Latest news with #Trichiites
Time of India
02-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Water melon, tender coconut sellers feel the heat
The weather gods have been kinder to Trichiites this time, but farmers, traders and vendors engaged in the business of summer refreshments have a different story to tell. Sale of coconut, watermelon, and fruit juices has plummeted across Trichy due to reduced consumption after temperatures dropped in May and rainfall increased. Things were looking up from mid-April when summer peaked, and heatwave was intense. With people thronging juice shops, watermelons, tender coconuts, and cucumbers flew off shelves. That was till mid-May. "Sales have dropped by half in weeks, even near the bus stand where thousands visit every day. With frequent downpours, the climate is not hot as before. We didn't have such abrupt change in previous years," says S Thamimun Ansari from Tiruvarur, a tender coconut vendor near Central bus stand. Wholesalers say the drop in business is as high as 85%. Tender coconuts are transported to Trichy predominantly from Coimbatore and Tirupur districts. S A Khaja Mohideen, a distributor from Mannarpuram, says they were arranging as many as seven trucks with five tonne each around April. "Currently, we need only one truck of watermelons. We also slashed prices to increase sales due to less demand," says he. Watermelon is cultivated only in Thottiyam block in the district, on about 100 acre. It arrives from places such as Chengalpattu, Thiruvallur, Villupuram and Tiruvannamalai. "Watermelon distribution has come down at least by two-thirds across the state. This month was to be our best time to do business. But it has only brought losses," says P Ramesh, a Namakkal-based supplier. "We are now thinking if we should cultivate more as we stare at losses," says P Kanagaraj, who cultivates watermelon on about 10 acres in Periyapallipalayam. Traders in permanent juice shops, temporary juice stalls, and mobile push carts have also been enduring loss of income recently. Shopkeepers say they will struggle to pay rent and other bills. Pushcart vendors and temporary stall keepers are looking to relocate to more populated areas. "Only regular customers are coming to buy juice as they follow diets. Otherwise, not many people want to quench their thirst with fruit juices lately," says S Mathavan, a juice seller from Karumandapam. Dr B Amutha, head of the regional meteorological centre of Indian Meteorological Department in Chennai attributed the drop in temperatures to advancement of the monsoon. "Rainfall is more in May as the onset of southwest monsoon has advanced a week early from June first week. A similar occurrence was in 2009, when monsoon advanced around May 23," she said, pointing to climate change as a reason. "Apart from that, conditions such as seasonal reversal of winds and an increase in wind speed became favourable for the advancement of monsoon," she added.
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Surplus rain sends groundwater level up in Trichy
There is good news for Trichiites on the drinking water front. Despite soaring temperatures, groundwater levels are higher than last year in Trichy as well as most central districts, thanks to surplus unseasonal rains since March and a good monsoon last year. The surge is helping the region meet its drinking water requirements. In Trichy, the groundwater level was at 5 metre below ground level in April compared to 7.91 metre in the same month last year, indicating a difference of 2.83 metre. The level was also higher in Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Karur, Perambalur, and Ariyalur and lower than last year in Thanjavur, Pudukottai and Mayiladuthurai districts. "The occasional unseasonal rain has augmented groundwater tables for the past few months. Hence, the levels are higher than last year despite hot temperatures now," a senior official of the water resources department in Trichy said. According to officials at the regional meteorological centre of Indian Meteorological Department in Chennai, the surplus rainwater is replenishing underground acquifers. In Trichy, the state water resources department and Central Ground Water Board monitor groundwater levels at 142 observation wells every month. Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board observes the levels at 47 observation wells twice a year. Similarly, the levels in other districts are also observed. TWAD Board sources told TOI that they observed a rise in the height of the groundwater level from 20 metre in May 2024 to 13 metre in January 2025 after a good northeast monsoon. "The level is rising again after January due to unseasonal rains. The availability helps us (TWAD) and local bodies to supply drinking water as per requirements," a TWAD official said. The rainfall boost has not aided districts like Thanjavur and Pudukottai unlike other central districts like Trichy, Perambalur, and Ariyalur. The levels were lower than last year in those two districts. Darwin Annadurai, an environmental scientist and founder of Eco Society India, said, "Despite monsoon and unseasonal rains, groundwater levels may not be high as expected when the extraction is higher than recharge. When there is higher extraction for purposes such as drinking water, agriculture, and industries, or when there are environmental damages like excavation, the groundwater levels may not be high in comparison. " With Mettur dam scheduled to open on June 12 and Cauvery river water expected to arrive in the days that follow, officials and experts said the groundwater level will rise further due to recharge caused by river water percolation.
Time of India
08-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
IBT, a 3-decade-old dream come true
Trichy : When chief minister M K Stalin inaugurates the Rs246 crore Integrated Bus Terminus (IBT) at Panjapur on Friday, it will be the realisation of a three-decade-old demand of Trichiites. TNSTC can heave a sigh of relief as the new terminus will replace the cramped Central bus stand. The CM would flag off 120 new BS VI standard vehicles , of which 18 belong to Coimbatore and Villupuram TNSTC units. Among these, 38 are city buses, which will replace the old ones operated from Trichy said shifting of bus operations from Central and Chathiram bus stands to Panjapur would take time, and could be taken up gradually. This is expected only after ensuring that all amenities including restaurants are available in the complex. "IBT is the city's dream project, the facility should be maintained properly by eliminating threats of encroachments including pushcarts near the terminus," Dr M A Aleem, member, Trichy district welfare fund committee, said. Operation Sindoor India foils Pakistan's attack on Jammu airport: What we know so far How India used 'Sudarshan Chakra' to take down Pak drones, missiles Operation Sindoor: Several airports in India closed - check full list "Around 92 new mofussil buses will be flagged off by the CM during the launch. Low-floor buses will be allocated to Trichy and Thanjavur cities in our division. Around 34 such swanky buses for city operations can be expected by next month," R Ponmudi, managing director, TNSTC Kumbakonam, told idea of a new bus terminus germinated in the 1990s when the Central bus stand was found incapable of handling the fleets then. Soon after Trichy municipality was elevated as a municipal corporation in 1994, the demand for a spacious bus terminus was placed before the then mayor, Punithavalli Palaniyandi. Over the years, places such as Karur bypass road, Devathanam, Ariyamangalam, and Kottapattu were front runners for the IBT project. However, Panjapur was finalised by the DMK govt in May 2021. "Karur bypass road site was not considered seriously. Other sites such as Devathanam, Ariyamangalam, and Kottapattu were found technically unviable over the years," K Suresh, councillor, said.
