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Time of India
3 days ago
- General
- Time of India
World Environment Day: Nearly 1,50,000 saplings planted in Coimbatore district
COIMBATORE: : Nearly 1.5 lakh saplings were planted in a single day in Coimbatore district on Thursday to mark the World Environment Day , said collector Pavankumar G Giriyappanavar. More than 30 varieties of native tree species have been planted. Various departments -- including panchayats, the corporation, revenue and forest -- conducted a plantation drive in both urban and rural areas. The administration used half-grown saplings, which were at least four to five feet tall, to ensure a high survival rate. Around 15,000 trees were planted at the Arignar Anna Co-operative Industrial Estate in Kittampalayam in Sulur taluk. Addressing the media after the inauguration of the drive, the collector stated, 'The district's forest cover and canopy cover will certainly improve with proper maintenance of these saplings. All these efforts are part of the state's Green Tamil Nadu Mission.' Meanwhile, the city corporation has targeted to plant 25,000 trees in all the five zones. The civic body's main priority is to utilise available spaces, including parks, government vacant lands, school grounds, open spaces and sites in Vellalore. Commenting on this plantation drive, corporation commissioner M Sivaguru Prabhakaran told TOI, 'The main concept was to get 7-9 feet tall saplings. These will have low maintenance and a high survival rate. After a series of observations, it was found that short saplings were subjected to unintentional damage like being cut along with other invasive plant and getting crushed by stray cows or other animals. Watering them was a major challenge while bigger saplings can be watered only when required. The monsoon rains are sufficient for their growth in the upcoming months. All the saplings planted are ensured with geo-tagging and uploaded with photos in the Green Kovai Application.' As part of the World Environment Day celebrations, students from corporation schools showcased various experiments on rainwater harvesting, sustainable lifestyles, eco-friendly projects and robotics concepts. The corporation launched an awareness campaign encouraging the public to stop using single-use polythene bags and other plastic materials. Private colleges, NGOs and various community organisations in the city organised awareness programmes, including student rallies.
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
24x7 water supply project in Coimbatore likely to hit another roadblock
Coimbatore: The 24x7 water supply project is likely to hit another roadblock on Trichy Road and Mettupalayam Road, even as the city corporation races against time to complete the project by September this year. According to official sources, more than 80% work on the project has been completed. Now that the project has reached its last leg, the challenge is digging two major highway roads - Mettupalayam Road and Trichy Road. The project requires the road to be dug from Bharathi Park on Mettupalayam Road to Trichy Road near Alvernia School via Ramnagar and Addis Street to lay the pipeline. "Traffic diversion is a key issue, hampering the work. Withy monsoon around the corner, the work is sure to be delayed. Rainwater will fill the pits, brining work to a grinding halt. We can't lay the pipelines and in the case of already laid ones, we wouldn't be able to check for leakages, if any, and identify the exact location," said a senior corporation official. Earlier, corporation commissioner M Sivaguru Prabhakaran had made it clear that no more digging of roads would be allowed after September, when those in progress should also be completed to begin restoration and relaying of all damaged roads in the city limits. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Tukarkan Bitcoin dan Ethereum - Tanpa Dompet Diperlukan! IC Markets MULAI SEKARANG Undo "Within this timeframe, we have to achieve the target house service connections. The crucial part is digging the arterial roads such as Trichy Road, Kamarajar Road, Nanjappa Road and Oppanakara Street," he said. He said an intersection point would come up near Alvernai School. "Water from both Siruvani and Pillur-III schemes will intersect at the point, but will be separated through a valve. When there is an insufficient supply of water from Siruvani, the Pillur-III scheme water will be diverted through this valve to ensure supply until Ukkadam and Karumbukadai." Another officer clarified that the target house service connections are based on the existing water tax payment assessments. "They wouldn't have to pay any deposit, but the tariff will continue to be collected. The old house service connections are being replaced with the pipelines connected to the 24x7 water supply project." A resident of Ramanathapuram, who didn't want to be named, said the corporation was earlier digging Trichy Road for stormwater drains, causing a lot of inconvenience with diversions, and narrow and bad road conditions. "Even before that is over, they are digging the road on the other side. You can't imagine the congestion during the peak hours, as this is surrounded by school zones."
New Indian Express
21-05-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation clears Rs 17 crore dues to Suez
COIMBATORE: In a significant advancement to the completion of the long-pending 24x7 water supply project, the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation (CCMC) has cleared pending dues of Rs 17 crore to Suez, the private firm executing the project. The civic body has also allocated an additional Rs 20 crore to the highways department to restore roads damaged during pipeline installation. The 24x7 water supply project, which aims to ensure uninterrupted water supply in 60 wards across the city, had seen sluggish progress until recently, due to issues including pending dues. In view of this, TNIE had carried out a detailed report on May 4. CCMC took cognisance of the report and has cleared pending dues. With payments now released, officials confirm that work has gained momentum and the project is expected to be complete by August 2. Speaking to TNIE, CCMC Commissioner M Sivaguru Prabhakaran said that one of the biggest challenges faced by the civic body was obtaining permission to dig up major state and national highways. "Major highways and arterial roads, from Bharathi Park near Mettupalayam Road to Alvernia School on Trichy Road had to be dug up to install pipelines," he said. "To ensure smooth road conditions post-project, the corporation has also allocated Rs 20 crore to the highways department for road restoration."
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Coimbatore district readies to tackle monsoon challenges
Coimbatore: With the southwest monsoon expected to set in early this year, the official machinery in Coimbatore has stepped up its preparedness to tackle overflowing of drains, water stagnation and other rain-related issues. While the city corporation is focussing on identifying vulnerable areas and implementing preventive measures, fire service personnel are gearing up for rescue work. The district administration, while coordinating all departments, has also identified temporary shelters in case people need to be evacuated. City corporation commissioner M Sivaguru Prabhakaran said around 4,500 sanitary workers were placed on alert and instructed to remain on standby round the clock during heavy rain. Every monsoon, subways and underpasses at the old Avinashi flyover, Kaleeswara Mill, ARC Junction, North Coimbatore and Lanka Corner face severe waterlogging, disrupting connectivity for hours. To mitigate this, the corporation has installed high-capacity motors at key points to pump out stagnant water. In spite of the measures, challenges persist at Kaleeswara Mill, old Avinashi flyover and Lanka Corner. "Redesigning the gravity flow requires significant capital, which isn't feasible at the moment. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Undo We have installed three 100 HP motors - two at Avinashi flyover and one at Kaleeswara Mill. The drain at Lanka Corner is narrow, causing frequent clogs. A proposal to enhance its capacity is currently awaiting approval," Prabhakaran said. High-risk drains, such as the one on Good Shed Road, are being desilted. A senior corporation official said vegetation had been cleared and five loads of debris, washed in during recent rains, were removed. "These were the primary reason for overflowing of the drain on that road. We are also clearing culverts on Good Shed and Trichy roads," the official said. So far, around 60% of desilting work is complete. The corporation is clearing 250 kilometres of small drains across its limits to prevent flooding in residential areas, prioritising canals and culverts that intersect roads. "Twenty-three railway crossings have been identified for waste removal, and we are working in coordination with railway officials," the corporation commissioner added. Tree trimming is also underway across all the five zones of the city corporation to reduce damage caused by branches breaking off during heavy wind. A total of 47 teams equipped with 65 tree-cutting machines have been deployed. The civic body has also stocked 5000 sandbags - 1,000 per zone - to plug breaches of canals. Meanwhile, disaster management teams and the fire and rescue services are also preparing for monsoon challenges. A District Disaster Management Authority official said control rooms were set up at each taluk office. "We are readying first responders from all local bodies. We have a list of 2,026 volunteers and are verifying the same," the official said. The district has identified 24 vulnerable areas within the city corporation limits and 15 in rural areas. A total of 94 relief centres have been arranged to accommodate residents in case of flooding. According to P Pulugandi, district fire and rescue officer, Coimbatore has 14 fire stations staffed by 300 personnel. "Our teams will be fully mobilized during the monsoon. We have conducted mock drills at local water bodies to raise public awareness on flood survival techniques."
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Two more corporation schools in Coimbatore identified for AR & VR labs
Coimbatore: The civic body has identified two more corporation schools for setting up the augmented reality and virtual reality (AR & VR) labs. The city corporation had in the current financial year budget proposed to build five such labs at the corporation schools a cost of Rs3.5 crore, after the augmented reality and virtual reality labs set up at the Corporation Girls High School at Sidhapudur and SRP Ammaniammal Girls Higher Secondary School at RS Puram at a cost of Rs72 each on a pilot basis yielded positive responses from the student fraternity and the faculty. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The labs offer an interactive learning method with a 360° view and a three-dimensional effect. Complex scientific topics, including the antonym of heart, plant cell and others, are simplified for better understanding. The education department's plan is to set up the five proposed AR & VR labs in as many corporation higher secondary schools. In the first phase, P Kamalanathan Memorial Higher Secondary School in ward 43 and Corporation Higher Secondary School at Peelamedu in ward 26 have been selected to set up the labs at a cost of Rs82 lakh and Rs83.50 lakh, respectively. The civic body had passed a resolution in this regard at the recently held council meeting. According to corporation commissioner M Sivaguru Prabhakaran, the construction work would be carried out from the civic body's school education fund. "The cost for these two labs is a little high as they will occupy a large area to accommodate a larger number of students."
