planning to make changes in bidding norms for port projects to avoid delays caused on account of security clearances.

Privatisation of two major ports — Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT), Chennai Port Trust (CPT) — and Vizhinjam port in Kerala have been delayed by six to 18 months due to delays in obtaining security clearance for foreign bidders.

In the case of MbPT and Chennai Port, security clearance was denied to Hong Kong-based Hutchison Port Holdings — the largest independent port operator in the world — that had bid along with Larsen & Toubro (L&T).

In Vizhinjam, Kaidi Electric Power Company and Chinese Harbour Engineering (along with Mumbai-based Zoom Developers) were also denied permission. Realising that security clearance was delaying the projects, L&T replaced foreign partner Hutchison with Manila-based International Container Terminal Services in May.

L&T's request for Chennai port was scuttled and the Rs 495 crore contract finally went to PSA-SICAL combine which currently manages the Tuticorin container terminal.

Mumbai Port, however, accepted L&T's request and has postponed the deadline for submission of financial bids to October 9 to accommodate the company and its new partner.

MbPT expects ICTSI to be given clearance by the cabinet committee on security meeting on September 20. New norms will clarify issues such as the point at which security clearance for the project should be sought. Currently, ports follow varying norms.

For instance, Mumbai Port decided to first wait for the security clearance and then proceed with inviting financial bids while Chennai Port decided to invite financial bids first but the award of contract was made subject to security clearance.

Here L&T lost its chance. While a legal opinion from Mulla & Mulla gave an okay to the company to change its foreign partner (while it retained other terms and conditions of the financial bid), the issue was directed to the shipping ministry for the final approval.

Before ministry of shipping took a decision, the security clearance was denied to Hutchison which was L&T's initial partner.

"As Hutchison was denied clearance, L&T's bid was rejected," said a Chennai port official. But no one from the Chennai Port or the shipping ministry wants to clarify on what happened to L&T's request for the change in partner.

While L&T officials were tight-lipped about the issue, Mumbai Port has no recourse but to extend its bid submission dates as the delays has already turned away many bidders.

Currently, bidders participating in port projects can change consortium partners three weeks before submission of financial bids.

In case of Vizhinjam port which is to be developed as trans-shipment port giving direct competition to Dubai port, Singapore port and Colombo ports, the issue is different.

Financial bids were opened six months ago and the three-company consortium was declared winner. However, final award was subject to security clearance which was denied to the two Chinese companies one of which was the main bidder holding 26% stake in the port.

While the Indian partner, Zoom Developers is trying to salvage the project that will cost Rs 1,800 crore in the first phase itself, by proposing to change the partners, there is no clarity from the government on the issue.

The state government along with the support from the opposition parties is first trying to put pressure on the Central government to give security clearance.

But, as industry experts say, the damage has already been done to Indian ports including the 13 major ports which are planning investments of over Rs 61,000 crore in future.

Source: Times of India

Nafed may lose monopoly over Lankan vanaspati import

ndia may expand the list of state trading entities which can import vanaspati from Sri Lanka. It is also considering allowing private traders to import the commodity.

At present, these imports can be routed only through the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (Nafed).

The relaxation comes on the back of Sri Lanka agreeing to India’s proposal to limit its vanaspati imports, including bakery shortening and margarine, to 2.5 lakh mt.

Officials said the proposals would be finalised only after consultations with the Sri Lankan government. A high-level team is scheduled to hold discussions with their Lankan counterparts next week.

The proposal to allow other state trading enterprises to import vanaspati is being considered in the wake of concerns raised by Lankan vanaspati manufacturers over the lack of clarity on norms outlined by Nafed for distribution and the quantity of imported vanaspati.

Officials said there was another proposal to allow private traders to import vanaspati by applying to the Directorate General of Foreign Trade. “Private traders who have legitimate purchase agreements with Lankan vanaspati manufacturers could be allowed to import,” an official said.

The government is also mulling restricting imports of pepper at certain ports. “Ports like Tuticorin or Cochin could be restricted on pepper imports in order to protect the domestic pepper industry’s interests,” an official said.

Sri Lanka has agreed to consider India’s suggestion for a tariff rate quota (TRQ) of 2,500 mt for pepper imports from the island nation. The TRQ for pepper will be applicable to imports outside the advance licence scheme. Such imports have a re-export clause.

Similarly, the island country has agreed to a TRQ of 500 mt for desiccated coconut at a concessional duty of 30 per cent. The normal import duty on the item is 60 per cent.

Under a TRQ, imports from another country are allowed usually at a reduced import duty up to a fixed limit in a year.

Source: Economy & Policy

Steps to improve amenities by Tuticorin Collector

The Collector, R.Palaniyandi, presiding over a mass contact programme at Umarikottai, coming under Tuticorin taluk, on Wednesday appealed to the public to come out with suggestions to improve basic amenities in villages.

Totally 126 petitions were received during the programme, of which 52 were accepted and the rest were rejected by the Collector.

Dr. Palaniyandi redressed the grievances pertaining to 14 petitions on the spot. Of this, 11 sought patta transfers and the rest demanded free house site pattas.

V.P.R. Suresh, Chairman of Tuticorin Panchayat Union, S Karunanidhi, RDO, and Mariammal, President of Umarikottai village panchayat, were present.

Source: The Hindu

Development works planned on 99 highways in Tuticorin

Development works on 99 highways will be carried out in the district at a cost of Rs.4,568.66 lakh in the current fiscal, said the Minister for Highways, M.P. Saminathan

The works include strengthening of existing roads, laying of new stretches and construction of three bridges, all over a stretch of 219.447 kms.

Mr. Saminathan told this at a review meeting of the road development works taken up in the district during the current fiscal as well as in the previous financial year, held here on Tuesday.

He said that besides development of highways, 24 rural roads would be strengthened during the current fiscal at a cost of Rs.380 lakh.

The Minister said that of the 162 road development works taken up at a cost of Rs.5,998.67 lakh during the last fiscal, 56 works to the tune of Rs.2,647 lakh were completed before March 31, this year.

The remaining 106 works would be completed before February 2007.

Mr. Saminathan said that the Government had upgraded Tuticorin-Tiruchendur Road, as a State Highway.

Till now, the road was classified as a Major District Road (MDR).

He said that the remaining widening works on Tuticorin-Tiruchendur highway on a stretch of two km, would be completed soon.

To bring down fatal accidents, speed breakers would be put up on highways.

The Collector, R. Palaniyandi, and senior officials from the State Highways Department attended the meeting.

Source: The Hindu

Enquire allegations against VAOs, Bench orders Collector

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has directed the Tuticorin District Collector to enquire into the allegation that the village administrative officers of Pandavarmangalam, Kilavipatti and Manthaithoppu villages were illegally quarrying red sand from the hills situated in their locality.

Passing interim orders on a public interest litigation filed by one of the villagers, the First Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Ajit Prakash Shah and Justice K. Venkataraman directed the Collector to submit a report within two weeks.

Earlier, during arguments, the Special Government Pleader said that no such quarrying took place. But the petitioner's counsel produced a few photographs to prove his claim.According to the petitioner, M. Santhanapandi of Pandavarmangalam, the VAOs, in collision with a few private parties, were permitting quarrying of red sand without any permission from the Government. Though he brought the illegality to the notice of the Collector and officials, they did not initiate any action.

Source: The Hindu

Employment of child workers to be banned in Tuticorin

The district administration will prohibit employment of children below 14 years of age from October 10 as domestic workers or servants and in hospitality sector such as dhabas (roadside eateries), resorts, spas and other recreational centres.

M. Nallaperumal, Project Director, National Child Labour Project (NCLP), said the ban was necessitated since the children in these occupations were forced to work for long hours without proper sleep.

Moreover, they were not given proper toilet facilities and were forced to undertake various activities, which are hazardous in nature.

While got employed, the children will have to stay far away from the parental care and were at the mercy of the employers.

"Under such conditions, the health and psyche of the children would be affected and hence the decision," Mr. Nallaperumal said.

At times, the children were even subjected to physical and sexual abuse, which mostly went unreported since it had taken place within the confines of a household or dhaba.

The Project Director said the ban on employment of children as domestic workers and in the hospitality sector would be an important step towards the elimination of child labour in the district before the end of 2007.

He said an action plan would be prepared by the administration in association with the civil society to impose the ban effectively in the district.

Source: The Hindu