Latest news with #Michaung
New Indian Express
6 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Tamil Nadu irrigated agriculture project deadline extended till December
CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Irrigated Agriculture Modernisation Project (TNIAMP), supported by the World Bank, has been given a six-month extension, allowing officials more time to complete remaining key works and ensure that the project's key objectives are met. The project, which was earlier set to end on June 2, will now continue till December 2. According to a G.O. issued by J Jayakanthan, Secretary, WRD, the state had given administrative sanction for Rs 2,962 crore for the TNIAMP in 2017 for a seven-year period till 2024. The amount was revised to Rs 3,249 crore during a mid-term review in May 2021. The G.O. said many districts in Tamil Nadu were badly affected by Cyclone Michaung in December 2023, in which irrigation structures built or repaired under the project were damaged. Following this, the World Bank, on December 22, 2023, recommended the use of the Contingency Emergency Response Component (CERC) and sanctioned Rs 449.59 crore to handle the damage. The Empowered Committee in Tamil Nadu approved the proposal to therefore extend the project by a year till May 31, 2026, following which the state submitted a proposal and action plan to the centre's Department of Economic Affairs, which forwarded the request to the World Bank. Based on the bank's recommendation, the project has now been extended till December 2, 2025, the G.O. said. A senior WRD official said, 'The main aim of this project is to improve productivity and climate resilience in irrigated agriculture, ensure better water management, and create more market opportunities for farmers and agro-entrepreneurs in selected sub-basins.' The project is being carried out by the WRD in coordination with six other departments and three universities in 47 sub-basins over four phases, covering a total area of 4.69 lakh hectares. He further said rehabilitation works in 2,473 irrigation tanks, 344 anicuts, rivers, and canals covering 4,879 km have been completed. In addition, 78 artificial recharge wells have been constructed.
New Indian Express
11-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Convert HR&CE colleges into state govt educational institutions: Palaniswami
VILLUPURAM: AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Thursday said utilising funds from the HR&CE department for college maintenance was inappropriate, and instead the government should convert the institutions into government colleges to ensure better facilities for students. Responding to CM M K Stalin's remarks on the HR&CE colleges controversy, EPS made the statement while kickstarting the AIADMK's first phase of campaigning for the Assembly election in Villupuram district. Addressing a large gathering at the Puducherry Road–Tiruchy Trunk Road junction, EPS accused the DMK government of administrative failure, poor disaster preparedness, and negligence in public welfare. He alleged the ruling government mishandled the response to Cyclone Michaung in November 2024, despite early warnings from the Indian Meteorological Department. Comparing AIADMK and DMK regimes, EPS said, 'During our tenure, farmer loans were waived twice, and irrigation water was supplied round the clock.' He further criticised the DMK for scrapping the Amma University project, originally announced to benefit underprivileged children in Villupuram, a region he described as economically backward and agriculturally dependent. EPS said the AIADMK had established 67 arts and science colleges, seven law colleges, four engineering colleges and 17 medical colleges during its tenure. He accused the DMK of failing to safeguard minority communities, citing the recent murder of a Muslim man in Tirunelveli.
The Hindu
09-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Madurantakam tank, one of the ancient and large water bodies in Chengalpattu district, set for a makeover by September
Madurantakam tank, one of the largest water bodies in Chengalpattu district, will finally receive its long-awaited makeover. The Water Resource Department is set to restore the water body with an additional storage capacity in two months and reduce inundation in surrounding localities. The tank, which has a historical significance and constructed across the Kiliyar river (Palar river's tributary), is undergoing a major restoration worth nearly Rs.172.66 crore after several years. Though the work was initiated in June 2022, the project has missed a few deadlines in the past two years. They wanted the works to be completed soon as it was a vital source of drinking water and irrigation needs for several villages in Madurantakam. an organic farmer in Madurantakam, said, 'My house is within one km from the tank. The dried-up water body last year had an impact on groundwater level that dropped by up to 10 feet. This year, the tank has water. It must be rejuvenated soon to help irrigate lands in villages dependent on it.' Spread over 1,058 hectares, the tank would soon be able to store nearly 791 million cubic feet once the work is completed. According to the department, extreme weather events between 2022 and 2024, including cyclone Michaung, pushed the deadline beyond two years. The deadline was extended to September 2025 to complete the work. Officials of the WRD said the tank would have an enhanced storage capacity after 1985-86. Nearly 90% of the work, including deepening the tank bed, repairing damaged sluices and forming new foreshore bund for 18.5 km, has been finished so far. The foreshore bund would prevent inundation of agricultural lands in the vicinity. The tank's weirs have been remodelled to facilitate more storage space. 'We have completed 92% of the work to construct a spillway with 12 radial shutters. This will be a dam-like structure to control release of floodwater when the tank touches its full level. It will have a capacity to discharge up to 1.12 lakh cubic feet per second of water,' said an official. The department has also accelerated work to improve Nelvoy Maduvu channel and Kiliyar river, which bring water to Madurantakam tank. The project is expected to improve access of drinking water to 38 villages, including Vedanthangal and Pudupattu, and irrigate nearly 3,077.47 hectare of land three times a year. The facelift would also revive the tank as a habitat for migratory birds. There are also plans to add recreational facilities along with the Tourism department in the second phase.
The Hindu
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Aamir Khan names Vishnu Vishal-Jwala Gutta's daughter Mira; couple shares pictures and note of gratitude
We had previously reported that Tamil actor Vishnu Vishal and his wife, badminton player Jwala Gutta, welcomed their newborn daughter on April 22. On Sunday (July 6), the couple penned a note of gratitude to Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan, revealing that he travelled to Hyderabad to name their newborn daughter, Mira. Vishnu and Jwala shared pictures from the naming ceremony on their social media handles. The pictures showed the couple and Jwala's parents along with Aamir. In one of the pictures, Vishnu's son from his previous marriage, Aryan, can also be seen with the couple. Our 'Mira'! Couldn't have asked for more!! This journey would have been impossible without u Aamir!! We love you ❤️ P.S Thank you for the beautiful name!!!! — Gutta Jwala 💙 (@Guttajwala) July 6, 2025 Vishnu and Jwala got married in a private ceremony in Hyderabad on April 22, 2021. The celebrity couple had been dating for over two years before making it official. Notably, Vishnu's friendship with Aamir goes back to 2023. The friendship came to light when Aamir, who was in Chennai to take care of his ailing mother, got stranded along with Vishnu and his family at the latter's Karapakkam residence after Cyclone Michaung devastated the city. They were later rescued by Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services in a boat. Shortly after the same, Vishnu shared a picture with Aamir Khan and Tamil superstar Ajith Kumar, stating that Ajith helped their community members with necessary travel arrangements. The same year, Aamir joined Vishnu in attending the birthday celebrations of veteran actor Kamal Haasan in Chennai. Notably, Vishnu and Jwala also attended the wedding reception of Aamir's daughter Ira Khan in Udaipur last year. On the work front, Aamir, last seen in Sitaare Zameen Par, will be seen soon in a special appearance in Rajinikanth's Coolie, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj. Interestingly, Aamir and Lokesh are teaming up for a big-scale superhero action film set to go into production in 2026. The actor is also set to begin working on his dream project, Mahabharata, and a biopic on pioneering filmmaker and the father of Indian cinema, Dadasaheb Phalke, with director Rajkumar Hirani. Vishnu, on the other hand, was last seen in Aishwarya Rajinikanth's social sports drama Lal Salaam. The actor has Aaryan, an untitled film with director Gokul, a film with director Arunraja Kamaraj, a film with director Sathish Selvakumar of Bachelor fame, Irandu Vaanam, co-starring Mamitha Baiju, and the long-delayed Mohandas in the pipeline.
The Hindu
03-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Chennai's Ennore: Where industrial growth has made life difficult for residents
'Don't ask what problems Ennore has — ask what problems it doesn't have,' says a resident, beginning a long conversation about the area he loves, yet hates to see becoming increasingly unlivable day by day. A highly industrialised region of north Chennai, Ennore and its coastal areas have been bearing the brunt of pollution and its impact for several decades. Residents struggle with pollution on a day-to-day basis, but it gains widespread attention only when a major incident occurs. For example, in December 2023, Ennore witnessed two massive environmental hazards that reflected the residents' decades-long struggles: an oil spill from a public sector refinery during Cyclone Michaung, and an ammonia leak from a fertiliser manufacturing unit. K. Devaki, who has been living in Sathyavani Muthu Nagar since 1975, said that when she first moved to the area, the water quality was very poor, and she had to fetch water from two kilometres away. 'If you take a look at the teeth of my son and daughter, you will understand the impact of polluted water; it turned yellow due to excessive fluoride in water. We struggle with hairfall too. Due to constant inhalation of polluted air, thanks to industrial emissions, many of us have developed breathing difficulty and respiratory issues,' said the 69-year-old. Bhagathsingh, a resident of Ulaganathapuram in Ennore, said their experiences with pollution seem endless — whether it is fly ash from thermal power plants, ammonia leaks from the undersea pipeline of the fertiliser company, or, most recently, yellow and orange residue observed in the backwaters, likely some kind of effluent. 'While industrial development progressed rapidly in and around Ennore, improvements in basic amenities, infrastructure, and transport did not happen at the same pace for residents. This lackadaisical attitude exists largely because Ennore is home to a working-class population. The second generation of families in Ennore is slowly moving out to the city, with pollution being the main factor. Industrial pollution has impacted the health of many,' he said. A number of residents said they were even thinking of selling their houses and moving to a safer place. Manohar, a resident of Nehru Nagar in Ennore, said that air and water pollution remains the top two concerns for residents. 'There used to be dust emissions from factories in the morning and smoke billowing out of chimneys at night. The effluents from factories have been causing health issues,' he said, adding that the groundwater is unfit for drinking in many parts of Ennore. Like Mr. Manohar, several residents of Sathyavani Muthu Nagar noted that while they rely on Metrowater supply for drinking purposes, the groundwater cannot be used even for bathing. 'Sometimes, if we keep the water in a container, we can see a layer of oil on top of it,' a resident pointed out. Loss of livelihood Fishermen from a number of villages rely on the Ennore creek and backwaters — the point where Kosasthalaiyar river, North Buckingham canal, and the sea confluence — for their livelihood. Fisherfolk say that this was once a thriving marine ecosystem, known for its rich biodiversity. But industrial pollution has had devastating effects on the creek, thereby affecting fisheries. A resident of Nettukuppam alleged that some industries were discharging industrial waste and hot water into the Ennore creek, destroying marine life and the livelihood of the fisherfolk. 'Who is bothered? No one seems to worry about us or the worsening environment here,' he said. The State government should at least intervene and help the fisherfolk, he urged. D. Venkatesan, a fisherman from Ennore Kuppam, said that Ennore's waters used to be a thriving region for fish, prawns, and crabs but it is no longer so. 'The Ennore creek, which used to be a fishing ground rich in marine life, is suffering due to pollution. Earlier, most fisherfolk used to make a profit of at least ₹1,000 a day but now, many are unable to even meet the expenses. An entire area is being destroyed, and nobody cares. Nearly 13 to 14 fishing hamlets are going through untold misery,' he lamented. With their livelihoods in question, he said some fisherfolk have turned to daily wage jobs. 'It was in the 1990s that permanent jobs at the thermal station were given to residents. Despite the expansion, no permanent jobs have been offered in the years since. We have been continuously demanding permanent jobs and regularly holding meetings with government officials. But they are willing to offer only contractual work. A few from our area have been engaged in cleaning jobs at one of the units. Shouldn't the government step in and provide permanent jobs for the affected people?' he asks. Pointing to a video taken in the backwaters near the Ennore bridge, he said that some kind of a chemical was being discharged into the North Buckingham Canal, turning the water yellowish. 'We complained to the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board. Though they visited the site and lifted samples, nothing has been done so far. Many residents of Ennore raised the need for stringent monitoring to ensure that industries adhered to norms. 'Industries should be monitored to ensure that they follow pollution control norms,' Mr. Bhagathsingh demands. He also raised the need for a complete health screening for residents of Ennore to assess the impact of industrialisation and pollution on their health. Member of Parliament (Chennai North) Kalanidhi Veeraswamy said they have held meetings with companies in and around Ennore and have asked them to set up air quality monitors, including at traffic junctions, where the air quality levels could be displayed. He added that improvement works, including the desilting of Kosasthalaiyar, are in progress.
