Tamil Nadu   

Briefly

Masonry structures to be repaired

CHENNAI: Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Monday said 400 masonry structures in the Cauvery River Irrigation System (CRIS) would be repaired before June at a cost of Rs. 20 crore.

In all, 14,785 masonry structures in the CRIS built in the 19th and 20th centuries continued to be useful for meeting the irrigation needs of farmers in the delta and other districts where Cauvery water flowed. Since some of the structures were damaged, causing hardship to farmers, the Government ordered in 2003 to repair 775 badly damaged structures, besides replacing 3,031 shutters with new ones at a cost of Rs. 34 crore. All these works were completed in 2004, greatly benefiting the farmers.

Now, the PWD officials had been instructed to take up the repair works related to 400 masonry structures in February and complete them before June. Completion of the work would enable the farmers to receive water for irrigation without difficulty in Salem, Namakkal, Erode, Karur, Tiruchi, Pudukottai, Perambalur, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam and Cuddalore, she said. — Special Correspondent

Rationalists' Forum meeting tomorrow

CHENNAI: The State conference of the Rationalists' Forum will be organised by Dravidar Kazhagam here on Wednesday. On that occasion completion of the 80th year of self-respect movement will also be celebrated. Eminent rationalist leaders from all over the country and abroad will participate in the meet. An exhibition is being organised in connection with the conference, according to DK president K. Veeramani. — Special Correspondent

Bakrid on January 11

CHENNAI: Mufti Kazi Salahuddin Mohammed Ayub, Chief Kazi to the State Government, has said that the new moon for the month of Zil Haj was sighted here on January 1. Therefore, Idul Azha (Bakrid) will be celebrated on January 11. — Special Correspondent

Sugar mill workers

plan strike

CHENNAI: Workers of cooperative and public sector sugar factories, affiliated to the Tamilnadu Sugar Workers Federation, planned to go on an indefinite strike from January 23 demanding implementation of the new wage agreement entered into between the South Indian Sugar Mills Association (SISMA) and trade unions of various sugar factories.

According to federation president V. Kumar, though the agreement was reached in February last year, it was yet to be implemented in the cooperative and public sector mills, while private sugar mills had already adopted the new wage structure. As agitations failed to evoke response from the Government, the federation had decided to go on strike.

The general council, which met in Vellore recently, demanded an enquiry into working of cooperative and PSU mills which were incurring losses. The federation alleged that one reason for the loss was "mismanagement and corruption." The Government should conduct an impartial inquiry and take action against those who were involved in "corrupt activities," it said. — Special Correspondent

Title to be conferred on T.N. Krishnan

CHENNAI: The title of "Sangeetha Sironmani" will be conferred on violin maestro T.N. Krishnan, on the occasion of the Thyagaraja Music Festival to be held at the NGO buildings, Chittoor in Andhra Pradesh, on January 8. Leela Manohar Reddy, secretary, Prajahitha Seva Organisations, Chittoor, will preside. Prominent personalities and artists are expected to participate.

The three-day festival begins on January 6. — Special Correspondent

Two killed in accident

Nagercoil: Two persons were killed in a road accident on Monday. According to police, Selvaraj (45) of Kurumathur Edakulam near Kuzuthurai and his friend Satheesh (27) of Kattuvilai were going towards Nagercoil in a bike when a lorry dashed against their vehicle at Kallupalam killing them on the spot.

Body recovered

Nagercoil: The police recovered a highly decomposed body of a middle-aged woman from a tank near Chunkankadai on Monday. They recovered the body and sent it for post-mortem. However they could not ascertain the identity of the body immediately.

Coolie dies

Nagercoil: A coolie was killed in a road accident on Sunday.

The police said Selvam of Kattuvilai near Eraniel was going towards Monday Market when an autorickshaw hit him killing him on the spot.

Official injured

Tuticorin: A Coast Guard official was injured when a dipper-fitted lorry hit the motorcycle he was riding at Kovilpillai Nagar near here on Sunday. Police said Sanjin Kumar, Deputy Commandant, was admitted in a private hospital.

Three arrested

Tuticorin: The police arrested three persons on the charge of damaging a car driven by Sudalaimuthu (23) at Ponnankurichi near here on Sunday. They said Krishnamoorthy (23), Essakipandi (23) and Muthu (22), blocked the car driven by the complainant and caused damage to the vehicle. The accused blocked the car as it entered the area where they were celebrating new year. The Srivaikundam police are investigating.

Lorry driver held

Tuticorin: The police on Monday arrested Manickam (56) on a charge of driving his lorry rashly and hitting a pedestrian at Eppothumvendran on Sunday.

The lorry hit Krishnaveni(45) while she was crossing the road. She was admitted to Tuticorin Government Hospital.

PDS rice seized

Nagercoil: A team led by Taluk Supply Officer Justin David Dhas seized 1,620 liters of kerosene and eight bags of rice, meant for Public Distribution System, here on Monday.

The team went to Arasamoodu junction and seized 495 litres of kerosene and three bags of raw rice from a hotel. It raided the house of a hotel owner at Keseavathiruppapuram and seized 385 litres of kerosene and five bags of raw rice. It raided the house of a person at Edayanvilai and seized 740 liters of kerosene.

TNEB announcement

ERODE: As electricity reading for November and December could not be taken in Konaivaikkal, Vasavinagar, Srinivanagar, Indiranagar, Yankadu, Ammannagar, Perumalmalai, Mayapuram, Rajivnagar, Suriyanagar, Javulinagar, Kurunjinagar, Madeswarannagar, C.M. Nagar, Amaravathynagar, Ramanathapurampudur, Palakkature and Policemen quarters, consumers are asked to remit October bill amount on or before January 17, a release from the Executive Engineer, Erode Urban said. - Staff Reporter

More kerosene

for flood-hit

ERODE: As many as 1,925 families affected by recent flood and rain can collect three more litres of kerosene this month from their respective Public Distribution System outlets at the regular subsidised rate, Erode District Revenue Officer V. Santha said.

In December too the families were given extra quota of kerosene. Those who failed to purchase the extra quota for December month could purchase it along with the January quota, she said. - Staff Reporter

Collector receives petitions

ERODE: Over 400 petitions demanding house site pattas, employment and medical assistance were received by Collector D. Karthikeyan on the grievances day held at the Collectorate on Monday.

Compensation for six persons

KARUR: The Karur Collector, A. Karthik, handed over a sum of Rs. 6,250 each as compensation to six persons identified as affected under the Prevention of Atrocities against SC, ST Act on Monday. Those who received the compensation included Vinayakamoorthy, K. Sellamuthu, Pappayee and Suresh of Manmangalam, Subrmanian of Velayuthampalayam, and Annasi of Vaiyalimadai East near Kulithalai. The DRO, M. Mathivanan and the District Adi Dravida Welfare Officer, Jawahar, were among those present.

Mettur level

TIRUCHI: The level at the Mettur dam stood at 117.62 feet on Monday. The inflow was 4,377 cusecs and the outflow 11,237 cusecs. — Staff Reporter

26 persons injured

SRIVILLIPUTTUR : Twenty-six persons, including 12 women, sustained simple injuries when a Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation bus collided with a lorry here on Monday.

The police said the bus driver, V. Kannan (27), in an attempt to overtake another vehicle went to the extreme right hitting the lorry coming from the opposite direction. The Srivilliputtur Town police have registered a case against Kannan.

Two die in mishap

Nagercoil: Two persons were killed in a road accident on Monday. According to police, Selvaraj (45) of Kurumathur Edakulam near Kuzuthurai and his friend Satheesh (27) of Kattuvilai were going towards Nagercoil in a bike when a lorry dashed against their vehicle at Kallupalam killing them on the spot.

Body recovered

Nagercoil: The police recovered a highly decomposed body of a middle-aged woman from a tank near Chunkankadai on Monday. They recovered the body and sent it for post-mortem. However they could not ascertain the identity of the body immediately.

Coolie killed

Nagercoil: A coolie was killed in a road accident on Sunday.

The police said Selvam of Kattuvilai near Eraniel was going towards Monday Market when an autorickshaw hit him killing him on the spot.

Official hurt

Tuticorin: A Coast Guard official was injured when a dipper-fitted lorry hit the motorcycle he was riding at Kovilpillai Nagar near here on Sunday. Police said Sanjin Kumar, Deputy Commandant, was admitted in a private hospital.

Three nabbed

Tuticorin: The police arrested three persons on the charge of damaging a car driven by Sudalaimuthu (23) at Ponnankurichi near here on Sunday. They said Krishnamoorthy (23), Essakipandi (23) and Muthu (22), blocked the car driven by the complainant and caused damage to the vehicle. The accused blocked the car as it entered the area where they were celebrating new year.

Lorry driver held

Tuticorin: The police on Monday arrested Manickam (56) on a charge of driving his lorry rashly and hitting a pedestrian at Eppothumvendran on Sunday. The lorry hit Krishnaveni(45) while she was crossing the road. She was admitted to Tuticorin Government Hospital.

Water level

MADURAI : The water level in the Periyar dam stood at 133.7 feet with an inflow of 309 cusecs and a discharge of 600 cusecs. The level in the Vaigai dam was 68.83 feet with an inflow of 394 cusecs and a discharge of 841 cusecs. The combined Periyar credit stood at 8374 mcft. — Staff Reporter

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