The Rs 20-meal, introduced by the Tamil Nadu Government in hotels for the benefit of the downtrodden, is no longer available in the eateries across the State.
The scheme, fondly called as Janatha Meal, was introduced in 2008 on the birthday of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on June 3 across the State.
It was made mandatory for all the hotels to serve Rs 20-meal, besides tiffin items like idly, dosa and hot drinks like tea and coffee at a reduced price, thus catering to the needs of the poor. However, now none of the hotels follow the price regulations stipulated by the government.
The hotels served the food items at a reduced rate for a few months, after which the Janatha Meals vanished from their menu. The Rs 20- meal should comprise 400 gram of rice, sambar, rasam, butter milk and a side dish.
The hotels were also asked not to compromise on the quality of the food items. Besides, the government insisted that tiffin items like idly, dosa, pongal and puri, also coffee and tea to be served by the hotels at a reduced price.
Due to the unchecked price rise in hotels at Coimbatore, which serves as a hub for migratory population working in textile units and construction industry, they are largely affected.
“Life is not the same as it were two years ago due to the rising cost of food items in the hotels. In fact, I spend a major share of my salary for food. The government should do something to check the rising prices of food items in the hotels,” said R Suresh, a batchelor, who works at a textile unit in Coimbatore.
Further there is also a general feeling among the public that the price of food items in Coimbatore are generally sold at higher rates than elsewhere. Even at any moderate level hotel in the city, the price of a meal is fixed at around Rs 40, besides, pongal, dosa and other items are sold at a price range of Rs 20 to 30.
Tamil Nadu Hotel Association Youth Wing President C R Senthil Kumar said the hotels could not serve the food items at the stipulated price due to the hike in input cost, besides increasing labour wages and rentals. “All the eateries managed to serve the food items at the government fixed rate for over a year, but now the hotels are helpless. So, it is not possible to serve at the fixed price,” he said. Kumar said the association has urged the government refix the rate of food items.
Friday, January 01, 2010
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Kongu Nadu Munnetra Kazhagam to stage agitations
Kongu Nadu Munnetra Kazhagam (KMK) has threatened to stage a series of agitations if the Centre and the State governments failed to come up with a solution for the issue of discharge of effluents into river Noyyal.
State President of KMK Best S. Ramasamy told journalists that indiscriminate discharge of untreated effluents from dyeing units had affected people in Coimbatore, Tirupur, Erode and Karur districts, causing ailments such as skin diseases, infertility and even kidney failure.
The effluents had also affected agriculture in this region substantially.
As per a Supreme Court order, dyeing units would be barred from discharging effluents into Noyyal from January 6.
The dyeing units have gone on strike citing constraints in complying with the court order. They had been asked to provide compensation to farmers, pay the penalty for effluents discharged so far, and ensure Orathuppalayam Dam was cleaned and de-silted.
The strike would affect lakhs of workers in hosiery and dyeing units as the two were allied industries.
The governments should depute a committee to closely monitor and spell out solutions. The trade was facing problems because of the effluents issue, Mr. Ramasamy said and added that the attitude of both the governments was ‘lethargic.’
State President of KMK Best S. Ramasamy told journalists that indiscriminate discharge of untreated effluents from dyeing units had affected people in Coimbatore, Tirupur, Erode and Karur districts, causing ailments such as skin diseases, infertility and even kidney failure.
The effluents had also affected agriculture in this region substantially.
As per a Supreme Court order, dyeing units would be barred from discharging effluents into Noyyal from January 6.
The dyeing units have gone on strike citing constraints in complying with the court order. They had been asked to provide compensation to farmers, pay the penalty for effluents discharged so far, and ensure Orathuppalayam Dam was cleaned and de-silted.
The strike would affect lakhs of workers in hosiery and dyeing units as the two were allied industries.
The governments should depute a committee to closely monitor and spell out solutions. The trade was facing problems because of the effluents issue, Mr. Ramasamy said and added that the attitude of both the governments was ‘lethargic.’
Coimbatore Corporation increases drinking water tariff
After a protracted struggle, the Coimbatore Corporation managed to get the approval of the Council on Tuesday to increase the drinking water tariff. The sanction, however, came with a condition from councillors that the new rates should take effect only when the Corporation made 24-hour supply of water.
The Corporation wanted these to take effect on April 1 next year. But the parties wanted it to wait for more than a year till the 24-hour supply would begin.
The Corporation wanted to step up revenue from water supply to fund the Rs.113-crore Pilloor Phase II drinking water scheme.
Official sources, however, said that since the Council had passed the resolution on the tariff, the increase could be effected after the due consent from the Government was obtained, nothwithstanding the condition from the Councillors.
The Corporation on Tuesday did away with the slab system of tariff for one category of residential connections. A flat rate of Rs.100 a month would have to be paid for consumption up to 15,000 litres.
A tariff of Rs.6 per 1,000 litres would be charged for consumption between 15,001 litres to 20,000 litres.
The tariff for 20,001 litres to 1.5 lakh litres was fixed at Rs.8 per 1,000 litres and at Rs.11 per 1,000 litres for consumption above 1.5 lakh litres
The Corporation wanted these to take effect on April 1 next year. But the parties wanted it to wait for more than a year till the 24-hour supply would begin.
The Corporation wanted to step up revenue from water supply to fund the Rs.113-crore Pilloor Phase II drinking water scheme.
Official sources, however, said that since the Council had passed the resolution on the tariff, the increase could be effected after the due consent from the Government was obtained, nothwithstanding the condition from the Councillors.
The Corporation on Tuesday did away with the slab system of tariff for one category of residential connections. A flat rate of Rs.100 a month would have to be paid for consumption up to 15,000 litres.
A tariff of Rs.6 per 1,000 litres would be charged for consumption between 15,001 litres to 20,000 litres.
The tariff for 20,001 litres to 1.5 lakh litres was fixed at Rs.8 per 1,000 litres and at Rs.11 per 1,000 litres for consumption above 1.5 lakh litres
Tamil Nadu increasing power generation capacity
The Tamil Nadu Government has initiated several measures to ramp up power generation capacity and in the next 1 to 2 years an additional generation capacity of 7000 MW would be added in the State.
According to Mr MK Stalin deputy chief minister of Tamil Nadu said that the Government is also addressing the problem of infrastructure bottlenecks plaguing the Coimbatore region, which apart from being famous for its engineering prowess is now proving its mettle in electronics and IT sectors too.
Speaking at an interactive meeting organised by the CII, Mr Stalin said that hydel power generation, which was 6455 million units during 2007-08, shrunk to 5386 MUs during 2008-09. The generation of wind power and power from the thermal power plants at Neyveli and nuclear plants at Kalpakkam and Kaiga also fell. But while at the all India level, generation fell by 13.8% in Tamil Nadu, it was only by 5.5%.
Mr Stalin further said that cogeneration plants with a capacity of 234 MW were established in 17 sugar mills in the co operative and public sector fold at an investment of INR 1176 crore. Agreements have also been signed for establishing two power plants with a total capacity of 1,200 MW at an investment of INR 4650 crore.
In the Ennore plant, establishing 600 MW capacity unit is nearing completion. In the next one to two years, it is expected that 7000 MW of additional power generation capacity will added.
According to Mr MK Stalin deputy chief minister of Tamil Nadu said that the Government is also addressing the problem of infrastructure bottlenecks plaguing the Coimbatore region, which apart from being famous for its engineering prowess is now proving its mettle in electronics and IT sectors too.
Speaking at an interactive meeting organised by the CII, Mr Stalin said that hydel power generation, which was 6455 million units during 2007-08, shrunk to 5386 MUs during 2008-09. The generation of wind power and power from the thermal power plants at Neyveli and nuclear plants at Kalpakkam and Kaiga also fell. But while at the all India level, generation fell by 13.8% in Tamil Nadu, it was only by 5.5%.
Mr Stalin further said that cogeneration plants with a capacity of 234 MW were established in 17 sugar mills in the co operative and public sector fold at an investment of INR 1176 crore. Agreements have also been signed for establishing two power plants with a total capacity of 1,200 MW at an investment of INR 4650 crore.
In the Ennore plant, establishing 600 MW capacity unit is nearing completion. In the next one to two years, it is expected that 7000 MW of additional power generation capacity will added.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
