Tuticorin: Tourism gets a boost with increased funds

Tuticorin: More funds are being allocated for development of infrastructure and basic amenities to promote tourism in various parts of Tamil Nadu, the Minister for Social Welfare, P. Geetha Jeevan, has said.

Interesting Spot: A group of artistes performing karagatam during the tourism festival at Ettayapuram on Saturday. — Photo: N. Rajesh

Inaugurating a photo exhibition on the occasion of tourism festival at Ettayapuram here on Saturday, she said the State government had been according priority to development of road infrastructure.

The Department of Tourism had earmarked a sum of Rs. 5.5 crore for Tuticorin to develop various tourism sites and create facilities for devotees at Nava Thirupathi temples. The devotees were able to easily reach Rameswaram from Tuticorin through East Coast Road, which was inaugurated by the Deputy Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin, here recently.

With the East Coast Road open for traffic, the duration of travel between the two places had been reduced to a large extent, she added.

Earlier Ms. Jeevan flagged off a rally in which a team of folk artistes performed folk art forms such as Karakattam, Oyilaatam, Dhevarattam.

The artistes from Panchalakurichi and Kovilpatti performed at the event.

As many as 84 beneficiaries received financial assistance under various welfare schemes.

Presiding over the programme, Collector G. Prakash said Tuticorin was attracting a large number of tourists every year.

Ettayapuram, the birthplace of poet Bharathiyar had assumed greater significance, he said. The contributions of freedom fighters hailing from the area and the importance of tourism sites in and around Tuticorin were on display at the festival.

V. Murugesan, union chairman, Kovilpatti, P.T. Rajendran, town panchayat president, Ettayapuram, S.R. Sudharsan, RDO, Kovilpatti and J. Fernandez, Principal, Government Polytechnic College for Women, were present.

While V. Radhakrishnan, Tourist Officer, welcomed the gathering, the Public Relations Officer, T. Hariram, proposed a vote of thanks.

From THE HINDU

Mettur Dam Water Level: Sunday, Feb 28, 2010

TIRUCHI: The level at the Mettur Dam stood at 74.82 feet on Saturday against its full level of 120 feet.

The inflow was 1,433 cusecs and the discharge 1,800 cusecs.

From The Hindu

Salem: Efforts to mitigate water problem in city

SALEM: Salem Corporation has undertaken concerted efforts to mitigate the water woes in city. A press release from Commissioner says that 2,075 borewells had already been in use in which 871 had been attached with syntax tanks and mini power pumps. All these are working very well.

He further points out that the tanks also are carrying the ward and tank numbers for easy reference. If any tank or pump, well is not working, residents can contact the following phone numbers, he says.

The numbers are: Corporation Office: 0427-2212844; Suramangalam: 2387514; Asthampatti: 2314646; Ammapet: 2263161 and Kondalampatti: 2461616.

SMS services

Salem Corporation has also introduced short messaging service (SMS) to know about the details of various taxes. The residents from their mobile phones can type SCMC (space) PY (for Property tax) or WC (for water cess) or PT (for Professional tax) or NT (Non Taxes) (space) Assessment Number and send it to 56070 for information. Corporation will respond, says a press release.

The services were inaugurated on Friday.

The services also will provide the exact location of the mobile tax collection centres.

From THE HINDU

Salem: Forest Department cautions public

SALEM: As summer has started parching the earth, the officials from Department of Forests have launched their routine annual exercise of making the public aware of bush fires in Shevaroyan and other hills surround the city and district.

Team

On Saturday, a team of officials distributed handbills asking the public not to carry inflammable articles and irresponsibly throw lighted sticks and half-burnt cigarette butts that used to cause heavy damages to the flora and fauna of the forests in Shevaroyan and other hills.

The tourists were also asked to be responsible while they enjoyed Yercaud atop the hills. They asked the villages surrounding the foot hills also to be ever vigilant.

Had any one spot the fire, they should inform the Forest officials immediately. Tom-tom was also carried out in these villages. School children also were roped in for the campaign.

Emergency numbers

The District Forest office also provided phone numbers for emergency calls.

They are: Salem: 0427-2415097; Asthampatti: 98425 14215; Yercaud: 94432 65748; Danishpet: 94426 39636; Mettur: 94436 35936 and Pappireddipatti: 94422 63426.

From THE HINDU

Salem: Campaign on prevention of bush fires in forest areas

Officials speak to people in Shevaroyan hills and other areas near Salem

SALEM: As summer has started parching the earth, the officials from the Department of Forests have also launched their routine annual exercise of making the public aware of bush fires in Shevaroyan and other hills surrounding the city and district.

Preventive measure: Forest officials launching awareness campaign against wild fires by distributing handbills at the foothills of Yercaud in Salem on Saturday. — Photo: P. Goutham

On Saturday a team of officials distributed handbills asking the public not to carry inflammable articles and irresponsibly throw lighted sticks and half-burnt cigarette butts that used to cause heavy damage to the flora and fauna of the forests in Shevaroyan and other hills.

The tourists also were asked to be responsible while they enjoyed Yercaud atop the hills.

In addition to this, the officials also asked the villagers surrounding the foot hills to be ever vigilant.

Tom-tom campaign was also carried out in these villages. School children also were brought in to spread the message.

The District Forest office also provided phone numbers for emergency calls.

They are: Salem: 0427-2415097; Asthampatti: 98425 14215; Yercaud: 94432 65748; Danishpet: 94426 39636; Mettur: 94436 35936 and Pappireddipatti: 94422 63426.

From THE HINDU