CHENNAI: Auromatrix Hotels, engaged in hotel development and management with its base in Chennai, has launched Sparsa Resorts, a chain of theme-based resorts. Encouraged by the good response to its first such resort located in Tiruvannamalai and operational for the past 10 months, the company has announced the launch another resort in Kanyakumari.

Udday Kumar Krishnan, Managing Director, told The Hindu that both the resorts involved a total outlay of over Rs. 19 crore and the company was planning to expand its footprint across the South by establishing resorts in Kumily (Kerala) and Sakleshpur (Karnataka). The company has also plans to set up resorts in Andaman, Coorg, Pondicherry and Kufri (Himachal Pradesh) as part of expansion of operations.

While the Tiruvannamalai project is a 28 room villa style resort, the Kanyakumari project has been designed to offer the guests an enchanting view of the confluence of the three seas. For a single bedroom the company was charging Rs. 3,000 per day and for a double it would be Rs. 3,500, he said.

Sparsa has villas and rooms with facilities such as banquet hall, spa and massage centre, meditation hall, swimming pool, recreation club and library.

Source: http://www.hindu.com/2008/10/26/stories/2008102655441300.htm

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Project likely to cost around $450 m

Power Grid is doing the feasibility study
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NEW DELHI: Plans are being given a final touch to put in place a mega undersea power transmission line between India and Sri Lanka that is likely to cost around $450 million. A feasibility study was now being conducted for the proposed undersea power transmission link between.

Giving this information here, Minister of State for Power, Jairam Ramesh, said the 285 km submarine link would enable India to export electricity to Sri Lanka and would have a capacity to wheel around 1,000 MW of electricity initially.

The feasibility study for the same was being done by the State-owned Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL). The link is likely to connect Madurai in Tamil Nadu and Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka’s North Central Province.

A joint steering committee had been set up to oversee the project, a task force comprising representatives of the Union Power Ministry, Central Electricity Authority and PGCIL on the Indian side and the Sri Lankan Energy Ministry and Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) on the other, has been firmed up to study the feasibility report and make recommendations to the committee.

Mr. Jairam Ramesh said the study would facilitate estimation of capital cost based on route survey, benefits and would also examine the techno-economic feasibility of the interconnection. The proposed interconnection is expected to enable both the countries to exchange electricity for mutual benefit through optimisation of resources and economies of scale.

Mr. Jairam Ramesh said the study conducted by the PGCIL was being closely studied by the committee and a final view on the same is to be taken. The Sri Lankan Government in a Cabinet meeting held on July 25, gave its approval to the trans-national power link. Power Grid is executing projects to bring electricity from Nepal and Bhutan. It is also looking at developing two transmission lines to Myanmar, but is waiting for the government’s approval, Mr. Jairam Ramesh added.

Source: http://www.hindu.com/2008/10/26/stories/2008102655321300.htm

Let them first give proper power to indian states,.. then think about exporting power... these guys are thinking about making money and not providing proper infrastructure to our people!! :bash:

Let them first give proper power to indian states,.. then think about exporting power... these guys are thinking about making money and not providing proper infrastructure to our people!! :bash:

Exactly! When the state and the country is suffering from power shortage, what is the point in discussing about exporting power. What a nincompoop! Why not buy power from some country and supply it for industries here?

Ramadoss for referendum on land acquisition for Cheyyar SEZ

Staff Reporter

People at the public hearing oppose land acquisition drive

Tiruvannamalai: PMK founder S. Ramadoss demanded the government to hold a referendum in 9 villages around the Cheyyar Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Tiruvannamalai district, where the government has proposed to acquire 2,300 acres from people to expand the SEZ.

Speaking at a public hearing organised by the PMK near the SEZ on the contentious land acquisition drive, Dr. Ramadoss said the government had given only Rs.32,500 per acre for the already acquired 650 acres on which the SEZ was being developed.

People had lost their livelihood, free access to their village and grazing land. Now the government was planning to acquire another 2,300 acres. But people did not want to part with their land even if the government was prepared to give Rs.1 crore per acre as compensation. This was evident from what those villagers said at the public hearing, , he said.

“Due to the struggle of Mamata Banerjee, the Tatas had to quit the land it acquired from the peasants of Singur for setting up a Nano car factory. When people rose against the bid to acquire 10,000 acres for a Reliance project in Maharashtra, the State government conducted a referendum among the locals and found that they were against the drive.

Respecting the people’s verdict, the government gave up the project.

Likewise the Tamil Nadu government should come forward to conduct a referendum. If the results favoured acquisition drive, they could go ahead with it, otherwise they should give up the plan, Dr. Ramadoss said.

Even if the people favoured the project, they should give Rs.1 crore per acre as compensation, he said, adding that there was nothing wrong in spending one fourth of the project cost on land, since it was the most vital production factor.The PMK leader assured the people that he will join people in their struggle and lead it.

When Thamizhinian, one of the organisers of the anti-acquisition drive said that eight panchayats had passed resolutions against the drive, Dr. Ramadoss said,

“Village panchayat is supreme in these matters and you can file a case directly in the Supreme Court against the acquisition drive. You go to court. I will arrange an advocate in Delhi.” Ponnusamy, MP, pointed out that according to a policy note of the Centre there should be no forcible land acquisition for the SEZ.

Peranamallur MLA Ethiroli Maniyan said people were unaware of the magnitude of the imminent danger. Kancheepuram MLA Sakthi Kamalammal said the acquisition made the people refugees on their own soil.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/01/stories/2008110159680500.htm

3 of the 24 Tier II cities in India are in Tamil Nadu

Hardsell will be specific to inherent strengths of a place

CHENNAI: Australian business missions could soon be sizing up Tamil Nadu’s Tier II cities, which are widely seen as growth drivers. At least three of the 24 Tier II cities earmarked across India for their business potential by the Australian Trade Commission are in Tamil Nadu.

The Commission will shortly launch a series of meetings themed “Doing Business with Australia” in Coimbatore, Puducherry and Madurai.

Mangalore and Mysore in Karnataka, Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are among the Tier II business destinations identified in south India.

The Commission plans to give visiting Australian business delegations a lowdown on the competitive advantages of Tier II cities, ranging from land availability and skilled manpower to lower overall operational costs.

The outlines of the strategy were laid down on the high table during a recent visit by a high-profile business delegation from Australia led by Stephen Manallack, secretary, Australia-India Business Council.

Aminur Rahman, Australian Consul General for South India, Chennai, told the delegation that the southern States were key investment destinations, accounting for a sizeable chunk of foreign trade and investment in India.

He pointed out that already two of the largest Australian business operations in India were centred in Chennai and Bangalore.

At the same time, the larger vision of scaling up bilateral trade and investment to potential required looking beyond the major cities and foraying into Tier II towns, Mr. Rahman said.

In fact, the Australian Trade Commission and the Indo-Australian Chamber of Commerce are working towards broadening the Australian entrepreneurial vision.

Mohamed Adil, business development manager for the Commission, said the primary aim was to guide an Australian investor’s thought processes into considering a Tier II city as a place where he could bring incutting edge technology and expertise.

“We are aware that smaller cities could face infrastructure limitations…but there is no denying that they are growth-bound in the medium term. Coimbatore, for instance, is giving shape to a master plan. The basic idea is that the Australian business community is geared to step in as and when these new markets emerge from the shadows of the bigger cities,” Mr. Adil said.

The Tier II hardsell will be specific to the inherent strengths of a place. For instance, Coimbatore will be assessed for its strengths in IT backend skills, machine tooling and automotive expertise. However, the common factor in a fairly diverse Tier II portfolio is education, which is booming alike in Coimbatore, Puducherry and Madurai.
Higher education

The higher education of foreign students is an important prop for Australia’s economy. The Indian student contingent in Australia—the second largest foreign student community—is consistently growing over the past few years.

Last year alone saw student enrolments aggregate 72,000 candidates resulting in the infusion of an estimated 2 billion Australian dollars into the economy.

The growth in the number of Indians seeking higher education clocked 49 per cent last year and the trend was expected to strengthen in the years ahead, officials said.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/01/stories/2008110154180500.htm

CHENNAI: Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Anbumani Ramadoss on Saturday said that the State government was delaying handing over of land for some important projects.

“We have been asking the State government to hand over 25 acres for a medicinal plant farm at Padappai,” he said.

He was speaking after laying the foundation for Indian Institute of Advanced Nursing, a joint initiative of the Clinton Foundation, the Government of India and the private sector on the premises of the Government Hospital of Thoracic Medicine, Tambaram Sanatorium.

He said the Centre had proposed the setting up of a Rs.50-crore Metro Blood Bank in Chennai, but the State government did not part with the required land. Once established, it would be among the best institutions equipped with a plasma fractional and would be a world class facility to aid accident victims.

For about three years now, the Centre has been asking the State government to part with 50 acres in Chennai for building an Indian Institute of Public Health (IIPH), he said.

The Centre had proposed three IIPHs initially and one of them was proposed to be set up in Tamil Nadu, the others being in New Delhi and Hyderabad.

“The IIPH in Hyderabad is nearly complete and I will be inaugurating it soon, but there has been no progress in Tamil Nadu,” he said.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/02/stories/2008110255230600.htm

These projects are of special importance to TN, why the state govt. not showing interest ??:bash:

CHENNAI: A Rs.800-crore National Cancer Institute will be set up in or around Chennai, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Anbumani Ramadoss announced on Saturday.
50 acres sought

The State government has been asked to provide 50 acres, he said at a function here. Research, education and treatment would be the thrust areas of the institute.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/02/stories/2008110250290100.htm

Chidambaram flags off Rameswaram-Chennai Egmore Express

RAMESWARAM: The track doubling between Dindigul and Villupuram will be completed in two years, Minister of State for Railways R. Velu has said.

Presiding over a function, in which Union Finance Minister, P. Chidambaram flagged off the Rameswaram-Chennai Egmore Express here on Saturday, Mr. Velu said the project had been taken up at a cost of Rs.822 crore. New trains to Chennai from various parts of the southern districts could be operated after the project was completed.

Electrification

Mr. Velu said electrification of the broad-gauge line between Villupuram and Tiruchi had been expedited. It would be extended up to Tuticorin. New trains including those to0 Kasi and Bhuvaneswar from Rameswaram would be operated soon.

The Boat Mail, which was suspended in view of the gauge conversion of the main line, would be reintroduced from January.

Appreciating Mr. Chidambaram’s efforts for introducing an additional train to Chennai from Rameswaram, Mr. Velu said it was mainly because of his efforts that Southern Railway could operate the new train by rescheduling another.

More projects

Mr. Chidambaram said the Railways, like the economy, had grown spectacularly during the past four years. And the growth had enabled the Railways to implement more infrastructure projects.

The United Progressive Alliance government had recently introduced a train service in Jammu and Kashmir. Railway Minister Lalu and Mr. Velu had done a good service to the Railways, he said.

The additional train to Chennai, and its schedule, would suit the passengers of Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga and Pudukottai districts.

Union Minister S. Regupathy, Tamil Nadu Minister, S. Thangavelan, Bhavani Rajendran, MP, K. Hasan Ali, MLA, General Manager Rakesh Chopra and Divisional Railway Manager Anil Singhal took part.

Source: http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/02/stories/2008110254400500.htm

KARUR: The Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Papers Limited (TNPL) has planned to undertake afforestation in over one lakh acres by 2012 for meeting its biomass requirements. So far over 35,000 acres have been covered and every year around 15,000 acres were being added, according to the TNPL Managing Director Mohammed Nazimuddin.

Speaking at a function organised at Kagithapuram near here to mark the planting of 50,000 saplings in the neighbourhood of its paper mill facility there on Friday, Mr. Nazimuddin pointed out that through such a venture the TNPL could ensure that it would have access to raw material in a sustainable and eco-friendly manner. The move would also ensure that barren lands be converted into fertile ones, he added.

In the silver jubilee anniversary of its commencement of production, TNPL organised the massive programme through which 50,000 saplings were planted within an area of 10 sqkm. The whole exercise was undertaken in a single day, Mr. Nazimuddin observed.

The Managing Director said that the plantation programme covered 10 villages including Punnam, Kagithapuram, Pavithram, Kuppam, Vettamangalam, Punjai Pugalur, Nanjai Pugalur, Punjai Thottakurichi, Thirukkaduthurai and Manmangalam villages.

The local body representatives and over 5,000 students from 16 schools in the vicinity participated in the afforestation programme on Friday.

More than 25 species of saplings including neem, tamarind, vagai, vadanarayanan, bamboo, badam, amla, mango, banyan, iuluppai, teak, mahogany and silver oak were planted. The saplings were raised in special nurseries for six months.

Source: http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/02/stories/2008110255070600.htm

PERAMBALUR: Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi would lay the foundation stone for the special economic zone (SEZ) at Perambalur by December end or early January, Union Minister for Communication and Information Technology A. Raja said here on Saturday.

The land acquisition for the SEZ has already been completed and the final approval for the project was expected from the Centre soon.

Mr.Karunanidhi would also lay foundation stones for the construction of buildings for the government medical college at Perambalur and the government engineering college at Ariyalur, Mr. Raja said inaugurating a photo exhibition in connection in with the Anna centenary celebrations.

About 140 photographs tracing the life of the former Chief Minister were on display at the exhibition.

Mr. Raja also conveyed that a ring road has been sanctioned for Perambalur and the government has sanctioned Rs.5.25 crore for acquiring the required lands. The ring road would come up at a cost of about Rs.60 crore.

The Bharathidasan University’s constituent college in Perambalur would start functioning from its own buildings from the next academic year. Steps were also being taken to establish a Kendriya Vidyalaya in Perambalur, he said.

Collector Anil Meshram, District Revenue Officer P.Shankar, MLAs M.Rajkumar and S.Sivashankar and others spoke. The exhibition at the Community Centre at Sangupettai would be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. till November 13, except Sundays.

Source: http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/02/stories/2008110254840600.htm

CHENNAI: As many as 1,112 persons belonging to villages in and around the Cheyyar special economic zone in Tiruvannamalai district have been recruited by companies that have established their units there.

Around 1,340 persons have been chosen through recruitment camps on the basis of their qualifications, according to an official release issued on Saturday in response to the observations made by Pattali Makkal Katchi founder S. Ramadoss.

When the zone begins to function at full capacity, over 5,000 persons will get jobs in five years. This will benefit people in many villages surrounding the zone.

Tracing the genesis of the establishment of an industrial estate at Cheyyar, the release stated that when land was acquired in the year 2000, it was for setting up the estate. It was only after the norms were finalised in 2005 for special economic zones that steps were taken in 2006 to form the SEZ.

Eight years ago, 631 acres was acquired and the industrial estate formed.

A special economic zone was established by a private shoe-manufacturing company over an extent of 275 acres after taking permission from the Centre.

As more investors evinced interest, efforts were on to expand the estate and acquire roughly 2,300 acres.

An enumeration of local workforce has been done. Plans are afoot to provide training to one member each of families from whom land will be acquired. The State government will provide an assurance that those who give land will be provided with livelihood opportunities, the release added.

Source: http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/02/stories/2008110260580800.htm

http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Is+AzMauritius-based Pavers Foresight Smart Ventures (PFSV) has entered into a joint venture with Flyflot Lones SPA of Italy to set up a greenfield plant in Tamilnadu at an investment of $3 million.

The new plant would produce one million pairs of footwear in phase one which would be raised to three million pairs by 2012.

.
The location of the plant was under finalisation and the joint venture would commence production by mid-2009. Moreover, the joint venture would boost India’s share of value added exports of leather products with nearly 80 per cent of the production being earmarked for exports from the new plant.

......

http://newstodaynet.com/newsindex.php?id=11918%20&%20section=9

Five New New Rail Links worth 1500 Crs , await TN govt. approval are
1. Pattukootai-Needamangalam via mannargudi - 54 Km - 271 Cr
2. Ariyalur-Tanjore - 55 Km - 279 Crs
3. Dindugal-Kumuli - 134 Km - 504Crs
4. Morappur-Dharmapuri - 136 Km - 146 Crs ( Gauge conversion )
5. Tiruvannamalai-Jolarpet Via Chengam - 84 Km -356 Crs

50 acre land for Salem Divsion development.

Source : Dinamalar
http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/7427/02112008002001nt1.jpg

New Hydro Power Project at Mettur at a cost of 1100 crores.


http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/3907/02112008016010ua6.jpg

Monday, November 03, 2008

Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board is all set to invite global tenders for civil works for the Rs.1,334-crore Hogenakkal water supply project in Dharmapuri district. The tender will be divided into five packages.

Tokyo based Nippon Koei Corporation which began its work evaluating the project report for nearly a month, has given its nod for inviting tenders for the project, while the Japanese Bank of International Cooperation, the main funding agency for the project, also cleared the project report.

Tenders will be invited initially for the first package comprising important works including construction of head works, master balancing reservoir, treatment plant, pumping station and a sump. Subsequently, tenders will be called separately for the other four packages, mainly civil works like laying of pipes for the main line and distribution lines and construction of booster station and service reservoirs.

The project management consultant Nippon Koei, engaged for five years, will appoint 52 Indian engineers to monitor the work in Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts. The annual maintenance cost of the project has been estimated to be around Rs 60 crore.

The ground work for the project is expected to begin by January 2009. The project when completed by 2012, will benefit nearly 30 lakh people in five municipalities, 11 town panchayats and 6,755 rural habitations in the two districts.

http://www.projectstoday.com/newsr.asp?newsid=24113&dsp=ts

......
The CSMC also approved Sewage project for Chennai Maduravoyal Municipality, Tamil Nadu with approved project cost of Rs 57.455 cr of which govt. of India share will be Rs 20.11 cr (35%).

Currently this Municipality has no sewage system in place and the entire area of 4.78 sq kms will be covered benefiting a population of 44,000 persons including the urban poor. The city has 5 zones and the project will have a pumping station and collecting system for each zone covering a network of 94.64 kms of collecting systems, 5 pumping stations, 9.95 kms of pumping mains and 165.528 kms house service sewers. STP of 94 MLD is currently in existence but is under utilised and the pumping mains would be aligned with this STP. For the ULB contribution, an area based one time connection charge varying from Rs 3,000 to Rs 25,000 would be levied with an exemption for the urban poor residing in less than 300 sft areas and would be mandatory for all residences and commercial establishments. Tariffs per month would be also charged varying from Rs 75 p.m. to Rs 500 p.m. with exemptions for the less than 300 sft category of urban poor. This is in conformity with the Allandur model which was tried out for the first time in Tamil Nadu and is now a part of the standard state policy of raising ULB contribution from the users. This is also in conformity with the National Sanitation Policy which envisages coverage of 100% including the urban poor.

......

http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=44427

Puducherry, Nov 1 : The Union Territory will have a superspeciality medical facility with the inauguration of the Pondicherry Medical Mission (PMM) by Chief Minister V Vaithilingam in the presence of Union Minister of State for Planning and Parliamentary Affairs V Narayanasamy here tomorrow.

Addressing the press here today, PMM Managing Director K Narayanan said the idea took shape from the need to provide cost-appropriate' multi-functional, comprehensive care to patients suffering from various kidney ailments.

The 100-bed hospital would cater to those suffering from lifestyle diseases and related-ailments including diabetes, hypertension and kidney disease.

It would have multi-faceted support functions including Imaging and Diagnostic Service, Preventive Health Services, Laparoscopic Centre and Critical Care Unit.

Dr Narayanan said the hospital had two operation theatres that would soon be certified for stringent quality process.

One of the theatres would be used for kidney transplants. A state-of-the-art floor would cater to those suffering from Chronic Kidney Disease. It would be equipped with haemodialysis unit and ambulatory peritoneal dialysis facilities among others.

Presently at the Kidney Centre, run by him, ten patients were getting free dialysis and another 30 at 50 per cent discount, he said.

http://www.newkerala.com/topstory-fullnews-39248.html

Union Minister Anbumani Ramadoss will inaugurate it
VELLORE: Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Anbumani Ramadoss will inaugurate the newly laid broad gauge track between Katpadi and Vellore Cantonment railway stations at a function to be held at the Vellore Cantonment station at 11 a.m. on November 10. R. Velu, Union Minister of State for Railways will also participate.

Informing this to newspersons here on Sunday, Mr. Velu said that the minor corrections in the track and the railway bridge across the Palar river, suggested by the Commissioner of Railway Safety K.J.S. Naidu during his inspection of the track on Thursday, have been carried out by the engineers of the Southern Railway.

The number of trains to be operated from Vellore Cantonment station, the destinations to which the trains would be operated and the timings of the trains are being worked out in consultation with the Southern Railway officials, Mr. Velu said.

Dr. Ramadoss would also inaugurate the remodelled Vellore Cantonment station.
http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/03/stories/2008110352740400.htm

Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu Ltd (Elcot) is planning to set up rural business process outsourcing (BPO) centres across 29 districts in the state. The corporation has also roped in Fostera (Fostering Technologies in Rural Areas), set up by the Krishnagiri district administration and Nasscom, in this initiative.

Speaking to Business Standard, Santhosh Babu, managing director, Elcot, said the idea was to open one rural BPO centre in each district at the village or panchayat level with broadband connectivity. Each centre will require an investment of Rs 15-20 lakh and have a minimum capacity of 25 seats. These centres will be set up on a franchisee basis by an entrepreneur or by the district administration. Elcot is a state government promotional agency for IT industries.

While Elcot will take care of the administration, Fostera will be the consultant and Nasscom the knowledge partner and would also help in bringing projects.

Santhosh Babu said the corporation was planning to rope in IT companies to train rural youths in technical and soft skills. The three-month training would commence by January first week. Elcot has already set up training centres in all the districts for this purpose. The agency has set a target of 3,000 jobs across 29 districts over the next two to three years.

Source: http://www.business-standard.com/india/storypage.php?autono=339040

^^ They only plan, don't execute them, Let us first see them complete the IT SEZs planned for Tier-II cities,

KRISHNAGIRI: Construction of an indoor stadium within the Krishnagiri District Sports Stadium is progressing very slowly. The works on the project initiated by the then Collector Dr. Santhosh Babu is moving with snail’s pace, according to people here.

The indoor stadium is being constructed at a cost of Rs. 1.20 crore in about 0.40 cents within Krishnagiri Sports Stadium.

Kattida Maiyam, under the supervision of its secretary Mr. Senthil, is taking care of the construction work. C.K. Veenana, Project Officer, District Rural Development Agency is monitoring the project.

The indoor stadium will have volley ball, basket ball, badminton and tennis courts apart from gymnastics, weightlifting and bodybuilding facilities.

Mr. Senthil, Secretary of Kattida Maiyam told The Hindu that they were expecting Rs. 40 lakhs from Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) for the completion of the indoor stadium and the works would be finished before this new year.

Dr. Santhosh Babu had introduced a new concept called ‘Fund in Perpetuity’ which allowed the pubic to become life-members of Officers Club with the subscription of Rs. 1 lakh each. The subscription amount paid by the members has a lock in period of one year, following which it can be withdrawn. Receipts for payments were given which explicitly state that the subscription fee is refundable.

It is learnt that many citizens who had paid the subscription fee are asking for refund now. The reason for this is best known only to them.

An amount of Rs. 1 crore was collected from 94 citizens and was deposited in a nationalized bank. The interest accrued on the deposit i.e. Rs. 85,000 per month can be used for upkeep, maintenance and other development activities at the stadium. The general body of the Club meets every month and takes decisions about the improvement of the stadium.

About 73 school children are being trained in 3 disciplines i.e. hurdles, handball and judo. Coaches for other disciplines are expected to be hired soon.

A swimming pool is being constructed at a cost of Rs. 65 lakh though MLA’s local development fund.

Apart from this, a students’ hostel at a cost of Rs. 98 lakhs is also being at the stadium complex.

More than 300 people are using the track for walking.

In addition to this, various corporate companies have shown keen interest in developing the stadium with multiple facilities such as a children park with roller skating, swing etc.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/05/stories/2008110552920300.htm

17 works taken up at a cost of Rs. 47.41 crore

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30 per cent of desilting work completed

Remaining works to be over by January 2009
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NAGAPATTINAM: Nagapattinam Port works undertaken with Asian Development Bank support are nearing completion.

Of the 17 works undertaken in Nagapattinam Port, at a cost of Rs. 47.41 crore, 14 works of worth Rs. 33.64 crore were completed, Collector M. Jayaraman said here on Tuesday.

At a review meeting conducted by C. Muthukumarasamy, Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Tamil Nadu Maritime Board, Mr. Jayaraman said that the remaining works would be completed by January .

The desilting work in the backwaters near the Port was also proceeding at a good pace, and 30 per cent of the work was completed. To finish the work , the fishing boats in the area had to be shifted to the western part of the bridge. This required the desilting of 200 metres of the backwaters near Akkaraipettai, the Collector said.

The upper part of the old bridge had been demolished by the Highways Department. Now the concrete pillars in the lower portion needed to be removed with the support of the Maritime Board, he said.

To ensure that the Port works were completed on time, Mr. Jayaraman asked the Highways Department, Fisheries Department, and the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board to co-operate and finish the desilting work soon.

Port Officer Capt. M. Anbarasan, District Revenue Officer (Tsunami) K. S. Kandasamy, Divisional Engineer (Highways) Ravindran, Joint Director (Fisheries) Jude Armstrong, Assistant Director (Fisheries) P. Umakanthan participated.

Source: http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/05/stories/2008110557740300.htm

The 1,023rd sadhaya vizha (birth anniversary) of King Rajaraja Chola will be celebrated at the Big Temple here from November 6 to 8. The three-day celebration will begin with rendering of Devarams by Othuvars at 6 pm on November 6. The statue of Rajarajan near the Big Temple will be garlanded by the district collector. Debates, poetry contests and other cultural programmes will be organised on all the three days. Special abishekam will be performed on Saturday to Lord Brahadeeswara, the presiding deity of the Big Temple built by Rajaraja Chola.

Collector M. S. Shanmugam will inaugurate a seminar to be held at 10 am on Friday. Tamil University vice-chancellor M. Rajendran will preside. During the public function at 7 pm on Friday, Aranmanai Devasthanam’s hereditary trustee Babaji Raja Bhonsle will deliver the inaugural address while Union minister of state for finance S. S. Palanimanickam will preside. The Mamannan Rajarajan Award will be presented to A. Mohamed Ali in recognition of his contribution to society and to Rev. Fr. Amuthan Adigal in recognition of his contribution to literature.

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chennaichronicle/City/CityNews.asp#King%20Rajaraja%20Chola%E2%80%99s%20b%E2%80%99day%20fete%20from%20Thursday

Coimbatore-based Ambika Cotton Mills Ltd has pruned its wind power capacity expansion plans. The company will now pursue only 1.6 mw of new captive wind power capacity as against 4 mw envisaged earlier.

Although company officials were not immediately available for comment, it is reliably learnt that the company is anticipating problems in wheeling the power back to its textiles units, due to the ongoing power crisis in Tamil Nadu. After completion of the wind power expansion project, the company's aggregate capacity will rise to 15.4 mw.

Meanwhile, Ambika Cotton is also progressing with its cotton yarn capacity expansion project that envisages addition of 43,200 spindles. So far, 39,600 spindles have been installed. The final capacity that will be spread over four units (all in Tamil Nadu) is expected to be around 1.06 lakh spindles.

The company has also reported difficulties in regular operations due to rising costs of cotton, the principal raw material. The power-deficient scenario in Tamil Nadu, the hub of the Indian cotton textile industry, is also compounding the situation for several medium-sized textile units. An industry source indicated that even as prices of raw cotton have risen in recent times, those of the finished product (cotton yarn) have remained static.

Source: http://www.projectsmonitor.com/detailnews.asp?newsid=17311&secid=80

Status Report on Renewable Energy

Wind power projects aggregating 9,522 mw have been installed in the country till September 2008, with Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Karnataka together accounting for almost 90 per cent of the capacity.

Compared to the achievement of about 5,456 mw of wind power during the 10th Five-Year Plan, 10,500 mw addition has been targeted for the ongoing 11th Plan. The capacities of wind turbines installed in the country ranges from 225 kW to 1,650 kW.

Nearly 216 potential locations have so far been identified in 13 states and UTs which could be considered suitable for installation of wind turbines. Of these, the existing top four generating states account for 60 per cent.

Solar energy

A total of 4.02 lakh solar home lights, 6.7 lakh solar lanterns, 70,500 solar streetlights, 7,148 solar pumps, 5 mwp off-grid and grid connected PV power plants, 2.45 million sq. metre solar thermal collector area and 6.2 lakh solar cookers have been installed. In addition, around 8,000 remote villages and hamlets have been supported for electrification illumination with solar energy systems. The amount of solar energy incidence over the land area is around five trillion kilowatt hours. The high initial cost of solar energy systems is currently a barrier in large-scale utilisation.

The National Action Plan on Climate Change has proposed to develop solar energy in the country by setting up a Solar Mission. The details of the solar mission have not been finalised yet.

IREDA loans

The Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency provided Rs 1,265 crore during 2005-08 to promote renewable energy projects and disbursed Rs 161 crore loans during the first half of the current fiscal. Its NPA was placed at Rs 416 crore as of March 2008. IREDA provides loans to the eligible project promoters and developers for setting up renewable energy and energy conservation projects. It does not provide any loans to state government departments.

Wind Power Capacity as on September 30, 2008

State - MW (% to Total)

Tamil Nadu - 4,116 (43.23)
Maharashtra - 1,824 (19.15)
Gujarat - 1,415 (14.86)
Karnataka - 1,164 (12.23)
Rajasthan - 671 (7.05)
Madhya Pradesh - 188 (1.97)
Andhra Pradesh - 123 (1.29)
Kerala - 18 (0.19)
Orissa - 3 (0.03)
West Bengal - 1 (0.01)
Total - 9,522 (100)

Source: http://www.projectsmonitor.com/detailnews.asp?newsid=17288&secid=32

Dharani Sugars & Chemicals Ltd, based in Chennai, is setting up a 3,500-tccpd sugar mill at Sankarapuram in Villupuram district of Tamil Nadu. The 300-acre project will include a 22-mw cogeneration power plant, of which 18 mw will be sold to Tamil Nadu State Electricity Board and the balance for captive purpose.

The new sugar mill in Villupuram will involve an investment of Rs 200 crore, which will be funded through FCCB and ADR/GDR route. The project is scheduled to be completed by June 2009. Around 30 per cent work is completed so far.

The company has other sugar mill units at Polur in Thiruvannamalai district (4,000 tpd) and in Tirunelveli (2,500 tpd). It exports sugar to Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Vietnam.

Source: http://www.projectsmonitor.com/detailnews.asp?newsid=17304&secid=28

Le Meridien has taken over an existing property of Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC) in Kumbakonam and re-launched it on Oct 30. The property has been converted into an 18-room resort hotel at an investment of Rs 5 Crore and will be officially launched by the end of November 2008. The ‘Riverside Resort and Spa Kumbakonam’ will have ten rooms, eight cottages, a vegetarian restaurant ‘Cauvery’, a multi-cuisine restaurant with a bar ‘Mayuri’ and a health club and spa ‘Kasti’ (Spanish term for rejuvenation). It has standard rooms at Rs 3,500 and cottages at Rs 7,500. The company is in the process of getting four-star classification for the property. The property has been acquired from TTDC on a 15-year lease.

The hotel will target the up market segment that comes to Kumbakonam for religious purposes. “We are at present studying the market and getting feedback. We are not looking at the masses that come in large numbers for religious purposes. We want to focus on the up market segment, foreign tourists and businessmen who are looking for classy accommodation. The idea is also to promote the culture and heritage of this area. There is huge demand for accommodation in Kumbakonam from foreign tourists who come from December to March. We are looking to cash in on this demand.”

The spa therapies will be outsourced to a Coimbatore-based Ayurvedic company which has still not been finalised. The hotel further plans to tie-up with travel agents in Chennai to offer tour packages to the guests. It will also provide transport options to guests who want to visit the temples in and around Kumbakonam. It will launch a full-fledged marketing campaign for the tour packages just before the official opening.

Source: http://www.hospitalitybizindia.com/detailNews.aspx?aid=2496&sid=1

he East Coast Road (ECR) from Chennai to Kanayakumari project would be completed by 2009,state high way minister Vellakoil Swaminathan said today.

Taking to reporters here he said out of the total stretch of 742km of ECR, 552Km had been completed.

The work on the stretches between Arcot-Arani,Ramanathapuram-Tuticorin and Kumbakonam-Thiruvathavur were progressing.

Eleven big towns would be provided by-pass road at a cost of Rs.236cr.

A by-pass road and a railway over bridge would be constructed at a cost of Rs.35 cr here. The district roads were being repaired at a cost of Rs.250 cr with the assitance from the NABARD.

The work on four-way road from Madurai to Ramanathapuram and Tiruchi-Ramanathapuram would begin shortly, he said.

Source: http://www.business-standard.com/india/storypage.php?tp=on&autono=49005

பயணிகளின் கூட்ட நெரிசலை சமாளிப்பதற்காக நவம்பர் 7ஆம் தேதி முதல் 29ஆம் தேதி வரை தஞ்சாவூர், திருவாரூர் இடையே சிறப்பு ரயில்கள் இயக்கப்பட உள்ளதாக தெற்கு ரயில்வே அறிவித்துள்ளது.

இது தொடர்பாக தெற்கு ரயில்வே வெளியிட்டுள்ள செய்திக்குறிப்பில், இந்த சிறப்பு ரயில்கள் ஞாயிற்றுக்கிழமை தவிர மற்ற அனைத்து நாட்களிலும் இயக்கப்படுகிறது. தஞ்சாவூரில் இருந்து காலை 10 மணிக்கு புறப்படும் இந்த சிறப்பு ரயில் 11.30 மணியளவில் திருவாரூரை சென்றடையும்.

இதேபோல் மறுமார்க்கமாக திருவாரூரில் இருந்து மாலை 6.45 மணிக்கு புறப்படும் இந்த சிறப்பு ரயில் இரவு 8.20 மணிக்கு தஞ்சாவூரைச் சென்றடையும்.

இந்த சிறப்பு ரயில்கள் மாரியம்மன் கோவில், குடிகாடு, சலியமங்கலம், அம்மாபேட்டை, கோயில்வேணி, நீடாமங்கலம், கொரடச்சேரி, திருமதிகுன்னம், குளிகரை ஆகிய ரயில் நிலையங்களில் நின்று செல்லும் என்று அறிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

http://tamil.webdunia.com/newsworld/news/tnnews/0811/06/1081106051_1.htm

The Centre has santiond setting up 100 more integrated handloom clusters
across the country during the current year, of which, at least nine clusters will be set up in Tamil Nadu, according to Union Minister of State for Textiles E V K S Elangovan.

Talking to newspersons here yesterday, the minister said the Centre has so far accorded sanction to set up a minimum 271 integrated handloom clusters across the country under the scheme. Of which 30 clusters would be set up in Tamil Nadu, he added.

Mr Elangovan said the Centre had so far sanctioned Rs 5.2 crore for Tamil Nadu for setting the clusters.

http://www.newkerala.com/topstory-fullnews-41378.html

TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Chennai: Jindal Steel, part of the JSW group has deferred plans to set up a 1,000 MW power plant, with an investment of Rs 5,000 crore in the state, citing poor power reforms.
Sajjan Jindal, managing director of the company said that the policies in the state are not conducive for setting up electricity generation units. “We had planned to set up a 1,000 MW power plant in Tamil Nadu. The state is still one of the better places to invest in India as it is investor friendly. But the electricity department is a completely different picture. We are still keen to invest in Tamil Nadu,” Jindal told reporters on the sidelines of a press conference of Assocham on Wednesday.
In November 2007, Jindal had told The Times of India that the company would seek the state government’s approval for setting up a 1,000 MW power plant.
“We will also seek the State’s approval to set up a 1,000 MW power plant in the coastal region, though nothing is concrete on this proposal,” he had said then after announcing four projects in the state with an investment of Rs 7,500 crore over a three year period.
He said on Wednesday that policies of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board were not clear and were quite ‘fuzzy.’ “Unlike many other states, there are a lot of restrictions here. For example, you cannot sell electricity generated here to other states. Also, there is a lack of clarity on the policies of the electricity department here. There has also been no reforms in the electricity department here,” he said. Jindal, president of Assocham, said he will meet the chief minister M Karunanidhi next week and take up the issue.
Meanwhile, construction work on its plant at Ennore to make super critical boilers and turbines would begin soon, he said. “The facility which is coming up on 100 acres will be ready in three years. It can also manufacture nuclear turbines.”

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOI&BaseHref=TOICH/2008/11/06&PageLabel=16&EntityId=Ar01603&ViewMode=HTML&GZ=T

IRCTC for two more bottling plants; tourist packages

New Delhi (PTI): Buoyed by the success of its own brand of packaged water, Rail Neer, the IRCTC now plans to come up with two more bottling units and augment the capacity of the existing units, besides launching new tourist 'heritage packages'.

The new 'Rail Neer' bottling plants will be set up at Ambarnath in Mumbai and at Palur in Kancheepuram district of Tamil Nadu.

"The bottling plants will be set up at an investment of Rs 25-30 crore and will be commissioned in about 18 months," Managing Director, Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) Nalin Shinghal told PTI.

Once the new plants become operational, they will pack at least 10,000 cartons per day, he said.

Besides, after enhancing the capacity of two existing plants - Nangloi in Delhi and Danapur in Bihar - their production capacity will increase from 50,000 cartons per day to 85,000 cartons per day, Shinghal added.

At present, 'Rail Neer' commands more than 60 per cent share among rail passengers.

The IRCTC is also planning to launch a new tourist package on the Kalka-Shimla train after the rail route was declared a heritage section recently.

Tourists including foreign travellers have also shown a lot of interest in the Mahaparinirvan Express, the Buddhist circuit special train, flagged off last year, he said. For this year, the special train has already commenced journey in October on a seven-day-seven night holy sojourn covering places like Varanasi, Gaya, Rajgir, Nalanda and Agra.

http://www.hinduonnet.com/holnus/002200811070321.htm

‘Execution of the Salem-Karur railway line project progressing steadily’

Spot visit: Union Minister of State for Railways R. Velu inspecting the bridge works across the River Cauvery at Vangal in the new Salem-Karur broad gauge line on Thursday. —

NAMAKKAL: The construction of the bridge across the River Cauvery, near Mohanur, as a part of the Salem-Karur new railway line project, is likely to be completed by the end of 2010, Union Minister of State for Railways R. Velu has said.

After inspecting the new railway line works on Thursday, the Minister said the bridge linking Mohanur in Namakkal district with Vangal in Karur district was a major work envisaged under the project.

The officials were asked to expedite the work.

Mr. Velu said the execution of the Salem Karur railway line project was progressing steadily despite the railways facing difficulties in a few areas. The estimate of project, which was sanctioned in 1996-97 for the formation of 85 kms of new broad gauge line between Salem and Karur, was revised upwards to Rs. 615 crore due to increase in prices of various materials. But fund was not a problem for the project, he added.

While inspecting the construction of a rail under bridge at Sivadapuram in Salem, the Minister told newspersons that the railways had spent about Rs. 35 crore for the project since April this fiscal.

To a question, Mr. Velu said that the Railways was ready to construct a new bridge at Bodinaickanpatti in Salem to provide safe passage to people in surrounding villages to access the city, if the Salem Corporation agreed to bear the expenses. “We will construct the bridge at a minimum cost,” the Minister said while dismissing the possibility of railways building the bridge with its funds.

Mr. Velu said Rs. 5.20 crore was sanctioned for the construction of Sivadapuram railway overbridge in Salem. The bridge would benefit people in seven villages. The railways had sanctioned 108 bridges to Tamil Nadu, he added.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/07/stories/2008110752530500.htm

Special Correspondent

They will cater for regular commuters as well as those travelling to tourist or pilgrim centres

These will run between Tiruchi and Madurai, Coimbatore and Erode, among other places

If they receive good patronage, the trains will be converted into regular services

CHENNAI: Southern Railway plans to run 372 short-distance special trains in a month to cater to the needs of commuters as well as those travelling to tourist or pilgrim centres in the State.

The special trains will be operated between Tiruchi and Madurai, Coimbatore and Erode, Tirunelveli and Tiruchendur, Arakkaonam and Tambaram, Tiruchur and Guruvayur and Thiruvananthapuram and Quilon.

Southern Railway has been operating special trains, mostly from Chennai to destinations in the south, during the holiday and festival season. Now it has extended the service, as the number of people commuting daily between major cities has increased substantially. For example, thousands of commuters travel daily between Arakkonam and Chengalpet/Tambaram, Quilon and Thiruvananthapuram and Coimbatore and Erode. These commuters are depending mostly on buses. Southern Railway wants to attract this section of commuters.

If the special trains receive good patronage, they will be converted into regular services, according to Chief Public Relations Officer Neenu Ittyerah.

Southern Railway will run 100 more services between Chennai and Nagercoil, Tirunelveli, Madurai, Tiruchi, Bangalore and Coimbatore; between Tirupati and Coimbatore; and from Bangalore to Ernakulam during this month and December.
Demand going up

Ms. Ittyeraah said statistics collected by the zone had revealed that the overall demand on certain routes, especially from Chennai to those in the south such as Tiruchi, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Madurai, Tiruneveli and Nagercoil, was on the rise, a trend which persisted all through the year. Furthermore, there was demand for more trains to Bangalore from Chennai, Ernakulam and Coimbatore, possibly due to the increase in air fares and the relocation of Bangalore Airport. There was also demand for a train from Coimbatore to Tirupati.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/07/stories/2008110752580500.htm

Work on 522 km completed, says Minister



The East Coast Road project would be completed by April, said Highways Minister Vellakoil M.P. Saminathan.

Speaking to reporters here on Thursday, he said that of the 742-kilometre project, work on 522 km had been completed. All stakeholders had been asked to expedite the remaining works.

On the slow progress of works between Ramanathapuram and Tuticorin, the Minister said that a combination of factors led to the delay. Due the cost escalation, the project estimate was revised. The variation between the original estimate and the present one was Rs.187 crore.

On complaints about the quality of work in the same stretch, he said that the Government would insist the contractors to fulfil all required parameters to be followed in executing the work. Mr. Saminathan said that a World Bank team, which expressed reservations about the implementation of the project during its visit in 2006, had expressed satisfaction about the progress of work.
Bypass road

A sum of Rs.35 had been sanctioned for laying a bypass road and railway over-bridge in Ramanathapuram. Officials had been asked to expedite the land acquisition process.

Preparation of a detailed project report for laying a four-lane highway from Madurai to Rameswaram had reached its final stage. The project would be taken up as per the original plan. There was no plan to give up the project. Similarly, the four-lane road project between Tiruchi and Ramanathapuram would also be taken up soon, the Minister added.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/07/stories/2008110757700300.htm

The Tamil Nadu government has decided to establish 100 more branch libraries across the state and work in this connection will commence shortly, according to State School Education Minister Thangam Thennarasu.

Declaring opening of a building to house the District Library Officer's office here yesterday, he said the government would sanction Rs 14 crore for constructing additional buildings for High and Higher Secondary Schools in this district and another Rs 2.50 crore would be made available to undertake repairs and renovation of buildings and laboratories in middle schools of the district.

In his address, Director of Public Libraries Ramani said Chief Minister M Karunanidhi had ordered the establishment of libraries in all Samathuvapuam Villages in the state.

Under the scheme, 35 Samathuvapuram Villages will have libraries during the current year.

The government has also sanctioned Rs six crore for construction of new buildings for libraries and another Rs one crore each for establishing District Central Libraries at Krishnagiri and Erode.

http://www.newkerala.com/topstory-fullnews-41944.html

Tiruchirapalli district has bagged the highest number of Nirmal Puraskar Awards for 2008 in the state.

The annual awards are given by the Union Government for 100 per cent achievement in village sanitation, according to District Collector T Soundiah.

He said in a press release here today that as many as 110 Panchayats in the district got the award this year, followed by 98 Panchayats in Tiruvannamalai and 96 in Nagapattinam.

Of the 1,966 villages in the state that applied for the award this year, 1,249 were chosen after an assessment made by a screening committee from New Delhi between May 5 and 19.

He said the main criteria were total sanitation through individual household toilets, school sanitation, eradication of open defecation and cleanliness of the village environment.

The district administration had recommended 156 Panchayats for the awards. With this, 140 of the 408 village Panchayats in the district have got the awards that were instituted in 2006.

Significantly, all 25 Panchayats in the Thathaiyengarpet Panchayat Union have got the awards. 22 Panchayats in the union have got the awards this year and three had already received the honours in the past couple of years, he added.

The presidents of these panchayats will receive the awards from President Pratibha Patil at a ceremony scheduled for December 8 at Pune
, he added

http://www.newkerala.com/topstory-fullnews-41952.html

The Tamil Nadu government is planning to add 500 mega watt (Mw) of diesel and furnace oil based power through barge-mounted power plants over the next two months. It would float a global tender in the coming days and expects to complete the process by this month end.

Barge-mounted power plants or floating power plants are primarily used as base load, emergency and temporary power plants, which are transportable. Power barges operate like a land-based plant and can also be permanently or temporarily installed.

A senior representative from the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) said though the demand for power is 9,000 Mw, the supply is only 7,500 Mw. The board is looking at all options to overcome this shortage of 1,500 Mw. Barge mounted power plants is part of government’s effort to tide over the crisis.

TNEB is in negotiations with two companies — German-based Alsthom and UK-based Aggreko — that specialise in barged-mounted power plants. The two have quoted Rs 2.60 per unit (excluding diesel and furnace oil). The total production cost, if diesel and furnace oil prices are added, comes to Rs 11.60 per unit, which is on the higher side.

The official said they were planning to procure diesel from government-run agencies but did not comment on the price and quantity. The board is also working on connecting the captive power plants, which can provide 3,500 Mw in the state, to TNEB power stations, he added.

Source: http://www.business-standard.com/india/storypage.php?autono=339386

Appeals to people to extend cooperation in interest of Tamil Nadu


Removing bottlenecks: Union Shipping and Surface Transport Minister T.R. Baalu engaging S.K. Puri (right) and Ashok Wasson, Members (Technical), NHAI, in a discussion on traffic congestion and road safety on national highway 205, at the Ambattur Municipality on Friday.

CHENNAI: Development of NH 205, a critical corridor linking Padi in Chennai to Tirupati, has been put on the fast track with Union Transport Minister T. R. Baalu committing the bureaucracy and local bodies to get the entire highway stretch commissioned in two years.

The Minister, who on Friday convened a meeting of officials from various departments and the chairmen of Ambattur, Tiruninravur, Pattabiram, and Avadi municipalities to discuss bottlenecks at the Chennai end of the 145-km highway, also issued instructions to implement short-term solutions within 30 days, extendable to a maximum of 45 days.

Mr. Baalu was categorical on pushing through land acquisition for the project under any circumstances and refusing to compromise on the width of the highway to less than 50 metres from the project specification of 60 metres. “I urge people affected by the project to extend cooperation keeping the larger interests of the State, and even the nation, in mind.”

The short-term measures will primarily focus on addressing road safety concerns over the spate of accidents on NH 205 by broadening the width by 1.5 metres on either side and improving geometrics on 13 curves.

Police Commissioner of Chennai City (Suburban Area) S. R. Jangid and Additional Commissioner of Traffic in Chennai Sunil Kumar informed that the most accident-prone spots included the Korattur junction, Ambattur Estate bus depot, near Dunlop factory, TI Cycles precincts, Avadi Kamarajar statue, Thirumullavoyal and Pattabiram Market.

The long-term plan is to create a four-lane pathway that will be able to accommodate much more than the current 47,000 passenger car units on the Tiruninravur-Padi stretch of the highway. It was also decided to resolve issues concerning the link roadway branching in from NH 4. Funds would be released immediately to the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board to relocate its towers and other utilities hampering the project.

Transport Commissioner C. P. Singh was directed to immediately hold a meeting with police top brass within a week to discuss traffic improvement measures not only in Chennai but across Tamil Nadu. The suburban police commissioner will get a digital map of the accident-prone zones ready by then.

Instructions were also issued to get clearances from the Collectors of Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur to facilitate uninterrupted mining in quarries along the Padi-Chennai Bypass.

A.Krishnaswamy and C.Kuppusamy, MPs;, E. A. P. Shivaji, B. Ranganathan, MLAs; D. Sudarssanam, Congress Legislative Party Leader; and K. N. Sekar, chairman, Ambattur municipality, participated.

Officials who attended included Highways Secretary K. Allauddin and National Highway Authority of India Members (Technical) S. K. Puri and Ashok Wasson.

Later addressing the media, Mr. Baalu said the exercise undertaken at the Ambattur Municipality on Friday was to expedite work on the prestigious project and bring in transparency to the thorny issue of land acquisition. “It took three-and-a-half years of relentless effort to get the Rs.1,000 crore project cleared by the Union Cabinet,” he recalled.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/08/stories/2008110860671000.htm

As part of Indian Meteorological Department’s modernisation project

CHENNAI: Two automatic rain gauge systems and an automatic weather station will be installed by February in each district of Tamil Nadu as part of Indian Meteorological Department’s modernisation project.

This was announced here on Friday by the Deputy Director General of Meteorology, Regional Meteorological Centre, Chennai, R.V. Sharma at a workshop on ‘Weather Service for the Community’ organised jointly by IMD and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

He said the Rs.920 crore project was aimed at upgrading the meteorological system and providing accurate information to the various stakeholders. About 3,600 automatic rain gauge systems and 1,150 automatic weather stations would be established across the country as part of the modernisation project.

Of the 55 Doppler Weather Radars planned for installation in the country, work on the facilities in Chennai and Karaikal is in progress. Location specific weather forecast would be possible with the new facilities. The forecast system would be upgraded in two years, he said.

There were also plans to launch a 24-hour weather channel for the benefit farmers and fishermen, Mr.Sharma added.

Principal Secretary and Commissioner of Revenue Administration Shaktikanta Das highlighted the need to create awareness among the public about the weather related issues.

Elaborating on disaster preparedness and management programmes of the State government, he said work on disaster management plans were afoot in seven of the 13 identified districts. Besides village level plans, including mock drills, evacuation routes during disasters have also been identified.

On the ‘last mile connectivity’ model of Cuddalore, he said the facility at the district headquarter would pass on the information about the impending danger to the remote hamlet along the coastline. A 24-hour helpline – 1070 - has been set up at the Commissioner of Revenue Administration’s office for the people to report damages during rains and seek assistance. At the district headquarters the number of the toll-free helpline for the same purpose is 1077, Mr. Das said.

Director of Area Cyclone Warning Centre, IMD, S.R.Ramanan explained various meteorological terminologies.

He said heavy rainfall meant showers ranging from 6.5 cm to 12.5 cm, one or two spells of rain mean 25 per cent of the normal rainfall. A strong monsoon was referred to a monsoon with nearly 1.5 to 4 times of the normal rainfall, he said.

Various meteorological services, including storm surge prediction and aviation services and the need to disseminate the weather related information to various user communities, were deliberated at the workshop. Director of Cyclone Warning Research Centre, IMD, Y.E.A.Raj, Recovery Manager of UN Team for Tsunami Recovery Support Benjamin Larroquette, UNDP Project Officer John David, district collectors and district revenue officers participated.

Source: http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/08/stories/2008110860160400.htm

Appeals to people to extend cooperation in interest of Tamil Nadu
....
CHENNAI: Development of NH 205, a critical corridor linking Padi in Chennai to Tirupati, has been put on the fast track with Union Transport Minister T. R. Baalu committing the bureaucracy and local bodies to get the entire highway stretch commissioned in two years.

.....

http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/08/stories/2008110860671000.htm

Road widening: Baalu gheraoed


Road widening: Baalu gheraoed

CHENNAI: More than 200 residents on Friday gheraoed Union Minister T R Baalu in protest against the proposed move to widen Madras-Tirupathi High Road at Ambattur.

Baalu, who holds Shipping, Road Transport and Highways portfolio, Sriperumbudur MP A Krishnaswamy, Congress Legislature Party leader and Poonamalle MLA D Sudarsanam, Villivakkam MLA B Ranganathan and Ambattur Municipality chairman K N Sekar had to face the people’s ire when they came out of a meeting on road projects at the municipality office. When a representative tried to hand over a memorandum to the Minister, he did not respond and sped away in his car.

“Widening the MTH Road to 200 feet will not help the locals in any way. Instead it will spell trouble for more than 20,000 commercial and residential buildings and affect over 30,000 families settled along the stretch for decades,” K Mohan, president, Federation of Building Owners and Traders from Padi to Thiruninravur, told to this website's newspaper.

“We are not against development of the road, as it has become the need of the hour, but, it should not be done by forcing out many families and traders under the guise of development,” he said.

Criticising the NHAI, a protester said: “80-ft road is enough for the area. The 200-ft road plan is just a ploy to mint money.” “The stretch has many hospitals, schools and colleges and, importantly, residential colonies. If the authorities demolish them, educational institutions and hospitals can probably be rebuilt elesewhere. But how can the residents rebuild their homes,” an agitator asked.

http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Road+widening:+Baalu+gheraoed&artid=32R5R4pOMXY=&SectionID=lifojHIWDUU=&MainSectionID=wIcBMLGbUJI=&SectionName=rSY|6QYp3kQ=&SEO=

^^
100 ft is more than enough .I don't know why this nhai is targeting common people in the name of expansion.

^^
100 ft is more than enough .I don't know why this nhai is targeting common people in the name of expansion.

Its not tat NHAI is targetting common people... Even if not now, they gotta expand it somehow... They wont do simply without studyin the traffic flow pattern... the road is expected to have a very high traffic flow in future... let them expand it to 200ft road before it gets worsened.

200ft is coz now all the road tats being built will have wide median to accomodate Metro, MRTS or elevated corridors tat might be planned in the future....

Not only that... it can also be used to introduce cycle lane, pedestrian path, and BRTS lanes... if all these are considered, 200ft wont be enough... it needs around 300ft for atleast 18-20 lanes..with 4 meters wide...
while other cities are goin for such a broad roads.. we can go for juzz 80ft as a agitator suggested! he thinks about himselft but not the entire area!

CHENNAI: The newly converted, electrified broad gauge section between Katpadi and Vellore Cantonment will be inaugurated on November 10. Regular services will commence on November 11. The metre gauge section between Tirunelveli Town and Tenkasi will be closed for traffic from January 1 to June 30 for gauge conversion work, according to a Southern Railway release.

Source: http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/09/stories/2008110954460400.htm

The Railway Board has sanctioned Rs 40 crore for the manufacture of four oil-fired steam locomotives for the Nilgiri Mountain Railway, according to a top railway official.
V. Carmelus, Chief Mechanical Engineer, Southern Railway, said that the locomotives would be manufactured at the Golden Rock Railway workshop in Trichurapalli, Tamil Nadu. The first loco is likely to roll out within 18 to 24 months. However, it will take a minimum of three of years to make all the locos, belonging to 'X' class, ready.
At present, seven steam locos are being operated between Metturpalayam and Coonoor of which three are oil-fired and the rest coal-fired, Carmelus added. These steam locos were imported from Switzerland and are 50 to 90 years old.

http://www.projectsmonitor.com/detailnews.asp?newsid=17278&secid=80

As part of Indian Meteorological Department project

CHENNAI: Two automatic rain gauge systems and an automatic weather station will be installed by February in each district of Tamil Nadu as part of Indian Meteorological Department’s modernisation project.

This was announced here on Friday by the Deputy Director General of Meteorology, Regional Meteorological Centre, Chennai, R.V. Sharma at a workshop on ‘Weather Service for the Community’ organised jointly by IMD and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

He said the Rs.920 crore project was aimed at upgrading the meteorological system and providing accurate information to the various stakeholders.

About 3,600 automatic rain gauge systems and 1,150 automatic weather stations would be established across the country as part of the modernisation project.

Of the 55 Doppler Weather Radars planned for installation in the country, work on the facilities in Chennai and Karaikal is in progress. Location specific weather forecast would be possible with the new facilities. The forecast system would be upgraded in two years, he said.

There were also plans to launch a 24-hour weather channel for the benefit farmers and fishermen, Mr.Sharma added.

Principal Secretary and Commissioner of Revenue Administration Shaktikanta Das highlighted the need to create awareness among the public about the weather related issues.

Elaborating on disaster preparedness and management programmes of the State government, he said work on disaster management plans were afoot in seven of the 13 identified districts. Besides village level plans, including mock drills, evacuation routes during disasters have also been identified.

On the ‘last mile connectivity’ model of Cuddalore, he said the facility at the district headquarter would pass on the information about the impending danger to the remote hamlet along the coastline. A 24-hour helpline – 1070 - has been set up at the Commissioner of Revenue Administration’s office for the people to report damages during rains and seek assistance. At the district headquarters the number of the toll-free helpline for the same purpose is 1077, Mr. Das said.

Director of Area Cyclone Warning Centre, IMD, S.R.Ramanan explained various meteorological terminologies. He said heavy rainfall meant showers ranging from 6.5 cm to 12.5 cm, one or two spells of rain mean 25 per cent of the normal rainfall. A strong monsoon was referred to a monsoon with nearly 1.5 to 4 times of the normal rainfall, he said.

Various meteorological services, including storm surge prediction and aviation services and the need to disseminate the weather related information to various user communities, were deliberated at the workshop.

Director of Cyclone Warning Research Centre, IMD, Y.E.A.Raj, Recovery Manager of UN Team for Tsunami Recovery Support Benjamin Larroquette, UNDP Project Officer John David, district collectors and district revenue officers participated.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/09/stories/2008110959680600.htm

Government holding consultation in 17 districts

CHENNAI: The government is in the process of holding public consultation in 17 districts, including the Nilgiris and Dindigul, for preparing a development plan for ensuring harmonious development of various places in the State, Minister for Information and Urban Development Parithi Illamvazhuthi said here on Saturday.

He was inaugurating World Town Planning Day-2008 celebrations organised jointly by the Department of Planning, School of Architecture and Planning, the Centre for Technology Development and Transfer, Anna University, Chennai, and the Institute of Town Planners India (ITPI), Tamil Nadu Regional Chapter.

The Minister, who is also Chairman of Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority , sought the cooperation of the public for the implementation of policies, including the second master plan for Chennai.

Mr.Illamvazhuthi explained that the government was keen to ensure affordable housing for economically weaker sections .

Besides achieving this objective, the plan sought to ease the traffic congestion and simplify the procedures pertaining to obtaining planning permission.

Referring to streamlining of the CMDA, the Minister said several e-governance initiatives had been taken. The Minister gave away prizes to winners of essay competition .

....

http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/09/stories/2008110959390400.htm

anytime there is a project announced in TN, some association will crop up that will claim 50000 familes, 20000 shops, blah blah will get affected. The real number will be something like 5% of this. NHAI will not get into such things without first surveying the alignment with revenue dept help. 200 ft is for next 30 years. 100 ft will suffice only for 5 years. tiruvottiyur high road, ennore expressway, airport second runway are prime examples of this impeding behavior

200 Ft is absolute necessity and cant be avoided..

Actually number of persons encroached on the Road and government land is 10 times more than actual buildings built legally with approvals... The number of families affected and quoted is highly inflated. There may be shift/demolition in approximate 3000 structures and out of it more than 2500 is encroached illegally. For valid possession owners adequate compensation needs to be given

30000 families and all is without any details/proofs..

For example if a tea shop/Mini-Hotel/Potti kadai is run on encroached land, and say 5 employees are working in each they will point out as 15 -20 families gets affected. But the actual case is they had built in encroached land. Even in other cases, they will have small shop owned but the benches and other tables etc etc will be on the road side outside the shop.

Chennai (PTI): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on Monday launched a smart card system for issuing driving licenses here, which is expected to check "corruption and mismanagement".

An official release here said that Tamil Nadu would be the first state in South India to introduce such a card, which has an integrated circuit and is capable of storing and verifying information.

The smart card also provides updated data relating to driver's license, permits and other transactions.

Initially, the smart card system would be introduced in north Thiruvanmiyur RTO office and gradually the cards would be issued at other centres.

The release said the smart card can be updated but the data cannot be erased. The data stored in optical strip was digitally signed to prevent unauthorised access.

http://www.hinduonnet.com/holnus/004200811101531.htm

Freight service on mountain railway under consideration

Udhagamandalam: By 2011 Southern Railway will have broad gauge lines only, said its General Manager, Rakesh Chopra, at Lovedale, near here, on Sunday.

All the conversion proposals have been cleared by the Ministry and the process of planning and execution of the works was now in progress, he told reporters.

A total of 1,100 km of metre guage lines still needed to be converted, he said adding that the process was being slowed down because of the difficulty in getting experienced contractors.

Claiming that performance-wise Southern Railway was among the best in the country, Mr. Chopra said that during the first half of the current fiscal all financial and load targets have been met.

In both the suburban and non-suburban sections, the passenger traffic has registered a 20 per cent increase in passenger traffic. The Unreserved Ticketing System has been introduced at some places. With incoming traffic increasing, the number of specials being run was on the rise.

“I am monitoring the progress on a day-to-day basis,” Mr. Chopra said and added that Automatic Teller Machines, now available in Chennai, will be extended to other places.

To a query, he said that the possibility of reviving freight services on the Nilgiri Mountain Railway was being explored. Movement of commodities like tea would be beneficial to all.

Stating that the mountain railway now had seven steam locomotives in good condition despite their age, he said that four were in the process of being added.

They will be put together at the Golden Rock Workshop of the Southern Railway at Tiruchi.

Since the original locomotives were made by Swiss engineers, either their assistance would be sought or technology obtained. Whether they will be coal fired or oil fired will be decided by the Railway Ministry. About 18 months from the date of being cleared they will be ready for trials.

Owing to the NMR’s popularity tourism wise an increase in the number of trips was also being considered. When asked whether the re-opening of some of the stations between Coonoor and Mettupalayam would be considered, he said that it was not necessary.

Beyond Ooty

If the State Government provides the necessary financial and other assistance, Southern Railway will not mind examining ways to extend the mountain railway facility beyond Udhagamandalam. Earlier, Mr. Chopra flagged off a marathon between Lovedale and Udhagandalam to mark the centenary of the Coonoor-Udhagamandalam section of the railway.

Later, the Chief Mechanical Engineer, Southern Railway, V. Carmelus and the Director of Postal Services, Coimbatore Region, Mervin Alexander released a special postal cover brought out by the Postal Department in honour of the mountain railway.

Source: http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/10/stories/2008111055490600.htm

Katpadi-Vellore Cantonment BG line opened

Special Correspondent

A passenger train from Vellore Cantonment to Tirupati flagged off; renovated station building inaugurated


VELLORE: Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Anbumani Ramadoss inaugurated the newly converted, 10-km-long broad gauge line, with electrification, between Katpadi and Vellore Cantonment and flagged off a passenger train from Vellore Cantonment to Tirupati through Katpadi, at a function held at the Cantonment station on Monday.

He also inaugurated the station building, renovated at a cost of Rs.5 crore.

Speaking after the inauguration, Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss complimented Minister of State for Railways R. Velu on the efforts he had made for gauge conversion in Tamil Nadu, and the modernisation schemes implemented in the State in the past four-and-a-half years. He was responsible for obtaining for Tamil Nadu one-third of the entire allocation for the Railways.

He said the vast circulating area of the Cantonment station would be greened, and a walking pathway created for walkers.

Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss said railway officials always had the tendency of negating any proposal put forward, citing rules. “We do not need officials who cite rules and block welfare measures.” The gauge conversion between Katpadi and Vellore Cantonment was possible because of the efforts of officials who approached the project with a positive attitude.

Mr. Velu said that thanks to the efforts made by the Railway Ministry under the United Progressive Alliance government, the Railways earned a profit of Rs.9,000 crore in the first year, Rs.15,000 crore in the second year, Rs.20,000 crore in the third year, Rs.25,000 crore in the fourth year. It was expected to net Rs.1,00,000 crore at the end of the government’s five-year term. Five hundred km of metre-gauge track in Tamil Nadu had been converted into broad gauge this year, and the rest would be covered in the next six months.

Work to be over soon


He said the cost of the 161-km gauge conversion between Katpadi and Villupuram had been revised to Rs.330 crore. While the metre-gauge line between Katpadi and Vellore Cantonment had been converted at a cost of Rs.35 crore, he had asked the officials to complete the remaining work in the Katpadi-Villupuram section before March.

The renovations at the Vellore Cantonment station include the construction of a high- level platform, platform shelters, computerised reservation centre, high mast lights, parcel office, cycle and car park, signal and telecommunication building and a foot over-bridge.

For the benefit of pilgrims and office-goers, three passenger trains will be operated between Vellore Cantonment and Tirupati, and two passenger trains between Cantonment and Arakkonam, all through Katpadi, from Tuesday. No. D162 will leave Cantonment at 5.55 a.m. and reach Tirupati at 9 a.m.; D164 will leave cantonment at 10.10 a.m. and reach Tirupati at 1.15 p.m.; and D166 will leave Cantonment at 4.55 p.m. and reach Tirupati at 7.45 p.m. No 200 will leave Cantonment at 9.45 a.m. and reach Arakkonam at 11.50 a.m. and 192 will leave Cantonment at 4.40 p.m. and reach Arakkonam at 6.45 p.m.

D169 will leave Tirupati at 2.45 a.m. and reach Cantonment at 5.40 a.m.; 161 will leave Tirupati at 6.50 a.m. and reach Cantonment at 9.40 a.m. and 163 will leave Tirupati at 1.35 p.m. and reach Cantonment at 4.37 p.m. No 191 will leave Arakkonam at 7.05 a.m. and reach Cantonment at 9.05 a.m. and 199 will leave Arakkonam at 12.30 p.m. and reach Cantonment at 2.35 p.m.

R. Ramanathan, Chief Administrative Officer, Construction, Southern Railway; said the broad-gauge track between Katpadi and Cantonment had three stations, 27 minor bridges, three major bridges and four level crossings.

Vellore MP K.M. Khader Mohideen; Mayor P. Karthikeyan; and MLAs T.K. Raja (Tirupattur) and K.L. Elavazagan (Arcot) spoke.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/11/stories/2008111154950500.htm

Rs.23 crore for development works


Amenities: Road development work under way from Needamangalam to Kumbakonam near Alangudi in Thiruvarur district.

TIRUVARUR: The State government has allocated Rs.23 crore for carrying out 153 development works in various parts of Tiruvarur district and all works would be started soon, said M. Chandrasekaran, Collector, on Monday.

The Collector said that Local Administration Minister M. K. Stalin who distributed revolving fund to the women self-help groups and inaugurated 254 projects including road works, school buildings, at a cost of Rs.33 crore on Friday had also laid foundation stones for several new projects and development works.

He said that nearly Rs.12 crore had been allocated for laying village roads under the Prime Minister’s Gram Sadak Yojana scheme and also for improvement of 46 roads at a cost of Rs.3.58 crore.

The Collector pointed out that special efforts were taken to construct 100 houses as early as possible at the Samathuvapuram to come up at Odacherry village in the district and said Rs.3.04 crore would be spent for constructing 61 additional overhead water tanks in the district.

Besides, Rs.1.10 crore will be spent for constructing a bridge across Vennar in Koothanallur and additional buildings to be built for the Rajagopalaswamy college and also for the college students belonging to Adi Dravidar community at Mannargudi.

Meanwhile, a senior official of the Public Works Department, said on Monday, that all the road development works had commenced in various parts of the district and would be completed within the stipulated time.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/11/stories/2008111157890300.htm

KARAIKAL: A comprehensive project to develop Tirunallar into a temple town will be taken up at a cost of Rs. 153 crore through a Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) loan.

The Darbharanyeshwarar temple in Tirunallar, considered the most important shrine of Lord Saneeshwara, attracts an estimated 60,000 pilgrims each Saturday. And, on Sanipeyarchi, every two-and-a-half years, 17 lakh pilgrims visit the town over a 40-day period.

Although the population of the town is less, the huge floating population provides both a challenge and an opportunity to develop the town as an important and modern pilgrim spot.

HUDCO has come forward with the loan to “provide economic growth through urban development supported with infrastructure facilities and tourism involving the temple and the community.”

“We will provide modern housing complexes to the people preparing the way for holistic development of the entire town,” Collector N. Vasanthakumar said.

Source: http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/11/stories/2008111150590200.htm

THANJAVUR: Fifty food parks will be established in the country during the 11th Plan Period, Ashok Sinha, Secretary, Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries, said on Monday. He told presspersons here that 10 would be started in the near future.

The Ministry decided to introduce a scheme to improve hygiene in street food shops. The vendors in the municipal areas would be given financial assistance to upgrade their outlets. “The idea is to ensure food safety,” he said.

Mr. Sinha said the Ministry was also giving importance to upgrade of abattoirs, both in urban and rural areas.

Earlier, Mr. Sinha inaugurated a state-of-the-art food testing laboratory at the Indian Institute of Crop Processing Technology here.

The laboratory has been created with funds provided by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries.

Source: http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/11/stories/2008111154610500.htm

TIRUVARUR: An indoor stadium will soon be built at a cost of Rs. 2 crore at the district sports ground here for the benefit of the sportspersons in the district.

A senior official of Tiruvarur district unit of Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) told The Hindu on Tuesday that several district and State-level sports and games were now being conducted in the district. Work on a swimming pool would be completed soon.

He pointed out that district-level sports events for the students of middle schools were conducted in the stadium on Monday.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/12/stories/2008111250570200.htm

Cross Posting from Chennai Projects Update-III
Chennai Corpn Gets Rs 162 Crore From German Bank To Build Six Flyovers
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai: An empowered committee, headed by local administration minister M K Stalin, on Tuesday gave its nod for infrastructure projects such as flyovers, underground drainages, stormwater drains and laying of roads to the tune of Rs 498 crore in various cities in the state under the German Development Bank KfW-funded urban infrastructure projects.
The Tamil Nadu Urban Infrastructure Financial Services Limited (TNUFISL), which extends long-term financial assistance to the local bodies to implement water supply schemes and to provide other basic amenities for better living conditions in urban areas, had signed an agreement with KfW for a Rs 500 crore loan in July. The empowered committee held its first meeting on Tuesday at the Secretariat to evaluate the proposed works and to decide on extending grants to the local bodies. The meeting gave approval to various projects.
The Chennai corporation got a sanction of Rs 162 crore for six flyovers, which are under construction. Erode corporation, which was elevated last year from municipality, will receive Rs 209 crore to implement an underground drainage scheme, sources said. Implementation of under ground sewerage scheme would reduce the pollution load on the Cauvery.
The knitwear town of Tirupur will get stormwater drains as the committee cleared Rs 40 crore to its erstwhile unapproved layouts. A vast majority of the areas, designated as unapproved layouts for a long, were regularised a couple of years ago with the introduction of a simplified scheme piloted by Stalin. Official sources said those areas initially got the water connections and roads in the first phase.
As the second step, the government came forward to fund for providing other infrastructure such as stormwater drains and minor bridges, sources explained. The unapproved areas have been deprived of basic amenities for long as the local bodies could not spend on works in the unregulated areas.
The high power committee had sanctioned Rs 23 crore for Tirunelveli corporation to execute water supply improvement works.
Villuppuram municipality will also join the list of towns that have under ground drainage as the high power committee agreed to fund the scheme. Tiruchi corporation and Panrutti municipality too will receive funds for road and storm water projects.
Municipal administration and water supply secretary K Deenabandu, finance secretary K Gnanadesikan, commissioner of municipal administration Niranjan Mardi, additional commissioner K Senthil Kumar, and TNUFISL chairman Phaneendar Reddy took part. Sources said departments would give administrative sanctions for the project.

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Defau...Mode=HTML&GZ=T

Wed, 12 Nov, 2008,03:01 PM
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The State government’s keen interest to complete the construction of an IT park in Coimbatore and have more in the State, especially in Chennai, has evoked mixed reactions from many people as they wonder whether these parks, once completed, would function in the light of the acute power shortage.
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Prakash, a handloom mill owner in Coimbatore on a business visit to Chennai, said that already Coimbatore was facing a severe electricity shortage hence it’s an irony to establish IT parks, which were known to be power guzzlers, in the textile city.

‘In fact, many of my friends have shut their handloom units owing to the power crisis, and amidst this the opening of such software centres would only add fuel to the fire,’ he said.

Suryakanth, another mill owner in Coimbatore, said the city, known as the Manchester of India, was losing crores of money due to the power crisis. So, instead of bringing about a solution to the problem, it is a joke on the part of the State administration to start focusing on such high consumers of power.

Many like Raman Subba Rao, an investment banker, were of the opinion that many IT buildings lying vacant in the much- hyped OMR outside Chennai should act as a grim reminder to the State administration before embarking on such initiatives.

Sohan, a constitutional expert based in Chennai, felt that powerful lobbies were at play behind such projects. What was interesting was that even the many number of IT students and employees were cold-shouldering this move.

‘I wonder why the government should come up with such projects at a time when many foreign IT companies were cutting down on offshore outsourcing owing to global recession, said Pandimurugan, an employee with a leading IT company in Chennai.

Many believe that the new American President’s protectionist policies with regard to outsourcing would further hamper IT business opportunities for India, which, according to them, again poses a question mark on the rationale behind initiating such moves by the government.

A cross- section of society has felt that the State administration should learn from the past, bitter experiences of regional parties in Andhra Pradesh which, many believe, had to bite the electoral dust because of its over- emphasis on the IT sector at the cost of other important sectors like agriculture and industry.

‘The rising price of essential commodities like vegetable, fruits and other edibles calls for drastic measures by the State government, hence it would be highly advisable if the DPA, focuses on these issues, instead of harping on the IT mantra ‘ said Vinay, another software employee at an IT company at Sholinganallur.

http://newstodaynet.com/newsindex.php?id=12214%20&%20section=6

CHENNAI: Villages in Tamil Nadu have won a record number of the Nirmal Gram Puraskar awards for rural sanitation this year. The State won 1,474 awards in 2007-08, against 296 the year before.

The award carries a cash prize: Rs. 2 lakh for villages with population below 5,000 and Rs.4 lakh for villages with population above 5,000. The village panchayat is free to utilise the money for any scheme it has drawn up.

Source: http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/14/stories/2008111454490500.htm

A 1200 year-old granite idol of Vishnu dating back to the Pallava period was unearthed recently during temple renovation work at Kalathur in Tiruvarur district. Sculptures of Bhairava, Durga and Saptamatrikas and copper plates with inscriptions dating back to the Chola era were also found in the area.

According to archaeologist Kudavayil Balasubramanian, villagers found the idols and the copper plates near a tank during the renovation of two temples in Kalathur and Vilathur villages. The idol depicts Vishnu, wearing a crown and ear rings besides a long garment and holding the conch and wheel, with one hand showing the abhaya mudra and the other resting on the waist.

The carvings on the idol conformed to the old Pallava sculptures, Dr Balasubramanian said. The villagers have kept the idol in an open place beside the temple tank. The inscriptions on the copper plates reveal that officials in Kalathur village recorded the oral orders of Rajaraja Cholan by writing them on palm leaves. They also contain the names of these village officials.

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chennaichronicle/City/CityNews.asp#1,200-yr-old%20Vishnu%20sculpture%20unearthed

தமிழகத்தில் பெரம்பலூர்- தஞ்சாவூர், மதுரை-தொண்டி சாலைப் பிரிவுகளை தேசிய நெடுஞ்சாலைகளாக மத்திய அரசு அறிவித்துள்ளது என்று மத்திய கப்பல், சாலைப் போக்குவரத்து, நெடுஞ்சாலைத் துறை அமைச்சர் டி.ஆர். பாலு தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.

பெரம்பலூரில் இருந்து மானாமதுரையை இணைக்கும் சாலை ஏற்கனவே தேசிய நெடுஞ்சாலை 226-ஆக அறிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. இதனுடன் 247 கிமீ நீளமுடைய பெரம்பலூர்- தஞ்சாவூர் சாலை இணைக்கப்பட்டு தேசிய நெடுஞ்சாலையாக அறிவிக்கப்படுகிறது. பெரம்பலூரில் இருந்து தஞ்சாவூர் வரையிலான 85.4 கிமீ சாலையும் புதிய தேசிய நெடுஞ்சாலையாக அறிவிக்கப்படுகிறது.

பெரம்பலூரில் இருந்து துவங்கும் இந்த சாலை குன்னம், அரியலூர், கீழபழுவூர், திருமானூர், திருவையாறு, கண்டியூர் ஆகிய முக்கிய இடங்களை இணைக்கும் சாலையாகும். இது தஞ்சாவூரில் தேசிய நெடுஞ்சாலை 226-வுடன் இணையும் சாலையாகும்.

பெரம்பலூர் மற்றும் அரியலூர் பகுதிகள் முக்கிய தொழில் மற்றும் வர்த்தக மையங்களாக இருப்பதுடன் மாவட்ட தலைநகரங்களாகவும் உள்ளன. இதே போன்று திருவையாறு முக்கிய திருத்தலங்கள் நிறைந்த மற்றும் பண்பாட்டு மையமாக உள்ளது. இது தேசிய நெடுஞ்சாலை 67 மற்றும் தேசிய நெடுஞ்சாலை 45-வுடன் இணைகின்றது.

இதோடு கூட ராமநாதபுரம் மாவட்டத்தில் உள்ள துறைமுக நகரமான தொண்டியை மதுரையுடன் இணைக்கும் சாலையும் தேசிய நெடுஞ்சாலையாக அறிவிக்கப்பட்டிருக்கிறது. தேசிய நெடுஞ்சாலைகள் 210, 226, 45பி, 49 மற்றும் 7 ஆகியவற்றை இந்த நகரம் இணைக்கின்றது.

இதன் காரணமாக சிறிய துறைமுகமான தொண்டியில் வர்த்தக போக்குவரத்து பெருமளவில் வளர்ச்சியடையும். இந்த சாலை முக்கிய கோயில் நகரங்களான மதுரை, சிவகங்கை, திருவாடாணை, காளையார்கோயில் போன்றவற்றை இணைக்கின்றது. இதன் மூலம் இந்த நகரங்களுக்கு சுற்றலாப் பயணிகளின் வருகை அதிகரிக்கும்.

இவ்வாறு அமைச்சர் டி.ஆர். பாலு தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.


http://tamil.webdunia.com/newsworld/news/tnnews/0811/15/1081115009_1.htm

^^

Nice finding Elango!

Baalu start rocking again!

Thanks Raj,

check the link below

http://www.maalaimalar.com/asp/News/dis_news_article.asp?artid=297820

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Indl_Goods__Svs/Engineering/LT_Belgian_co_in_talks_to_build_a_new_port/articleshow/3720850.cms

Larsen & Tubro (L&T), the country’s largest engineering company, is engaged in talks with Europe’s second-largest port Antwerp Port
Authority to establish a greenfield port in the west coast of the country. The venture will initially invest Rs 2,000 crore into the port, which will be spread across 4,000 acres and cater to auto and auto component manufacturers.

According to sources close to the development, while L&T will retain a majority stake in the venture, Belgium-based Antwerp Port will pick up 26% and the remaining equity may be sold to investors. Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services (IL&FS), a leading infrastructure development and finance company, is reportedly interested in picking up a minority stake. It will take some months for the equity structure to be finalised, after which the venture will look for land in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.

No contractor submitted bid in response to tender

WAY FORWARD: Trucks will soon have a parking yard at the Koyambedu Wholesale Market Complex.

CHENNAI: After finding no takers for its tender to set up a truck terminal, the Market Management Committee of the Koyambedu Wholesale Market has decided to comision a detailed project report for the proposed facility.

Though there were several enquiries in response to the tender, not a single contractor submitted bid as they were unsure of the economic viability of the project, an official of the Committee told The Hindu recently.

A vacant land of 7.6 acre in the market complex has been earmarked for the terminal, which would be the second such facility in the city after the one in Madhavaram. Apart from providing parking facilities for vehicles bringing produce from different locations, including neighbouring States, to the complex, the terminal is expected to ease traffic congestion in Koyambedu.

The trucks coming to the market are either parked on the stretch of Poonamallee High Road near the market or the Inner Ring Road, resulting in traffic bottlenecks. Compounding the problem is the presence of the mofussil bus terminus in the neighbourhood.

The truck bays in the complex are used only for unloading the produce. About 3,100 shops in the complex spread over 60 acres receive 1 lakh visitors daily.

The DPR would cover various aspects of the project to be implemented on a public private partnership mode, including its financial viability and sharing of the revenue and maintenance cost. The terminal is for accommodating about 500 trucks.

On its part, the Market Management Committee would provide land and bear the cost towards the electricity and provision of borewell. The private partner would be required to do the flooring, set up eateries and provide security measures.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/18/stories/2008111858690300.htm

புதுதில்லி நவ-18.(டிஎன்எஸ்) திருநெல்வேலி மாவட்டம் கூடன்குளத்தில் மேலும் 4 அணுஉலைகள் அமைக்கப்பட உள்ளன.

மேலும் 4 அணு உலைகள் திருநெல்வேலி மாவட்டம் கூடன்குளத்தில் அமைக்கப்பட இருப்பதாக ரஷ்ய அமைச்சர் தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.

ரஷ்ய அதிபர் அதிகாரிகள், கூடுதலாக அமையவிருக்கும் இந்த அணுஉலைகள் தொடர்பாக பேச்சு நடத்தவும், மேலும் இந்திய அதிகாரிகளுடன் பேச்சு நடத்தவும் தில்லி வரவிருப்பதாகவும், ரஷ்ய அமைச்சர் தெரிவித்தார்.

http://news.chennaionline.com/newsitem.aspx?NEWSID=cdd21e5c-c577-4a12-b7da-6284653a681f&CATEGORYNAME=CHN

A delegation from the Chinese Government-owned DongFang Electric Corporation Limited (DEC) today assured Tamil Nadu government that it would speed up the supply of Boiler and Turbine Generator (BTG) package for the coal-based 600 MW Mettur Thermal Power Project - Stage III.


The Rs 3,100 crore project was awarded to BGR Energy Systems in June this year and DEC would supply the BTG package for the plant, to be commissioned on September 11.

During the meeting, State Electricity Minister Arcot N Veerasamy urged DEC Chairman Si Zefu to supply the BTG at the earliest for commissioning of the project by January 2011, eight months ahead of schedule.

Mr Zefu assured the Minister that he would take all efforts for early supply of BTG package.

During the meeting, Mr Veerasamy assured the BGR Energy and the Chinese delegation of all support from the TNEB and the government for early commissioning of the project, an official release said.

http://www.newkerala.com/topstory-fullnews-47529.html

http://www.deepikaglobal.com/ENG5_sub.asp?newscode=28660&catcode=ENG5&subcatcode=

Mumbai, Nov 18 (UNI) Maharashtra is the leading state in foreign direct investment as in the first four months of the financial year an investment of 4.3 billion dollars was made in the state.

A report prepared by A T Kearne FDI confidence index said that Delhi stands at number two position with 1.6 billion dollars and Tamil Nadu at number three with 1.023 billion dollars.

Karnataka stands at number four position and Gujarat at number six, a release issued here said. The report also said that India stands at number two position in the world for FDI.

CHENNAI: The target date for completing gauge conversion between Villupuram and Mayiladuthurai (122 km) has now been fixed as June 30, 2009.

The project was to be completed by June this year, which was postponed to December. Now the target date has been revised again as construction of the new Coleroon bridge is yet to be completed.

This time, the target will be met, averred an official of the Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd, which is executing the project. This section is part of the Villupuram-Thanjavur conversion project.

The stretch between Thanjavur and Mayiladuthurai has been completed and opened for passenger traffic.

The conversion work was delayed owing to various reasons.

Though funds were not a constraint, increase in the cost of materials, soft nature of the soil, movement of materials and too many bridges on the stretch were the main reasons for the delay.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/20/stories/2008112053930400.htm

Work on state-of-art library in Chennai to begin on Sunday

Honour: Minister for School Education Thangam Thennarasu giving away the Best Librarian Award at a function held in Virudhunagar on Thursday. Virudhunagar Collector K. Raghupathi looks on.

VIRUDHUNAGAR: Tamil Nadu will be the only State in the country that will have a library in each panchayat in another couple of years, Minister for School Education Thangam Thennarasu has said.

Addressing the valedictory function of the 41st National Library Week celebration here on Thursday, he said that construction of library building had been made mandatory under the Anaithu Grama Anna Marumalarchi Thittam. “This will ensure that all panchayats in the State have a library by the end of five-year regime of the present government,” he said. Some of the village panchayats that already had public libraries would have two libraries.
State-of-art library

Work on the proposed state-of-art library at Kotturpuram in Chennai would begin on Sunday, he said.

The non-conventional and digital library would be constructed at cost of Rs. 168 crore, he added.

The library to come up on an area of 8 acres would have many new facilities such as auditorium, open air theatre and conference hall. It had been proposed to provide accommodation for research scholars. “It will be modelled on the National Library in Singapore,” he said.

Mr. Thennarasu said that Tamil Nadu was the first State to have the Public Library Act that gave legal sanctity and thrust to the library movement in the State.

The efforts to get help from society to improve the libraries on the lines of school improvement conference had paid good dividends with people coming forward to donate land, books, furniture, fans and lighting.

“We have got close to Rs. 5 crore in cash and kind in three districts of Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga and Virudhunagar,” he said.
Purchase of books

The State government had so far bought books worth Rs. 25 crore in the last two and a half years. Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi had instructed to procure books for another Rs. 10 crore during the current fiscal, he said.

Collector K. Raghupathi, Chennai District Libraries Authority Committee president Kayal Dinakaran and Director of Public Libraries V. Ramani, spoke.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/22/stories/2008112254990500.htm

TIRUVARUR: Tiruvarur district will soon get its first industrial estate in a sprawling 70-acre area and the site has been identified at Vaipur village, about 12-km from here on the Tiruvarur-Nagore road.

The district administration had sent the proposal a few months ago to the Government for its approval.

As many as 2,500 small-scale units, mostly general engineering, rice mill and coir machinery manufacturing units, are functioning at various places in the district.

Several entrepreneurs are ready to start small-scale industries once the Government establishes the industrial estate.

A senior district official said that the estate would have all infrastructure including adequate power supply for running the small-scale units.

It will also have a workshop for repairing motor vehicles and be a boon to the entrepreneurs.

S. Ravichandran, president of Tiruvarur District Small Scale Industries Association, told The Hindu on Sunday that there was a good scope for starting small-scale units in the district. Nearly 2,500 small-scale units, registered with the District Industries Centre, are functioning.

He pointed out that entrepreneurs were now ready to start chemical-based industries, plastic goods and rice mill machinery manufacturing units, general engineering and perfumery making units.

Mr Ravichandran said that the Government should ensure power supply for small scale units. All banks and other financial institutions will come forward to provide financial assistance to entrepreneurs.

M.Chandrasekaran, Collector, had recently interacted with entrepreneurs for setting up viable and income-generating small scale units.

Source: http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/25/stories/2008112556420300.htm

Mumbai (PTI): State-run Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd has entered into a joint venture with the Tamil Nadu government for setting up 2x800 MW super-critical units at Udangudi, a top company official said.

"BHEL will be putting in 26 per cent equity and the Tamil Nadu government the same stake, while financial institutions will hold the remaining 48 per cent in the project," BHEL's Chairman and Managing Director K Ravi Kumar told reporters here on Tuesday.

BHEL will supply boilers and turbines to the Rs 8,000-crore coal-based power project being set up there. An announcement to this effect will be made tomorrow at Chennai, he said.

Rural Electrification Corporation, IL&FS and a few banks have evinced interest in putting in equity in the project, he said.

"Selling equity will not be a problem and we should be able to get the other partners in the next couple of months," the BHEL Chairman said.

Land for the project has already been identified and the project should be up and ready in 48-months, he said.

The public sector undertaking manufactures power-plant equipment and its sets generate nearly 73 per cent of the total power generated in the country.

The company was looking at similar projects in other states as well, he said.

It plans to set up three units in Karnataka, two in Gujarat and one in Madhya Pradesh. These would be in Bansagar in Madhya Pradesh, Raichur in Karnataka and Wanakburi in Gujarat.

"However, these projects would take time to fructify-- they are still in the MoU stage," he said.

http://www.thehindu.com/holnus/006200811251922.htm

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/elcot-to-invite-bids-for-it-parks/00/12/341291/


Work on the projects likely to commence by February. :) I am reading this news for more than 1 year :)

Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu Ltd (Elcot) is planning to invite global tenders by December this year for developing IT parks in various tier II cities across the state.

The corporation is also planning to invest Rs 15 crore in each of these parks to create a 50,000 sft facility of its own.

Speaking to Business Standard, Santhosh Babu, managing director, Elcot, said they had already received government's approval to develop IT parks in Sholinganallur, Coimbatore, Tirunelveli, Madurai, Tirchy, Salem and Hosur.

Construction work on these projects is expected to commence by January or February 2009.

Tenders are also being invited for selecting a partner for creating social infrastructure in these parks on a public private partnership (PPP) basis.

Infrastructure development work at Ilandhaikulam and Vadapalanji IT parks in Madurai will start on December 5, 2008. Of the 245.17 acres integrated IT campus at Vadapalanji, Elcot would create social infrastructure on 50 acres through the PPP model.

At Sholinganallur, an extent of 377.08 acres is being developed as an IT SEZ. Major IT companies setting up shop here include Wipro, Satyam, HCL, Sify, Scope International, Cognizant, and Sutherland.

In Coimbatore, Elcot has a SEZ on 61.59 acres at Vilankurichi village. The total built- up area is 4 million sft. The SEZ will have Tidel park, an Elcot-Tidco JV in 1.8 million sft, apart from housing facilities of Wipro, HCL, and TCS.

Similarly, at Vadapalanji major companies that have proposed to set up their units include HCL, Sutherland and Satyam while at Ilandhaikulam, HCL, Honeywell, and Tessolve would set up their facilities in a 28.01-acre SEZ.

Work on Salem SEZ too would begin shortly following the resolution of a legal dispute. The corporation has proposed to develop an IT SEZ on 500 acres at Gangaikondan village in Tirunelveli district while at Hosur in Krishnagiri district this would be on 174.47 acres, Santhosh Babu said.

In Tirchy, Elcot has 147.61 acres of integrated information technology campus at Navalapattu near the airport.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/26/stories/2008112652081600.htm

Orient Green Power (OGPL), a dedicated renewable energy generation company with operations in India, has announced the completion of a fund raise of $55 million led by Olympus Capital Holdings Asia, a private equity fund. Olympus Capital is investing $35 million, and Shriram EPC (SEPC) and Bessemer Venture Partners (BVP) are chipping in with $10 million each. With the completion of this round of funding, OGPL has access to $75 million of equity, including funds raised earlier from BVP and SEPC.

OGPL is a venture founded by SEPC along with BVP, with the objective of owning and operating a portfolio of renewable energy projects.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, T. Shivaraman, founder of OGPL and Managing Director of SEPC, said the equity infusion was in line with OGPL’s business plan to achieve its growth objectives.

On the projects, P. Krishnakumar, Managing Director, OGPL, said by the end of the current fiscal, 216 MW costing Rs. 1,000 crore, would be in operation. The company at present operates biomass and wind energy assets with a capacity of 70 MW. It was implementing projects of a capacity of 146 MW and wanted to install or acquire renewable energy assets of a total capacity of 514 MW over the next five years.

According to Mr. Krishnakumar, a biomass power plant each in Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan with an installed capacity of 113 MW and a small hydro plant in Orissa with a capacity of 15 MW were coming up. Similarly, one wind farm in Andhra Pradesh and two in Tamil Nadu with a capacity of 60 MW and a biogas power plant in Maharastra with a capacity of 28 MW were coming up.

By the end of 2013, OGPL plans to go for an initial public offering (IPO).

Expansion of its Mine-II getting delayed.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/11/27/images/2008112750940201.jpg

Chennai, Nov. 26 The heavy rains in the southern districts have caused flooding of the lignite mines of Neyveli Lignite Corporation. This has caused a practical stoppage of generation at the central power station, accentuating the already acute power shortage problem in Tamil Nadu.

NLC, which has 2,490 MW of installed capacity across two plants, is a major source of electricity for the four southern States. Last year, the plants produced 17.5 billion units of electricity.

The obvious question is: could NLC not have stocked up lignite? After all, this is not the first time that rains are causing disruption of mining.

“Don’t blame us,” says the company.

In the last one year, the problem of power shortage in the southern States was so intense that NLC was forced to consume everything that the mines produced. But that is only one side of the story.

The other side is that the company’s plans envisaged expanding its Mine-II to open up more areas for production. It wanted to expand the mines to the South and the East of the existing mines. But the plan got stuck at what is becoming a national stumbling block in infrastructure development: land acquisition.

“If we had been able to do it, we would have built up sufficient buffer stock and would not have had to shut down our plants today,” said Mr V. Sethuraman, Director-Power, NLC.

Earlier, the Rs 3,600-crore company had offered Rs 1.5 lakh an acre, but to no avail. In March 2008, the company, driven to desperation, upped the offer to Rs 5 lakh an acre.

The resistance to sell began to yield, but the process got delayed. Now, about half the required land has been acquired and half of the rest has been committed for. But there is still some problem with the balance.

With the existing mines running to full capacity and without new mines, NLC could not build a buffer stock.

Neyveli sits on a large aquifer. There have been times in the past when the water pumped out of the mines was piped down to a thirsty Chennai. But now, because of the heavy rains, the area has gotten flooded beyond the capacity of the pumps to drain it out.

What now? “We are keeping our fingers crossed,” Mr Sethuraman said. “Everybody prays for rains. We pray for the rains to stop.”

Source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/11/27/stories/2008112750940200.htm

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: A task force, constituted by the State government, has proposed a Rs.5,100-crore project to modernise the Cauvery delta zone.

The 14-member task force submitted its report to Public Works and Law Minister Durai Murugan on Thursday. It functioned under the guidance of A. Mohanakrishnan, advisor (water resources) to the State government, says an official release.

Covering the Cauvery-Vennar delta, the Grand Anicut canal and the Lower Coleroon system, the project will benefit 17 lakh acres. It envisages improvement to 100-year-old regulators, construction of new ones, lining of rivers and channels and strengthening of banks of the watercourses, besides improving the bunds and making them fit for inspection tracks.

An official said the most important aspect of the recommendation was the improvement of the delta system through more inlet and outlet points of drainage channels and by upgrading those canals that conveyed water straight into the sea. On-farm development works had also been proposed.

The official recalled that in the 1980s, Mr. Mohanakrishnan had worked on a similar project and prepared a report, which was to have been posed to the World Bank for funding. But the inter-State controversy over the Cauvery water came in the way, and the Centre did not clear the project.

At that time, the coverage was only for 1.7 lakh acres, and the project cost was pegged at Rs. 450 crore.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/28/stories/2008112860200800.htm

Hyderabad, Nov. 30 Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPC) plans to set up clusters of nuclear power plants in identified ‘Nuclear Parks’ in the country.

At least 4-5 such sites that include Koodankulam in Tamil Nadu and Ratnagiri in Karnataka have been identified to set up 1,000 MW units, according to Mr S.K. Jain, Chairman and Managing Director of NPC.

The potential sites would be along the coastal areas and the power produced from these nuclear plants should be competitive to thermal power in the region. About 10 large reactors of the Light Water Reactor (LWR) are also planned with participation of global players, he told newspersons here last week.

Discussions are on with energy majors such as GE, Westinghouse of the US; Areva of France and Russian majors. “But, our condition for participation would be an assurance of life-time guarantee of fuel supply to the reactors,” Mr Jain said in response to questions.

While the sourcing for the reactor would be from global vendors, efforts are on to ensure that indigenisation in the future nuclear power plants would be up to 80 per cent, so that Indian industry has a major role, the NPC chief said, after he and the Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission, Dr Anil Kakodkar, received an indigenously fabricated ‘Grid Plate’, from the Hyderabad-based MTAR Technologies for the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR).

Under an accelerated expansion programme during the current Eleventh Plan, NPC has got the mandate to implement eight units of the Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) of 700 MW rating.

Source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/12/01/stories/2008120151000200.htm

Dedicated fuel stations planned at big industrial estates

Tirupur: The Tamil Nadu Small Industries Development Corporation Limited (SIDCO) plans to establish ‘integrated convenience complexes’ on its industrial estate premises in a phased manner starting next financial year (2009-10), according to D. Rajendran, Managing Director, SIDCO.

Speaking at a national-level workshop on ‘building competitiveness through quality’ organised by Textiles Committee of Union Ministry of Textiles here on Tuesday, he said that the proposed complexes would have facilities such as bathrooms, toilets, drinking water and locker rooms for the benefit of workers, visitors and other users of industrial estates.

“For a starter, the facilities will be set up near the bus terminuses situated within select large-sized SIDCO industrial estates in the state,” he added. Non-governmental agencies would be entrusted with the maintenance and daily operation of the complex. Similarly, plans were afoot to establish dedicated fuel stations on big industrial estate premises.

The SIDCO would promote the project along with the state government and units functioning within the respective estates.

Mr Rajendran said that the SIDCO plans to commission 20 more industrial estates being established at a cost of Rs. 60 crore during the next financial year, taking the total number of such estates set up by the Corporation in the state to 98. Each of the new estates would be spread over a minimum of 50 acres and it would house 70 to 80 industrial units. D. Dhandapani, deputy director of Textiles Committee and Ahill Rathinasamy, president, Knit Cloth Manufacturers Association, spoke.

Source: http://www.hindu.com/2008/12/03/stories/2008120354380500.htm

Delegation likely to visit the site this weekend

http://www.hindu.com/2008/12/03/images/2008120351420301.jpg
Delayed beginning: Road work commenced on the Nanguneri multi-product Special Economic Zone site on Tuesday.

TIRUNELVELI: Union Commerce Ministry has at last released the final notification giving its nod for the proposal of establishing multi-product Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at Nanguneri, about 35 km from here on the Tirunelveli – Nagnuneri National Highway.

Following the release of notification by the Central government, which should have been originally released in last May 2, work on laying the inner roads of the site acquired for the Rs. 14,000-crore project commenced on Tuesday.

Delegation to visit

To speed-up the infrastructure development activities, a high-level delegation from the State government is likely to visit the site during this weekend.

After the foundation stone was laid in February 2001, the project remained a non-starter as successive investors backed out or they were unable to commence work because of the huge investment required for developing the SEZ.

After the facilitator of the project, Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO), identified the AMR Group as the new partner to develop this ambitious project that will literally transform the face of the district, Memorandum of Understanding was signed on April 10 last.

While AMR Group will have a controlling stake of 68 per cent, the existing partner, California-based INFAC Management Corporation, which floated the Advanced Technology Manufacturing and Assembly City (ATMAC) exclusively for developing the Nanguneri SEZ, will have 31 per cent. And TIDCO will have the remaining 1 per cent stake.

Though it was decided initially that this SEZ would be based on the industry-specific cluster model and seven broad products were identified, it was abandoned later and it will be a multi-product SEZ, for which bhoomi puja was performed on April 30.

Employment for 70,000

The SEZ will have light manufacturing, design and assembly facilities, modern infrastructure facilities and extensive amenities to employ about 70,000 persons directly. As work on laying broad inner roads commenced on Tuesday, other activities such as levelling of the surface, removal of small hillocks on the project site is likely to follow in the ensuing weeks. A huge underpass beneath the Nanguneri – Ervadi road will be constructed to connect the project sites on both sides of this stretch.

Source: http://www.hindu.com/2008/12/03/stories/2008120351420300.htm

“It is treated as real estate sector, and it should get infrastructure status”

CHENNAI: The government has asked the Reserve Bank of India to change its classification of special economic zones from real estate to infrastructure projects, according to L.B. Singhal, Director-General of the Export Promotion Council for Export-Oriented Units and SEZs.

This will spur exports and, through backward integration, give a boost to investment, the construction industry and employment generation, all badly hit by the global economic crisis, he said, speaking at an ASSOCHAM summit on SEZs here on Tuesday.

Mr. Singhal said the empowered Group of Ministers had decided to make the recommendation at a meeting held in August, after which the Commerce Ministry made a written request. An RBI decision is still pending.
External borrowings

The RBI now considers SEZs on a par with the commercial real estate sector. This means promoters cannot access external commercial borrowings and have to pay a higher interest on bank loans, since banks need to provide higher provisioning for the risky real estate sector.

“We need to be able to access funding in the form of debt, not just equity or internal accruals,” said R. Sannareddy, chairman of Sri City, an SEZ developer, explaining the rationale behind the demand for the infrastructure status. He pointed out that SEZs developed large areas of industrial infrastructure, and wondered why industrial parks were given infrastructure status, while SEZs were not.

Mr. Singhal said the economic slowdown was showing in the delay in several planned SEZ projects, but these were long-gestation projects, so they could hold on until the economic tide turned in “six-eight months.” The immediate problem was the non-availability of funds, and this could be solved by a change in status.

Through backward integration, SEZs could be the one sector which could “break the inertia,” Mr. Singhal said.

The government was also working on other demands of the SEZ industry, including service tax exemption being extended to services provided outside the tax-free zones, extending tax refund benefits to SEZs under the duty entitlement passbook scheme and the duty drawback scheme, and providing CENVAT credit benefits to manufacturers supplying SEZ developers. The Finance and Commerce Ministries were working to implement these decisions, Mr. Singhal said.

S. Ramasundaram, Chairman and Managing Director of the TIDCO, said the government was also working on a long list of projects. The government decided to create an aerospace investment region on a 3000-4000-acre site near Chennai. An IT investment region would also be created in the region to the south and west of the city.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/12/03/stories/2008120354320500.htm

The ministry of heavy industries has asked Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd to make a technical examination of the units of its 3x210 mw power plant in Tamil Nadu (three units of TPS-II) for residual life assessment and renovation of its boiler units. The units had been installed by Transelektro Ganz, Hungary, and have been in operation for more than 20 years.

Ministry officials informed Projectmonitor that during a recent visit to the power plant it was found that NLC's boiler units installed by Transelektro Ganz were very old and generally such thermal units warranted residual life assessment and renovation after 15 years so that the life of the plant and its performance was enhanced.

Bharat Heavy Electrical Ltd has also been advising NLC to undertake life assessment and R&M of the units.

Source: http://www.projectsmonitor.com/detailnews.asp?newsid=17472&secid=32

The first Premium Terminal Wholesale Market, designed as a pilot for setting a benchmark for world class infrastructure for perishable commodities in the country, would go on stream in January next year.

The market was being established on a 60-acre extent at Nashik in Maharashtra by Premium Farm Fresh Products, part of the New Delhi- based Lalit Group, Bharat Hotels, which was awarded the ''Notable Agricultural Whoesale Market in Asia-Pacific'' by the World Union of Wholesale Markets in China recently.

The terminal market was being drafted in a Hub and Spoke' format with strong backward and forward linkages, with expected through-put of five lakh metric tonne materials and an annual turnover of 600 million US dollar.

All types of fruits, vegetables, flowers, medicinal plants, poultry, fish, meat products would be handled in the facility and the market would have modern infrastructure with cool chain, grading lines, processing facilities, e-auctions among others.

Talking to reporters here last evening, Company Regional Manager K Arivalan said the comapny had secured 11 licences for replicating the model in other parts of the country.

The terminal markets would come up by the end of 2010 at Karnataka (four), Gujarat (six) and Maharashtra (one) at a total investment of about Rs 100 crore. The products would be sourced directly from the farmers, brought to the market where they would be cleaned, graded and displayed for traders to purchase through e-auction.

''This will help the farmers to get more remunerative price for their produce,'' he said adding the main purpose of the markets was to increase the export of processed products from the present one per cent by the end of the XI Plan period.

Lamenting lack of post havest technique was hampering growth and exports, Mr Arvalan said the company would also set up commodities-specific market at five places in Tamil Nadu.

The markets would come up at Krishnagiri (mangoes), Hosur (tomatoes), Pattukottai (coconuts), Theni (grapes) and Palladam (onions).

''We have qualified for the tenders and awaiting approval from the Tamil Nadu Government. Once we receive the clearances, the facilities would be ready by the end of next year,'' he added.

http://www.chennaivision.com/enews/2008/Dec/05/First-Premium-Terminal-Wholesale-Market-in-Jan-09.asp

Wants Railway Ministry to bear the entire cost

CHENNAI: The government has expressed its inability to share the cost of new railway projects in the State and wants the Railway Ministry to bear the entire cost.

The Chief Secretary, in a letter to the Railway Board, recently stated that since the State had a huge financial commitment in the execution of phase III of the Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) between Velachery and St.Thomas Mount, any further commitment to share 50 per cent cost of new projects would be a severe strain on finances. The Chief Secretary requested the Railway Board to consider the possibility of Railways undertaking new projects themselves with full funding since it was making good profit in recent years.

Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, during his recent visit to New Delhi, had sought the intervention of the Prime Minister to ensure that Railways took up new projects themselves. A few months ago, Minister of State for Railways R.Velu, in a letter to the State government, had proposed eight new railway lines in the State. They are, Erode – Palani (91.05 km – Rs.286.87 crore); Chennai (Perungudi) – Cuddalore via Mahabalipuram and Puducherry (179.25 km – Rs.522.22 crore); Needamangalam – Pattukkottai via Mannargudi (70 km – Rs.210 crore); Thanjavur – Pattukottai (50 km – Rs.160 crore); Morappur to Dharmapuri (36 km – Rs.106 crore); Dindigul to Kumuli (110 km- Rs.330 crore); Thiruvannamalai to Jolarpettai (97.78 km – Rs.281.25 crore) and Ariyalur to Thanjavur (50 km – Rs.196.27 crore). The Railway Minister said though the above mentioned projects were not financially viable, they were necessary to boost socio-economic development of the regions.

As the Railways had a large number of sanctioned projects with limited availability of funds, he requested the State to share 50 per cent cost of these new lines.

Sharing of cost by States is one condition insisted by the Planning Commission for giving ‘in principle’ approval for new projects. As there is a stalemate in getting sanction for construction of new railway lines in the State, the Chief Minister appealed to the Prime Minister to waive the Planning Commission’s condition.

Source: http://www.hindu.com/2008/12/06/stories/2008120661090900.htm

Chennai, Dec. 5 The recently-formed Tamil Nadu Government undertaking, Arasu Cable TV Corporation Ltd, expects to invest Rs 400 crore in starting operations in the State.

The multi system operator (MSO—which provide feeds to cable operators) promises high definition television to its customers and expects to make a net profit of Rs 100 crore in the second year of operations.

Briefing journalists here today, Mr C. Umashankar, Managing Director, Arasu Cable, said the company would import 5 million set top boxes.

Chennai operations

The company has begun operations in four cities – Thanjavur, Tirunelveli, Coimbatore and Vellore. It aims to begin operations in Chennai by Pongal (mid-January).

(Earlier, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Mr M Karunanidhi, had said that Arasu Cable would offer over 60 pay- and free-to-air channels for less than Rs 100 across the State. In Chennai, where the CAS (conditional access system) is in vogue, the free-to-air channels would be available for less than Rs 100. Those opting for set top boxes will have to pay the rates fixed by TRAI. The subscription would be substantially less than that charged by private operators.)

Mr Umashankar stressed that contrary to an impression among people at large that Arasu Cable TV would be wound up (as a consequence of the rapprochement between the related families of the Chief Minister and the Marans, who run the MSO, Sumangali Cable Vision), Arasu would not only stay in business, but would accelerate its pace of rolling out operations.

He said that business opportunity to work with Arasu would first be given with the existing cable TV operators (who pick up the feed from the MSO and cable it to homes). There are about 60,000 of them in the State. “We do not want to take away their livelihood,” Mr Umashankar said.

4 lakh subscribers

Arasu aims at securing four lakh subscribers in a month. By the end of the second year, it expects to have a subscriber base of 75 lakh. (SCV has about 80 lakh).

Arasu Cable today has a paid-up equity of Rs 25 crore. Asked how it proposed to finance the rest of the proposed investment, Mr Umashankar said the details were being worked out. Funds would come from both the Government and the market.

Source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/12/06/stories/2008120651571900.htm

http://www.hindu.com/2008/12/06/stories/2008120661050800.htm

The global economic meltdown will ultimately separate the men from the boys and Tamil Nadu, with its good infrastructure, work culture and manpower, will emerge stronger, said M.H. Farooqui, Principal Secretary, Department of Industries, here on Friday.

Addressing the inaugural session of Southern Prosperity through Enhanced Economic Development (SPEED) 2008, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Mr. Farooqui said industrialists were as enthusiastic as ever to invest in Tamil Nadu.

The State government would work in tandem with the industry to get at least a few “big ticket investments” for the southern districts, he promised. He said the current economic slowdown was an opportune time to make big investments. The existing power shortage would not be a deterrent as the State was poised to emerge power-surplus in three years.

The Industries Secretary was confident that south Tamil Nadu would become an engine of growth. The government was keen to disperse industrial investment in the State and also alive to creation of job opportunities in all places, with focus on south Tamil Nadu.

The region had many investments in the pipeline. According to statistics of the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy, intended investments accounted for Rs.14,860 crore in Tuticorin district, Rs.4,300 crore in Madurai and Rs.15,000 crore in Tirunelveli.

The State would soon sign a memorandum of understanding with Caterpillar for an investment of Rs.800 crore. Another industrial deal with a German company was being finalised. Some wind energy units were also in the offing, he said. To encourage industrial growth, the government would soon announce a scheme for those employing over 750 people in all districts, except Chennai, Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram. Value added tax paid by these industrial units, equivalent to the wages paid for five years, would be given as soft loans to be paid back after a period of seven years.

P.W.C. Davidar, Secretary, Information Technology, promised that the government would act as facilitator in all attempts to bring industries to the region.

He appealed to colleges in the south to give importance to soft skills as the intention should be not only to make a student employable but also to empower him to provide employment to others.

District Collector P. Seetharaman said industrial development would end law and order problems witnessed in Madurai rural district. The per capita income of the region would also multiply once industrial units were started.

S.A. Ramesh Rangan, General Manager, State Bank of India, said that industrialisation tempered with caution would bring prosperity.

T. Kannan, chairman, SPEED, said the region was pregnant with possibilities but unknown to the outside world.

A big industrial investment would transport the marginalised and downtrodden sections of society into a journey of economic prosperity.

He mooted the creation of satellite cities that would act as catalysts of development.

R. Dinesh, chairman, CII, Madurai zone, said that two tasks had been identified as important: getting international air connectivity for Madurai and filling the gaps in skills among students.

4 more nuclear reactors in Koodankulam signed between Russia and India


http://dkn.dinakaran.co.in/showxml.aspx?id=328360&code=18601

The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (Unido) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Tamil Nadu Technology Development and Promotion Centre (TNTDPC) for the consolidated project for small and medium enterprise (SME) development. The project is aimed at to promote small and medium enterprises in auto components sector.

The MoU was signed by G K Moinudeen, head of TNTDPC and Bruno Valanzuolo, chief technical advisor, Consolidated Project for SME development in India, Unido. The MoU will facilitate the expansion of the Unido’s sub-contracting exchange to the larger spectrum of automotive companies in the state.

In the first stage Unido has profiled about 150 automotive companies in Ambattur Industrial Estate (AIEMA) near Chennai through a co-operation agreement with MSME-DI. In Pune and in National Capital Region (in Delhi) another 120 companies have been profiled by the Unido-CII partnership programme.

Unido’s sub-contracting exchanges will have the profiles of the auto component companies so that there could be better B2B matchmaking by the Associations and the Chamber of Commerce. This comes at a very critical stage when the industry world over are going through a tough time, and many global organisations are looking at developing countries like India.

Hence the background of the activities to be covered by this co-operation agreement of TNTDPC and Unido will involve expansion of the sub-contracting and partnership exchange and promotion of direct foreign investment and industrial cooperation agreements, fostering investment and partnerships of selected target market countries towards the Indian small and medium companies, starting from those of the selected clusters and selected companies from similar clusters in India.

The consolidated project for SME development of Unido is funded by the Italian government. It covers auto components. leather and footwear sectors. This project has an objective of building capacity in the associations in Chennai, Pune and NCR for auto component sectors and in Chennai for leather and footwear sector.

The capacity building includes the creation of sub-contracting exchanges for the associations with the detailed company information. It also involves the promotion of the business opportunities, investments and technology.

http://www.financialexpress.com/news/unido-inks-mou-with-tamil-nadu-to-promote-smes-in-auto-sector/394837/

The Union Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, Thiru T.R. Baalu has said that the total investment by Government of India in Tamil Nadu under various phases of National Highway Development Programme (NHDP) is in the order of Rs.33,000 crore and so far nearly a sum of Rs.13,000 crore has already been invested.

He said this while inaugurating and dedicating to the nation, the 21-km long four-laned Padalur-Samayapuram stretch at Samayapuram in Tiruchirapalli today. Built at a cost of Rs. 110 crore, this stretch is part of one of the four-laning projects undertaken on Tindivanam-Tiruchirappalli section of NH-45 in Tamil Nadu. NH-45 is traversing across the State of Tamil Nadu connecting Chennai to Kanyakumari and also the Golden Quadrilateral Corridor. Thiru Baalu hoped that upgradation of this stretch would improve the connectivity of all parts of the country with the remote Southern Region.

This 21-km long stretch includes one major bridge over Uppar River, one minor bridge and 21 culverts which have been constructed to have the carriageway of four-lane configuration. Thiru Baalu said that the stretch would result in reduction in travel time, savings in vehicle operation cost and it would be of immense benefit for business, farmers, travellers and local public.

Giving details of various road sector project in Tamil Nadu, Thiru Baalu said that Tamil Nadu is served by 4,676- km length of National Highways out of which, 3,261 kms have been taken up by the NHAI for four-laning under the NHDP and other projects. The Golden Quadrilateral length of 342 kms under NHDP Phase-I in Tamil Nadu has been upgraded to four-lane facility at a cost Rs.1,710 crore.

The Minister further said that under NHDP Phase-II, which is also known as the North-South Corridor, out of the approved length of 756 kms, 436-km length has been widened to four-lanes, works of four-laning in 15 packages covering 238-km length are in progress and preparation of feasibility report in the remaining 82-km length is under progress. This corridor traversing through Krishnagiri, Salem, Namakkal, Karur, Dindigul, Madurai and Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu connects Tamil Nadu-Karnataka border at Hosur with Kanniyakumari. The estimated investment under NHDP Phase–II in Tamil Nadu is Rs.4, 280 crore.

Thiru Baalu added that works in 517-km length in six packages are under implementation under NHDP Phase-III which covers 1,464-km length of various National Highways in Tamil Nadu. For NHDP Phase –III, the investment is likely to be Rs.9,880 crore. A total length of 1,232-km in Tamil Nadu has been included under NHDP Phase IV-A, with an investment of Rs.2, 464 crore, for improvement to 2-lane with paved shoulders, he added.

Other Projects in Tamil Nadu cover four-laning of 422-km length of NH-45 and NH-45B with an estimated cost of Rs.2,530 crore from Chennai to Madurai via Tiruchirapalli, in which works in 306-km length have already been completed and works in remaining 116-km length are in progress, the Minister informed.

Referring to the developmental works undertaken by his Ministry in the Chennai City, he said that Chennai has been given due priority in our programme of improvement. Four-laning of Chennai Bypass Phase-I, the flyover at Chennai Airport and the Grade separator at Kathipara, construction of two more grade separators at Koyambedu and Padi as well as four- laning of Koyambedu-Maduravoyal section of NH-4 within Chennai City also form part of the improvement of access facilities to the Golden Quadrilateral Corrdior. These access facilities will cost Rs.800 crore.

Giving information about some other projects being implemented in Tamil Nadu by the Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport & Highways, Thiru Baalu said that construction of ROB at Lalapet on NH-67 is nearing completion, improvement of Karur-Coimbatore Section of NH-67 is targeted for completion by March next year. He said that construction of bypasses, ring roads, grade separated intersections and flyovers are being considered under NHDP Phase VII, similarly, Ring roads around Tirunelveli, Tiruchirappalli, Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore, Salem and the Elevated link road to Chennai Port are proposed under NHDP Phase-VII.

http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=45379

The Union Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, Thiru T.R. Baalu has said that the total investment by Government of India in Tamil Nadu under various phases of National Highway Development Programme (NHDP) is in the order of Rs.33,000 crore and so far nearly a sum of Rs.13,000 crore has already been invested.

He said this while inaugurating and dedicating to the nation, the 21-km long four-laned Padalur-Samayapuram stretch at Samayapuram in Tiruchirapalli today. Built at a cost of Rs. 110 crore, this stretch is part of one of the four-laning projects undertaken on Tindivanam-Tiruchirappalli section of NH-45 in Tamil Nadu. NH-45 is traversing across the State of Tamil Nadu connecting Chennai to Kanyakumari and also the Golden Quadrilateral Corridor. Thiru Baalu hoped that upgradation of this stretch would improve the connectivity of all parts of the country with the remote Southern Region.

This 21-km long stretch includes one major bridge over Uppar River, one minor bridge and 21 culverts which have been constructed to have the carriageway of four-lane configuration. Thiru Baalu said that the stretch would result in reduction in travel time, savings in vehicle operation cost and it would be of immense benefit for business, farmers, travellers and local public.

Giving details of various road sector project in Tamil Nadu, Thiru Baalu said that Tamil Nadu is served by 4,676- km length of National Highways out of which, 3,261 kms have been taken up by the NHAI for four-laning under the NHDP and other projects. The Golden Quadrilateral length of 342 kms under NHDP Phase-I in Tamil Nadu has been upgraded to four-lane facility at a cost Rs.1,710 crore.

The Minister further said that under NHDP Phase-II, which is also known as the North-South Corridor, out of the approved length of 756 kms, 436-km length has been widened to four-lanes, works of four-laning in 15 packages covering 238-km length are in progress and preparation of feasibility report in the remaining 82-km length is under progress. This corridor traversing through Krishnagiri, Salem, Namakkal, Karur, Dindigul, Madurai and Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu connects Tamil Nadu-Karnataka border at Hosur with Kanniyakumari. The estimated investment under NHDP Phase–II in Tamil Nadu is Rs.4, 280 crore.

Thiru Baalu added that works in 517-km length in six packages are under implementation under NHDP Phase-III which covers 1,464-km length of various National Highways in Tamil Nadu. For NHDP Phase –III, the investment is likely to be Rs.9,880 crore. A total length of 1,232-km in Tamil Nadu has been included under NHDP Phase IV-A, with an investment of Rs.2, 464 crore, for improvement to 2-lane with paved shoulders, he added.

Other Projects in Tamil Nadu cover four-laning of 422-km length of NH-45 and NH-45B with an estimated cost of Rs.2,530 crore from Chennai to Madurai via Tiruchirapalli, in which works in 306-km length have already been completed and works in remaining 116-km length are in progress, the Minister informed.

Referring to the developmental works undertaken by his Ministry in the Chennai City, he said that Chennai has been given due priority in our programme of improvement. Four-laning of Chennai Bypass Phase-I, the flyover at Chennai Airport and the Grade separator at Kathipara, construction of two more grade separators at Koyambedu and Padi as well as four- laning of Koyambedu-Maduravoyal section of NH-4 within Chennai City also form part of the improvement of access facilities to the Golden Quadrilateral Corrdior. These access facilities will cost Rs.800 crore.

Giving information about some other projects being implemented in Tamil Nadu by the Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport & Highways, Thiru Baalu said that construction of ROB at Lalapet on NH-67 is nearing completion, improvement of Karur-Coimbatore Section of NH-67 is targeted for completion by March next year. He said that construction of bypasses, ring roads, grade separated intersections and flyovers are being considered under NHDP Phase VII, similarly, Ring roads around Tirunelveli, Tiruchirappalli, Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore, Salem and the Elevated link road to Chennai Port are proposed under NHDP Phase-VII.

http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=45379

How can he forget to mention the Elevated Expressway from Chennai to Bengaluru under NHDP Phase - VI? I saw the tender for the feasibility study and alignment in NHAI website. It was proposed along with Kolkata - Dhanbad Expressway

^^

Kewl,

Why we need the elevated road all the way between Chennai and Bangalore?

Let it be elevated where ever it passes through village or town!

Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency (TEDA) in association with Periyar Science and Technology Centre (PSTC) will set up a high-tech state-level renewable energy park, at a cost of about Rs 1.2 crore, in the city by March 2009.

“All the construction work will be completed and the park will be commissioned on a two-acre land at PSTC by March 2009,” the PSTC Director, Mr P. Iyamperumal, told PTI.

The energy park would be commissioned with gadgets on non-conventional energy sources and models emphasising the importance of renewable energy sources, with the financial support of Rs 89 lakh and Rs 34 lakh from Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sour ces and TEDA, respectively.

Mr Iyamperumal said the park would create awareness, especially among students, about non-conventional energy besides providing an opportunity to know about solar energy, wind energy and bio-gas.

The park with interactive exhibits is a novel concept, which provides a gateway to learn the basic principles of science and technology in a “healthy, open-air and natural environment,” he said. – PTI

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/businessline/blnus/27081141.htm

^^

Kewl,

Why we need the elevated road all the way between Chennai and Bangalore?

Let it be elevated where ever it passes through village or town!

Its better to be elevated to remain an expressway with fully acess-controlled.
If its gonna be partially elevated, there'll be problems in the future as the entire areas is set to be industrialized in a matter of decade.
By the time they complete it, the "vacant" areas will also be occupied.
So there's no point in buildin an expressway without fully access-controlled.

The proposed speed limit in this road is around 120kmph and is on a new alignment.

29 companies have responded to tender

Entire process will be over month-end

CHENNAI: The contract, covering a major component of the Rs. 1,334-crore Hogenakkal water supply and fluorosis mitigation project, is likely to be settled shortly.

The component covers the construction of head-works and two master balancing reservoirs in addition to the establishment of water treatment plant of the capacity of 160 million litres a day (MLD).

Tomorrow (December 10) is the last date for submission of bids for the pre-qualification stage. So far, 29 companies, including French, Australian and American firms, have responded to the tender invited by the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage (TWAD) Board, according to an official.

Once the bids are received, the technical parameters of the companies will be evaluated. The firms that pass the test of technical evaluation will be asked to submit price bids. Normally, the company that turns out to be the lowest bidder is selected for the implementation of the component.

The entire process will be over by the end of this month, the official says.

The Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA), till recently known as the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), will fund 85 per cent of the project cost. A team of officials of the TWAD Board had held discussions with the JICA on the funding arrangement.

The selection of technical support organisation for the implementation of fluorosis mitigation component is expected to be completed this week, the official adds.

On completion, the project, benefiting 29.8 lakh people, will provide water supply to three municipalities, 17 town panchayats and 6,755 habitations in 18 panchayat unions of Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts at a cost of Rs.1,334 crore.

The annual maintenance cost will be Rs.51.65 crore.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/12/10/stories/2008121060651000.htm

Russia offers discount on new N-reactors, fuel for existing plants

Russia is offering 30 per cent discount on the $2-billion price tag for each of its new nuclear reactors

Much of the equipment and components for the reactors are proposed to be manufactured in India

Anil Sasi

New Delhi, Dec. 9 Russia has offered a sweetener in the form of a 30 per cent discount on the $2-billion price tag for each of its new nuclear reactors under discussions for sale to India. Besides, the Russians are open to deputing its nuclear fuel firm, TVEL Corporation, to deliver uranium not just to the Russian-built stations, but for existing heavy-water units in the country as well, including the Tarapur station, according to Government sources.

India, on the other hand, has promised the Russians an increased role in the sector. Over and above the agreement signed for four additional reactors at Koodankulam, where two reactors are already under construction, talks have been initiated for building a seventh and eighth reactor units through Russian assistance at the same site. The Russians are also lobbying hard for earmarking at least one more new site, other than Koodankulam, for setting up Russian design reactors.

Even as the price of each reactor is $2 billion, the Russians have offered the discount based on plans to start serial production of reactors for the Indian nuclear industry. Much of the equipment and components are proposed to be manufactured in India, thereby bringing down costs. After factoring in the discount, the cost of construction for a mega watt (MW) for each new reactor comes to roughly Rs 7 crore (at current exchange rates).

In the case of first two ‘VVER-1000’ units that are currently under construction at Koodankulam, the total construction cost was estimated at $2.6 billion. At current exchange rates, it translates to around Rs 6.5 crore/ MW. The Russian Government had provided India with a long-term credit, which covers almost half of the cost of the first two units. NPCIL expects the first Koodankulam unit, when operational, to be able to sell power at less than Rs 2.50 a unit (kilowatt hour).
Pacts signed

Russia and India had, last Friday, signed an inter-governmental agreement for cooperation on the construction of four additional reactors at Koodankulam.

They also signed a protocol on fuel supplies, with TVEL agreeing to deliver fuel worth $700 million to India.

These deals include an assurance of uranium supplies for a number of existing Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors, including uranium dioxide pellets for the Tarapur station.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/12/10/stories/2008121051650100.htm

http://img122.imageshack.us/img122/8866/downloadso2.jpg

^^ I feel this should be posted in TN arattaiarangam thread.

Dalmia Cement begins new unit


Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Ltd has commissioned a 2.25-million tpa cement plant at Cuddapah in Andhra Pradesh. Together with its existing 3.5 million tpa plant at Dalmiapuram in Tamil Nadu, DCBL's total capacity now stands at 5.75 million tpa. Next year, the company expects to commission a new 2.25 million at Ariyalur in Tiruchirapally district of Tamil Nadu.

Earlier this year, Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Ltd formed a subsidiary Dalmia Cement Ventures Ltd to set up greenfield plants in different parts of the country with a combined cement capacity of 10 million tpa. The total investment, estimated at Rs 4,000 crore, will be financed on a 2:1 debt-equity ratio.

The Dalmia Group, through DCBL, also holds equity stake in OCL India Ltd (formerly Orissa Cements Ltd) that caters to the eastern India market.

http://www.projectsmonitor.com/detailnews.asp?newsid=17547&secid=80

Foundation stone may be laid by Chief Minister in January

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SEZ expected to generate about 50,000 jobs over seven years

Nearly 40 per cent of the zone will be built up area
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TIRUCHI: The Union Government has approved the multi-product Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at Perambalur to be jointly promoted by the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation and GVK Perambalur SEZ Limited.

The Board of Approval for SEZs cleared the project on Monday. With this, the stage is set for the laying of the foundation stone for the project by Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi in the first week of January. According to district officials, 2,863 acres have been acquired for the SEZ. Only 64 acres remained to be acquired. The lands are spread over five villages of Pennakonam (South and North), Thirumanthurai, Peraiyur and Eraiyur, some 20 km away from here towards Chennai. The location of the SEZ, right along the Tiruchi-Chennai National Highway, is expected to be the main attraction for companies to set shop here.

The SEZ will cater to industries such as textile/garments, leather, engineering goods, pharmaceuticals, power, IT/ITES, iron and steel, fertilizers, chemicals, petrochemicals, floriculture, horticulture, electronics and communication. The project is a joint venture between GVK and TIDCO, through a special purpose vehicle (SPV), GVK Perambalur Private Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of GVK Power and Infrastructure Ltd. Officials said that the SEZ was expected to attract investments to the tune of about Rs.5,000 crore over a seven-year period and generate about 50,000 jobs.

“With the issue of approval notification, we will begin the infrastructure development and other project-related activities. Nearly 40 per cent of the SEZ will be built up area,” P.Srinivasa Reddy, Director, GVK Perambalur SEZ Ltd., told The Hindu, on Wednesday. The SEZ would be a complete township with all amenities, including educational institutions and residential quarters.

Mr.Reddy said already several companies, including engineering and chemical industries, had evinced interest in setting shop at the SEZ. “The SEZ will have a world-class effluent treatment plant and we plan to encourage industries under the red category which are normally shunned,” Mr.Reddy said.

A study has already been taken up at the site to study the wind directions in various seasons so as to assess their possible impact, from the pollution point of view. GVK also plans to go for a captive power plant for the SEZ.

Source: http://www.hindu.com/2008/12/10/stories/2008121050230100.htm

Commissioner of Railway Safety inspection today

STAGE SET: Railway electrification in progress at Ponmalai station in Tiruchi-Villupuram section.

TIRUCHI: With electrification from Villupuram to Ariyalur, in the Villupuram-Tiruchi broad gauge section, having been completed, an inspection by the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) K. J. S. Naidu will take place on December 11 and 12.

The electrification was carried out by the Central Organisation for Electrification (CORE) on a total outlay of Rs.97 crore.

The electrification was taken up in phases – from Villupuram-Vriddhachalam at first and second between Vriddhachalam and Ariyalur. Railway sources said the CRS would inspect the Villupuram-Ariyalur section in the first phase and the works between Ariyalur and Tiruchi were progressing apace.

Though the total length of the track between Villupuram and Tiruchi is 178 km, electrification is being done for over 250 to cover loop lines and yards as well.

As part of the work, over 4,300 masts have been erected between Villupuram and Tiruchi, which account for 14 major bridges, 112 level crossing gates, five foot overbridges and eight road overbridges en route, the sources added.

Wiring to a distance of 342 km has already been completed, and only the loop lines and yards are to be covered. The sources said three traction sub-stations had been set up in Villupuram, Vriddhachalam and Ariyalur.

The works on overhead electrification major depots at Vriddhachalam, Ariyalur and Tiruchi are progressing, besides establishment of a remote centre in Tiruchi.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/12/11/stories/2008121159280300.htm

The Union Minister of Shipping Road Transport and Highways Shri T.R. Baalu informed the Rajya Sabha today that National Maritime Development Programme envisages setting up of two international size shipyards, one on the East Coast and another on the West Coast of India. For this purpose, Government has nominated Ennore Port Limited and Mumbai Port Trust as the nodal agencies for East Coast and West Coast respectively.

He said that the nodal agencies have been authorized to appoint Consultants who would identify 3 or 4 alternative sites each for setting up of shipyard on West Coast and East Coast of India respectively and also suggest optimal locations with detailed justification. The process for appointment of Consultants has been initiated by the nodal agencies.

The Minister also informed that Government of Kerala has submitted a proposal proposing Poovar in Thiruvananthapuram District on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border as the possible location for setting up of international size shipyard on the West Coast of India.

Further, Minister added, Mumbai Port Trust, nodal agency for setting up of international size shipyard on the West Coast of India, has received proposals from three Maritime States indicating the locations viz. Poovar in Kerala, Kundle Beach in Tadri Port in Karnataka and Tuna Tekra near Kandla Port in Gujarat.

The above proposals submitted by the Maritime States shall be made available to the Consultant being appointed by the nodal agency, Shri Baalu informed.

http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=45454

Power equipment major Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL) has signed a joint venture agreement with Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) for setting up the country's first supercritical thermal power project in Tamil Nadu, the company informed Bombay Stock Exchange.

http://business-standard.com/india/storypage.php?autono=51023&tp=on

Bangalore-based Richcore Lifesciences Private Limited is planning to set up a fermentation unit near Vellore in Tamil Nadu at an investment of about Rs 10 crore.

“It will take a month or two for finalising the land for the new facility. The company will also set up manufacturing plants in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh in the next phase,” said Subramani Ramachandrappa, chairman and managing director of Richcore Lifesciences.

For its proposed expansion, the company would raise a second round of fund from Hyderabad-based VentureEast. The VC firm had earlier invested Rs 10 crore in the company through a collaboration with the APIDC, an Andhra government body that provides financial and technical assistance.

Ramachandrappa did not quantify the funds that would be raised in the second round. The company, at the time of investment by VentureEast, was valued at $45mn (about Rs 225 crore) based on its new applications and patents.

Meanwhile, Richcore, which develops enzyme-based industrial products, is also planning to acquire a small biotech company, said Ramachandrappa.

The company is currently working on low-volume high-value products in sugar, textiles, animal nutrition, bio-fuels, food and beverages, paper, detergent and leather segments.

With a liaison office in the US already in place, it will register some of its products for export to the US and Europe.

“This is a good time for the company as the demand for agri products is on the rise. Richcore will tap opportunities in edible oil extraction and purification and specific manufacturing processes for the pharma industry,” he said.

For the current financial year, Richcore has set a turnover target of Rs 35 crore as against Rs 15 crore last year. It is also doubling the strength of its research wing, which now has 35 faculty.

The company is also in the process of launching entrepreneursindia.com, which will be up in four to six months. The portal will offer consultancy services on entrepreneurship to small traders and employees.

Source: http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/richcore-plans-plant-in-tamil-nadu/21/41/342824/

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai: The four thermal power plants in the state, in operation for over 25 years, will soon be taken up for renovation. This is part of the Indo-German Energy Programme (IGEN) that has identified around 85 power plants in the country for capacity building.
The IGEN in co-operation with the Central Electricity Authority(CEA) and Bureau of Energy Efficiency(BEE) is promoting energy efficiency in thermal plants. The baseline performance of 85 large thermal generating units is being monitored and the plant configuration mapped using sophisticated software. Using the data collected during the study, the necessary upgradation will be made.
On Friday, as part of the first phase, a seminar on power plant performance monitoring was held here. J T Verghese, managing director of Evonik that was part of the team which conducted the study, said: “Even one percent improvement in the plant will bring in more generation. This is worth crores of rupees in monetary terms. We have also introduced online optimisation system in all 500 MW plants.”
In the second phase, model power plants will be spotted and a centre for operational excellence formed. A standard procedure for energy auditors is being developed. Professionally managed energy efficiency celle and personnel in the cell will receive adequate training.
The IGEN members will map all personnel in the TNEB’s four thermal power plants. “We will profile each and every staff member. We will analyse their skills and see how it can be improved. We are also planning to connect all the thermal stations. As of now they are like islands. By linking them the best practices in each station can be shared and technical problems solved easily. This will prevent monetary loss,” said a TNEB official.
Neyvelli Lignite Corporation Chairman V Sethuraman said performance efficiency was very important considering the power situation in the state. “There are parameters that determine the efficiency of a thermal generation unit. Among them are Turbine inlet efficiency, loading pattern, pressure and temperature and condensing parameters. Efficiency of operations is a must,”
he said.

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOI&BaseHref=TOICH/2008/12/13&PageLabel=2&EntityId=Ar00202&ViewMode=HTML&GZ=T

It will be done at a cost Rs. 97 crore

Tiruvannamalai: The 151-km stretch of railway line between Vellore and Villupuram, where gauge conversion work is under progress, will be electrified at a cost of Rs. 97 crore, Minister of State for Railways R.Velu has said.

After inspecting the works at the railway station here on Saturday, he told reporters that after completing all ongoing electrification works, it would be possible to travel from Kanyakumari to Jammuthavi or Kolkata or Mumbai on an electric train.
Estimate enhanced

“The estimate for the ongoing gauge conversion work between Katpadi and Villupuram has been enhanced from Rs. 231 crore to Rs. 330 crore. Of this amount, Rs.185 crore has been spent already and works for another Rs.120 are going on.

The deadline for completing the gauge conversion works between Katpadi and Tiruvannamalai has been extended to March 2009 and between Tiruvannamalai and Villupuram to June 2009,” he said.
New rail road

Tenders for works relating to the construction of a new rail road between Tiruvannamalai and Tindivanam had been opened a few days ago and works would begin soon.

All materials required for laying broad gauge line between Katpadi and Tiruvannamalai, including sleepers, gravel etc., were ready at the sites along the line, he added.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/12/14/stories/2008121451030300.htm

The Tamil Nadu government plans to set up medical colleges in five districts of the state with an investment of about Rs.750 crore.

The colleges will come up in Villipuram, Sivaganga, Tiruvarur, Dharmapuri and Perambalur districts with an investment of Rs.120 crore each.

The health care department will also set up superspeciality hospitals in Salem and Madurai with an investment of Rs.290 crore. The Salem hospital will cost Rs.140 crore and will have have 500 bed capacity while the Madurai hospital to cost Rs.150 crore has recieved in-principle approval from the centre.

http://www.projectstoday.com/newsr.asp?newsid=24594

As of now MoUs have been signed for setting up 162 RBHs in 15 States, including Tamil Nadu. Details are annexed. RBH initiative is aimed at linking the rural products / producers with the national/ international markets through establishing business relationship and assured buy back arrangements. The role and responsibility of the different stake holders are clearly defined in the MoUs. Work on 30 RBHs has started so far in different parts of the country. These RBHs have facilitated the cultivation and marketing of Jatropha in Haryana, Assam, Tripura and Jharkhand with assured buy back of seeds based on a transparent pricing mechanism. Through the RBHs, market linkages have been established for passion fruit in Manipur, fruit and vegetables in Uttrakhand, pulses and chillies processing in Rajasthan and lac and tamarind in Jharkhand. RBHs have also provided marketing avenues in sericulture, dairy products, vermi compost and compressed bricks in Tamil Nadu. Besides these, hand knotted carpets in Rajasthan, bell metal and wooden handicrafts in Chhattisgarh and folk arts in West Bengal are being marketed through RBH initiatives.

Thus, the RBH initiative is taking the benefits of economic development to the rural areas of the country through promotion of Public-Private-Panchayat Partnership. This will also help in developing a holistic and integrated partnership between decentralized rural production units and larger marketing entities.

While the present RBH initiative is focused in 33 districts identified in consultation with the State Governments and services of Gateway Agencies have been made available to these districts for hand holding the Panchayats in getting the projects going, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, in partnership with State Governments, plans to expand coverage to each of the 6100 intermediate Panchayats of the country.

This information was given by Shri Mani Shankar Aiyar, Minister of Panchayati Raj and DoNER in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.

Source (http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=45760)
Click Here For Annexure (http://pib.nic.in/archieve/others/2008/Dec/r2008121701.pdf)

DINDIGUL: A decade-old dream of floriculturists and horticulturists in Nilakottai block will become a reality as Public Works Department engineers hope to complete the Sirumalai Dam project by January.

All works have been expedited with over 500 workers engaged at the site. The project will be completed at a cost of Rs.8.81 crore. Almost 90 per cent of the work is over. After inspecting the dam site at Rajadhanikottai village in Nilakottai block on Tuesday, PWD Chief Engineer (Maintenance and Repairs) P. Ramamurthy told The Hindu that construction of the 927-metre-long dam and 46-metre weir was over. Work on laying 1,800 metre-long left bank canal and 860 metre-long right bank canal was in progress, he added. “The dam will be ready by the first week of January.”

Surplus water from the dam would be stored in Teppakulam and other tanks and would join the Vaigai river, he added. The dam will get water from two major streams originating in Sirumalai.

The project was sanctioned in September 1998 at an estimated cost of Rs.5.53 crore andplanned to be completed in 18 months. With an annual storage of 31 mcft, the dam will irrigate 315.75 acres.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/12/17/stories/2008121758320100.htm

Expected to cost Rs.1.07 crore, they will be funded by the Centre

BETTER AMENITIES: Construction of a visitors’ dining hall in progress at Topslip.

CHENNAI: Development works, including renovation of guesthouses, construction of an interpretation centre and augmentation of water supply, have been taken up at Topslip in the Anamalai Tiger Reserve, earlier known as the Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park.

The works, expected to cost Rs.1.07 crore, will be funded by the Tourism Department, Government of India. In fact, the department has allocated Rs.1.80 crore for executing various works in the reserve, say officials.

Every year, a small sum is allocated for minor repairs to the guesthouses, but a major work of this kind is being executed after nearly 10 years, say the officials.

The renovation will cost Rs.30 lakh.

Water supply is a major problem during the dry season. Water has to be supplied to the guesthouses, residential quarters, the elephant training camp at Kozhikamuthi and the tribal settlement at Erumappaarai.

A plan has been drawn up to pump water from the entry point of the Sarcarpathy tunnel and to Topslip and the elephant training camp. “The water supply scheme will use the latest technology. The Union Tourism Department has allocated Rs.50 lakh,” says a senior official. Pipes have to be laid for a distance of five km.

Four new eco-tourism trekking sheds, an interpretation centre at a cost of Rs.20 lakh and a Rs.7-lakh dining hall at Topslip are some of the other works, he adds.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/12/17/stories/2008121760311000.htm

The days of small screen television sets and VCD or CD players in buses operated by the state transport corporations in Tamil Nadu
(except in Chennai) are over. Taking over is satellite TV. Passengers travelling by these buses will now enjoy the luxury of viewing crystal clear programmes on 22" LCD screens, no matter if the buses have to bump over potholes on the road. What's more, if the driver stops the bus at a wayside motel
, there will be no discontinuity in the programme-- it will resume as soon the driver re-starts the bus.

More than 10,000 long-distance buses run by the state transport corporation will now have an internet-based uplinking facility to transmit content to depots across Tamil Nadu. The new facility when launched in Tamil Nadu will be a first in India. A trial run on 300 buses fitted with LCDs has already begun.

Replacing the VCD will be a device called a thin client' that has a pen drive with a capacity to store programmes for up to 14 hours. Programmes - movies, comedy sequences, songs and advertisements - will be beamed on television monitors from the main control room in Chennai. For once, bus crew will have no control over the content. According to sources, bus depots in every taluk will have Wi-Fi stations to receive signals beamed via satellite. If the bus fails to receive signals, the thin client' will come to the rescue.

"The initiative has elicited good response from passengers. They are able to watch movies without disturbance; it's a whole new experience, akin to theatre-on-wheels. We will introduce the system in all the 10,000 buses in Tamil Nadu. The facility will also fetch a revenue of Rs 2 crore to the corporations," transport and agriculture minister K N Nehru told The Times Of India. He added that the new facility would put an end to complaints of obscene film songs being screened in buses. The GPS-enabled LCD screens will help authorities telecast advertisements to educate passengers on road safety. News flashes, including weather forecasts, will be transmitted from the control room. There will be different sets of advertisements for different regions.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Chennai/Satellite_TV_in_long-distance_buses_in_TN_will_make_for_a_whole_new_travelling_experience/articleshow/3854014.cms

The second plant is expected to be ready by the end of 2009

CHENNAI: The first reactor of the Koodunkulam project is expected to be operational by the middle of 2009, Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Anil Kakodkar said here on Thursday.

The second plant is expected to be ready by the end of 2009, he told reporters.

About the progress of other works, he said construction of three 220-MW heavy-water reactors was apace, and work on a 500-MW Fast Breeder Reactor was progressing.

The Centre had given in-principle clearance for four 700-MW units and pre-project works were going on. Uranium projects were also being “aggressively” pursued, and one would be operational shortly.

On the issue of safety following the Mumbai terror attacks, Mr. Kakodkar said atomic energy establishments in the country had adequate security.

The security measures were being reviewed after the attacks and, if need be, more steps would be taken after it was completed.

Source: http://www.hindu.com/2008/12/19/stories/2008121959740500.htm

The future of the titanium dioxide project promoted by Tata Steel in Tamil Nadu lies with the state government, said a top official of the company here Friday.

'The project is in limbo. It is for the state government to take action for the project to proceed further,' Tata Steel managing director B. Muthuraman told reporters on the sidelines of PanIIT 2008 conference.

The Rs.25-billion (Rs.2,500-crore) project got stuck as the steel major was not able to acquire the needed land - around 10,000 acres - at Sattankulam in Tirunelvelli district.

The group has managed to acquire just 300 acres.

Queried about the trend of steel price, Muthuraman said: 'It may see a level or may go up depending on the demand.' http://www.indiaenews.com/business/20081219/165948.htm

Drivers’ training academy for Tamil Nadu

Special Correspondent

RANIPET: A drivers’ training academy is to be established in Tamil Nadu with financial assistance from the Central government, while the State government will set up training tracks in all the Regional Transport Offices in the state, according to K.N. Nehru, Minister for Transport and Agriculture.

Inaugurating the upgraded Regional Transport Office here on Thursday, Mr. Nehru said that the State government had planned to establish 100 trauma care hospitals on the national and state highways throughout the State. Steps are being taken to provide ambulance service through the private sector to transport those injured in road accidents to the nearest hospital.

Three hundred accident-prone spots have been identified for improvement of the road conditions and removal of the causes for accidents. Counselling would be provided to the drivers once in three months to create awareness of the need to prevent accidents. Speed-breakers would be erected and caution boards displayed at the junctions where the State highways/district roads join the national highways/State highways.
Increase in revenue

The Minister said that the revenue earned by the transport department had increased from Rs.1,200 crore per year to Rs.2,000 crore in the last two years.

The government has opened 30 more RTO offices and unit offices in the State, bringing the total number to 90. While there were 1.06 crore registered vehicles in Tamil Nadu, 6000 new vehicles were being registered every day.

Ten thousand new driving licences were issued and another 10,000 licences renewed every day in the various offices in the State.
Computerised

S. Machendranathan, Principal Secretary-cum-Transport Commissioner said that all RTO offices had been computerised, and were issuing computerised driving licences and RC books to the public. In future, all documents too would be preserved in the digital format in the RTO offices.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/12/19/stories/2008121951260300.htm

TN to spend 500 INR crore for security in important cities and towns.

http://tm.dinakaran.com/showxml.aspx?id=167155&code=16376

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Neutrinos are naturally occurring particles

There is worldwide interest in this field
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CHENNAI: Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Anil Kakodkar called on Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Thursday to discuss the setting up of a neutrino observatory in the State.

“I came here to seek the consent and approval [from the Chief Minister] for [setting up] the India-based Neutrino Observatory,” Mr. Kakodkar told reporters after the meeting.

Members of the high energy and nuclear physics community in India have been discussing, at least since 2000, the setting up of the India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) to study atmospheric neutrinos.

According to the INO website, hosted by the Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Chennai, the observatory is a pure-science underground laboratory. “Its primary goal is to study the properties and interactions of weakly interacting, naturally occurring particles called neutrinos. There is a worldwide interest in this field due to its implications for several diverse and allied fields such as particle physics, cosmology and the origin of the universe, energy production mechanisms in the sun and other stars.”

The commission has chosen a spot in The Nilgiris, because some infrastructure (tunnels) is already there. It is two km from the Pykara TNEB camp and 1300 metres beneath the mountain named INO Peak (2207 m).

According to the website, the State government has given in-principle approval for locating the project at Singara near Masinagudi, pending statutory clearance. The project has been given environmental clearance by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests.

Surveys have been going on “for a while” at the site, sources said. The AEC chairman met the Chief Minister to formally seek his consent. The facility will be located in the Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve.

At the meeting, the Chief Minister was briefed about the need for the facility and its importance to the country and the scientific community.

Appreciating the need for the project, Mr. Karunanidhi felt that people living around the forest should be taken into confidence and made aware of the purpose of the project. Their consent was what mattered most.

Source: http://www.hindu.com/2008/12/19/stories/2008121957780100.htm

Construction of 3 bridges on East Coast Road in full swing

Despite difficulties during rain; project cost goes up to Rs. 210 crore


Crossing hurdles: A bridge under construction near Kottaipattinam on East Coast Road in Pudukottai.

PUDUKOTTAI: Work on the construction of three bridges on the East Coast Road in the district has been in full swing, despite the odds for its execution during the torrential showers and the Nisha cyclone last month.

The World Bank-funded project is being implemented by the Tamil Nadu Road Sector Project in packages with one of them linking Rameswaram and Kattumavadi in Pudukottai district. This stretch, the cost of which was initially estimated at Rs.144 crore has increased to Rs. 210 crore.

It accounts for seven minor bridges, one major bridge, 145 hump pipe culverts, one bas culvert, and 48 slab culverts. The 39 km stretch between Muthukuda and Kattumavadi in the district, forms a part of the package.

The criss-crossing of several rivulets which drain the storm waters in to the sea has been a bottleneck for the execution of the project in the district, which was taken up three years ago. In addition to these bridges, about 200 culverts had been constructed.

Any lull for a short period is being best utilised. Intermittent sharp showers, even long after the Nisha cyclone, had been posing a challenge. “However, we have taken all steps for the expeditious implementation of the project. Only the approach roads need to be laid to throw the bridges open to traffic,” sources told The Hindu on Saturday.

Increase in traffic


Sources said that the volume of vehicular traffic on the Rameswaram – Chennai sector has considerably increased. The project in the district witnessed several odds in the past two years, mainly due to rains last year and partly due to clayey soil. The work was suspended for a few weeks early this year, due to sharp showers in March.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/12/21/stories/2008122156390300.htm

Chennai, Dec. 20 Tata Steel Ltd is “very disappointed with the Tamil Nadu Government” for not making available the land for its proposed Titanium di-oxide project, the Managing Director of the company, Mr B. Muthuraman, told Business Line on Saturday.

In June 2007, Tata Steel signed a formal MoU with the Government of Tamil Nadu; it proposed to invest Rs 2,500 crore in the project. The company needs between 10,000 acres and 12,000 acres of land in the Southern districts of Tirunelveli and Tuticorin for mining the ilmenite ore from the top soils.

“They have not been able to solve the land problem. We want to invest and we can invest only when we get the land. The State has to decide if it wants progress or not,” he said. Mr Muthuraman, an alumnus of IIT-Madras, was here to participate in a panel discussion in ‘Pan IIT 2008’, an event organised by IIT alumni.

“How can we?” Mr Muthuraman retorted when asked if Tata Steel could not acquire the land on its own. It is not possible, he said, for a company to acquire such large tracts of land.

He stressed that the land is arid and is not being a productive asset for the people who own it.

Tata Steel’s investment would develop the area — and what more! — the company would return the land (after a few decades) in a better state, because what was needed was only the top soil.

“It is a project that will benefit a lot of people. The Tamil Nadu Government has not been proactive and they are going to lose this project. I would be happy to invest even in these difficult times. Today, I have a great excuse for not doing this project. I just have to lock the office and withdraw my people. I am very keen to do that but it is my persistence, my tenacity and the desire to have the project is what is keeping me here,” Mr Muthuraman said.

Source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/12/21/stories/2008122151050300.htm

THANJAVUR: As one walks through the pathway in between landscaped gardens and catches a glimpse of the fa?ade of the building, the first
impression is that of a posh star hotel.

But housed in the SASTRA biotech park are three centres of research where some sensitive experiments are being carried out. Inside the park is the centre for advanced research in Indian systems of medicine, centre for nanotechnology and advanced biomaterials (CeNTAB) and central animal house facility.

"It's a high-tech expressionist building, blending technology, innovative design and planning," describes Oscar G Concessao, the principal architect of Oscar & Ponni Architects, Chennai. The firm, which designed the park at Shanmuga Arts, Science, Technology and Research Academy (SASTRA) in Thanjavur, won the 20th Indian Institute of Architects award 2008.

A DNA module is etched on its fa?ade and the porch in the two-storey building leads to a rotunda atrium lobby, which has a beautifully designed 90 feet diameter dome made of reinforced plastic. The two wings on the side of the rotunda atrium house the research labs, designed with an air lock lobby, a clean corridor with rooms for electrical and the air handling units. A grand staircase leads to the floors above.

The two-lakh square feet biotech park sprawling in SASTRA campus at Vallam near Thanjavur has bagged the award under the category `Public' buildings.

"Its an outstanding building," exclaims Oscar G Concessao. While aesthetics place the building above par, the structure has also been designed to suit the academic requirements. The exquisite building also houses a 500 seat acoustically designed auditorium, gallery classrooms and library with sufficient day lighting. The entire building has been built with state-of-the-art engineering with special foundations and mechanical systems to suit the laboratories.

The biotech park has been chosen for the prestigious award for excellence in architecture after assessing it under various parameters like idea, concept, design and character. An eminent jury of leading architects adjudged the building for the award this year from among 165 entries across the country, said Oscar G Concessao. Oscar and Ponni Architects have also won the Indian Buildings Congress award for Excellence in Built Environment for the same building in May this year.

"The School of Chemical and Biotechnology located in the Biotech park called `Jiva Chaitanya' is also ranked top among private biotech schools,'' says S Vaidhyasubramaniam, Dean, Planning and Development, SASTRA.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Chennai/Technology_and_innovative_design_wins_award_for_biotech_park/articleshow/3871486.cms

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu accounts for 44 per cent of the country’s total installed capacity of wind power.

As on March 31 this year, the State had windmills whose aggregate capacity stood at 3,857 megawatt (MW).

Between April 2006 and March 2008, the capacity added was 962 MW, says the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission’s consultative paper on power procurement by distribution licensees from wind energy generators and allied open access issues.

The State’s potential has been put at 5,500 MW. Quoting the Central Electricity Authority, the Commission says the contribution of power from non-conventional energy sources to the country’s installed capacity is around 12,195 MW, of which the share of wind power is 8,739 MW.

Maharashtra is next to Tamil Nadu in harnessing wind energy, with 1,756 MW. The installed capacity of Gujarat and Karnataka stands at about 1,253 MW and 1,011 MW respectively.

Wind flow

The paper says Tuticorin, Poompuhar, Uvari, Rameswaram and Ennore (near Chennai) are the coastal areas that has a favourable wind flow.

Among other favourable locations are Theni, Cumbum and Andipatti in Theni district, besides the Palghat, Shencottah and Aralvoimozhi passes.

Source: http://www.hindu.com/2008/12/22/stories/2008122251930300.htm

CHENNAI: The Central government will set up a medical park at the Chengalpattu Medical College for world leaders in the diagnostics industry to produce cheaper equipment, Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss said on Sunday.

Launching the Tambaram branch of Bharat Scans, Dr. Anbumani said it was proposed to extend a host of incentives to encourage investments on the 250-acre park from leading manufacturers and the only caveat for them was that 80 per cent of the products had to be made available only in India.

Among the initiatives planned under national preventive healthcare programme was a proposal to introduce yoga as a compulsory exercise in schools and to introduce health issues as a subject in the curriculum. Children would also be subjected to health check-ups once a year to catch any disorder early, he said.

The government also proposed to make it mandatory for all Central government staff to undergo health screening once a year.

A. Rajasekaran, president, National Board of Examinations (NBE), said the NBE as an autonomous body providing an alternative qualifying route for candidates who could not make it to medical colleges.

Source: http://www.hindu.com/2008/12/22/stories/2008122259771000.htm

check the link

http://www.dinamani.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=DNM20081222140140&Title=Chennai+Page&lTitle=%F9Nu%FB%5D&Topic=0&ndate=12/23/2008&dName=No+Title&Dist=

National Bamboo Mission to encourage farmers

Useful goods: Collector P. Amutha taking a look at the by-products of bamboo at a district level bamboo seminar in Dharmapuri on Wednesday.

DHARMAPURI: A target for bamboo cultivation in 1000 hectares in Tamil Nadu has been fixed. Out of which, 50 to 600 hectares of bamboo is being cultivated in Thanjavur, Thirupalpandal near Moongilthuraipattu and it is showing amazing results, said National Bamboo Mission General Manager P. Selvaraj, here on Wednesday.

He was here to address the district level bamboo cultivation seminar. The National Bamboo Mission was started in the financial year 2006-07 and intensified in the year 2007-08.

Mr. Selvaraj said cultivation of bamboo is very cost effective. The technical training for cultivating bamboo was being given regularly to farmers and agricultural graduates under the project. He added that cultivation of bamboo would be profitable for the graduates in the villages.

The Government is providing 100 per cent subsidy for bamboo cultivation. To encourage the farmers for bamboo cultivation the mission is going to create a 50-acre model bamboo farm in Dharmapuri district Mr. Selvaraj said.

Farmers from Pennagaram and Krishnagiri have showed interest, like many other farmers and agriculture graduates, in bamboo cultivation in the seminar. State Bamboo Mission Committee Member and CEO of Growmore Biotech, Hosur, gave tips to the farmers about making the most of small investments by using precision farming and other technical methods from Bamboo cultivation with the help of a power point presentation.

Farmers who asked many queries regarding bamboo cultivation and the quantum of financial assistance from the government. One of the officials who participated in the seminar told ‘The Hindu’ that farmers should avail of loans from banks and other financial institutions for agriculture.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/12/25/stories/2008122553200300.htm

Chennai: Airport development projects in Tamil Nadu have run into rough weather with the state declining to give any more free land to the Airports Authority of India (AAI), citing rising land acquisition costs. Instead, the government has proposed turning some airports into corporations in which it could take a stake in exchange for providing land.
AAI is currently experiencing a drop in air traffic due to the economic slowdown. The slump coupled with privatisation of high revenue-yielding airports at Delhi and Mumbai have eroded the finances of the agency, which depends on fees levied on airlines for its revenue. Plans to expand hubs at Coimbatore, Madurai and Tiruchi hinge on acquiring land at lower costs.
However, in a recent meeting, the state government made it clear to AAI that it would not get land for airport expansion projects free of cost. “The government has told us that land can be provided free only for the expansion of Chennai airport. It also wants us to prune the requirement of land,” said a senior AAI official. AAI can’t afford to acquire land on its own
Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government’s refusal to give more free land to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) would impact development work, a senior AAI official said, adding that the AAI needs close to 900 acres for expanding the Coimbatore airport and 616 acres for developing the Madurai airport.
Sources said the government has suggested that AAI convert each airport into a company and allow them to acquire stakes in it depending on the quantum of land handed over for development. But AAI is against the proposal. State governments have 13% share in new airports at Hyderabad and Bangalore. “The government wants the AAI to have a similar arrangement for airports in the state,” an AAI official said.
The stand-off may force AAI to reconsider its options as it cannot afford to acquire land on its own. “We lost high revenue-yielding airports of Mumbai and Delhi to private companies. They paid an licence fee of just Rs 150 crore for airports that generated nearly Rs 700 crore from cargo movement alone,” said an AAI official. AAI already has two major projects — modernization and expansion of Chennai (Rs 2,000 crore) and Kolkata (Rs 1,800 crore) airports — on hand. “These projects will empty out AAI’s Rs 3,000 crore cash reserve. The agency is facing a cash crunch because decline in air traffic and unpaid air traffic fee has eaten into the revenue generated by existing airports,” said an executive director of AAI.

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOI&BaseHref=TOICH/2008/12/26&PageLabel=1&EntityId=Ar00105&ViewMode=HTML&GZ=T

Plans to expand hubs at Coimbatore, Madurai and Tiruchi hinge on acquiring land at lower costs.
However, in a recent meeting, the state government made it clear to AAI that it would not get land for airport expansion projects free of cost. “The government has told us that land can be provided free only for the expansion of Chennai airport.

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOI&BaseHref=TOICH/2008/12/26&PageLabel=1&EntityId=Ar00105&ViewMode=HTML&GZ=T

This govt will do everything for Chennai and nothing for other tier II cities. They will share cost of MRTS and metro for Chennai but will not share cost for doubling Villupuram-Madurai-Tuticorin BG line, which is the lifeline of south TN. Im really fed up. The future expansion of Madurai, Trichy and Coimbatore airports is a big ? mark if the govt has this same attitude.

This govt will do everything for Chennai and nothing for other tier II cities. They will share cost of MRTS and metro for Chennai but will not share cost for doubling Villupuram-Madurai-Tuticorin BG line, which is the lifeline of south TN. Im really fed up. The future expansion of Madurai, Trichy and Coimbatore airports is a big ? mark if the govt has this same attitude.

Velu, instead of pressurizing TN Govt to share the cost of Railway projects, he can persuade Lalu, Railway officials and Planning commission to allow using the revenue surplus of Railways in Tamil Nadu citing the neglect it suffered for decades in the past. If Railways dont have enough money to spend, then it is valid that TN gives money to complete the projects on time.

But Lalu does not want to use too much of IR's cash surplus (close to 30000 crore) just to show off how much they have at the time of Lok Sabha elections. He neither asks Bihar government to share the costs on the projects in Bihar (He takes as his prestige issue). They have just spent 1500 cr rupees on Rail projects in Tamil Nadu in the past 5 years, despite Southern railway being one of the most revenue/profit generating zone. Considering the steady increase in Steel/cement/labor prices and the inflation factor, the true value of 30000 cr in possession is reducing day by day. It is really foolish to hold liquid cash in hand, instead IR should speed up their expenditure and even consider taking stake in the Metro rails which are build in various cities.

And regarding the accusation on TN Govt funding Chennai Metro, the govt has formed a corporate company and then give money in turn for the stake it will own on the asset. A similar thing is what TN Govt is asking AAI. Ideally even the Chennai airport should have been for some stake but it had become a embarrassing one after all the protests and delays. IR railways cannot become a corporate company and hence TN govt is refusing to give anything for free.

If the AAI doesn't have the financial wherewithal to modernize the airports, they should invite private equity to part finance the project. Why should they expect TN government to give free land without any stake and contribute to an inefficient central govt. monopoly?

They were holding the airports in Delhi, Bombay, Hyderabad and Bangalore for ransom. Now, they have got nice airports for themselves having been freed from the clutches of AAI. It is time other airports in the country are freed too.

Development works worth Rs.50 lakh planned

16-km long trekking route to Top Station on anvil

THENI: Kurangani, which has been selected for implementation of endogenous spices tourism project, would soon become one of the major tourist attractions in Theni istrict as Department Tourism has started giving a facelift to it.

Development works would be taken up at an estimated cost of Rs.50 lakh soon at Kurangani situated in the Western Ghats.

Ten villages on the hill would benefit from the project.

Sixteen km away from Bodinayakkanur, Kurangani is an unexplored tourism spot.

The region has ridges and mountain peaks, surrounded by valleys,and is covered by dense forests.

Road connectivity will be upgraded.

Ten houses have been identified as tourist stay homes and funds have been sanctioned for their development.

Tourism development works worth Rs.20 lakh have been completed.

View points will be created to enable tourists to enjoy the beauty of cloudy peaks, waterfalls, valleys, cardamom, tea and coffee estates.

A 16-km long trekking route to Top Station from Kurangani via central station is to be established without disturbing the ecosystem.

Tourists will get an opportunity to taste tribal culture by visiting their hamlets.
Waste disposal

A sum of Rs.9 lakh will be spent for disposal of waste. Zero waste management committee will be set up to ensure proper disposal of solid waste generated on the hill station, according to Collector P. Muthuveeran. Efforts are also on for safe disposal of plastic wastes with effective community participation.

Community-based tourism development alone will sustain and preserve the ecosystem of the tourist spot. Community participation will be encouraged in all development activities. Local young men and women have been trained as tourist guides.

Horse riding, photography and videography have been taught to enterprising locals.

Special artisan skill development training has been given to tribal people.

Marketing techniques to sell their handicraft items have also been imparted.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/12/27/stories/2008122757470100.htm

Construction to begin on Monday

TIRUVARUR: The construction of buildings for the proposed Government Medical College here will begin on Monday in the presence of U. Mathivanan, Minister for Dairy Development and other officials, according to M. Chandrasekaran, Collector, here on Saturday. He said that the new medical college would be built at a cost of Rs.100 crore

http://www.hindu.com/2008/12/28/stories/2008122851700300.htm

http://img48.imageshack.us/img48/6103/imu25x33reviseddy6.jpg

The State Transport Minister Mr.K.N.Nehru inaugurated a mega farmers' market at Oddanchatram in Dindigul district recently. Constructed at a cost of Rs 3.08 crore on a 17 acre site, the facility is expected to enable farmers to sell their produce directly to buyers in Tamil Nadu and Kerala without the intervention of middlemen and commission agents. Farmers in Coimbatore, Erode, Karur, Tiruchi. Dindigul and Theni used to being their vegetables to the wholesale market and seventy percent of the arrivals used to be sent to Kerala.

Source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/12/30/stories/2008123050921701.htm

check the link

http://www.dinamani.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=DNM20081222140140&Title=Chennai+Page&lTitle=%F9Nu%FB%5D&Topic=0&ndate=12/23/2008&dName=No+Title&Dist=

Hai Elango, Just a small favor dude, could you decode this article for us. I am unable to read from the link. Thanks & regards

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

The Union ministry has allocated financial aid of Rs.3,000 crore to Southern Railway (SR) for capacity enhancement.

The upgradation work includes doubling of 1,109 km rail track. Of the total funds, Rs.358 crore will be used for doubling of 26.83 km track between Tiruvallur and Arakkonam and between Korukkupet and Ennore covering 11.95 km, in the current fiscal. SR has already completed doubling work on 380 km.

SR had a total of 1,181 km of electrification projects sanctioned including Villipuram-Katpadi of which 320 km is so far complete. Another 178 km will be completed in the current fiscal.

http://www.projectstoday.com/newsr.asp?newsid=24858&dsp=ts

CUDDALORE: The public sector Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) will soon expand to the northern states and become a major contributor to the national power sector, said chairman-cum-managing director A R Ansari.

Speaking to journalists here on Tuesday, Ansari said the NLC will set up mine-cum-power plants in Uttar Pradesh, Orissa, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh. The NLC will increase its installed power generation capacity to 10,000 MW from the existing 2,500 MW.

These projects are in the pipeline, he said, and added that so far the NLC has been operating in Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu.

“With the support rendered by employees and workers, the NLC had achieved several milestones over the years. NLC will soon become a model public sector in the country,” Ansari said.

As a Tamil New Year gift to the people, the Mini Ratna public sector will provide 1,100 MW of power to the State from January 14. Tamil Nadu has been obtaining 900 MW from NLC currently.

Necessary efforts have been made to set up lignite mine-cum-power project in Jayamkondam and coal-based thermal power station in Thoothukudi, he said.

Jayamkondam region contains a reserve of 300 million tones of lignite. The Neyveli Lignite Corporation requires 12,000 hectares of land in Jayamkondam.

The government had acquired 3,600 hectares of land. In an effort to expedite the acquisition process Ansari will meet Chief Minister M Karunanidhi shortly.

http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=NLC+plans+north-ward+expansion&artid=VozsnH/ea3o=&SectionID=vBlkz7JCFvA=&MainSectionID=fyV9T2jIa4A=&SectionName=EL7znOtxBM3qzgMyXZKtxw==&SEO=

This govt will do everything for Chennai and nothing for other tier II cities. They will share cost of MRTS and metro for Chennai but will not share cost for doubling Villupuram-Madurai-Tuticorin BG line, which is the lifeline of south TN. Im really fed up. The future expansion of Madurai, Trichy and Coimbatore airports is a big ? mark if the govt has this same attitude.

Good post. well said.

The project will be implemented at a cost of Rs.35.31 crore

TIRUCHI: The State government has given approval for raising teak plantations on ‘Padugai’ land for six years, from 2008-09 to 2013-14, in seven divisions, including Tiruchi and Thanjavur.

The project, aimed at enhancing tree cover outside the reserve forest areas, will be implemented on 20,700 hectares at a total cost of Rs.35.31 crore, of which the government has released Rs. 5.25 crore this fiscal.

In the Tiruchi division alone, saplings will be planted on 300 hectares along the canal banks this year. The Tiruchi Social Forestry Division, which has jurisdiction over six districts in the central region, will plant the saplings on 400 hectares separately during the current year.

The Forest Department has identified the canal banks in the Tiruchi division for planting 60,000 saplings this year, District Forest Officer D. Mani told The Hindu. The teak saplings would be planted along the waterbodies of ‘Kodiyangal Vadikal’ near Kuzhumani and ‘Puthiya Kattalai Kalvai’ in the Musiri taluk. The Tiruchi division has been allocated Rs.22.87 lakh for 2008-09. Besides the Tiruchi and Thanjavur divisions, the project will be implemented in the Madurai, Sivaganga, Dindigul and Villupuram divisions.

The Forest Department will maintain the saplings for three years and replace the damaged ones, if any. The ‘Padugai’ teak cultivation scheme is aimed at meeting not only the State’s timber requirement but also helping the Government generate revenue through the sale of teakwood. The teak saplings planted on the canal banks will help to prevent soil erosion and encroachments, Forest Department officials say.

http://www.hindu.com/2009/01/01/stories/2009010157380100.htm

With more banks: The Tamil Nadu Electricity Minster, Mr Arcot N Veerasamy, launching the expanded bill payment facility for its Chennai-based customers on Sunday. The facility would enable account holders of Indian Bank to pay their power bills through Net banking, while ICICI Bank customers can make the payment by credit card or debit card as well as Net banking. TNEB had introduced an Any Time Payment system last April, in collaboration with Canara Bank. It joined hands with Axis Bank to allow payments by credit and debit cards. Plans were on to extend online payment facility to other parts of the State.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2009/01/05/stories/2009010551371300.htm

East Coast Road under construction

Refer, The photos by 'Sam' on East Coast Road under Highways-Photos thread... Looks like the road near Rameswaram has been laid very neatly and looks impressive, If the quality of that road from Puthuchery To Kanyakumari is maintained that way, then we have another wonderful scenic stretch of Highway, a coastal route from Chennai to KK.

Anyone else in this forum has tasted the pleasure of driving along this road under construction?

Photo by Sam:

http://img125.imageshack.us/img125/6418/eastcoastrq6.jpg

You may also be interested to read this blog...


Perfect Recipie for Nirvana - East Coast Road
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For Chennaites, East Coast Road, is like Nirvana. Whether you go Biking or cruising in your car, the thrill is unparalleled.

East Coast Road, popularly known as ECR, stretches along, obviously the East Coast, ie Bay of Bengal, and connects all villages, towns and cities on the East Coast. It runs from Chennai to Kanyakumari, the southern most tip of this country, and is 737 kms long. If you decide to drive all along, if would be a great road trip.
If you started driving from Thiruvanmiyur in Chennai, when you reach Mahabalipuram, you would have covered 43 kms, and would have covered 113 kms, if you reached Pondy. The Road connects Chennai to Pondicherry, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Tuticorn and Kanyakumari, and runs 737 kms along the coast.

There is a toll booth just outside Chennai, and they collect Rs. 45 for a round ticket to Mahabalipuram and little over that for a round ticket to Pondy. After you have cross the toll booth, the experience is different.

Parts of the road are scenic, with a lovely view of the sea lined with coconut trees, casuarinas trees, fishermens villages, catamarans neatly arranged along, or just plain beach sand and nothing else. No matter what’s on the shore, the drive is great. While you drive, you will see the sea coast on the left, it is sometimes, just a few feet away, and at some places, it is about a kilometer away, but, with nothing else in between to hide the view, the view is breathtaking.

After you cross Pondicherry, as you drive towards Cuddalore and further south, you will be driving with the sea lashing at the road-it is like, Marine drive types!.with walls constructed, with road on top of it, and the sea with all its fury, dashes at the road.

If you drive in the night, you find that the road is dotted with reflectors on both the sides and in the middle, it looks superb. There many be many such places overseas, but, to have one world class road in India, is a great thing. People who have driven on this one, will surely agree.

Well, this piece is more from a Chennaites perspective. The road goes through many villages and large number of beach resorts that are springing up almost every week, and also crosses the heritage site of Mahabalipuram. There are several places along the route, drive-in cinema theatres - Prarthana Drive in, Eateries - Basera, Food Village, Buena Vista, virgin beaches and Muthukadu Backwaters, beach resorts - MGM Resort, GRT Temple Bay, Taj Fishermans Cove, Golden Sun, Silver Sands and many more, amusement parks - VGP Golden beach & MGM Dizzie world, several beachside farms - Casuarine bay, discotecs - EC 41, Go-karting tracks - Kart Attack and Danny’s Go-Karting, Crocodile bank, Dakshin Chitra, Cholamandalam artisans village and Mahabalipuram. Silver sands also has a adventure zone, where you can try scuba diving, para-sailing and some other water sports.

You can go for a catamaran ride, into the sea. All you need to do is befriend some fisherman from the fishing hamlets. The ride can cost you Rs. 100 for an hour. You have to be careful, coz the fisherman do not have any safety equipments, not even a life jacket. You will be just tied to the catamaran to a thick rope, and you will be asked to sit tight. So, please enjoy! and be careful, if you ever want to try this ride.

At Muthukadu, you can hire a motor boat or a peddle boat for Rs. 30 for 30 minutes. You can also hire canoe or a kayak if you are experienced, and can enjoy the waters.

Fishermans Cove has been a landmark on East Coast road, since 1974. It is a beautiful Taj property, on the beach, with wonderful hotel, several sea facing rooms, large swimming pool, beach side barbecue etc.and several sea facing cottages, with their own sit outs, hammock, and a private garden. Though their tarrifs are on the higher side, the experience is great Their breakfast buffet is fantastic and is a nice option after watching the sunrise at Mahabalipuram.

The other resorts, MGM, GRT Temple Bay and the rest are also not far behind. In face, their rates are slightly lesser, and hence you will find a lot of fun loving Chennaites hanging out in these places over the weekends. Corporates organize their weekend discos and the parties on the beach side, with a beach side bar, beach disc et all..and anyone else Is also free to join.

Seafood wins hands down at relatively inexpensive restaurants like Coastal Kitchen and Casuarina. Hot Kitchen, Food Village, Buena Vista and Basera are also popular with the ECR regulars.

The crocodile bank houses the largest number of crocs in the country, and their breeding programme is extremely successful. They have so many crocs, that the zoo keepers here, have started eat omelettes made out of croc eggs, coz they do not want any more crocs.

Dakshin Chitra and Cholamandalam artisans village was started by 7 Chennaites, who decided to get together and work to improve the lives of the local artisans and also promote the art forms of South India. They have infact got from several places, houses of the traditional type and they have re-assembled here. So, they have recreated a road of a village in Tamilnadu or Kerela etc and have constructed the houses of a potter, weaver, farmer, scholar etc. The place is great.

At a certain point on ECR, if you wish to get to Mahabalipuram you need to keep driving straight, but, if you wish to hit Pondy, take the right turn.

Mahabalipuram are the shore temples, that were built on the orders of the Pallava King, Mahendra Verma Pallava. There is a the shore temple, 5 rathas, stone carvings indicating Arjunas penace and the Shiva temple. It is beautiful. If you at Mahabalipuram at lunch time, Moonraker is a nice place to have a bite. You can ask any localite, they will show you the place. Do not get deceived by the humble exteriors, once you enter, the smell of the food is intoxicating.

ECR boasts entertainment unlimited. The highway eventually veers off towards Pondicherry - the former French colony and a popular weekend guzzling abode for Chennaites. The white-washed buildings from a bygone era and the word-famous Auroville commune merit a day’s trip, at the very least.

If you run out of time on the first ride down ECR, you can always make another trip down the highway, with its multitude of entertainment options. Even if you’re heading nowhere in particular, when you’re coasting down the midnight-black highway, the road itself becomes the destination. Righly, it has got the place in Outlook Traveller magazine as one of the most scenic highways in India.

Chennai has its own way of promotion tourism on ECR, with all the several places that it has to entertain people. It is called Go ECR Go. It is a joint effort by Tamilnadu Tourism Development Corporation, Crocodile bank, Danshin Chitra, the amusement parks and the resorts on ECR, just to promote Tourism and increase traffic on this road.

Eat Outs at ECR

Basera , 146, 2/169 East Coast Road, Vettuvankeni, Chennai, Tel: (044)24492361. Food Village, 1/81 East Road, Injambakkam, Chennai – 41, Tel: (044) 24492692, 24493309. Hot Kitchen , 78,79 Injambakkam Village, , Chennai – 41, Tel: (044) 24490730, 24493139

Accomodation :

GRT Temple Bay Beach Resorts, Mamallapuram – 603104, Tel: 04114-242251,242254
Quality Inn MGM , No. 1/74, New Mamallapuram Road , Muttukkadu – 603112, Tel: 04114-245435 .
Fisherman's Cove, Covelong Beach , Mamallapuram - 603112 , Tel: 04114-272304-310 .
V G P Golden Beach Resort, East Coast Road , Injambakkam, Tel: 044-24491101-

Ackowledgement: This blog belongs to lonelyaztec alais Ms Sandhya.R

^^ The towns and villages all along this route will become well developed in the years to come. The Interstate Highway I-95 on the East Coast of US comes to my mind.

Maytas Infra has bagged a project worth Rs.110 crore from the Southern Railways for doubling the broad gauge track between Chengalpattu and Villupuram in Tamil Nadu.

The railway project, a JV between CT Ramanathan and Maytas will be completed in 18 months from the date of agreement. On completion, the project will help in easing the traffic flow Chengalpattu and Villupuram.

The scope of work includes:

* The doubling work of the broad gauge track between Chengalpattu till Melmaruvathur, at an investment cost of Rs.39 crore.

* The doubling work of the broad gauge track between Melmaruvathur till Tindivanam at an investment cost of Rs.35 crore.

* The doubling work of the broad gauge track between Tindivanam and Villupuram at an investment cost of Rs.36 crore.

http://www.projectstoday.com/News/NewsDetails.aspx?nid=24920

The year 2008 brought in some big-ticket investment commitments to Tamil Nadu. The state government signed 21 MoUs with leading multinational companies, which would see around Rs 31,333 crore flowing into the state.

The investments were mainly in automobile, power and energy, IT/ITeS, hospitality and infrastructure sectors. Here’s a recap of the investment scene in the state in the year just gone by.

HOSPITALITY
The state got approval for 110 hotel projects, of which Chennai city alone is expected to get 4,000 rooms by 2012, according to MP Purushothaman, president, South Indian Hotels and Restaurant Association. He said that eight 5-star hotels, one 4-star hotel, three 3-star hotels were being constructed in Chennai. These hotels will add another 4,000 rooms by 2010 and the promoters include Hilton, ITC Chola, Rain Tree, Le Meridien, Deccan Park, Ginger Hotels and Marriott. The investment for 5-star hotels would be around Rs 1,10,000 to Rs 1,20,000 for a single room.

IT/ITES
Tamil Nadu is already home to Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, Wipro, Satyam, HCL, Patni Computers, I-Flex, Polaris and Hexaware as well as a galaxy of international majors - Accenture, Verizon, Xansa, Office Tiger, Standard Chartered Bank, ABN Amro, Alcatel, and Cognizant Technology.

Over the last 18 years, foreign direct investment worth Rs 25,683 crore had found its way into the state. That apart, projects worth Rs 16,000 crore have been finalised and are awaiting official announcements.

The upcoming IT parks in special economic zones (SEZs) across seven southern districts of Tamil Nadu, promoted by Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu (Elcot), are likely to attract investments of over Rs 25,000 crore and would create 540,000 direct and over 1.5 million indirect jobs over the next five years.

The Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation also announced an IT Investment Region in Chennai that will see an investment of Rs 25,000 crore.

Spanning an area of 1,400 sq km or 350,000 acres, the proposed ITIR will lie between the Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) and the Bangalore Highway. Corporates are expected to move in with an investment of Rs 4 lakh crore into the ITIR, which would generate roughly 400,000 additional jobs.

POWER & ENERGY
Shiv Das Meena, former executive director, Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB), on December 8, announced that the board was planning to add 4,250Mw of power over the next five years in a phased manner to tackle electricity shortage in the state. The investment to add 2250 Mw of power by 2010-11 alone would be over Rs 15,000 crore.

On November 26, TNEB and BHEL signed an MoU for setting up a 1,600 Mw thermal power plant at Udangudi in Tuticorin district with an investment of Rs 8,700 crore.

On July 25, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi said two atomic power plants were being planned in the state with 4,000 Mw each at a cost of Rs 32,000 crore.

TNEB, on May 13, announced it would spend Rs 925 crore on cogeneration plants and three power generation projects of 2,200 Mw were being planned at an investment of around Rs 10,725 crore.

The state government also announced that it would set up cogeneration plants in 15 cooperative and two public sector sugar mills in the state.

The TNEB will invest nearly Rs 925 crore over the next two years in this project to create an additional capacity of 185 Mw.

MANUFACTURING
The investment was led by the automobile sector. In February 2008, the alliance of French and Japanese automakers Renault-Nissan signed an MoU with the state government to set up an assembly plant in Oragadam near Chennai, with an investment of Rs 4,500 crore to manufacture 400,000 vehicles a year.

On May 2, Chennai-based MRF Ltd inked an MoU for setting up a tyre manufacturing plant near Chennai with an investment of Rs 900 crore.

On June 8, Motorola, the world's second largest handset-maker, said it would spend $100 million in stages to set up a manufacturing facility near Chennai,

On July 7, Daimler Hero Commercial Vehicles said it would invest Rs 3,000 crore for setting up a truck manufacturing facility at the Sipcot industrial park in Oragadam, which would manufacture 70,000 commercial vehicles a year. The investment may go up to Rs 4,000 crore.

On November 10, Delphi, a leading mobile electronics, transportation components, and systems technology manufacturer, announced that it is setting up an electronics components manufacturing facility at Oragadam with an investment of Rs 250 crore.

US-based firm Signet Solar Inc on March 18 signed an MoU with the state government to set up a Rs 2,000crore manufacturing facility near Chennai.

Nokia Siemens Networks Ltd, a subsidiary of Nokia Siemens Networks BV, Netherlands, plans to set up a Rs 300crore manufacturing facility for telecommunication products near Chennai. The company will set up the project at Oragadam.

Further, Hyundai Motor India in early 2008 said it was planning to invest $1 billion in its second plant near Chennai. Similarly, Ford India also announced a Rs 2,000-crore expansion plan for setting up a small car production facility and an engine-manufacturing unit in Chennai.

On December 17, Caterpillar India informed that it would set up its third manufacturing facility in the state for off-road vehicles with an investment of around Rs 800 crore.

SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES
On September 10, Bangalore-based industrial park developer Velankani Group said it would develop an SEZ for electronic hardware manufacturing and ITeS industries at Sriperumbudur, with an investment of Rs 1,300 crore.

Chennai-based Sri City Pvt Ltd is developing a multiproduct SEZ in public private partnership with an initial investment of Rs 1,000 crore. The SEZ, in the next 2-3 years, is expected to attract over Rs 17,500 crore investments.

Chennai Petroleum Corporation Ltd on September 8 said it was planning to set up a refinery-cum-petrochemical complex with an investment of around $10 billion.

The company is also planning to invest around Rs 8,000 crore as part of its expansion plan in the Manali refinery and has plans for a single buoy mooring with an investment of around Rs 800 crore.

Moser Baer signed an MoU for setting up a facility to manufacture silicon-based photovoltaic thin film modules and allied products on June 9. The proposed investment is around Rs 2,000 crore and the project will come up in Oragadam.

On June 12, Nagarjuna Fertilizers and Chemicals Limited signed an MoU with the state government for setting up a petroleum refinery plant in Cuddalore district with an investment of Rs 4,790 crore.

On February 7, MARG Ltd launch ed its mega infrastructure project – MARG Swarnabhoomi in over 1,000 acres. This city includes two notified SEZs with an investment of $400 million.

ETA Star Property Developers Ltd, a joint venture between Dubai-based Al-Ghuriair and Hong Kong-based Amana Investments, announced an integrated township project in Sriperumandur, with an investment plan of around Rs 7,500 crore.

INFRASTRUCTURE
State’s highways department along with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Southern Railway has initiated various road, bridge and railway construction projects with an investment of over Rs 7,500 crore.

The government is also planning to develop two minor ports at Punnakkayal and Manappad in Thoothukudi district, which would attract investments of over Rs 2,000 crore.

Likewise, the Chennai Port Trust would to invest around Rs 3,500 crore in the next two to three years to upgrade existing facilities. The Tuticorin Port Trust is investing Rs 5,200 crore.

And, L&T has proposed to set up an integrated ship building at Ennore, north of Chennai, with an investment of over Rs 2,000 crore.

Money from home

On December 8, Mexican electrical transformer maker Prolec-GE International announced a Rs 86.23-cr open offer to the shareholders of Chennai-based Indo Tech Transformers for up to 20 per cent stake at Rs 406 a share.

Tractors and Farm Equipment Ltd (TAFE), part of the Chennai-based Amalgamations group, said on October 13 it plans to set up a greenfield tractor manufacturing plant in Turkey. The company did not disclose the proposed investments, but according to reports this is around Rs 100 crore.

On October 1, Ashok Leyland, the flagship of the Hinduja Group entered into a 50:50 joint venture with US-based John Deere to manufacture and market construction equipment.

In August, Aditya Birla Group’s Aditya Birla Nuvo Ltd acquired a 56 per cent stake in retail broking firm Apollo Sindhoori Capital Investments Ltd for Rs 198.8 crore. In the same month, Chennai-based Orchid Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals made an investment in US-based drug discovery and development company Diakron Pharmaceuticals.

The Fortis Healthcare group acquired a 48 per cent stake in Chennai-based Malar Hospital for around Rs 42 crore and announced Rs 25 crore investment to upgrade the hospital.

On July 23, India Cements Ltd said it plans to increase the total capacity to 14 million tonne per annum by March 2009, at an investment of Rs 2,100 crore. The company also said it would invest over Rs 160 crore to set up a 40 Mw captive thermal power generation facilities. On June 23, flat glass products maker Saint-Gobain Glass India said it would invest Rs 1,000 crore for setting up a glass complex at Bhiwadi in Rajasthan.

While on May 5, the Murugappa group said it would invest Rs 1,300 crore in capacity expansions in 2008-09. The month of April saw Chennai-based Apollo Hospital announcing it would invest about Rs 1,000 crore in the next 18 months to set up about 15 hospitals in tier II and III cities in India.

On February 19, Sterling Infotech Group flagship company Siva Ventures Ltd announced the acquisition of Norwegian Shipping firm JB Ugland Shipping AS from JB Ugland Holding AS for Rs 1,200 crore.

And on February 25, Chennai-based Cavinkare Pvt Ltd acquired Salem-based Maa Fruits for Rs 30 crore.

Source: http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/2008-brings-rs-31333-cr-to-tamil-nadu/21/21/345303/

The year 2008 brought in some big-ticket investment commitments to Tamil Nadu. The state government signed 21 MoUs with leading multinational companies, which would see around Rs 31,333 crore flowing into the state.

The investments were mainly in automobile, power and energy, IT/ITeS, hospitality and infrastructure sectors. Here’s a recap of the investment scene in the state in the year just gone by.

Source: http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/2008-brings-rs-31333-cr-to-tamil-nadu/21/21/345303/

The real fact is most of the investment (I guess more than 90%) is in chennai and surroundings. Then how the remaining part of TN will get developed.

The Tamil Nadu government would bear 15 per cent of the infrastructure cost incurred by the textile industry for setting up common effluent treatment plants, said industries secretary, MFFarooqui on Tuesday.

The move is aimed at boosting the textile sector that is facing declining demand from the export markets.

“The state government will do everything that is necessary and possible to help traditional industries like textile, handicraft and leather amidst the slowing market. The state currently bears 15 per cent of the infrastructure costs incurred by tannery units for setting up CETP. We are ready to extend this facility to the textile industry too,” he said addressing a conference on Traditional Industries organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci).

The state government will provide 10 acres of land free of cost for setting up a footwear design and development institute at Irungattukottai, in Sriperumbudur, the minister added.

Source: http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/tn-to-help-textile-ind-seteffluent-treatment-plants/22/51/345418/

TIRUNELVELI: Department of Prisons, which has completed development works in prisons in the State on an outlay of Rs. 100 crore between 2002 and 2007, has drawn a proposal in the second phase to strengthen infrastructure and security arrangements at a cost of Rs. 400 crore.

Speaking to reporters here on Monday, Additional Director General of Police (Prisons) R. Natraj, after inaugurating quarters for prison personnel at Perumalpuram, said that the prisons, dating back to the British era, would be equipped with modern access control gadgets to intensify surveillance, particularly at the visitors’ room, by fitting cameras and to frisk the visitors to prevent clandestine transfer of banned materials to inmates.

Construction of compound wall, drainage channel, dormitory, well-equipped classrooms, development of prison industries and erection of electric fence would also be taken up under this proposal, which would be jointly borne by the Union and State Governments on 75:25 basis.

Construction of a district prison in Tuticorin would begin shortly on 9 acres of land while a similar work had been started at Virudhunagar. Open prisons would come up at Sivaganga, Thanjavur and Cuddalore.

On installation of jammers on the prison campus to distort mobile phone signals, Mr. Natraj said that the department had commenced trials in some places in this regard though installation of the equipment on a sprawling prison complex like Puzhal would be a costly affair.

He said that the alert prison personnel had seized 93 mobile phones during 2007 and this number rose to 156 in 2008.

On communal division and subsequent clash between the inmates, the ADGP said: “It (prison) is also a township or residential area where trivial squabbling is common. But we take earnest steps to bring about attitudinal change in the mind of inmates through education, yoga and sports activities.”

Housing complex


Mr. Natraj also inaugurated a housing complex constructed at Perumalpuram at a cost of Rs. 2.36 crore for the prison personnel.

He said that 1,001 quality houses had been constructed for the personnel attached to nine central prisons in the State during the past four years by the Tamil Nadu Police Housing Corporation as part of the ongoing prison modernisation programme.

“While the Perumalpuram housing complex, having 50 houses, has been completed within a year, 20 more houses will be added in a year. The housing complex at Madurai will be opened shortly since it is nearing completion,” Mr. Natraj said.

He informed that a two-wheeler shed would also be established in their colony and asked the beneficiaries to clean and put into use the well.

Source: http://www.hindu.com/2009/01/13/stories/2009011351540300.htm

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2009/01/16/stories/2009011652011500.htm

New Delhi, Jan. 15 The Board of Approval for Special Economic Zones has approved eight fresh proposals for establishing SEZs across the country, while deferring a decision on Larsen & Toubro-promoted SEZ for IT/ITES at Pawai, Mumbai.

At a meeting held here on Thursday under the Chairmanship of the Commerce Secretary, Mr Gopal K. Pillai, the board gave formal approvals to three IT/ITES SEZs, out of which two would be located in Tamil Nadu and one in Maharashtra.

A port-based SEZ, including port development, has been approved for Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd in Karaikal district, Puducherry.

JSW Aluminum-promoted SEZ for aluminium sector and a multi-services SEZ promoted by Navi Mumbai SEZ Pvt Ltd have also been cleared. With these, the formal approvals for SEZs have crossed 550 out of which 278 SEZs have already been notified, official sources said.

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu’s first Central University will be inaugurated by Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi at Tiruvarur on February 14. A 500-acre site has been identified near Vandampalayam and land acquisitions are in progress, according to officials from the Higher Education Department. However, the inauguration will be held at the temporary buildings identified by the Tiruvarur District Collector to house the University. Classes are scheduled to begin later this year.

Source: http://www.hindu.com/2009/01/19/stories/2009011954000400.htm

After four attempts, the century-old Nature-cure Publishing House at Pudukkottai has devised the ‘Visai Tamil’ software which boasts of automatic spell check, dictionary, font conversion and transliteration features among others.

This software is believed to be the most advanced of its kind and would reduce time spent on correcting grammatical mistakes and making Tamil proof-reading easy.

‘Visai Tamil’ has been developed as a full-fledged software and released this month.
The E-dictionary of the software has a collection of over 1, 35, 000 Tamil words and 65,000 English words. Being an ‘application independent’ software, Visai Tamil can be used while working with Adobe PageMaker, Photoshop, Coreldraw, InDesign, Quark Express, Internet explorer and Microsoft applications.
Mr T. Vasudevan, administrator of Nature-cure Publishing House, said, ‘‘The software is capable of handling 119 fonts and 18 keyboard layouts.
Most of the rules of grammar included in the auto correct option are based on Tholkappiam and Nannool. At present the word collection is 23 lakh and we are working towards increasing it.’’
On the software’s exclusive features, he said, ‘‘Once the user finishes typing, a summary with a list of errors will appear below the paragraph. All the spelling and grammatical mistakes can be corrected using the dictionary option. The ‘sorting’ feature will be useful to index the headings and tables in Tamil numerals.’’
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Professor V. Krishnamurthy, who developed Ponmozhi, a Tamil spell check software in 2004, said, ‘‘Developing a Tamil spell check is tedious due to the innumerable extensions for root verbs and font conversion problems. Visai Tamil provides a platform for font conversion. The dictionary could be improved though

http://s1.deccanchronicle.com/chennai/software-developed-proof-read-tamil-837

It is “an ethno-archaeological project” with a multi-disciplinary approach, says Project Officer

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The project has already been completed in Jharkhand and Orissa

There are over 80 sites in Tamil Nadu with paintings in rock-shelters
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http://www.hindu.com/2009/01/26/images/2009012653302001.jpg
A dolmen at Mallachandiram in Tamil Nadu.

http://www.hindu.com/2009/01/26/images/2009012653302002.jpg
Rock art inside a dolmen at Maharajakadai in Tamil Nadu.

CHENNAI: A stupendous project to document rock art in several hundred sites in jungles, hills, caves and dolmens in 14 States is under way, courtesy the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) of the Union Department of Culture.

Bansi Lal Malla, Project Officer, IGNCA, called it “a special type of documentation” that involved archaeologists, artists, geographers, geologists, art historians, botanists, anthropologists and folklorists. It was “an ethno-archaeological project” with a multi-disciplinary approach, he said. K.K. Chakravarty, member-secretary, IGNCA, is the driving force behind the mission.

The IGNCA has built a special team to execute this “national mission” that aims at not only conserving the prehistoric paintings in rock shelters and dolmens but deciphering them.

The ravages wrought by nature and human vandalism of the paintings are under study. Dr. Malla said: “We are associating the local people in the project by telling them how important these sites are…We are studying the nature of rock on which these paintings were made [several thousand years ago]. The role of geologists is important in this.”

The project has already been completed in Jharkhand and Orissa. The first phase is over in Tamil Nadu, Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Orissa. Rock art sites in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka are also under study.

In Tamil Nadu, the project is being executed by the IGNCA in association with Pondicherry University. Dr. K. Rajan, Professor and Head, Department of History, Pondicherry University, is coordinating the programme.

In the first phase from March 16 to 24, 2008 in the State, a multi-disciplinary team covered the rock art sites in Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts.

The sites included Mallachandiram, Maharajakadai, Mayiladumparai, Oramanagunta, Paiyampalli, Mallapadi, Oppattavadi, Thallapallam and Gangavaram. The second phase of documentation is in progress now in the Palani hills and it will be completed on January 29.

“The earliest aesthetic expression of the world is rock art. It serves as an important source material to understand the mental world of the prehistoric people. It provides an insight into the bygone age,” said Dr. Rajan.

He estimated that there were more than 80 sites in Tamil Nadu, with paintings in rock-shelters (caverns) and Iron Age (about 1,000 B.C.) dolmens. Most of the sites are in northern Tamil Nadu.

“They are noticed in association with the Mesolithic Age (circa 10,000 B.C.), Neolithic Age (3,000 B.C) and Iron Age and to some extent in early historic phase,” he explained.

Some of the paintings are found in caves with Jaina beds sculpted on the floor and Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions on the cave’s brow.

The subject of these paintings, said K.T. Gandhirajan, a team member to document the Tamil Nadu sites, were a varied lot: hunting scenes, battle scenes, men riding horses, men with bird-like masks with prominent beaks, deer, elephants, bisons, decorative motifs etc.. They have been done in solid form or outline, using red ochre or white kaolin.

Dr. Malla said all the rock art sites studied under the project would be photographed and filmed on video. There would be telecasts and a website. Compact discs and publications would be brought out.

Source: http://www.hindu.com/2009/01/26/stories/2009012653302000.htm

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unit will be on stream in four months

Plans its own cruise terminal in Goa
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CHENNAI: The $500 million U.K.-based Foresight Group, which is into shipping and oil drilling, has decided to make India the vehicle for growing its non-core business. The Foresight Group has already moved its Executive Director Utsav Seth to Chennai to supervise the Indian operations.

In an interaction with The Hindu, Ravi K. Mehrotra, founder of Foresight Group, said around 15 per cent of the group’s revenue came from Indian operations. This would grow to $200 million in three years, he said. In India, the focus of the Foresight Group would be on sectors such as hospitality, shoes and cruise shipping.

Mr. Mehrotra said being a self-consuming nation India had a lot of strength in its domestic economy. He envisaged the Indian shoe industry to emerge as a recession-proof segment once the need for wearing shoes arose.

In this context, he said the group was setting up a shoe unit in Ambur in Tamil Nadu to cater to the needs of one of the largest shoe makers in Italy, which had decided to shift its manufacturing base to India. The Ambur facility would go on stream in four months, he said. The entire production from this unit — a joint initiative of Foresight and Flyslot of Italy — would go entirely to meet the needs of the Italian company, he added.

He said a research centre had already come up in Ambur, housing designers from Italy also. Mr. Mehrotra said Foresight had already 24 shoe retail stores through the franchise route in India. This would go up to 1,000 by 2010, he added.

At present, the products are imported and sold under the brand name of Pavers England. Mr. Mehrotra said Foresight would also be making comfort shoes — for both men and women — at Ambur.

The project for domestic production of shoes would come up soon, he added.

The group, he said, had a shoe component unit in Puducherry, which basically served as an ‘exporting unit’.

In 2006, the group had launched Indian Ocean Cruises (IOC) from Goa. Now, IOC was concentrating on Port Louis as its home port for Mauritius operations, which began in December 2008.

Mr. Mehrotra said the long sea coast in India held huge potential for attracting Anglo-Saxon tourists who sought out sun, sand and sea. In this context, he said Foresight was willing to set up a cruise terminal on its own in Goa if the Government permitted.

Source: http://www.hindu.com/2009/01/27/stories/2009012752261300.htm

VILLUPURAM: An industrial estate of the Small Industries Development Corporation (SIDCO) is being set up on 100 acres of land near Ulundurpet.

For the purpose, 40.5 hectares at Asanur in Ulundurpet taluk and three hectares at Koonthalur in Kallakurichi taluk have been acquired.

Facilities worth Rs 4.25 crore would be provided there, according to R.Palanisamy, District Collector.

In a statement here, the Collector noted that in all 155 small and medium units would be set up for which land measuring 10 cents (for small units) and 25 cents to one acre (for medium units) would be allotted.

Already 55 entrepreneurs had applied for land and got the allotment.

SIDCO Chairman-cum-Managing Director T.Rajendran along with Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd officials would meet the prospective entrepreneurs at the Collectorate here on January 31 to discuss about the industrial prospects.

Further details could be obtained from N.Durairaj, SIDCO Branch Manager, Cuddalore. (Cell number 9445006573).

http://www.hindu.com/2009/01/28/stories/2009012850450300.htm

The real fact is most of the investment (I guess more than 90%) is in chennai and surroundings. Then how the remaining part of TN will get developed.

Guys, In general this is the fate across the State and even in countries ...If you look at the Mumbai/Delhi/NCR/Hyd, there are very few projects will be setup outside the capital.....Even its evident in the city like London/Paris/Dubai etc.

And there are few bad examples that may also made the investor to run away from South TN..like the TATA steel and Sedhu projects... And going forward the Ramadoss team and more inclination towards LTTE could make the situation more grim...

Whether to laugh or Cry.... :) for the Pity Investment that has been received by the TN.....Look at Karnataka on the single shot they got 75K....

May be we need a single party with high handed to control all the unwanted rallies that affects the Industrial growth..

http://in.biz.yahoo.com/090128/203/6zdni.html

Suzlon's Rs 49,720-crore project was among the 15 proposals with investment of Rs 75,541.25 crore, cleared by the high-level clearance committee chaired by the Karnataka chief minister BS Yeddyurappa on Wednesday.

Guys, In general this is the fate across the State and even in countries ...If you look at the Mumbai/Delhi/NCR/Hyd, there are very few projects will be setup outside the capital.....Even its evident in the city like London/Paris/Dubai etc.

And there are few bad examples that may also made the investor to run away from South TN..like the TATA steel and Sedhu projects... And going forward the Ramadoss team and more inclination towards LTTE could make the situation more grim...

Whether to laugh or Cry.... :) for the Pity Investment that has been received by the TN.....Look at Karnataka on the single shot they got 75K....

May be we need a single party with high handed to control all the unwanted rallies that affects the Industrial growth..

http://in.biz.yahoo.com/090128/203/6zdni.html

Suzlon's Rs 49,720-crore project was among the 15 proposals with investment of Rs 75,541.25 crore, cleared by the high-level clearance committee chaired by the Karnataka chief minister BS Yeddyurappa on Wednesday.
Leave karnataka, gujarat will be getting 12 Lakh Crore investment only after their vibrant gujarat investor summit'09. Comparing to that 0.3 Lakh Crore investment in TN is peanuts...

^^
Do you have any breakup for those 12 Lakh Crores proposals ?

It will produce 1,000 cubic metres of potable water per day

CHENNAI: The Koodankulam desalination plant in Tirunelveli district is ready and will yield 1,000 cubic metres of potable water per day, said Vladislav V. Antonyuk, Consul General, Consulate General of the Russian Federation, here on Friday.

Addressing a seminar on ‘CIS countries – business and investment opportunities,’ organised by EEPC India Southern Region and the Small Industries Development Bank of India, he said that Russia was helping India build its biggest nuclear power plant, initially consisting of two nuclear reactors, followed by the addition of four more units later, at Koodankulam. Ultimately, it would meet the energy demands of the State.

According to Mr.Antonyuk, 90 per cent of the construction work had been taken up by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL). Russia was helping India to build and run safer and more efficient light-water reactors.

Massive savings

“It is the best option available for India. So far, there has been no problem with regard to building of two reactors, and it will result in great savings for India.

We are working with Kerala Minerals and Metals Ltd for the last two-and-a-half years in setting up Titanium sponge plant for processing and smelting of titanium,” he said.

On the economic meltdown, he said the CIS countries would overcome it by 2009. It offered opportunities for Indian exporters.

He said for a country to achieve higher growth, investments had to be made in infrastructure such as roads, power plants and desalination plants.

Belarus calling

In his address, Oleg Laptenok, Belarus Ambassador, said that Belarus was attracting greater attention these days. The two-way trade grew at nearly 100 per cent per annum from 2003 to 2005.

“The real economic potential of Belarus has not been exploited and, therefore, it makes it justifiable for Indian companies to intensify their activities for increasing bilateral trade.”

Mahesh Desai, EEPC National vice-chairman, said, “Even though India’s relationship with CIS countries has been close and cordial, it has not fructified to a large extent. We have to look at other areas to have long and sustainable relationship.”

R.K. Mutha, EEPC Deputy Regional Chairman, Southern Region, said that they were leading a business delegation to Mexico and Belarus to take part in ‘TECMA and METALL Working ’09’ show from March 10 to 20.

Indo-European reverse buyer-seller meet would be held in Chennai and Bangalore on February 23 and 27.

M. Ganesan, EEPC Regional Director, Southern Region, suggested either multiple-entry or double entry visas should be given to SMEs to boost trade.

Source: http://www.hindu.com/2009/01/31/stories/2009013151470500.htm

The Mega Food Park Scheme, initiated by the Centre, aims to encourage public-private partnership in creating rural infrastructure in food processing sector. The scheme, approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs in September 2008, envisages setting up 10 mega foods parks in India i.e. Chittoor (Andhra Pradesh), Dharmapuri (Tamil Nadu), Mandya (Karnataka), Pune-Satara region (Maharashtra), Jangipur (West Bengal), Guwahati (northeast), Rae Bareilly (Uttar Pradesh), Ranchi (Jharkhand), Hardwar (Uttarakhand) and Ludhiana-Jalandhar region (Punjab).

For instance, Unity Infraprojects Ltd, Mumbai, is developing the mega food park near Jalandhar at a cost of around Rs 360 crore. The facility will be established on around 100 acres and will consist of 30-35 food processing units.

Source: http://www.projectsmonitor.com/NEWPROJECTS/rs-500-cr-mega-food-park-scheme

Engineers execute equipment erection work perfectly

http://www.hindu.com/2009/02/02/images/2009020260151101.jpg
The containment dome of the second reactor building, seen through the barrel-hole of the first reactor building of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project in Tamil Nadu.

CHENNAI: The view through the barrel-hole, situated at a height of 31 metres, is stunning. It frames the massive containment dome of the reactor building of the second unit of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) in Tamil Nadu.

Tower cranes are swinging around the dome at a great height and the ground below is buzzing with activity. A little away is the fuel storage building, painted in light yellow, where the ready-to-load enriched uranium fuel assemblies for the first reactor have been stacked up.

Of the two Russian reactors under construction at Kudankulam, the first unit is fast nearing completion. It will be commissioned by the middle of 2009. Each unit will generate 1,000 MWe. Although the reactors are imported from Russia, the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited is building them.

A misnomer

The name barrel-hole is a misnomer. It is a massive circular opening, 9.9 metres wide, at a height of 31 metres in the reactor building. Erecting the reactor equipment inside was no easy job.

A powerful crane winched up very heavy equipment such as the reactor pressure vessel, which weighed 320 tonnes, four steam generators of 306 tonnes each and a 180-tonne pressuriser. Then they were moved into the reactor building through the barrel-hole and wheeled inside on a specially designed railtrack. When the entire reactor is ready, a 22-tonne door, called air-lock, will seal the barrel-hole. The reactor building itself is 80 metres tall.

K.C. Purohit, Project Director, KKNPP, said: “About 98 per cent of the civil construction has been completed for the first unit. On the mechanical side, we have completed 95 per cent of the equipment erection. On the piping side, which is an important front, we have the primary and secondary circuits, and on the turbine side too, a majority of the piping has been installed … The good news is that our Indian engineers have absorbed the [Russian] technology and executed the erection work in the most efficient manner.”

A.K. Pal, Chief Construction Engineer, gave a glimpse of the complexity of the operation involved: “The reactor pressure vessel, weighing 320 tonnes, has to be lowered inside without a scratch. We have to maintain its mirror-finish.” All the equipment had to be erected in a specialised manner in a confined space.

“Most difficult work”

K.S. Rao, Project Director, Kudankulam 3 and 4, called the installation of such equipment “the most difficult assignment I and Pal have done since 1970.” It demanded devising of methods and procedures, and building of tackles, assemblies and testing facilities.

“You can imagine the complexity of tooling,” said Mr. Purohit, “when you handle equipment, each weighing 300 tonnes. This is a typical operation in which mechanical erection and civil construction have to go in tandem.” According to M.I. Joy, Additional Chief Engineer (Site Planning), most of the turbine equipment were in place too. ith the entire enriched uranium fuel required for the first two years of operation of the first unit having arrived at Kudankulam, the next significant milestone will be the loading of the fuel into the first unit in the second quarter of 2009 and thereafter its commissioning.

Source: http://www.hindu.com/2009/02/02/stories/2009020260151100.htm

^^
Do you have any breakup for those 12 Lakh Crores proposals ?
I read in times of india. U can see their website http://www.vibrantgujarat.com/

TIRUNELVELI: The Department of Tourism of the State Government has planned to spend over Rs.30 crore to strengthen infrastructure facilities in some of the towns in the State to attract more visitors throughout the year.

Speaking to The Hindu here on Monday, Commissioner of Tourism and Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation M. Rajaram said that the State was taking measures to augment infrastructure facilities at Tranquebar (Tharangampaadi), Pulicat Lake, Kolli Hills, Sripuram Golden Temple, Mamallapuram, Tiruchendur and Courtallam, all at a cost of Rs. 30 crore.

While serious efforts were being made to provide all basic amenities, the department was also gradually creating a congenial atmosphere to the guests by bringing about a complete attitudinal change in the minds of auto and taxi drivers, hoteliers, traders, etc., through methodical training programmes. “Precisely, they are being transformed into ‘Ambassadors of Tourism’ through these training programmes,” said Dr. Rajaram. Booklet on every tourist destination with mobile phone numbers, addresses and even photographs of drivers, those trained by the department, will be brought out, he added.

Yet another major drive has been initiated by the department to ensure cleanliness at every point of tourist destinations, particularly on temple premises and beaches, Mr. Rajaram said.

Source: http://www.hindu.com/2009/02/03/stories/2009020357930100.htm

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India has permitted the DHAN Foundation Madurai to establish, maintain and operate a Community Radio Station at Nagapattinam, Tamilnadu. The Community Radio Station is expected to be operational within three months as per the agreement.

DHAN Foundation, Madurai is a Non Governmental Organization. The Kalanjiam Community Radio Station will be established at Village-Vizhunthamavadi, Block-Keelaiyur, Distt-Nagapattinam, Tamilnadu.

It may be recalled that Nagapattinam is a tsunami affected area. The Community Radio Station is expected to serve particularly, the women, farmers, fishermen and empower them with information and communication critical for disaster preparedness and management. The community management committee has made linkages with the local government institutions like panchayats, health centers, schools and disaster management related Government institutions to establish a disaster management mechanism to face natural calamities.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting expects that the Community Radio initiative of the Ministry will provide an opportunity to the local communities to be better informed about the developmental initiatives of the Government and promote transparency in the implementation of the schemes.

http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=47290

Hello Guys

Nice Job, As a Mad lover of great Chennai city I found this forum is right place to share my thoughts and ideas. I live in Pennsylvania but my thoughts are always about chennai and take pride in its growth and I will try
to do best to contribute.

Needless to say I also love Tamil Nadu the great State and my country India.

I like to thank all the contributers in Chennai and Tamil Nadu.

CHENNAI: Primary teachers in Tamil Nadu schools have a reason to smile. Students of the state have ranked first in language and mathematical capabilities in a countrywide survey conducted among Class III students by the NCERT.


In Tamil Nadu, which was the highest performing state with a score of 75.2 per cent in Mathematics and 79.74 per cent in language skils, the success can be attributed to Activity Based Learning (ABL), claimed an official at the Elementary Education Department.

The survey results, published recently, also point to rural students having better capabilities than children in urban areas and debunk talks of caste or class background making a difference.

Following Tamil Nadu closely is West Bengal with 69.79 per cent in Mathematics and 78.15 per cent in language skills. However, it is bad news for Puducherry, where 67 per cent of the students have scored less than 40 per cent in Mathematics. So is the case with Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chhattisgarh and Chandigarh where the average score is less than 50 per cent in reading and comprehension. In TN, nearly 50 per cent children scored more than 80 per cent in Mathematics.

Students performed especially well in fraction and decimal. With both these factors, the state becomes the best performing state in academic abilities ranking first in reading, comprehension, grammar and usage, language and mathematics.

The education department official said teaching, learning material, relevant teacher pupil ratio and others contributed 28 per cent to language skills and 17 per cent to Mathematics achievement.

Language has more takers, as about 62 per cent of those surveyed said that they liked it more than Mathematics.

In the survey, 12 states/ UTs scored better than the national average, 16 states/UTs scored lower than the national average and 4 states scored at par with the national average. As far as the availability of infrastructure is concerned, it is a positive result as the survey points out that availability of study materials like charts, maps and globes was not an issue in 87 to 94 per cent of schools. The survey sampled 7,341 schools.



http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=TN+students+a+class+apart+in+maths,+language+skills&artid=i1QMciZY27s=&SectionID=lifojHIWDUU=&MainSectionID=wIcBMLGbUJI=&SectionName=rSY%7C6QYp3kQ=&SEO=

Govt gives clearance to ultra-modernize TN city roads

The Tamil Nadu road urban infrastructure project (TURIP), a plan conceived by the TN municipal administration and water supply (MAWS)

department to develop road systems of international standards in ten towns in the state, has received clearance from the state government today.

""No pot holes, no digging by service providers, no sewage on the road, no flooding, and no relaying" goes the ambition of the project. The roads planned under this project are also expected to have lanes for pedestrians and cyclists, and benches by the roadside. "

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4089616.cms

VILLUPURAM: A compost park is being set up at Kottakuppam town panchayat near here with a financial assistance of Rs. 36.30 lakh from the Asian Development Bank under the Tsunami Emergency Assistant Project (TEAP).

The park will have a vermicompost yard, a biofertilizer unit and a plastic recycling unit. A two-member ADB team of Girish Mahajan, Environment Officer, and Ramesh Swarankar, Social Development Officer, visited the one-acre site recently.

It appreciated the efforts made by K. Gopal, Commissioner of Town Panchayats, and R. Palanisamy, Villupuram Collector, in setting up the park.

The park will be able to produce 15 tonnes of biofertilizer a month from dung. The plastic recycling unit being set up at the cost of Rs. 4 lakh was nearing completion, according to P. Velusami, Specialist (Livelihood), Commissionerate of Town Panchayats.

In a statement released here, Mr. Velusami said that a total number of 51 self-help groups would be involved in running the park.

Once on stream, the park would enable the SHG members to earn an additional income of Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 2,000 a month.

The solid waste management SHG federation had already purchased modern machinery for the plastic recycling unit at the cost of Rs 2.70 lakh, with 50 per cent subsidy from the TEAP and 50 per cent loan from the Kottakuppam branch of Indian Bank.

The project site would also have landfill site facilities to dispose of toxic medical waste and other hazardous waste. P. Thiruvengadam, Assistant Director of Town Panchayat, Cuddalore zone, Kandasamy, Special Deputy Collector, tsunami project, Villupuram district, Bhanumathy Jayamoorthy, chairperson, and Sabeera, vice-chairperson of Kottakuppam Town Panchayat, accompanied the ADB team.

Source: http://www.hindu.com/2009/02/06/stories/2009020652890300.htm

10 Local Bodies To Get Futuristic Road System


Chennai: No more potholes or service providers digging up roads. No more sewage on the roads or flooding. To top it all, motorists and pedestrians will not have to fight for space. Add to that street lights, greenery and benches by the roadside.
Seems incredible but the state thinks it is possible. Valsarawalkam and Alandur in the outskirts of the city could have such roads in place, if the state’s Tamil Nadu Urban Road Infrastructure Project (TURIP) shapes up as conceived.
With the government giving the go-ahead to the municipal administration department to appoint consultants for TURIP, 10 urban local bodies — seven municipalities and three corporations — in the state will soon get detailed designs for such futuristic road systems shortly. If successful, the concept could save hundreds of crores of rupees spent on relaying roads from time to time.
Finance minister K Anbazhagan had announced in the 2008-09 budget that TURIP would be implemented from this fiscal with a view to upgrading urban roads in the state to international standards at an estimated cost of Rs 1,000 crore (a year) with multiple sources of financing, including a sum of Rs 147 crore due as arrears of funds devolved from the state.
As an innovative funding mechanism, a portion from the assigned revenue payable to corporations on account of surcharge on stamp duty, and, if possible, from motor vehicle tax, and bonds to be issued by the TURIF (Tamil Nadu Urban Infrastructure Fund) will also be utilised, official sources said.
“TURIP will be taken up in municipalities and corporation areas where underground drainage systems has been completed,’’ says Dr M S Srinivasan, advisor, TNUIFSL (Tamil Nadu Urban Infrastructure Financial Services Limited). As UGD damages roads, the government has chosen urban bodies with a complete UGD system.
Officials plan to try out the new system in the outskirts before bringing the concept to the metropolis.
Under TURIP, the contractor and consultant would both have the responsibility of maintenance for five years. With this arrangement, any blame game between consultants and contractors on whether the design had been given proper shape or whether there was any flaw in the design can be avoided, municipal officials said.
Each of the 10 local bodies will have a consultant each to prepare the detailed design. Apart from relocation of electric poles and telephone posts, ducting of various cables will be done without any need to dig the roads again. After five years, the urban local bodies would take over their maintenance, municipal officials said. Tenders inviting consultants would be floated in a week, officials added.

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOI&BaseHref=TOICH/2009/02/07&PageLabel=7&EntityId=Ar00700&ViewMode=HTML&GZ=T

^^same news repeated three times in same post...

^^same news repeated three times in same post...

Thanks for pointing out.

Chennai, Feb. 6 Terming the widespread speculation that hotel Le Royal Meridien in Chennai is put on the market as “untrue and totally baseless”, Mr Palani G. Periasamy, Chairman, Appu Hotels Ltd, that owns the property, said, “We are, on the contrary, renovating the property at an expense of Rs 75 crore to comply with Meridien’s new specifications”.

According to him, the idea is also to add another 15 rooms to the existing 240. “We consider this as a strategic investment, and we are committed to making a tangible presence in the hospitality industry,” he said.

The company is also planning to launch its new Rs 225-crore five-star property in Coimbatore by the end of this calendar year. The hotel, again to be managed by Meridien, will have 250 rooms. Appu Hotels has also taken a 20-room four-star resort in Kumbakonam on a 15-year lease from the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation, and is planning to add another 25 rooms at an investment of Rs 5 crore to make it commercially viable.

“We have already invested Rs 7 crore in refurbishing the property.”

Besides, the company has a nine-acre property on East Coast Road where it plans to build a resort, and a mega mall and a hotel on 24 acres near Chennai airport “probably with a joint venture partner”.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2009/02/07/stories/2009020751141500.htm

Thanks for pointing out.:)

To be ready by October at Vaitheeswarankovil, Tarangampadi in Nagapattinam district

NAGAPATTINAM: Construction of new bus stands is in full swing at Vaitheeswarankovil and Tarangampadi in the district and will be completed by end of October this year, said M. Jayaraman, Collector, on Saturday.

The Collector accompanied by town panchayat officials who inspected the construction of the new bus stands and other development works being carried out under the Anaithu Perooratchi Anna Marumalarchi Thittam in Tarangampadi, Vaitheeswarankovil, Manalmedu and Thittacherry town panchayats, said that new bus stands were being constructed at a total cost of Rs.1.85 crore at Tarangampadi (Rs.95 lakh) and Vaitheeswarankovil (Rs.90 lakh).

He said that the new bus stands would have all infrastructure facilities including 13 shops, toilet and protected drinking water facilities and have parking facilities for 14 buses at a time.

The Collector had instructed the officials to complete all the works before October this year.

Mr Jayaraman said that the encroachments on the Morakaratheru irrigation channel near Vaitheeswarankovil would be removed and a small bridge would be constructed across the channel.

Several development works will be taken up in Vaitheeswarankovil and Tarangampadi town panchayats during 2009-10 and in Kuttalam and Velankanni town panchayats during the year 2010-11, he said.

Mr. Jayaraman pointed out that various development works including construction of community hall, cement concrete roads, overhead water tank, burial grounds and office buildings under the Anaithu Perooratchi Anna Marumalarchi Thittam were completed in Thittacherry and Thalainayar town panchayats at a cost of Rs.1.07 crore last year. Similarly, many development works under the scheme, is being implemented during the current year in Manalmedu and Kilvelur town panchayats at a total cost of Rs.1 crore.

The Collector said that Tarangampadi town panchayat had been adjudged as the best in the district in implementing the solid waste management project and pointed out that the town panchayats of Thalainayar, Velankanni, Kilvelur, Thittacherry, Kuttalam, Manalmedu and Vaitheeswarankovil were taking up implementation of solid waste management effectively.

K. Arumugam, Assistant Director of Town Panchayat, G. Krishnaswamy, M. Mohanraj, S. Viswanathan, town panchayat presidents of Tarangampadi, Vaitheeswarankovil and Manalmedu respectively, town panchayat executive officers K. Balasubramanian, J. Sundaramurthy and S. Mohanarangan, accompanied the Collector during the inspection.

Source: http://www.hindu.com/2009/02/08/stories/2009020854960700.htm

Around 50 per cent work has been completed on the Karur Textile Park, and is expected to be completed by August 2009.

The park is among the 40 parks planned by the Central Government under the integrated textile park scheme, wherein the government provides a grant of up to 40 per cent of the cost of setting up a textile park with a ceiling of Rs.40 crore.

The park is being set up at an investment of Rs.120 crore. The company has received the grant amount of Rs.36.27 crore and availed financial support from banks to the tune of Rs.65 crore while shareholders’ contribution accounts for the remaining sum of about Rs.15 crore.

The park is coming up on 110 acre on the Karur-Madurai road. It is located about 10 km away from Karur town and will house 350 looms.

http://www.projectstoday.com/News/NewsDetails.aspx?nid=25274

Officials asked to expedite implementation of the Rs. 20 crore project

Udhagamandalam: A high altitude training centre for sportspersons was likely to be established here within a year, said Khadi Board Minister K. Ramachandran, here on Wednesday.

Materials

He was participating in a function organised by the Sports Development of Authority of Tamil Nadu to distribute play materials to town and village panchayats.

In his address, he said that the Minister and officials concerned had been requested to expedite the implementation of the Rs. 20 crore project.

Allocation

He pointed out that the government had earmarked Rs. 5 crore during the last fiscal for providing play materials to 12,618 village panchayats and 561 town panchayats in Tamil Nadu.

The Minister added that the objective was to encourage children in rural areas to participate in sports activities and in the process maintain good health.

In the Nilgiris district, 11 town panchayats and 35 village panchayats would benefit from the scheme.

He urged the presidents of various panchayats to ensure that the scheme served its purpose.

Source: http://www.hindu.com/2009/02/12/stories/2009021251250300.htm

http://dkn.dinakaran.co.in/1322009/Dipr%20814%20_%2027%20x%202.jpg

Are the proposing BRTS in all the corridors?

But in this TURIP project Coimbatore is left???? Big disappointment .,

Chennai: Mauritius-based Pavers Foresight Smart Ventures (PFSV) has acquired UK-based Equity Shoes Ltd in an all cash deal. Financial details are not known. The deal envisages the shifting of manufacturing operations of the British shoemaker to Tamil Nadu. PFSV is a joint venture between the Foresight Group of the UK and US-based Pavers Ltd.
“We are in talks with a Chennaibased shoe manufacturer who will get the outsourcing contract from us,” said Utsav Seth, CEO, PFSV. The partner would be announced in the next few days. “We will give our partners the technical know-how, the production kits, and research facility and the partner will take care of the working capital,” said Seth. The factory will be operational by about 12 weeks.
Close to about 97% of the leather footwear industry makes men’s footwear, there are only 2 or 3 premium women’s footwear manufacturers, said Seth. “It requires special skills, components in terms of heels and soles,” he said. “It was always our plan to enter women’s footwear and Equity has survived in a high cost centre like the UK.”
Equity will also maintain its product development, marketing and distribution teams in the UK and Australia. “We expect a temporary dip because of the migration process, but in the next three years plan to export 4 lakh pairs contributing to the exports by about $ 12 million,” he said. This will mean a 20% addition to the group’s exports. This deal is part of PFSV’s expansion plan in India.

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^^

Coimbatore, Erode and Salem totally forgotten for this project.:bash:

The vehicle population is more in Coimbatore and Salem, but this government has not included both the cities.

Trichy and Salem was not included in JNNURM scheme, atleast Trichy got included in TURIP project, Salem again neglected!!

^^ Politicians in Salem are more interested in drilling arterial city roads using advanced equipments. How can we expect them to get such nice schemes for the city?

I always doubt why TN govt is thinking to fund the huge amount to small towns which doesnt require immediate requirement for this( though i dont oppose ) kind of roads with minimal traffic.
TN govt should have considered to promote all the corporations rather 7 municipalities to have these kind of modern roads. These cities are prone to traffic jams, water logging in the arterial roads, digging for electric poles, telephones etc etc., really this TN govt is useless.
For instance they have excluded the second largest city of TN neatly which is begging for infrastructure requirements.I think Mr.MK thinks the 6-lanning of avinashi road itself is a big ultra modern road project.( till that pathetic road is waiting for a median and pedestrian platforms).

Complete info on TURIP is provided in the below link.

http://www.tn.gov.in/gorders/maws/maws_e_235_2008.pdf

But in this TURIP project Coimbatore is left???? Big disappointment .,

^^

Coimbatore, Erode and Salem totally forgotten for this project.:bash:

The vehicle population is more in Coimbatore and Salem, but this government has not included both the cities.

Coimbatore and Salem have not been left out, but have not been included in the first phase. I think they have included cities and towns in the first phase were most part of underground drainage scheme has been completed.

India, which has a “demographic dividend”, should harness this advantage by creating more jobs and improving healthcare, education and infrastructure facilities, Nandan M. Nilekani, co-founder of Infosys Ltd, said here on Friday.

A country had “demographic dividend” when the birth rate started slowing down and for 30 or 40 years, bulk of the population was in the working age. At this period, the economy, income and savings grew and “the country is in the peak of growth, creativity and innovation.” He said, “We need to invest in human capital at this time so that the demographic dividend does not become demographic disaster.”

Some of the “ideas” that the country had agreed upon were its human capital, entrepreneurship, attitude towards English and technology and globalisation.

“We now view our people as human capital and this is the best capital to have.” At the same time demographic dividend should be harnessed by providing enough jobs for all those in the working age and supporting them with healthcare, education and infrastructure facilities.

The country should create 270 million jobs in 20 years and globalisation helped in this endeavour. The jobs should be created in the domestic market and by servicing overseas economies. India had a diverse set of entrepreneurs who were inventive. The quality and depth of entrepreneurship was unique. And, for India, English was today a language of aspiration. Earlier, it united Indians to fight for freedom. The attitude towards technology had also changed in the country. At present, it was empowering. For instance, about eight million mobile phones were sold a month.

Apart from these changes, the country had agreed on certain issues that should be implemented or were just making progress.

This included: primary education, infrastructure, urbanisation and single market. Some of the issues that needed decision were labour reforms and higher education.

The slowdown witnessed now was a lot related to global reasons. Investments in the country would help create opportunities in the domestic market.

http://publication.samachar.com/thehindu/sports/thehindu.php&homeurl=http://sports.samachar.com&nextids=3650149|3650150|3650151|3650152|3650153&nextIndex=4

India, which has a “demographic dividend”, should harness this advantage by creating more jobs and improving healthcare, education and infrastructure facilities, Nandan M. Nilekani, co-founder of Infosys Ltd, said here on Friday.

A country had “demographic dividend” when the birth rate started slowing down and for 30 or 40 years, bulk of the population was in the working age. At this period, the economy, income and savings grew and “the country is in the peak of growth, creativity and innovation.” He said, “We need to invest in human capital at this time so that the demographic dividend does not become demographic disaster.”

Some of the “ideas” that the country had agreed upon were its human capital, entrepreneurship, attitude towards English and technology and globalisation.

“We now view our people as human capital and this is the best capital to have.” At the same time demographic dividend should be harnessed by providing enough jobs for all those in the working age and supporting them with healthcare, education and infrastructure facilities.

The country should create 270 million jobs in 20 years and globalisation helped in this endeavour. The jobs should be created in the domestic market and by servicing overseas economies. India had a diverse set of entrepreneurs who were inventive. The quality and depth of entrepreneurship was unique. And, for India, English was today a language of aspiration. Earlier, it united Indians to fight for freedom. The attitude towards technology had also changed in the country. At present, it was empowering. For instance, about eight million mobile phones were sold a month.

Apart from these changes, the country had agreed on certain issues that should be implemented or were just making progress.

This included: primary education, infrastructure, urbanisation and single market. Some of the issues that needed decision were labour reforms and higher education.

The slowdown witnessed now was a lot related to global reasons. Investments in the country would help create opportunities in the domestic market.

http://www.hindu.com/2009/02/14/stories/2009021461010800.htm

Chennai-based Dharani Sugars and Chemicals Ltd is setting up a 5,000-tonne per day (tpd) sugar mill in Villupuram district of the state. The proposed investment would be around Rs 325 crore.

Speaking to Business Standard, Palani G Periasamy, chairman and managing director, said the new mill at Sankarapuram taluk would commence operations by June 2009. The funding would be through debt, equity and internal accruals.

Initially, the mill will have a 3,500 tpd capacity, apart from having a distiller unit and a 22Mw co-generation plant, said Periasamy.

The company already has sugar mills at Polur in Thiruvannamalai district and in Tirunelveli. The combined capacity of these two mills is 10,000 tonne per day besides having 37Mw co-generation power producing and 135 klpd of industrial alcohol capacity.

With the third mill, the capacity would go up to 11,500 tpd by the year end.

Meanwhile, the company reported a net profit of Rs 2 crore for the quarter ended December 31, 2008, as compared with a loss of Rs 8 crore. Commenting on the profit, he said improvement in the price of sugar helped the company report profit. However, this was still low in India at around Rs 20 a kg as compared with Rs 45 in the neighbouring countries, he added.

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/dharani-sugars-to-put-rs-325-cr-in-new-mill/13/46/349112/

CHENNAI: Two major components of the Rs.2,442-crore Tamil Nadu Road Sector Project will be completed during 2009-2010, Finance Minister K. Anbazhagan told the Assembly on Tuesday.

The Arcot-Tiruvannamalai-Vridhachalam-Tiruvarur road and the Nagapattinam- Ramanathapuram-Tutitcorin stretch of East Coast Road are being upgraded.

Apart from road upgradation works, construction of bypass roads and road maintenance works are being undertaken, the Minister said, presenting the Budget for 2009-2010. The remaining stretch of East Coast Road from Tuticorin to Kanyakumari, spanning 120 km, would be widened and upgraded as a double-lane section at an estimated cost of Rs.190 crore. It would be taken up in the coming financial year.

He noted that Rs.3,087 crore had been provided for the capital expenditure on road development and bridge works and Rs.880 crore for road maintenance works for 2009-2010. Utilising the allocations, about 1,000 km of roads would be converted into double lane and 194 major and minor bridges completed besides developing 12,500 km of roads. As part of the Rs. 2,547-crore Irrigated Agriculture Modernisation and Water Bodies Restoration and Management (IAMWARM) project, works would be undertaken on 38 more sub-basins. A sum of Rs.533 crore had been allocated for the project, which was also aided by the World Bank. Now, works were being taken up in 25 sub-basins. Referring to the government’s scheme of conserving the unutilised surplus water of rivers and rivulets, the Minister said works for construction of 48,500 check dams and ponds at an estimated cost of Rs.550 crore were being executed through various departments. A sum of Rs.100 crore had been provided for this purpose.

As for the foodgrain production during 2008-2009, the Minister said it was expected to be about 91 lakh tonnes even though the State was affected very severely by floods. In 2007-2008, 84 lakh tonnes were produced.

http://www.hindu.com/2009/02/18/stories/2009021859761000.htm

Chennai: Tamil Nadu will get five more government engineering colleges in the coming academic year. These institutions will come up at Tiruvannamalai, Thanjavur, Dindigul, Thoothukudi and Kanyakumari, finance minister K Anbazhagan announced in the state Assembly on Tuesday.
While Anna University (Chennai) will establish and mentor the college at Tiruvannamalai, Anna University (Trichy) will mentor the Thanjavur and Dindigul colleges. The remaining two institutions will be set up by Anna University (Tirunelveli).
Last year the government had established six engineering colleges and the latest announcement would take the tally of state-run technical institutions to 15.
“This is a step in the right direction and will help rural students to get quality technical education by paying very nominal fees. The quality of education at these institutions will be similar to what is being imparted at the College of Engineering, Guindy. Attracting faculty will not be a problem as they will be entitled to government pay scales and the assurance of job security,” P Mannar Jawahar, vice chancellor, Anna University (Chennai) said.
“Thanjavur currently has only three deemed universities which offer technical education. So establishing a government engineering college there will help several students. Likewise, the proposed college in Dindigul will also benefit many since we don’t have a government engineering college even in Madurai (Thiagarajar College is only an aided institution),” said V Ramachandran, vice-chancellor, Anna University (Trichy).
The government will also improve the infrastructure in its existing engineering and polytechnic colleges through funds received from the World Bank-assisted Technical Education Quality Improvement Project.

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Chennai: The Muthoot Group, a Muthoot M George company, is planning to invest close to Rs 500 crore in Kerala and Tamil Nadu in the next four years. Muthoot Leisure and Hospitality Services plans to launch three new hotels in Kerala — a business class hotel in Kochi, a beach resort in Mararikulam and a resort in the backwaters.
A business class hotel with 150 rooms in Kochi is expected to open in 2010 with an investment of around Rs 100-150 crore. A beach resort at Mararikulam will come up at cost of Rs 50-60 crore (excluding land costs) with 100 rooms by 2011.
“We believe that it is a good time to enter the hospitality segment as by the time the hotels are started, the economic situation will be better,” said George M George, executive director, Muthoot Group. The group is also looking at Chennai and Coimbatore to invest Rs 250 crore on hotels.
“We have slashed rates of our packages from Rs 10,000 to Rs 6,000 this year due to the downturn but have not seen a drop in footfalls in our hotels,” he said as the group opened its 1,000th store in Kochi under it’s finance arm — Muthoot Finance.

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Karur, one of the oldest cities in Tamil Nadu, on the banks of river Amaravathi has in recent decades found a prominent position in the industrial map of India, earning multi -million dollar foreign exchange for the country. But, it would be wrong to assume that Karur shot to prominence in the recent past. Historical evidence suggests that Karur was a thriving business town since ancient times, when it was the battleground of Chera, Chozha and Pandiya kings. Not just the three Tamil kingdoms, even Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan from Mysore and the English were keen on bringing the town under their fold, thanks to its geographical significance. There is ample evidence in the form of Roman, Greek and Persian coins and stone carvings found along the banks of Amaravthi that suggests international trade and commerce thrived in Karur. Then, it was the kings and kingdoms that facilitated trade. In the 20th century, however, the growth of Karur was attributed to the role played by some of the eminent personalities of the town. Among them were visionaries M A Venkatarama Chettiar and Athi Krishna Chettiar, who started Karur Vysya Bank (KVB) in 1916 and the illustrious sons of Karur - V S N Ramalinga Chettiar, G B C Muthuveera Chettiar, K B Muthuveeranna Chettiar, K N Muthugopal Chettiar, K S Varadarajulu Chettiar, T Sundararajulu Chettiar and Palayam M Balagurumurthy Chettiar, who founded Lakshmi Vilas Bank (LVB) in 1926.
KVB had a very humble beginning with Rs1lakh capital, but has emerged as one of the leading banks in India. LVB too started functioning with a meager share capital of Rs71,000 and has risen to great heights. Both banks have played a key role in facilitating the growth of textile, bus body building industries and other entrepreneurs. “In fact, the idea behind starting KVB was to help people. Over years it has facilitated the growth of the town to a great extent,'' says MD and CEO, P T Kuppusamy. The familiarity with the place and its people helped the bank's growth. LVB was aptly named “the abode of prosperity”, with the avowed objective of “social upliftment by catering to the financial needs of community”. “In the initial years of Karur's emergence as trade town, LVB played a very crucial role in promoting entrepreneurship,'' says V S Reddy, managing director of LVB. However, both Kuppusamy and Reddy acknowledge that the natives of Karur have a flair for trade and demonstrated high entrepreneurial skills. “Entreprenuership is a common trait found among the people of Karur. They are also highly demanding and we are able to deliver,” says Reddy. “We are also considerate and generous while giving loans to people,'' he adds. “LVB and KVB are synonymous with Karur. Both banks have contributed to the growth of the textile industry in Karur through the last several decades,” says a textile exporter. As trade and commerce grew in Karur, so did the banks. They emerged from their identity as local banks and found a place among the top banks of the country. Now, LVB is heading towards its centenary year. It currently has 251 branches and plans to open more in 2009 to widen its customer base. “The bank has been witnessing a steady growth and has recorded a sharp rise its net profit,” says V S Reddy. KVB, which celebrates its centenary year in 2016, has an equally impressive success story. “The bank has targeted to enhance its network to 320 branches by the end of the current fiscal and to touch a business level of Rs 28,000 crore,” Kuppuswamy says. Both banks have rendered immense service to Karur as part of their corporate social responsibility and continue to do so now. KVB and LVB never lagged behind in incorporating the latest in banking operations and have planned for innovations and more products this year also.

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOI&BaseHref=TOICH/2009/02/22&PageLabel=7&EntityId=Ar00700&ViewMode=HTML&GZ=T

Karur has not only found a key position in the industrial map of India, but also has become synonymous with home textiles on the international arena too. Over the years, it has emerged into a most sought-after destination for handloom home textiles by buyers from across the world. Karur has carved a niche for itself in five major product groups - bed linens, kitchen linens, toilet linens, table linens and wall hangings. Though the textile industry in Karur widened its scale of production and embarked on exporting ventures in 1970s, the industry had sprouted in the 1940s itself. `Initially, there were lot of obstacles. The entrepreneurs had to overcome the lack of infrastructure, absence of technical knowledge and communication skills,'' says V Kumar, Managing Partner of Standard Textiles. Handloom exports from Karur began on a modest scale with just 15 exporters in 1975 and today the town has hundreds of exporters and the products are supplied to Europe, U.S.A., Japan, Canada, Australia, Singapore, South Korea, South Africa and the Scandinavian countries. Industry insiders point out that at present Karur generates around Rs6,000 crores in foreign exchange, through direct and indirect exports. The textile industry sector alone has given employment opportunities to over 2 lakh people. `We are also committed to the conservation of the environment. Our manufacturing facilities comply with stringent environmental norms and are equipped for effluent treatment,'' says M Sivakannan, CEO of Amaravathi Textiles. Now Karur has also emerged as a popular destination for its bus body building trade. There are about 50 coach building units in Karur and their clientele spreads out to Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Puducherry. Almost 90% of south Indian bus bodies are being built here and the total business is estimated to be around Rs250 crore per annum. The bus body builders have also started making forays into overseas market also. A bus body cluster has been formed with the intent of shoring up the units for future challenges in the industry at Karur. According to K Palanichamy, Vice President of Coach Buiders Association, the units in Karur manufacture around 4,000 coaches a year and the number would rise to more than 7,500 after the establishment of the cluster.
Any town is incomplete without educational institutions. More so, for an industrial town like Karur, that constantly needs talented youth to feed the manpower needs of the industrial community. Karur could boast of some of the popular educational institutions in the region like Chettinad College of Engineering and Technology, V S B Engineering College and M Kumaraswamy College of Engineering. These higher educational institutions have even attracted students from nearby districts to pursue their academic aspirations. Schools like Sabare Academy, a residential school and the CBSE school recently started by Pon Foundation also contribute to the intellectual needs of the town by producing skilled students.

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOI&BaseHref=TOICH/2009/02/22&PageLabel=7&EntityId=Ar00701&ViewMode=HTML&GZ=T

With its Indian client base increasing, Chinese power equipment manufacturer Harbin Power Engineering is considering setting up a service centre in Tamil Nadu, said a top company official.

“We have orders worth $450 million in India. We will first look at setting up a service facility, then look at building a power equipment plant here,” said Ge Xin, Harbin’s vice-chief engineer and general manager of marketing.

Harbin Power will be supplying the boiler, turbine generator for the 1,200MW thermal power project promoted by city-based Coastal Energen in Tuticorin.

It has supplied power generation equipment to power projects of Essar and Balco and has signed an agreement with the Adani group.

According to Xin, the company will venture into India on its own and not partner with any Indian company.

Harbin officials will meet state government officials Thursday.

http://www.sindhtoday.net/south-asia/68188.htm

Tamil Nadu government has signed MoUs with five oil extraction companies to cultivate oil palm across different locations in Tamil Nadu,
on a contract-farming basis. This is part of the agriculture department’s plans to industrialise agri-biz and make it a steady profitable venture for producers as well as marketers.

“We are encouraging modernisation by offering subsidies on crop insurance premium and running farm schools where farmers are trained technically in irrigation methods that conserve water and optimised pest control management,” said TN agriculture commissioner S Kosalaraman.

According to the MoU, each of the five companies – Chennai-based Ruchi soya industries, Hyderabad based Foods, fats and fertilizers, Kolkata based Vaidehi properties, Mumbai based Godrej Agrovet and Trichy based Cauvery oil palm – will have to cultivate 45,000 hectares of oil palm each, by the end of the 12th plan period. Their extraction units, to be located at Theni, Tuticorin, Vellore, Tirunelveli, and Perambalur districts respectively, will produce 20 tonnes of oil per hour, for a minimum period of ten years.

“In the areas earmarked for these extraction units and contract farming, should a farmer wants to keep out of it and continue farming on his own, he is free to do so,” Mr Kosalaraman said.

Cauvery oil palm, which is into contract farming for three years, has cultivated 100 hectares, with technical and raw material aid from the TN government and the agriculture university (TNAU). The state had initiated contract farming with cotton in 2004, but it failed owing to unavailability of buyers for the produce. But, when it initiated the same with maize to meet the demands for poultry feed in Namakkal it clicked. The state’s production of maize rose from 5 lakh MT per annum to 12 lakh MT, nearing its total demand of 15 lakh MT.

“Palm is similar to maize, as it is more profitable than most other crops and can also meet the state’s growing edible oil demands,” said TN rice research institute director S Jebaraj. “The cost of cultivating oil palm is less than that of paddy or sugarcane, as it does not require as much primary care and hence, as much labour. As it also consumes lesser water and lives longer, it gives a profitability of Rs.25000 per acre as against Rs.10-15000 given by its counterparts.”

TN imports 45% of its edible oil requirement from other states, and is still able to provide only 10.5 kg of oil per capita per year, as opposed to the world health organization (WHO) recommendation of 17.9 kg. “As the palm oil produced indigenously can be priced 25% cheaper than the imported or homegrown gingelly or groundnut oil, the present cultivation of 100 hectares alone is able to augment the state’s oil availability status by 10%,” Mr Jebaraj said.

Presently, all the extraction units put together are expected to cultivate 20, 500 hectares on contract farming within three years, employing one farmer for every one-two hectares. The state will provide technical and raw material assistance, while the companies are obliged to buy all the produce coming out of these farms. Each hectare of crop is expected to yield 35-40 tonnes of palm per annum, thereby earning the farmer Rs.4500 per tonne. Each tonne of palm is expected to yield 500-550 kg of oil.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News-By-Industry/Energy/TN-MoU-with-5-companies-for-contract-farming-of-oil-palm/articleshow/4199398.cms

PUDUKOTTAI: Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) will set up a manufacturing plant near Thirumayam in Pudukottai district.

The foundation stone for the project will be laid by Union Minister of Home P. Chidambaram at Olaikudipatti on Sunday. Chairman and Managing Director of BHEL K. Ravi Kumar will participate in the function to be held at the village.

Source: http://www.hindu.com/2009/03/01/stories/2009030154210700.htm

Work to commence next month, says Anbazhagan

DHARMAPURI: Tenders for the Hogenekkal drinking water project has been finalised and the works would start in March this year, said Finance Minister K. Anbazhagan here on Saturday.

He was here to inaugurate the Vallal Adhiyaman Kottam constructed at a cost of Rs. 1.15 crore.After unveiling the plaque and statues of Vallal Adhiyaman giving ‘Nellikkani’ to Avvaiyar in front of the Kottam, he said the Hogennakkal drinking water project is the divine gift to mitigate the fluoride affected people of Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts. It would be implemented as per the original project schedule as proposed by the State Government.

He said the DMK that stood for protecting the ancient culture of Tamil and unveiled Kottams for the ancient poet Valluvar in Chennai and installed the tallest statue in Kanyakumari. Many manimandapams, memorial halls of yesteryear leaders who fought for freedom of our country.

Regarding the demand for Rs. 28.50 lakh to provide various amenities in the Vallal Adhiyaman Kottam, he said the Government would consider allocating fund in due course. The Government is taking all out efforts to improve the power production in the State. In another two years, our position will become self reliable, hence, the situation is not ripe for setting up SIPCOT in Dharmapuri district now.

He said the present DMK regime is always thinking about the welfare of the people in the State. Due to which several welfare schemes were launched. A new insurance scheme for the poor people working in the 38 unorganised sectors was introduced. About 1 crore people would be benefited from this scheme. The Government will pay the premium to the insurance company.

He said, as soon as the committee appointed by the Government submits its report on 6th Pay Commission, the pay hike would be implemented on a par with the employees of the Union Government.

Earlier, in his presidential speech, the Information Minister, Parithi Ilamvazhuthi, said that the Government would act as the per the will wrote by the freedom fighter Subramaniya Siva regarding the demand for construction of Bharatha Matha Temple at Pappireddypatti in Dharmapuri.

Collector P. Amutha welcomed the gathering. A.C. Mohandoss, Director (In charge) Information Department, proposed a vote of thanks.

Source: http://www.hindu.com/2009/03/01/stories/2009030152400300.htm

Rs.7-crore dredger bought for Nagapattinam port

NAGAPATTINAM: The Nagapattinam port, one of the minor ports in the State under the control of the Tamil Nadu Maritime Board, had received security certification from the International Ship and Port Security Board, said Minister for Highways and Minor Ports M. P. Saminathan here on Saturday.

Inaugurating the tsunami-affected Nagapattinam port, reconstructed on an outlay of Rs.47 crore with financial assistance from the Asian Development Bank, the Minister said that a dredger had been bought at a cost of Rs.7 crore for the port and the estuary of Kaduvaiyar near the port was being desilted to ensure free movement of mechanised fishing boats and trawlers.

The Minister said that the port had been provided with facilities to handle all types of ships and pointed out that the existing north and south breakwaters were strengthened with natural stones, besides the damaged wharf and cargo handling area.

He pointed out that minor ports in the State had handled nearly 15 lakh tonnes of cargo in the last two years and earned a revenue of Rs.15 crore. Nagapattinam port was handling cargo such as palmolein and coconut oilcake.

There were 40 minor ports in places such as Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Pamban, Rameswaram, Valinokkam, Kanyakumari and Kolachel under the control of the Tamil Nadu Maritime Board and more than a dozen minor ports under private control.

New port

Mr. Saminathan said that a minor port would come up near Tirukkuvalai in Nagapattinam district along with the proposed thermal power plant to be established in the area at a cost of Rs.1,800 crore.

U. Mathivanan, Minister for Dairy Development, who presided over the function, said that the Government was according priority to the development of ports and fishing harbours to help fishermen in the State.

C. Muthukumarasamy, Chief Executive Officer and Vice-Chairman of Tamil Nadu Martitime Board, said that all the minor ports in the State together had handled nearly 6.22 lakh tonnes of cargo and earned a revenue of Rs.8.10 crore during the current year.

Fishing harbour

Collector M. Jayaraman said that a fishing harbour would be established at a cost of Rs. 3 crore at Kaduvayar near Nagapattinam port. Various development works were being carried out at fishing harbours in the district.

A. K. S. Vijayan, MP; V. Marimuthu and S. K. Vedarathinam, MLAs; and S.Sainath, State Port Officer, among others spoke.

Source: http://www.hindu.com/2009/03/01/stories/2009030151690300.htm

Tamil Nadu Government proposed to purchase about 500 MW of electricity from power-surplus states to provide uninterrupted power supply to domestic users and industries during the summer this year, State Electricity Minister Arcot N Veeraswamy said today.

"We have planned to purchase about 500 MW power from other states. The State Government is taking all steps to avoid imposing any extra load shedding during this summer," he said at the launch of the Restructured Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme (RAPDRP) here.

"We are discussing with several states, which have surplus power, to purchase electricity at Rs nine per unit", he said.

However, the minister said the current load shedding of minimum two hours would continue in towns and cities other than Chennai. "This will continue till the mid of May. After that the load shedding will be removed slowly once we increase generation through windmill during that season," he added.

Veeraswamy also informed that there would not be any hike in power tarrif in the coming months. "Earlier, there was a proposal to increase power tarrif by the Electricity Regulatory Commission. However, as per the request made by Tamil Nadu Government, the Commission had not increased the power tarrif", he added. - Agencies

http://news.chennaionline.com/newsitem.aspx?NEWSID=1be65a03-0d79-4e4e-b9a1-da01a900c065&CATEGORYNAME=CHN

Siemens arm sets up first graphics engineering centre ...... Read More (http://www.exchange4projects.com/MISC/siemens-arm-sets-up-first-graphics-engineering-centre)

Same Deutz-Fahr group to expand India facility

http://www.hindu.com/2009/03/05/stories/2009030555521600.htm

http://www.hindu.com/2009/03/05/images/2009030555521601.jpg

PREMIUM BRAND: Francesco Carozza, Chairman, SDF India Pvt Ltd. (second from right) with other officials of the group at the launch of Deutz-Fahr brand of tractors in Chennai on Wednesday



CHENNAI: Italy based Same Duetz-Fahr group (SDF), a leading global manufacturer of agricultural machinery, will be expanding its production base in India.

Addressing presspersons here after launching its premium brand Deutz-Fahr, Francesco Carozza, Chairman, Same Deutz-Fahr India, said the current installed capacity at the company’s plant located in Ranipet (Tamil Nadu) where the group was producing tractors of 40-70 hp and 3 and 4 cylinder engines was 6,300 units and 15,000 units respectively. These would be increased to 11,000 and 20,000 respectively by 2011. In 2008, the total tractor production in Ranipet rose by 28 per cent to 4,000 units, he said.

The group plans to introduce a 65-75 hp platform with a Tier III specification engines for the export markets.

According to Shripad Shidore, Managing Director of the Indian company, the localisation process of the 50-70 hp tractor platform was completed in 2008. Initially these tractors were produced exclusively for the export markets in Europe, the U.S. the Middle East and Africa and the company would now produce these tractors for the Indian market under the Deutz-Fahr brand.

The thrust on agriculture, combined with the growing demand for modern technology, provided an opportunity for SDF to introduce its premium German brand, Deuts-Fahr tractors in India.

This brand, targeted at progressive farmers, would strengthen SDF’s position where the group would continue to sell its current products in 40-60 hp range under the Same brand, Mr. Shidore said.

The Tamil Nadu government is implementing various irrigation and flood control programmes in the state with an investment of over Rs 2,500 crore. The proposed investment would include construction of new dams and linking rivers among others.

In this regard, the government has approved a Rs 1,448-crore project under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission to prevent floods in the Chennai city. Work on the project would commence in the coming financial year.

Similarly, the government has allocated Rs 155 crore for permanent floods protection works against floods in Cauvery and Coleroon rivers in Karur, Trichy, Ariyalur and Perambalur districts.

Under the Irrigated Agriculture Modernisation and Water-Bodies Restoration and Management (IAMWARM) project, which is being implemented at a cost of Rs 2,547 crore with the aid of the World Bank, the government is planning to take up works in 38 sub basins in 2009-10. The government has allocated Rs 533 crore for this project.

The project will improve water resources in the state. It is expected that around 1.6 million acres of agricultural land would be covered under the scheme.

Last year, the state government initiated a scheme to conserve the unitilsed water of rivers and rivulets through check dams in the water-stressed areas of the state so as to utilise the same for agriculture and drinking water purposes throughout the year.

The government is building 48,500 check dams and ponds with an investment of around Rs 550 crore and has allocated another Rs 100 crore for the year 2009-10.

Besides, it is planning to take up two projects in 2009-10 at a cost Rs 200 crore under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme for linking intra-state rivers. These projects would divert the surplus flood water to the dry districts of Thoothukudi and Tirunelveli.

To improve the Grand Anicut Canal and its structure, the government, with the assistance from Nabard, is planning to spend Rs 50 crore.

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/tamil-nadu-govt-linesrs-2500-cr-for-irrigation/350855/

SIVAGANGA: Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram will lay the foundation for Sundareshwarar Alloy and Stainless Steel Limited (a private plant) at Seyyanoor near Manamadurai on Sunday. According to a press release issued by M. Rajarathinam, president, District Congress Committee, the project was being promoted by NRIs from Hong Kong and ASEAN countries.

The plant would have a capacity to produce 3 lakh tonnes of alloy steel in a year. The cost of the project was Rs.684 crore. Implementation would be over in 18 months from the date of the financial closure.

Source: http://www.hindu.com/2009/03/07/stories/2009030760440600.htm

Tamil Nadu will get lion’s share of 900 MW from the first two units

TIRUNELVELI: Hinting that the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) might house eight 1,000 MW reactors instead of the originally planned six units, S.K. Jain, Nuclear Power Corporation India Limited (NPCIL) Chairman and Managing Director, has said that Jaitapur in Maharashtra would have six French nuclear reactors each with the capacity of 1,650 MW.

Speaking to reporters at Koodankulam on Friday, Dr. Jain, after attending the 22nd joint coordination committee meeting with Russian delegates, said India, one of the fastest developing economies, would be in need of 8 lakh MW by 2032 and hence it would have to augment its power generation.

The NPCIL, now operating 17 units across the country with a total installed capacity of 4,120 MWe and currently building 5 units with a total installed capacity of 2,660 MWe, was planning for massive expansion programmes in the existing as well as new sites.

Though the Inter Governmental Agreement between India and Russia was for the construction of 6 X 1,000 pressurised water reactors at Koodankulam, the NPCIL would consider revising the total number of reactors at this coastal site to eight. “Though I can’t say anything as of now, it (total number of reactors) may go up to eight.”

Elaborating the Indian Government’s agreement with France on February 4 last, he said the Jaitapur site would house six French reactors, each having the capacity of 1,650 MW, and the supplier would be Areva of France.

With signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, it was now possible for the NPCIL to have technical co-operation with Areva to work on the setting up of AREVA-built European Pressurised Reactors (EPR) on Jaitapur site, including life-time fuel supply for these units.

This MoU signing comes in wake of the bilateral agreement signed between India and France on September 30, 2008, in which two countries had agreed to work together for the development of peaceful use of nuclear energy. “Since NPCIL is going to fabricate most of the equipment to be used in the EPR, the project cost will come down drastically,” Dr. Jain said. On the short supply of fuel to Indian nuclear reactors, he said the mining and milling operations at the uranium mines of Jaduguda in Jharkhand had been affected by “unprecedented rains” and hence the NPCIL, while initiating serious steps to resume supply from this uranium mine, was about to get 300 tonnes of uranium from Areva and 2,000 tonnes from some other sources. “Precisely, all our reactors would be generating electricity in full swing within two months,” Dr. Jain noted.

Asserting that electricity would start cascade from the KKNPP during December 2009 as more than 95 per cent of the work had been completed in the first unit, Dr. Jain said Tamil Nadu would get the ‘Lion’s Share’ of 900 MW from the first two units while the remaining quantum would be shared by other southern States.

The Deputy Head, Federal Atomic Energy Agency, Russia, Kamenskih Ivan, while expressing satisfaction over the quality of the ongoing construction at KKNPP, said the Russian government, considering its Indian counterpart as its strategic partner, would supply fuel to the KKNPP reactors throughout their life.

Source: http://www.hindu.com/2009/03/07/stories/2009030754360400.htm

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPCIL operates 17 units across the country with a total installed capacity of 4,120 MWe and is currently building five units with a total installed capacity of 2,660 MWe
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Madurai, March 7 The Koodankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) is most likely to start supply of power by December 2009, according to Mr S.K. Jain, Chairman and Managing Director, Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL).

Works complete

Speaking at Koodankulam, near Tirunelveli, following the 22nd joint coordination committee meeting with Russian delegates, he said more than 95 per cent of the works in the first unit had been completed and generation of electricity would most likely start from December 2009.

Of the six reactors, of 1,000 MW each at the site, 900 MW of electricity generated from the first two units would go to Tamil Nadu and the remaining quantum would be shared by other southern States. Also, the number of reactors is likely to go up to eight instead of six as originally envisaged, he said.

Expansion plans

Further, he said NPCIL was planning for massive expansion programmes in the existing as well as new sites. NPCIL operates 17 units across the country with a total installed capacity of 4,120 MWe and is currently building five units with a total installed capacity of 2,660 MWe. At Jaitapur in Maharastra, six French nuclear reactors — each with a capacity of 1,650 MW — have been planned. Based on Indo-French agreement , NPCIL would have technical collaboration with Areva of France as a supplier and set up Areva-built European Pressurised Reactors with lifetime fuel supply at Jaitapur, he mentioned.

Mr Kamenskih Ivan, Deputy Head, Federal Atomic Energy Agency, Russia, added that Russia would supply fuel to KKNPP reactors throughout their life.

Source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2009/03/08/stories/2009030851160300.htm

CHENNAI: A group of researchers at management school IFMR are trying to come up with a one of its kind index, which will help in gauging the
levels of economic governance at the district level. The Economic Governance Index (EGI), will be constructed initially for Tamil Nadu before taking it to the other states in India.

The centre for development finance (CDF), which is part of the B-school, IFMR, is computing
the index. Researchers at the CDF believe the data will help stakeholders such as the government (policy making and prioritisation of interventions), investors and business houses (for making investment decisions), donor agencies (project planning
) and academicians. The British High Commission is funding the EGI index project.

The Economic Governance Index (EGI) is a measure of the environment provide by the local bodies for private enterprises and households. It is a comparative measure of how private enterprises operate in conditions provided by the state.

The index will be constructed based on several sub-indices available at the districts like such as physical infrastructure, social infrastructure, business establishment cost, Governance and regulatory environment, law & order, cost of doing business and environmental sustainability.

"It will serve as a guide for policy makers and it’s a good time to do it to influence the next wave of investments on a state-level. For example, if Madurai district tops the list of the best economically governed states, then there are immediate questions on the reasons, drivers and also a certain pressure on the government to replicate the example in other districts," said Mr L Somasundaram, program head- economic demography, CDF.

About precedents for such an index, Mr Somasundaram said similar indices have been constructed in several Asian countries such as Sri Lanka, Thailand Cambodia and Vietnam but it will be the first for India that too at the district level.

" We selected Tamil Nadu for the pilot project since it has lot of economic activities along with governance and sustainablity pressure", he said. It will cover all the 31 districts except the recently launched Tirupur.

He expected the index to be released by June this year. It has tied up Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy ( CMIE) for doing the field survey and collecting the primary data from 3100 households and 1600 firms in the districts
Besides, it will use the official published secondary data on infrastructure and other indicators.

Both data will be compared to construct the EGI. It is mainly aimed at helping small and medium enterprises for starting their businesses.

"The website will have complete details on the methodology and people can compare the rankings and weightage. It will also let re-calculate the weights allotted," said Jessica Seddon Wallack, director, CDF.

The EGI could also come in handy ahead of the elections, as voters will have a scientific method of gauging their MP’s performance. But, CDF officials said the data might be out only after the elections.

On how they planned to take the index data to rural areas, Ms Wallack said, "Apart from the website, we will enlist the help of NGOs and micro-finance institutions to take it to rural households."

Economic governance is about how a Government exercises its power in the management of social and economic resources for the region’s development. The world bank, in its research, has demonstrated the key link that exists between strong growth, good economic policy and high capacity states.

Official circles feel it is a timely effort with the State Government’s new industrial policy laying thrust on de-congesting Chennai and encouraging the dispersal of industries and businesses to other districts with special incentives on investments. It is also promoting special economic zones across the State to promote balanced growth.

Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News-By-Industry/CDF-to-come-out-with-EGI-for-TN-districts/articleshow/4251098.cms

Three UMPPs lined up for FY10
Thursday, 19 Mar, 2009

The Union Ministry of Power has chalked out plans to award three UMPPs during the fiscal 2009-10. These UMPPs will come up in Tamil Nadu, Orissa and Chhattisgarh.

Locations shortlisted for the three mega power projects are -- Cheyyur in Tamil Nadu, Bedabahal in Orissa and Akaltara in Chhattisgarh.

Power Finance Corporation, the nodal agency for the UMPP, is expected to invite request for qualification (RfQ) for the Cheyyur UMPP in June 2009. The RfQs for Bedabahal and Akaltara will follow in July and August 2009.

Source: http://www.projectstoday.com/News/NewsDetails.aspx?smid=24&nid=25606

^^

That proposal is there for long time.

TN gvt proposed Cheyyur port and then 4000MW power plant was proposed.

Then they decided to change to Cuddalore.......

Cheyyur plan was dropped long back.

2006-2009, 3 years rolled . still the exact site is not planned!!!!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And TNEB is running at the loss of 6000 INR crore. And this year they are buying so much of power from centre, other states and private.

Once the state was giving power to other states and centre and never scheduled daily power cut was there. Now the state is in otherside!

^^ Arul! Read that post properly.. I said its an update as they're gonna call for RFQ in June 2009. Finally its moving.

CHENNAI: Southern Railway is to start a medical college with private participation by making use of the existing medical facilities available at its hospital in Perambur here.

The Chief Medical Director of Southern Railway on Friday called for expression of interest from resourceful medical institutions in the country for establishing and running the college at the cost of institutions as per the Medical Council of India regulations. The institutions should have at least 10 years’ experience in running a medical college and attached hospital as per the MCI norms. Foreign institutions can also participate in the bid, provided they comply with respective foreign medical regulatory authority norms.

Southern Railway is now running a 500-bed hospital on a 15-acre site in Perambur and the same is to be shifted soon to new premises. The existing hospital premises and the proposed new hospital complex will be available for establishing the medical college.

According to the Medical Director, the Perambur railway hospital has basic specialities in 15 disciplines and super-specialities in three disciplines.

The hospital has been recognised by the National Board of Examinations for recognition in postgraduate training. International institutions such as Royal College of Surgeons had also accredited the hospital for imparting training in PG courses.

http://www.hindu.com/2009/03/21/stories/2009032155480600.htm

http://epaper.dinamalar.com/DM/COIMBATORE/2009/03/22/photographs/103/22_03_2009_103_001_001.jpg

The guys manning the counter need to wear decent clothes. their clothes look straight out of 1930.

Chettinad Engineering college - Karur

http://www.mukeshassociates.com/images/chettinad-engineering-college.jpg

http://www.mukeshassociates.com/images/chettinad-engineering-college-library.jpg

copy rights:Mukesh associates

CHENNAI: Boiler drum lifting, a major activity in the setting up of the first stage of the Vallur Thermal Power Plant, is scheduled for April 30.

The main plant package for stage-1 was awarded on August 13, 2007 to BHEL, which has commenced work. Erection of the boiler column began on January 5 this year. Civil works for chimney and main plant are progressing at a fast pace, according to a TNEB release. The 3 X 500 MW project is being executed by NTECL, a joint venture company formed by the NTPC and TNEB. Tamil Nadu will get 75 per cent of the power produced from the project as its share.

Chief Secretary K.S.Sripathi inspected the project on Wednesday.

Source: http://www.hindu.com/2009/03/29/stories/2009032953060400.htm

Tamil Nadu will soon have a separate state power transmission company, likely to be named TN transmission Corporation (TANTRANSCO) and
begin operations in June. The announcement has come from TN minister for electricity Arcot Veeraswamy, who was speaking at the launch of Areva T&D’s manufacturing unit at Chennai on Tuesday.

"The government is planning to register the company in one or two months,” he said. To be developed through joint venture partners, it would require a capital of Rs 20,000 crore. The state’s existing infrastructure consisting of sub-stations valued at Rs 8,000 crore, so the balance Rs 12,000 crore is invited from private parties. “A few domestic companies, including Power Trading Corporation, as well as international players, have expressed interest in the project,” Veeraswamy said.

The central government barred under the Electricity Act any State Electricity Board (SEB) or agency engaged in transmission to be involved in trading of the commodity. However, in the absence of a power transmission company, TNEB has been performing all four functions of power generation, transmission, distribution and trading. Once the new company is set up, the agency will cease its function of transmission.

The minister also announced that the TNEB will withdraw its stipulation prohibiting all HT (High Tension) and LT (Low Tension) commercial users from drawing power from the grid between 6 pm and 10 pm, with effect from May 10.

The power cuts were imposed late last year to handle increased demand, shortage of supply and cost of imports, by the state government. They were temporary and aimed at getting HT users to reduce demand by 40% and LT commercial users by 20%.

According to the minister, the situation will improve before May, thanks to inputs from windmills. Wind industry officials say that power generated from windmills will reach 1800 MW in May. "The wind cycle gets stronger from 4 PM to 10 PM. Again, from early morning 6.30-7 AM slowly the cycle starts peaking leading to optimal power generation, if tapped well," sources said. The wind industry is currently at a low season, generating less than 50 MW of power.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Power/PM-TN-to-launch-transmission-corporation/articleshow/4340984.cms

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2009/04/01/stories/2009040151951700.htm

Public sector power generation major, NTPC, and a subsidiary of IL&FS, will each put up a 4,000 MW power project in Tamil Nadu, the State’s Electricity Minister, Mr Arcot N. Veerasamy, said today.

Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the inauguration of the Areva plant here, Mr Veerasamy said that in two years Tamil Nadu would be surplus in power.

Answering a question, he said that Tamil Nadu Electricity Board’s loss of Rs 6,000 crore would be wiped out in two years, because the Board would be able to sell power to neighbouring States and earn profits.
Unbundling

Mr Veerasamy said that the State Government had decided on unbundling the electricity board, putting the transmission operations in a one company (Tamil Nadu Power Transmission Corporation) and generation and distribution in another.

The transmission company would eventually become a joint venture.

The structure of the new company is yet to be finalised, the Minister said, adding that many foreign companies and some in India, including the public sector Power Trading Corporation, were interested in joining hands with Tamil Nadu Power Transmission Corporation.
Power cuts to go

Answering another question, Mr Veerasamy said that the TNEB did not have too many dues to its SME vendors. However, if there are a few cases, the dues would be paid off in a month or two, he said. The Minister said that from May, the power cut (40 per cent on high tension and 20 per cent on low tension industrial consumers) that has been in place since November 2008 will go.

This is because the summer months are typically windy and the State’s wind power capacity (4,300 MW) will start generating electricity, he said.

Asked what if the winds turn out to be insufficient, Mr Veerasamy said that TNEB would purchase power from other States.

Here we go for election manifesto from DMK on project fronts

தூத்துக்குடி விமான நிலையம் விரிவாக்கம் செய்யப்படும். சேலம், தஞ்சாவூர், வேலூர் மற்றும் ராமநாதபுரத்தில் உள்ள ராணுவ விமான தளம் பயணிகள் விமான தளமாக மாற்றப்படும். சென்னையில் பேரிடர் நிவாரண ஆணையம் அமைக்க மத்திய அரசிடம் வலியுறுத்தப்படும். சுற்றுச்சூழலுக்கு மாசு விளைவித்து வரும் ஈரோடு, திருப்பூர், கரூர் பகுதியில் உள்ள சாயப்பட்டறை கழிவு நீர் சுத்திகரிக்கப்பட்டு கடலில் சேர்க்கப்பட வழிவகை செய்யப்படும். தமிழகத்தில் சூரிய ஒளி மின் உற்பத்தி திட்டம் முன்னோடி திட்டமாக துவங்கப்படும். சென்னை - வேளச்சேரி வரையிலான பறக்கும் ரயில் திட்டம் மாமல்லபுரம் வரை நீட்டிக்கப்படும். இவ்வாறு தேர்தல் அறிக்கையில் கூறப்பட்டிருந்தது .

1. Tuticorin airport will be expanded

2. Salem(??), Vellore, Thanjavur, Ramanathapuram military base will be upgraded to passenger terminal. Is Salem airport does not fit for passenger service? If i am correct 2 Boeing were received at the airport when PM came for SSP expansion project inauguration. :bash::bash:

3. Waste(exact word drainage?/) Water treatment plant for Erode, Karur, Tiruppur because of polluting industries.

Instead of implementing strict rules on pollution stands they suggest for another project. :bash::bash: Mettur, Erode and Karur are in top list of polluting the Kaveri!!

4. Solar power plant may be installed in TN. Good atleast they have some thing in manifesto no.... they can easily extract big solar energy from TN because of our climate.

5. MRTS extension from Velacherry to Mamallapuram. These people have easily buried the Chennai-Pondicherry new line project!! No proper vision...

thats all in project front...!

SOurce: Dinamalar

Since DMK is not contesting in cbe, there's nothing mentioned about cbe. We people of cbe are shouting for infrastructure issues and expansion of cbe airport., DMK wants to expand tuticorin airport(DMK is contesting from it, so dat it has found place in its manifesto i suppose, though i dont oppose) and so crazy it wants to open airport at ramanathapuram and tanjore(i dont know how feasible it is) and much stupid thing is salem airport, they were talking abt opening for more than 3 yrs i suppose.
there's nothing special in their manifesto except the MRTS project for chennai., as usual other than chennai, all other cities are fools.

Special Correspondent

Experts from UK offer to help; development of solar energy technologies high on agenda

CHENNAI: The State Planning Commission plans to bring the carbon budgeting concept to Tamil Nadu, with the help of experts from the United Kingdom, according to Commission’s Vice-Chairman M. Naganathan.

He was speaking on the sidelines of a discussion on ‘Low Carbon and High Growth’ with Owen Jenkins, Counsellor for Climate Change and Energy at the British High Commission, with Indian economists, government officials and members of the Planning Commission held here on Wednesday.

Asked about carbon budgeting in the UK, Mr. Jenkins explained that under the Climate Change Act, carbon budgets place legally binding ceilings on the level of permitted UK greenhouse gas emissions over five year periods.

The budgets were prepared by the Climate Change Committee, an independent agency whose decisions were largely binding on the government.

The budgets were short-term targets aimed at helping the UK meet its long-term 2050 target of cutting emissions by 80 per cent.

While the discussions were in an initial stage, Dr. Naganathan said the Commission would advise the Tamil Nadu government to adopt the carbon budget scheme and implement it to reduce the State’s greenhouse gas emissions.

He said the British were willing to provide funding and share their expertise to implement the scheme here.

However, officials from both sides made it clear that there was no concrete funding proposal in place as yet.
Daunting task

While the costs of reducing emissions can be daunting for a developing country, Dr. Naganathan said that it was important for the future.

The British Climate Change Committee estimates that implementing its carbon budgets would cost less than one per cent of GDP in 2020.

The Planning Commission hopes that several areas of collaboration with the UK can be explored through this meeting.

The development of solar energy technologies is high on its agenda.

Mr. Jenkins said he was impressed by the various technologies and schemes being implemented in the State as part of its renewable energy focus.
Exploring options

Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency chairman and managing director Mohan Verghese Chunkath said that the State was exploring options in biomass, offshore and coastal wind technologies and more cost-effective solar photovoltaics. However, it was mostly pinning its hopes on solar thermal power, which also has the option for storage.

While the current cost of installation is at Rs.12 crore to 18 crore per MW, large-scale implementation could bring the figure down to Rs.8 crore, he said.

New developments such as the Fresnel lens technology, which uses standard glass mirrors, could help cut costs, he said, adding that the Coimbatore-based KG Group was implementing a Fresnel solar power plant project in Manamadurai, with a generation capacity of 1 MW.

Source: http://www.hindu.com/2009/04/03/stories/2009040357220700.htm

DMK did not promise free dvd player, fridge, sofa ?

T. Ramakrishnan

Japanese agency to provide about Rs.800 crore more

CHENNAI: The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will provide about Rs.800 crore more for the Hogenakkal Water Supply and Fluorosis Mitigation Project.

This tranche is for covering Hosur and adjoining areas of Krishnagiri district under the project, according to a senior official of the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board, which is the executing agency.

An agreement to this effect was signed between the JICA and Indian government in Tokyo on Monday. Last week, representatives of the two sides exchanged notes in New Delhi.

[The amount in Indian currency has been worked out, taking into account the conversion rate at the time of signing of the agreement].

The JICA, an organisation established by the Japan government for implementing Overseas Development Assistance programmes, has already committed to providing Rs.785.5 crore for other components of the project, including construction of headworks and treatment plant and laying distribution lines.

The project cost has been revised to Rs.1,928.8 crore, of which the State government’s share will be Rs.343.2 crore, the official says.

Aimed at providing safe and reliable water supply to people of Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri in Tamil Nadu, the project is also designed to provide fluorosis mitigation support in the two districts.

Three municipalities, 17 town panchayats and 6,755 rural habitations will be covered, benefiting about three million people eventually. In the intermediate stage, the water requirement has been estimated at 127 million litres a day (MLD) and about 160 MLD for the final stage.

As regards four packages under the first phase of the project, the official says that on an average, seven to 10 firms have qualified for each of the packages. Their price bids will be scrutinised and the contracts are likely to be settled soon.

TN Ports sustain cargo handling; mega projects underway to strengthen infrastructure
3 Apr 2009, 1948 hrs IST, ET Bureau

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News-By-Industry/Transportation/Shipping--Transport/TN-Ports-sustain-cargo-handling-mega-projects-underway-to-strengthen-infrastructure/articleshow/4356176.cms?curpg=1


CHENNAI: The three major ports in Tamil Nadu have managed to beat slowdown blues in the last financial year, by maintaining the tonnage of cargo
handled. But, their growth rates and revenues have dipped, following the drop in global demand for iron ore, and fall in global freight rates.

The Chennai port showed a marginal increase in tonnage to 57.49 MT from last year’s 57.15 MT. Exports dropped by 6% while imports increased by 5.48%. The port primarily exports iron ore from the Karnataka hinterlands and imports oil and coal for running power plants in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and northern TN.

While oil, coal and containers grew marginally by 2.5%, 2% and 1.35% respectively, iron ore dropped by 23%. Owing to a near 60% drop in global freight rates, the port’s revenues dropped to Rs.844.36 crore in 2008-09 from Rs.890 crore. Its expenses went up from Rs.459.14 crore to Rs.567.13 crore, resulting in a fall in operating ratio from 64% to 61%.

"Our previous year’s revenues also had some penalty components attached as extra-ordinary items, which were not repeated this year. So, last year’s revenues were on the whole healthy," said Chennai port trust chairman K Suresh.

Tuticorin Port Trust handled 22 MT of cargo showing a 2.47% growth over the last year. It mainly handles coal, containers and fertilisers. But, the port’s container cargo showed negative growth of 2.6%, compared 19% rise in 2007-08. Its container handling fell from 450398 TEU to 438548 TEU.

" Nearly, 60% of our container cargo are exports, which have been directly hit owing to slowdown in demand from western economies in the past few months," said Tuticorin port trust deputy chairman A Subbiah. The port however, showed a marginal increase in revenues from Rs.79 crore to Rs.81.5 crore.

Ennore port plots a flat graph, with a 0.5% dip in cargo handling to 11.5 MT from 11.56 MT in 2007-08.. Its revenues too decreased marginally to Rs 141.09 crore from Rs.143.72 crore. The port presently handles exclusively coal; but is getting equipped to handle oil and containers now.

Despite what the ports call a temporary setback in their growth, all the three have major infrastructure projects up their sleeve. Chennai port has an ambitious mega container terminal planned to handle 4 million TEUs at a cost of Rs.3686 crore, to be operational in 2015.

It has received RFQs from 12 companies for the project. Work is underway for the 832 m Rs.495 crore second container terminal, to be operational before the end of this year. The port is also bullish about its Ro-Ro car terminal, which has seen an 80.25% increase in number of Hyundai cars handled.

All this fits into the port’s scheme of things, of shifting completely to clean cargo, to fit into its central location in the city. But, the Ennore port, to which the bulk and dusty cargo was to be shifted, is also not to be left behind in container handling.

It is to commission its first container terminal, 1000 m long with a capacity of 15 lakh TEUs, at an investment of Rs.1300 crore, on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis.

It recently inaugurated a 3 MTPA liquid terminal, enabling it to handle oil and chemicals for the first time. Foundation stones were laid for three new projects as well – the 12 MTPA multipurpose general cargo berth for the port’s MoU with Nissan at Rs.110 crore, rail connectivity to North Chennai at Rs.51.6 crore, and a roadway at Rs.8 crore.

Tuticorin port, apart from developing a second container terminal, has invited EOIs for development of Hare Island nearby as a recreational facility. Chennai port too has envisioned a tourists’ marina as part of its 300 crore car terminal project.

The ports have also initiated connectivity projects like the Rs.600 crore Chennai-Ennore port connectivity project, and the Rs.1655 crore elevated corridor between Chennai port to Maduravoyal.

"We are also developing a coastal hub for all eastern ports, with our locational advantage of being just a day away from the international maritime route," said Mr.Suresh. "Already, Vishakapatnam, Tuticorin, Haldia, Yangoon, Haldia and Port Blair bring containerised cargo to us for international shipping."

Britain-based leather footwear major Pavers England, which entered the Indian market last year, is planning to set up a manufacturing facility in the country, besides tying up with retail chains as part its expansion strategy.

"The agreement with Fly Flot is to set up a plant at Ranipet in Tamil Nadu at a cost of five million euros ($6.6 million)," said Pavers England Footprints chief executive Utsav Seth, referring to the pact with the Britain-based footwear maker and a subsidiary of Italian footwear major Lones Spa.

"Eighty percent of the shoes manufactured here will be for exports and the rest for India," Seth told IANS. "We have also tied up with retail outfits like Lifestyle and Future group's Central malls."

Pavers England, which started its Indian operations with a capital of $60 million, is already operating one research and development facility in Ambur near Chennai, which is producing prototypes and shortruns.

The company currently sells through its Reliance Footprints, a speciality retail format belonging to the Mukesh Ambani-controlled Reliance Retail, and will have about 60 points of sale in various retail formats by April-end.

"We have sold more than 20,000 pairs last year, and that is a big achievement for a brand, which was not very famous among consumers here," Seth said.

"We hope to increase our sales at least three times (60,000) this year, and increase the points of sale to 500 by 2012," he added.

The Indian shoe market is estimated to be worth around $2.8 billion with footwear retail expected to grow about 20 percent on a compounded annual growth rate basis.

According to industry estimates, the footwear sector has not been affected by the economic slowdown.

A report by market research portal marketresearch.com, titled "Indian footwear market forecast to 2012", said: "The ongoing financial crisis is unlikely to have significant impact on the Indian footwear market as the demand for Indian footwear will continue to grow."

Pavers also plans to bring its fashion footwear brand to India, but Seth refused to give any more details on the same.

The company had plans to acquire an Indian footwear retailer but gave up its bid after negotiations with the firm collapsed.

Pavers is now planning to focus on its brand and said about 300 products would be added to its range by November this year.

"It will give us lot more access to a number of multi-branded outlets," Seth said.

http://www.themoneytimes.com/20090412/britains-footwear-major-pavers-expansion-mode-india-id-1063495.html

Hogenakkal project will be completed in 2012: Stalin

http://www.hindu.com/2009/04/14/stories/2009041453070400.htm

“AIADMK regime took no step to implement it”

CHENNAI: Since all requisite permissions and paper work on the Hogenakkal drinking water scheme have been completed, it has been possible for the government to begin preliminary work on the project, Local Administration Minister M.K. Stalin said here on Monday.

Mr. Stalin said that the DMK would fulfil its promise on the implementation of the project, which would be completed in five phases.

For the first phase, pre-qualification tenders were invited from 10 firms and had been sent to the Japanese Bank for International Cooperation for its approval. For the second, third and fifth stages, pre-qualification had been sought from many firms and these were being processed.

According to the time-table of the Japanese Bank, tenders would be called for in July 2009 and work would begin in December 2009. The project would be completed by December 2012. There had been no delay at any stage so far and the work would be completed on schedule, he said.

Responding to criticism from Pattali Makkal Katchi founder S. Ramadoss, Mr. Stalin said the AIADMK government had taken no step towards the implementation of the project. Dr. Ramadoss should have faulted the AIADMK and not the DMK.

Dr. Ramadoss had no locus standi to criticise the DMK, which had taken steps to implement the project, he said and added that the PMK leader should rather look at the AIADMK’s record on the matter.

TIDCO to implement six new projects

http://www.hindu.com/2009/04/14/stories/2009041453750500.htm


They will come up at a cost of Rs. 107 crore

Projects will provide employment to

about 800 people

“Food industry not at all affected by recession”

“Farmers should concentrate on technology upgrade”

CHENNAI: In the next few months, Tamil Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) will be implementing six new projects in joint venture in different districts at a total cost of Rs. 107 crore, said its general manager, B. Ramakrishnan on Monday.

Addressing the members of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) as part of the “Farm to Fork: II” curtain raiser event, he said that these projects will come up in Cuddalore, the Nilgiris, Tiruvallur, Namakkal and Theni districts in phases and would provide employment to about 800 people.

TIDCO along with its joint venture partner was in the process of setting up Agri Export Zone to process and export cashew (Rs 17 crore) and flowers (Rs 16 crore); integrated cold chain facilities for storing fruits and vegetables in Thirumullaivoyal (Rs 11 crore) and eggs in Namakkal (Rs 10 crore); two wineries in Cumbum and Nilakottai (Rs 20 crore each) and an integrated grape processing unit at Nilakottai (Rs 13 crore).

“We will be identifying the promoter for storing 10 crore eggs through tender process, while the letter of intent is to be obtained for the grape processing unit. The State government is preparing the Winery policy,” he said.

Padmasingh Isaac, Aachi group of companies, chairman, said that food industry was not at all affected by recession and it was expected to grow like the previous years. He also expressed his willingness to provide a helping hand to all those manufacturers who were finding it difficult to market their produce globally, provided these products met all the quality standards.

In his welcome address, FICCI Tamil Nadu State Council Chairman, M. Rafeeque Ahmed, urged the State government to phase out its passive protection policy towards agriculture and make its production more consumer market-oriented.

P.Murari, Advisor to the FICCI president, said that Indian farmers should concentrate on technology upgrade and technology inputs to meet competition at global levels.

FICCI along with the State government and Det Norske Veritas is conducting a two-day international conference cum exhibition on agri business and food processing here on September 16 and 17.

http://www.projectstoday.com/News/NewsDetails.aspx?smid=24&nid=25876

Madras Cements Ltd (MCL), a subsidiary of Ramco group, plans to foray into the sugar business. Plans are afoot to set up a subsidiary to manufacture sugar.

Once the legal formalities, area for forming the subsidiary are completed, MCL will do an economic analysis of the project.

The plant is likely to come up in Tirukovilur- Tiruvannamalai area in Ramasamy Padaiachi district, Tamil Nadu, at an envisaged investment of Rs 450 crore. It will have an initial daily cane crushing capacity of 5,000 tonne. The plant is also proposed to have co-generation and an industrial alcohol plants

Friday, 24 Apr, 2009

Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) is expected to begin construction of a third nuclear power plant, in collaboration with Russia, at Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu by end-2009.

NPCIL is likely to receive the techno-commercial proposal for Kudankulam III by June 2009.

NPCIL's Unit I and II coming up at Kudankulam are expected to be commissioned during 2009.

http://www.projectstoday.com/News/NewsDetails.aspx?nid=26007

Taneja Aerospace to float JV with Tidco

CHENNAI: Bangalore-based Taneja Aerospace is to float a joint venture with the state-owned TIDCO to create a new facility at Hosur as part of
expanding its interest in aerospace there. The TN agency is set to pick up a small stake in the venture to play the role of a facilitator.

Taneja Aerospace plans to expand its existing facility at Hosur by acquiring an additional 250-300 acres. The land and infrastructure creation envisages an investment of Rs 300 crore, a top Government official told ET.

A new company or a special purpose vehicle will not be formed for the venture as Tidco’s share would be of a participatory nature only. The new unit would exploit the opportunity in the MRO — maintenance, repair and overhaul — and in the manufacture of aero parts , the official said.

A senior official of Taneja Aerospace said discussions were on with several agencies, including Tidco. He, however, decline to divulge details of the latest project.

It is learnt the State’s inherent strength in terms of talent reservoir is said to have influenced the company to select Hosur for developing it as an aerospace hub. Hosur is also close to Bangalore, where the industry is well established.

" The skillset available in TN is totally unparalleled by any other state in India. This has helped the State to attract big ticket investments in the auto sector. Now, it wants to repeat the success story in aerospace", the official explained.

It is also learnt that Taneja Aerospace is scouting for foreign partners to fund the project. Meanwhile, the state has been steadily increasing its focus on the aerospace front, attracting other companies/groups to explore manufacturing prospects in this industry. GVK Industries, for instance, which already has 3,000 acres for its multi product SEZ in Perumbalur district , is actively considering taking an additional 2,000 acres either there or Hosur for its aerospace project.

Mahindra World City too has identified 1,000 acres in Coimbatore for promoting an aerospace project. It is also scouting for large tracts of land in the Hosur belt to locate its third campus and thereby give a leg-up to the aeropark venture, a pet project of the Tamil Nadu government.

During mid-May, a 10-member high-level delegation from Tidco, industry representatives and companies would be in the US. The team would halt at St Louis and Wichita in Kansas to forge collaborations with aviation biggies. If the visits to Boeing and EADS, to name a few, yield results, concerted efforts would be made to showcase specific sites in TN to meet their requirements, the source noted.
Apart from the $30 billion (30% offset clause) opportunity in a 5-10 year time frame, the interest in aerospace is gaining momentum, with a
committed investment of $5 billion expected to pour into the state in the near horizon, the source said.

All efforts are being directed towards concretising plans and inviting investors with a gusto. A study of the St Louis Aeropark model too is in the offing, he added.

According to a CII- Pricewaterhouse Coopers report, " India is poised to become a large commercial and defence aircraft market. With rising passenger traffic and increasing military and defence expenditures, the demand for aircrafts is expected to increase".

The report further said, " Boeing expects a demand of between 900 to 1,000 commercial aircraft worth $100 billion approximately in the next 20 years. This also suggests that a significant portion of business opportunity could accrue to India, due to the associated offsets".

Good opportunity to leverage Bangalore's prominense

^^ These will make TN bigger in Aerospace industry.

if the GVK project goes to hosur, nobody can stop hosur developing into another important city in TN :cheers:

So, these will be totally 8000-9000 acres? :eek2:

Hosur - Gurgaon of Tamil Nadu

Hosur - Thane of Tamil Nadu

Hosur - Noida of Tamil Nadu

http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/2313236/

........Naik said that L&T always strives for serving the country as money could be made with much ease through various other ways. On the company's spending on the defence sector, Naik said around Rs 1,500 crore would go towards setting up the shipyard at Ennore in Tamil Nadu, which would only make sophisticated defence ships and not commercial ships.

Date:07/05/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/05/07/stories/2009050758740300.htm
BHEL despatches 600 MW boiler drum
Special Correspondent

TIRUCHI: Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), Tiruchi, on Wednesday despatched its first 600 MW boiler drum for installation in the North Chennai Thermal Power Station Stage II of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB).

The huge drum was despatched one month ahead of schedule by road on a special trailer fitted with 18 hydraulic axles.

The 28-metre-long drum with a diameter of 1.9 metres and weighing 248 metric tonnes was flagged off by V. Ananthakrishnan, Executive Director, BHEL, Tiruchi.

BHEL bagged the EPC contract against international competitive bidding from TNEB for setting up the country’s first 600 MW power plant designed to sub critical parameters. Later, BHEL received another order from TNEB for supply of the second 600 MW order for the North Chennai project.

BHEL has also signed a joint venture with TNEB for setting up two 800 MW supercritical units at Udangudi in Tiruchendur Taluk of Tuticorin District.

So far, BHEL has secured orders for supply of nine 600 MW units – one from APGenco for its Kakatiya Thermal Power Project at Bhoopalapally in Warangal, four from Jindal Power Limited for its O P Jindal Super Thermal Power Plant at Raigarh in Chattisgarh and two from Madhya Pradesh Power Generation Corporation Limited for its Malwa Thermal Power Project, besides the two from TNEB. BHEL has fully established state-of-the-art technology for manufacture of thermal sets up to 600 MW rating in the sub critical range and has the capability to manufacture sets up to 1000 MW rating, according to a press release. :cheers:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Chennai/Airport-to-get-two-new-radars-by-year-end/articleshow/4504048.cms


CHENNAI: Air traffic controllers at Chennai airport who grapple with failing radars can sigh in relief, as Chennai airport will get two
state-of-the-art radars and an automated air traffic control system by the end of the year. Making the announcement here on Saturday, Airports Authority of India (AAI) chairman V P Agrawal added that the authority would also take up airport development projects at Pondicherry and Coimbatore soon

"We have sanctioned two radars for the airport. We had called for tenders, but it did not work out. So, we need to initiate the tendering proces again. The radars will be in place by the end of this year," Agrawal told reporters after reviewing ongoing infrastructure development works at the airport.

AAI is also planning to modernize air traffic control by introducing automation. "The project, which is expected to be completed by the end of the year or in early 2010, will cost Rs 140 crore. The system is already available in Delhi and Mumbai. We will be installing the system in Kolkata and Chennai. We are yet to open price bid for the project," Agrawal said.

Infrastructure development works construction of terminal buildings, cargo complex, extension of secondary runway across the Adyar river -- are going ahead. "There is no hold-up of funds for development of the airort here. But, AAI will consider asking the union government for infrastructure bonds because Chennai and Kolkata expansion works are high-cost projects."

He said that the state government had been very cooperative. "Tamil Nadu has committed Rs 800 crore investments from the state government side for developing airports at Tiruchi, Madurai, Coimbatore and Thoothukudi. In the southern region, we plan to take up Coimbatore airport expansion as a major project. We have asked the state government for land."

There was some problem in getting the defence land, but that has been solved. AAI is also constructing a cargo complex for which work has been awarded, he added. "The cargo complex is expected to meet the demand for space till 2015. We have also decided to relocate a couple of buildings like the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) building and the Air India building that are in front of the place where the cargo facility is coming up."

Some airlines have objected to the construction of link taxi ways which they say would affect aircraft schedule. AAI would discuss the issue with the airlines to speed up construction.

Chennai, May 7 After the windmills, the biomass-based plants in Tamil Nadu seem to be helping in mitigating the power shortage in the State.

According to data available with the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, the State has 78 MW of biomass-based generating capacity.

TNEB had targeted to get 30 million units of electricity from these plants. This target was met on May 5. In the first six days of May, the plants generated 50.77 million units of electricity.

The targeted generation up to for the first six days of May was 5.8 units, which means that the achievement in the period was ten times the target.

In fact, this was the trend seen last month also. The target for April was also 30 million units, against which the actual generation was over 150 million units.

To put this in context, the biomass-based generation contrasts with that of the gas-based plants. With a total capacity of 424 MW, these plants generated only 46 million units in the first six days of the month.

Sources in the biomass power industry say that the units are generating more as they are now allowed to sell to third parties, who pay better prices than the board. Also, the TN Electricity Regulatory Commission on May 4 raised the tariff for procurement of biomass power from Rs 3.15 a unit to Rs 4.50. However, biomass power generation had gathered pace even before the tariff hike.

Wind power has been doing its bit too. The wind season started a little earlier this summer and it is learnt that last month’s generation was about 300 million units, against the target of 121 million units.

TNEB’s target for May is 484 million units, and as of May 6, the windmills in the state had generated 124 million units.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2009/05/08/stories/2009050851301700.htm

the way in which TN developing its industries is fair but it does not score well regarding bringing central institutes to the state. for example if we take chandigarh region(not even whole of punjab) which includes chandigarh, mohali and panchkula (size of coimbatore and its suburbs), they have PGIMER, IMTECH, NIPER (operational) and IISER(construction started). all 4 are central research institutes with heavy funding. how many does whole of TN has? why TN fails to bring such institutes when neighbouring state AP brings in international university campus to their state? where is it going wrong? our state should grow beyond manufacturing and IT and it should have a good research base also. will this happen?

Then TN will get more institutes.

the way in which TN developing its industries is fair but it does not score well regarding bringing central institutes to the state. for example if we take chandigarh region(not even whole of punjab) which includes chandigarh, mohali and panchkula (size of coimbatore and its suburbs), they have PGIMER, IMTECH, NIPER (operational) and IISER(construction started). all 4 are central research institutes with heavy funding. how many does whole of TN has? why TN fails to bring such institutes when neighbouring state AP brings in international university campus to their state? where is it going wrong? our state should grow beyond manufacturing and IT and it should have a good research base also. will this happen?

It also depends on what the people of the state and their representatives want.

What people want is colour TV, then you have to be satisfied with it. If the people's representative want ministerial berths to their family members in order to mint money and/or to safeguard their positions in power and business, they get it.

On the other hand, if the people and their representatives demanded investment in industries and educational institutes, they would have got them.

Indian democracy is being wasted by the venal politicians. They are perpetrating more serious crimes on the people of this country than all of the past colonial masters of this country.

They have vested interests in keeping this country divided and illiterate. It is enough if they keep the vocal groups of the population happy by providing educational institutions and jobs and a few sops for them. The rest be damned. The Now that the country professes democracy, it is enough to throw some doles (saree, dhoti, toothe paste, TV) during the elections to the 90% and that should keep them happy till the next one. 90% of the population never counted in this country's policies in the past, or will figure for the present and in the foreseeable future.

7 polytechnics with international standards.

Each at the cost of 12INR crore... total around 84 crore. Locations not decided. Central gvt aproved it.

http://203.200.89.222/maalaimalar/2252009/epaperimages/2252009/2252009-md-hr-3/16048437.jpg

Malaimalar

Wind power generation in TN exceeds monthly target

Industry awaits implementation of TNERC order.

Source (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2009/05/23/stories/2009052351851700.htm)

Chennai, May 21 Generation of electricity from wind mills in Tamil Nadu exceeded the State’s target for May, a full ten days before the close of the month.

The Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) had fixed a target of 484 million units for May to be obtained from the windmills. On Wednesday, total wind power generation crossed the target to reach 485.44 MUs.

Sources said that not only the winds arrived earlier this summer, but also the velocities were good.

Tamil Nadu has the highest number of windmills in the country. The State’s installed capacity of 4,125 MW is over 70 per cent the installed capacity in the country.

Since there is a shortage of power in peak times – of about 1,000 MW – the Board has to purchase electricity from other States. This power is expensive, about Rs 10 a unit. In the current month, up to Wednesday, TNEB purchased 360 MUs of electricity, against the monthly target of 242 units.

But for good wind power generation, the board would have had to buy more electricity from elsewhere. TNEB pays Rs 2.90 a unit for wind power, but recently the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission prescribed a tariff of Rs 3.39. The board is yet to implement this. Sources in the wind power industry told Business Line that the industry is “anxiously awaiting the implementation of the TNERC order.”

When the board is prepared to pay Rs 10 for power purchased from outside, why not pay us the TNERC tariff, the industry asks.
Industry awaits implementation of TNERC order.

Agenda for the meeting of the Board of Approval
to be held on 2nd June 2009

http://www.sezindia.gov.in/HTMLS/33rdboameeting.pdf


VKS Farms Pvt. Ltd
Athimarathu Valasu village,Rajamapatti
PO, PalaniTaluk,
DindukalDistrict, TN

Poultry including AgroFood Processing

170 Hectares



Request of M/s. Great Indian Linen and Infrastructure Co. Pvt. Limited for
co-developer in the Textile SEZ at Uthukuli, Perundurai District, Tamil Nadu by
M/s. ETL Infrastructure Services Limited


Request of M/s. Rathinam Arumugam Research and Educational
Foundation (RARE) for co-developer in the IT/ITES SEZ at Coimbatore, Tamil
Nadu set up by M/s. Span Ventures Private Limited.


Amendment in authorized operations approved in respect of sector specific
SEZ for IT/ITES at Taramani, Chennai, Tamil Nadu by M/s. TRIL Infopark
Limited


Request of M/s Coimbatore Hi-tech Infrastructure Ltd. for increase in area in
the sector specific SEZ for IT/ITES at Keeranatham village near Coimbatore,
Tamil Nadu


Request of M/s Shriram Properties & Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd. for denotification
of a portion of land in the notified IT/ITES SEZ at Perungalathur,
Kancheepuram District, Tamil Nadu



Request of M/s. Tapp Semiconductor India Private Limited, codeveloper
in the Electronics Hardware SEZ in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu by
SIPCOT, to take on record the addition of eight more directors in the company
and increase in capital structure and also infusion of FDI.

http://www.domain-b.com/economy/general/20090521_sez_exports_up.html


.......Nokia special economic zone in Tamil Nadu (Telecom equipments SEZ) achieved physical exports of Rs10,385.3 crore in three years (2006-07 to 2008-09).........Mahindra City SEZ in Tamil Nadu, which is into apparels and fashion accessories, IT/Hardware and auto ancillary, has effected exports worth Rs1,524.56 crore in three years (2006-07 to 2008-09), the release said. It provided direct employment to 9,383 persons.

Hosur - Gurgaon of Tamil Nadu

Hosur - Thane of Tamil Nadu

Hosur - Noida of Tamil Nadu


There was vision in developing Gurugoan, Noida and Thane.

We(TN gvt) dont have any vision of developing Hosur, Kanchipuram and Sriperumpudur.

^^
gurgaon was developed on private money, practically dlf.

TN riding on investment wave

http://www.mydigitalfc.com/economy/tn-riding-investment-wave-042

Amid uncertainty over the duration and extent of global economic downturn, several major global and Indian companies are going ahead with their investment plans eying long-term growth.
The Tamil Nadu government is set to sign Rs 10,000-12,000 crore worth of investment proposals for various projects. It would go on a MoU-signing spree over the next 30-45 days with a long list of companies across sectors such as automotive, tyres, electronics and power, for manufacturing projects in the state.
“While some companies are reviewing their plans due to difficult cash positions and sluggish market conditions, we have lined up a few investment proposals ready for signing MoU. The total value of these investment proposals will be in the order of Rs 10,000-12,000 crore,” a top government official, requesting anonymity, told Financial Chronicle.
“While the state government had already finalised some of the proposals, we couldn’t go ahead because of the code of conduct issued by the election commission during the just-concluded Lok Sabha polls. We hope to sign 4-5 proposals over the next couple of months,” he added.
The state cabinet has already cleared these investment proposals. The Rs 12,000-crore worth of proposals consist of a couple of big-ticket investments in automotive and power sectors.
Among the proposals finalised include investments by French tyre-maker Michelin and Toshiba-JSW joint venture for power plant equipment, among others.
“There are two key reasons for companies to review their investment plans – some of them don’t have strong cash positions while others feel there is an excess capacity across the world. Hence, they are reviewing and postponing their plans.
“However, much depends on the sectors. In some cases, companies would like to shift their manufacturing base from ‘high-cost’ locations to ‘low-cost’ countries and hence, they are coming to India,” the official pointed out. It may be recalled that Ashok Leyland recently indicated that its plan to produce LCVs, though a JV with Nissan, had been delayed by over six months.
In August 2008, the state cabinet cleared investment proposals of Dubai-headquartered Harsha Group that planned to make oil and gas equipment and glasses near Chennai and South Korea's leading construction maker Doosan Infracore, which planned to set a unit for the manufacture of construction equipment and parts at Pillaipakkam in Kanchipuram district. A few of the companies are at present reviewing their plans in view of the market conditions.
During fiscal 2008-09, the state is reported to have attracted investments worth about Rs 38,000 crore though 29 projects.

Idea Cellular enters Tamil Nadu; to invest Rs 1,000 cr

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/idea-cellular-enters-tamil-nadu-to-invest-rs-1000-cr/62763/on

Idea Cellular enters Tamil Nadu; to invest Rs 1,000 cr

Press Trust of India / Coimbatore May 25, 2009, 18:58 IST



Idea Cellular, one of the leading telecom operators in the country, entered Tamil Nadu, with the launch of its GSM mobile services in 130 towns across the state.

With this launch, Idea, an Aditya Birla Group company, will now cover nearly 90 per cent of the telephony potential of India, Himanshu Kapania, director-operations, Idea Cellular, told reporters here.

Stating that the company has launched its services in most of the main towns of Tamil Nadu, including Coimbatore, Madurai, Trichy, Salem, Tirupur, Erode and Vellore, Himanshu said that the service in Chennai Metro would be launched soon.

The company's investment for expanding its footprint in Tamil Nadu would be about Rs 1,000 crore by March 2011, he said.

With 25 per cent of its overall subscriber base coming from three areas of Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, Idea plans to set up a network of 2,400 cell sites by March 2010, which would be increased to 2,600 sites by March 2011.

On national plans, Himanshu said that the company would have pan-India presence by the end of this year, with services being launched in West Bengal and Kolkata, Assam and North Eastern states.

However, there was no specific plans for acquisition at present, Himanshu said

NEPC to setup SEZ for Non Conventional Energy Products

http://www.equitybulls.com/admin/news2006/news_det.asp?id=52802

NEPC INDIA LTD, a 30 year old Group company has pioneered Wind Energy in India. From inception, NEPC envisioned Power Generation from Non Conventional Energy Sources like WIND, SOLAR, BIOMASS, BIOGAS, HYDRO, OCEAN ENERGY etc. shall be beneficial for the country. The unstinted endeavour, innovation dedication and determination had yielded excellent results. NEPC India Ltd established 2500 MW Wind Power in India and abroad.

Considering the huge potential of SOLAR energy available in the country for almost 360 days in our country, NEPC embarked into manufacturing Solar energy compatible Solar Dual Power System, UPS to meet the huge demand for power, especially in North and other parts of India. The success achieved in Solar Dual Power System lead them to exploit the Solar Energy potential to the logical end. NEPC as envisioned, realized the fact that the future of the country depends upon environment friendly power generation system by harnessing Non Conventional Energy Sources like WIND, SOLAR, BIOMASS, BIOGAS, HYDRO, OCEAN ENERGY etc.

The demand for power and the focus of whole world on abatement of Green House Gas Emission encouraged NEPC to go for an SEZ project for manufacturing products for generating power from Non Conventional Energy Sources. All the approvals from the State and Central Governments are being obtained for SEZ. The SEZ project will be located in Tamil Nadu in about 100 Acres of land near Coimbatore.

NEPC - SEZ is likely to commence operation in about six months time. Once the project takes shape, we expect large investments in the range of Rs.4000 to Rs.5000 Crores from Indian and Foreign investors. NEPC may get an annual income of Rs.50-60 Crores for the company. The NEPC-SEZ Project when commenced will provide employment to 5000 / 6000 people both directly and indirectly.

The volatility of oil prices, the concern for abatement of Green House Gases (Pollution) and the enormous outflow of Foreign Exchange are compelling reasons all over the World to focus on Power Generation through Non Conventional - Renewable Energy Sources.

NEPC - SEZ for manufacturing "Non Conventional Energy based Products" is a timely venture, particularly for the Nation which is facing huge shortage of power. NEPC is sourcing advanced technology for their Solar (PV) Module manufacturing plant and other products required for installation of Solar Project and other Non Conventional Energy products like Wind Energy, Small Hydro, Mini Hydro, Bio Gas Bio Mass etc.

NEPC India Ltd is sure of their success in their endeavour in the SEZ project for manufacturing all types of Equipment for harnessing Non Conventional Energy Sources and generating GREEN POWER particularly in the context of accelerating demand and the encouraging policy facilitation by Governments not only in India but all over the World.

As per Oxford Analytica, Tamil Nadu most attractive for investment

http://www.hindu.com/2009/05/27/stories/2009052759680700.htm

10000 crore to 12000 crores investment projects to be signed for TN state in 30-45days!

1. France based Tyre manufacturing company
2. Toshiba-JSW JV on manufacturing equipments for thermal plants
3. Dubai based Harsha group of companines - Oil and gas industries equipment manufacturing and glass manufacturing
4. Korea based Doosan Infracore - construction/industry vehicles

---------------------------------------------------------

http://dkn.dinakaran.com/showxml.aspx?id=380362&code=17685

But if i am correct Harsha companies already signed project before MK!!

But again all the investments are going to Chennai, not to tier II cities of TN!!

Chennai: Tamil Nadu deputy chief minister MK Stalin, who will now handle the crucial industries portfolio, said on Sunday that taking the state to the top position in industrial development was his goal. Though thousands of jobs had been created by the industrial units brought to the state by the DMK government, there was still a lot more left to do.
“It is true that we have created thousands of jobs and brought in investments worth crores of rupees, but the issue of unemployment still persists in many parts of the state,” he said in a free-wheeling interview to TOI on Saturday, his first after being entrusted with larger responsibilities.
Repeatedly invoking his father’s name and pointing out that he would be working only under chief minister M Karunanidhi’s guidance, Stalin said his priority would be to attract more investments to generate jobs. “We want to see Tamil Nadu as the number one state in industrialization. There is ample scope for this,” he said, citing the state’s infrastructure, road and port connectivity and its workforce as key advantages.
Tamil Nadu is now ranked third in industrial development after Gujarat and Maharashtra. Even while setting a high goal for himself with regard to industrial progress, he is clear that he will not let rural development, especially implementation of the NREGS, to slacken. “It is very easy to announce schemes, but sound implementation is tough,” he said, when his views were sought on his experience as rural development minister for the last three years. Frequent microlevel monitoring was necessary for any project to succeed, he said.
The 56-year-old is not daunted by the prospect of handling new responsibilities, saying that he had inherited his father’s capacity for hard work

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOICH/2009/05/31&PageLabel=1&EntityId=Ar00100&ViewMode=HTML&GZ=T

TN unveils new package for industries...

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2009/06/01/stories/2009060151380300.htm

No impact of slowdown on SEZ occupancy: State IT Minister


TAKING STOCK: Minister of Information Technology Poongothai Aladi Aruna, flanked by Information Technology Secretary P.W.C. Davidar (left), and Managing Director of ELCOT Santhosh Babu, at the review meeting of ELCOT in Chennai on Monday.


CHENNAI: The current economic slowdown has not affected the occupancy of government-promoted IT Special Economic Zones (SEZ) in the State, said Poongothai Aladi Aruna, Tamil Nadu IT Minister, on Monday.

Talking to presspersons here, after a review meeting with the officials of the Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu (ELCOT), Dr. Poongothai said recruiting had been affected, but there were no job cuts in the IT industry.

While a cohesive national policy was required, Tamil Nadu was still well-placed as an IT destination, the Minister said.

She added that the IT SEZs in Chennai and Coimbatore would be ready by this December, and that work was progressing in the Tiruchi, Madurai, and Tirunelveli SEZs.

P.W.C.Davidar, IT secretary, said the government had decided to introduce electronic file processing in all departments soon. The software being created by ELCOT for the Commercial Taxes department was almost complete and would be released in July, he said.

Santhosh Babu, managing director, ELCOT, said the pilot project to provide handheld devices in ration shops for billing had been successful. Currently, 209 handheld devices were being used and this would be increased to over 1,000 in the coming month, he said.

Mr. Babu said ELCOT had recorded a profit of Rs. 17.77 crore in 2008-2009 as against a profit of Rs. 13.25 crore in 2007-2008.

http://www.hindu.com/2009/06/02/stories/2009060257610100.htm

No impact of slowdown on SEZ occupancy: State IT Minister


She added that the IT SEZs in Chennai and Coimbatore would be ready by this December, and that work was progressing in the Tiruchi, Madurai, and Tirunelveli SEZs.

http://www.hindu.com/2009/06/02/stories/2009060257610100.htm

So Salem/Hosur and later Vellore IT parks are not in the list? :bash: No information about this from the IT minister!

Tamil Nadu clears road for Diageo's bottling operations

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News-By-Industry/Cons-Products/Liquor/Tamil-Nadu-clears-road-for-Diageos-bottling-operations/articleshow/4605873.cms

BANGALORE: The Tamil Nadu government has cleared the decks for the world's largest spirits marketer Diageo to start bottling in the state, making it the first MNC drinks company to list brands in the local retail trade.

The state government has cleared a bottling pact between Diageo and the greenfield SNJ Distilleries in recent weeks, people close to the development said. Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (Tasmac), which controls wholesale and retail trade, has also issued trademark registration approvals for two Diageo brands — Smirnoff vodka and Gilbey's brandy.

Tamil Nadu allows only liquor companies with a local bottling presence to sell their brands through 7,200 outlets across the state. Diageo becomes the first MNC spirits company to get a manufacturing footprint as well as state government approvals.

A few years back, Seagram, which is part of Groupe Pernod Ricard, was in talks with the Coimbatore-based Shiva Distillers to enter Tamil Nadu. But, that move did not go through and Seagram put its Tamil Nadu plans on the backburner.

People close to the development said that Diageo was likely to launch Smirnoff Red vodka and flavour variants in the price bracket of Rs 580-700 per quart. However, the introduction of Smirnoff is expected to take place only in the latter half of the year. While confirming the development, a Diageo India official said the launch of Smirnoff in Tamil Nadu was not on the agenda in the next three months. Top-level management exits have rocked Diageo India in recent months and these are expected to delay the new business initiatives.

Diageo is also bringing back the Gilbey's trademark to India through the Tamil Nadu foray. Sources said that Gilbey's is now being readied as a brandy flavour as the drinks giant works on leveraging its brand equity in south east Asian markets.

So Salem/Hosur and later Vellore IT parks are not in the list? :bash: No information about this from the IT minister!

hosur it park in my opinion would not take off even it were built. why would some one move/start an office in hosur when there are plently of space available in bangalore itself. it would be impossible for tn govt to compete with these private it parks in bangalore.

3,500 buses to be added to government bus fleet


Staff Reporter
‘Bus Driving Simulator’ to impart training on driving techniques


experience on spot: Transport Minister K.N. Nehru inaugurating the bus driving simulator installed for TNSTC trainee drivers in Tiruchi on Tuesday.

TIRUCHI: A state-of-the-art ‘Bus Driving Simulator’ to impart training on right driving techniques to trainees; enhance driving skills of serving government bus drivers, and evaluate their level of competence has been installed at the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (Kumbakonam), Limited, (TNSTC), Tiruchi Region office premises here.

Developed jointly by BEML Limited, a public sector undertaking, and Zen Technologies, the simulator has a bus cut-cabin mounted on a motion platform and equipped with all gauges, controls, transmission systems and indicators found in a bus.

A software has been specially developed to recreate the typical environment in which drivers operate. Costing Rs. 1.5 crore, the simulator provides a feel of driving conditions in city, hills, cross-country and snowy terrain under different lighting, climatic and traffic conditions.

Driving scenarios of different terrains, weather, vehicles and road conditions are projected on a screen by a high-definition projector and LCD screens are used for rear view, in the indoor training system.

The simulator has three main systems—Bus Driving Training Software, Instructor Station and Driver Station. The software has been designed especially for bus simulation. The instructor controls the driver training from the Instructor Station while the trainees occupy Driver Stations.

The Instructor Station enables the instructor to alter environmental conditions and keep track of all driving parameters besides communicating with the drivers. The trainees would undergo well-structured exercises aimed at transforming them into accomplished and safe drivers.

The simulator can record and replay the entire performance of each trainee and can generate different types of reports on customized parameters that can be saved. The drivers could be tested in different forms to evaluate their level of competence.

Inaugurating the facility at the TNSTC office here, the Transport Minister, K.N. Nehru, said such simulators had been installed at three other cities other than Tiruchi.

The move to install simulators was an effort not only aimed at enhancing the skills of the existing drivers but also have good drivers in place. Appealing to the drivers to remain cautious while driving, he said accidents not only affected them and their respective families but general public as well.

Instructions had been given to conduct counselling for bus drivers once in three months to ascertain their problems and take necessary steps to rectify them, Mr. Nehru said adding that necessary works were on to check accidents in spots identified as accident- prone.

The Minister said 20,000 buses were being operated every day with the number of bus travellers being around 2 crore.

He said 3,500 new buses would be acquired shortly to augment the government bus fleet adding Tamil Nadu had the maximum number of buses in operation in the country today. Mr. Nehru distributed cash awards to government bus drivers for accident-free driving.

http://www.hindu.com/2009/06/03/stories/2009060358010300.htm

The meeting, chaired by Chief Minister M.Karunandhi, also approved proposals for rehabilitation of two sugar mills, one at Perambalur and the other at Thanjavur.


http://www.hindu.com/2009/06/03/stories/2009060358920800.htm