Ooty town will have helicopter service soon, said Santosh K Misra, Collector of Nilgiris.
He said many people in the district have suggested that helicopter service was necessary for the hill town. Moreover, two service providers have already come forward with a proposal for its introduction.
“I think the helicopter service would certainly be beneficial to this district considering its hilly terrain. During emergencies such as shifting of patients to centres like Coimbatore for better medical treatment, the service would be very helpful,” he observed.
Moreover, it would certainly benefit tourists, school children studying in residential schools and their parents. It would be a big boost for the business community and also highly useful in case of natural calamities, he further said.
Considering all these facts the district administration has decided to send a proposal to the government for its approval. With the co-operation of people, helicopter service would be introduced very soon in the queen of hills, he added.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Special trains to Coimbatore for Holidays
Southern Railway is to run following special trains to Coimbatore to clear the extra rush of passengers in connection with Republic Day and Moharam.
Train No. 0623 will leave Chennai Central at 10.20 p.m. on January 24, 26 and 28 and reach Coimbatore at 7.15 a.m. the next day.
In the return direction train No.0624 will leave Coimbatore at 11.45 p.m. on January 25, 27 and 29 and arrive at Central at 8.30 a.m. the next day.
Train No. 0625 will leave Central at 10 p.m. on January 27 and arrive at Coimbatore at 8.15 a.m. the next day.
Train No. 0623 will leave Chennai Central at 10.20 p.m. on January 24, 26 and 28 and reach Coimbatore at 7.15 a.m. the next day.
In the return direction train No.0624 will leave Coimbatore at 11.45 p.m. on January 25, 27 and 29 and arrive at Central at 8.30 a.m. the next day.
Train No. 0625 will leave Central at 10 p.m. on January 27 and arrive at Coimbatore at 8.15 a.m. the next day.
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Museum reopens in Coimbatore
After six month long renovation works, the Gass Forest Museum on the Forest College campus on Cowley Brown Road in R.S. Puram would be re-opened for public on Monday (January 22).
A release from the Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding (IFGTB) said that the museum was established by H.A. Gass, the then Conservator of Forests, Coimbatore circle, in 1902. The 105-year old museum is presently managed by the IFGTB, a research institute of the Indian Council of Forestry and Research and Education, an autonomous body of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests.
For further details interested persons could contact A. Karthikeyan, Scientist at the IFGTB over phone numbers 2431395 or 94433-74119.
Source: The Hindu
A release from the Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding (IFGTB) said that the museum was established by H.A. Gass, the then Conservator of Forests, Coimbatore circle, in 1902. The 105-year old museum is presently managed by the IFGTB, a research institute of the Indian Council of Forestry and Research and Education, an autonomous body of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests.
For further details interested persons could contact A. Karthikeyan, Scientist at the IFGTB over phone numbers 2431395 or 94433-74119.
Source: The Hindu
Tata Indicom online store in Kovai
Tata Teleservices Limited (TTSL) provider of the Tata Indicom telecom services has introduced an online retail store.
This empowers the customers to research, compare a wide range of handsets, tariff plans and value added services besides the preferred mobile number.
The online store would help the customer in availing of postpaid connections in 400 cities at the click of a mouse.
The handsets would be delivered upfront free of cost and activation would be done within three working days.
The online store could be accessed at www.ichoose.in
The e-shop is easy to navigate with a clutter free design format and ensures convenience for even a first time Internet user, said the Chief Executive Officer of Tata Teleservices Limited, Darryl Green.
The e-Shop `i-choose' is currently available across the 18 circles of Tata Teleservices and will be live in Mumbai & RoM shortly.
BillDesk will provide & manage the online payment gateway.
The billing platform has been secured to ensure utmost protection and secrecy of all customers' shopping transactions.
Source: The Hindu
This empowers the customers to research, compare a wide range of handsets, tariff plans and value added services besides the preferred mobile number.
The online store would help the customer in availing of postpaid connections in 400 cities at the click of a mouse.
The handsets would be delivered upfront free of cost and activation would be done within three working days.
The online store could be accessed at www.ichoose.in
The e-shop is easy to navigate with a clutter free design format and ensures convenience for even a first time Internet user, said the Chief Executive Officer of Tata Teleservices Limited, Darryl Green.
The e-Shop `i-choose' is currently available across the 18 circles of Tata Teleservices and will be live in Mumbai & RoM shortly.
BillDesk will provide & manage the online payment gateway.
The billing platform has been secured to ensure utmost protection and secrecy of all customers' shopping transactions.
Source: The Hindu
Friday, January 19, 2007
Build Expo 2007 in Coimbatore
Build Expo 2007, a construction trade fair, will be held at the CODISSIA Trade Fair Complex here from January 25 to 29.
The fair is organised by the Association of Consulting Civil Engineers (I), Builders Association of India and the Coimbatore District Small Industries Association. The exhibition will have a special pavilion for property developers and housing finance companies. An outdoor pavilion will showcase heavy equipment and construction machinery. Companies from Germany, Korea and Japan are also participating.
A conference on "Recent Trends in Infrastructure Development 2007-concept, design and execution" will be held on January 24 and 25 at PSG College of Technology.
The fair will be open to business visitors from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and for general public from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The fair is organised by the Association of Consulting Civil Engineers (I), Builders Association of India and the Coimbatore District Small Industries Association. The exhibition will have a special pavilion for property developers and housing finance companies. An outdoor pavilion will showcase heavy equipment and construction machinery. Companies from Germany, Korea and Japan are also participating.
A conference on "Recent Trends in Infrastructure Development 2007-concept, design and execution" will be held on January 24 and 25 at PSG College of Technology.
The fair will be open to business visitors from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and for general public from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Coconut Climber : TNAU develops a new safety device
COCONUT PALM is an important cash crop of the four southern states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. More than 90 per cent of area under coconut cultivation and production in the country is in these states.
Coconut cultivation and allied activities provide livelihood security to more than nine million people.
Laborious job
For harvesting the nuts, removing the dried palms, and for spraying and applying insecticides on the crown, skilled labourers have to climb manually up the tree. Such a process looks easy, in reality it is a laborious and dangerous task.
It requires skill to climb a coconut tree. Skilled coconut tree climbers have become scarce and farmers are finding it difficult to harvest the nuts.
Though a trained tree climber can climb about 40 trees per day, untrained persons can climb only 5-10 trees in a day.
"To make it convenient for them, we have developed the coconut tree climber," said Dr. V.J.F. Kumar, Head of the Zonal Research Centre of Tamil Nadu Agriculture Univerity (TNAU), Coimbatore. This device ensures cent per cent safety to the tree climber.
Easy operation
"The best part of the `coconut-climber' is that even non-professional climbers can operate it, making it a boon for farmers," he said.
The tree climber is made of mild steel square pipes. It has two frames, the upper frame can be operated with both the hands and the lower frame can be operated by one foot. The two frames are connected to each other by adjustable belts.
The upper frame is also provided with a seating arrangement for the person to sit and the lower frame has a provision for holding the feet.
Sliding framework
The entire unit is fitted in the coconut tree with the upper frame above the lower frame. By standing on the lower frame, the upper frame can be slid up or down the tree.
Similarly, by sitting on the upper frame, the lower frame can be slid up or down.
The operator can ascend or descend the tree by operating the upper and the lower frames alternately.
No risk
Since the operator is safely held against the tree by the upper frame, there is practically no risk of falling down. An operator takes about 10 minutes to safely climb and harvest the nuts
Manual labourers
The device is a boon for large-scale coconut growers who employ manual labourers for climbing the trees. Usually these labourers are paid about Rs. 20-30 per tree.
The weight of the device is about 9 kg and it is priced at about Rs. 2,500.
For further details, readers may contact Dr. V.J.F. Kumar, Professor and Head, Agricultural Machinery Research Centre, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore - 600003, Tamil Nadu, phone: 0422-6611204
Source: The Hindu
Coconut cultivation and allied activities provide livelihood security to more than nine million people.
Laborious job
For harvesting the nuts, removing the dried palms, and for spraying and applying insecticides on the crown, skilled labourers have to climb manually up the tree. Such a process looks easy, in reality it is a laborious and dangerous task.
It requires skill to climb a coconut tree. Skilled coconut tree climbers have become scarce and farmers are finding it difficult to harvest the nuts.
Though a trained tree climber can climb about 40 trees per day, untrained persons can climb only 5-10 trees in a day.
"To make it convenient for them, we have developed the coconut tree climber," said Dr. V.J.F. Kumar, Head of the Zonal Research Centre of Tamil Nadu Agriculture Univerity (TNAU), Coimbatore. This device ensures cent per cent safety to the tree climber.
Easy operation
"The best part of the `coconut-climber' is that even non-professional climbers can operate it, making it a boon for farmers," he said.
The tree climber is made of mild steel square pipes. It has two frames, the upper frame can be operated with both the hands and the lower frame can be operated by one foot. The two frames are connected to each other by adjustable belts.
The upper frame is also provided with a seating arrangement for the person to sit and the lower frame has a provision for holding the feet.
Sliding framework
The entire unit is fitted in the coconut tree with the upper frame above the lower frame. By standing on the lower frame, the upper frame can be slid up or down the tree.
Similarly, by sitting on the upper frame, the lower frame can be slid up or down.
The operator can ascend or descend the tree by operating the upper and the lower frames alternately.
No risk
Since the operator is safely held against the tree by the upper frame, there is practically no risk of falling down. An operator takes about 10 minutes to safely climb and harvest the nuts
Manual labourers
The device is a boon for large-scale coconut growers who employ manual labourers for climbing the trees. Usually these labourers are paid about Rs. 20-30 per tree.
The weight of the device is about 9 kg and it is priced at about Rs. 2,500.
For further details, readers may contact Dr. V.J.F. Kumar, Professor and Head, Agricultural Machinery Research Centre, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore - 600003, Tamil Nadu, phone: 0422-6611204
Source: The Hindu
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Southern Railway goes hitech
Southern Railway is planning to introduce `Station Alert' boards operated by Global Positioning System (GPS), in air-conditioned chair car coaches in all important trains, Thomas Vargheese, General Manager of Southern Railway, said on Tuesday.
Talking to reporters along with Divisional Railway Manager, Palakkad, A.K. Harit, Mr.Vargheese said that the train alert display had already been introduced in two trains in Kerala.
To step up security, the Southern Railway was equipping all its phone numbers with calling line identification gadgets, besides installing surveillance cameras to be manned by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel.
Source: The Hindu
Talking to reporters along with Divisional Railway Manager, Palakkad, A.K. Harit, Mr.Vargheese said that the train alert display had already been introduced in two trains in Kerala.
To step up security, the Southern Railway was equipping all its phone numbers with calling line identification gadgets, besides installing surveillance cameras to be manned by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel.
Source: The Hindu
UAE likely to invest in Coimbatore
The Ras Al Khaimah government of UAE is planning to invest $1 billion over the development of township and infrastructure projects in India in two years. Ras Al Khaimah, which is one of the seven emirates that form the United Abrab Emirates is particularly looking at south including tier II cities like Coimbatore for township projects.
The government is also looking at establishing an air connectivity between Ral Al Khaimah and India. The Ras Al Khaimah investment authority is planning to file application with the union civil ministry next month for operating the RaK Air airline to India.
Currently Ras AL Khaimah investment authority operates two ceramic plants-Rak Ceramic near Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh. It also has 12 ceramic showrooms across India and plans to add 50 more showrooms with an investment of $25 million.
Speaking on the sidelines of CII partnership summit in Bangalore Sheikh Sud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi the crown prince and deputy ruler of Ras Al Khaimah said, "We want to partner with India in various economic development opportunities and we are also opening gateways for investment in Ras Al Khaimah." Three hospitality majors in India have also shown interest for developing hotels in the Ras Al Khaimah region.
Source: Economic Times
The government is also looking at establishing an air connectivity between Ral Al Khaimah and India. The Ras Al Khaimah investment authority is planning to file application with the union civil ministry next month for operating the RaK Air airline to India.
Currently Ras AL Khaimah investment authority operates two ceramic plants-Rak Ceramic near Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh. It also has 12 ceramic showrooms across India and plans to add 50 more showrooms with an investment of $25 million.
Speaking on the sidelines of CII partnership summit in Bangalore Sheikh Sud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi the crown prince and deputy ruler of Ras Al Khaimah said, "We want to partner with India in various economic development opportunities and we are also opening gateways for investment in Ras Al Khaimah." Three hospitality majors in India have also shown interest for developing hotels in the Ras Al Khaimah region.
Source: Economic Times
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Mata Amritanandamayi to visit Coimbatore
Satguru Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi (Amma) would be visiting Coimbatore from January 21 to 23 to attend the Brahmasthanam Temple Mahotsavam at Nallampalayam.
During the visit, spiritual programmes, including “satsangs,” “bhajans,” guided meditation and “darshan” at 10 am and at 6 pm would be held on all days. Dawn-to-dusk “Lalitha Sahashranamarchana” would also be conducted.
Special pujas to remove the negative planetary influences of “Rahu” and “Shani” would be organised.
The “Rahu Dosha Nivarana Puja” and the “Shani Dosha Nivarana Puja” would be held at 7.30 am and 6.30 pm respectively on Tuesday.
For further details and registration for the pujas and archana, contact Mata Amritanandamayi Math, Ramaswamy Nagar II, Nallampalayam Road, Ganapathy (near Kavundampalayam bus stand), Coimbatore- 641006 or call at 0422-2538325, 2535258.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
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