The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has deferred the proposal for the 1,600-MW Uppur thermal power plant in Ramanathapuram district, which could lead to a delay in its commissioning.

According to the minutes of the 42 meeting of the reconstituted expert appraisal committee (thermal) of MoEF held early in February, the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited (TANGEDCO) had failed to identify environmentally acceptable alternative sites to the Uppur thermal power plant. This is required for determining terms of reference for environment clearance.

Various members of District Panchayat on Wednesday brought to the attention of officials the need for streamlining the Cauvery water supply in the district.

Participating in the debate at the Collectorate, which was presided over by M. Sundarapandian, Chairman, District Panchayat, members cutting across party lines said that several villages in the district had not been connected so far under the Cauvery water supply scheme. Moreover, supply was also erratic, forcing the residents to tap water from nearby kanmois (tanks).

Mullaiperiyar or Mullaperiyar? Where one stands on the dam dispute between Tamil Nadu and Kerala can be easily revealed by how the name is spelt. Here, “i” makes all the difference: a letter of the alphabet and also a pronoun that is a damning indicator of subjectivity — an absolute lack of objectivity — on both sides.

Mangrove habitats along the coastal line of Tuticorin will be regenerated. More attention will be on conservation of mangroves, according to Shekar Kumar Niraj, Conservator of Forests, Virudhunagar circle.

Around 60 to 70 hectares of mangrove habitats would be restored in Tuticorin and Ramanathapuram districts. The forest officials would execute the exercise under mangrove regeneration scheme with Central Government's financial support.

It will be lifted on May 30
RAMANATHAPURAM: The 45-day annual ban on fishing begun on Friday in different coastal parts of the State.

Almost all 700 mechanised boats at Rameswaram were anchored at the fishing harbour. Similarly, boats at Mandapam and Pamban also did not venture into the sea.

RAMANATHAPURAM: Mystery shrouds the death of birds, including Pelicans, an endangered migratory species, at Sakkarakottai tank here.

Forest officials of Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park (GMMNP), ornithologists and veterinarians visited the spot on Sunday based on information that some birds were found dead in the tank.

As many as 10 Olive Ridley turtles have been hatched at Mandapam near here.

The first of the 107 eggs, which were collected and kept in a natural environment on January 5 by the Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park (GMMNP) officials, hatched at 5.45 a.m. on Tuesday.

Shekar Kumar Niraj, Conservator of Forests, Virudhunagar Nagar, has urged the terrestrial forest officials to study more on marine wealth including those prohibited under the Wildlife Protection Act 1975.

He was leading a team of forest officials of three districts including Tirunelveli and Virudhunagar and a group of members of Non Government Organisations to Kurusadai island, one of the 21 un

S.

The State government has declared the waterspread area of Therthangal tank, about 15 km from here on Nainarkoil Road, a bird sanctuary as it attracts a large number of migratory birds every year.

The Government Order was issued by the State Ministry of Environment and Forest on December 15 last year.

According to the G.O. signed by Secretary V.