The annual summer festival to promote tourism at Valparai is all set to begin from May 31. This time it will be more colourful with the festival being converted into a three-day event from a two-day programme as demanded by the local residents.
Tourist potential of this hill station, located about 100 km from Coimbatore, has not been tapped fully and the government is taking sustained efforts to place Valparai on the same platform with other hill stations like Ooty, Coonoor and Kodaikanal. The Valparai residents want better infrastructure to attract more and more tourists.
“Not just infrastructure facilities, government should also consider creation of recreational features like parks, boat houses and rope cars,” J Manoj Kumar, a Valparai native and an entrepreneur in Coimbatore said.
According to him, Valparai is unique because it is one of the least explored hill stations. Far from pollution it is a prefect tourist destination. Local people had demanded that the summer festival should be held on a bigger scale on a par with Ooty Summer Fest. “Tourism development in Valparai would bring great change in the lives of the local people, their livelihood will improve to a great extent,” Manoj Kumar said.
District collector M Karunagaran recently convened a preparatory meeting over the summer festival at Valparai and directed officials of various government departments to ensure proper arrangements. “A committee has been formed to supervise the arrangements and to make the three-day event a grand success,” he said. Flower show, dog show, food festival, exhibitions, sports competitions and cultural events will be held as part of the summer festival between May 31 and June 2.
Officials said special buses from Coimbatore and Pollachi to Valparai will be operated during the summer festival. This apart special buses will ply from Valparai to other tourist locations. Police and fire, rescue service personnel and special medical teams have been asked to be on full alert during the festive days.
The journey to Valparai through the ghat section which has more than 40 hairpin bends with tea plantations on either side provides a breathtaking experience for the travellers.
source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Coimbatore / TNN / May 19th, 2013
The Tamil Nadu Paarambariya Siddha Maha Sangam here came up with healthcare tips to prevent and cure hypertension using simple food products.
Vaidyar Arjunan, state president of the sangam said, “High blood pressure (BP) is a major health problem in India and was rapidly increasing among urban and rural populations.” he said.
He said tender banana stem, tender brinjal, tender drumstick, tender fig, big gooseberries, radish, yellow pumpkin and bottle gourd could help in setting right problems related to blood circulation. Seemai aththipzham (a variety of fig), badam, dry grapes, dates and fruit of the ‘nuna’ tree also help in controlling blood pressure.
A concoction of leaves of the Asoka, Vilvam, Vengai, Arjuna and Nettilingam trees also help in lowering BP. Sirukeerai, murungaikeerai, vallaraikeerai, manathakkalikeerai, thuthuvalaikeerai and kothumallikeerai should be consumed regularly. Ragi, green gram, wheat, toor dhal, cumin seeds, pepper and Hibiscus flowers could effectively prevent BP.
Arjunan said Hibiscus flower not only cured BP anomalies but also problems related to the heart.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Tamil Nadu / by V. NarayanaMurthi – Vellore / May 18th, 2013
Training would be extended in agri-enterprises for three months at an integrated training centre run by the Co-operative Department for candidates from Ariyalur district.
According to a release from M. Ravikumar, Collector, of the total cultivated area of 1,06,409 hectares in the district, 67,158 hectares is rainfed and 39,254 hectares is irrigated.
While paddy is raised in 26,000 hectares, maize is raised in 16,000 hectares, pulses in 3,400 hectares, groundnut in 11,000 hectares, gingelly in 2,000 hectares, cotton in 8,000 hectares, cashew in 27,500 hectares, and sugarcane in 8,000 hectares. Besides, crops like chillies, tapioca, tamarind, mango, brinjal and banana are also grown in a considerable area. “Hence, Ariyalur district is quite conducive for starting agri-allied industries. By establishing units for value addition of agri-products, processing, grading and preparation of by-products, there is potential for generating considerable employment and also augmenting agricultural income.” Those who have studied agri-related courses in Plus Two, graduates and postgraduates in agriculture, diploma-holders in agriuculture and those who have secured either a diploma or a degree in any of the agri-related sectors like Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Horticulture, Forestry, and Dairy would get training. Those interested may contact Director, Natesan Institute of Co-operative Management and Training Centre, 2377-A, Anna Nagar, Chennai — 600040 (ph: 044-26210423). Log on to www.nicmchennai.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Tiruchirapalli / by Special Correspondent / Ariyalur – May 14th, 2013
An ongoing survey at the sprawling Bryant Park in Kodaikanal has revealed that it is home to exotic tree species such as camphor, silver maple and blue gum.
Led by horticulture deputy director S. Raja Mohamed, a team of officials has undertaken a survey of locating, identifying and naming exotic tree varieties in the 20.5 acre-botanical garden planned and built by English forest officer H.D. Bryant in 1900 and named after him.
Mr Mohamed said the survey has brought to light the existence of camphor, silver maple, creeping juniper, alnus tress and blue gum trees in the park for more than 50 years. Some of the exotic varieties had been planted by Bryant himself while creating the park.
Two camphor trees imported from China have been identified and they have been in the park for the last 75 years. “A large evergreen tree with 20-30 m in height was identified by the distinctive odour of a crushed leaf,” he says.
The park has one Acre saccharinum, commonly known as silver maple, imported from Japan, and it is 60 years old. Often planted as an ornamental tree because of its rapid growth and ease of propagation and transplanting, its seeds are food source for squirrels, chipmunks and birds and its trunk tends to produce cavities which can shelter squirrels, owls and woodpeckers.
Also found is a Juniperus horizontalis, whose common name is creeping juniper or creeping cedar, a low-growing shrubby juniper, native to North America. Believed to have been imported from Japan, the tree is being maintained in the park for the past 35 years, the horticulture officer informed.
An Alnus nepalensis, a multipurpose alder tree found in the subtropical highlands of the Himalayas, has been growing in the park for over 60 years now while one southern blue gum or blue gum, an evergreen tree, one of the most widely cultivated trees native to Australia, has its presence in the park for 50 years.
Mr Mohamed says, “All these exotic varieties have been in the park for several decades now but have gone unnoticed over the years. With the flower show at Bryant Park scheduled for two days from May 19 as part of 10-day summer festival in Kodaikanal, we initiated the survey. The naming of these species is on and no doubt they would be an added attraction to the visitors.”
source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> News> Current Affairs / DC / May 14th, 2013
300 acres of water body to be restored at Rs. 24.93 crore in 2nd phase of project.
Over one lakh mangroves will be planted in the Adyar creek as part of the second phase of the eco-restoration of the water body.
The State government has approved the commencement of work on this project that will cover 300 acres of Adyar Creek adjoining the Adyar Poonga at a cost of Rs.24.93 crore.
The first phase, constituting 58 acres involved the planting of 1.36 lakh saplings of various species.
Experts said that the second phase would mainly involve water body restoration. “So, one lakh saplings belonging to 24 mangrove species such as Avicennia marina, Acanthus ilicifolius, Rizhophora mucronata and other mangrove associates such as barringtonia and pongamia will be planted,” said an official of Adyar Poonga.
The eco-restoration of the second phase includes habitat restoration, monitoring pathways, sanitation, solid waste management and measures to enhance tidal influx in Adyar estuary and creek.
Adyar Poonga will seek CRZ clearance by the end of this month.
Initially, cleaning of the 300-acre-area earmarked for the second phase will begin in addition to work on additional stormwater drains by Chennai Corporation in residential localities around the creek. Metrowater has also been asked to immediately take measures to plug illegal sewer connections in the drains to prevent mixing of sewage in the creek. Estimates for construction of additional sewage treatment plant will be prepared by Metrowater before June.
The Corporation has already commissioned filtering mechanisms around Adyar Poonga for letting additional storm water drain into the existing 58-acre greenery.
Additional stormwater draining into the creek will recharge water in the 358-acre eco Park. The area covered under the second phase is said to fall under CRZ III category. The State spent over Rs. 23 crore for the first phase of eco-restoration.
Meanwhile, in a bid to curb dumping of debris and garbage in the Adyar Creek, the Corporation is likely to install additional bins and solid waste management infrastructure in neighbourhoods near the Adyar river.
Earlier this week, the Chennai Rivers Restoration Trust had asked the civic body to install such facilities in the light of the dumping of debris and garbage into the creek. Adyar Poonga’s request to the Corporation to construct additional toilets is already pending.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by Staff Reporter / Chennai – May 09th, 2013
Buoyed by the overwhelming response to the annual Rose Show, officials of the horticulture department are now actively working to make the 117th annual flower show a big success.
The key attraction of this year’s show will be a model of Secretariat in Chennai, say officials. The process has gained pace with 15,000 bloomed pot flowers being shifted from the lawn to the galleries.
Joint Director of Horticulture K Mohan inaugurated the shifting of pot flowers to the galleries on Monday. The shifting work would be completed before May 16 afternoon as the Flower Show is scheduled to begin the next day. Tourists will be allowed to see the flower galleries only during three days of the show from May 17 to 19.
This year, watering lawns and plants to ensure bloom proved to be a tough task for the Botanical Garden management as it had to source water from private agencies for the first time. All the ten ponds inside the garden had dried up. However, the officials made great efforts to apply black soil mixed with natural/bio fertilizer and bio pesticides to the main lawn of the garden.
The lawn, which was in a bad shape due to failure of rains, now looks fully green, thanks to the hard work of the horticulture department officials. The garden, which is spread over 55 acres, has a sprawling main lawn in 15 acres and similar small space spread on another 5 acres.
Mohan said, “Totally, 15,000 pot flowers have been prepared for the flower show. The flower seeds were imported from England, Germany, Japan and USA besides Jammu and Kashmir, West Bengal, Punjab and Pune. This year’s crowd puller will be a model of the Secretariat made of flowers. Arrangements are under way to design the model which will feature all minute details. The full model with fixing of flowers will be ready by May 16 evening.”
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Tamil Nadu / by Express News Service – Udhagamandalam / May 14th, 2013
The drumstick growers in the Aravakurichi belt of Karur district are a happy lot now with arrivals picking up along with the price. The special shandies in the region are flush with fresh arrivals that are now fetching a remunerative price for the growers.
Drumstick is grown on more than 40,000 acres of land both as a garden crop and field crop in Aravakurichi belt. The major drumstick producing areas include Tadakoil, Venjamangudalur, Santhapadi, Esanatham, Ammapatti, Koththapalayam, and 20 other villages from where around 20 to 30 truck loads of drumstick are despatched to various destinations every day. Traders from Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, and West Bengal come down to Aravakurichi and nearby areas routinely to buy moringa in lots at the special shandies that would come up on the roadsides.
“We feared that the harvest might take a steep dip because of the adverse climatic conditions in the flowering stage of the crop. But fortunately nature has been benevolent to us and we have seen as good a harvest like any good year this time and we are doubly happy that the price is also pretty good. One bundle of drumstick, weighing around 2 kg, fetches the growers Rs. 15 to Rs. 20 and that is a good thing,” said T. Palanisamy from Santhapadi village.
The current first season for the crop lasts from April to June and the growers are happy that at the initial stage itself the price is good. They hope that the price line should hold for the season, they said. “The price tag has given us traders a big surprise as many of us felt that the price would fall due to adverse weather conditions and such other factors. But that was not to be and the drumstick prices have got off to a steady start. At present, we are purchasing along with the local traders but soon many like us from the north and Bengal would arrive and we could not fathom what will happen to the price when they perhaps next fortnight,” says a regular trader Mohammed Aijaz from Gurgaon area of Haryana.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Tiruchirapalli / by L. Renganathan / Aravakurichi, April 05th, 2013
using the panels will be ready on April 8. / by Special Arrangement / The Hindu
Panels made of glass fibre reinforced gypsum can replace brick walls and RCC slabs, and are resistant to quakes.
Can panels made of gypsum reinforced with glass fibre be used as load-bearing walls replacing brick in a multi-storied building? Can they also be used as floor/roof in place of reinforced cement concrete (RCC) slab? The simple answer is, yes.
A few years ago, Rapidwall Building Systems, Australia, developed a technology to make gypsum strong and water-resistant enough to be used as load-bearing walls. This is by calcining process where glass fibre is combined with gypsum plaster to produce glass fibre reinforced gypsum (GFRG) panels. Now, researchers at IIT Madras have gone a step further.
They have developed a technology to make GFRG panels to be also used as floor/roof, thus eliminating the use of RCC slabs. An eight-storied building, for instance, can be built using the panels as load-bearing walls, floors/roofs and staircases.
They also collaborated in the indigenous development of an excellent water-proofing material. Water-proofing is essential for prolonged durability of the GFRG panels, especially in the case of roofs and toilets.
A demonstration building — ground plus first floor — is being built inside the IIT-M campus. The building, with electrical and sanitary fittings, will be ready on April 8 — just 29 days of construction after the foundation was completed. “It will be ready for occupation when it is completed,” said Prof. Devdas Menon, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Madras.
The building will have four units — two with a carpet area of 269 sq.ft are for the economically weaker section, and another two, with a carpet area of 497 sq.ft, are for the low-income group (LIG).
A few years ago, a couple of buildings were constructed at the GFRG panel manufacturing plants at RCF in Mumbai and FACT Cochin, and one at Visakhapatnam using the IIT technology. “Those were pilot projects,” said Prof. Menon. “This is a demonstration that the material can be used for cost-effective, mass-scale and quickly buildable housing, with improved water-proofing.”
What makes the rapid construction possible is that the panels are prefabricated and cut to desired sizes based on room sizes with openings for doors and windows.
A panel has two skins of 15 mm thickness that are interconnected at regular intervals (25 cm). The cavities formed by these interconnections are used for several purposes — filling with concrete, and laying electrical conduits and plumbing pipes.
In Australia, the Rapidwall technology has been used for constructing several 2-3 storied buildings. Since the walls act as load-bearing structures, every cavity in the panel is filled with concrete. They use conventional RCC solid slabs for the roof/floor.
“We recommend the use of two steel bars instead of one and filling all cavities with concrete in the lower floors in the case of a high-rise building,” said Prof. A. Meher Prasad of Civil Engineering Department, IIT, Madras. The number of concrete-filled cavities and steel bars keeps reducing from the ground to the topmost floor. The topmost floor will need very few concrete-filled cavities.
A reduction in amount of concrete used in turn reduces the total weight of the building. The ripple effect is the reduction in the foundation cost. The demonstration building at IIT Madras is about 25 per cent cheaper than conventional ones. “There will be greater savings when used for mass-construction,” Prof. Menon stressed. Aside from the savings and speed of construction, the buildings are subjected to lesser earthquake forces. This is because of their lighter weight.
For the floor/roof, the panels are placed over the vertical wall panels and the top skin of every third cavity is cut open. Steel reinforcement is placed in these cut cavities before being filled with concrete. The concrete-filled cavities tend to behave as hidden beams. The panel is then covered with a 5-cm thick concrete topping.
Since the panels have a smooth finish, the need to plaster them (as in the case of brick walls) does not arise. The total weight of the building (dead weight) is reduced substantially
According to the IIT researchers, tests conducted have shown that GFRG panels reinforced with concrete are also capable of resisting lateral loads caused by earthquakes. During an earthquake or strong wind, buildings tend to sway and the walls are subjected to enormous loads exerted laterally.
The Building Material & Technology Promotion Council (BMTPC) has approved GFRG for construction in India.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> S & T > Technology / by R Prasad / April 03rd, 2013
Teachers and students of Fatima College watching a documentary ‘Back to Tradition’ in Madurai on Tuesday. / Photo: G. Moorthy / The Hindu
The Chinese discovered a 4,000-year-old bowl of well preserved noodles made from foxtail millet and broomcorn millet at the Lajia archaeological site in 2002. Though such a discovery is yet to be made in India, it is no doubt true that the nutritious millet was once upon a time a staple diet of Indians too, says a group of students from Fatima College here.
A documentary film produced by first year postgraduate students of the English Department claims that millet lost their prime position in Indian kitchens due to excessive importance given to rice and wheat during the Green Revolution in 1960s.
The film, titled ‘Back to tradition — reviving legacy of small millet,’ was released by principal Rev. Sr. A. Jospin Nirmala Mary here on Tuesday.
Produced in association with the Centre for Development Communication of the DHAN Foundation, a non-governmental organisation here, the 12-minute documentary film highlighted how millet was superior to rice in terms of its nutritive values. Almost all millet varieties had much higher content of protein, magnesium and calcium than rice, it averred.
The students had visited rural pockets like Sengapadai, close to Thirumangalam near here, and interacted with the locals who cultivated and consumed millet as a preferred diet. They had documented rural women ruing about their urban counterparts relying excessively on electrical mixer grinders because they lacked the stamina to work on manual pounders.
“Women these days are weak because their diet does not contain nutritious millet preparations like Kammangkoozh and Kelviragu kanji,” says Ravimani, a farmer woman of Sengapadai.
Similar opinions were expressed by other villagers who cited consumption of millet to be the reason for rural people to possess the energy required for physical labour.
The students ended the documentary with a stress on the need to give back the prime place that millets once enjoyed in Indian kitchens. They also recalled with gratitude the support they received from M. Rosary Royar, Head of the Research Department of English; P. Krishnamurthi, team leader of CDC, DHAN Foundation and filmmaker T. Veerabathiran in producing the film.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Cities> Madurai / by Mohamed Imranullah S. / April 17th, 2013
Kodaikanal, the princess of hill resorts, is bursting at the seams despite a dry spell.
With the sun showing no mercy on the residents in the plains, tourist influx to the popular hill station in the south Tamil Nadu is soaring.
“The average arrival of tourists during weekdays is 3,000 and during weekends is 5,000 now. If the colleges are closed for vacation, there will be a steep rise in the number of tourists visiting Kodaikanal. We expect a considerable increase in the influx this summer,” says an official in the tourist department.
Exhibiting flamboyance with 75 percent of 3.5 lakh plants planted for the ensuing flower show blooming in splendor, the Bryant Park spread on 20.5 acres has attracted 21,000 visitors since the beginning of April.
Horticulture deputy director S.Raja Mohamed says, “Put together, the revenue collected through sale of tickets to visitors to Bryant and Chettiar parks is Rs 6.2 lakh in the last 12 days.” Even as Bryant Park has been readied for the flower show, he says, fancy varieties like California Poppy, popularly called Singamuga poo (lion-faced flower) in local lingo, and andraeanum, a frog-shaped flower, are in full bloom.
Anticipating traffic congestion and problem in parking tourist vehicles as encountered in the last few years, the municipality in coordination with highways and forest departments is making arrangements to level the government lands along the approach roads to sight-seeing places.
“Usually, the stretch of tourist spots from Green Valley View, Pillar Rock, Guna Caves, Moyer Point to pine forests is choked with vehicular traffic during peak season. So steps have been taken to level the forest and revenue lands on the roadsides in these sites to facilitate parking of vehicles,” an officer in the municipality said.
“The pleasant climate is drawing crowds from the plains to the hills. Hence, we are also chalking out plans to mitigate water shortage,” he added. Kodaikanal recorded a minimum temperature of 17 degree Celsius and maximum of 24 degree Celsius on Friday.
source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> News> Current Affairs / DC / by AR. Meyyammai / Saturday, April 13th, 2013
