YouTube Personality 'Savukku' Shankar Detained Under Goondas Act

YouTube Personality 'Savukku' Shankar Detained Under Goondas Act YouTuber 'Savukku' Shankar, currently lodged in the Coimbatore Central prison, was on Sunday detained under the Goondas Act, Chennai city police said. Based on the orders of Commissioner of Police, Greater Chennai, Sandeep Rai Rathore, the detention order under the Goondas Act was served on Shankar by a cyber crime (Chennai) police inspector on May 12, they said. There are seven cases pending against Shankar in Chennai police's central crime branch/cyber crime out of which three are under investigation, charge sheets have been filed in two and the remaining are pending trial, according to a police press note.

3,100 kg gutka seized from shops across Coimbatore during surprise checks

COIMBATORE: A large quantity of banned tobacco products were seized by the authorities from shops across the Coimbatore district over the past few days. A total of 5,568 shops were inspected by the officials of the Tamil Nadu Food Safety Department during a surprise inspection. Totally, 692 shopkeepers were found guilty of possessing the contrabands. Around 3,100 kilograms of gutka worth about Rs 30.7 lakh was seized from them. Each shopkeeper was imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 by the officials. Shops found guilty of selling banned tobacco products for the first time were fined Rs 25,000 each. A total fine of Rs 17,07,500 has been imposed against the shopkeepers and they have been banned from trading for 15 days. Eight shops found guilty for the second time were fined Rs 50,000 each (total Rs 4 lakh) and they have been banned from doing business for 30 days. In order to prevent the sale of pan masala, gutka and other tobacco products banned by the Tamil Nadu government, 23 Special Teams have been formed in collaboration with the Coimbatore District Police Department and Coimbatore District Food Safety Department. Inspections are being held in Coimbatore Corporation areas such as Peelamedu, Ganapathy, Podanur, Town Hall, RS Puram, Saravanampatti, Saibaba Colony, Singanallur, Kalapatti, Avinashi Road, Gandhipuram, Vadavalli, Race Course, Ramanathapuram and suburbs such as Mettupalayam, Pollachi, Sulur, Kinathukadavu, Madukkarai, Thondamuthur, Annur, SS Kulam, Periyanayakanpalayam, Karamadai, Anaimalai, Valparai, etc. Earlier an inspection drive was held from November 2023 to January 3. First-time, second-time and third-time offenders were then fined Rs 5,000, Rs 10,000, Rs 25,000, respectively. They were banned from doing business in their shop and the licence of the food business was cancelled by the officials. However, since January 3, according to the order of the Tamil Nadu government, the fine for first-time offenders is a steep Rs 25,000. They are banned for 15 days from doing business in their shop. The second-time offenders now invite a Rs 50,000 fine and are barred from doing business for 30 days. Third-time offenders are fined Rs 1,00,000 and banned from doing business in their shops for 90 days. In all 230 kg of banned tobacco products seized by the Food Safety Department in the last few weeks were destroyed on Friday. If people find such prohibited tobacco products being traded, they can contact the Food Safety Department WhatsApp number 94440- 42322 and inform them about it. The informer's details will be kept confidential, said the district collector.

Age no bar, but TET portal sets 1974 as cutoff for applicants in Tamil Nadu

COIMBATORE: Candidates who have completed their postgraduate studies and are over the age of 50 are facing difficulties in applying for the Tamil Nadu Teacher Eligibility Test (TNTET) on the official website, as the year of birth on the portal does not go back further than 1974. K Muthusamy (52), a candidate from Coimbatore, told TNIE, While applying for test on the website, I am unable to choose my birth year, which is 1972. The last date for applications, May 15, is fast approaching. So, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University (MSU), which is the state nodal agency for the test, should rectify this issue promptly. Speaking to TNIE, NET/SLET association advisor S Swamination said, We have received many such complaints from applicants. As there is no age limit to apply for this examination, the nodal agency should address this problem, he added. In response to the matter, MSU Registrar J Sacratees said that there is no issue with the Tamil Nadu Teacher Eligibility Test web portal. Applicants can find birth years further back than 1974 by double clicking on the date of birth box on the website, said Sacratees.

Despite ad ban, TN schools gloating about toppers in Class 10, 12 exams

COIMBATORE: In violation of rules of the school education department, which prohibit declaration of students as toppers in Class X and XII public examination, several private schools across Tamil Nadu have started claiming their students to be state toppers. Some of them have installed flex banners outside their schools with names and pictures of students and have also stared placing advertisements in newspapers and TV channels. Based on the recommendations of a high-level committee formed by the school education department, state government in 2017 decided to do away with releasing rank lists as it creates depression among students who fail or lose top ranks by just one or two marks. The state government had also directed schools not to advertise about toppers and results through print media and flex banners. The aim is to treat all children equally and avoid creating mental stress in them, sources said. Private schools seem to have fallen back into their old ways and have restarted the practice to increase admission and collect high fee. Some schools that have not got 100% result, are claiming that they got 100% pass, sources said. Prince Gajendra Babu, general secretary, State Platform for Common School System, told TNIE that school managements are advertising their schools using children for their business. Using children for advertisement is unethical and schools are forcing students into unhealthy competition. The school education department should take stringent action against them. A Chief Educational Officer (CEO) told TNIE, Before Covid -19, the DMS will send circulars to ensure compliance against rank system at the district level. After Covid- 19, DMS has stopped issuing such circulars. CEOs too are lethargic about the issue. Because of this, private schools have again started placing advertisements about toppers. State secretary of TN Nursery, Primary and Matriculation Higher Secondary School Association KR Nandakumar said that even government schools are advertising about their toppers in many districts. To encourage toppers, some private schools are promoting them. It gives happiness to students. This celebration will only be for a week and it will not affect other students, he said. Consultant psychologist S Arulvadivu said, After abolishing the rank system, students suicide rate has decreased. Even now, parents and teachers are forcing students to get high marks, she said. Director of Matriculation Schools M Palanisamy said, that stringent action would be taken against the schools violating the norms. Attempts to reach school education department secretary J Kumaragurubaran went in vain.

High heat, low water; Farmers go coco nuts in Tamil Nadu

THANJAVUR: The coconut fruit buds (kurumbai) are all over the place, on the ground. S Nagarajan, a coconut farmer at Kuruvikkarambai in Thanjavur district, could do nothing but stare at the tall trees in his grove, for he knows the sight is just the forerunner of the heavy yield loss that he would face in the months to come. Blame it on the heat prevailing in the area for the last so many weeks, says a visibly disturbed Nagarajan pointing at the buds. Naturally this will lead to yield loss during the coming plucking time, he adds. Its not just Nagarajans plight. For the farmers through out the Delta, the situation is the same. N Sundararajan, a coconut farmer from Kuruchi near Pattukkottai, adds another reason for the falling coconut fruit buds. Earlier, the breeze from the sea nearby would be cooler and helped retain the moisture in the air, thereby helping the kurumbai stay in the spathe (a curved bract) itself. But, the ocean temperature has now increased and the breeze is no longer cool, says Sundararajan. His claims have been confirmed by a study by the European Unions Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) which pointed out that ocean temperature hit a record high in February. Another problem faced by the coconut farmers in the delta region has been the depleting groundwater level. The groundwater which was available at 80-100 feet has now gone below 200 feet. I am not able to pump enough to irrigate my entire grove that has 1,100 trees spread over 15 acres, says R Palanivelu, a farmer from Therkukottai village near Pappanadu in Thanjavur district. Adding to their woes, the farmers are facing an erratic power supply. Though the officials claim power supply is being ensured for 12 hours (6 hours in the morning and 6 hours in the night) through the dedicated three-phase grid meant for agriculture purpose, we dont know the exact schedule when the power will be available. At times, it so happens that the power goes off when we were about to water the grove, points out V Veerasenan, another coconut farmer from Ponnavarayankottai village. The president of the East Coast Coconut Farmers Association (EFFA), EV Gandhi, points out that the full impact of the current heatwave on the coconut yield will be known only in another 10-12 months as coconut is a year-long crop. The absence of summer rains is also another factor contributing to the worries of the coconut farmers. Normally, we should have received one or two spells of summer rain by this time. But this year that did not happen, says Nagarajan, pointing out at the importance of summer rains as it will help pollinate coconut flowers. The dearth of summer rains reduces the pollination which will lead to yield loss, he adds. The farmers pluck coconuts once in 60 days, from the trees. We used to pluck nuts from three bunches (kulai) from each tree which usually yields 60 to 70 nuts in total. Now, I could pluck only from two bunches that yields less than 40 nuts in total, says Palanivelu. He attributes the drop in yield to the stoppage of water from Mettur dam from October 10, 2023, instead of the regular date of January 28, due to poor storage level. The prevailing heat conditions will reduce the yield further in the coming months, Palanivelu adds. When pointed out at the recent reports of farmers from Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts felling the coconut trees due to drought-like conditions, Gandhi says the farmers of the delta district would not go to such extremes as the groves here are irrigated either through canal irrigation or using groundwater. R Arunkumar, associate professor and head of Coconut Research Station at Veppankulam in Thanjavur district, told TNIE farmers are advised to undertake sub-soil drip irrigation to manage the scorching heat. The farmers were also advised to spread the coconut fronds around the base of the tree to reduce evaporation of water, he adds. Coimbatore and Tiruppur that have a combined cultivated area of 82,000 hectares are one of the major coconut cultivating areas in the state. Pollachi coconut and tender coconut are well-received in the market. The long-term crop is severely affected by the whitefly attack and the Kerala wilt attack already. Adding to the woes, farmers are suffering due to various problems such as low procurement prices for coconuts, and the failure of both the monsoon last year. Now due to the unprecedented drought, coconut trees are drying up. Currently, the coconut trees are severely affected by the drought in the PAP irrigation belt in Coimbatore and Tirupur district, says Medical K Paramasivam, chairman of Thirumurthy irrigation project committee in Parambikulam Aliyar Project (PAP), adding as most of the coconut trees have dried up, the farmers are cutting down the trees. Therefore, we demand the area be declared as drought hit. Compensation should be given for dried and felled coconut trees, he says. Paramasivam also sought for financial assistance from the government for the replanting the coconut saplings. In Madurai, where coconut is being planted in over 10,000 hectares in areas like Vadipatti, Solavanthan and Kottampatti blocks, the story is no different. Speaking to TNIE, N Arun, a coconut farmer from Kottampatti, says, Usually a single coconut weighs around 400 grams, but this time, nuts of smaller sizes, weighing 200 grams, are seen, resulting in low price for the produce. An average size coconut goes for `8 and smaller coconut would fetch only for `3.5. Though some farmers opt to convert these into copra through which they could get better prices, many who are not used to copra processing are forced to sell them at lesser prices. Farmers also say the increasing temperature is affecting their yield, and is adding to attacks by pests like white flies which could greatly affect the coconut trees. One of the natural remedies for controlling the pest is the summer rain we usually get in May, but this year apart from a few drizzles, there was no rain till now. We fear that the pest attack will increase, as summer saso has just started, they add. (With inputs from M Saravanan @ Coimbatore and MS Thanaraj @ Madurai)

Road safety is top priority for VS Sureshkumar from Coimbatore

COIMBATORE: In the bustling city of Coimbatore resides a man in his early 50s who never misses a day to traverse around the place and alert people about road safety. With a mic in one hand and a sign board in another, VS Sureshkumar goes around the streets with a board that reads Road Safety is Life Safety. He makes short conversations with pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers to spread the message. With his van converted into a makeshift stage, the mans voice booms through the streets as he drives around. Coimbatore is a city known for its tourist activities, educational institutes and flourishing industries. Besides this, the city also holds the highest position in terms of road accidents. Sureshkumar extends his helping hand to the city police and NGOs who are trying to raise awareness about road safety and monitor traffic infractions to decrease road accidents. The 53-year-old, with much dedication, has been conducting road safety awareness campaigns every day for the past decade. He accomplishes this noble task by travelling around the city in an eco-friendly vehicle, sponsored by the Rotary Club in 2013. He is known under the banner Vizhi, meaning awake. Looking back on his past mistake of not wearing a helmet, Sureshkumar recollects, In 2008, while heading to a junction on a one-way street on my bike, a trio on a bike came from the opposite direction at high speed and rammed my bike. I sustained serious head injuries and remained unconscious in the ICU for three days. Sureshkumar has been going around the streets of Coimbatore alerting people about road safety Later, I thought about how wearing a helmet would have minimised the injuries. I was discharged after 10 days and was on complete bed rest for a few months. I still remember how it took a toll on my mental health as well. My family had to look after me and I could see the pain in their eyes. It seemed like my second life, that too for a purpose to save people from repeating my mistake. Sureshkumar is an auto consulting business owner. His initiatives are not only limited to roads; he manages a YouTube channel in the same name Vizhi where he uploads traffic awareness videos. My videos are circulated widely in the city and I can see more people wearing helmets and seatbelts, and obeying traffic rules now. I consider this as the result of my efforts, he says. Sureshkumar recalls some tragic accidents that have shook him from the core. He states that sometimes a minor callous attitude of motorists leads to a major accident. Ultimately, it is not just the person who dies in the accident; the incident leaves a scar on his/her family too, he notes. Sureshkumar hopes traffic safety rules would be included as non-major subjects in schools by the state government. Such an initiative will have an impact among the youth, he adds. The good samaritan advises motorists to avoid the use of mobile phones while crossing the road, wear a seat-belt while driving, avoid drunk driving, respect traffic rules, and make use of the 108 ambulance service while in need. He also asks pedestrians and commuters to obey the traffic rules and be cautious while crossing the roads and taking public transports. Sureshkumar also pastes reflective stickers on dividers to curb accidents at night. His seemingly-small acts is a reminder about the importance of road discipline. Additionally, he presents cloth bags and other small tokens of gratitude to those to demonstrate responsible behaviour on the road. With a deep sense of responsibility, he also extends his reach beyond road safety, dedicating his spare time to enthusiastic school students and educating them on the importance of environmental conservation, the beauty of the Tamil language, and the value of preserving their cultural heritage, his words sparking a sense of curiosity and awareness in the young minds. I will continue to render my efforts for the noble cause in this society till my last breath, Sureshkumar pledges. (Edited by Srestha Choudhury)

Education institution buses undergo safety inspection in Coimbatore District

BMW Motorrad Expands Presence in South India with New Dealership in Coimbatore

BMW Motorrad Expands Presence in South India with New Dealership in Coimbatore Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India - 11 May,2024 Explore the fascinating range of BMW Motorrad motorcycles, Lifestyle and Accessories. Dedicated aftersales facility for comprehensive vehicle service. KUN Motorrad has been appointed as the BMW Motorrad dealer partner in Coimbatore. The dealership is located at No. 1247 & 1248 Mettupalayam Main Road Coimbatore and is headed by Mr. U Venkatesh, Dealer Principal, KUN Motorrad. Mr. Vikram Pawah, President, BMW Group India, said, ''At BMW Motorrad, we pledge more than just exceptional motorcycles, we offer moments that define a lifetime. Each one of our bikes is crafted with the passion and precision suited to every breed of rider. We are excited to welcome KUN Motorrad as our new dealer in Coimbatore, a partnership that reinforces our commitment to delivering unmatched experiences to our vibrant community of enthusiasts. This new facility stands as a cornerstone in our mission to enrich the riding culture in the region.'' Mr. U Venkatesh, Dealer Principal, KUN Motorrad said, ''We are immensely proud of our enduring partnership with BMW Motorrad and are excited to extend our reach into Coimbatore. This venture is a strategic move to harness the burgeoning market potential in Tamil Nadu. The inauguration of our Coimbatore dealership marks a significant milestone in providing unparalleled sales and aftersales services to motorcycle aficionados. Moreover, we are dedicated to fostering a robust riding community, celebrating the passion for exploration, and embracing the spirit of adventure with our motto, Make Life a Ride.'' The dealership facility is spread across 3,300 sq.ft. The showroom showcases 6 motorcycles, a customer lounge, cafe and a wide array of BMW Motorrad accessories and lifestyle merchandise. The aftersales facility has 3 mechanical bays for complete vehicle service. KUN Motorrad delivers international standards of sales, service, spare-parts and business systems in all processes to ensure that customers receive best-in-class pre and post sales ownership experience. If you have any queries, please contact: BMW Group India Abhay Dange, Director, Press and Corporate Affairs Cell: +91 9910481013; Tel: + 91 124 4566600; Email: Abhay.Dange@bmw.in Satchit Gayakwad, Press and Corporate Affairs Cell: +91 9560725900; Tel: + 91 124 4566906; Email: Satchit.Gayakwad@bmw.in Internet: www.bmw.in Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bmwindia Twitter: https://twitter.com/bmwindia YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/bmwindia Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmwindia_official (Disclaimer : The above Press Release is provided by HT Syndication and PTI will not take any editorial responsibility of this content.).

After one death due to West Nile Virus in Kerala, Tamil Nadu deploys Mobile Medical Teams in Coimbatore to che - Business Insider India

After one death due to West Nile Virus in Kerala, Tamil Nadu deploys Mobile Medical Teams in Coimbatore to che Business Insider India

Class X results: Erode at 7th spot, Dharmapuri way behind at 28th place

COIMBATORE: The western region of Tamil Nadu couldn't match its recent excellent higher secondary (Class 12) board examination results in the Class 10 Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) examination results announced by the Tamil Nadu Directorate of Government Examinations on Friday. As far as the western region is concerned, Erode district secured the 7th place out of the 38 districts in the state in the Class 10 final exams with a pass percentage of 95.08%, followed by the Coimbatore district with 94.01% in the 12th position, Namakkal with 93.51% at 14th spot, Tiruppur with 92.38% at 21st place, Salem with 91.75% at 24th place, Krishnagiri with 91.43% at 25th place, Nilgiris with 90.61% at 26th place and Dharmapuri with 90.45% at 28th place. While Tiruppur district secured the first spot in HSC exams, its pass percentage in SSLC exam has fallen to the 21st spot. Social activists blame the rise in smartphone usage among boys as the primary reason. According to official records, the SSLC pass percentage in Tiruppur in 2021-2022 was 88.64% (State Rank 30). The pass percentage improved in 2022-23 to 93.93% (State Rank 11), but it has now dropped to 92.38% (State Rank 21). Speaking to TNIE, Su Moorthy, a social activist said, For the past two years, I find boys are distracted in studies. As a history teacher in a government school in Tiruppur, I have noticed boys are more addicted to smartphones than girls. There is a rise in the usage of smartphones for playing video or interactive games in the past two years. Besides, they watch videos and other entertainment on social media platforms. Parents who are daily wagers are forced to buy smartphones for their boys. The price of good quality smartphones is in the range of Rs 8000 to Rs 12,000. Many boys in the 9th and 10th standard classes take up part-time jobs in garment units and other enterprises on Saturday and Sunday. Most of them are deployed as unskilled labourers in packaging and other minor works. This too drains their focus on studies, he added. As in the previous years, the number of girls passing the SSLC exams is higher than the number of boys. The performance of government schools in the Class 10 board exam in the western districts was also not great this year. Of the 38 districts, Erode was placed at 7, Namakkal at 14, Salem at 18, Coimbatore at 20, Krishnagiri at 22, Tiruppur at 26, Dharmapuri at 27 and Nilgiris at 29.

Another case filed against Savukku on CMDA plaint

CHENNAI: The cyber crime wing of the Central Crime Branch, Chennai, has registered another case against YouTuber Savukku Shankar based on a complaint registered by the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority. The authority had said Shankar used forged documents and claimed them to be from CMDA. Police said that according to the complaint, Shankar used the data and information from these false documents in interviews which led to law and order issues. Based on the complaint from CMDA, a case under Sections 465 (punishment for forgery), 466 (forgery of record of court or of public register), 471 (using as genuine a forged document or electronic record), 474 r/w 420 (Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) of the IPC was filed. Meanwhile, the police are bringing Shankar to Chennai on Friday to produce him before a magistrate in two cases filed by the city police on Tuesday. The first case was registered under Sections 294(b), 354D, 506 (i), 509 of IPC and section 4 of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act based on a complaint by journalist Sandhya Ravishankar in 2018. The other case against him and Felix Gerald of RedPix was filed based on a complaint by Veeralakshmi of Tamilar Munnetra Padai. Madras HC refuses to order judicial probe into alleged custodial violence against Savukku Shankar YouTuber Savukku Shankar 'brutally attacked' by jail authorities, claims his mother; seeks judicial probe PUCL flays torture National secretary of PUCL S Balamurugan condemned the alleged harassment of Shankar. Balamurugan said We do not agree with the comments of Shankar. But to torture him as a remand prisoner in Coimbatore Central prison is a blatant violation of human rights and this trend is dangerous for the rule of law, he said.

Its a sour season for grape farmers in Tamil Nadu

THENI: On the Cumbam-Kumily national highway, the vineyards have lost their luscious vibe. The unprecedented rise in temperature has left the valley parched and the grapes city of south India lies in a shambles. The past month has been horrible for grape farmers of Tamil Nadu as the heatwave aborted the flowers, which will have a huge impact on the yield of the fruit this year. Instead of the usual 12 to 15 tonnes per acre, the farmers are expecting two to three tonnes this season, marking almost 80% fall in the yield. Theni is one of the largest producers of Muscat Hamburg (panneer thiratchai) a grape variety extremely popular among farmers because of its quick growth. In contrast to other fruits, this variety of grape is available in the market throughout the year. Fertile soil and availability of water are the only requirements for the enhanced flavour of the fruit, largely used to make the best of wines, jams, and raisins. Nearly 90% of the states panneer thiratchai cultivation is in Cumbum valley of Theni, while the remaining 10% is at Kodai Road in Dindigul and in parts of Coimbatore district. Apart from panneer thiratchai, Odaipatti area in Theni district is popular for its varieties of seedless grapes. Interestingly, seedless grapes are grown only in this area of the state. Farmers of both panneer thiratchai and seedless grapes are in distress as heavy loss is expected this year due to poor yield. Periyar Vaigai Irrigation Farmers Association president and Kaamayam Thiratchai Vivasayigal Sangam coordinator Pon Katchi Kannan told TNIE that over 300 farmers in Cumbum valley cultivate panneer thiratchai in around 5,000 acres. It is past the flowering season now but only a few flowers have turned into fruits due to extreme heat. A large number of flowers fail to get pollinated as mercury levels hit upto 38 degree Celsius here. Its harvesting time in just two months and farmers are expecting around two tonnes per acre instead of the usual 12 tonnes. Whatever be the difference in total yield, the cost of production, around Rs 1.10 lakh per acre, remains the same. Like paddy and sugarcane, the government must provide a minimum support price of Rs 50 per kg to grapes as well to prevent huge loss. Crop loss relief must also be provided to grape farmers, he said. According to Odaipatti Seedless Grapes Farmers Producers Group director S Kalanidhi, over 200 farmers cultivate seedless grapes in 1,000 acres of land in the area. Sunny and dry climate is suitable for this one-year crop, which is harvested in September. Now, the grapes are getting directly exposed to ultraviolet rays, leading to increased abortion of flowers, crack, rot infection, and total dry out, he said. He further said that usually farmers spend around Rs 1.5 lakh per acre as cost of production, and yield will nearly be 10 to 15 tonnes per acre. However, this year, the yield would reduce to around three tonnes. During pre-budget, officials asked for our demands, based on which they arranged a mini weather station on a trial basis. However, there was no announcement to extend the weather station. The government recently announced its plans to procure a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for Odaipatti seedless grapes. The move would bring export opportunities but this season looks bleak for the farmers, he added. He alleged that though there is a grape research centre in the district, it is of no use for the farmers. Weather stations have been set up by spending crores but most of the time the machines are not working. There is a private wine factory in the district but they procure grapes from Karnataka at Rs 5 per kg. The GI tag for panneer thiratchai did not do any wonders for the farmers here, he said. Arockiasamy, a farmer from Kodai Road, said over 100 farmers cultivate panneer thiratchai in Chinnalapatti and Vellode at around 1,000 acres. Due to the extreme weather conditions, flowers in the grape bunch started falling down and they failed to convert as fruit. At present, farmers get an average Rs 45 per kg, which is expected to continue. But this wont make up for our heavy loss, he said. Deputy director of Horticulture C Prabha refuted farmers grievances and said it is essential to change crop type for sustainable growth. She, however, assured to look into the issue. In this series, TNIE looks at various crops that got damaged due to the adverse weather conditions and water shortage Theni worst-hit Theni is one of the largest producers of Muscat Hamburg (panneer thiratchai). Nearly 90% of TNs panneer thiratchai cultivation is in Cumbum valley, while the remaining is at Kodai Road in Dindigul and parts of Coimbatore

West Nile fever: T.N. Health Department steps up surveillance in Kerala-bordering villages in Coimbatore

Ukkadam - Aatuppalam flyover works in Coimbatore nearing completion

Rain brings relief from soaring mercury in Coimbatore - The Hindu

Rain brings relief from soaring mercury in Coimbatore The Hindu

Street corner campaign in Coimbatore to raise awareness on Right to Education Act

Street corner campaign in Coimbatore to raise awareness on Right to Education Act

Swami Vivekanandar Peravai founder in Coimbatore booked for provocative video

Coimbatore district attains 94.07% overall pass in SSLC public exam, Tiruppur registers 92.38%

Father-son duo arrested with ganja, cannabis-infused toffees in Coimbatore district

BMW Motorrad Expands Retail Footprint In Coimbatore With KUN Motorrad Partnership

BMW Motorrad strengthens its retail presence in Coimbatore by appointing KUN Motorrad as its dealer partner in Tamil Nadu, showcasing six motorcycles and a wide array of accessories and merchandise.

My Mahindra Thar RWD diesel: 18000 km update including mileage & mods

BHPian rajeevsulu recently shared this with other enthusiasts.18000 km upThe journey400 days after taking delivery of the Thar RWD Diesel manual, I hit the 18000 km mark today. It has been a journey of fun. I knew what I was getting, and, I also knew what I had to change, thanks to the forum.The changesAvo suspensionThe stock suspension was swapped out to the AVO Suspension by ARKA Motorsports, Coimbatore. It is a 3-hour exercise and this was done when the Thar had done 4500 kms. I knew what the stock setup was capable of by then and am very happy with the swap.Audio system, rear camera, headlights and seat coversI cannot drive without music and the stock system is very basic. So I retained the HU and changed all the speakers, added a subwoofer, DSP, two amplifiers and significantly improved the audio output. Along with it, I got the rear camera installed, seat covers changed, and headlight bulbs upgraded.Paint protection3M did a good job with a ceramic coat. I am not much of a car wash person and get the car washed once a month. I don't even wipe or dust the car in between. I am not sure whether this is money well spent.Service and MaintenanceThe Thar has given me no trouble except once when the TPMS was acting funny. The service guys elearned the system and erased the error code and all is well. I have consistently logged a mileage of 15.75 to 16 km/l to date. This is via the tankful-to-tankful method though the MID paints a much more optimistic picture. I have done a few highway runs including one Bangalore and back run with my 80-year-old mother. This was a run with just a 15-minute halt in Bangalore and she had no complaints. The AVO suspension sure works on the highway. Few pictures Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Toilets planned in 10-km long Avinashi road flyover in Coimbatore

COIMBATORE: The state highways department has proposed to construct 32 bus stops on the Avinashi Road flyover with toilets.This was decided based on suggestion made by the Road Safety Committee headed by the District Collector Kranthi Kumar Pati, after officials from the state highways department (special projects) led by the divisional engineer V Samuthirakani and transport, CCMC, traffic police and revenue department conducted a joint review on the flyover work on Thursday. Speaking to TNIE, divisional engineer Samuthirakani said, In the meeting, the collector and CCMC commissioner M Sivaguru Prabhakaran asked the highways department to add toilets in bus stops that will come up on the flyover. To study the plan, a committee was formed and conducted the review. So far 32 bus stops have been proposed on the flyover stretch from LIC signal junction to Goldwins on the Avinashi road for a 10.1 km distance. The Rs 1621 crore flyover project started in 2020 and is expected to get completed in December 2024. Work to construct ramps have commenced at seven out of eight places of the flyover. Ramp work near the Hope College signal junction is yet to be started due to delay in land acquisition. Collector has instructed to speed up land acquisition wherever it is pending, he added. He further said the collector has suggested installing lifts along the foot-over bridge at the bus stops so that elderly people can easily access the flyover. Initially we planned providing elevators instead of lifts. But the cost comes to Rs 14 crore to install them with `50 lakh for annual maintenance. For lift, it comes to Rs 4 crore and less maintenance as compared to the elevator, he said. Similarly, the highways department's internal audit team led by its superintendent engineer M Panneerselvam conducted a review on the Ukkadam - Athupalam flyover on Thursday. According to officials, almost 92% work of the project have been completed and the flyover may come into use from mid-June.

Periyanaickenpalayam flyover in Coimbatore has no facility to drain water out

COIMBATORE: Waterlogging on the newly commissioned Periyanaickenpalayam flyover in Coimbatore city during rain hinders the smooth flow of traffic, say motorists. They alleged that the flyover in Periyanaickenpalayam town has no proper provisions for draining of rainwater from the flyover. The flyover connecting Vidyalaya and Vannankovil was officially inaugurated in March after a trial run that commenced last December. Several motorists reported they experienced difficulties in the Periyanaickenpalayam area in the recent summer shower. S Satyanarayanan, a commuter from Nanjundapuram in Coimbatore, said, I was driving back with my family from Kotagiri to Coimbatore on May 4. It was raining almost throughout the journey. At 5 pm, we were on the recently commissioned Perinaickenpalyam flyover. There was heavy waterlogging on the flyover. All vehicles were seen avoiding the waterlogging and drove on the right side even when vehicles were coming in the opposite direction. The entire surface of the flyover was inundated in rainwater. Water had collected on the flyover soon after the rain on Thursday morning too. CM Jayaraman, a social activist, demanded the district administration to look into the issue immediately and rectify the drainage system in the flyover. When contacted, R Muralidharan, Assistant Divisional Engineer of the National Highways Wing of the State Highways Department, said, To drain rain water, holes have been provided in required places and 1.5 meter drainage pipes have been installed on the flyover. We inspected the place after the complaint and found that the holes were choked with sediments and dried tree leafs. Those were removed and it will be cleaned up periodically. The flyover is 1.85 km long and 17.5 meters wide. It was built at a cost of Rs 115 crore.

Jumbo tramples tribal to death in TN's Valparai

COIMBATORE: A 54-year-old tribal man was trampled to death and two others were injured in a wild elephant attack at Nedunkundru settlement near Valparai in the Anaimalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) on Wednesday night. The deceased has been identified as R Ravi and the injured are K Vijayan (52) and N Ramachandran (37) all three being residents of Nedunkundru settlement which is part of the Kavarkal forest beat of the Valparai forest range. The incident happened when the three were returning to their house at 9.15pm after visiting Valparai where they had sold their produce. Ravis body was taken to the Valparai government hospital where a postmortem was performed and the body was handed over to his relatives on Thursday afternoon. The injured are undergoing treatment at the Valparai government hospital. The Nedunkundru settlement itself is located inside the reserve forest. The residents usually manage to reach their houses by avoiding the elephant paths. However, on Wednesday night, the trio allegedly took a short cut through a forest road and encountered the elephant. Valparai forest range officer G Venkatesh handed over initial compensation of Rs 50,000 to Ravis wife as per the Tamil Nadu government compensation for victims of wildlife attack. The remaining Rs 9.5 lakh will be given after the family members submit the death certificate and other documents. The forest officials have also handed over an immediate relief fund of Rs 5,000 to Vijayan and Ramachandran for their treatment. They have head injuries as well as bruises on the legs, sustained during their attempt to escape from the attack. We have formed a 12-member team to monitor the elephant and to drive it back to the forest if it comes again to the settlement. After attacking Ravi, the animal did not move inside. Upon receiving information our team arrived and drove away the animal. We have also instructed the tribal residents not to come out of houses when it is dark. In any emergency, they have been instructed to hold torch lights and avoid entering elephant pathways, said the official.

Two Bangladeshis arrested in Coimbatore for illegal entry

COIMBATORE: Two Bangladesh nationals were arrested for illegal entry and stay in the country on Wednesday. They were remanded in the central prison in Chennai. According to police, M Mohammad Arzoo (26) and Bolash Chandra Burman (25) obtained Aadhaar and PAN cards using fake documents in West Bengal and Krishnagiri in Tamil Nadu, respectively. Police traced and arrested them based on an intelligence alert on Wednesday. Search is on for one more suspect M Shakil (28) who lived in Tiruppur. According to sources, Arzoo's mother was a West Bengal native and he entered India 12 years ago. Using his mother's proof he obtained an Aadhaar card in West Bengal. In 2021 he settled in Karnataka and changed the address to the state. In 2022, he came to Tiruppur and worked in a private garment firm. In March 2023 when the police searched for illegal immigrants, he produced his Indian documents and evaded investigation. Subsequently, he moved to Manickampalayam in November 2023 and joined as a tailor in a private knitwear manufacturing unit. He brought the other two suspects from Bangladesh when he was in Tiruppur, said police. Burman entered the Indian border in Assam in 2023 and reached Tiruppur where he obtained Aadhaar and PAN cards using fake documents. Shakil, another suspect allegedly helped him fabricate the documents. Arzoo and Burman went missing for a few months till March this year and the investigation is under way to find out what they were doing, police sources added. Annur police arrested them under the provisions of the Foreigners Act.

YouTuber Savukku Shankar treated at Coimbatore Medical College Hospital for fractures in forearm

COIMBATORE: Based on the orders of judicial magistrate Court IV, Savukku Shankar underwent examination in the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH) on Thursday and was treated for fracture on his right forearm. After treatment, he was taken back to the Coimbatore central prison. His lawyer S Gopalakrishnan told media persons in the evening that X-ray showed Shankar suffered two fractures in his right hand. On May 6, Gopalakrishnan filed a petition before the court stating that Shankar was assaulted inside the prison by officials. The court directed a team from the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) to visit Shankar along with a doctor. After conducting an inquiry, the team submitted a report to the magistrate stating that the prisoner had complained of pain in his right forearm and therefore, it was essential to take an x-ray and also get an opinion from a plastic surgeon. The magistrate passed an order on Wednesday directing the Coimbatore prison authorities to take him to CMCH for examination. The magistrate refrained from going into the merits of allegations of custodial violence since it was not clear whether the injuries had been sustained due to the alleged attack or during a road accident that occurred on May 4 when Shankar was brought to Coimbatore. Meanwhile, the Greater Chennai City police booked two more cases against Shankar for alleged derogatory remarks on women police personnel and arrested him on Thursday. The arrest order was served to Shankar in the Coimbatore prison. Shankar has been arrested in five cases booked in Coimbatore, Theni, Tiuchy and Chennai so far. Madras HC refuses to order judicial probe into alleged custodial violence against Savukku Shankar YouTuber Savukku Shankar 'brutally attacked' by jail authorities, claims his mother; seeks judicial probe

Plaints unaddressed, long poll code troubles MSMEs in Tamil Nadu

COIMBATORE: Owners of MSME units say the continuation of the model code of conduct (MCC) despite completion of polling is causing difficulties for them. Speaking to TNIE, J James, president of Tamil Nadu Association of Cottage and Tiny Enterprises (TACT) said, As the state government administration has been restricted due to the MCC, we could not take grievances regarding day-to-day operations to the government. There are anomalies in power supply, tax collection, water supply etc. But we have no option than waiting until June 4. As per the issues related to power tariff, the demand charge has been increased from Rs 35 per kw to Rs 154. It was 450% surge. When industrial unions had been demanding to reduce the tariff, the election was announced and the MCC norm was rolled out. We took our grievance to officials. They replied until the MCC is withdrawn, they could not move it, he said. He opined that the ECI can relax the MCC and allow the state government to take decisions to rectify the issues in the industrial sector. C Natarajan, president of Coimbatore SIDCO Industrial Estate Manufacturers Welfare Association said, Officials said they would look into them after the election results are out. A Sivashanmuga Kumar, president of Coimbatore Tiny and Small Foundry Owners Association said, The local body has imposed industrial tax and garbage collection tax newly. There are also anomalies on GST collection from industrial units. However, we have to wait till June 4.

Two Bangladesh nationals arrested for illegal stay near Coimbatore

Recruitment drive for 108 ambulance pilots, emergency medical technicians in Coimbatore on May 11

Pride Parade to be held in Coimbatore seeking 2% horizontal reservation in government jobs and educational institutions

Highways Dept. completes 70% of Avinashi Road flyover work in Coimbatore - The Hindu

Highways Dept. completes 70% of Avinashi Road flyover work in Coimbatore The Hindu

Highways Dept. completes 70% of Avinashi Road flyover work in Coimbatore

Second entrance to Coimbatore Collectorate to be inaugurated in June

Second entrance to Coimbatore Collectorate to be inaugurated in June - The Hindu

Second entrance to Coimbatore Collectorate to be inaugurated in June The Hindu

Kerala: Wild female elephant killed in Palakkad after being hit by train, second incident at same crossing in a month

Palakkad (Kerala): A wild female elephant died after being hit by an express train while crossing the railway track at Kottekad along with her herd. This is the second such incident at the same crossing with a month. According to forest officials, the incident took place Monday around 11 pm, when the herd of elephants were crossing the railway track at Pannimada near Kottekad in Valayar-Kanjikode railway stretch. The elephant herd entered the Kunupully and Arakode populated area near the Kottekad railway station searching for drinking water at night amid severe heat conditions across the peninsula. The Thiruvanthapuram-Chennai express hit one jumbo from the rear side and led to severe injury on her head and rear side. The impact hurled the jumbo into a pit nearby. The other elephants ran away in panic. The train was halted around 20 minutes and forest officials led by Valayar range officer Muhammedali Jinna rushed to the spot. The injured jumbo succumbed to injuries around 2 am on Tuesday. The Forest Department registered a case against the loco pilot of the train. Female Elephant Death In Train Accident Near Palakkad district of Kerala State. More Then 35 Elephants Death in Last 15 Years For Train Accidents @moefcc @RailMinIndia @pinarayivijayan @rameshpandeyifs @byadavbjp @saseendran_ak @AwbiBallabhgarh @CMOKerala @narendramodi @PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/foyOkkdOrY Parthiban S (@Parthiban951428) May 7, 2024 It was on April 13, when a 30-year-old wild female elephant had similarly succumbed to injuries after being hit a goods train on April 10 at Kottekad in Palakkad-Coimbatore railway line, while crossing the railway track by a herd of elephants. The jumbo's hind leg suffered serious injuries and was unable to move. The forest officials provided life saving medicines and foods and water from April 11, but she died on April 13.

Gold worth 90.28 lakh seized at Coimbatore airport

Consider plea to shift Savukku Shankar from Coimbatore central prison to any other prison: Madras High Court

Justices A.D. Jagadish Chandira and R. Kalaimathi close a habeas corpus petition filed by his mother alleging custodial violence inside the Coimbatore prison

118 inmates died in 5 central prisons in TN in 2 years: RTI

MADURAI: Nearly 118 prisoners died at five central prisons Madurai, Coimbatore, Tiruchy, Cuddalore and Vellore between January 2022 and February 2024, according to a RTI reply obtained by an advocate, KR Raja, in Madurai. The RTI reply disclosed that 28 prisoners died and 99 took treatment for mental illness in Madurai Central Prison, while 35 died and 37 took treatment for mental illness in Coimbatore Central Prison. In Tiruchy, 29 died, while 33 took treatment for mental illness treatment. The RTI reply also disclosed that hundreds of prisoners took general treatment, yet the number of doctors was limited. Raja further said the objective of the RTI was to increase medical facilities for prisoners. Prison authorities took responsibility and arranged appropriate medical facilities. The number of prisoners suffering with mental illnesses has been increasing, and some need further treatment. The prison authorities, in association with the health department, should identify the illnesses among such prisoners and help them recover.

Madras HC seeks legal bodys report on Shankars health

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Wednesday sought the Coimbatore District Legal Services Authoritys (DLSA) report on the health conditions of the YouTuber Savukku Shankar. He is currently lodged at Coimbatore Central Prison on charges of denigrating women police officers and possessing ganja. When a habeas corpus petition filed by the YouTubers mother, A Kamala, came up for hearing, the vacation bench of Justices AD Jagadish Chandira and R Kalaimathi directed the High Court Registry to obtain the report of the DLSA, whose four-member team visited the prison to ascertain Shankars health conditions following another petition filed in the local court. Senior counsel John Sathyan, appearing for Kamala, submitted that Shankar had no injuries on his body before imprisonment but an advocate, after visiting him in the prison, stated that he had sustained injuries. The government advocate representing the police, however, told the court that Shankar suffered injuries on his left hand, right foot and lips when the van, in which he was taken to Coimbatore, met with an accident at Dharapuram. The prison doctor had examined him and certified the injuries and Shankar had acknowledged it by affixing his thumb impression on the medical report. The bench adjourned the case to Thursday. Meanwhile, Justice K Kumaresh Babu dismissed another petition filed by T Vignesh, creative head of Savukku Media Private Limited run by Shankar, seeking to restrain the police from invoking the Goondas Act against the jailed YouTuber. The judge said no such preemptive orders could be passed. In a second petition filed by Vignesh, alleging polices interference in the functioning of the Savukku Media, the judge directed the Greater Chennai Police to file a response by Thursday. YouTuber Savukku Shankar 'brutally attacked' by jail authorities, claims his mother; seeks judicial probe Lawyer claims YouTuber Savukku Shankar beaten in Coimbatore jail Advocate P Vijayendran, appearing for Vignesh, said the routine activities of the YouTube channel have been frozen and the employees could not enter the office. Saying that the employees are unable to do their daily duties in disseminating news, the council described the polices interference as a violation of articles of the Constitution that protect freedom of speech and expression. Remanded In another significant development, the Principal Special Court for EC and NDPS Act Cases in Madurai on Wednesday remanded Savukku Shankar in judicial custody till May 22 in connection with a ganja case registered against him at PC Patti police station in Theni. During the hearing, Shankar submitted to the special court judge M Chenkamalaselvan that due to the custodial violence against him in Coimbatore prison, he needed to be shifted to Madurai Central prison. He also requested proper medical treatment. Judge Chenkamalaselvan asked him to file a petition in this regard. Later, he was again taken to Coimbatore prison. Meanwhile, a group of women staged a protest outside the court premises condemning Shankars derogatory remarks. Tiruchy cops also book YouTuber Tiruchy: The district cybercrime police on Wednesday registered another case under five sections against YouTuber Savukku Shankar for making derogatory remarks on women police personnel in a YouTube interview. The case was filed based on a complaint lodged by Musiri DSP MA Yashmin. The police have booked Shankar under sections 294(b), 353, 509 of IPC, section 67 of Information Technology Act, 2000 and 4 of Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act. YouTube channel interviewer G Felix Gerald (48) has been also been booked. Shankar who was lodged in Coimbatore Central Prison, was formally arrested by the Tiruchy police. Many women police personnel have lodged complaint with the Tiruchy superintendent of police. (With inputs from Madurai)

Tamil Nadu government school boys to get Rs 1k college aid from July

CHENNAI: Chief Secretary Shiv Das Meena on Wednesday said the Tamil Pudhalvan scheme, under which `1,000 per month will be provided to male students of government schools joining higher education, will be implemented from this academic year beginning July. Meena said this while inaugurating the Kalloori Kanavu scheme under Nan Mudhalvan programme at the Anna Centenary Library on Wednesday. Under the Kalloori Kanavu scheme, career guidance programmes will be conducted across various districts till May 13 to help students make informed decision regarding higher education courses. Last year 30,000 more students joined higher education courses after Class 12 and the number may increase this year, the officer said. While TN has the highest gross enrolment ratio, initiatives like Kalloori Kanavu are essential to ensure that all students get higher education including polytechnic, engineering, law, arts and medicine. Students across the state will be informed about the various opportunities available to them through the scheme, he said. He also added that inter-department teams including education, revenue and local body officials have been formed in the districts to track students who are not pursuing higher education. These students will be encouraged to enrol for higher education. This will help improve the gross enrolment ratio gradually, he added. Last year, out of the 3,3,628 students who cleared Class 12 examinations in government schools, 2,43,70 joined higher education. The career guidance event was held in Chennai, Tiruchy, Coimbatore, Nagapattinam, Madurai, Tirunelveli and Salem on Wednesday. It will take place in Tiruvallur, The Nilgiris, Perambalur, Myladuthurai, Dindigul, Dharmapuri on Thursday, Chengalpattu, Tiruppur, Ariyalur, Cuddalore, Theni, Kanniyakumari, Krishnagiri on May 10, Kancheepuram, Erode, Thanjavur, Villupuram, Virudhunagar, Thoothukudi, Tirupattur on May 11, and Ranipet, Thenkasi, Namakkal, Karur, Tiruvarur, Pudukkottai, Kallakurichi, Sivagangai, Ramanathapuram, Tiruvannamalai and Vellore on May 13. Experts will interact with students in these programmes. This apart, universities will set up stalls at each location to clarify doubts of students on educational opportunities available to them. These stalls will showcase the various programmes offered. The 2022 edition of Kalloori Kanavu benefited over 75,000 students across state.

Athikadavu projects trial run fills Avinashi ponds in TN, helps 2000 deer cool off

TIRUPPUR: Several thousands of deer are also among the beneficiaries of the Athikadavu-Avinashi Project (AAP) to improve ground water recharge and enhance drinking water supply. Several hundred ponds were filled with water as the trial of the project was carried out last year. For the past two months hordes of deers have been using the ponds in Avinashi to quench their thirst as the summer season commenced. There are more than 2,000 deer in Avinashi. These animals are mostly spread in Kothapalayam, Pudupalayam, Thekkalur, and Vanjipalayam panchayats. They rely on the ponds in these villages, said sources from the Forest Department. In 2023, during the trial of the AAP scheme, water was pumped from the Bhavani River into 1,045 water bodies including tanks, ponds and check dams across the three districts - Tiruppur, Coimbatore and Erode. This filled several ponds in Avinashi last year. S Gurusamy, animal lover nd environmentalist, said, Deer are soft creatures and sensitive. They cannot tolerate hot weather and heat waves. If they dont have water, they move and travel to any distance. Currently, there are a few deer left in my farmland as small ponds in my farm have dried. They have moved along the dry waterbeds of the Koushika River in Avinashi taluk which has some water in parts. Many of my friends and farmers have found the deer slaking their thirst with water left in the many ponds which were filled during the trial phase of the AAP scheme. Thekkalur panchayat president M Maragathamani said, Eight ponds in our panchayat were connected to the Athikadavu-Avinashi Project scheme. Two large ponds - Chekkanipalayam pond and Thimmanaickenpalayam pond - each measure 5 acres. During the trial phase of the AAP scheme, last year, all the ponds were filled with water. During the hot weather, large areas of the ponds dried out. Thankfully, the rest of the areas havent dried and this acted as a source of life for deer. Besides, some farmers allow deer to drink water from the streams where water is pumped from wells in the farmlands. An official from the forest department (Tiruppur) said, There are two ponds in Pudupalayam panchayat village: one pond is filled by the forest department and the other point is filled by local farmers for deer. During the inspection by a team of forest officials, we found deer drinking water in a large pit-like formation that is attached to the Kaushika River. Besides, a large pond spanning several acres in Semmandampalayam village was filled with water during the trial of AAP scheme. It has now turned into a valuable water resource for deer. Besides, another large pond near it which was filled by the waters during the trial of AAP scheme is a source of water to the deers. The trial run of the AAP has indirectly saved the lives of deer.

Short of covers, CMCH hands over pills with oral instruction on intake

COIMBATORE: The practice of providing medicines in separate paper covers with details of timing of medicine administration as per the doctors prescription has stopped at Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH) allegedly because the pharmacy has run out of paper covers. The medicines are now handed over with oral instructions, leaving patients confused. The hospital treats around 1, 000 outpatients each day, six days a week. Outpatient wards work from 7 am to 12 noon. People from not only Coimbatore but also neighbouring districts come to CMCH for treatment. Sources in the hospital said they require several lakhs of covers for the pills in a month and are dependent on donors to a large extent. Since patients do not understand the schedule of the administration, they are bringing covers for each medicine to avoid confusion. In the last few months, outpatients are given instructions about the administration of medicine orally as covers are not available. I get medicines once a month for a heart problem. They give me seven types of pills for 30 days. Earlier they gave medicines in proper covers mentioning the administration time which was very useful. But now they dont give like that and they just give pills with oral instructions. Its hard to remember the schedule when there are so many pills, said K Savithri from Ondipudur. During her last visit on Friday, she brought a bunch of brown covers and requested the pharmacist to write down the medicine administration schedule. Another patient, N Arumugam, said the hospital does not give prescription and medicines are being offered only after collecting the prescription sheets. Hence it is difficult to understand which medicine to take and when. Earlier, a textile firm sponsored the covers with their advertisements. However, it has been stopped for the last two months, When asked, CMCH dean A Nirmala said she was not aware of cover shortage. Also she said medicines should be given in separate covers mentioning the administration schedule. We did not know about the non-availability of the covers. It will be rectified immediately. We welcome the sponsors for the medicine covers. Otherwise, we will arrange it on our own, she assured.

Groundwater level dips in 26 districts, west TN worst hit

CHENNAI: The groundwater levels in 26 districts of Tamil Nadu have witnessed a significant drop compared to April last year, exacerbating the water shortage across the state. Eleven districts, however, have seen a slight improvement in the water table. According to the Water Resources Departments (WRD) groundwater data for the month of April accessed by TNIE, some of the western districts have witnessed the steepest decline in water level. For instance, the average depth at which groundwater is available in Dharmapuri plummeted from 5.78 metres last April to 8.98 metres this year. Similarly, in Namakkal, the level dropped from 6.15 metres to 9.34 metres. Salem, Krishnagiri and Tiruppur are some of the other western districts that saw a significant drop. Coimbatore was among the worst hit, with water level dropping from 9.4 metres to 10.85 metres compared to last year. On an average, Chennai region has witnessed a 0.5 metre dip in groundwater level. Other districts that saw significant decline include Perambalur, Tiruchy, and Tirupattur (see table). In contrast, groundwater level has gone up in the southern districts of Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, Thoothukudi, and Virudhunagar due to the heavy rain during northeast monsoon which led to flooding in many areas in these districts. K Balasubramani, general secretary, Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Munnetra Kazhagam, expressed concern over the poor efforts by the state in promoting rainwater harvesting. The impact of dwindling water level is acutely felt by farmers particularly in the western regions where groundnut, coconut and other cash crops are traditionally grown, he said. TNs budget for water management insufficient, says farmers association This year, due to water scarcity, farmers have refrained from sowing crops. The situation is grim in Mettur Dam, a vital water source for irrigation and drinking purposes, which has dried up entirely, leaving farmers anxious about the future, Balasubramani said. KV Elankeeran, president of the Federation of Cauvery Delta Farmers Association, said, It is essential to raise awareness about rainwater harvesting among farmers and the public to replenish the states groundwater levels. He also noted that existing rain harvesting tanks are in disuse. Echoing these concerns, a senior WRD official told TNIE, The budget allocation by Tamil Nadu for water management compared to neighbouring states like Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh is insufficient. The WRDs dependency on external funding agencies like Japan International Cooperation Agency to implement vital projects is also delaying projects. However, efforts are under way to convert non-functional borewells into rainwater-recharging units to improve groundwater levels, the official said. In an attempt to address these challenges, the state planning commission and WRD are collaborating with experts and farmers to implement updated water policies introduced in 1994 and 2012, the official said.

Chennai: Government Schools to Get 100 Mbps Internet Connection

Chennai : All government schools, starting from the primary to higher secondary level, would be provided with 100 Mbps internet connections with the help of the public sector BSNL in the coming academic year, starting in June, with a view to providing a better learning experience to students and also equipping them to face the future in the hi-tech world. An official press release on Wednesday said that the modern facility had already been set up in 5907 of the total 6023 higher secondary and high schools, 3267 of the total 6992 middle schools and 8711 of the 24,338 primary schools in the State and the rest of the 19,668 schools would be equipped with 10 Mbps internet connection by May end. The State government that was keen on expanding technology to schools had already set up 8,180 hi-tech labs at a cost of Rs 519.73 crore and 22, 931 smart classrooms, costing Rs 455.32 crore benefitting 46,12,742 students, the release said, adding that those schools were getting 5 to 6 Mbps internet connection. Now, by June all the schools would get the 100 Mpbs connection and be equipped with the labs that would go a long way in preparing the students to face the developing technological world and making education easy and enjoyable for them. The ushering in of digital technology in education would help over 46 lakh students to learn their lessons through videos, assess their own learnings online, develop their computer applications skills, improve their English language skills and get career guidance, among other things. Also all government school students enrolling for higher education courses would receive Rs 1000 as assistance from June. Hitherto, only girls who studied from Class VI to XII in government schools were getting the assistance but now it has been extended to male students, too. Announcing that the male students would get the assistance from the coming academic year at a Kalluri Kanavu (College Dreams) event organized in Chennai as part of the Chief Ministers ambitious Naan Mudhalvan scheme, Chief Secretary Shiv Das Meena said four more such events would be held in the coming days at different places to cover all the districts. The Chennai event was for students who had passed higher secondary education in the districts of Chennai, Trichy, Coimbatore, Nagapattinam, Madurai, Tirunelveli and Salem. The rest of the events would be on May 9, 10, 11 and 13, he said.

Madras High Court calls for legal services authoritys report on Savukku Shankars health condition

Justices A.D. Jagadish Chandira and R. Kalaimathi direct the Coimbatore DLSA to submit the report on Thursday after being informed that the latter had deputed three empanelled lawyers and an orthopaedician to check on the health of the YouTuber following complaints of custodial violence in the Coimbatore prison

Glow by Kirtilals Shines Bright with Grand Opening of Thrissur Showroom

About Kirtilals Kirtilals is a highly reputed and renowned manufacturer and retailer of Fine Diamond & Gold jewellery. Kirtilals journey commenced in 1939 in Coimbatore with its first retail store offering the finest quality of diamond and gold jewellery in intricate designs. Today the brand has expanded its presence across South India and the USA, with 14 exclusive showrooms and an online platform with global standards of quality and unique designs. While new technologies and the innovative spirit have made the brand relevant to the younger generation, what has remained unchanged is the trust and credibility created and cherished over four generations of Clientele.

Heatwave ends in TN, Chennai sees marginal dip in mercury level

CHENNAI: The worst of the summer heat is over as the maximum temperature has dipped across Tamil Nadu, thanks to pre-monsoon showers. The weather in Chennai has improved marginally with cloudy skies. Maximum temperature will be around 36-37 degree Celsius for the next two days. Tamil Nadu has received 69% deficit rainfall from March 1 to May 7. The Chennai region has received zero rainfall making it one of the driest spells in the state capital. On Tuesday, Tiruchy recorded the highest temperature of 42.1 degree Celsius. While the State has not received any significant rainfall, places in Nilgiris, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri and other interior districts, which endured one of the torrid heatwave spells, received good rainfall in the last couple of days bringing down the temperature. The regional meteorological centre said there would be heavy rainfall in ghat and interior districts on May 8 and 9 as well. As per the forecast, Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Theni, Dindigul, Tenkasi, Tirunelveli, Erode, Salem, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Tirupattur, Vellore and Virudhunagar districts would receive heavy rain on Wednesday. Moderate showers are predicted till May 13.

Man sets government bus ablaze in Tamil Nadu after tiff with driver, held

COIMBATORE: Coimbatore Rural Police arrested a 27-year-old man for setting a government bus on fire on Tuesday night over an argument with the driver. The arrested was identified as Vigneshkumar (26) of Sivaganga, who works as a cab driver in Chennai. As per police, Vigneshkumar was en route to his native Thondamuthur to see his wife and newborn child, when he got into an argument with the driver of a government bus, plying from Narasipuram to Ukkadam, over giving way to his bike near Santhaipettai. He was also frustrated over a family dispute. Following this, the suspect brought petrol in a bottle for Rs30 and around 7.30 pm, when the bus stopped at Santhaipettai bus stop to board passengers, he poured it on the buss front tyre and set it on fire. Seeing this, passengers got down from the bus. With the help of the public, the driver Sampathkumar and conductor Senkon managed to put off the fire. They also caught Vigneshkumar. He was then handed over to the Thondamuthur police station. The police arrested him under section 436 of IPC and section 4 of the TNPPDL act, 1992. He was remanded in judicial custody on Wednesday. A similar case is already registered against him in Sivaganga district for setting a private property on fire, said Vadivelkumar, Inspector of Police.

Logistics firms vehicle carrying 810 kg gold overturns in Erode's Chithode

ERODE: A vehicle of a private logistics company that was carrying 810 kg gold bars, worth approximately `562 crore from Coimbatore to Salem overturned on the roadside near Chithode early on Tuesday. Police said the gold belonged to a private dealer and there was no illegality in it. An officer in Erode district police said, The van left Coimbatore for Salem on Monday mid-night carrying 810 kg of gold bars. It was driven by Sasikumar and Balraj was the gunman. Both are employees of the company. Around 2 am on Tuesday, when the van reached Samathuvapuram near Chithode on Kochi - Salem National Highway, the driver lost control and the van overturned on the left side of the road. Both Sasikumar and Balraj were injured. Chithode police rescued the injured and sent them to Bhavani Government Hospital for treatment. The officer added, On investigation, it came to light that the van was loaded with gold bars. After that the vehicle was safely brought to Chithode police station. The gold belongs to a private dealer. Probably transported for jewel stores in Salem. But no illegality was found. So we allowed the gold to be transferred to another vehicle and taken to Salem by the logistics company. Erode SP G Jawahar said, The logistics company often used to carry gold belonging to private dealers. Our investigation did not find any illegal stuff. The Commercial Tax Department also conducted an investigation. No complaints have been received in this regard.

Agriculture department in Tamil Nadu refutes claims of poor quality millet seeds

MADURAI: Months after allegations surfaced about the adulteration of barnyard millet (kuthiraivali) seeds provided to farmers, the agriculture department officials, after performing a field test, found that the seeds had no issues. In November 2023, several farmers from Usilampatti raised concerns about adulterated barnyard millet seeds provided at a subsidized price by the agriculture department. Farmers alleged that nearly all the fields where the seeds were planted produced weeds, instead of millet crops. Owing to this, there was a massive decline in the harvest of barnyard millet, dropping from the usual seven quintals per acre to just one quintal per acre. After farmers flagged the issue, seed samples were sent to Coimbatore for field testing, where the seeds would be cultivated in a field and a harvest report would be compiled. Senior agriculture department officials said that the reports from the field test indicated that there were no issues with the seeds as the yield was good. Unseasonal rains and the lack of awareness of weed management may have been the reason, the officials added. Notable, nearly 25 farmers who cultivated the millet variety were provided compensation for crop damage caused by rains. The agriculture department will also raise awareness among farmers during the next season on weed management. Speaking to TNIE, M Kannan, a farmer from Peraiyur said, I cultivated barnyard milled on about 10 acres, and was faced with severe weed infestation issues. Even though we sought a compensation of Rs 17,000 per acre, we only got Rs 1,700 per acre. The cultivation expenses alone were over Rs 70,000. The poor quality of seeds led to this issue. Appropriate action should be taken to prevent such losses in the future.

Smooth start as e-pass system comes into force in Nilgiris and Kodaikanal

NILGIRIS/KODAIKANAL: There was no major disruption in traffic or chaos in Nilgiris and Kodaikanal on Tuesday when the e-pass system came into force. Over 80,000 tourists have registered at epass.tnega.org to visit Nilgiris. According to official sources, as on 7 pm Tuesday, more than 4,000 vehicles entered Nilgiris and 1,217 vehicles entered Kodaikanal. The district administrations deployed adequate personnel at check posts to scan the QR code sent to e-pass holders. Tourists were allowed into the hill stations only after the codes were scanned. In Nilgiris, 90 personnel were deployed in 15 checks posts bordering Coimbatore, Kerala and Karnataka. District Collector M Aruna inspected four checkposts along with DRO R Keerthi Priyadharshini, and other officials. Speaking to media, Aruna said, Two staff have been appointed for each checkpost. Officials in deputy collector rank will monitor work at the checkposts. Except in Kakkanallah checkpost where internet is down, we are allowing tourists to enter through Thorapalli or Masinagudi. The Dindigul district administration issued epass to 26,694 vehicles to Kodaikanal from May 6 till 5.30 pm on May 7, including 9,222 passes issued on Tuesday alone. People can clarify doubts regarding e-pass at helplines 0451-2900223 and 94422-55737.

Legal team visits Coimbatore jail to probe torture of Savukku Shankar

COIMBATORE/CHENNAI: Following allegations that YouTuber Savukku Shankar was tortured by Coimbatore Central Prison personnel, a five-member team headed by D Shanmugavel, chief legal aid defence counsel of District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) and two doctors, visited the prison and held an investigation on Tuesday. The report will be submitted before the Judicial Magistrate - IV on Wednesday. Talking to reporters at the court, Shankars counsel S Gopalakrishnan alleged that his client was denied treatment for the hand fracture and was suffering in pain. The counsel showed an order copy given to the prison authority by Theni police for effecting arrest in a case related to Shankar and two others possessing ganja while they were staying in Theni on Saturday. Shankar had acknowledged receipt of the order affixing his left thumb impression instead of signing. Shankar did so because his right hand is fractured following the assault, Gopalakrishnan said. Responding to the allegation, the prison department in a release said, no prisoner has been assaulted. In another development, the fourth judicial magistrate court in Coimbatore on Tuesday posted to hear the bail plea submitted by Shankar on charges of making derogatory remarks, on May 10. The magistrate ordered that police petition seeking custody will be heard on May 9. YouTuber Savukku Shankar 'brutally attacked' by jail authorities, claims his mother; seeks judicial probe Fresh cases Salem cyber crime police on Tuesday registered another case against Shankar based on a complaint by a women sub-inspector demanding action against him for posting a video in which he spoke in an obscene manner about Tamil Nadu women police. Acting on her complaint, Shankar was booked under sections 294(b), 353, and 509 of the IPC, read with Section 4 of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act and the Information Technology Act, 2000. The cyber crime wing of CCB Chennai too registered a case against Shankar based on a complaint lodged by journalist Sandhya Ravishankar in 2018. In a post on X, she said Shankar had made derogatory comments against her in a blog post. Earlier, the head of the Tamilar Munnetra Padai Veeralakshmi lodged a complaint against Shankar and Felix Gerald of Red Pix for making derogatory comments about women cops based on which both men have been booked. Lawyer claims YouTuber Savukku Shankar beaten in Coimbatore jail

Youth in Tamil Nadu gets Rs 2L for trauma in medical negligence case

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has ordered the state government to pay a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to a youth who had suffered mental agony and trauma due to alleged medical negligence eight years ago. Justice Anita Sumanth, in a recent order, directed the government pay the amount to Vishnu of Mettur in Salem within six weeks. The boy was admitted at the Government Hospital in Mettur in 2016 after complaining stomach pain. After undergoing, appendectomy, he suffered complications and was taken to Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College Hospital in Salem where he had undergone another surgery. Later, he was admitted to a private hospital in Coimbatore. His mother Sasikala lodged complaints with the authorities seeking action against the doctor who had performed the surgery but the inquiries revealed no negligence. Later, she moved the HC. Even though she could not prove the charge of medical negligence, the court took a lenient stand. The narration of events informs me sufficiently to conclude that the tertiary care system in the state is undoubtedly responsible for the medical trauma that the child was put through, the judge said. The judge also directed the district collector to consider providing suitable government job to the victim who is now 22 years of age.

ACs putting strain on power grid, trigger outages at night in Coimbatore

COIMBATORE: The power grid has come under severe strain in Coimbatore city, especially in the late evening, resulting in frequent blowing of control fuses or transformer breakdown. TANGEDCO officials attribute this to a sharp spike in the use of air-conditioners and fans in homes as people seek succour from the intense summer heat. The trend has been observed since the beginning of April when heat started to rise, unlike previous years. Though Tamil Nadus electricity demand crossing 20, 863 Megawatt and continuing to rise day by day, the supply infrastructure has not been appropriately upgraded to meet this surge in demand, leading to equipment breakdowns and power interruptions. Coimbatore city witnesses power cuts mostly in the night hours when people use ACs the most.Sources in Tangedco Coimbatore said power cuts are reported often from Ukkadam, Athupalam, Karumbukadai and surrounding areas. The field staff explain that excessive load on transformers damages control fuses, which are vital components for regulating the flow of electricity. When these control fuses fail, it leads to disruptions in the power supply, causing outages. The surge in AC use has strained the electricity distribution infrastructure, particularly on transformers. A 100 kVA distribution transformer is designed to handle a maximum load of 133 amperage but we restrict it to a maximum of 70 - 80 kVA for the safety of the transformer. However, they are now handling up to 130 kVA (180 to 190 amperage). With such overload, the control fuse of the transformer often burns out and causes blackouts. We are forced to either change a fuse or the entire transformer. It takes one or two hours to fix the issue, said an assistant engineer of Tangedco. As the surge of AC usage among the public is unpredictable, the officer said the department should learn lessons from this years experience and be better prepared for future summers. Nature development to accommodate the increased demand during the summer months. While there may be sufficient power supply, the lack of infrastructure upgrades to handle the additional load results in power interruptions. Increasing the number of transformers will help to manage the issue. The load will be divided when we have additional transformers. We have raised the issue with our higher officials, the officer added. An officer in the rank of superintending engineer said since April 15. The peak demand is from 11 pm when most of the transformers face breakdowns. We came to know that a home appliances firm in Gandhipuram has sold nearly 40,000 ACs so far this year which is evident how the use of AC is increasing in every household. This will automatically increase load on transformers. The load is one and half fold higher this year which means a transformer capacity of 100 kVA, has to handle 150 kVA. The intense heat also has an effect on the working of the transformers, he added. Usually, transformers emit heat. This year the weather is adding additional heat triggering frequent breakdowns. Amid these issues, we are managing the supply and there is no major disruptions. Taking this as experience, we are gearing for next summer, he said. Explaining their effort in attending the breakdowns, the officer said they receive complaints through Tangedcos Customer Care Minnagam 94987 94987 and through the field staff. Usually, a single complaint would mean it is a fault in a house connection. But when it goes beyond one, we consider it as a complaint to the distribution line. The faults and the breakdowns are being managed by the field staff category of gang man. We are managing the work with an available manpower, the officer said.

EPS Takes Up Cudgels on Behalf of Savuku

Chennai: Leader of the opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami demanded an enquiry by a judge to ascertain if the charges that YouTuber and social media activist Savukku Sankar was beaten up in the Coimbatore jail as alleged by the lawyer. In his post on X, Palaniswami said that while action can be taken against Sankar if he had violated the law, the police were not empowered to take the law into their hands. Sankar was arrested at Theni on charges of defaming women police personnel in an interview given to a YouTube channel and taken to Coimbatore where the case was filed against him. He was sent to jail and it was where he is reported to have been assaulted by the jail staff. Meanwhile, Chennai police reopened an old case against him on the basis of a complaint filed by a woman journalist years ago.

YouTuber Savukku Shankar 'brutally attacked' by jail authorities, claims his mother; seeks judicial probe

CHENNAI: YouTuber Savukku Shankar's mother A Kamala moved the Madras High Court alleging that the prison authorities thrashed the YouTuber at the Coimbatore Central Prison inflicting grievous injuries. Kamala moved a habeas corpus petition with a plea for ordering a judicial probe into the custodial violence and providing him proper treatment at a private hospital. She said that her son exposing several issues, including scams of land mafia and other white collar criminals acting hand-in-glove with many bureaucrats, had earned him the wrath of the government and the corrupt officials who, in turn, had slapped false charges against him. Stating that she came to know through Shankars lawyer that he was brutally attacked by the jail wardens resulting in severe injuries and a fracture in the right hand, she alleged that he was beaten up with a steel pipe and the injuries were made to appear as if they were sustained in an accident. Contending that the incidents made it clear that the violence took place under the supervision of senior prison officials, she further alleged that the officials did not arrange appropriate treatment for him, thereby violating the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution. The YouTubers mother prayed for a direction to the authorities concerned to conduct a judicial inquiry regarding the custodial violence and to provide adequate medical treatment in a private hospital. Shankar was arrested by the Coimbatore city police on May 4, 2024 after registering an FIR under various sections of IPC and Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act and the Information Technology Act for allegedly denigrating women police personnel and a top police officer. Later, he was remanded to judicial custody at the Coimbatore Central Prison.

Committee inspects Avinashi Road flyover works in Coimbatore

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First phase of Coimbatores western bypass project to be completed by August 2025

The first phase involves development of 11.8 km four-lane road from Madukkarai (Mayilkal) to Madhampatti at 200 crores

TNAU to nurture five start-ups at its Biotech Council for Centre of Excellence in Coimbatore

Container Carrying 666 Crore Worth of Gold Jewels Capsizes in Tamil Nadu

Chennai: Late on Monday night, a private container carrying gold jewels worth 666 Crore capsized at Chitode near Erode, Tamil Nadu. The container, owned by a private logistics firm, was transporting the jewels from Coimbatore to Salem. However, when the vehicle approached Samathuvapuram, the driver, Sasikumar, lost control while negotiating a turn, causing the container to overturn. Both the driver, Sasikumar, and the armed security guard, Balraj, sustained serious injuries in the accident. The Chitode police promptly arrived at the scene, rescued the injured, and admitted them to a nearby hospital. Fortunately, the gold jewels stored inside the container remained unaffected by the accident. Upon learning about the incident, the consignee and consignor arranged for a new truck and a security guard. They transferred the gold jewels from the overturned container to the new truck and proceeded towards Salem. The Chitode police have registered a case and are currently investigating the matter. Historic Verdict: Girl Jailed for False Rape Accusation, Innocent Youth Acquitted Uttarakhand to Take Strict Action Against Forest Fire Perpetrators Devastation in West Bengal: 12 Dead Due to Storm and Lightning

AITUC calls for cancelling contract of private company managing temporary workers in Coimbatore

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Kingmakers IAS Academy achieved its milestone in Civil Service Examination

Kingmakers IAS Academy achieved its milestone in Civil Service Examination ATK New Delhi [India], May 7: The KingMakers IAS Academy in India has achieved the highest ranking in the civil service examination results, as announced by Bhoominathan-Director of the academy. He stated that the All-India Civil Service Examination 2023 results which were published on 16th April were 1016 candidates selected by the Union Public Service Commission for positions such as IAS,IPS and IFS. 10,16,850 applied for civil service examination, in that 5,92,141 has been appeared for prelims.2,855 has been selected for Personality Test, finally 1016 has been selected for civil services 2023 for various positions such as IAS,IPS,IFS..etc. He said, Aditya Srivathsava, KingMakers IAS Academy student has secured the top position in India this year even last year's top performer Ms.Ishita Kishore is also from KingMakers IAS Academy. In the latest results more than 100 students from KingMakers IAS academy have achieved success in the final list. Notable achievements include Aditya Srivathsava secured the first position, Ms.Medha Anand secured the 13th position Kunal Rastogi secured the 15th position, Ayan Jain secured the 16th position. S.Prasanth (Rank 78) from Tamil Nadu secured the 2nd place and Ms.Eshani Anand (Rank 79) secured the 3rd place in Tamil Nadu. Furthermore,students who cleared from Tamil Nadu are R.Venkateshwaran(Rank152),Ms.K.Nehaa(175),Ms.M.Dharani(250),T.A.Vignesh(314),Ms.S.ShahidaBegum(323),K.M.Karthik Raja(329), Ms.SindhuNRaghavan(336),T.AravindKumar(348),R.Mukilan(404),Ms.G.Sathyanandhi(513),U.Vibukrishnaa(528),E.Kathiravan(573),A.K.Karthikeyan(579),G.Subburaj(605),S.Balaji(646),Ms.M.Jayavani(698),Ms.M.Muthuarasi(705),Ms.K.Oviya(796),.AshiqHussain(845),V.Harsavarthan(864),have also trained from KingMakers IAS Academy for their final stage of preparation. Over 50% of Tamilnadu's successful students are from KingMakers IAS Academy. KingMakers IAS Academy has once again proved its excellence in preparing students for India's prestigious civil services examination. This remarkable success highlights the exceptional quality of education provided by KingMakers IAS Academy. The academy's commitment to comprehensive training and expert guidance has consistently helped its students achieve outstanding results in the highly competitive civil services exam. With 1 in top 10 ranks, 6 top 50 ranks and 9 in top 100 ranks,through which KingMakers IAS Academy has once again proven its position as a leading provider of civil services coaching in India particularly in Tamilnadu. KingMakers IAS Academy offers courses for UPSC and TNPSC at our branches in New Delhi ,Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore, Tiruchirappalli.For more information, contact 9444227273. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by ATK. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)

Gold-laden van involved in accident in Erode, two injured

The van, carrying 810 kg of gold jewellery was going form Coimbatore to Salem; the driver and guard were injured in the accident and have been hospitalised

Van with Rs 666 Cr worth gold jewels capsizes

13 kg gold seized at Chennai airport 13 kg gold seized at Chennai airport Erode (Tamil Nadu): A private container carrying Rs 666 Crore worth 810 kilogram gold jewels capsized at Chitode near Erode late on Monday night. According to police, a container belonging to a private logistics firm loaded with the jewels proceeded from Coimbatore last night to Salem. When the vehicle came near Samathuvapuram near here, the driver Sasikumar lost control over the vehicle when he was negotiating a turning which led to it capsizing, police said. In the incident, the driver Sasikumar and armed security Balraj fell down and sustained serious injuries. On getting information, the Chitode police rushed to the spot, removed the injured persons and admitted them to a hospital nearby. The gold jewels kept inside the container were not affected, police said. The consignee and consignor learnt about the incident and sent a new truck and security guard to the spot. They removed the gold jewels from the capsized vehicle into the new one and left for Salem. Chitode police registered a case and are investigating it

Van Carrying Gold Jewels Worth Rs 666 Cr Overturns in Tragic Incident

Van Carrying Gold Jewels Worth Rs 666 Cr Overturns in Tragic Incident A private container carrying Rs 666 Crore worth 810 kilogram gold jewels capsized at Chitode near Erode late on Monday night. According to police, a container belonging to a private logistics firm loaded with the jewels proceeded from Coimbatore last night to Salem. When the vehicle came near Samathuvapuram near here, the driver Sasikumar lost control over the vehicle when he was negotiating a turning which led to it capsizing, police said. In the incident, the driver Sasikumar and armed security Balraj fell down and sustained serious injuries. On getting information, the Chitode police rushed to the spot, removed the injured persons and admitted them to a hospital nearby. The gold jewels kept inside the container were not affected, police said. The consignee and consignor learnt about the incident and sent a new truck and security guard to the spot. They removed the gold jewels from the capsized vehicle into the new one and left for Salem. Chitode police registered a case and are investigating it.

Female elephant found dead in forest periphery near Coimbatore

Officials said there were no external injuries on the elephant; a post-mortem has been scheduled

After Coimbatore, Salem City police register case against YouTuber Savukku Shankar

Mr. Shankar has already been arrested by the Coimbatore city police for allegedly making derogatory remarks about women police personnel in T.N., and is currently lodged in jail there

Tamil Nadu: YouTuber Savukku Shankar gets beaten in Coimbatore jail, lawyer claims he was blindfolded and assaulted with pipes

Lawyer Gopalkrishnan further revealed that Senthil Kumar, who was the superintendent of prison in Cuddalore when Shankar was imprisoned previously, is now the superintendent of Coimbatore Central Prison.

Pass to preserve

CHENNAI: As the calendar pointed to summer holidays and the sweltering veyil arrived, the next step was packing a suitcase and scrambling towards a rapid escape to the hills. From the Manjummel Boys-like rambunctious gangs, and families to newly-wed couples, the lush green misty landscape, cool breeze, and sunshine beckon to all tourists. May, for me, was synonymous with the roads of Bandipur, skating around Kodaikanal Lake, eating innumerable bread omelets, and trekking up to Coonoors Dolphins Nose. As for conservationist and historian Nanditha Krishna, her childhood was spent walking all over Ooty for miles across open landscapes. Every summer, a ride up through hairpin bends in their family Chevrolet, the hills provided a place of leisure dotted with old buildings and open spaces. It was not a touristy place, it was a place to relax, she says. However, in recent times, the traffic is terrible, it took me two hours to get through, we were nose to bumper and stuck like New York City. I dont expect to see New York in the Queen of the Hills. The air is full of methane and carbon dioxide, she says. In a bid to assess this traffic and preserve the hills, the state government special division bench the Madras High Court recently directed the state government to introduce an e-pass system for tourist vehicles entering the two hill stations. From today till June 30, vehicles meandering through the dense forests must obtain this pass to enter the hills. Pictures for representation According to a report in The New Indian Express , the court also noted human beings cannot exist on earth without bio-diversity and it is critical to preserve such pristine places in the interest of all humans. Currently, 10,000-15,000 footfall is received during peak season and around 2,000 to 3,000 during the off-season, says Nilgiris Collector Aruna M, adding that this e-pass will estimate the carrying capacity of the forest. This judgment has been a demand of local activists for the past two to three years, mentions Ooty-based N Sadiq Ali of Wildlife and Nature Conservation Trust. Almost 30% of tourists visit Mudumalai, Emerald Lake, or go towards Gudalur. They lack discipline, litter, try to feed the wild, and they throw plastic inside the forest. We have seen many cases of animals like elephants and deer eating this food with plastic and later facing death. He points out that this e-pass system may generate worry in tourists, and in a domino effect, instill discipline, but this will not bring a large impact. Welcoming the move, animal activist Antony Rubin, says, This is the e-pass to study the population and movement as there is no data about the influx and tourist footfall, the next step would be deciding to restrict numbers as every space has its carrying capacity. Plying vehicles bring pollution and ecological damage and Ooty and Kodaikanal are close to forests. He adds that e-passes give local administrations time to plan for the inflow and manage garbage, and water. It gives a birds eye view to help prevent entry into wildlife areas. He suggests a foolproof data collection method could be Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) Cameras at all entry points to record the number of vehicles entering and exiting each hill station. Beyond stats In 1819, Jackson Sullivan, the then-collector of Coimbatore, wrote to Madras governor Thomas Munro, noting the blue hills resembled the beauty of Switzerland. Decades later, these landscapes have dwindled, dotted with plastic, bottles, and other garbage. Over the years, humans have encroached on lands, disturbing fragile elephant corridors, bird species, and tiger habitats. All the land (in Nilgiris) where there is man-animal conflict were elephant zones. People are encroaching onto wildlife and forested areas, with no control. They come through the wildlife sanctuaries like Bandipur and Mudumalai at such a speed and hit wildlife, there has to be some respect and speed control says Nanditha. According to the Elephant Census in 2023, there were 2,961 elephants in Tamil Nadu, and the Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) are among the most endangered species in the world. On an average about 400-450 people lose their lives annually due to such conflict in India and around 100 elephants are killed in retaliation for the damage they cause to human life and property, points out a report titled Right of Passage. As habitats continue to be lost and elephant deaths are on the rise, data is not enough. The government can educate tourists through media or social media that they shouldnt be stopping the vehicle or littering. This will help the wild to live in peace. We suggest the government must levy more entry tax. Currently, they are charging `20-`30 but people must feel like we are paying more while entering and feel responsible, says Sadiq. Beyond data, the activists suggest that the movement of vehicles must be restricted, the number of safaris should be restricted to bookings with time limits, and patrolling must be increased in forests. Learn from what Bhutan has done, they control the tourists. We must also stop this mushrooming of lodges as well, says Nanditha. Tips while travelling to hill-stations Never litter anything on the road Never taunt or feed wild animals Ghats driving is very different from plains, so negotiate the curves carefully Log onto https://epass.tnega.org/home for registration.

Light to moderate rains likely over parts of Chennai

CHENNAI: Heavy rain is likely to occur in isolated places over the Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Virudhunagar, Theni, Dindigul, Tirunelveli and Tenkasi districts on Tuesday. As far as Chennai is concerned, light to moderate rain is likely to occur in some areas in the next 48 hours. The maximum temperature is likely to be 38-39 degrees Celsius and the minimum temperature is 29-30 degree Celsius. The sky conditions may be partly cloudy, according to the met department bulletin on Monday. A heat wave warning has also been issued for Wednesday in isolated pockets over interior Tamil Nadu. Due to high temperatures, people residing in isolated pockets of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal may experience some level of discomfort, the bulletin added.

Two boys, class nine girl meet watery grave in Coimbatore

COIMBATORE: Three children drowned in separate incidents in Coimbatore on Monday. According to police, M Abinesh Kumar (10) and M Avinesh Kumar (8) are the sons of Mari Durai who is a native of Kovilpatti in the Thoothukudi district. The boys arrived at their grandmothers house in Sirumugai for summer holidays. On Monday, they went to take bath in the Bhavani river near Sirumagai. While taking a dip in the river, the boys drowned in the river and died on the spot. Sirumugai police retrieved the bodies with the help of locals and fire service personnel. A case has been registered. In another incident, a 14-year-old girl died while taking a bath in a pond. Chinnasamy of Seeliyur in Karamadai amd his wife Chitra have two children Yojaswini (16) and Thejaswini (14). Thejaswini was studying in class 9 at Seeliyur Government High School. On Monday, Chinnasamy along with his wife and two daughters went to the Kalampalayam seepage pond to wash clothes and take a bath. While taking a dip in the pond, Thejaswini drowned. Immediately his wife raised alarm and with the help of the nearby people, they rescued the girl and took her to the Mettupalayam Government Hospital in 108 ambulance. She died without responding to treatment. Karamadai police registered a case. The bodies of the three children were sent to Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH) for autopsy.

Lawyer claims YouTuber Savukku Shankar beaten in Coimbatore jail

COIMBATORE: YouTuber Savukku Shankars lawyer alleged that his clients life was in danger inside the Coimbatore central prison as police personnel were acting out of vendetta and assaulted him. The Coimbatore Cybercrime Police registered a case against the YouTuber for making derogatory remarks about women constables and arrested him from Theni on Saturday. He has been lodged in the Coimbatore central prison. Addressing media persons on Monday, advocate S Gopalakrishnan alleged that Shankars life was in danger inside the prison as policemen were acting out of vendetta and were causing him mental agony. He said before being imprisoned, Shankar was taken to the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH) for medical examination. Shankar had minor injuries on his mouth and there were no other injuries before being imprisoned, he said. Shankar had no injuries when he was examined before he was imprisoned in the Coimbatore central prison. On Saturday night, more than ten policemen assaulted him with a plastic pipe wrapped in cloth.As a result, Shankar suffered severe injuries all over his body. His right arm is fractured. Shankars life is in danger inside the jail. Senthil Kumar, who was the superintendent of prison in Cuddalore when Shankar was imprisoned earlier, is now the superintendent of Coimbatore central prison. So they have registered a case in Coimbatore and are torturing Shankar. Policemen are acting out of vendetta and are torturing Shankar, the advocate said. Gopalakrishnan further said he has filed a petition before the court seeking the judge to intervene and see him directly in person and provide permission to give treatment for Shankar in a private hospital. Youtuber Savukku Shankar arrested; meets with accident while being taken to Coimbatore in police vehicle TN Minister seeks action against Youtuber Savukku Shankar for comments

TN agri department refutes claims of poor quality millet seeds

MADURAI: Months after allegations surfaced about the adulteration of barnyard millet (kuthiraivali) seeds provided to farmers, the agriculture department officials, after performing a field test, found that the seeds had no issues. In November 2023, several farmers from Usilampatti raised concerns about adulterated barnyard millet seeds provided at a subsidized price by the agriculture department. Farmers alleged that nearly all the fields where the seeds were planted produced weeds, instead of millet crops. Owing to this, there was a massive decline in the harvest of barnyard millet, dropping from the usual seven quintals per acre to just one quintal per acre. After farmers flagged the issue, seed samples were sent to Coimbatore for field testing, where the seeds would be cultivated in a field and a harvest report would be compiled. Senior agriculture department officials said that the reports from the field test indicated that there were no issues with the seeds as the yield was good. Unseasonal rains and the lack of awareness of weed management may have been the reason, the officials added. Notable, nearly 25 farmers who cultivated the millet variety were provided compensation for crop damage caused by rains. The agriculture department will also raise awareness among farmers during the next season on weed management. Speaking to TNIE, M Kannan, a farmer from Peraiyur said, I cultivated barnyard milled on about 10 acres, and was faced with severe weed infestation issues. Even though we sought a compensation of Rs 17,000 per acre, we only got Rs 1,700 per acre. The cultivation expenses alone were over Rs 70,000. The poor quality of seeds led to this issue. Appropriate action should be taken to prevent such losses in the future.

94.56 per cent Tamil Nadu students pass Class 12, Tiruppur tops list

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu students have secured 94.56% pass percentage in the Class 12 exam results declared on Monday, marginally higher than last years 94.03%. Of the 7,60,606 students who wrote the exam in 7,532 schools across the state, 7,19,196 have cleared it. Tiruppur district recorded the highest pass percentage of 97.45, followed by 97.42% recorded by both Erode and Sivaganga. While Tiruvannamalai registered the lowest pass percentage of 90.47, 94.48% students in Chennai have cleared the exam. The pass percentage has been consistently increasing every year. It was 92.34% in 2020, 100% in 2021 as all-pass was announced due to Covid-19, 93.76% in 2022, and 94.03% in 2023. But the number of students, writing the exam, declined this year. While more than eight lakh students wrote the exam from 2021 to 2023, the count went down to 7.6 lakh this year. Education department sources said this was due to more number of students opting for polytechnic and ITI courses after Class 10. There were 11,594 absentees this year which had reduced from 47,736 last year. This was mainly due to measures like not allowing students without enough attendance to register for exam and tracking the students to ensure that they dont skip the exam due to fear, officials said. Adi Dravidar schools have shown steady improvement As usual, girls (96.44%) registered 4.07% higher pass percentage than boys (92.37). The only transgender who wrote the exam in Chennai had cleared the exam. While 91.02% students from government schools had passed the exam, the number was 95.49% for government aided schools and 98.70% for private schools. A total of 2,478 schools, including 397 government schools, have recorded 100% pass. Among government schools, Tiruppur registered the highest pass percentage of 95,75 while Tiruvallur registered 84.70%. Virudhunagar district, which had got the top spot in the overall pass percentage for two years, registered 96.64% slipping to fifth place this year. Coimbatore was fourth with 96.97% pass. Showing good improvement, tribal schools showed a pass percentage of 95.15. Of the 1,402 tribal students who wrote the exam, 1,334 of them have passed. It was 86.21% in 2022 and 94.82% in 2023. Adi Dravidar welfare schools have also shown consistent improvement with 89.42% students passing this year compared to 86.16% in 2023, and 82.21% in 2022. Out of the 5,603 differently-abled students who sat for the exam, 5,161 had cleared the exam with a pass percentage of 92.11. Of the 125 prisoners who wrote the exam, 115 cleared it.

Man arrested for murdering neighbour near Coimbatore

Two siblings drown in Bhavani river near Coimbatore

Student ends life in college hostel near Coimbatore

Land acquisition for Coimbatore airport expansion delayed further

The previous deadline of March 31 could not be met as the officials were involved in various works for the Lok Sabha elections, phase 1 of which was held in Tamil Nadu on April 19

Former minister S.P. Velumani seeks steps to solve water crisis in Coimbatore

Former minister S.P. Velumani seeks steps to solve water crisis in Coimbatore - The Hindu

Former minister S.P. Velumani seeks steps to solve water crisis in Coimbatore The Hindu

With knack for finding solutions, this innovator builds barriers for rivers

BENGALURU : The world today is overflowing with ideas and concepts on how technology can shape the future, creating a hope for restoring and protecting our depleting natural environment. Amidst the chatter, few solutions stand out as beacons, guiding us towards imagining and building a better future. D Chandrasekhar, an ex-merchant navy captain and innovator from Bengaluru, is one such individual a passionate advocate for crafting cost-effective solutions using simple techniques to address complex problems. With two companies AlphaMERS and BetaTank Robotics Pvt Ltd -- under his helm, the 61-year-old has always possessed a knack for devising out-of-the-box solutions by simply observing his surroundings. Through AlphaMERS, he pioneered unique river barriers designed to collect solid waste without disrupting the water bodys flow. This innovative approach ensures that trash is brought to the riverbank without using excessive resources. Subsequently, the collected waste is either recycled by NGOs or government bodies, serving as a sustainable model for waste management. Chandrasekhar joined the merchant navy in 1980, a time when career choices were limited. It was a choice between joining the defence or working in a bank. Fortunately, I cleared the merchant navy tests, but I was always a thinker. I pondered over the various issues plaguing India and contemplated solutions, he recalls. Traveling broadens ones perspective, and over time, I became deeply connected to Indias identity. As a young person, I often wondered why my country couldnt achieve certain things. The vision of clean rivers abroad always lingered in my mind, he adds, his voice filled with enthusiasm. D Chandrasekhar with his team The former captains journey into innovation began in 1995, when he was cleaning a petrol tank with his peers, using buckets. He recalls expressing his discontent, asserting that one day, he would develop robots to clean the tanks. That dream remained unrealised for nearly three decades until 2019, when M/s OIL offered incubation and financial support for our robot project, he shares. BetaTank Robotics, incubated at the Indian Institute of Technology in Guwahati, introduced the six-legged robot, revolutionising safety, cost-effectiveness and environmental sustainability in the oil industry. The companys groundbreaking work was recognised with the Best Startup award at India Energy Week. Currently, we have around 15 patents in the pipeline. Ive come to realise that many are spending millions daily on basic tasks using technology, which is unnecessary. We are not a profit-driven company; our focus is on addressing fundamental issues, whether in ports, rivers, reservoirs or the ocean, Chandrasekhar explains. In 2010, he founded AlphaMERS with a similar mission: to find effective solutions for water bodies. His intuitive understanding of seas, oceans, waves and currents guided the companys initiatives. The river-cleaning plan, which costs only Rs 85 lakh for 10 locations in Chennai as compared to the billions spent abroad, showcases the effectiveness of his approach. Despite the financial challenges inherent in Indias landscape, Chandrasekhar and his team push themselves to innovate and contribute to environmental conservation. Waste from a river being collected using the river barrier method The river barriers, designed to trap trash, utilise mesh to minimise drag forces a solution rooted in hydrodynamics. In its inaugural year in 2018, this approach removed 2,200 tonnes of plastics from a coastal river, subsequently scaling to Chennai as compared to the billions (millions) spent abroad.Additionally, the company developed silt traps that passively capture sediments, which can then be efficiently removed using dedicated conveyors. These innovations have already been implemented in several lakes in Bengaluru. Chandrasekhar and his team have also designed a device called Wave Energy Converter (WEC) to harness renewable energy from sea waves. The initial tests showed it can generate 5 kW of electricity. However, he adds that commercial interest has been low. The team has also worked on a wave-powered boat that can help save a lot of energy. I want the younger generation to believe that they can design anything in India. Confidence is key. While oil and minerals may not be equitably distributed worldwide, intelligence is universal. Our ability to innovate and find solutions lies within each of us. India has the potential to lead in technology globally; we just need to take the necessary risks, he adds. An excavator gathers trash from a river The former navy captain, with his infectious spirit, reflects on his teams achievements in cleaning three city rivers. He humbly says, If an average person like me can do it, why not others? A solution to collect trash in rivers AlphaMERS-developed river barriers to arrest trash are currently running in Tamil Nadu, Kochi, Cooum, Addiyar, Thoothukudi, Thanjavur, Coimbatore, Puducherry, Ulsoor in Bengaluru, Mysuru, Musi, Hussain Sagar in Hyderabad and Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh.

Coimbatore ranks fourth in State in Plus Two exam results

Safe summers for the strays

CHENNAI: As the summer sun rises from its slumber and roars into the afternoon, the siesta of stray animals and pets in Chennai takes a plunge into darkness. Thanks to initiatives by the government along with NGOs, these animals have found a way to beat the heat. Even as we try to shelter ourselves from the piercing rays, we can do our bit to keep our four-legged friends safe. Senior veterinarian Dr GR Baranidharan of The Ark 24 hrs Veterinary Clinic gives emphasis on providing shelter and water for animals such as dogs and cattle, till the conclusion of the summer season. Dogs and cats do not sweat as much as humans do. The presence of oral mucous membranes helps in evaporative cooling, which is why they pant a lot. However, it will be difficult for them when the temperature crosses more than 40 degrees Celsius. It is important to keep water for them during this summer outside our houses, says Baranidharan, adding that the chances of heatstroke are high. Here are a few organisations that are aiding stray animals get through the kathiri veyil. Heaven for Animals In 2021, Heaven For Animals was established in Chennai, as the first-ever cloud kitchen for community animals in the country. With more than 1,100 volunteers, it provides fresh, nutritious meals to over 4,000 community dogs daily. This year, we are providing more than 9,000 bowls of water in areas like Marina Beach, Besant Nagar, Thiruvanmiyur Beach, and so on, says PrakaashGanth, founder of Heaven For Animals, speaking about their summer initiatives. For details, call: 9585338338, 9786986986 Blue Cross of India, Chennai The organisation established in 1964 has been working closely with the Greater Chennai Corporation and other local bodies near Chennai, Puducherry and Neyveli to implement the Animal Birth Control programme on street and community animals. During summer, they also join the water bowl initiative. Dr S Chinny Krishna, co-founder and chairman of the Blue Cross of India, Chennai, shares We distribute almost 1,000 water bowls in areas like Maduravoyal, Kancheepuram, Avadi, and Ambattur. We also run three mobile hospitals where each one is a mini hospital. It is equipped with an air conditioned and full feature operation theatre, an autoclave and refrigerator, on-board oxygen, power inverter, spine board, catching nets and even spacious boarding space for two animals. For details, call: 04446274999 ScanFoundation India With initiatives to sponsor cats and dogs and also facilitating virtual adoption, ScanFoundation India has worked for the welfare of animals. We have placed almost 2,000 water bowls all over nine districts in the State. Volunteers have been attending to the needs of the stray dogs and every animal is taken care of. They are monitored to check if they carry any diseases which can be at high risk during summers, shares Dr Vijaya Priya, ScanFoundation India. For details, call: 9487487000 People For Cattle in India The Water Bowl challenge was a summer initiative for People For Cattle in India (PFCI) since 2014 to provide access to fresh drinking water for community animals and birds. Arun Prasanna, founder of PFCI shares, We have been consistently creating awareness and providing water to the animals for almost ten years now. We started this challenge with almost 400-500 bowls. This year we are providing 5,000 water bowls. In 2023, almost 4,000 bowls were distributed across Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Coimbatore, Salem, Erode, and Tiruppur by PFCI. For details, call: 9884071136 SANS Animal Welfare Trust Rescuers and feeders have set out to work with the non-governmental organisation SANS Animal Welfare Trust for the welfare of animals, especially in summer. Sudha Chandrasekar, founder and chairperson of the Trust says, We had been regularly feeding cats, dogs and birds in and around areas of Marina Beach, Secretariat etc. Even though initiatives like water bowls are necessary, we need to also focus on plans like planting trees since providing shade to the animals is also necessary. Yearly, 300-400 saplings are supplied by our Trust. For details, call: 7010324993

1.55 lakh students appear for NEET across Tamil Nadu

CHENNAI: Over 1.5 lakh students appeared for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) that was conducted across the state on Sunday. Candidates who attended the test stated that the physics questions were tough while those of chemistry and biology were relatively easier. Notably, the number of state students taking NEET has been growing over the past three years: 1.42 lakh in 2022, 1.47 lakh in 2023 and 1.55 lakh in 2024. This has been the case nationwide. This is due to an increase in public awareness regarding NEET, and also the high number of repeaters, said a teacher from a prominent coaching centre. The 1.55 lakh candidates this year include 12,370 government school students who were coached by the school education department. According to official data, in 2023, 12,997 government students took the test and 3,982 managed to pass. In 2022, 14,979 attended the exam and 4,118 cleared it. As opposed to the overall number, there is no such increase in the number of government students taking NEET, as many of them come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds and cannot afford repeating the test, said department officials. Huge crowds of parents waiting outside examination centres and heavy traffic in the vicinity were a common sight on Sunday. My wife and I came all the way from Pursaivakkam to drop our daughter off here. Since the journey is about 20km, we have been waiting here for four hours. The heat is excessive, but we have no other option, said K Ramanan, a parent who was waiting outside an exam centre in Pallikaranai. While there were no untoward incidents during checking or exam hours, female students had to write the test with loose hair as they were not allowed to wear hair bands. I am attending NEET for the second time. I found last years paper much easier. This year, the physics paper was quite tough. We could not attend many of the physics questions due to negative marking, said Aakam Priya, an aspirant. Another repeater, V M Hariharan from Coimbatore, told TNIE, This years paper was easier compared to last year. Chennai saw 23,326 aspirants take NEET, with 999 absentees. In Coimbatore, the test was held across 14 centres, with 7,128 students in attendance and 319 absentees. 6,787 students appeared for the exam across 12 centres in the integrated Vellore district (including Ranipet and Tirupattur), while 255 were absent. About 5,005 students attended the examination in Villupuram. In Tiruvannamalai, there were 3,847 students in attendance, while 255 were absent. 5,006 students took the test across eight centres in Krishnagiri, while 170 were absent. In Madurai, 9,312 candidates appeared at the 12 exam centres in the city. Ramanathapuram saw 2,154 students in attendance, with 75 absentees. Natrampalli police to the rescue! Akshitha, a NEET candidate from Vellore who was about to take her exam at the Marudhar Kesari Jain College for Women, Tirupattur, realised she had forgotten her Aadhaar copy. However, Natrampalli SI Ganesh came to her aid and provided her with a copy at the last moment, enabling Akshitha to write the examination. (With inputs from Krishnagiri, Coimbatore, Madurai, Villupuram, Vellore and Tiruvannamalai)

BBA, BCA admissions begin at some colleges in Tamil Nadu sans AICTE nod

COIMBATORE: With AICTE and UGC mandating AICTE approval for undergraduate management and computer application courses (BBA, BCA) from this academic year, parents, students and college administration are in a state of confusion as several colleges are yet to get AICTE approval. Till now, AICTE approval was not required for BBA, BCA courses and source said the council sent a circular to colleges last June making it mandatory in a bid to improve the curriculum. While a few colleges have stopped admission to these courses, a few others have started temporary admission without AICTE approval. With class 12 public exam results expected on May 6, students and parents expect the state government to intervene and issue clear instructions to the colleges. An assistant professor from private arts and science college in Coimbatore said they are sending back those who approached seeking admission to BCA course since they have not received any instruction from Bharathiar University on admitting students. Apart from BU which controls over 100 private colleges in Coimbatore, Erode, Tirupur and Nilgiris district, Madurai Kamaraj University and Tiruchy Bharathidasan University also face similar issues. The state government, Higher Education Minister K Ponmudy and higher education secretary should announce that colleges can admit students, he said. Association University Teachers vice-president P Thirunavakarasu said they strongly oppose the AICTEs decision as it would affect rights of state universities. Fees will sharply rise and engineering colleges will not maintain reservation quota, he said According to Ajeet Kumar Lal Mohan, president of the Association of Self-financing Arts, Science and Management Colleges of Tamil Nadu, A total of 67 associations across the country have challenged the AICTE in the Supreme Court. Some state governments have also joined in this and we strongly hope the AICTE will not implement the proposal since the matter is sub judice. It cannot be implemented without the concurrence of the states. It is impossible to get new approval from AICTE which is a technical institution when the existing colleges have been running the course for decades. Three hearings in the top court are complete and the next hearing is scheduled on May 10. A Ponnusamy, Principal of Hindusthan College of Arts & Science in Coimbatore, said they have applied for the approval on AICTE portal. Like us, several colleges offering MBA and MCA courses are also doing so since AICTE is already verifying the facilities and staff strength at our institutions. Despite several states opposing the move, the apex court has not stayed the AICTEs proposal, he said. However, private arts and science colleges in Chennai are not facing any problems. College officials said majority of the private institutions in the city are already offering masters degree in these streams, and getting approval for undergraduate courses will not be an issue. We have all our paperwork ready, furnished all data on our BBA and BCA courses and received the approval, said Archana Prasad, principal, MOP Vaishnav College for Women. Majority of the principals with whom TNIE spoke to said they have got approval from AICTE without any hindrance. Anna University Vice Chancellor R Velraj said he is hoping the state government will react soon. When contacted, Ponmudy confirmed that the issue is in court and promised to make an announcement after holding discussion with education officials. (With inputs from Binita Jaiswal @ Chennai) (For the full report, visit www.newindianexpress.com)

Trains from Chennai run out of water, Southern Railway struggles to meet needs

CHENNAI: Southern Railway hasnt been spared the effects of Tamil Nadus water scarcity, with a few intercity and long distance express trains from Chennai Central and Coimbatore recently running out of water within two to three hours of departure leaving passengers in the lurch. Passengers on Chennai Central - Salem section also had to endure the stench emanating from the toilets after the trains tanks ran dry. The railway has been struggling to supply its trains, departing from Chennai Central, Chennai Egmore and a few other stations, with water amid groundwater depletion and dwindling supply from private tankers. According to sources, the railways typically supplies water to meet 50% of the need on off-peak days (Monday to Thursday) due to limited occupancy on trains and increases the supply to 75 % on weekends (Friday to Sunday) for regular services. However, due to shortage, the railways last week halved the supply during weekdays even when summer holidays were in full swing and all trains were operating at 100% occupancy. Consequently, trains departing from Chennai Central had only water to meet 25% of their usual demand. Rly officials told to closely monitor water scarcity issue The minimum water requirement for a regular train is 40,000 litres a trip. Southern Railway, however, maintained that prompt action was taken to supply water at the next nominated stations for trains in the Chennai - Salem section a few days ago. Officials from the Commercial and Mechanical departments have been briefed to closely monitor this issue specifically, said a senior official from Southern railway headquarters. He also said departmental action is being taken against those staff who failed to supply water for trains. While a few long-distance trains have been able to provide water at the next designated refilling station, supplying water to trains, maintaining coaches, including daily water washing, and providing drinking water to stations have turned into an uphill task for the railways. Passengers on special trains are the worst affected as these trains are given lower priority. The railways had designated Katpadi, Jolarpettai, Salem, and Erode stations for refilling the train tanks in the Chennai - Coimbatore section. Similarly, Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Tiruchy, Madurai, and Tirunelveli have been nominated for refilling the tanks in the Chennai - Nagercoil section. K Swaminathan of Thiruvanmiyur, a regular traveller, said, Almost half of the passengers travelling in reserved coaches of the Kovai Express were compelled to relocate to another coach due to the foul odour from the toilets while returning from Coimbatore. Despite lodging multiple complaints through the helpline and Rail Madad application, all efforts proved futile. As groundwater levels continue to diminish over the years in Basin Bridge, Mannady, Periamet, and surrounding areas, the railway is wholly reliant on water provided by Chennai Metro Water and private tankers to manage its operations at two coaching depots (Basin Bridge and Gopalasamy Nagar) and MGR Chennai Central and Chennai Egmore stations. The water provided by Chennai Metro Water is received at Tiruvottiyur storage tanks and transported to the coaching yards and terminals through pipelines. Additionally, about 3.5 lakh litres of water generated by the recycling plant at Basin Bridge are reused for cleaning the coaches. However, supplying water to trains remains challenging due to scarcity. As a result, exterior cleaning of coaches is also being skipped for several rakes in order to save the water. The Basin Bridge coaching yard is responsible for primary maintenance of over 45 trains, which include primary maintenance of 33 trains. It requires 12 lakh litres of water per day, while MGR Chennai Central station, serving about 65,000 passengers daily, requires 10 lakh litres. Similarly, Egmore stations per day demand is 10 lakh litres of water per day, and the supply is outsourced to private tanker lorry companies. The GSN yard maintains about 27 trains a day. Washing the coach exterior is mandatory during primary maintenance. Necessary measures have been taken to wade through the water crisis during the summer season. The question of operating water special trains does not arise, a railway official said.

Private firm to recruit computer teachers for TN government schools

COIMBATORE: The Tamil Nadu B.Ed Computer Science Unemployed Graduate Teachers Association has objected to the move of the School Education Department to appoint candidates in the post of Computer Instructors (CIs) in over 7,000 middle schools across the state through a private firm instead of appointing unemployed graduate teachers. Association general secretary V Kumareshan told TNIE, With the notification for setting up hi-tech labs middle schools, we hoped that the government would appoint unemployed graduate teachers at schools. We submitted many petitions with the school education department officers, stressing that they should appoint unemployed graduate teachers in the post of CI. But, the school education department handed over the project to a private firm to fill the post in the government schools. Now, the private firm has started receiving applications from the candidates' district-wise discreetly through NGOs. In some places, some NGOs collected money from the applicants by giving assurance that they will be given a job. As a result, unemployed computer teachers who have been waiting for a teaching job for a decade and who wished to get a CI job would suffer mentally, he said. The recruits by the private firm will get a consolidated pay, said sources. Kumareshan wanted the state government to appoint unemployed computer teachers to these posts at schools through direct recruitment instead of relying on private firms. G Manimaran, an unemployed computer science teacher in Coimbatore, told TNIE, In 2011, the DMK government took the step to launch Computer Science subject from classes 1 to 10. We hoped to get teacher jobs in schools. After the AIADMK came to power, it stopped the implementation of the Computer Science subject. In 2021, former school education minister KA Sengottaiyan had assured the legislative assembly that the Computer Science subject would be implemented from classes 6 to 10 in government schools. But, it was not executed. As a result, unemployed computer science teachers are in distress without a job, he recalled. The government should give at least this job to them, said Kumareshan. D Revathi, another teacher in Coimbatore, told TNIE that under the supervision of the Chief Educational Officer, headmasters appointed temporary teachers against vacancies in schools from the primary to higher-secondary level. But, the CI post would be filled this time through a private agency and it would affect our job opportunities, she expressed her concern. When asked about it, a top officer of the Directorate of Elementary Education told TNIE,Tender has been given to a Kerala-based government firm to set up the lab at middle schools. This firm would appoint the candidates to the post. The process is underway. Repeated attempts to reach the school education secretary J Kumaragurubaran went in vain.