Ancient tanks breathe into life in Tiruvannamalai

Youngsters revive 8 abandoned water tanks

Shanmughasundaram J| TNN | Updated: Dec 25, 2017, 07:48 IST

 

 
TIRUVANNAMALAI:
 
Eight ancient water tanks that had been lying in a state of neglect for several decades have got a new lease of life in Tiruvannamalai. The tanks, which were being used as garbage dump, have been revived by a group of youngsters in the temple town.

The group that started off with 20 to 30 youngsters grew in numbers over the last one year. They joined hands to clean up water bodies in the town and devoted their time every Sunday for the initiative. They had been spending three to four hours for it each Sunday since September 18 last year.

"Many of us have seen these tanks brimming with water when we were children. As years passed by, we saw these ancient tanks being abandoned. These tanks turned into garbage dumping yards. Even drainage was discharged into many of these water bodies. This made some of us very angry, and we wanted to put an end to it. So, we turned our emotions into something useful, and ventured to conserve them," said 28 year-old M Poova Raghavan, one of the group members and resident of Mariyappan Koil Street next to Thirumanjana Theertham (Poomanthal Kulam).

With time, the initiative of these youngsters gained ground and many more joined their effort, especially after the pro-jallikattu protests. "We have revived eight ancient tanks along the Girivalam path in the temple town. These tanks were filled with garbage. We started with Poomanthal Kulam that was more than five acres," said J Neelagandan, a resident of Tiruvannamalai town.
  
 
After repeated petitions to the local bodies to clean Poomanthal Kulam fell on deaf ears, the youngsters took the issue in their hands and started cleaning the kulam. "We removed 15 to 20 tonnes of waste, including plastic and medical wastes, from it and it took us 34 weeks to clear it. College and school students had also volunteered," he added. The youngsters formed a forum called 'Neer Thuli (Water Drop)' to take forward their initiative.










According to elders, the priest of Sri Arunachaleswarar temple had been taking water from the temple until 15 years ago to perform the first pooja to the deity. The local body had also appointed two watchmen to protect it. "Now, we are happy to see the theertham clean again. But, the local body should ensure drainage facility to stop the locals from letting the waste water into the tank," said Ramu, who is in his late 60s.

 

After Poomanthal Kulam, the youngsters revived Pillaiyar kulam (near Patchaiyamman temple), Somavara kulam, Saraswathi theertham, Veediyappan theertham, Mondikulam, Pillayar kulam (Venkigal) and Nandhi theertham. "There was no trace of Vediyappan tank until we stumbled on the government records. According to the 1921 records, there was a tank. But it was destroyed and levelled. We dug up and restored the tank a few months ago," said Neelakandan.

Now, the youngsters have embarked on reviving Brahma theertham in Adi Annamalai along Girivalam path. "We have put over 200 hours of hard work to rejuvenate the water bodies in and around Grivialam path. We will continue our efforts," said Raghavan.

 

 
 

110 girls rescued from child marriage in 1 year

Shanmughasundaram.j@timesgroup.com
TNN | Dec 31, 2017, 12:38 IST

TIRUVANNAMALAI:

 

                                       Five years before attending the legal age of marriage of 18 years, Kavitha (name changed) was forced into the wedlock by her parents and family members. The girl, who was forced out of school, was uncertain what her future. However, she was saved on the eve of her marriage by Tiruvannamalai district authorities.

This illegal practice is still widespread in several rural pockets of the state, especially in Tiruvannamalai district. Kavitha was one among 110 girls, aged between 13 and 17 years, saved from child marriage in the last 12 months.

Recently a case was filed against a 19-year-old man under POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act 2012, after he consummated his marriage with a 13-year-old girl. "The family of the 19-year-old even allowed them to live together three days before their marriage," district social welfare officer Christina Dorthytold TOI.

Next to Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts, Tiruvannamalai witnesses the highest number of child marriages. Places notorious for this practice are Tiruvannamalai, Thandrampet, Chengam, Chetpet, Pudupalayam and Arni blocks.

It is a daunting task to stop the child marriages as the families of the bride and groom often harass the officials and field staff, Dorthy said.

Sending a strong message against child marriage, district judge and chairman of District Legal Service Authority (DLSA), Tiruvannamalai, G Magizhenthi conducted a surprise check at Etivadi village in Kalambur police station limit recently. He stopped the marriage between a 17-year-old girl and a 28-year-old man.

 

Following this, the police registered a case against the groom, his parents, the girl's parents and owner of the marriage hall under the provision of Prevention of Child Marriage Act 2006. "We have organised a series of awareness campaigns among girl students in government and aided schools to educate them about the ill-effects of child marriage. We have also encouraged them to study hard and make big achievements in life," said Judge G Magizhenthi.

 

Since the campaign carried out by DLSA in November, the number of calls reporting child marriages has increased. "We have stopped three marriages in two days in the second week of December," Dorthy said.

She said that they have stopped 68 child marriages in 2016, but the number has almost doubled this year due to awareness among girl students. "In many cases, the victims contact the child helpline and seek help. There are incidents where the families disappear with the boy and the girl before we can reach the venue of the wedding," she said.

Officials have taken strong legal actions against the parents of seven of the victims for trying to whisk the girl away before arrival of the district officials.

- Tiruvannamalai district ranks third in terms of highest number of child marriages.

 

-110 child marriages stopped from January 1 to December 30, 2017.

 

-68 child marriages stopped in 2016.

 

-Child Marriage prevalent in Tiruvannamalai, Thandrampet, Chengam, Chetpet, Pudupalayam and Arni blocks.  

 

-As per Prevention of Child Marriage Act 2006, child marriage is punishable with rigorous imprisonment upto two years and fine to maximium of Rs 1 lakh.  

 

 

 

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Men from Vellore denied salary, left to starve in Senegal for over 2 weeks

Men from Vellore denied salary, left to starve in Senegal for over 2 weeks

shanmughasundaram.j@timesgroup.com

Vellore: 

With a hope to earn good money for the betterment of their families, a total of 23 men from Mallagunta and neighbouring panchayats in Vellore district had gone to Senegal in West Africa three months ago. But their hopes were doomed after they were denied the salary as promised and confined at the worksite by the employer since they landed in there.

Adding to their cup of woes, they have been reportedly starving for over two weeks as the management of the private firm did not supply them sufficient food. 

The men had gone to Senegal on August 6, 2017 to erect huge towers for electric lines. They were employed by Compagnie D’ Electricite DU SENEGAL and promised a monthly salary of Rs 30,000,  said Periya Kulandai Kumar, one of the victims, in his petition to the Indian Embassy.

He pleaded the Indian Embassy to rescue them and send them back to the country and they have also charged that they have been denied salary, abducted and not provided sufficient food and denied basic amenities. “Our Passports were forcibly taken by the company and not letting us return to our country,” he further said in the petition that he submitted on November 23.

The workers have also taken the issues in social media, pleading Minister for External Affair Sushma Swaraj and the Central Government to bail them out of the difficult situation. They posted video messages and also twitted highlighting their plights.

The repeated efforts of the family members and relatives of the workers in their native place, the officials in the Embassy in Senegal responded. The authorities in the Embassy summoned the management of the company to bring the Indian workers to the office. Since they landed in Senegal, they stepped out of the premises of the firm two days ago when they were allowed to go the Embassy.

“The management of the company assured the Embassy that they would pay the salary as promised and make arrangements to send them back to their country. They also said that the workers will send in two batches of 11 and 12 within a couple of days. But nothing happened so far and the situation remains the same,” said Sivasankar, a relative of one of the workers.

The workers spent the little money with them. “I spoke to them on Wednesday and they were very worried. They did not have money to buy groceries or to recharge their mobile phones to keep in touch with their family members,” he added.

The company had deposits around Rs 21,000 each worker’s bank account as against Rs 90,000 for three months work. “We want the government to take firm steps to bring them back home soon,” he further said.

Chairman of TN Minority Department of Congress J Aslam Basha also demanded the government to take necessary steps to ensure the safe return of the 23 men at the earliest. /eom/shan/

Youngsters of Kalathur decide to campaign for a teacher suspended in connection with anti-sand quarry protest-related cases

Youngsters of Kalathur decide to campaign for a teacher suspended in connection with anti-sand quarry protest-related cases

shanmughasundaram.j@timesgroup.com

Vellore 

Residents of Kalathur colony, who stalled the government from opening a sand quarry in the Palar near the village, have prepared for yet another protest. This time, they have decided to protest against the ‘injustice’ meted out to 38 year-old teacher of Adi Dravidar Welfare (ADW) primary school, V Parangusan, who was placed under suspension for supporting the protest against sand mining.

Parangusan, a teacher in the ADW primary school in Melottivakkam in Kancheepuram district, has been running from pillar to post to get reinstated. He was suspended from service on June 22, 2015, said the villagers.

The youngsters in the colony said it was humiliating to see a teacher, who stood for the people, suffering in silence. Hence, they were planning to take distribute handbills to expose the act of ‘indifference’ of the government. The handbills will discuss the case of Parangusan and another teacher R Sivaramakrishnan of the same colony.

Sivaramakrishnan, who works as a teacher in the education department, was placed under suspension on June 3, 2015 after the Avalur police registered a case against him and five others for abusing, assaulting, causing grievous injuries and threatening the anti-sand quarry protestors. "He acted like an agent of the sand mafia," Rajkumar, another villager.

During his suspension period, he along with 15 others of his supporters assaulted on Munusamy and also set fire to the house of Napoleon for intensifying the protest against the opening of the quarry. The incident took place during Pongal festival last year.

 The police filed a case (crime no 17/2016) against him and others under eight sections including 436 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent destroy house) and 452 (house-traspass alter preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint) of IPC, said the police attached to Avalur Station. He was imprisoned for six days.

However, the education department reinstated him on September 14, 2016. “The officials said that they reinstate him (Sivaramakrishnan) following orders from Director of School Education,” said another village citing the RTI reply.

On the other hand, the Walajapet Court acquitted Parangusan in two of the five cases. He obtained stay order in two other cases, while he also approached the HC seeking a stay in the fifth case. However, the ADW department and Kancheepuram Collector replied to the court, when it asked for explanation, that he was facing cases and justified its stand. “Parangusan educated us the ill-effort of sand mining court. We took the issue and protested against it. Though the court acquitted him from the cases, the authorities are not revoking the suspension order. It is a clear case of injustice. It was the handy work of the politically influence sand mafia, who fabricated false cases against him in vengeance for opposing the quarry,” said Vikraman

Police nab most wanted gangsters at gunpoint at Arakkonam

Police nab most wanted gangsters at gunpoint at Arakkonam

 shanmughasundaram.j@timesgroup.com

Vellore

Tension gripped Arakkonam Town when a team of police personnel stopped a speeding sports utility vehicle (SUV) and arrested a gang of four notorious criminals at gunpoint at Arakkonam Town in a broad daylight on Thursday.

For the residents of the town, it was like a scene straight from a cinema. The residents of the town remained shocked and surprised when the police team with pistol stopped the while SUV close to Arakkonam Town station at about 11.30 am. The police team nabbed four criminals, who were involved in several murder cases.

Police said that S Siva , 39, was a prime accused in five murder cases, while his associates  S Sureshkumar, 30, N Devaraj, 30, and Appu (alias) Karthi, 29 of Chengalpet were also involved in several murder cases, robbery and kidnap cases.  

Acting on a tip-off, police personnel attached to Arakkonam Sub-Division crime team tailed the SUV in which the gangsters were travelling for 13 kms from Tiruthani. They were returning to Chengalpet discreetly after appearing for a case in the court. The police following the gangsters passed on the information of their location.

In the meantime, Deputy Superintendents of Police P Kuthalingam (Arakkonam) and Mathivannan (Chengalpet) , Inspectors K Nagarajan (Arakkonam) and Annadurai (Arakkonam Taluk) and inspectors from Chengalpet along with trainee Sub-Inspectors fixed Odiyanmani theatre in Tiruvallur-Kancheepuram Road junction to corner and arrest them. “The criminals are capable of unleashing attack on us by hurling country-made bombs. We were well prepared to handle it as we received that they were carrying guns,” Inspector Nagarajan told TOI.

Chengalpet police have also received information that rival gang of Siva were looking for an opportunity to murder him to settle the score. “It was a precautionary measure to end the revenge killing,” said a police official from Chengalpet on condition of anonymity.

Unaware of what was going on, the public in and around the location started to gather and perched in roadside shops waiting for something unexcepted to happen. A section of public has also assumed that they all going to witness an encounter as more than six police officers were touting pistols and anaxiously waited, said an eye-witness.

 Within a flash of the moment, the police spotted an incoming white SUV. As per the plan of the police, an empty tempo traveller drove infront of the car to bring it to a sudden halt. The minute the car came to halt, the policemen with gun swarmed it pointed their guns at the occupants of the vehicle, added the eye-witness.

The gangsters were taken by surprise. They were immediately taken in custody and whisked away. The police seized sickles and knives from the vehicle. “We have handed over the gangsters to the Chengalpet police as they were most wanted in the sub-division,” said DSP Kuthalingam.

 

Paragliding to take-off soon in Yelagiri Hills

Officials inspect paragliding take-off site in Yelagiri Hills to revive aero sports

Shanmughasundaram.j@timesgroup.com

Vellore 

Giving a hope to the adventure sports lovers to revive the aero sports in Yelagiri Hills, the authorities of the district administration has taken a step forward to make the hills into South India’s paragliding destination. 

Collector S A Raman led a team of officials from revenue, forest, DRDA and police departments to the Poorman’s Ooty to inspect the defunct take-off site on Saturday. The officials walked amidst the extensive growth of lantana and shrubs after the forest department personnel cleared the bridle path leading to the Ramakrishna Mutt take-off site, which was rated high in the national and international forums of paragliders after the 2009’s inaugural Paragliding festival. There were two other take-off sites in the hills, namely Hanuman site in Muthanur village and Rayaneri site in Rayaneri village. 

After the instant hit of the aero sports in 2009, the second edition of the festival in the following year attracted gliders from across the country and abroad. Over 80 gliders, including around 10 gliders from France, Germany and Switzerland, flew and took the hill station to a new height in the country’s map of adventure sports. Gliders Vijay Soni and Dileep Kotecha from Pune set a record by flying for 100 kms (out and return) during the festival.

Yelagiri Paragliding Club and Yelagiri Adventure Sports Association (YASA) decided to train the local youths to promote tandem paragliding to create a sustainable livelihood for the locals, besides promoting the sports. However, the efforts of the sports lovers did not pay off due to lack of support from authorities.

After repeated representations, the authorities have decided to look into the feasibility of reviving the adventure sports to promote tourism in the humble hills. “We have visited the sites to access the ground reality and also discussed the pros and cons of reviving paragliding in the hill. The paragliders requested to clear the bushes and maintain the take-off sites to promote the sports,” Collector Raman told TOI.

He added that they would convene a meeting with the officials of Forest, Police, Revenue, Tourism departments and other stakeholders to discuss on various issues related to it. “After the meeting with the stakeholders, we will take the final call in this regard,” he added.

However, the officials were concerned about the risk factors in the sports. “We are ready to abide by the rules and regulations that ensure the safety of the gliders and others,” Narendra Raman of Xtacee Paragliding Club in Bengaluru, who accompanied the officials, said.

Yelagiri is the best site for the sports in South India. The bottom landing field, elevation and weather condition prevailing here is suitable for the sports, he said.

“It will boost the economy of the hills and surrounding areas. It will create a sustainable livelihood once the locals trained in tandem paragliding,” he said and pointed out the economic growth of Bir Billing in Himachal Pradesh. It also gave employment to hundreds of youths in Sikkim as the government there trained the unemployed youth into tandem pilots.

Tourist Information Officer G Sudhakar said that a total of 55 gliders, including gliders from Australia, Germany, Switzerland and France, registered with YASA before flying in 2009 and 2010. “Apart from this, over 100 gliders flew during the festival in 2009 and 2010. We followed safety rules to ensure their safety and allowed only well-trained gliders to fly,” he said.

This excluding 

Graphics 

Yelagiri Hills, located 90 kms from Vellore, is suitable for paragliding for five to six months in a year– from January to mid-April / September and October. 

It suitable for the aero sports as the elevation, bottom landing field and weather is conducive to the sports. The wind blow 20 km per hour is suitable for paragliding. 

Take off-sites – Ramakrishna Mutt, Rayaneri and Hanuman take off-sites.

Over 80 gliders participated in 2010 paragliding fest. Yelagiri paragliding record set by two - Vijay Soni and Dileep Kotecha from Pune set a record by flying for 100 kms (out and return).

55 gliders from India and abroad registered with YASA. /eom/shan/