P 8 - I squadron continues search op to locate survivors of cyclone Ockhi, says Rear Admiral Alok Bhatnagar

shanmughasundaram.j@timesgroup.com

Vellore

The country’s long-range maritime reconnaissance and Anti-submarine Warfare Squadron, P 8 – I, is continuing its rescue operation to locate the survivors of Cyclone Ockhi to bring them back home safely.  

Equipped with 300 Micron microscope infrared surveillance camera and state-of-art sensor and communication system, the P 8-I squadron, which is famously known as ‘The Skylions’, has been playing a vital role in the rescue operation of survivors of the cyclone.  It helped to locate several stranded fishermen and their boats and passing the information about their location the Indian Navy and Coast Guard’s helicopters and ships at the base to carry out the rescue operation, according to sources in INS Rajali.

“From the first day onwards, the Indian Navy is committed to bringing all the fishermen and their boats, who are hit by cyclone Ockhi, back to safety. We are committed to bringing all the fishermen back home safely,” Rear Admiral Alok Bhatnagar, Flag Officer Tamil Nadu & Puducherry Naval Area, told reporters after the passing out parade of pilots at INS Rajali, Arakkonam, on Saturday.

The entire maritime assets have been put to effective use for the rescue operation, he said and added that the cyclone was peculiar as it developed into a depression to deep depression and graduated into cyclone very fast. “The Navy deployed at one point in time, a total of 1o ships and 12 aircrafts and the P 8-I was coordinating all search as it has long range, good sensor and effective communication system,” he said.

The P 8-I squadron was first deployed in the south of Kanniyakumari and gradually widened its search operation to West Coast of the country, along with the coast of Kerala, Lakshadweep and Minicoy islands. “It directed the helicopters and ships to the place where the fishermen and their stranded, damaged or capsized boats were located to rescue them. It also communicated to the merchant ships in the areas about the survivors,” he said.

He added that they used all the marine assets available in the area and left no stone unturned to see the fishermen come back safely. Working in coordination with the Tamil Nadu government, the Indian Navy and Coast Guard saved hundreds of fishermen. “If any boats or fishermen were found stranded, we provided them fuel and water. We also towed their boats to safety, if they required,” he further said./eom/shan/

Decades-old 'tent Kottai' at Puttutakku continues to be a big hit

Decades-old 'tent Kottai' at Puttutakku continues to be a big hit

Shanmughasundaram.j@timesgroup.com

Vellore:

There is no air conditioning, no plush seats, no multiple screens or caramel popcorns but this modest old-time theatre at Puttuthakku, which is about 13 kms from Vellore City, is a big hit among movie-goers in this part of the district.  

Ganesh theatre tucked away from the busy Chennai-Bengaluru National Highway is no regular theatre but is one of the last few “tent kottai” that carries the tradition of touring talkies in the State. It is probably the only "tent kottai" still in business in the state.  

Though revamped to suit the expectations of today’s audience without compromising on its traditional look, the movie-goers still get to sit on sand and watch movies on the screen with clarity on par with multiplex theatres elsewhere in the City.

 With two shows at 6.15 pm and 9.15 pm everday, the kottai continues to receive patronage from a good number of movie watchers from villages, towns and the city located in around 15 kms radius. 

The kottai was opened in the early 70s, with Rs 25 paisa for ‘tharai’ ticket (filled with sand), Rs 50 paisa for bench ticket and Rs 1 for chair ticket.  “I was running the tent from 1982. It is giving me happiness and satisfaction as I am able to entertain the people,” said 65 year-old Ganeshan, the proud owner of the Kottai. Three to five years once, the license should be renewed to run the kottai.

Two winters ago, the tent switched over to digital cinema server from the conventional model to screen crystal clear movie. However, the ticket price remains affordable at Rs 20, Rs 30 and Rs 50.

 It attracted 600 to 800 persons for each show during its heyday. The tent wore festival look when movies of MGR, Sivaji, Kamal and Rajinikanth screen, recollected Rajendiran, who ran a canteen in the tent for 20 years.

Though the penetration of cable televisions and the onslaught of 24X7 movie channels on the theatre industry forced several tents to close down, Ganesh theatre continues to receive good patronage from movie lovers from the villages, towns like Arcot and Walajapet and Vellore City till date. 

Watching movie sitting on the mounted sand or stretching oneself on the ground is what many of the regular customers of the tent enjoy here. Surprisingly, many youngsters are among the regulars to the tent. “We come twice in a month here. We enjoy the movie, get snacks and return home without burning our purses,” said Mohammed Asif from Melvisharam. He along with five of his friends had come to watch a movie.

 “It is an unmatched experience to watch a movie here,” said 54 year-old T R Raman, a businessman from Tiruvalam that is about six kms from thetent. For Raman, watching movies along with his childhood friends at the tent on Sundays is a routine for over 25 years.

 “My sons living in Chennai also love to watch movie at the tent whenever they come home,” he said while watching actor Siddharth- starred Aval movie.

 Sankarlingam from Tirunelveli district, who has been working in the upcoming campus of CMC Hospital at Kannigapuram, has become  regular to thetent for the last one year. “It is pleasant to watch movies here. I come here twice a week to watch movies,” he said./eom/shan/

With water flow in Palar, demand for check dams gets louder

With water flow in Palar, demand for check dams gets louder

shanmughasundaram.j@timesgroup.com

Vellore:

It was last in 1996-97 that river Palar saw such copious water flow. Now, in 2017, as water flow completed its course in the river in Vellore and Kancheepuram districts, farmers have only one thing in mind. Their voices demanding the State government to construct check dams across the river is becoming louder like never before.

Over the last three months, the bone-dry Palar river came alive with surplus water from a check dam in Andhra Pradesh (AP) gushing into the river from the point where it enters Tamil Nadu (TN) – Pullur panchayat near Vaniyambadi. While the sight of water was a reason to cheer for farmers in Vellore district, it also caused dismay as the river, in its entire course in the State, has no check dam, leaving little scope for storing water.

There are no check dams across the river that runs for 222 kilometres in Tamil Nadu. The only structure, which is Palar Anicut near Pudupadi, is to divert water from the river to the tanks. In fact, this was constructed more than a century ago in 1858.

Palar has witnessed periodical water flow. The river, according to details availed from PWD for the period of 1979 to 20017, registered a good flow of water in the entire Palar river basin for 13 years.

Data shows that the river witnessed water flow in 1996-1997. The maximum discharge of water was recorded during the year 1996-1997 - 75.20 Mm3 in September and 73.90 Mm3 in October in 1996. The water flow continued till January in 1997.

But despite the water flow, farmers say storage of water was not possible, and year after year, the district was facing drought conditions. They say that despite the governments of AP and Karnataka constructing 22 and 18 check dams respectively across Palar, water continues to flow into Vellore district but most of them was going for waste.

  “We have been demanding for check dams across the river for over five decades. Former Chief Minister Annadurai opened an office in Kancheepuram in 1967 to study the feasibility to construct check dams.  It was left in oblivion after his demise.  This shows the attitude of the Dravidian parties towards conserving river Palar,” said Kanchi Amudhan, Coordinator of Palar Pathukappu Kottamaippu Iyakkam.

In fact, in their reply to a RTI application in 2014, PWD officials said that the government contemplated to construct two check dams at Perumpakkam, Palayasivaram Pinayur in Kancheepuram district. But nothing has happened till date.

In fact, the Supreme Court had passed an order on August 28, 1996 to constitute Loss of Ecology Committee comprising experts. The committee conducted a study and identified 13 locations through remote sensing to construct check dams across Palar and its tributaries in Vellore district at a cost of Rs 26 crore. The report was submitted to the TN government in 2006, said A Asokan, a member of the Reversal of Ecology Committee.

The state government did not execute the recommendation, which was a violation of the Supreme Court order. “Instead of check dams, the TN government constructed three dykes and did not take up check dams’ construction works till date. It is a violation of Apex Court order,” he added.

The demand for check dams was one of the main issues raised by farmers during the recently-held farmers’ grievance redressal meeting. Raja Perumal, a farmer, said one check dam should be constructed for every kilometres across Palar river. Farmers argued that in the absence of check dams, water was not diverted from the river into majority of tanks, resulting in poor storage.

A section of farmers in Vellore district have been demanding for check dam at Virinchipuram. “We have submitted several petitions to the PWD seeking a check dam at Virinchipuram. If a check dam is constructed here, water will flow into waterbodies such as Sadupperi, Katteri and Monavur Periyar Eri and Chinna Eri. Only recently did the PWD officials say they will look into the feasibility,” said S N C Marthandan, organiser of Palar Protection Awareness Movement.

Many farmers point out that both the Dravidian parties showed more interest in starting sand quarries in Palar riverbed, rather than taking concrete steps to conserve the river and improve the water table by constructing check dams.

Senior DMK leader and former PWD Minister Durai Murugan said during the party’s regime, they prepared a proposal to avail Rs 1700 crores from the World Bank to construct 10 check dams – six in Vellore and 4 in Kancheepuram. “But after the AIADMK came to power, this was shelved. This government is keen on opening more number of sand quarries in Palar riverbed,” he said.

Not just farmers but experts too are of the view that check dams across Palar will help. S. Janakarajan, professor of the Madras Institute of Development Studies, said, “I submitted a report to the Central Planning Commission in 1989-90 recommending the construction of check dams for every 10 kms from the downstream of Palar river to make use of flash flood water. The river used to witness flash floods every five to 10 years. If check dams are constructed paving way to storage of water, it will improve the base flow and ground water table, and there will no water scarcity for the next four to five years. But this was not taken into consideration.”

Environmental activist Nityanand Jayaraman feels that dams and anicuts tend to store and replenish the groundwater level. The riverbed will witness water flow for a much longer period, if there was good amount of sand deposit. However, the intense sand mining has dented percolation of water in the ground and flown to the sea in a short time.

“The river will nourish in the future if sand mining is stopped,” he pointed out./eom/shan/

Details for graphics

Palar originates from Nandhi Durgh Hills in Karnataka. It flows for 93 kms in the state. A total of 18 check dams were constructed across Palar in Karnataka.

It flows for 33 kms in AP. 22 check dams have been constructed across the river in the stretch.

It flows for 222 kms in TN and confluences at Vayalur in Kancheepuram. There is nil number of check dams.

Water flow in Palar since 1996

December 1996 – January 1997: As per readings taken up at Avarankuppam, there was water flow in Palar during 1996-1997. In September 1996, the river registered 75.20 Mm3 of water and 73.90 Mm3 in October.

Apart from this, there was water flow in Palar in November 1998, October to December 2005, November 24 to December 7, 2015 and August to October 2017.

Palar Anaicut system tanks in Vellore – 150/519 – benefits 14,309.48 hectares of land.

Water storage level as on October 21, 2017

Of 519 PWD tanks, 90 tanks filled up to the optimum level, 53 tanks received 75 percent, 63 received 50 percent water and the remaining 380 tanks below 50 percent.

Palar Anaicut system tanks in Kancheepuram – 12 PWD tanks benefiting 1,927.88 hectares of land./eom/shan/

Support facilities out of reach for differently abled

Support facilities out of reach for differently abled

Shanmughasundaram.j@timesgroup.com/ TNN | Updated: Sep 26, 2017, 23:44 IST

The early diagnostic centres for hearing impaired (EDCHI) in several districts in the state have remained locked, while mobile therapy units for differently abled have literally turned into officer's vehicles.

Senior officials in the Commissionerate of Welfare of the Differently Abled admitted the misuse of mobile units and poor utilisation of EDCHI. They said the lack of accountability of the district differently welfare officers (DDWOs) and a systematic tracking system has led to the present scenario. "The facilities are not put to use properly. We do receive complaints, but lack of a monitoring system and a shortage of manpower constrain us from addressing the issues," said a senior official in the department.

Early diagnostic centres for hearing impaired, each at a cost of Rs19.80 lakh, had been established in 28 districts since 2008. They were aimed to detect and treat hearing loss among children aged between 0-6 years. The centres have been equipped with sophisticated equipment — pure tone audiometry, auditory brainstem response, Oto acoustic emission (portable screener), sound-treated rooms and peep show audiometer with a laptop — to diagnose hearing loss as early as the first day of the birth of a child.

The centres were also installed with a brainstem evoked response audiometry (BERA) equipment estimated at Rs8.20 lakh, which measures responses in brain waves that are stimulated by sounds.

If congenital hearing defects are neglected, they can lead to a host of issues such as impairment in hearing, speech, language acquisition, developmental growth and difficulties in academic progress. "Not more than 5 children were screened at the diagnostic centre in the last one year here. It is a waste of resource, besides leaving several children to become impaired," said a source in the department in Vellore.

However, officials were ready with an excuse for not using the facilities. They say audiologists/speech therapists and other technicians were saddled with administrative works and were clearing files of disbursement of financial aid to the differently abled.

Apart from this, the specially modified mobile units should attend and provide orthopaedic treatment for children at their doorsteps. However, officials have been using them to attend special camps, review meetings and even to pick and drop them. "There is no fund allocated for maintenance of the mobile unit too," said another official.

DDWO, Vellore, has been using the vehicle to attend special camps, while the rest of the days it stationed at the office premises, the official added.

Denying the charges, DDWO J Senthilkumari said they had been using the mobile unit for special camps and also attending children after mobilising them at one place. She, however, said there was only poor response for EDCHIs, despite the department requesting doctors of the Government Vellore College Hospital to utilise the facility. "We screen two to four children per week," she said

S Nambu Rajan of Tamilnadu Association for the Rights of All Types of Differently Abled and Caregivers (TARATDAC) said the officials were misusing the facilities. In Kancheepuram district, officials were reportedly using the mobile units to pick them up and drop them from and at bus stops and railway stations. "We have also taken the issue to higher officials and minister, but nothing happened," he said.

Vellore doc resigns, says he was hounded

Vellore doc resigns, says he was hounded

Shanmughansundaram J

Vellore





Adjudged Best Doctor Five Times

Sathiaraj Nesan, who had been honoured as the best government doctor in Vellore five times for excellence in service, has tendered his resignation saying he was targeted by people with vested interest.During his service, the 44-yearold said, he outperformed several of his colleagues at Government Vellore Medical College Hospital and other hospitals in the district.Dr Nesan, who joined the Government Hospital n Vaniyambadi on August 20, 2007 after clearing the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission exam, said the government allocated `1 crore to establish an exclusive unit for the ophthalmology department there on seeing his performance. Since the department came up in 2010, he performed over 7,000 successful cataract (SICS and PHACO) surgeries, glaucoma surgeries, autograft and oculoplastic surgeries.
An incident on August 29 this year pushed him to tender his resignation, Dr Nesan said.At 6.30pm on that day , he was attending to a heart patient, when a man aged about 20 approached him and said he had fever and cold. “I asked him to go to the staff nurse. His questioned me why I did not check his son. Though I explained him that the boy had seasonal flu, he was not in a mood to listen,“ Dr Nesan, who had served for five years in a charitable hospital near Tirupattur before joining the Vaniyambadi GH, told TOI.
Within a few minutes, a group of 10-15 men barged into the doctor's duty room. “They took movie CDs that I had in my bag and spread them on my table. They said I was watch ing movies during duty . I told them I watched movies only when I am free, but they built a case against me to shame me and it was flashed on TV channels. It humiliated me and put my family in an unwanted situation,“ said Dr Nesan who performed 99 surgeries of the 167 done in the GH in August.
After completing his duty on August 31, Dr Nesan submitted his resignation letter. “I stronglyfeel it was not an instant reaction of the public. It was a planned one,“ he said. “I do not feel safe about completing service in Vaniyambadi GH after the incident. Hence, I submitted my resignation letter to the medical officer (Dr Usha Gnanasekaran) on September 1. Though they did not accept my letter, I am not ready to go there,“ said Dr Nesan, an alumnus of JIPMER.

Rehabilitation remains in paper

Over 100 life convicts languish as TN govt sleeps over recommendation for premature release

Shanmughasundaram.j@timesgroup.com

Vellore

Even after the recommendation of the advisory board for premature release, over 100 life convicts have been languishing for more than four years behind the high walls of the central prisons in the state. The state government has put the recommendation in cold storage.

Sources in the prison department said that the recommendations for premature release were forwarded to the state government between 2009 and 2011. However, the government did not act upon the recommendations and pass any order, leaving several eligible prisoners to suffer for several years now.

The board was constituted under the provision of the Tamil Nadu Prisons Manual.  It would look into the cases of convicts and life convicts, who completed 14 years of imprisonment, for premature release.

The board comprises district collector as chairperson and district sessions judge, chief judicial magistrate, superintendent of the prison, regional probation officer and a non-official member appointed by the government as its members.

Based on the reports obtained from the probation officer, collector of the district from where the prisoner hails, the police department, and depending on the good conduct of the prisoner during his imprisonment, the board members would consider and recommend for premature release for eligible convicts.

The recommendation will be forwarded to the ADGP (Prisons) who in turn will forward it to the home department and the government for its perusal. “It was the prerogative of the government to grant premature release or not,” said an officials.   

However, the approach of the government towards the recommendations was making mockery of Tamil Nadu Prisons manual and rehabilitation of convicts. “The recommendations are gathering dust for over five years,” said a reliable source in the prison department.

The board attached to the Vellore Central Prison for Men recommended for premature release of three inmates in 2011. But, the government is yet to take decision on the recommendations, said former member of the board Beulah Immanuel.

“If the government failed to take action based on the recommendation of the board, the inmates will lose faith in the system. It is a violation and denial of the rights of the prisoner,” she added.

K R Raja, an activist and co-founder of Global Network of Equality, said, “Prolonging the premature release even after the board’s recommendation due to administrative reasons is against the natural justice of reformation and reintegration of the convict in the mainstream society. It is equal to imposing death sentence indirectly to them.”