Latest news with #R.Alagumeena
The Hindu
3 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Kochi shipwreck: Plastic pellets, container drift to Kanniyakumari shores; activists raise concerns
Following the discovery of several bags of tiny plastic pellets along the shores of coastal villages in the Western part of Kanniyakumari district on Wednesday (May 28), a container from the sunken Liberian ship was found washed ashore between the the shores of Kodimunai and Vaniyakudi on Thursday. The Liberian cargo vessel MSC Elsa 3, which departed from Vizhinjam harbour, sank off the Kochi coast on Sunday (May 25, 2025). Initially, the containers and cargo from the ship began washing ashore along the coastline of Kerala. However, since Wednesday (May 28), due to ocean currents and monsoon winds, the containers and cargos are being eventually drifted towards the waters of Kanniyakumari. As part of the unfolding situation, a container was found washed ashore between the coastal villages Kodimunai and Vaniyakudi near Colachel. Speaking to The Hindu, Kanniyakumari District Collector R. Alagumeena said, 'The information has been reported and an expert team from the shipping company in Gujarat is on its way to recover the drifted item from the shore.' She added that officials from the Revenue Department and Police department have been deployed for the security of the container. Ms. Alagumeena noted that the efforts to clear the plastic pellets along the coastal areas had been continuing for the second consecutive day. Meanwhile, fishermen and activists had raised their concerns about the scattered plastic pellets along the coastal areas of Kanniykaumari and the submerged containers drifting in the sea. Fr. Churchill from South Asian Fishermen Fraternity highlighted the threat posed by submerged containers which could damage the fishing nets and boats during fishing activities. Additionally, since these containers might float in the sea at night, Mr. Churchill noted the heightened risk of collision, causing significant damage or even the sinking of fishing boats. Another activist Justin Antony stressed the need for urgent war-footing measures to clean up the plastic pellets along the shoreline. He pointed out that the livelihood of at least three fishermen families often depends on a single country boat, and urged the authorities to take immediate action to remove the submerged containers in the waters of Kanniyakumari.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Plastic pellets and container drift to Kanniyakumari shores after shipwreck; activists raise concerns
Following the discovery of several bags of tiny plastic pellets along the shores of coastal villages in the Western part of Kanniyakumari district on Wednesday (May 28), a container from the sunken Liberian ship was found washed ashore between the the shores of Kodimunai and Vaniyakudi on Thursday. The Liberian cargo vessel MSC Elsa 3, which departed from Vizhinjam harbour, sank off the Kochi coast on Sunday. Initially, the containers and cargo from the ship began washing ashore along the coastline of Kerala. However, since Wednesday, due to ocean currents and monsoon winds, the containers and cargos are being eventually drifted towards the waters of Kanniyakumari. As part of the unfolding situation, a container was found washed ashore between the coastal villages Kodimunai and Vaniyakudi near Colachel. Speaking to The Hindu, Kanniyakumari District Collector R. Alagumeena said, 'The information has been reported and an expert team from the shipping company in Gujarat is on its way to recover the drifted item from the shore.' She added that officials from the Revenue Department and Police department have been deployed for the security of the container. Ms. Alagumeena noted that the efforts to clear the plastic pellets along the coastal areas had been continuing for the second consecutive day. Meanwhile, fishermen and activists had raised their concerns about the scattered plastic pellets along the coastal areas of Kanniykaumari and the submerged containers drifting in the sea. Fr. Churchill from South Asian Fishermen Fraternity highlighted the threat posed by submerged containers which could damage the fishing nets and boats during fishing activities. Additionally, since these containers might float in the sea at night, Mr. Churchill noted the heightened risk of collision, causing significant damage or even the sinking of fishing boats. Another activist Justin Antony stressed the need for urgent war-footing measures to clean up the plastic pellets along the shoreline. He pointed out that the livelihood of at least three fishermen families often depends on a single country boat, and urged the authorities to take immediate action to remove the submerged containers in the waters of Kanniyakumari.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Tiny plastic pellets from sunken ship washed ashore along Kanniyakumari coast
Several bags of tiny plastic pellets (nurdles) from the Liberian container ship, MSC Elsa 3, that sank off the Kochi coast on Sunday were washed ashore in some of the coastal hamlets of western Kanniyakumari district on Wednesday evening. Sources in Enayam and Vallavilai said a few damaged bags and tiny plastic pellets from the sunken ship were washed ashore at Poovar in Kerala in the morning and similar damaged bags were found along the shoreline of Enayam, Erayumanthurai and a few more coastal villages in Kanniyakumari district in the evening. 'Since the district administration had cautioned the fishermen against handling anything floating in the sea following the accident, the fishermen informed the officials immediately on seeing the unusual materials being washed ashore. They are being carefully removed by the officials,' said Sunil Sabariar of Vallavilai. District Collector R. Alagumeena, who visited Enayam and a few more villages since Wednesday evening along with the officials from Fisheries and Revenue Departments and Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board to monitor the removal of the floating objects, said the 'non-hazardous' plastic pellets were collected and removed as per the guidelines shared by the Kerala government with Kanniyakumari district administration on handling the materials from the sunken ship. 'The plastic pellets washed ashore in Enayampuththanthurai, Vallavilai and Eravipuththanthurai were scooped carefully and stored in bags. Since we have received the protocol from the Kerala government on handling these materials, we are carefully following it. We are also in touch with the shipping company, which has promised to send a team of experts from Gujarat for cleaning our coast. They are expected to arrive here on Thursday afternoon. Till then, we are doing the work while following the guidelines,' Ms. Alagumeena said. Officials said 31 bags of tiny plastic pellets from Enayampuththanthurai and 12 bags from Vallavilai and Eravipuththanthurai were recovered and stored at Munsirai panchayat union office.
The Hindu
22-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Award winning farmer felicitated by District Collector for traditional paddy cultivation
Kanniyakumari District Collector R. Alagumeena felicitated Belin Gold, a farmer from Achankulam village in Agasteeswaram taluk for winning first place in the state level traditional paddy cultivation yield competition. The felicitation took place at the farmers grievance redress meeting held at the district collectorate on Thursday. It is noted that Mr. Gold was also awarded with 'Bharat Ratna Doctor MGR Traditional Paddy Varieties Conservation Award' and cash prize of ₹1 lakh , which was presented by M.R.K. Paneerselvam, Minister of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, at an event held earlier this month in Chennai. During the meeting the farmers raised concerns over the delay in the projects under the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and Railway departments involving the construction of culverts, bridges across water bodies. They urged the authorities to ensure the timely completion of these projects for the benefit of the farming community. Vins Antro, from Kodayar Irrigation System Project Committee said that the petition had been submitted primarily involving the Pattinam canal (Pattinamkaal), where the NHAI is currently implementing a four way lane project, expected to be complete by June or July. However, Railways had not yet commenced their double track project in the same area. 'The projects undertaken by two different departments on different time periods will severely impact the farmers, as around 15, 000 acres of agricultural land are irrigated through Pattinam canal,' he added. Farmers also submitted petitions to restore the Suchindram canal, Alanthurayar canal, and canal near the Vaigai pond in Aralvaimozhi. They also raised concerns about the heaving vehicles passing through Thovalai canal, which are damaging the weirs and the roads in the region. At the meeting, the collector assured that steps would be taken to address the petitions promptly. She directed the officials to evict the encroachments from the water bodies and announced that 'Kuruvai' packaged project had been allocated for Kanniyakumari district, urging farmers to utilise it. At the meeting it was informed that the water would be released from Pechiparai dam on June 1 or 2 for irrigation purposes.
The Hindu
01-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Gram sabha meetings held in Kanniyakumari and Thoothukudi districts
Gram sabha meetings were conducted in all village panchayats of Kanniyakumari district as part of May Day celebrations on Thursday. Collector R. Alagumeena participated in the gram sabha meeting held at Thachamalai, a tribal hamlet in Pechiparai village panchayat. During the meeting, she expressed her happiness in attending a gram sabha meeting in a tribal village ahead of Labours Day. She said that many basic amenities such as 100% drinking water, new buildings and bus services had been addressed in many villages through the gram sabha meetings. Ms. Alagumeena stressed the importance of health and urged them to have a special attention on their health condition, as a people living in tribal areas. She urged the residents to undergo regular health check ups at Primary Health Centre in Pechiparai and a government hospital in Kulasekaram. She emphasised the need for regular prenatal check-ups to ensure the health of the mother and child. and directed the health officials to pay more attention to the healthcare needs of people living in tribal regions. Highlighting the benefits of education, she said the region had five government schools and they functioned without staff shortage. She encouraged parents to ensure that their children attended school regularly without dropping out. Notably, seven students from Pechiparai Government Higher Secondary School were set to appear for NEET examination this year, she added and urged greater participation from the community. Padmanabhapuram Sub Collector Vinay Kumar Meena along with officials from various departments participated in the event. Thoothukudi Gram sabha meetings were also conducted in village panchayats across Thoothukudi district. Collector K. Elambahavath participated in the gram sabha meeting held at Vazhavallan village in Srivaikuntam panchayat union. During the meeting the Collector noted that there were about nine hamlets in the panchayat with a total population of around 3,782 people. The gram sabha meeting would review projects implemented in the village and assess whether the benefits had reached all residents. Mr. Elambahavath also reviewed the regularity of children going to school and proper functioning of anganwadi centre in the village. He emphasised the importance of nutritious food for the children, saying the children's health was closely linked to their cognitive and skill development. The Collector inspected the ongoing schemes and development works in the village and urged the officials to complete the projects without delay for the benefit of the villagers. Thoothukudi Additional Collector (Development) R. Ishwarya, Tiruchendur Revenue Divisional Officer Sukumaran and other officials were present at the meeting.
