Latest news with #Alagumeena
The Hindu
04-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Fishermen reiterate opposition to deep-sea hydrocarbon project at grievance meeting
The monthly grievances redress meeting for fishermen, held at the Collectorate on Friday, once again witnessed strong opposition to the proposed hydrocarbon project off the Kanniyakumari coast. During the meeting, the fishermen expressed their condemnation for the deep sea project. They said that bids had already been invited for the project, without conducting any public hearing regarding its implementation. They pointed out that the project envisages exploration at three sites along the Kanniyakumari coast, which would affect the coral reefs and livelihood of the local fishing community. Kanniyakumari District Collector R. Alagumeena, who chaired the meeting said that the district administration has not received any official information regarding the proposed project. At the meeting various petitions were submitted by fishermen. These included the distribution of kerosene at subsidised rate and calls to verify the authenticity of boats currently availing subsidy. Additional petitions were raised seeking the construction of new groyne at Rajakamangalam Thurai, Arockiapuram, Kovalam, Manakudi, Keezha Manakudi and Periyakadu. Many petitions were also submitted regarding the pattas for tsunami houses, extension of bus service to coastal villages and construction of new roads in coastal areas. They also urged the district administration to ensure compensation for the fishermen affected by sunken cargo vessel MSC Elsa 3 and to provide details of the container locations to ensure the safety at sea. In response Ms. Alagumeena said that annual inspections are being carried out and only eligible boats are provided kerosene at subsidised rates. She also informed that DPR has been prepared for the construction of new groynes at the coastal villages including Periyakadu and Keezhamanakudi. Regarding the sunken vessel, she stated that fishermen would be alerted with the locations of the container to ensure their safety. Padmanabhapuram Sub Collector Vinay Kumar Meena, Deputy Director of Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare Chinnakuppan and other officials were present at the meeting.
The Hindu
24-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Anti-malarial drive intensified in coastal areas of Kanniyakumari district
With the active southwest monsoon keeping every place in Kanniyakumari district damp and the water bodies brimming with water, the Kanniyakumari district administration has intensified anti-malarial drive across the district. As the southwest monsoon has moved to top gear in Kanniyakumari district, most of the water bodies in the district, including small ponds in rural areas, are almost full, providing conducive environment for Anopheles mosquito breeding. Consequently, malarial outbreak has become inevitable in the district between June and December every year in the areas where the anti-malarial drive is not carried out intensely. Hence, the district administration has instructed the urban and rural local bodies to deploy the anti-malarial workers to visit every house to check for mosquito breeding grounds while appealing to the public to destroy such spots on their own to contain the possible outbreak of malaria. According to District Collector R. Alagumeena, the anti-malaria fieldworkers deployed by the local bodies are collecting blood samples from the public suffering from fever to be analysed in the Primary Health Centres (PHCs). Those who test positive for this investigation are being given the proper line of treatment by the doctors attached to the PHC concerned. Moreover, similar tests are being conducted for the fever patients coming to the PHCs on their own so as to give them the proper and early medical assistance. 'Fever with shivering, headache, nausea, stomach pain, intermittent fever in the evening are the symptoms of Malaria being spread by anopheles mosquitoes. Hence, the public should visit the PHC immediately following the onset of fever and get their blood sample investigated for early and right medical assistance. The fever patients should not try home remedies or approach the quacks for treating malarial infection,' Ms. Alagumeena cautioned. As per the information collected so far by the fieldworkers, a few malaria cases can be spotted in the coastal areas of the district. Hence, the Department of Public Health and the local bodies have asked their staff to visit Kovalam (1,369 houses), Azhikkaal (522 houses), Muttom (1,461 houses), Vaaniyakkudi (782 houses), Kurumpanai (899 houses) and Enayam (1,975 houses) for sprinkling anti-malarial agents. 'We've planned to conduct this drive to destroy the mosquito breeding grounds between June and September, and hence the public should cooperate with these staff by allowing them inside their houses for inspection and appropriate action,' Ms. Alagumeena said.
The Hindu
09-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Kerala shipwreck: Kanniyakumari Collector inspects plastic pellet collection from beach
Kanniyakumari District Collector R. Alagumeena inspected the ongoing cleaning of the nurdles from the Chinnavilai beach in the western part of the district on Monday (June 9, 2025). After MSC Elsa 3, a Liberian container vessel, sank off Kochi coast on May 25 last due to suspected engine failure, the containers with logs, cashew, plastic pellets etc. also went down. As some of the damaged containers were washed ashore, the nurdles stuffed in the massive steel structure were also brought to shores. When the fishermen sounded alarm saying the 'chemicals' in the containers had polluted the sea, the district administration, which roped in experts for cleaning these plastic products, made it clear that there was no need for panic since the debris washed ashore were of non-toxic nature. As the remains of damaged containers were washed ashore, the public collected the cashew while undisclosed contents of a container were handed over to the Department of Customs, Thoothukudi. Since the plastic pellets were removed from the beaches of several coastal hamlets in the western Kanniyakumari district by the personnel deployed by the district administration, the bags were kept in the local bodies. 'We are taking every possible step to remove the debris from the sunken ship and hence there is no need for worry or panic,' said Ms. Alagumeena, who also visited the room at Muttom private fishing harbour, in which the collected plastic pellets have been stacked.
The Hindu
09-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Kanniyakumari Collector inspects plastic pellet collection from beach
Kanniyakumari District Collector R. Alagumeena inspected the ongoing cleaning of the nurdles from the Chinnavilai beach in the western part of the district on Monday. After MSC Elsa 3, a Liberian container vessel, sank off Kochi coast on May 25 last due to suspected engine failure, the containers with logs, cashew, plastic pellets etc. also went down. As some of the damaged containers were washed ashore, the nurdles stuffed in the massive steel structure were also brought to shores. When the fishermen sounded alarm saying the 'chemicals' in the containers had polluted the sea, the district administration, which roped in experts for cleaning these plastic products, made it clear that there was no need for panic since the debris washed ashore were of non-toxic nature. As the remains of damaged containers were washed ashore, the public collected the cashew while undisclosed contents of a container were handed over to the Department of Customs, Thoothukudi. Since the plastic pellets were removed from the beaches of several coastal hamlets in the western Kanniyakumari district by the personnel deployed by the district administration, the bags were kept in the local bodies. 'We are taking every possible step to remove the debris from the sunken ship and hence there is no need for worry or panic,' said Ms. Alagumeena, who also visited the room at Muttom private fishing harbour, in which the collected plastic pellets have been stacked.
The Hindu
03-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Collector inspects removal of plastic pellets from seashore in 2 coastal hamlets
Kanniyakumari District Collector R. Alagumeena visited the Midalam and Kodimunai beaches on Tuesday to inspect the ongoing removal of the plastic pellets washed ashore from the damaged containers of the sunken Liberian vessel off Kochi coast on May 25 last. As the ship, MSC Elsa 3, carrying more than 600 containers went down as it was sailing to Kochi Harbour on May 25 last due to suspected engine failure, some of the damaged containers holding plastic pellets, logs, cashew etc. were washed ashore in the coastal hamlets of western Kanniyakumari district on May 28 evening and also in the areas like Poovar in Kerala. Since social media posts claimed that containers carrying highly hazardous chemicals were being washed ashore to cause serious pollution to marine life, the district administration clarified that only non-hazardous materials were getting washed ashore along the shoreline of the villages and there was no panic for pollution. Though the fishermen and the villagers were cautioned against making any attempt to collect the plastic pellets or other materials being washed ashore, the villagers in large numbers collected the cashew for their use even as heavy equipment was used to remove the containers got stuck on the seashore. On receiving the protocols from the Kerala government for removing the products including the plastic pellets from the seashore, Ms. Alagumeena deployed the police, revenue, fire and rescue services, disaster management and pollution control board personnel for the operation. She also contacted the shipping company's officials in Gujarat who rushed a team to the affected villages of Kanniyakumari district for removing the plastic pellets and other products. 'While the products in one container have been handed over to the Department of Customs and Central Excise, Thoothukudi, other products collected from the seashore are being kept under the custody of respective local bodies. Removal of the plastic pellets from the seashore is going on. Repeated inspections at various spots of the coastal hamlets are being done and we are sure that there is no chemical pollution in any part of the district. We are also creating awareness among the coastal community about handling of the plastic pellets,' Ms. Alagumeena said. Sub-Collector of Padmanabhapuram Vijaykumar Meena accompanied the Collector during the inspection.
