Municipality yet to keep promise of constructing building at Gingee Salai market

With no buildings, lights or basic amenities, 100 vendors at one of the popular fish-cum-vegetable markets in the boulevard have been facing hardships for several years now. Lack of attention from the local body and unhygienic surroundings have made the situation worse, the vendors alleged.

Home to around 150 shops, majority of them selling seafood, the market on Gingee Salai has been in need of attention for years. Rain or shine, the vendors carry on their business under thatched roofs erected by themselves.

“Some of us have been selling fish here for nearly 30 years. But the market does not even have basic infrastructure. Some of us have put up thatched roofs for our shops. During rain, we do our business with the help of umbrellas, as it is a question of life. The Puducherry Municipality, which runs the market, has been promising to construct a building but nothing has come through till now,” a seafood vendor said.

The vendors, mostly women, come from nearby areas of Vaithikuppam and Kuruchikuppam. “The market did not have drinking water facility two years ago. Only after repeated petitions made did the local body provide water supply here,” another vendor said.

However, women faced difficulty owing to lack of toilets. “The market is open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., and again from 4.30 p.m. to over 8 p.m. There are no lights here and we have to carry on the trade with the light from the nearby streetlights during evenings,” some vendors said.

Earlier, the vendors had been paying a tax of Rs. 3 to the municipality for utilising the market facility. They said that the local body had stopped cleaning the market leading to accumulation of garbage.

“Now, we are cleaning the market and clearing the garbage from the shops. Adding to our woes, the local body has started to station garbage lorries close to the market leading to unbearable stench,” a vendor said.

Besides, an old tree in the centre of the market has also been posing a threat to the vendors. “It’s rickety. A branch fell on an elderly vendor last month. We informed the municipality but no action has been taken. We have placed wooden planks on the tree trunk to prevent it from falling,” she added.

Meanwhile, the municipality had plans to construct a fish market here. At present, steps are being taken to construct a modern hygienic market through INTACH and the government has asked the agency to prepare estimates for the works, official sources said.

Source

Curb Poachers to Enjoy the Beauty of Birds

Pondicherry is emerging as a sanctuary for nearly 50 species of migrant birds from southern states. Pondicherry has also become a transit point for flamingos that travel from Gujarat to Sri Lanka in order to mingle with lakhs of their own species. The Ousteri Lake and the Bahur Lake houses all these winged visitors. But these birds are now under the serious threat of poaching as the Narikoravas and some land less people use catapults, country made guns and nets to kill or trap the birds.



This has become a great concern for bird lovers, ornithologists and personnel of the Forest and Wildlife Department. In order to curb this mindless poaching efforts are on to help the Narikoravas and the landless people to switch over to some job. The revenue department has been asked not to give new gun licenses and not to renew the old one to those who indulge in hunting. The process of training the educated unemployed youth will also serve in enlightening these sorts of people.

The wild life and the forest department have also taken steps to attract more birds, create public awareness and promote eco-tourism in and around these two lakes. Hence, curbing the poachers will lead to the retention of more varieties of birds thus promoting the tourism.

Problems behind the Construction Of Ariankupam Bridge

I was traveling to a renowned temple at Cuddalore through the Ariankuppam Bridge. When I was crossing the bridge, I was stuck at a traffic jam. Many private busses ply from Pondicherry to Cuddalore. The area also nurtures several educational institutions, hospitals and industrial areas. So the old bridge is not able to host this heavy traffic. Records say that the work to replace the 150-year-old bridge was started in the year 2005 and it was suspended due to the paucity of funds. The work that was commenced three years back has ended up with only few columns and piers being laid.



The initial estimate of the bridge is Rs. 15 crores and this lethargy in the work will surely lead to the increase in the estimated cost. Meanwhile the columns of the new bridge had sinked. But the defect was rectified after getting suggestion from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras. The problem of the sinking columns could have been avoided if the Public Works Department had conducted a proper study on the sand condition. The other aggravating problem is the big cracks that are formed on the either side of the old bridge and they pose a big threat to the people who pass the bridge. So the Government must take immediate steps to release the funds and it must also take measures to give the contract to the responsible persons.


The executive engineer of the National Highways division has said the reporters that the new bridge would handle four-way traffic and have adequate space for pedestrians. So let us all hope that this will take place in the near future.

Fountains Demand Attention

As a part of making beautiful Pondicherry, fountains were constructed at various parts of the town. But the fact is most of them are neither in working condition nor paid attention. The fountains at Rajiv Gandhi Square, Indira Gandhi Square, Marai-Malai Adigal Salai, the one at the premises of Perunthalaivar Kamarajar centenary educational complex, the fountain at the Muthialpet clock tower and Saram are not functioning at present.



In yet another case the fountains on the either side of the Rajiv Gandhi Square are fully covered with plants. Damage of the construction can be seen at the fountains of Perunthalaivar Kamarajar centenary educational complex due to complete negligence. Even though the workers do often visit these fountains to switch on the lights, the concerned officials aren’t taking care of these fountains and relate the issue with the fund constraint.

I peruse reports on newspapers that say about the measures that are taken by the Municipality to keep the town clean and green. It is always wise to promote and protect the available resources instead of scheming new plans.

Students’ woe at Delayed BCA results by Pondicherry University

I have been always allergetic of exam results from my childhood until now. Like many other students out there, I was even more sensitively nervous before and after the exam results. But my response to delayed results is beyond my imagination (expected symptoms: rise in body temperature, extended fever, heavy headache, anger over authorities and teacher…list goes on).

Recently I found students experience delayed final year BCA results by Pondicherry University. The institute has announced its final date of application submission for MCA would be on July 26th and importantly none of the students have any idea of their marks and final year results. The university which has scholars and expets on various field should have known that it is impossible for a student to apply for a new course without knowing his current exam results. The institute has to consider the situation of the students who are in chaos of choosing new courses or aspiring for their future career.

Generally the academic year has almost started in colleges and schools of Puducherry. Delayed results not only risks students’ career but also affect the classes for the new academic session. The classes for the new academic session would also be delayed as the classes can begin only after the results are declared at any university. The main reason behind the delay is the lack of consensus between authorities and teachers over the evaluation process of the answer scripts.
I have contacted few students regarding this issue and came to know that the HOD (Head of the Department) of MCA was kind enough to extend the application submission date upto the end of August. A section of students feel that “those who lost PEC have lost one year”.

In the mean time, exams results were announced on July 30 with no perfection (many witnessed erroneous results). One of the students exclaimed, “The exams which we wrote came absent... Which we had not attended or applied for, come with absent. The fact is we have already passed out those papers.”
Yet another student said “We are only announced results, not Mark list, which is what asked in colleges while admission...I think it will take one more month for issuing it... I am not sure about it. And I don't know how many errors there will be in our mark list too, and if at all there is, How many months they will take to correct it and we don't know where to vent our anger!!!”

Some of the students are worried of the act of university with lack of care and awareness. Their voice meant more than what they shared to me. And their eyes transmitted “They are playing with our lives.”

I do believe the university is working hard on giving quality results and render 100% standard education. But at the same time, they have to understand the timely decisions and effective implementation of academic plans matters a lot to a student’s life and his career. Thanks to those who rescheduled the last application submission date. As we advice students arrears and reattempt are not good, we must also ensure rescheduling the last date, rescheduling the exams, and reevaluating the erroneous results. Behalf of all college students (involved in this), I request Pondicherry university to take necessary steps to distribute the mark lists as soon as possible.

Ban on Neckties in Puducherry Primary Schools

Puducherry Directorate of School Education banned wearing neckties by children in all primary schools in Puducherry. G Ragesh Chandra, Director of Education , issued a circular to all institutions here to make the ban effect immediately.

Story behind the order:

The order follows a report the directorate received from the Centrally administered JIPMER that wearing of neckties would result in children running the risk of having breathing problems and at times even leading to suffociation.

It was a medical officer at the Rural Health Centre of JIPMER at Ramanathapuram who wrote to the head of department, preventive and social medicine, JIPMER, after noticing that a child received at the centre with breathing problems was wearing a very tightly knotted tie. He immediately loosened it, making the child feel better.

This served as an eye opener and the Department sent a report through the Director of the institute, recommending dispensing of neckties by the children. It was also felt that neckties were not suitable for hot climates.

Alternate fuel: Poop power fuels idli joint in Puducherry

Sivagami begins early at the Puducherry bus stand as she busies herself in a small food joint. Idlis are her specialty, only they come with a twist.

Apart from LPG cylinders, Sivagami also fuels her stove using gas supplied by a biogas plant just outside her kiosk.

The plant produces gas from human and food waste round the clock, and has been helping her battle the on-rush of hungry workers for a year now.

So unperturbed by the rising fuel prices, Sivagami says, "The LPG cylinders are getting too costly. Biogas has helped me save three to four cylinders per month."

Approximately, 8,000 people use the toilets at the bus stand everyday and almost 30 toilets are connected to the underground biogas plant.

The concept of biogas has been around since the 70s and lakhs of villages around the country still depend on gobar gas for their cooking needs. But now factories in big cites and even small towns like Puducherry are looking to tap this organic renewable energy.

But the question of the urban mindset remains – is the average consumer ready to accept this form of fuel to cook?

Many say, “source doesn't matter, energy matters.” While others at the bus stop say, “I will never eat that food.”

Biogas may never replace LPG in urban Indian households simply because there just isn't enough organic input to convert to fuel. But offices, hotels and commercial hubs around the country can take a leaf out of Sivagami's dhabha and her fuel efficient and eco-friendly idlis.

Wearing Helmets has become Compulsory in Puducherry from July 1

Traffic Police Department of Puducherry has announced that two-wheeler riders should wear helmets for their safety and to avoid major damage in the case of accidents. Wearing helmets has become compulsory in Puducherry from July 1, 2008. (Pardon me if I remember the same July 1, 2007, TN Govt implement the rule).

Superintendent of Police (Traffic) S. Kuppusamy reported Hindu Daily “Director General of Police A.S. Khan has directed the traffic police department to make helmet wearing compulsory. He has given the order as per powers vested under section 129 of the Motor Vehicles Act 1988”.
At the end of the news report it is said that “The proposal was still pending with the government, he said adding that they had decided to go ahead with the implementation as the Law Department had given its approval. Cases would be booked against those defying the order, he said.


Despite the fact that I wonder how police can go ahead with government approval, I am not sure why the department hasn’t given enough time for the public to intake the new rule. While questioned about this S. Kuppusamy added “as per the MV Act every two-wheeler rider has to wear helmet”.

I agree “Helmet saves life” but we also need to ponder over some practical problems when you ride with helmet.

1. Difficulty in hearing horn sound,
2. Unable to see people who ride beside,
3. Unable to view the riders face at any life threatening situations
4. Night time riding would be hectic with helmet
5. Less quality helmet would be a disaster than a life saver.
   

Since puducherry has criss-cross streets and small roads, there are more possibilities of not see the co riders who come beside or behind you. This new rule would be useful to the public until people have enough acquaintance and skill in helmet-riding.

We should all be happy since Puducherry government haven’t said the back seaters should wear helmets like DMK Government in Tamilnadu.

What’s Special in ADLABS Jeevan Rukmani?

ADLABS is one of the largest entertainment conglomerate in the country which has made its footprints in Puducherry by acquiring Jeevan Rukmani theatre in Kamaraj salai. Though the talk of the town is Dasavathaaram, I see most of the folks amused by the opening of Adlabs on June 13, 2008. I can’t hide the fact that people are more surprised by ADLABS Jeevan Rukmani than petrol hike or Autorickshaw fare hike. Even Chief Minister N Rangasamy along with R Siva, chairperson of Puducherry Municipality B Sridevi and Municipal councillor Sakthivel enjoyed the movie for more than half an hour after the inauguration.

“What’s special in Adlabs” is the question that knocks me every time when someone gossips about which is instigated by the Kamal Hassan or Dasavathaaram. Bearing the thought of demolished Anandha Theatre, I envisaged Adlabs a super duper theatre ever in Pondicherry. And fortunately I hadn’t been disappointed by the infrastructure, grandeur of the build, screen clarity, hot and spicy snacks, flashy light effects and coolest omnipresent room air conditioners. I personally went and took photographs in possible directions.

I saw an exceptionally newer thing in the entrance of the theatre, securities were checking each and every ticket holders…what's new in it?) But to my surprise they were checking for cigarettes and other unusual material. We need to appreciate the idea…there is no smoking inside the theatre, no electronic items except cell phones and (words from BIG fm) No black tickets. Wow that’s a great thing. I can’t believe the words “No black tickets” yet I swallowed the thought and decided to search for any black ticket sellers…most often children not more than 20 years and women of less than 35 years would be black ticketers.

Not after a long search I found a man in twenties selling tickets illegally that too in the gates of the theatre where two policemen braving for any security threats. Since it was around 11.45 a.m. people started bouncing for tickets around the rounded necked T-shirt man. A police man came across the crowd without leaving a single sign of noticing that black ticketer. I approached the tall red hated police man and said “People said there won’t be any black ticket in Adlabs but here guys are hauling like anything”

I guessed he is gentle and would be so gentle in answer, “Where they sell black tickets? I don’t find anything like that.” He asked show me the place as if it is 100 meters away. I just pointed to him some 10 feet away a guy and showed the crowd. I was expecting a typical police man action…taking the man by colar… the person immediately replied me “actually I am not policing this area” and murmured some words which I couldn’t hear as he moved rapidly away from me and crossed the road to join another fellow policeman.

This time I told to myself, is this A TYPICAL POLICEMAN ACTION? Without a word I sighed at the gorgeous ADLABS banner and raised my bike to home.

The Destruction of Ousteri Lake

Motor launch on Ousteri Lake

The boat ride was idyllic - the new motor quiet, the winds calm, the lake beautiful. It would have been a perfect day, unless you knew what I now know.

Ousteri (or Oussudu) Lake is the largest lake in Pondicherry, located approximately 12 miles west of the town. For over a decade, environmentalists have tried to get the lake protected as a sanctuary, to no avail. The Bombay Natural History Society, a member of Birdlife International, has designated Ousteri an Important Bird Area (IBA) of India - over 20,000 birds belonging to over 40 species used to reside or winter at Ousteri. The Asian Wetland Bureau declared Ousteri one of 93 significant wetlands in Asia; and many of the birds recorded at Ousteri, including Spot-billed pelicans, Eurasian Spoonbills, Darters, Painted Storks, and Black-headed (or White) Ibis, are on the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. This lake was one of the largest breeding sites for the Common Coot in South India, and many of the resident birds, such as the Purple Moorhen and Little Grebe, nested amidst floating vegetation present in the lake.

Paddle boat on Ousteri Lake

When boating was first contemplated by the Pondicherry Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC - a Government undertaking) about 10 years ago, professors and students at the Salim Ali School of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, NGOs and concerned citizens protested - nesting birds would be disturbed and may not breed. At that time, the Tourism Department compromised to allow only paddle and row boats in a specified area, cordoned off by buoys. At some point, the buoys were taken out, allowing paddle and row boaters complete access to the lake. And a couple of weeks ago, PTDC began its motorized launch and boat service. For Rs. 50 (approximately US$1.28), you could ride either the launch, which seats 35 passengers and a crew of 5 comfortably, or an eight passenger boat.

The launch takes picnicking passengers (who more often than not, throw their plastic and other wastes into the water) around a small island and skirts the opposite shore for 45 minutes before coming back to dock. Sadly, there were very few birds in sight. A few egrets, a handful of individuals of a couple of species of ducks and some pond herons - all of which scattered at the approach of the launch. Certainly not the thousands of ducks that people who have been coming to the lake for 30 years remember. One resident of the lake, who participates in the two annual surveys of birds (the Salim Ali Bird Count held in November and the waterfowl count for Wetlands International in January), reports that 2 species of waterfowl no longer nest in Ousteri. Large birds are poached, and illegal gill nets cause the deaths of diving birds (particularly Little Grebe or Dabchicks) captured in the nets.

Then there is the pollution: raw sewage runs into the lake, untreated; household and industrial wastes are dumped either near the lake or in the dry lake bed in summer. (Local villagers living near the lake have not used the water in the lake for over a year and a half - they say it is not clean.) And the illegal soil and pebble mining: canyons of red soil have been illegally taken out of the area surrounding the lake to feed the construction of institutions, industries and residential colonies springing up in what was recently agricultural land surrounding the town of Pondicherry.

One of the “weed scrapers”

On top of all this, the lake is shrinking due to siltation, being choked with weeds, and losing its feeder channels due to industrial development in the catchment area. (The launch employs two men to scrape the aquatic weeds off the motor with large sticks, and every once in a while, the boat slowed and motor struggled as weeds overpowered the blades.)

Bird watching tower at Ousteri

Two lone towers that were built for bird watching before the change in tourism policy stand unused on the shore. And the huge sign board that listed the types of birds seen at Ousteri has been taken down.

Post Credit: Yoomilee

7,000 houses in the coastal villages of Puducherry prone to disaster

Puducherry has never ever witnessed the rage of Tsunami than that happened in 2006. The natural calamity has been an alarm for the government to safeguard the public against such disasters in future.

Recently in a survey conducted by the Revenue Department of Puducherry it is stated that approximately 7000 houses in the coastal villages of Puducherry and karaikal region are prone to any damage by sea surge.

Since there is a lack of space in the Union Territory, it is tough to rehabilitate majority of the houses in the coastal villages. Vulnerable areas are identifies based on the past incidents and damages caused to the civil locality.

One of the leading news daily The Hindu reported, “The survey conducted in the Union Territory as part of the disaster management programme revealed that around 7,000 houses in 15 coastal villages of Puducherry came within 500-meter-high tide area and were “extremely vulnerable to the vagaries of weather.”

Officials in the Revenue Department said the dwelling units in the coastal villages of Karaikal region were located in a safe distance with a majority of the houses being relocated above 500 meters from the shore as part of the Tsunami Rehabilitation Programme.”
The government has planned for a new rehabilitation programme named “Reconstruction In-situ” which will provide disaster resistant houses in the existing places, early warning system and safe escape routes for villages.

The Secretary-cum-Collector G. Thevaneethidhas said to the press that the government had approached the World Bank for an assistance of Rs 240 crore to implement the programme. We planned to involve the beneficiaries in the entire programme even from the design of the houses to its execution. The government would only provide the technical assistance.

‘Prayer for Peace’ held in Puducherry by Tibetan Monks:

On Thursday 24th April, The Tibetan Solidarity Committee(TSC) from Karnataka held a prayer meeting in Puducherry, nearby Mahatma Gandhi statue on the beach road. A group of 50 monks associated with the Committee chanted prayers, by holding candles in hands for more than a couple of hours from 5 pm. This prayer was held as an appeal to the United Nations and the International Community to inquire the ongoing restless civil condition in Tibet.


The group also raised slogans and banners carrying the quote “persecution of Innocent”( Tibetans should be stopped immediately). The Committee urged for the release of all those imprisoned in Tibet and must be given medical assistance to the injured, after the restless condition.

I guess the Tibetan monks would have thought the spiritual gravity of Puducherry would help their cause of peaceful Tibet to organize their prayer meeting in Puducherry. I strongly believe none of the selfless prayers are unheared by GOD.

Give 'Measles Vaccination Programme' a Break...Puducherry Govt New Words

On Friday April 25, 2008, The Puducherry Government has suspended the measles vaccination programme in the Union Territory for the next 2 weeks.

Heart-breaking news of four infants death due to the the vaccine shots in neighbouring Tamil Nadu made Govt to take this step as a precautionary measure.

This unbelievable and careless lead disaster incident happened in Katchur Primary Health Centre in Poondi Panchayat union of Tiruvallur District.

Health Minister E Valsaraj announced this in response to a mention by AIADMK member A Anbalagan in the territorial assembly. He also added "We have been getting our supplies from Serum Institute of India, Pune. However, the samples of the vials with the health department here had been sent for tests".