Latest news with #V.R.Subbulaxmi
The Hindu
27-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Check dams, causeway across Kaundinya river in Vellore inaugurated
Minister for Water Resources Duraimurugan inaugurated two check dams and a causeway with vents across Kaundinya river in Gudiyatham to prevent flooding during monsoon, and provide access to key towns. The Minister was accompanied by Collector V.R. Subbulaxmi, and senior officials of the Water Resources Department (WRD). 'The check dams will help irrigate at least 560 hectares of farmlands in the region. Moreover, local bodies can sink borewells along the facilities to draw water for consumption,' S. Kalipriyarn, Assistant Engineer, WRD (Gudiyatham), told The Hindu. Funded by NABARD under the Permanent Floods Restoration Scheme 2023-24, the check dams were built at a cost of ₹25 crore. Each 120-metre-long and 1.2-metre-tall facility has a capacity of 2.51 mcft (million cubic feet) and can discharge 53,000 cusecs of floodwater. They will help recharge at least 530 farmwells in the region. Around 10-12 farming villages will benefit as groundwater within a three-km radius from the facilities would increase. After a long struggle, residents in Gudiyatham and adjoining farming villages now have a causeway, built at a cost of ₹8.41 crore using funds from NABARD. It connects Thalayatham with Sunnabupettai village across the river. The causeway measures 104.2 metres in length and 2.7 metres in height (from the riverbed) with 10 vents. It can discharge 58,000 cusecs per minute of floodwater during monsoon. Officials said such high discharge of rainwater would prevent the facility from being flooded. 'Earlier, we had to take a detour of at least 20 km to reach Gudiyatham, Pernambut, and Pallikonda towns. School vans and ambulances had to navigate a long sandy route. The new bridge has ended our ordeal,' S. Pechiammal, a resident, said. A 500-metre-long tiled walking track was also inaugurated. It was built at a cost of ₹2.91 crore on the left bund of the river. Steel fencing has been erected to prevent accidents, officials say.
The Hindu
22-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Vellore Corpn. begins vaccination programme for community dogs
: In coordination with the Department of Animal husbandry, the Vellore Corporation kick-started anti-rabies vaccination and sterilisation programme for community dogs as per the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules 2001 on Thursday. Corporation officials said that the aim was to reduce the risk of rabies and manage the growing stray dog population in the town. Collector V.R. Subbulaxmi launched the drive in the presence of Mayor Sujatha Anandakumar and Corporation Commissioner P. Janaki Raveendran at the veterinary clinic in the town. 'The first phase of the drive is meant to vaccinate identified community dogs, mainly in Vellore town, before sterilisation is introduced. Along with Corporation health officials, a detailed schedule for the drive will be made in the coming days,' G. Anduvan, Assistant Director, Department of Animal Husbandry (Vellore), said. As per estimates, the Corporation has identified more than 37,000 community dogs as against 9,000 dogs a decade ago within its four zones, covering all 60 wards in the town. The Department of Animal Husbandry also shortlisted around 15,000 community dogs in villages in the district. Veterinarians said growth of population and lack of basic facilities has resulted in congested residential colonies in the town that further led to the proliferation of community dogs. As per study, the town witnesses around 1.5 lakh population every day. Most community dogs were found in crowded areas such as bus terminus, railway stations, markets, schools and Corporation offices. As per plan, deworming, anti-rabiesvaccination and vaccines for skin diseases will be administered. On an average, 20 dogs will be treated at identified spots in each zone within Corporation limits. Training will be imparted to Corporation health workers to handle community dogs and vaccinate them. Vaccination will also be done at four veterinary clinics in the town. Corporation officials said the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Centre, which was built in 2009, is under renovation. The restoration of the centre, which will be completed in June, includes setting up of surgical theatres and other infrastructure facilities. Once re-opened, a full-fledged sterilisation of community dogs will be carried out at the refurbished centre. Till then, veterinary and health clinics, and Corporation ward offices will be used to vaccinate the animals.
The Hindu
11-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Tribal hamlets atop Peechamanthai hillock in Vellore get bitumen roads
Remote tribal hamlets atop Peechamanthai hillock which forms part of Jawadhu Hills, on the outskirts of Vellore town got two bitumen roads. Collector V.R. Subbulaxmi inaugurated the bitumen stretches on Sunday. DRDA officials said that the first stretch had been laid between Thongumalai and Thekumarathur hamlets, a distance of 2.8 kms at a cost of ₹98.65 lakh. The new stretch will connect at least eight remote hamlets including Konnur, Periyayetipattu, Nayakenmedu and Mutonoor. 'The 2.8 km stretch has at least 12 hairpin bends. A minor bridge will be built to replace existing causeway on the route to prevent inundation and obstruction of traffic flow during monsoon,' K. Nishant, Assistant Engineer (AE), DRDA, told The Hindu. The second bitumen stretch had been laid between Thongumalai and Thekkumarathu hamlets, a distance of 1.5 km at a cost of ₹55.13 lakh. These hamlets also form part of Peenjamanthai panchayat. Funded under the 'Mudhalvarin Grama Salaigal Membattu Thittam' (MGSMT) 2024-25, the stretches are three metres wide each - enough for two-wheelers, auto rickshaws and tractors to use them. These stretches have been linked to the existing forest road, which is 6.45 km long, to reach Odugathur town in the plains. TNSTC will operate mini-buses in the hills soon. Currently, the hills do not have bus services. Officials said that these two stretches were formed as pathways way back in the 1900s to monitor the thick forest areas in the hills by the British. Since then, the pathway had been used by the tribals. Around 1,500 residents are inhabitants in these hamlets. Corn, groundnut, banana, sugarcane and millets are cultivated here. 'Sick people and expectant mothers were carried by abled men from the hillock to hospitals at the foothills. The new stretches will help us to get timely medical help especially ambulances,' said V. Devi, a resident. Earlier, tribals used to make a detour 30 km through Amirthi Zoo Road to reach Vellore town for essentials including facilities like Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC), government high school, fair price shop, banks, ATMs and government offices.
The Hindu
02-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
President Murmu virtually inaugurates home for senior citizens in Vellore
President Droupadi Murmu on Friday virtually inaugurated a home for senior citizens, who are mostly women, at Ariyur village on the outskirts of Vellore Corporation limits. Accompanied by senior officials of Department of Social Welfare, Collector V.R. Subbulaxmi inspected the new home, which is maintained by Organisation for Rural Development (ORD), a local NGO that works for aged people and children in the region. 'It is the first such facility in the district where the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has given funding. Such funding helps to provide better facilities to inmates,' R. Uma, District Social Welfare Officer (DSWO), told The Hindu. Spread over two acres, the new home is spacious for inmates with a large dining hall, living room, and a library. Around 50 inmates are taken care of at the home. Most of them are in their 60s. The home has a capacity to accommodate at least 70 persons at a time. Officials said that the home has been selected under the Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens (IPSrC) for better upkeep of the facility including providing timely healthcare to its inmates. The scheme provides grants to NGOs and other organizations to implement programs that cater to the basic needs of the elderly, including food, shelter, healthcare, and intergenerational bonding. At present, officials said that 11 homes for senior citizens including those run by the State government are located in Vellore. On an average, around 60 persons are accommodated in each home. Apart from shelter, food, healthcare and initiatives to lead a normal life are provided in the home. Collector and social welfare officials conduct surprise checks at these facilities including those run by NGOs regularly and interact with senior citizens.
The Hindu
29-04-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Vaccination drive against PPR for 4.5 lakh goats in Vellore, nearby districts
A month-long free vaccination drive against peste des petits ruminants (PPR) disease for more than 4.5 lakh goats and sheep by veterinary teams to goat sheds in Vellore, Ranipet, Tirupattur and Tiruvannamalai commenced on Tuesday. In her order, Collector said that the vaccination drive was aimed to prevent any outbreak of the disease due to prevailing extreme heat in the district. Under the Livestock Health and Disease Control Scheme (LHDCP) 2025-26, the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries will cover around 1.4 lakh goats and sheep in Vellore alone as part of the drive. 'The second phase of the drive will focus on newborns as they are not resistant to the virus. Goats and sheep that are four-month-old and above are eligible for the vaccine, which is done annually. The drive will be completed on May 28,' said Dr. G. Anbuvan, Assistant Director (AD), Department of Animal Husbandry (Vellore). As per norms under the National Digital Livestock Mission Blueprint, vaccinated animals will be equipped with bar-coded ear tags with vaccination details. The Collector urged dairy farmers to take part in the drive. Among districts, Tiruvannamalai has the highest number of over 1.5 lakh goats, followed by Ranipet (1.5 lakh) and Vellore (1.3 lakh). As part of the drive, medical teams will visit beneficiaries to vaccinate animals in the sheds every day. Each team comprises a doctor, livestock inspector and a attendent. Officials said that the PPR disease was caused by a highly virulent strain of viruses transmitted through urine, tears and manure of infected animals. Affected sheep will develop lesions on the mouth, tongue and gums. Goats will have watery eyes, nose and mouth along with sneezing and cough. Animals will also be prone to respiratory problems, high body temperature. It will result in low productivity.
