Latest news with #andExcise
The Hindu
14-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Desilting of Kalingarayan baby channel completed
The Water Resources Department (WRD) has completed the desilting of the baby channel of the Kalingarayan canal, while work is nearing completion to remove the desilted earth. The 91.1-km-long Kalingarayan canal, constructed by the Kongu chieftain Kalingarayan in the 13th century, irrigates 15,743 acres across Erode, Modakkurichi, and Kodumudi taluks. To address pollution caused by the dumping of household waste and the discharge of industrial effluents, a baby channel was constructed 11 years ago from Bhavani to Vairapalayam. Farmers and residents had been urging the Water Resources Department to take up desilting of this channel. On May 22, Minister for Housing, Prohibition, and Excise, S. Muthusamy, inaugurated desilting work along a 20-km stretch of the baby channel, at a total cost of ₹28.25 lakh. The work began from the Kalingarayan anicut in Bhavani and extended up to the 12/3rd mile in the city. An earthmover was deployed to remove weeds and dumped waste. Currently, the removal of the dumped waste is in progress, with 70% of the work completed. Officials noted that the baby channel was previously clogged mainly due to weeds and plastic waste, which obstructed water flow. A WRD official said that a proposal to extend the baby channel by an additional six km, from Vairapalayam to Vendipalayam, had been submitted to the government and has since been approved. A government order for the project is expected soon, after which construction will begin, the official added.
Hans India
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Garbage-free Bandar is goal: Minister Ravindra
Machilipatnam: Minister for Mines, Geology, and Excise Kollu Ravindra on Thursday stated that his goal is to realise a 'garbage-free Bandar.' He made these remarks at the inauguration of garbage compacting vehicles at the Machilipatnam dumping yard, where he was joined by RTC Chairman Konakalla Narayana Rao and DCMS Chairman Bandi Ramakrishna. Minister Ravindra announced that the work to clear the dumping yard is on track, fulfilling a promise made by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. 'The Chief Minister gave us a promise on October 2 and by this coming October 2, we will remove the dumping yard entirely,' he asserted. He added that plans are being drafted to create wealth from waste. Recalling Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu's previous visit to Bandar, where he personally observed the garbage and dumping yard issues, Minister Ravindra highlighted the Chief Minister's commitment to resolving the problem. As part of this commitment, Taruni Associates has been entrusted with solid waste management responsibilities at a cost of Rs 3.75 crore. This initiative will involve segregating wet and dry waste, along with the separation of materials like iron. The Chief Minister has instructed that the entire dumping yard area be converted into a park by October 2. 'We will meticulously follow his directives and establish a park in that area. Local officials are urged to cooperate in this endeavour,' Minister Ravindra stated. Machilipatnam generates approximately 80-90 tonnes of waste daily. To manage this, three compactors worth Rs 3.30 crore have been procured and will be used to clear all accumulated waste. The Minister also mentioned that steps are being taken to establish a waste-to-energy plant locally. He criticised the previous administration for neglecting the municipality, which he claimed led to the current challenges.
The Hindu
06-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Health Minister urges vulnerable groups to wear mask amid COVID-19 spike
Though there is no need to panic over the rise in COVID-19 cases in the country, it is advisable for the elderly, people with comorbidities and pregnant women to wear masks in public places, said Health Minister Ma. Subramanian in Perundurai on Friday. The Minister, along with Minister for Housing, Prohibition, and Excise S. Muthusamy, Collector Raja Gopal Sunkara, Rajya Sabha MP Anthiyur P. Selvaraj, MPs K. Subbarayan (Tiruppur) and K.E. Prakash (Erode), and MLAs A.G. Venkatachalam and V.C. Chandhirakumar, distributed certificates to students during the 27th Graduation Day at the Government Erode Medical College and Hospital in Perundurai. He also inaugurated new hospital buildings and laid the foundation stone for additional facilities worth ₹16 crore in the district. Addressing the media, Mr. Subramanian said that while the Union Health Ministry typically issues advisories to all the State governments during a spike in cases, no such advisory has been issued, so far. He said the symptoms of the current Omicron variant include fever, throat pain, and cough. 'If symptoms persist, individuals should visit the nearest government hospital for treatment,' he advised. The Minister said 94,000 hospital beds have been kept ready across Tamil Nadu for treating COVID-19 patients, and the State's infrastructure has been upgraded to store up to 3,000 metric tonnes of oxygen. Responding to a question on the misuse of certain painkillers and sedatives as drug substitutes, he said the matter would be taken up with the Union government for necessary action. On the issue of gutka smuggling, he noted that despite the ban in Tamil Nadu, the product is being brought in from Karnataka and called for coordinated efforts to curb the menace.
Hans India
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
3-day Masula Beach Festival from June 6
Machilipatnam: Minister for Mines, Geology, and Excise Kollu Ravindra on Monday unveiled ambitious plans for the Masula Beach Fest 2025, slated to transform the picturesque Machilipatnam Beach into a hub of innovation and opportunity. Speaking at a press conference at the Zilla Parishad Convention Hall alongside Collector DK Balaji and SP Gangadhar, Minister Ravindra urged people from all over the State to participate and make the festival a grand success. Minister Ravindra emphasised that the Masula Beach Fest 2025, scheduled for June 6 to 8, aims at significantly boosting tourism in Andhra Pradesh. He proclaimed that the event is set to become South India's largest festival of its kind. 'This is our village, our festival,' Minister Ravindra declared, urging widespread participation. He highlighted a diverse array of activities planned, including amusement, entertainment and adventure sports. Notably, the festival will feature Andhra Pradesh's inaugural sea kayaking event, alongside beach kabaddi, beach volleyball, and an array of thrilling activities such as Heli rides, paragliding, speed boat races, Jet Ski rides and bungee jumping. Over 2,000 national-level athletes are expected to compete in these events. The festival will kick off on June 6 at 9 am with the unveiling of the 'Gateway of Amaravati' by athletes, marked by the hoisting of a 100-foot national flag. From the evening of June 6, attendees can look forward to a vibrant array of cultural programmes featuring renowned Telugu film artistes. Beyond sports and entertainment, the Masula Beach Fest will be a celebration of Telugu culture and cuisine. Over 100 stalls will showcase the rich flavours, traditions and customs of the Telugu people, with seven dedicated food courts offering a diverse culinary experience. Minister Ravindra underscored that the festival is not merely a tourism event but a strategic initiative to create new opportunities and foster innovation. He also highlighted the rigorous preparations by officials, confirming that every event will be live-streamed. Marine authorities will be on hand to ensure the safety of those wishing to take a sea bath. The Minister concluded by reiterating the festival's potential to generate improved employment and livelihood opportunities through tourism development, urging everyone to attend and contribute to its success.
The Hindu
02-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
85,000 students provided with uniforms, says Minister Muthusamy in Erode
Minister for Housing, Prohibition, and Excise, S. Muthusamy, said that 85,000 students studying in Classes VI to VIII were given uniforms as schools reopened in the district on Monday. In the presence of Collector Raja Gopal Sunkara, Erode MP K.E. Prakash, MLA V.C. Chandhirakumar, and Mayor S. Nagarathinam, the Minister inaugurated a new building block and laboratories worth ₹2.50 crore at the Government Higher Secondary School in Nanjappa Goundan Valasu, Surampatti. The project was funded under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative by Bengaluru-based Alice Blue Financial Services Private Limited, as part of the State government's 'Namma School – Namma Ooru Palli' scheme. Addressing the media, the Minister said that special initiatives by the Education Department helped government schools, which were previously ranked among the bottom 30 positions in the previous public examination results, and that this had significantly improved their pass percentages, with some achieving centum results. He noted that boys tend to score lower marks than girls in examinations and that this gap would be addressed. However, he acknowledged that girls' academic performance has been consistently improving year after year. He also assured that the distribution of uniforms to all students in the district would be completed in the coming days. On the issue of POCSO cases, the Minister revealed that over 250 school-related incidents were reported last year and that immediate action was taken. 'This academic year, preventive measures will be implemented to ensure such issues do not recur,' he said. Responding to AIADMK general secretary and Leader of the Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami's criticism that the DMK government failed to bring education under the State List, Mr. Muthusamy asserted that the government has been consistently advocating for shifting education from the Concurrent List to the State List. He questioned why, during the AIADMK's 10-year rule, no concrete steps were taken on the matter by the then Chief Minister. Deputy Mayor V. Selvaraj, Chief Education Officer K. Subbarao, Headmaster N. Rajesh, and M. Sidhavelayutham, Founder and CEO of Alice Blue, along with several others, were present at the event.
