The MDMK on Friday withdrew its support to the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government at the Centre, saying that the government has not fulfilled the promises made in the Common Minimum Programme (CMP). The decision was taken at the party's regional conference here today.
"The government has failed to implement any of the demands during the three years," Vaiko-led MDMK said.
The party said that it had placed 17 demands, including amending the Constitution for giving autonomy to states, linking of rivers, which the government did not implement.
When the MDMK had agreed for giving outside support to the UPA, it had four MPs, of whom L. Ganesan and Gingee Ramachandran split from it.
Now it has two Members-- C Krishnan and S Selvaraj.
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Major Infrastructure Schemes take off in coimbatore
After an eight-year wait, some major schemes are taking off in the city.
Schemes
Mass transit system and more flyovers
Good drainage, roads and also multi-tier parking facilities
Adequate supply of drinking water
A drinking water scheme for Rs.114 crore and a solid waste management scheme for Rs.92 crore are the ones that Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi launched on February 24.
This marks the start of efforts to ensure enough water for another 20 years and sanitation in the city.
But, what the city expects beyond these are infrastructure schemes that will make it more liveable.
Congestion
The congestion in Bangalore and Chennai, two of the main information technology centres of South India, is serving as a lesson for Coimbatore.
The effort now is to provide a number of flyovers and a mass transit system such as the Bus Rapid Transit System.
Vehicles
The bus system is expected to reduce the number of private vehicles on roads by attracting people to it.
The Coimbatore Corporation and transportation experts feel that a single, effective public transport can help eliminate the need for alternative modes.
According to the consultants who made a presentation recently on the bus system, it may not be restricted to the city alone.
The service may even extend to the suburbs that are seen as an extension of the city though they come under other local bodies.
Already some residential associations have called for this form of transportation up to Periyanaickenpalayam (on Mettupalayam Road) that is 20 km north of the city.
Lanes
The system needs exclusive lanes and scope for this is seen on Avanashi Road and Mettupalayam Road, as they are straight stretches.
There is a demand for the system on Tiruchi Road also.
But, the Corporation wants to first take over the maintenance of a number of roads that now belong to the National and State Highways departments.
Junctions
Another area that the Corporation is focussing on is the provision of flyovers at congested junctions.
The consultants have identified five junctions and the need for more is felt, going by the present pace of growth.
A recent meeting on the role of the construction industry, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry, pointed out the need for better infrastructure in the city and the outlying areas as more employees were set to stream into information technology firms and various other units that would come up.
The Jawaharlal Nehru National Renewal Mission, under which the schemes are to be implemented, wants these to be implemented over a period of seven years.
The mission period began in the 2005-2006 financial year.
With only six years left for the local body to implement the schemes or lose funds, the city can hope to have most of the planned infrastructure.
The Corporation admits that the mission is the best bet yet to fulfil its promise to provide quality infrastructure such as a good drainage, roads, flyovers and multi-tier parking facilities.
Another key area of focus is improving the supply of drinking water in the city.
The Pilloor Phase II scheme was mooted in 1999 and is set for implementation only now.
But, the Corporation hopes to provide through it another 60 million litres a day (mld).
It already gets 65 mld from the Phase I scheme and over 80 mld from the Siruvani scheme.
Positive development
Another positive development is that water schemes are being implemented for the suburbs that have been reeling under scarcity.
Work on two alternative schemes for a clutch of suburbs south, west and north west of the city have also taken off. The mission provides for the local bodies in the outskirts also to join it under its urban agglomeration component.
Agency
The Corporation says it will act as a nodal agency while the local bodies in the outskirts will have to work for the grants from the Government and arrange for funds for their share of spending as well.
What lends hope of all-round development is that the mission underlines the need for public participation in city planning.
It wants State Governments of cities included in the project to enact a Community Participation Law that provides for drawing up schemes that suit the needs of the people.
Committees
It also wants people's committees to be set up at the ward level.
The Corporation also is clear that a greater say for the public will actually help in identifying solutions for long-pending problems such as the traffic bottleneck at the Kikani underpass or the congestion at traffic signals.
Schemes
Mass transit system and more flyovers
Good drainage, roads and also multi-tier parking facilities
Adequate supply of drinking water
A drinking water scheme for Rs.114 crore and a solid waste management scheme for Rs.92 crore are the ones that Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi launched on February 24.
This marks the start of efforts to ensure enough water for another 20 years and sanitation in the city.
But, what the city expects beyond these are infrastructure schemes that will make it more liveable.
Congestion
The congestion in Bangalore and Chennai, two of the main information technology centres of South India, is serving as a lesson for Coimbatore.
The effort now is to provide a number of flyovers and a mass transit system such as the Bus Rapid Transit System.
Vehicles
The bus system is expected to reduce the number of private vehicles on roads by attracting people to it.
The Coimbatore Corporation and transportation experts feel that a single, effective public transport can help eliminate the need for alternative modes.
According to the consultants who made a presentation recently on the bus system, it may not be restricted to the city alone.
The service may even extend to the suburbs that are seen as an extension of the city though they come under other local bodies.
Already some residential associations have called for this form of transportation up to Periyanaickenpalayam (on Mettupalayam Road) that is 20 km north of the city.
Lanes
The system needs exclusive lanes and scope for this is seen on Avanashi Road and Mettupalayam Road, as they are straight stretches.
There is a demand for the system on Tiruchi Road also.
But, the Corporation wants to first take over the maintenance of a number of roads that now belong to the National and State Highways departments.
Junctions
Another area that the Corporation is focussing on is the provision of flyovers at congested junctions.
The consultants have identified five junctions and the need for more is felt, going by the present pace of growth.
A recent meeting on the role of the construction industry, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry, pointed out the need for better infrastructure in the city and the outlying areas as more employees were set to stream into information technology firms and various other units that would come up.
The Jawaharlal Nehru National Renewal Mission, under which the schemes are to be implemented, wants these to be implemented over a period of seven years.
The mission period began in the 2005-2006 financial year.
With only six years left for the local body to implement the schemes or lose funds, the city can hope to have most of the planned infrastructure.
The Corporation admits that the mission is the best bet yet to fulfil its promise to provide quality infrastructure such as a good drainage, roads, flyovers and multi-tier parking facilities.
Another key area of focus is improving the supply of drinking water in the city.
The Pilloor Phase II scheme was mooted in 1999 and is set for implementation only now.
But, the Corporation hopes to provide through it another 60 million litres a day (mld).
It already gets 65 mld from the Phase I scheme and over 80 mld from the Siruvani scheme.
Positive development
Another positive development is that water schemes are being implemented for the suburbs that have been reeling under scarcity.
Work on two alternative schemes for a clutch of suburbs south, west and north west of the city have also taken off. The mission provides for the local bodies in the outskirts also to join it under its urban agglomeration component.
Agency
The Corporation says it will act as a nodal agency while the local bodies in the outskirts will have to work for the grants from the Government and arrange for funds for their share of spending as well.
What lends hope of all-round development is that the mission underlines the need for public participation in city planning.
It wants State Governments of cities included in the project to enact a Community Participation Law that provides for drawing up schemes that suit the needs of the people.
Committees
It also wants people's committees to be set up at the ward level.
The Corporation also is clear that a greater say for the public will actually help in identifying solutions for long-pending problems such as the traffic bottleneck at the Kikani underpass or the congestion at traffic signals.
Anna University, Coimbatore to create record number of patents
"I want to create a record for Anna University, Coimbatore, by filing the maximum number of patents in the next three years,'' said Vice-Chancellor R. Radhakrishnan.
Mr. Radhakrishnan told that awareness about Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in the country was very negligible. In Japan there were 2,884 patents being filed for every million people as against India's mere seven.
Awareness
Dr. Radhakrishnan said that the Union Government was being funded by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), an organisation promoting the protection of intellectual property, for creating awareness on IPR in the industry.
"It is saddening to note that there is very low awareness. There are so many innovations being made by entrepreneurs, industry people and even by students; but only a negligible per cent gets patented. The reasons, besides lack of awareness, are the cumbersome procedures involved in patenting a product or a concept and the cost involved," he added.
To ease the procedure, Dr. Radhakrishnan, with the help of his dedicated team of professionals, would provide the service of applying for patenting under the aegis of the Centre for IP Rights that would be set up soon.
Mr. Radhakrishnan told that awareness about Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in the country was very negligible. In Japan there were 2,884 patents being filed for every million people as against India's mere seven.
Awareness
Dr. Radhakrishnan said that the Union Government was being funded by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), an organisation promoting the protection of intellectual property, for creating awareness on IPR in the industry.
"It is saddening to note that there is very low awareness. There are so many innovations being made by entrepreneurs, industry people and even by students; but only a negligible per cent gets patented. The reasons, besides lack of awareness, are the cumbersome procedures involved in patenting a product or a concept and the cost involved," he added.
To ease the procedure, Dr. Radhakrishnan, with the help of his dedicated team of professionals, would provide the service of applying for patenting under the aegis of the Centre for IP Rights that would be set up soon.
Property tax, water charge likely to increase
Close to two lakh building owners in the city may have to brace for an increase in the property tax and drinking water consumption charge as the Coimbatore Corporation prepares to improve its revenue. If the Corporation Council approves it, the hike will come after nine years.
The civic body's Rs.13.80-crore deficit budget for 2007-08 tabled in the Council on Wednesday made out a strong case for a hike. By mentioning that the Central Government's Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission for infrastructure development stressed better revenue, the Corporation indicated that a tax revision was just round the corner.
The budget, however, carefully avoided mentioning the quantum of increase that would help improve tax revenue. It would be left to the Council. Corporation Commissioner P. Muthuveeran told presspersons that the mission wanted the tax revenue to be huge enough to fund development works. At present, the tax revenue was only 20 per cent of the total income.
The Commissioner and other officials admitted that the accumulated tax arrears were close to Rs.80 crore. As for water charges, the budget pointed out that the Corporation ran up a huge loss because it bought water from the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board by paying a minimum rate of Rs.4.50 for 1,000 litres up to 50,000 litres. But, the Corporation collected only Rs.3.50.
The civic body's Rs.13.80-crore deficit budget for 2007-08 tabled in the Council on Wednesday made out a strong case for a hike. By mentioning that the Central Government's Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission for infrastructure development stressed better revenue, the Corporation indicated that a tax revision was just round the corner.
The budget, however, carefully avoided mentioning the quantum of increase that would help improve tax revenue. It would be left to the Council. Corporation Commissioner P. Muthuveeran told presspersons that the mission wanted the tax revenue to be huge enough to fund development works. At present, the tax revenue was only 20 per cent of the total income.
The Commissioner and other officials admitted that the accumulated tax arrears were close to Rs.80 crore. As for water charges, the budget pointed out that the Corporation ran up a huge loss because it bought water from the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board by paying a minimum rate of Rs.4.50 for 1,000 litres up to 50,000 litres. But, the Corporation collected only Rs.3.50.
Monday, March 12, 2007
World Cup Cricket Bats from Coimbatore
Although often Indian cricketers flatter to deceive, cricket bats made in India are in great demand around the world.
Indeed, the leading wielders of willow around the globe prefer Indian-made bats.
In Coimbatore, a cricket bat-manufacturing unit named Bat Craft is engaged in meeting the demands of leading batsmen, both from India and abroad.
These bats are mainly made from willow wood imported from England.
Until a couple of years ago, these willow trees were grown in Kashmir. The availability of willow wood became scarce after the Government banned the felling of willow trees to prevent excessive deforestration. Sports good makers then resorted to importing willow wood from England.
According to George Xavier, the manager at Bat Craft International, the bats are made as per specifications and measures forwarded to the company by different players.
"We are making international cricket bats for the last seven years. Now-a-days because of the World Cup cricket tournament, there is a huge demand in the national and international market. We have dispatched the first set of bats for the World Cup, and we will dispatch the next set of bats within one or two days. We make bats for players of teams like Australia, New Zealand, and the West Indies and also for our own Indian team. There is a huge demand of cricket bats, but we cannot fulfill the demands because we are short of willow from England," said Xavier.
Players like Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Sanat Jayasuriya, Brian Lara and Adam Gilchrist get their bats made by Bat Craft International.
The firm, which used to make 500 bats per month, has now been compelled to double up production to meet the demands of the players participating in the 2007 World Cup.
Indeed, the leading wielders of willow around the globe prefer Indian-made bats.
In Coimbatore, a cricket bat-manufacturing unit named Bat Craft is engaged in meeting the demands of leading batsmen, both from India and abroad.
These bats are mainly made from willow wood imported from England.
Until a couple of years ago, these willow trees were grown in Kashmir. The availability of willow wood became scarce after the Government banned the felling of willow trees to prevent excessive deforestration. Sports good makers then resorted to importing willow wood from England.
According to George Xavier, the manager at Bat Craft International, the bats are made as per specifications and measures forwarded to the company by different players.
"We are making international cricket bats for the last seven years. Now-a-days because of the World Cup cricket tournament, there is a huge demand in the national and international market. We have dispatched the first set of bats for the World Cup, and we will dispatch the next set of bats within one or two days. We make bats for players of teams like Australia, New Zealand, and the West Indies and also for our own Indian team. There is a huge demand of cricket bats, but we cannot fulfill the demands because we are short of willow from England," said Xavier.
Players like Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Sanat Jayasuriya, Brian Lara and Adam Gilchrist get their bats made by Bat Craft International.
The firm, which used to make 500 bats per month, has now been compelled to double up production to meet the demands of the players participating in the 2007 World Cup.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Railway minister visits Coimbatore
Funds will not be a constraint for the Irugur railway line doubling and it will be completed by December 2007, Union Minister of State for Railways R. Velu said on Saturday.
The Ondipudur and Ukkadam rail overbridges would be thrown open by April 14 and July respectively.
Mr. Velu was here to inaugurate `Swapnam', a multi-cuisine food plaza, at the Coimbatore Junction under the aegis of the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation.
The Ondipudur and Ukkadam rail overbridges would be thrown open by April 14 and July respectively.
Mr. Velu was here to inaugurate `Swapnam', a multi-cuisine food plaza, at the Coimbatore Junction under the aegis of the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation.
Pricol Workers go on strike. Arrested.
Bringing an end to the 18-hour-long road roko on Mettuppalayam Road by the irate employees of Pricol Limited at Periaynaickenpalayam, the Coimbatore Rural Police on Saturday arrested nearly 2,300 workers including 500-odd women.
(The workers have been on strike from Monday demanding withdrawal of transfer orders served on six of their colleagues. They alleged that the orders were a vindictive measure to thwart their attempts to come under a new union.)
The workers blocked Mettuppalayam Road from 4.30 p.m. on Friday demanding the intervention of the District Collector to find a solution.
The talks held by revenue officials and the police on Friday night proved futile.
To hammer out a solution, the Superintendent of Police, Coimbatore Rural, A.T. Duraikumar, asked the workers to call off the agitation and sort out their grievances at the talks organised by the Labour Department on Saturday. Even those efforts did not fructify.
Normalcy
On Saturday morning, the police started the arrest of agitating workers at 10.30 a.m. and lodged them at three kalyana mandapams at Karamadai. They were released late on Saturday night. "Unless normalcy is resumed, I do not think the ground is conducive for any further talks," the Executive Director of Pricol Limited, Vanitha Mohan, told presspersons here on Saturday.
According to Ms. Mohan, approximately 600 workers have gone on strike. Some of the workers of the vendor units have also joined. Talks were held twice in the presence of the Assistant Commissioner of Labour. Though talks were planned on Saturday in the presence of the Joint Commissioner of Labour, the workers had not turned up, she said.
"We were not officially intimated that they were starting a new union," she said. "We normally transfer some of our trained workers to new centres if we are starting a unit there." If the workers were not happy with the transfer orders, they should have asked for an explanation, she said.
"We do not plan to withdraw the transfer orders. We have been a management always open for discussion," Ms. Mohan said.
Meanwhile, agitating workers held a talk with the Collector on Saturday night. They were assured by the Collector that their grievances could be sorted out at the talks to be conducted by the Labour Development on Monday.
(The workers have been on strike from Monday demanding withdrawal of transfer orders served on six of their colleagues. They alleged that the orders were a vindictive measure to thwart their attempts to come under a new union.)
The workers blocked Mettuppalayam Road from 4.30 p.m. on Friday demanding the intervention of the District Collector to find a solution.
The talks held by revenue officials and the police on Friday night proved futile.
To hammer out a solution, the Superintendent of Police, Coimbatore Rural, A.T. Duraikumar, asked the workers to call off the agitation and sort out their grievances at the talks organised by the Labour Department on Saturday. Even those efforts did not fructify.
Normalcy
On Saturday morning, the police started the arrest of agitating workers at 10.30 a.m. and lodged them at three kalyana mandapams at Karamadai. They were released late on Saturday night. "Unless normalcy is resumed, I do not think the ground is conducive for any further talks," the Executive Director of Pricol Limited, Vanitha Mohan, told presspersons here on Saturday.
According to Ms. Mohan, approximately 600 workers have gone on strike. Some of the workers of the vendor units have also joined. Talks were held twice in the presence of the Assistant Commissioner of Labour. Though talks were planned on Saturday in the presence of the Joint Commissioner of Labour, the workers had not turned up, she said.
"We were not officially intimated that they were starting a new union," she said. "We normally transfer some of our trained workers to new centres if we are starting a unit there." If the workers were not happy with the transfer orders, they should have asked for an explanation, she said.
"We do not plan to withdraw the transfer orders. We have been a management always open for discussion," Ms. Mohan said.
Meanwhile, agitating workers held a talk with the Collector on Saturday night. They were assured by the Collector that their grievances could be sorted out at the talks to be conducted by the Labour Development on Monday.
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