The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Tiruchi News : Reporter's Diary

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 20, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Tiruchi

Reporter's Diary

The importance of executing vital works such as laying of roads without any delay and installing warning signals at the work spots to caution road users is yet to catch up with the Highways authorities. The segment of the road between Thiruverumbur and Thuvakudi on the ever-busy Tiruchi-Thanjavur highways is being widened to ensure a free flow of traffic.

The people in charge of the execution work had already dug up either sides of the highway to a foot depth. Unfortunately, proper caution boards were not installed at the vantage points.

With Tiruchi and Thanjavur districts receiving heavy rain in the last few days, mainly during the late evening hours, the dug up portion was overflowing with rainwater. With no caution board of any road widening work in progress, the vehicle users ran the risk of falling into the pits, while overtaking or giving way for vehicles coming from the opposite direction.

A few days ago, a fully laden lorry overturned as the driver could not determine the hollowness due to the sheet of water and this affected the flow of traffic for many hours. Since this road widening work is expected to continue for a few more months, the vehicle users feel that proper illuminated warning signals to caution the drivers should be installed at vantage points on this road to check fatal mishaps.

* * *

The Bharat Vikas Parishad and the Sadhana Trust joined the Sikhs, Sindhis, and other communities in the city to honour Sri Guru Grant Sahib (SGGS), at Woraiyur, on its 400th year of `Prakash' (installation).

The Guru Grant Sahib, compiled by Guru Arjun Devji, and enthroned in the Harmandar Sahib (The Golden Temple) Amritsar, in 1604, September 1, proves the oneness of God since it is co-authored by people belonging to more than one faith. The hymns of both Hindu and Muslim holy men are included in the SGGS, said one of the speakers, Sardar Rajinder Singh, at the function, participated among others by the Corporation Commissioner, Harmandar Singh.

Singing of hymns with musical instruments, in the form of Keertan, marked the event. The Keertan, said, Mr. Rajinder Singh, connects our mind, body and soul with God directly, and has a calming effect on the whole brain, mind and health, leading to a blissful state of eternal peace, tranquility and serenity.

* * *

The ABC Hospital, Tiruchi, by virtue of its `telemedicine' network with the famed Narayana Hrudayalaya at Bangalore, took the benefit of the world class cardiac care, free of cost, to a

seven-month-old poor child from Woraiyur area, Surendar Vetrivel.

A complicated operation, which would have otherwise cost the poor child's parents a minimum of Rs. 1.5 lakhs, was conducted at Narayana Hrudalaya by the world famous cardiothoracic surgeon, Devi Shetty.

The hospital has plans to have facilities for conducting such operations on its own. To begin with, it will conduct a mega cardiac screening camp in October.

Meanwhile, the hospital is looking out for poor children below one year of age from this region, who are suffering from cardiac illness and recommend them for free surgery based on the urgency of the treatment and their financial status, according to A.M. Arun, Chairman of the Hospital.

* * *

The campus of the Bharathidasan University has been made a `plastic-free zone'. The `Campus Vegetation Committee' formed for the purpose with Syndicate Member, K. V. Krishnamoorthy as its head, recently organised a `clean campus' operation involving over 100 students, including several National Service Scheme volunteers.

The students removed plastic materials of all kinds from the laboratories, classrooms and surroundings after class hours, for a period of 15 days. Going by the view that `dilution of ill-effects is the solution', the university authorities felt that burning of the non-biodegradable materials in a place away from human habitation was the right course and reduced them to ashes.

Instructions have been given to the students and staff not to bring plastic carry bags or disposable containers into the campus henceforth, and the plastic cups in the university canteen have been replaced with paper cups, according to Dr. Krishnamoorthy.

Placards with eye-catching words requesting avoidance of the use of plastics have been placed at vantage points on the premises.

* * *(Contributions from Syed Muthahar Saqaf and R. Krishnamoorthy in Tiruchi.)

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