Local people say miscreants set fire to the waste material

The practice of dumping biomedical waste in the open continues unchecked in a few parts of Erode district though the health department has issued specific instructions on the safe disposal of such waste.

It will be taken under rural employment guarantee scheme

The State Rural Development Department has planned to remove encroachment on scores of water bodies, falling under its jurisdiction, and restore the storage of the water bodies to their original capacity.

The growing need for land for industrial and residential purposes has resulted in lands under agriculture shrinking by 10 to 15 per cent per annum in Coimbatore, Erode and Tirupur districts.

Top officials in the Agriculture Department, pointing out to the statistics discussed by the State Planning Commission at its recent meetings, say that in these districts, the total extent of land under agriculture has come down by 1.50 lakh hectares over the last three years.

People have now joined hands with the farming community protesting against the indiscriminate discharge of untreated, toxic effluents into the water sources in Erode district.

Over 500 residents from Suriyampalayam and Kongampalayam observed a fast on Wednesday condemning the textile processing and tannery units in Erode town and its nearby areas for letting out thousands of gallons of untreated effluents into the water carrying channels and vacant lands.

Forest Department has identified core and buffer zones

The proposal for the creation of a tiger reserve in Sathyamangalam forests has reached an advanced stage and is expected to land in the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests for approval by the end of January 2012.

The proposal for the creation of a tiger reserve in Sathyamangalam forests has reached an advanced stage and is expected to land in the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests for approval by the end of January 2012.

The Forest Department has completed identifying the core and buffer zones for the tiger reserve, a significant step before the creation of an exclusive protection zone for the big cats.

Strikes, demonstrations held in many parts of Western region

Tuesday saw strikes, demonstrations, and observance of a fast in many parts of Western region asking the Government to commission the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant immediately.

It is spread over eight years and costs Rs.686.28 crore

Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Monday announced implementation of an eight-year Rs.686.28 crore Tamil Nadu Biodiversity Conservation and Greening Project to increase green cover in the State, avoid conflict between man-animal and prevent animals from migrating to grassfield in search of food and water.

There are 12 "hot spots" in eight States where river water was found to be contaminated. In the first ever report of its kind, the Central Water Commission (CWC) monitored water quality at 371 stations in river systems across the country and identified stretches that need urgent Government action. It found that river water in these "hot-spots" was not fit for drinking purposes, irrigation, outdoor bathing and propagation of wildlife, fisheries.

Over 30 unapproved textile processing units demolished

Continuing the drive against polluting industrial units, the district administration had demolished a little over 30 unapproved textile processing units in Erode and its suburbs in the last seven days. Three unapproved units were demolished on Thursday. The unapproved textile processing units had turned out to be a menace as they were discharging thousands of gallons of untreated, toxic effluents into water sources, including rivers, causing extensive damage to the environment and the farming sector.