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Student killed

TIRUNELVELI: C. Arul Marimuthu (14) of MGR Nagar at Palayamkottai, student of Standard IX of a higher secondary school on the North High Ground road was killed in a road accident on Thursday.

The police said he was fatally knocked down by a speeding tractor when he was going to school in his bicycle.

Tractor driver, K. Suresh (27) of Thenkalam near Palayamkottai, was arrested.

Girl kidnapped

Tuticorin: The police are on the lookout for three persons who had kidnapped a 19-year-old girl from Venkateshapuram near here on Tuesday night.

The police said an investigation was launched on the basis of a complaint lodged by Ramasamy Konar that her daughter was kidnapped by Murugaperumal, Puthiyavan and Murugan.

Shop burgled

Nagercoil: The police are on the lookout for some unidentified persons who burgled a cell-phone centre on Wednesday.

According to police, some persons entered the shop, breaking open the front door of it and decamped with 30 cell phones worth Rs.1.50 lakhs. — Staff Reporter

Funds for tourism promotion

Thanjavur: With a view to promote tourism, the Central Government will offer a subsidy of Rs.25 lakhs to Rs.75 lakhs for converting old heritage buildings and other structures into tourist hotels.

The Collector, M. Veera Shanmugha Moni, has appealed to entrepreneurs in the district and those involved in tourism projects to avail the facility. For further details, interested persons can approach the District Tourism Office, the Collector said. — Special Correspondent

`Expedite road works'

PERAMBALUR: The district administration has advised the officials of the Highways Department to expedite works on laying new roads and maintenance of existing ones, the Collector, D. Vivekanandan has said.

In a press release issued here on Wednesday, he said the Highways Department had taken up works for maintenance of roads to a cumulative stretch of about 310 km at an outlay of about Rs.30.5 crores.

On the break-up, he said a sum of Rs.6.10 crores had been allocated for maintaining State Highways roads, Rs.9.23 crores for district roads and the rest Rs.15.21 crores for other district roads. Works on Perambalur - Manamadurai sector and Tiruchi - Chidambaram sector, both State highways, would be developed at an outlay of Rs. 6.10 crores, he added. — Staff Reporter

Power shutdown

Thanjavur: There will be no power supply in the following areas between 9.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. on August 6, owing to the maintainance work to be carried out at the 110 KV sub-station at Kumbakonam: Kumbakonam town, Nachiyarkoil, Thirunageswaram, Valangaiman, Swami Malai, Thirukarukavur, Alankudi, Papanasam, Kabisthalam and surrounding areas. — Special Correspondent

Mettur level

Tiruchi: The water level in the Mettur dam stood at 105.41 feet today.

The inflow was 1,22,214 cusecs and the discharge, 900 cusecs. — Staff Reporter

Adulterated diesel seized

ERODE: The Erode District Revenue Civil Supplies officials seized adulterated diesel, petrol sold in petty shops. According to the District Supply Officer, K. Velusamy, officials conducted intensive raid in Vijayamangalam, Thingalure and Chennimalai and seized 224 litres of adulterated petrol and 140 litres of adulterated diesel. Cases have been registered against three persons.

Youth drowns

Erode: One person drowned while taking a bath in the confluence of rivers Bhavani, Cauvery and mythical Amudha at Bhavani. The police have identified the deceased as Gopal (22) a native of Kodaikkanal, working at Erode. Fire and Rescue service personnel have recovered the body.

Man arrested

ERODE: The Erode District Collector, D. Karthikeyan, on Thursday booked Saravanan, under Goondas Act. The Collector, in a press release here, said Saravanan (30) of Karungalpalayam, Erode, sold unlicensed video and audiocassettes collected exorbitant rates from public. He was arrested by the Video Piracy Wing police. He has been sent to Central Prison, Coimbatore.

Cotton auctioned

ERODE: Cotton was auctioned at the Sathyamangalam Cooperative Marketing Society on Wednesday. More than 50 cotton farmers from all over Erode district brought 2,500 bags of cotton to the market and they were sold at Rs. 1,850 to Rs. 2,100 per quintal. More than four varieties of cotton arrived. Officials said cotton valued at Rs. 15 lakhs was sold in the market. They said that last year cotton valued at Rs. 1.50 crores was sold during the period.

`Streamline water supply'

ERODE: Water supply system should be streamlined as many areas are not getting adequate water supply, said R. Mahalingam, a councillor on Wednesday. Speaking at the Bhavani Municipal Council meeting, presided over by the chairman, M. R. Soundararajan, Mr. Mahalingam said that the municipal wards of 15 to 19 were getting water only for 20 minutes. The chairman assured that he would attend it immediately.

11,778 teachers' vacancies to be filled

CHENNAI: The Government has decided to create posts of headmasters in 1,216 primary schools run by the Government and local bodies in the State, besides filling 11,788 vacancies of various categories of teachers in primary, middle, high and higher secondary schools.

An official release said on Thursday that headmasters would be appointed in 860 primary schools where the post had not been sanctioned. These schools were started with two or more secondary grade teachers after 1999-2000. The Government has also decided to upgrade the secondary grade teacher's posts in the 356 primary schools started under the Sarvasiksha Abhiyan programme as headmasters. — Special Correspondent

Plea for more Haj seats

CHENNAI: Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has pleaded with Union Minister of External Affairs K. Natwar Singh to arrange for releasing additional seats over and above the quota of 3,004 Haj pilgrims to accommodate all the applications for performing Haj, 2006.

In a letter to Mr. Singh on Wednesday, she said the State Haj Committee had received 3,927 (+12 infants) applications, against the quota of 2,009. The Hajj Committee of India, which subsequently increased and fixed the quota for the State as 3,004, had asked the State committee to conduct `qurrah' (drawing of lots) for selection of pilgrims, she added.

Due to better services during Hajj 2005, the response from the from the State for the pilgrimage this year through the Haj Committee of India was overwhelming and restricting the quota to 3004 and conducting `qurrah' thereon would lead to disappointment and discontent amongst many of the intending pilgrims, she said. — Special Correspondent

Talent search for

IAS aspirants

CHENNAI: Scholar's League, a civil services coaching centre, has announced an open talent search test for civil service aspirants. It will be conducted in Tiruchi on August 6.

Those selected would be trained in General Studies, History, Public Administration and Sociology.

Apart from a one-hour test on General Studies, aspirants would need to take a psychometric counselling, to be followed by counselling and an interview. Merit scholarships are also on offer and no advance registration is required. Details can be had by calling 9443661889. — Special Correspondent

Date extended for IGNOU courses

CHENNAI: The last date for submission of filled-in application forms for bachelor's and master's degree programmes offered by the Indira Gandhi National Open University's Regional Centre for the July 2005 session has been extended to August 31, a release here said.

A late fee of Rs. 200 is payable and applications can be had from the centre's CIT Campus at Taramani and its study centres by paying Rs. 50 or sending a demand draft for Rs. 100 by post. More details can be had from 22541919/22542727. — Special Correspondent

Directive to polluting industries

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board has directed 66 large and medium industries emitting volatile organic compounds (VOC) to install continuous online VOC monitor with electronic display and recording facility within three months to monitor emissions.

The board issued the directions under Section 31-A of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution)Act, 1981, a press release here said. — Special Correspondent

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