Latest news with #SimranjeetSinghKahlon
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Farmers seek monetary assistance for crops damage
Farmers who lost crops to natural calamities and were yet to receive compensation for the damage from the government, during the farmers' grievance meeting held here on Friday, demanded the District Collector Simranjeet Singh Kahlon to expedite the disbursal process. Muthuramu, district president, Tamil Nadu Farmers Association, said that farmers who lost crops like paddy, millets, chilly, cotton, and others to excess rains and drought conditions, received the crop insurance amount, but the assistance extended by the State government was yet to be provided to them. An official responding to their queries informed that as ₹38 crores crop insurance amount was already distributed to the affected farmers, they have sought ₹27 crores from the State government to provide monetary assistance to the farmers. Other farmers raised issues of rampant growth of seemai karuvelam on water bodies and vacant lands. Vijayan, a farmer from Malangudi, said that due to the uncontrolled growth of the invasive species, the water level has drastically fallen. 'This not only affects the water supply for drinking purposes and agricultural purposes but also reduces the water holding capacity of the Earth,' he stated. Mr. Simranjeet Singh Kahlon assured the farmers their grievances would be addressed by the respective departments at the earliest.
The Hindu
23-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Alagankulam residents demand museum in their place to exhibit archaeological findings
Hindu Muslim Joint Administrative Council of Alagankulam village in Ramanathapuram district opposing the exhibit of the archaeological findings from their village in Mandapam museum, submitted a petition with the district Collector Simranjeet Singh Kahlon here on Monday. Ashokan, former panchayat president of Alagankulam village, said that starting from 1984 when an archaeological excavation was conducted in the village, several stages of archaeological studies were carried out in the village till 2016. He added that during the excavations many rare elements like pots and liquor containers dating back to the Roman trading period were found from the sites. As the rare elements were traced back to 500 BC, they remained a key source to learn about the overseas trade of Tamil people, he noted. Not just that, some of the findings were connected to Sangam literature, Mr. Ashokan stated. With about 25,000 objects found during the excavations in the sites, the Tamil Nadu government issued an order to open a museum in the village to display the objects found in the excavation sites. 'As the objects are currently placed in various places like Keezhadi museum and other places, we felt happy after the G.O. which informed us about the setting up of a museum in our village itself,' he noted. But the recent announcement that the archaeological findings would be placed in a museum in Mandapam disappointed the villagers. 'Officials argue that Mandapam museum would receive more tourists than other places. By placing the objects there, more people visiting the place across the country would be able to see the findings,' he added. But Alangankulam was located on the way to Mandapam and all other villages, he claimed. Through repeated advertisements and publicity, the presence of the museum could be communicated to the people, he suggested. Viewing the rare objects in a place from where they were taken would be an enriching experience for the visitors, the residents added. Moreover, the presence of such rare objects in their own village would also be a source of pride for them, they noted.
Time of India
21-06-2025
- Time of India
54 fishermen who lost boats get Rs3.96 crore relief
1 2 Ramanathapuram: As many as 54 fishermen who lost their fishing boats to the Sri Lankan navy which could not be retrieved received financial assistance of 3.96 crore from the chief minister's public relief fund on Saturday. Ramanathapuram MLA Katharbatcha Muthuramalingam and Ramanathapuram district collector Simranjeet Singh Kahlon handed over the relief to the affected fishermen. A total of 8 lakh each was provided for fishermen who lost mechanised fishing boats while those with country fishing boats were provided 2 lakh. Between 2024 and 2025, 48 mechanised fishing boat owners and six country boat owners were identified to have had their boats seized by the Sri Lankan navy.
The Hindu
11-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Collector inspects removal of plastic pellets from Danushkodi seashore
District Collector Simranjeet Singh Kahlon here on Wednesday inspected the cleaning works being undertaken at Danushkodi coastal areas to remove the plastic pellets that were being washed ashore in the last few days. A container, chemical bags, plastic pellets, and other materials had been washed ashore near several villages of Kanniyakumari in the last week from the sunken Liberian vessel off the Kerala coast on May 25. Earlier this week, similar chemical bags and plastic pellets were found along the seashore of Danushkodi. The clean-up activity by Coast Guard personnel and local body workers was kicked off immediately after the incident Following the inspection, the Collector spoke to the press and said that till date about 80 bags and 300 kg of plastic pellets were removed from the area and the clean up work would go on for about a week. 'Though plastic pellets are safe to handle with bare hands, necessary precautionary measures are being ensured. Also, studies to ascertain the damage that it would cause to the marine ecosystem and fish are being conducted by experts,' he added. The chemical bags and plastic pellets that were removed have been stored in a protective location, and once scientists and marine experts recommend a safe way of disposal, they would clear them off according to the procedure, he noted.
NDTV
10-06-2025
- General
- NDTV
Plastic Nurdle Spill From Sunken Cargo Ship Reaches Tamil Nadu, Raises Alarm
Chennai: A plastic nurdle spill from the sunken cargo ship MSC ELSA 3 has spread into the newly declared Dhanushkodi Greater Flamingo Sanctuary in Ramanathapuram district, threatening one of India's most fragile coastal ecosystems. The MSC ELSA 3, a Liberian-flagged vessel, sank off the Kochi coast a few weeks ago while carrying 640 containers, including 13 with hazardous materials, 12 with calcium carbide, 367 tonnes of furnace oil, and 84 tonnes of diesel. The ship's cargo manifest remains undisclosed, fuelling speculation about the full extent of environmental risk. Dhanushkodi Sanctuary, located within the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve, supports 128 species of birds -- including Greater and Lesser Flamingos -- and is home to sea turtles, crustaceans, molluscs, and fish. Its dunes, marshes, and seagrass beds form part of the Central Asian Flyway for migratory birds. The nurdles -- tiny plastic pellets used in industrial manufacturing -- resemble fish eggs and can be deadly to marine life. When ingested, they cause internal blockages, starvation, and often death. They also absorb toxins, entering the food chain and posing long-term health hazards. About 80 bags, each weighing 25 kilograms, have reportedly washed ashore along a 12-km coastal stretch. Affected sites include the Dhanushkodi old church, Irattaithalai, Mugandharayan Chathiram, Gothanda Ramar temple, and Patchappatti village. Carried by ocean currents from the Thiruvananthapuram-Kanniyakumari coast, the spill now threatens the adjacent Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park, home to vital coral reefs and seagrass beds. Experts warn these habitats could be smothered by plastic debris, blocking sunlight and disrupting photosynthesis. Ramanathapuram District Collector Simranjeet Singh Kahlon said, "We've identified between 15 and 30 nurdle bags along the coast. A special team has been deployed for cleanup, and additional teams are monitoring for further debris." He urged the public not to panic, stating that swift action was underway. The disaster evokes memories of the 2021 X-Press Pearl incident in Sri Lanka, where 1,680 tonnes of nurdles led to mass marine deaths and crippled fisheries. Studies showed severe impacts on plankton and larval life forms, threatening entire food chains. Cleanup efforts in Ramanathapuram face challenges due to the nurdles' buoyancy and small size, worsened by monsoon waves that break them into microplastics. With the 61-day annual fishing ban nearing its end, fishermen fear reduced fish catches and consumer hesitancy could harm their livelihoods if the spill worsens. Environmentalists are calling for urgent intervention, cargo transparency, and long-term containment measures to prevent irreversible damage to one of India's most critical marine ecosystems.
