‘Computer fundamentals’ for school headmasters

TIRUCHI: The two-day training in laptop operations for headmasters of high and higher secondary schools organised by the School Education Department with support from a couple of engineering colleges culminated on Wednesday.

Headmasters in Tiruchi and Lalgudi educational districts underwent the ‘computer fundamentals’ training at Oxford Engineering College while those belonging to Musiri educational district were imparted training at Jayaram College of Engineering and Technology, Thuraiyur. The headmasters of Government Higher Secondary Schools were supplied with the laptops by ELCOT. For headmasters of Government-aided schools, the laptops were provided by their respective managements.

With the training components in Microsoft-Word, Microsoft-Excel, Microsoft- PowerPoint and Internet and its Applications, the headmasters were expected to be comfortable with storing the data pertaining to the school, salary of teaching and non-teaching staff, the government benefits under various schemes and the department communications in the notebook computers.

The Department would assess the extent of utilisation of the laptops by the headmasters while carrying out inspections, the Chief Educational Officer K. Swaminathan said.

In the event of providing Internet connections, particularly to Government schools, the headmasters will be facilitated to carry out departmental communications through e-mail. In such a circumstance, the headmasters will be permitted to settle the bills for Internet usage from the funds of Parent-Teachers’ Association, the CEO said. Inaugurating the training programme at the Oxford Engineering College on Tuesday in the presence of the Principal G. Dhanalakshmi and Member of College Governing Council Nirmala Subramanian, Mr. Swaminathan said in the computer era it was inevitable for the headmasters to keep pace with developments in communication. The valedictory function was held on Wednesday at the Jayaram College of Engineering and Technology.

Funds allotted to construct houses for slum dwellers

SALEM: The Central Government has allotted funds to the Salem Corporation to construct houses for people living in slums in the city under the Integrated Housing and Slum Development Programme.

The first phase of the programme would cover 12 slums in the city. Over 1,000 houses would be built at an estimated cost of Rs. 15.58 crore. The Central Government would contribute 80 percent of the project cost, Mayor J. Rekha Priyadarshini announced at the Corporation council meeting held here on Wednesday.

She said all the slums in the city would be covered under the programme in a phased manner. Apart from construction of houses, all necessary basic amenities would be created in the slums.

Irregularities

Later, Corporation councillors brought the issue of irregularities thriving in the functioning of shops in the commercial complexes, which were constructed and maintained by the civic body. Councillors, cutting across party affiliations, alleged that persons after getting the shop for rent from the Corporation were giving it for higher rent to others. “The civic officials already knew this issue. But the practice continues unchecked in the city, causing huge revenue loss to the civic administration,” K.S. Palanisamy, a DMK councillor alleged.

Dharamalingam (Congress) urged the Corporation to closely monitor the functioning of shops in its commercial complexes.

Corporation Commissioner K.S. Palanisamy said members of the standing committees on tax and finance would conduct an enquiry on the issue and submit a report to the civic body shortly. The allotment would be cancelled if irregularities were found, he promised.

Burial grounds

The issue of poor maintenance of burial grounds and burning ghats in the city was also raised in the council. Councillors Dhanasekaran (PMK) and A. Ramani (CPI) said wild growth of plants and stagnation of water in the burial grounds and burning ghats had left people to face difficulties while conducting funeral. The Corporation had grossly failed to ensure regular maintenance.

A few councillors also urged the city health department to prevent the industrial units, commercial establishments and weaving units from discharging effluents in the drainage channels. Issues such as delay in the issue of birth certificates and problems in the removal of encroachments were also highlighted during the meeting.

‘Attempt to murder’ case filed against P. H. Pandian

MADURAI: A fresh case of “attempt to murder” has been filed against All India Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leaders, including former Assembly Speaker, P.H. Pandiyan, involved in by-poll campaign.

Based on a complaint lodged by a Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam cadre, N. Chockalingam (37) of Chokkathevanpatti in Thirumangalam Assembly constituency, the Sindupatti police filed a case against eight persons for threatening him with country-made bombs.

Mr. Pandiyan and former AIADMK Minister, V. Thalavai Sundaram, have been accused of showing the bombs while he was engaged in election campaign on Tuesday evening.

Meanwhile, election campaigning in the constituency went off peacefully on Wednesday after a bout of violent incidents.

The Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader, Vaiko, on Wednesday dared the ruling party saying that the cadres of the AIADMK and its allies would not run away giving up election campaign fearing attacks and “foisting” of cases against them.

“We will continue to work for the victory of the AIADMK candidate, M. Muthuramalingam,” he said after visiting the Melur MLA, R. Samy, lodged in the Central Prison here. Mr. Samy and 51 others were taken into custody on charges of “attempt to murder.”

Rs. 19.5-crore Under Ground Drainage scheme on full swing

DHARMAPURI: Works under the first phase of the Rs. 19.5 crore Under Ground Drainage (UGD) scheme are on full swing in Dharmapuri town.

Zone 1 works

The Dharmapuri Municipality Chairman T.C.P. Anantha Kumar told The Hindu that the Government of Tamil Nadu accorded the administration sanction on September 4, 2006 for Zone 1 (Beeman Nagar) under phase one.

In addition, the detailed estimate was prepared and technically sanctioned by TWARD Board Chief Engineer, Northern Region on September 18, 2006 for Rs. 16.53 crore. Later due to escalation of construction cost the estimate had been revised to Rs. 19.5 crore.

Completion

The drainage work started on January 1, 2008, and as per schedule the scheme work should be finished on or before June 30, 2009. However, due to some reasons it is expected that the project work would spill into 2010, Mr. Anantha Kumar said.

He said works like the construction of manholes and laying of pipelines were also progressing well.

The first phase of the scheme covering 19 wards was being implemented in three reaches.

First reach of 12 km work was over in the town. Work for the second reach had just started.

Excavation works were being undertaken in the narrow streets with the help of bulldozers.

Anantha Kumar also said for the remaining two zones, consisting of 14 wards, separate project proposal for Rs. 16.5 crores to cover 18.5 kms had been sent to the Government for approval. Government’s nod was expected at any time now. The entire Dharmapuri town would be covered under the UGD project, which would pave way for clean and mosquito free city.

Pumping stations

Pumping stations were coming up at Anna Sagaram, MGR Nagar and Beeman Nagar and another two more pumping stations would be constructed to cover the entire town.

Treatment plant

Sewage water collected from these pumping stations would be treated at the plant going to come up in Chettikarai village in 20 acres. This land belonged to Venkataraman Swamy Temple. It was allotted by the State H.R. & C.E. Department of the Government, Anantha Kumar added.

Anantha Kumar said daily collection of sewage would be 6.84 mld. As many as 1475 manholes, stoneware and RCC pipes for 35.987 km would be laid.

Treated water would let into the nearby Sanathkumar River for irrigation purposes.

As many as 14,791 households and 76,000 people would benefit from the scheme.

Construction of manholes, laying of pipelines works had been entrusted to a Bangalore based company, BBIPL Infrastructure (India) Pvt. Ltd.

Association seeks reduction in power cut

COIMBATORE: The Southern India Mills’ Association has sought a reduction in power cut.

Association chairman K.V. Srinivasan has said in a release that the textile industry would prefer the 30-per cent power cut to the power holiday proposal since this would mean fewer hours of production lost.

Peak hour

He thanked the Minister for considering the industry’s plea for uninterrupted power during the night hours (10 p.m. to 6 a.m.). Besides the peak hour shutdown from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. every day, the industry faced disruption for two hours in the morning. This should be stopped with the relaxation of the power cut, he said.

Recommendation

He urged the Government to implement the recommendation of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission on the use of banked wind energy by the wind turbine operators in four equal instalments from January to April.

The textile sector had invested heavily in wind mills. The Government should consider the diesel oil captive generation model, suggested by the industry.

Mr. Srinivasan said if the machinery were stopped for two days a week it would take at least a shift to start operating them again.

Workforce

With the implementation of the 40 per cent power cut since November 1, a number of mills had downsized their workforce.

Now, if the proposed power holiday was implemented it would not be possible to bring back all the workers and keep them idle for two days a week, he said.

Chief Minister seeks release of Rs.1000 crore for desalination plant

CHENNAI: Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi on Wednesday urged the centre to immediately release Rs.1000 crore for the desalination plant at Nemili. Inaugurating the Indian Maritime University, the Chief Minister said though the amount was sanctioned two years ago, Tamil Nadu had not received it so far. He asked Union Minister of State for Statistics and Programme Implementation G.K.Vasan, who was present at the function, to remind the Centre about it. The project, he said, would satisfy the drinking water needs of the people of Chennai.

He also laid foundation for the university’s administrative complex.

As for the Sethusamudram canal project, he expressed the hope that it would be implemented. “The DMK will mobilise the public support in favour of the project,” he said.

Union Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways T.R.Baalu said despite its glorious maritime heritage, India could not boast of having a maritime university.

“Maritime community has been longing for a university, which will promote higher learning in maritime studies and frontier areas of maritime science and technology,” he said.

Mr.Baalu expressed his concern over the highlights of a recent survey predicting that there would be a shortage of 27,000 officer cadres by 2015. “The situation warrants urgent steps to be taken in preparing the seafarers and making them competent to undertake the jobs,” he further said.