Latest news with #M.R.K.Panneerselvam
The Hindu
23-05-2025
- The Hindu
48th summer festival kicks off in Yercaud with week-long flower show and cultural events
The 48th edition of the Yercaud Summer Festival and Flower Show was inaugurated on Friday by Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare M.R.K. Panneerselvam, Forests Minister R.S. Rajakannappan, and Tourism Minister R. Rajendran in the presence of Salem District Collector R. Brindha Devi. Speaking at the event, Mr. Panneerselvam said the State government, under the leadership of the Chief Minister, has been implementing several welfare schemes, including the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam, which provides ₹1,000 per month to over 1.15 crore women. Other initiatives such as Vidiyal Payanam and the Breakfast Scheme were also highlighted. He noted that under the backyard garden initiative, 15 lakh households across Tamil Nadu had received vegetable seeds and benefitted through the horticulture department. The week-long flower show and summer festival at Anna Park features over 50,000 roses sculpted into forest-themed displays, including elephants, deer, monkeys, and other animals. A replica of the Mettur Dam's 16-shutter spillway, made with 73,000 roses, is a key attraction. Awareness-themed installations created from over 6,000 carnations and roses highlight topics such as waste management and biodiversity. Cartoon character displays and selfie points have been created to attract children and families. More than 30,000 flower pots have been arranged, and decorative lighting enhances the park's visual appeal. Several government departments have also set up stalls exhibiting horticultural produce and value-added products. Mr. Rajakannappan spoke about welfare schemes for forest-dwelling communities and noted that more than 20,000 students and residents had selected the Oriental Darter as Salem district's bird. Mr. Rajendran said the festival helps boost local tourism and showcases Yercaud's natural charm. He expressed confidence that this year's event would attract larger crowds and offer a memorable experience for visitors from across the State.
The Hindu
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Yercaud Summer Festival and Flower Show to begin on May 23
The 48th Yercaud Summer Festival and Flower Show will begin at the hilltop on Friday and continue till May 29, featuring a variety of competitions, musical concerts, and vibrant cultural events. Minister for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, M.R.K. Panneerselvam, Minister for Forests and Khadi, R.S. Rajakannappan, and Minister for Tourism, R. Rajendran, will inaugurate the festival at 4 p.m. in Yercaud. The Ministers will also inaugurate various exhibition stalls set up by departments including Agriculture, Forests, Tourism, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, and Sericulture, and distribute welfare assistance to beneficiaries. Collector R. Brindha Devi said the seven-day festival would feature a grand flower show organised by the Horticulture Department at Anna Park, showcasing 1.5 lakh flowers. There would also be fruit and vegetable exhibitions. Special floral displays would depict wildlife and notable landmarks like the Mettur Dam to raise awareness about wildlife conservation. Additionally, over 25,000 colourful flower pots would be used to attract tourists. She added that several events would be held as part of the festival, including a healthy child contest, traditional food competition, rangoli competition, boating competitions for tourists, pet dog exhibition, and cultural programmes. Various sports competitions, including football and cricket, would also be organised for youth. To entertain tourists visiting Yercaud, musical concerts and cultural events would be held on all days of the festival. The Collector had earlier reviewed the arrangements with all departments and instructed them to ensure that all amenities were in place for visitors. Police personnel will manage vehicle movement at the hilltop to prevent traffic congestion. During last year's festival, held from May 22 to 26, nearly two lakh people visited Yercaud — including one lakh who visited Anna Park, Rose Garden, Lake Park, and Botanical Garden, and 35,000 who visited the boathouse. This year, the number of tourists is expected to increase, as the district administration has made elaborate arrangements to ensure the smooth conduct of the festival.
The Hindu
10-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
TNAU begins admission for UG programmes
The Hindu Bureau COIMBATORE: A total of 7,775 candidates are to be admitted to the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University's (TNAU's) 14 undergraduate (UG) programmes. They will be offered through constituent colleges and affiliated private colleges for the academic year 2025-26. Applications can be filed at The application fee for general BC, BCM and MBC/DNC students is ₹600 and for SC, SCA and ST, ₹300. There are 3,370 seats to be filled in 18 constituent colleges and 4,405 in 28 affiliated private colleges. The online admission was initiated by Minister for Agriculture M.R.K. Panneerselvam, Minister for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, on Friday. The UG programmes constitute (Hons.) Agriculture, (Hons.) Horticulture, (Hons.) Agriculture — Tamil Medium, (Agricultural Engineering), (Hons.) Forestry, (Hons.) Sericulture, (Hons.) Food Nutrition and Dietetics, Biotechnology, (Hons.) Agri-Business Management, Food Technology, (Energy and Environmental Engineering), Bioimformatics, and Agricultural Information Technology. Of the 4,405 seats to be filled in affiliated colleges, 4,196 pertain to (Hons.) Agriculture (2,707 under government quota and 1,489 under management quota). The sanctioned strength in (Hons.) Horticulture programme is 209 seats (135 under government quota and 74 under management quota). The total intake for Diploma programmes is 1240. The application fee for general BC, BCM, and MBC/DNC students is ₹200. The fee is ₹100 for SC, SCA, and ST students. Four constituent colleges of the TNAU will admit 450 students for diploma programmes in Agriculture, Horticulture and Agricultural Engineering in English and Tamil mediums. Three government-aided constituent colleges will admit 150 students in Horticulture programme. Two private affiliated colleges will be admitting students for Diploma programmes in Agriculture and Horticulture. Queries will be addressed through helpline numbers — 9488635077 and 9486425076 — from 9.00 a.m. to 5 p.m. on working days. The candidates can also seek additional information through e-mail: ugadmissions@ In Annamalai University, 340 students are to be admitted to (Hons.) Agriculture-Government-aided, (Hons.) Agriculture- Self-Supporting, and (Hons.) Horticulture-Government aided. More details could be sourced through helpline numbers 9865703537 and 9442029913 from 10.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. on working days. The candidates can also source additional information through e-mail: agridean2015@
The Hindu
05-05-2025
- The Hindu
Improvement works launched at Silver Beach in Cuddalore in an effort to get Blue Flag certification
Beautification and improvement works for winning the prestigious Blue Flag certification have begun on the Silver Beach in Cuddalore. A one-km stretch of the beach is being developed into a Blue Flag beach as per the norms laid down by the State Government. Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare M.R.K. Panneerselvam laid the foundation stone for the improvement works on Sunday to be executed at a cost of ₹4 crore. The works will be executed by the Department of Environment and Forests and is expected to be completed in eight months. Official sources said Silver Beach in Cuddalore is among the six beaches selected by the State Government for development as Blue Flag beaches for promotion of sustainable tourism. The other beaches are Thiruvanmiyur, Palavakkam and Uthandi in Chennai, Kulasekarapattinam (Tuticorin) and Keezhputhupattu (Villupuram). According to an official, 'The objective is to reduce pollutants, responsibly manage solid waste and marine litter and promote sustainable development of the coastal regions. The certification is awarded based on 33 stringent criterial including environmental education and information, bathing water quality, environment management and conservation and safety and services in the beaches.' The Blue Flag certification will lead to construction of environment-friendly temporary structures to promote tourism on Silver beach.. The moment a Blue Flag is hoisted on the beach it will be noticed by the Foundation for Environment Education in Copenhagen, Denmark, and propagated across the world for tourists to take note. The beautification works include a jogging track, watch tower, LED streetlights, CCTV, improved parking facilities, comfort station complex and cafetaria. There will also be improved waste management systems, security arrangements for tourists, off-grid solar power plant, tourism information centre, and staff to explain the significance of the beach to tourists. The work also includes a small-scale reverse osmosis plant, grey water treatment plant, modular toilets and changing rooms for tourists.. The official added, 'The Silver Beach is one of the major tourist destination in the district. Winning the certification will attract more tourists, leading to development and new jobs. Further, the local communities will be sensitised to the concept and its importance.'
The Hindu
25-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Madras HC reverses discharge of T.N. Minister M.R.K. Panneerselvam from two disproportionate assets cases
The Madras High Court on Friday (April 25, 2025) reversed the 2007 and 2016 discharge of Agriculture Minister M.R.K. Panneerselvam and his wife P. Senthamizhselvi from two different disproportionate assets cases pertaining to the check periods 1996-2001 and 2006-2011. Justice P. Velmurugan allowed the criminal revision petitions filed by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) in 2013 and 2016 and directed a special court for Prevention of Corruption Act cases in Cuddalore to conduct a full-fledged trial in both cases. The judge ordered the special court to frame charges against the accused and complete the trial within six months by conducting day-to-day proceedings, noting that the cases had been pending for decades and had not progressed due to the discharge orders. The Minister's son P. Kathiravan was also an accused in the case pertaining to the check period between 2006 and 2011, and he too had been discharged from the case by the special court in 2016. Justice Velmurugan set aside his discharge order as well, and directed him to face trial. Mr. Panneerselvam had served as Minister for Health during the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) regime between April 2006 and March 2011, when he had been accused of amassing wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income in his name as well as those of his wife and son. The DVAC had filed a chargesheet against the trio under Section 13(2) read with 13(1)(e) of the PCA of 1988. It had also relied upon 60 witness and 111 documentary evidence to prove the case. However, on February 3, 2016, the Chief Judicial Magistrate in Cuddalore discharged all three accused. Aggrieved over this, the investigating agency had filed the present revision petition after the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) assumed power in the State in 2016.
