Cracker units cropping up on Thoothukudi border, farmers wary
Sources said as the neighbouring Virudhunagar district tightened regulations to establish firecracker manufacturing units and with the higher industrial taxes levied by the Sivakasi corporation, many manufacturers are allegedly in the process of establishing units in Muthalapuram, which borders the Virudhunagar district. The Muthalapuram firka consists of over 13 villages along the northern banks of Vaippar river. Agriculture and cattle rearing are the two major occupations and the farmers cultivate rain-fed crops.
According to civic body sources, two units at Kailasapuram in Ayan Rajapatti and one at Masarpatti had begun production by employing workers from Sri Lankan rehabilitation camps. Four units in Ayan Rajapatti, two in Arunachalapuram village and one in Karuppur village are under construction. One more unit is under construction along the banks of Vaippar in Keelnattukurichi village without obtaining due licence, claimed sources.
A former panchayat president said that many firecracker manufacturers have purchased land parcels in Muthalapuram and its surrounding villages. If such units are established, it will affect the labour for agriculture, he said. With a government-appointed special officer in charge, the officials are granting permission without obtaining public opinion, he alleged.
Keelnattukurichi agriculture farmers association president A Varadharajan said that a firecracker manufacturing unit has been established close to the outflow channel of the Keelnattukurichi tank, which is prone to contamination by chemicals and effluents. Considering the environmental issues and frequent accidents, the district must stop giving licenses to operate firecracker manufacturing units in the district, the farmers said.
Wishing anonymity, an official said permission is granted to firework units only if the manufacturers fulfil the required criteria.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
26-07-2025
- New Indian Express
Cracker units cropping up on Thoothukudi border, farmers wary
THOOTHUKUDI: Raising concerns about safety and potential labour shortage, farmers of Muthalapuram firka in Ettayapuram urged the district administration not to grant permission to establish firecracker manufacturing units in the areas surrounding the firka. Sources said as the neighbouring Virudhunagar district tightened regulations to establish firecracker manufacturing units and with the higher industrial taxes levied by the Sivakasi corporation, many manufacturers are allegedly in the process of establishing units in Muthalapuram, which borders the Virudhunagar district. The Muthalapuram firka consists of over 13 villages along the northern banks of Vaippar river. Agriculture and cattle rearing are the two major occupations and the farmers cultivate rain-fed crops. According to civic body sources, two units at Kailasapuram in Ayan Rajapatti and one at Masarpatti had begun production by employing workers from Sri Lankan rehabilitation camps. Four units in Ayan Rajapatti, two in Arunachalapuram village and one in Karuppur village are under construction. One more unit is under construction along the banks of Vaippar in Keelnattukurichi village without obtaining due licence, claimed sources. A former panchayat president said that many firecracker manufacturers have purchased land parcels in Muthalapuram and its surrounding villages. If such units are established, it will affect the labour for agriculture, he said. With a government-appointed special officer in charge, the officials are granting permission without obtaining public opinion, he alleged. Keelnattukurichi agriculture farmers association president A Varadharajan said that a firecracker manufacturing unit has been established close to the outflow channel of the Keelnattukurichi tank, which is prone to contamination by chemicals and effluents. Considering the environmental issues and frequent accidents, the district must stop giving licenses to operate firecracker manufacturing units in the district, the farmers said. Wishing anonymity, an official said permission is granted to firework units only if the manufacturers fulfil the required criteria.
New Indian Express
20-07-2025
- New Indian Express
Kids' dream stepped up by Padikattugal
MADURAI: 'Akka, when is my birthday?' The question came from a child at Joe Andrea Illam in Kadachanenthal — innocent, disarming, and unforgettable. N Kayal Vizhi, then a college student celebrating her birthday at the orphanage, didn't know how to respond. Later, she learnt that for many children in such homes, the day they arrive becomes their de facto birthday. 'That question just stuck with me,' Kayal recalls. 'It opened my eyes to a reality I hadn't fully understood until then.' It was 2008, and Kayal was still an undergraduate student. That moment, while not a grand turning point, planted a quiet thought that stayed with her — one that eventually led to Padikattugal, a humble initiative that took shape a few years later, with the goal of supporting children and communities in need. Since 2012, Padikattugal has helped more than 500 children, including Sri Lankan refugees, from across Tamil Nadu by providing financial assistance, education support, and emotional care. The initiative wasn't born overnight. It emerged from the friendships, weekend visits, and shared values of a group of young people who simply wanted to do more. 'Back then, we were just a group of students who liked to volunteer,' says Kayal (33). 'During my college days, I worked as a scribe for visually challenged students. That's how I met SP Subramanian Kishore, B Shanmugarajan, VKS Santhosh, Silambarasan Elango and others. Unlike most of our peers, we spent our Saturdays visiting orphanages in Madurai.' With the little money they had, they would buy stationery, sweets, or other small gifts. Eventually, they began celebrating birthdays of children at the homes — a simple gesture that created joy for everyone involved. As more friends and relatives began participating, the idea slowly took on a more structured form.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
11-07-2025
- Business Standard
Indian Coast Guard rescues 2 US nationals stranded near Nicobar Islands
ICG Ship Rajveer carried out the rescue operation after the US consulate in Chennai sent a distress message about the stranded US-flagged sailing vessel ANI General News The Indian Coast Guard rescued two United States nationals stranded about 53 miles south of the Nicobar Islands, officials said on Friday. ICG Ship Rajveer carried out the rescue operation after the US consulate in Chennai sent a distress message about the stranded US-flagged sailing vessel. The Indian patrol vessel navigated through rough sea conditions to rescue the US nationals. "The Indian Coast Guard saved two US nationals stranded in a distressed yacht, a US-flagged sailing vessel, Sea Angel, about 53 miles south of the Nicobar Islands. On receipt of a distress message via the US Consulate at Chennai, ICG Ship Rajveer was deployed & responded to the distress situation, navigating through rough sea conditions," ICG said. Last Month, Indian Coast Guard (ICG) successfully rescued three Sri Lankan nationals who had been abandoned on a sandbar near Adam's Bridge, off the coast of Dhanushkodi in Tamil Nadu. According to the Coastal Security Group Police, the trio had set off from Sri Lanka in an unidentified boat, which dropped them off on the sandbar located in Indian waters. "Three Sri Lankans who had set off from Sri Lanka to Dhanushkodi (Tamil Nadu) in an unidentified boat were dropped off at a sandbar by Adam's Bridge near Dhanushkodi. The Indian Coast Guard rescued them, brought them to Dhanushkodi and handed them over to the Coastal Security Group Police. An investigation is underway," said the Coastal Security Group Police in a statement. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
