Coimbatore Corporation to host startup meet and fireside chat

Tirunelveli's iconic 'Iruttu Kadai' Halwa shop demanded as dowry claims owner

TIRUNELVELI: Kavitha Singh, the owner of the renowned 'Iruttu Kadai' Halwa shop, along with her daughter Sri Kanishka, has filed a dowry harassment complaint against Kanishkas husband, Balram Singh, and his family. The complaint was submitted to the Chief Ministers Special Cell and Tirunelveli City Police Commissioner Santosh Hadimani on Wednesday. In her petition, Kanishka accused Balrams family of pressuring her family to transfer ownership of the iconic halwa shop to them. The marriage of Kanishka and Balram was solemnised on February 12 in Tirunelveli. Addressing mediapersons on Wednesday, Kavitha and Kanishka sought the intervention of Chief Minister M K Stalin, and stated that Kanishkas father-in-law was threatening to create trouble for the shop by using his alleged influence with the BJP. Stalin had visited Iruttu Kadai on February 6 during his tour to Tirunelveli and conversed with Kavitha. Kavitha said she had already given jewellery and cash during the wedding, and had also ordered a Defender car worth Rs 1.5 crore for Balram as dowry. She also claimed that Balram treated her daughter like a servant. Kanishka alleged that apart from dowry demands, she was subjected to physical and mental harassment by Balram, who, she claimed, is in a live-in relationship with another woman. After the marriage, I lived with my husband at his residence in Coimbatore for 41 days. However, my husband maintained an affair with another woman and frequently brought her to the house. When I informed my parents about this, he repeatedly threatened to kill me. Deeply distressed, I returned to my parents home on March 15. The next day, my husband and his family members came to our house and threatened my parents, stating that if I wanted to live peacefully with him, additional dowry must be given, and the ownership of the Iruttu Kadai Halwa shop in Tirunelveli should be transferred in his name, she said. Subsequently, I began receiving indecent and threatening messages from Balram on WhatsApp. There is now a serious threat to my life and the safety of my parents, she added. When contacted, Santosh said that a preliminary inquiry into Kanishkas complaint was underway. We will conduct an inquiry with both parties and do the needful, he added.

Tank improvement works under way at Sengulam by Coimbatore Corporation

Local bodies in Coimbatore district focus on converting defunct wells into rainwater harvesting structures

Family of student died by suicide in Coimbatore demands proper inquiry

'Food imposition': Malayalam author Madhavan asks why Bikaji, other snacks served in 'South Indian Vande Bharat'

Malayalam author N.S. Madhavan ignited a social media debate regarding the snacks served on South Indian Vande Bharat trains. He questioned the 'food imposition' through a post on X, sharing a photo of his meal on the Bengaluru-Coimbatore route.

Iruttukkadai Halwa family alleges dowry harassment, appeals to CM Stalin for daughters safety

In their complaint, Kanishka, who got married to Balram Singh of Coimbatore on February 2, and her mother Kavitha stated that her husband and in-laws had been harassing her, demanding additional dowry

Rare April thunderstorm drenches Chennai; IMD issues orange alert

CHENNAI: Chennai experienced moderate to intense spells of rain on Wednesday morning, caused by an unseasonal thunderstorm. The rain brought much-needed relief from the scorching heat but caught office-goers off guard in many parts of the city. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert for moderate to severe thunderstorms and lightning, accompanied by moderate to intense spells of rain, in a few places across Thiruvallur, Chennai, Kancheepuram, and Chengalpattu districts. The alert was valid until 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Additionally, a yellow alert was issued for light thunderstorms with light to moderate rain in one or two places in Ranipet, Villupuram, Thiruvannamalai, Coimbatore, and Ramanathapuram districts. This alert was also valid up to 2:30 p.m. Parts of Chennai recorded around 100 mm of rainfall. It's not often that Chennai gets rains in April. There was a 100 mm cloudburst in Chennai on April 15, 2015, posted weather blogger Pradeep John. The heavy downpour also disrupted air travel. An Air India flight from Mumbai to Chennai was diverted to Bengaluru on Wednesday morning due to inclement weather, according to a spokesperson for Chennai Airport. Flight AI2729, which was scheduled to land at 11 a.m., was unable to do so following heavy rainfall in the region. The aircraft landed safely in Bengaluru. No flight delays were reported, the spokesperson added.

Administrative-cum-Instructors in TN Government schools yet to get salaries since two months

COIMBATORE: There is no reason to cheer for several Administrative-cum-Instructors (AIs) in government schools in some districts, including Salem, as they have not been paid salaries two few months. Around 1,500 AIs from Salem, Tirupathur, and Tiruvannamalai have been waiting for their salaries for February and March. Salaries were disbursed to AIs in Namakkal on Tuesday. Without regular pay, these staff, working under consolidated pay at government schools, are unable to financially support their families, and struggle to pay their debts. B Sharmila (name changed), an AI from in Salem district, told TNIE that around 6,800 AIs were appointed in government schools across the state in June 2024 to manage ICT labs through the Kerala-based Keltron, with a fixed salary of Rs 11,452 and a take-home salary of Rs 9,700 per month. As per the appointment order, Keltron must credit salaries by the 7th of each month, she said. However, the AIs have been receiving their salaries after the 15th or 20th since appointment, rued Sharmila. Due to delay in receiving salary, we face difficulties in paying rent, repaying debts and purchasing groceries, among others, she added. In such a situation, salaries for February and March have not been disbursed. We are in distress, unable to meet our family's financial and medical needs. Furthermore, when we contacted our educational officers and the Human Resource (HR) personnel of Keltron in the district, they did not respond properly and failed to provide a clear reason, Sharmila stated. Our officers said salary payment was stopped due to technical issues. As our tenure ends this month, we are uncertain whether we will receive our salary next month as well, she added. When contacted, an HR personnel for Keltron told TNIE that four districts in the state had not received funds for salary distribution since two months due to technical issues regarding fund transfer from our headquarters in Chennai. A top official from the school education department in Chennai said funds were released to the firm, and assured to look into the issue. Man's body fished out after 14-hour-long search operation Dharmapuri: A 28-year-old man's body was fished out from the Somanahalli Lake after a 14-hour-long search operation by fire and rescue services personnel near Palacode on Tuesday. The deceased K Vignesh (28) of Thombaragampatti village near Nallampalli was working in a borewell vehicle. On Monday afternoon, along with his friend K Dharman (35) of Vellakal, he went to the lake for a bath, when he drowned in the 40 feet deep lake. On Monday around 4 pm, a fire and rescue services team from Palacode fire station headed by Special Station Officer KA Deivam conducted the search operation till around 8 pm. On Tuesday around 6 am, the operation was resumed and by 4 pm Vignesh's body was fished out. The body was sent to Government Dharmapuri Medical College Hospital for autopsy. Palacode police are conducting further inquiry.

SH floats tenders for Coimbatore's Thanneerpandal ROB

COIMBATORE: The State Highways (SH) department has floated tenders for Rail Overbridge (ROB) project works at the Thanneerpandal junction near Tidel Park in the city and has begun scrutinising potential players. Works are set to commence soon. Considering traffic congestion, the state government has decided to construct a ROB across Railway Level Crossing (LC) Gate 6 at Thanneerpandal Road in the city executed by the SH department. The project has been delayed over a decade due to various issues including land acquisition, court cases and cost associated with the project. As the project was stalled and the railway level crossing gate was kept closed for several years, locals and motorists were affected as they were forced to take long detours. Meanwhile, the Salem Division of Southern Railways had completed their part of the construction--a 27-metre-long deck above the train tracks on railway land. Social activists urged concerned officials to open the closed railway level crossing gate until the bridge is constructed. In this context, SH officials have sorted out most issues and floated a tender for the ROB construction a few days ago. Speaking to TNIE, a senior official of the SH Department said, The tender was opened a few days ago and we have received a lot of bids from potential players. Currently, we are scrutinising tenders to identify a construction firm, and it will be decided in a week. The ROB project's construction work will begin in 10-15 days, after the contractor has been finalised. Box: Thanneerpandal Rail Overbridge Total Length: 549.140 metres Total Width: 8.5 metres Main Carriageway Width: 7.5 metres Total pillars: 18 Total decks: 17 (9 towards Avinashi Road + 8 towards Vilankurichi) Railway Portion: Single deck at 27 metres Approach Road: 137.52 metres towards Avinashi Road + 68.42 metres towards Vilankurichi

Tamil Nadu quarry, lorry owners to go on strike over mine tax

COIMBATORE/SALEM: Demanding the withdrawal of the mineral-bearing land tax, members of the Tamil Nadu Stone Quarries, Crusher Units and Lorry Owners Association across the state will launch an indefinite strike from Wednesday. The mines department started imposing the mineral-bearing land tax of Rs 90 for one unit of crushed stone from April 4. K Chinnasamy, president of the association, said, The state government imposed the same tax in February. However, after we took it up with the state government, it was temporarily stopped. Now, the mines department has started implementing it again. We want the new tax system to be withdrawn immediately, as we are paying an extra Rs 1,370 for a unit of crushed stone. Many are unable to run the units due to the additional financial burden. We are paying this tax once a week or once every ten days, said Chinnasamy. Muthu Govindan, secretary of the association, said the mines department has also increased the seigniorage fee from cubic meters to one tonne, which resulted in paying Rs 259 to the department instead of the earlier Rs 90. We are not increasing the price of building materials, despite paying mineral-bearing land tax and seigniorage fee, as it will burden the users in the construction industry, Chinnasamy added. Speaking to media persons in Salem, Raja, president of the Salem Region Stone Crusher Manufacturers Association said that the price of crushed stones may reach Rs 5,000, up from the existing Rs 3,500-Rs 4,000. Likewise, a unit of M-sand will cost up to Rs 7,000, against the existing rate of Rs 3,500-Rs 4,000. Meanwhile, experts in the construction sector demanded the state government to hold talks with the members of the association and solve their grievances, as prolonging their indefinite protest would push up the cost of construction. Speaking to TNIE, D Abishek, a member of CREDAI National Urban Development Committee said, The indefinite strike will create a big impact in the construction industry since nearly 70% of construction materials such as sand and crushed stones, among others, are sourced from quarries and stone crushing units. The quarry owners association has already increased their prices four times within the eight-month period. Each time, the association members give different reasons for the hike, resulting in an increase in construction cost between 20-30%. This will increase further due to the strike. The protest will also lead to job losses for lakhs of construction workers.

40 goats die after drinking fertiliser-laced water at Kalimangalam, Coimbatore

COIMBATORE: As many as 40 goats died after they drank water mixed with fertilisers at a banana grove in Kalimangalam village near Thondamuthur on Monday evening. The goat owners said they had lost their livelihood and incurred a loss of a few lakhs due to the incident. Sources said the goats belonged to four tribal women Savithiri, Vijaya, Kannamma and Mangalam of the Kalimangalam settlement. After grazing along the foothills of the Western Ghats, the goats and the owners were passing through a banana plantation in the same village. The goats drank water which was flowing through the irrigation channels and some of them fell dropped dead and others fell ill, sources added. The women informed the local veterinarian, who conducted a postmortem on the dead goats. He confirmed that the animals had died due to drinking water mixed with fertilisers, sources said. We do not suspect any foul play in the incident, as we are aware the owner mixed fertilisers to prevent the plantation from dying during summer. We have decided to sell the goats within the next few months as we are dependent only on goat-rearing. However, we have lost our livelihood and the state government should take steps to provide compensation or issue free goats, said one of the owners.

CMRL to take over Coimbatore Saravanampatti flyover project; Sathy road to be widened

COIMBATORE: In a significant boost for the city's infrastructure and the proposed metro service, the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) will take over the construction of the much-anticipated flyover at Saravanampatti junction on Sathy Road. The decision came after detailed discussions between CMRL and the National Highways (NH) wing of the State Highways Department, as the stretch is a part of the proposed metro corridor. Originally, the NH wing had chalked out plans to build a four-lane flyover at a cost of Rs 80.48 crore. The flyover, spanning 1.4 km from Amman Kovil to Saravanampatti at 7.5 metres width, will have 31 piers. However, after CMRL came up with a blueprint for a two-tier structure on the same stretch, the project was put on hold. Speaking to TNIE, a senior official from the NH wing said, Metro officials informed us about their intent to integrate the flyover construction with the upcoming metro project. Given that the structure needs to support the elevated metro rail, they have proposed to execute the flyover work themselves. A senior CMRL official told TNIE, The two-tier design would carry vehicular traffic on the lower deck, while the upper level will be reserved for the metro line. Since metro rail infrastructure must meet stringent structural and safety standards, the NH department has agreed to let CMRL take charge of the flyover construction to ensure seamless integration. However, with metro works only expected to be delayed, the NH wing has decided to move ahead with removal of encroachments and widening the road near the proposed junction in the interim. The move is aimed at alleviating traffic bottlenecks at Saravanampatti, a rapidly growing IT and residential hub. Ahead of this, the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation (CCMC) has begun land survey work from Textool Bridge to Surya Hospital. Once complete, the NH department will take up widening of the Sathy Road stretch from Textool to Saravanampatti. We are in constant contact with CMRL officials. Once the final design is approved and instructions are issued, we will release our share of funds to CMRL, the official added. Our headquarters in Delhi has also been notified to facilitate necessary financial processes. The project is expected to ease traffic snarls and improve connectivity in one of the busiest corridors in the city.

20-year-old student dies by suicide at Coimbatore college

COIMBATORE: A 20-year-old student of a private college died by suicide, at Saravanampatti in Coimbatore on Monday. The deceased S Shajith, a native of Tirunelveli district, was a second year B.Com student. He was staying in a room near the college. Since Sunday afternoon, Shajith did not respond to phone calls from his mother. She called the mansion's administration and asked them to check his room. On Monday evening, they went to the room and found Shajith had died by suicide. On being alerted, Saravanampatti police reached the place and started an investigation. An investigation revealed that Shajith was in a relationship with a girl, and had mortgaged his motorbike for his expenses. Reportedly, as he could not retrieve the bike from mortgage, he took the extreme step. Saravanampatti police registered a case and are investigating. (If you are having suicidal thoughts, or are worried about a friend or need emotional support, someone is always there to listen. Call Sneha Foundation - 04424640050, Tele Manas - 14416 (available 24x7) or iCall, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences' helpline - 02225521111, which is available Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 10 pm.)

Bicycle Diaries: TNs Santhosh cycling to lift his village & sport

Santhosh Kumar Ms journey so far is a quintessential tale of persistence and perseverance. Coming from a nondescript village in Tenkasi, the teenager has overcome a myriad of challenges to emerge as a cyclist with an aptitude for big things. Despite limited resources, Santhosh was the standout during the HCL Cyclothon Chennai and Hyderabad 2024, having registered back-to-back wins in the amateur category (24km road). Whats more fascinating is that he is self-trained in the sport. From mud roads, to highways in his hometown, Santhosh has dedicated himself to the craft to come quite a distance. Im physically fit. I practise on the highway. When I am in my hometown in Tenkasi, I usually practise on mud roads. Even if I dont find anyone, I practise alone. I try to practice on all terrains to be competitive, including hills, elevation in Theni, Coimbatore, Nilgiris, and mud roads in villages of Tenkasi, he said. He is getting his flowers now in the sport, thanks to his discipline apart from many other qualities. Eat, sleep and repeat, a phrase oft-quoted by champions across sports, is the mantra he lives by. The secret of my fitness and stamina is early in the morning from 4 am onwards, I do daily practice. I work hard for a minimum of 3-4 hours. I eat all natural and fresh foods available in my region. This helps me in my sport. Santhosh was initially into athletics before taking up cycling. Wins are vital for an athlete like him to keep the fire burning. Since I could win in Hyderabad and Chennai in amateur categories in the 2024 HCL Cyclothon, the prize money I got supported my training. It was his brother who initially introduced him to the sport. And he has soldiered on since then. His friends have also helped him a great deal, especially when it comes to communication. I studied in Paramakalyani School. When I was in 6th standard, they conducted a cycle race and my brother motivated me to participate in it. He guided me, and I won that race. It was my first race, and the fact that I won it gave me a lot of satisfaction, he recalled. My brother is the reason why I chose cycling over athletics. Now I also get a lot of encouragement from the people in my village, one corporate also helped me buy my first cycle for my practice since I couldnt bear the expenses. When I have to travel outside Tamil Nadu, my friends help me in translation to communicate, to coordinate, as no one in my family is fluent in Hindi or English, said Santhosh. He is now intent on giving back to his community and lifting the sport, which is not considered mainstream in the country. I like to motivate hardworking individuals to play at the national level. Talented individuals from villages must come forward and achieve success in their lives. I will support and help them achieve their dreams. I also want the cyclists to get respect, glory, and monetary support in our country like how cricketers get. Well-aware that he is still evolving, Santhosh is hopeful of a solid 2025 and is also looking to be part of the national team soon. He is seeking a helping hand to fulfill his ambitions. In 2025, my goal is to achieve more success in the HCL Cyclothon races. My passion is to get selected for the national camp one day. I would like to participate in International-level competitions and win medals for my country. It is the right age and time for me to get formal training and require support from the state, federations, and sponsors to go up the ladder, he signed off.

NGO bets big on vetiver to keep Coimbatores Sundapalayam stream clean

Powerloom units in Coimbatore and Tirupur to continue strike as talks with textile manufacturers fail

Coimbatore an emerging tourism hub

40 goats die after drinking fertilizer-mixed water near Coimbatore

Travelling public want development works under Amrit Bharat scheme at Coimbatore North Railway Station expedited

Legal awareness camp for transpersons held in Coimbatore

Death toll in accident near Sirumugai in Coimbatore increases to four

Job working powerloom units in Coimbatore, Tiruppur districts to go on indefinite fast

Coimbatore Corporation parks to get a facelift

UST Further Strengthens Bengaluru Presence with a New 300-Seater Office

Business Wire India The fourth Bengaluru facility marks USTs multiple India expansions in 2024-2025 Bengaluru is USTs second-largest development center globally with over 6,500 employees UST , a leading digital transformation solutions company, has further strengthened its India presence by inaugurating a fourth office facility in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The new office that has over 300 seats is in the MSR North Tower near Manyata Tech Park, Nagavara, in North Bengaluru. This office complements USTs facilities across Prestige Shantiniketan, ITPB, and Helios Business Park in Bengaluru, and will help employees from the northern part of the city. The new Bengaluru office space was inaugurated by Sunil Balakrishnan, Chief Values Officer and Global Head of Development Center Operations at UST in the presence of Kirankumar Doreswamy, Vice President and Center Head - Bengaluru; Lakshman Muthayya, General Manager, Hi-Tech Vertical; George Jose,VP Delivery Leadership; Sarath Raj, Head of HR BSE; Tinu Cherian Abraham, Director and Head Global PR& Media Relations; and other senior leaders and associates at UST. On this occasion, Kirankumar Doreswamy, Vice President and Center Head, Bengaluru , said, The inauguration of the new facility marks a significant milestone for Bengalurus contribution to USTs continued growth in India. With satellite offices across key tech hubs in the city, we aim to provide our employees with convenient workspaces closer to their homes, reducing commute fatigue and enabling them to focus more on innovation and productivity. This expansion reinforces our dedication to fostering a dynamic and employee-centric work environment while continuing to deliver high-value solutions for our customers. The new facility, located at Bengaluru's Northern Tech hub, features a crche and a caf to enhance employee convenience. Additionally, its proximity within 100 meters of major transportation hubs ensures seamless connectivity for commuters. UST commenced its operations in Bengaluru in 2012, and currently, the city stands as USTs second-largest global delivery center, accommodating over 6,500 employees delivering innovative solutions across semiconductor, healthcare, technology, logistics, hi-tech, retail, and BFSI. UST continues to expand its footprint across India, solidifying its position as a global leader in digital transformation and technology services. In March 2025, UST inaugurated a 1,000-seater office in Pune with plans to create 6,000 jobs in the next 5 years in the city. Last year, UST opened a second office in Bengaluru along with a Design Experience Centre . The company also laid the foundation for its second-owned campus in Kochi, Kerala , with plans to create 3,000 jobs over the next five years in Kochi, demonstrating its commitment to growth and investment in the region. In 2023, UST inaugurated a state-of-the-art office at the International Tech Park in Hyderabad , dedicated to innovative research and development in emerging technologies. The California, US-headquartered firm, UST founded in 1999 with its India headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram, has significantly expanded its footprint across the country, with offices in key locations including Bengaluru, Thiruvananthapuram, Hyderabad, Kochi, Pune, Mumbai, Chennai, Coimbatore, Delhi NCR, Ahmedabad, Hosur and employs over 20,000 people in India. About UST Since 1999, UST has worked side by side with the world's best companies to make a powerful impact through transformation. Powered by technology, inspired by people, and led by our purpose, we partner with our clients from design to operation. Our digital solutions, proprietary platforms, engineering, R&D, products, and innovation ecosystem turn core challenges into impactful, disruptive solutions. With deep industry knowledge and a future-ready mindset, we infuse expertise, innovation, and agility into our clients' organizationsdelivering measurable value and positive lasting change for them, their customers, and communities around the world. Together, with 30,000+ employees in 30+ countries, we build for boundless impacttouching billions of lives in the process. Visit us at www.UST.com .

Man held for killing neighbour over argument in Tamil Nadu's Sulur

COIMBATORE: A 34-year-old man bludgeoned his neighbour to death, following a heated altercation on Sunday night at Sulur in the city. The accused, Manikandan, a native of Tenkasi, had been living separately from his wife. He had left his two young children under his parents' care at Gandhi Nagar in Pappampatti near Sulur. He regularly visited them during weekends and holidays. Police said Manikandan had arrived in Pappampatti a few days ago to spend time with his children. His neighbour, Sikandar (47), a native of Madurai, was also working as a construction labourer in the area and lived alone in a rented house nearby. On Sunday night, an argument erupted between the two men after Sikandar, allegedly inebriated, objected to Manikandan stacking firewood outside his house. The confrontation intensified when Sikandar allegedly hurled verbal abuses at Manikandan's children, further provoking him. In the ensuing altercation, Manikandan is said to have retrieved a cricket bat from his house and attacked Sikandar multiple times. The victim sustained severe injuries to the face and head. Police believe Manikandan then dragged the wounded man and left him on the Pappampatti-Selakarachal roadside, where Sikandar succumbed to his injuries. After being alerted by nearby residents, Sulur police recovered the body and sent it to Singanallur ESI Hospital for post-mortem. A case of murder has been registered. After a search through the night, police apprehended Manikandan who was found hiding in the vicinity. He is currently in custody and being interrogated.

Ensure male passengers don't occupy women's seat, TNSTC conductors ordered

COIMBATORE: Conductors in the Ooty region of the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) have been advised not to allow male passengers to occupy seats designated for female passengers on buses. The TNSTC authorities issued this instruction to conductors after a pregnant woman raised a complaint. Recently, in a letter, the General Manager of the TNSTC Ooty region stated that seats in the corporation buses are allocated separately for male, females and differently-abled persons. Conductors are instructed to ensure passengers sit in their allocated seats on buses. In case passengers refuse to sit in their allocated seats on the buses, conductors shall approach the nearest police station or police checkpost to resolve the issue, the letter states. The directive was in response to a scuffle between a pregnant woman and a man on a bus on the Kotagiri-Mettupalayamroute last month, said sources.The man allegedly refused to vacate the ladies' seat when she asked and tried to push her out from the seat. The woman in her complaint to the TNSTC General Manager urged to ensure that female passengers get their seats on buses in the Nilgiris district, sources added. When asked about it, a top officer from the TNSTC Ooty region confirmed the directive and also told TNIE that Checking Inspectors have been asked to make surprise inspections to see whether male passengers are sitting in seats reserved for female passengers or not. A memo will be issued to conductors seeking an explanation if male passengers are found on seats reserved for female passengers during inspection, he added.

Water pump motor prices to be hiked by 5% soon

COIMBATORE: Industrialists manufacturing water pump motors pointed out that the cost of a motor would go up by 5% in the market soon, due to a rise in input costs. They said that unit operators in water pump motor manufacturing in the district are at a financial disadvantage in comparison to manufacturers in other states, especially Gujarat, as their product prices are lower than those produced in Coimbatore. S Sabarikumar, a unit operator in Arasur said, Motor pumps are manufactured at various horsepower (hp) parameters. Starting from 0.5 hp, this goes up to 30 hp. Normally, 3 hp to 5 hp motor pumps are used for agricultural purposes, while for domestic use, pump motors ranging from 0.5 hp to 3 hp are used. We source raw material such as copper, stainless steel and casting iron from various north Indian states. For instance, copper price has increased to Rs 1,005 from Rs 910 per kg in a six-month period. Similarly, casting iron's price rose to Rs 120 from Rs 110 and stainless steel rose from Rs 130 to Rs 150 per kg. Additionally, due to an increase in operational costs which includes electricity, wages and transportation, the price hike will be unavoidable for us. Compared to our production cost, the product cost for a pump motor is lower in north Indian states by 5-10%. That said, our quality standards are higher, but Gujarat stands to get a leverage due to the hike, he added. KV Karthik, president of Indian Pump Manufacturers Association said, The pump motor industry has market of Rs 22,000 crore per year across the country. Coimbatore produces 50-55% pump motors each year. Back in 2000, Coimbatore had a market share up to 70%. However, due to a rise in price of of raw material and input cost, production volume has come down in the last two decades. The last price hike was in 2023 by 5- 7%, therefore, the present hike is unavoidable. Currently, a 1 hp pump motor is sold for around Rs 7,000, a 3 hp motor for Rs 16,000 and Rs 20,000 for a 5hp motor.

Construction of EB sub-station at Coimbatore's Semmozhi Poonga yet to take-off

COIMBATORE: A long pending demand of setting up a separate sub-station to share distribution load in the core Coimbatore city was expected to be executed at the under-construction 'Semmozhi Poonga'. However, works have not take off for the last three months citing a delay in possession permission for the land from the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation (CCMC). The CCMC has given 'enter upon permission' for the land to build the sub-station but is delaying in offering possession permission. Hence, the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (TNPDCL) cannot officially take over the land for development works, said sources from TNPDCL. TNPDCL sources said the demand was considered during the announcement of the Semmozhi Poonga and around 50 cents of land near the prison entrance was allocated. It was planned to share the distribution load from the receiving station at Tatabad. This sub-station is planned to be constructed at an outlay of around Rs 19 crore and it would have 210 power transformers to manage overload issues. Stressing the delay, TNPDCL wrote a letter to the corporation commissioner, said sources. It is to be noted that TNPDCL has proposed three additional sub-stations for the Coimbatore metro circle at Pallapalayam (110/11 kV), Semmozhi Poonga (110/11 kV), and a 33/11 kV substation on the Kalapatti-Kurumbapalayam Road. Of these, department approval was issued to the Pallapalayam station and it is at the fund allocation stage. TNPDCL officials said the construction of the sub-station was initiated three months ago, and a pooja was also conducted. Later, citing delay in obtaining possession permission, work was halted. To manage the growing electricity demand of the core city of Coimbatore, especially the surrounding areas of Gandhipuram, TNPDCL planned an additional sub-station, which has been a demand for over a decade. CCMC Commissioner M Sivaguru Prabakaran said, There is no need for ownership change and possession permission for such special projects. They can start their work as we already gave 'enter upon permission'. We had demanded and brought the plan of the sub-station into the Semmozhi Poonga project considering future needs, then why would we halt the work, he asked.

Tamil Nadu forest department constructs retiring rooms for women staff on field

COIMBATORE: The Tamil Nadu forest department has constructed retiring rooms exclusively for women staff deployed for fieldwork inside reserve forests. The retiring rooms will be put into use once the finishing touches are given to the facility. Forest sources said 11 retiring rooms have been constructed at a cost of Rs 62 lakh for the welfare of the women staff in the division. A few have been constructed at Pattisalai near Gopanari in Periyanacikenpalayam forest range, near Sembukkarai tribal settlement in Coimbatore forest range, and near the Mulli Checkpost at Karamadai forest range. A senior official of the division said we have allotted five to six lakh rupees for each retiring room attached with toilets. Their construction was necessary as the appointment of women personnel increased in the last couple of years Women are appointed as forest guards, forest watchers and forest rangers. They attend to animal deaths, detecting poaching cases among other duties. Toilets were constructed already for the male staff, and the new retiring room will benefit the women staff. As per the norms, the division has ensured 30 percent of the jobs for the women in the 15 ranges, including territorial forest ranges, as against the total strength of 200 staff in the division, the official said. Another forest official said that a retiring room in Pattisalai of Gopanari Reserve Forest is located more than 35 kilometers from the Periyanacikenpalayam Forest Office, and it will take close to one-and-a-half hours to reach the spot. The women staff will be assigned field visits to the surroundings of Pattisalai in case of the death of wild animals and to interact with the tribal people as part of the efforts to mitigate human-animal conflict. In such situations, the retiring rooms will be helpful to the women staff when they have to attend to nature's call. They can even take rest as the retiring room is equipped with a bed and power connection. The forest department staff need to spend much time outdoors. For instance the postmortem procedure for a wild elephant takes a whole day. We have also constructed a similar retiring room facility for the women staff in the forest range office campus, the official added.

Smuggling of Chinese drones soaring in Tamil Nadu

CHENNAI: Gold, wildlife, and narcotics have been the usual contrabands seized by Chennai Customs, but, of late, smuggling of Chinese drones into Tamil Nadu from Southeast Asian nations and Gulf countries through airports and seaports is on the rise. This is due to the soaring demand for the equipment in the grey market, sources said. According to a 2022 February notification of the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry, import of drones is completely banned in fully assembled Completely Built-up (CBU) form, fully disassembled Completely Knocked Down (CKD) form, or partially assembled Semi Knocked Down (SKD) form, barring exceptions provided for Research and Development, Defence and security purposes. Sources said that in the last financial year, Chennai Air Customs had seized at least 200 Chinese-made drones worth more than Rs 2 crore from passengers who arrived by air from Singapore, Malaysia and UAE. Data sourced through RTI show that this is a significant increase from the 67 drones seized in 2019-20 and 30 in 2023-24. This might just be the tip of the iceberg, say sources, pointing to the seizure of 4,240 toy drones worth Rs 2.34 crore by the Chennai Seaport Customs on February 12. RTI data also show that drones are smuggled through Bengaluru airport too, with around 250 drones seized from 2019-20 to 2023-24. Multiple cases have also been busted by the Delhi Customs and Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) teams across the country. Most of these drones have been sourced from DJI, a Chinese firm, sources said. Going by the thumb rule that Customs foils just 10% of all smuggling bids, the number of drones brought into the country could be significantly more. Only 10% of drones used in India are of local make Data sourced through RTI shows that this is a significant increase from the 67 drones seized in 2019-20 and 30 in 2023-24. This might just be the tip of the iceberg, say sources, pointing to the seizure of 4,240 toy drones worth Rs 2.34 crore by the Chennai Seaport Customs on February 12. RTI data also show that drones are smuggled through Bengaluru airport too, with around 250 drones seized from 2019-20 to 2023-24. Multiple cases have also been busted by the Delhi Customs and Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) teams across the country. Most of these drones have been sourced from DJI, a Chinese firm, sources said. Going by the thumb rule that Customs foils just 10% of all smuggling bids, the number of drones brought into the country could be significantly more. Official sources say that smugglers dismantle the drones and conceal it in their checked-in baggage and declare it as electronics to avoid Customs scrutiny. These are then sold in electronics shops across cities. In Chennai, they are available in Triplicane, but the traders dont issue any sales receipt for them. Drones are now omnipresent and used in weddings and other functions and also pursued as a hobby, apart from official use by government agencies for security and other purposes. L Karthikeyan, a Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) certified remote pilot instructor who offers training programmes for drone operators, said that only 10% of the drones used in India are of local make, while the rest are all Chinese ones, which are officially banned. The ban is largely because the server for all these Chinese drones is based in that country and agencies are worried about the safety of Indian data that could be accessed from these servers. Every drone has to be registered with the DGCA which gives a Unique Identification Number (UIN). This will not be given for Chinese drones, he said, adding that even police units use only Chinese-make drones. Awareness about this is very poor, he said. A police officer in Coimbatore, where the former commissioner V Balakrishnan ordered a review of illegal drone users, echoed Karthikeyan, stating that there were only 80 registered drone users in the city, but the unregistered ones were many more. Most drone users are not aware about the rules. For instance, drones are banned from flying in what is called a red zone, which covers sensitive installations like defence, airports, etc. They can only operate in green zones and in yellow zones with government permission, the cop said. Incidentally, a case was registered in Chennai airport last August when footage of the terminal was captured from a drone and uploaded on Instagram. It was later taken down after it was flagged by the authorities. 200 Drones seized in one year in Chennai Chennai: In the 2024-25 financial year alone, the Chennai Air Customs has seized at least 200 Chinese-made drones worth more than Rs 2 crore from passengers who arrived from Singapore, Malaysia and UAE. Data sourced through RTI show that this is a significant increase from the 67 drones seized in 2019-20 and 30 in 2023-24

Clear bottleneck on Dr Rajendra Prasad Road: Residents urge Coimbatore Corporation

COIMBATORE: With traffic congestion on the rise on a 500-metre stretch on the Dr Rajendra Prasad Road, calls have grown louder to widen the stretch immediately by removing encroachments. The bottleneck is between the 100-foot-road flyover and Nava India junction on Avinashi Road. People proceeding towards the Avinashi Road in the city from Gandhipuram, Sivananda Colony, Mettupalayam Road and Rathinapuri use the 100 ft road flyover on the Dr Rajendra Prasad Road. The flyover was built to reduce traffic congestion and ease vehicle movement at the GP and Avarampalayam signal junctions. However, in recent times, with the spike in the number of vehicles, motorists proceeding towards the Avinashi Road from the 100 ft flyover are enduring tremendous hardships owing to the traffic congestion on the 500m stretch between the end of the flyover and the S-bend on Dr Rajendra Prasad Road. As the stretch narrows owing to numerous encroachments and a couple of High-Tension (HT) electricity towers, motorists often get stuck in bottlenecks. At times, the congestion gets much worse as vehicles line up all the way on the flyover. People have been demanding the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation (CCMC) to take immediate action to remove the encroachments and widen the road. The traffic congestion on this 500m narrow stretch reflects on the flyover. Vehicles start lining up on the flyover on one side. Some irresponsible and impatient drivers start driving on the wrong side due to the bottleneck, creating more problems. The congestion becomes much worse on the weekends. The officials must address this issue immediately, said K Madhusudhanan, a motorist from Sivananda Colony. S Raghuvaran, a resident of Rathinapuri, told TNIE , Many motorists have complained against the rampant parking on the stretch by omnibuses and trucks belonging to the parcel services and travel companies. However, no action has been taken by the officials. Traffic congestion has been rising rapidly as the HT towers and encroachments alongside the Sanganoor Canal on the stretch remain untouched. The Tamil Nadu Electricity Board is yet to relocate the HT towers obstructing traffic. Speaking to TNIE , a senior official from the Town Planning Wing of the CCMC, said, We're yet to take a complete survey of the people encroaching on the banks of the Sanganoor Canal alongside the 500m stretch. There are over 150 encroachments, including both residential and commercial establishments, on the banks. Last week we served notices to 39 encroachers running commercial establishments, asking them to vacate within 15 days. If they don't remove it on their own, the CCMC along with the police will take them down. The official also added that they are in talks with the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board to provide alternate housing for the residential encroachments and with the TNEB to shift the HT towers. Once they are removed, the canal will be desilted and the road will be widened. A senior official from the electricity department told TNIE that a proposal to shift around five HT towers on Dr Rajendra Prasad Road has already been approved and the works would begin in about a week. The official also added that they are yet to receive an official letter or request from the CCMC for shifting.

Swadeshi scientists gift to tribal women in Coimbatore: Self- reliance

Coimbatore corporations commercial complexes fail to general expected revenue

In a first, two gritty tribal women from Coimbatore get license to drive four-wheelers

Woman cop in Coimbatore transferred for favouring suspect

Man arrested for murdering construction worker with cricket bat in Coimbatore

Nilgiris MP seeks revisit of proposal for Coimbatore-Mysore rail line via Mettupalayam, Sathyamangalam and Chamarajanagar

Coimbatore Corporation to expedite drinking water pipeline works on highways

Man arrested for bludgeoning mason to death with cricket bat in Coimbatore

27 students from Coimbatore Corporation schools qualify for NMMS

Exploring Coimbatores growing pickleball craze

Easy to learn, tough to put down pickleball is Coimbatores new go-to sport. Here is why it is drawing players of all ages.

1.9 lakh pregnant women in Coimbatore benefit from Dr MRMBS scheme; Rs 86.66 crore disbursed

COIMBATORE: About 1.9 lakh pregnant women from Coimbatore district have benefitted from the Dr Muthulakshmi Reddy Maternity Benefit Scheme (Dr MRMBS) in the last five years through which `86.66 crore fund has been disbursed, according to data available from the health department. In 2020-21, 42,808 pregnant women benefitted from the scheme receiving Rs 17.91 crore. In 2021-22, Rs 16.42 crore was disbursed to 37,175 beneficiaries, and Rs 16.39 crore was disbursed to 38,908 beneficiaries in 2022-23. Rs 17.95 crore was released to 41,837 beneficiaries in 2023-24 and in 2024-25, Rs 17.97 crore was given to 29,214 pregnant women. The Dr MRMBS is a state government scheme providing financial assistance to pregnant women, aiming to reduce Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) by ensuring access to nutritious food and compensating for wage loss during pregnancy. The Dr MRMBS is a state government scheme providing financial assistance to pregnant women, aiming to reduce Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) by ensuring access to nutritious food and compensating for wage loss during pregnancy. The scheme provides a total of Rs 18,000, including cash benefits of Rs 14,000 and nutrition kits worth Rs 4,000 to eligible pregnant women. This scheme is being implemented together with the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) which contributes to the overall financial assistance provided under MRMBS. Pregnant mothers should register their pregnancy with health staff or through the Pregnancy and Infant Cohort Monitoring and Evaluation (PICME) portal before 12 weeks of pregnancy. The financial assistance used to be given in five instalments but is now being given in three instalments since 2024. As per schedule, Rs 6,000 would be given in the fourth month and the remaining amount would be released after the child's birth during the fourth and ninth month respectively. Meanwhile, nutrition kits would be given in two instalments during the third and sixth months of the pregnancy. Officials said they have made an effort to bring all pregnant women under the scheme. Village health nurses and urban health nurses are instructed to closely monitor the health of pregnant women and register them under the scheme.

Slight increase in number of vultures, reveals NGO survey

COIMBATORE: Here's good news for conservationists: vulture numbers are stable and showing a slow gradual increase. This was revealed by S Bharathidasan, Secretary of Arulagam, an NGO conserving vultures, citing arecent vulture survey The success of the conservation efforts has been attributed to the joint efforts of the the departments of forest, animal husbandry and drug control as well as public participation. The population of four species of vultures increased from 150 in 2023-24 to 157 in 2024-25) among which white-rumped vulture was abundant, sources said. Speaking at the end of the two-day Vulture Conservation Annual Spring meet of partner organisations at Hassanur in Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR) on Friday, Bharathidasan emphasised the need to further enhance these numbers by continuing corrective measures. At the meet, C Sasikumar of the Malabar Natural History Society (MNHS) explained various raptor survey methodologies. A Samson of the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) discussed vulture surveys and the need to improve survey methodologies, with a particular focus on nest surveys. Chris Bowden and John Mallord of Saving Asia's Vultures from Extinction (SAVE) spoke about scientific research methods, including carcass sampling and GPS tagging. Vishnudas of Hume's Centre for Ecology and Wildlife Biology discussed the blueprint for conservation of vultures in Kerala. All participants received stone art created by conservation artist Santhosh. There could be a significant enhancement of the vulture population with increased awareness among animal and drug control departments and cattle owners, Bharathidasan noted.

Pollachi GH gets Rs 1.47 crore for sterile laundry unit after decade-long wait

COIMBATORE: The district headquarters hospital at Pollachi has been allocated Rs 1.47 crore for setting up a laundry for sterilising clothes and equipment used in surgical procedures and other key procedures. The allocation for the Central Sterile Services Department (CSSD) laundry was made by the State Health and Family Welfare Department as a part of the TN Health System Reform Programme. The state-empowered committee of the health department has approved Rs 1.41 cr to set up a fully operational CSSD laundry and the execution would be carried out through the Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation Limited. The fund was approved for allocation in the 2024-25 financial years and expected to begin work very soon, said sources. There was a demand for setting up a CSSD laundry at the hospital for more than a decade. (In major hospitals the CSSD delivers sterile supplies of surgical laundry and equipment.) The hospital now relies on manual laundry and a functional autoclave for the sterilisation process, which makes it difficult for sterilisation in each area and regular washing of the operation theatre and ward by manually washing, said sources. The Pollachi Government Hospital, which was upgraded as the district headquarters hospital in 2010, serves a population of around seven lakh in Pollachi, Valparai (in Coimbatore district) and Udumalpet (in Tiruppur district). The five functional operation theatres at the hospital hold 500 major surgeries and 1,200 minor surgeries a month.

Coimbatore corporation school student comes first in NMMS exam in district

Coimbatore police deny condicting searches for Madurai-based rowdy, plans to shoot him

Siblings held for assaulting father in Coimbatore

Health Department steps up dengue vigil in Coimbatore after summer showers

Coimbatore Corporation proposes five new urban primary health centres

Coimbatore Pastor Arrested For Allegedly Sexually Assaulting Two Minor Girls

Jebaraj was arrested by Coimbatore City Police in Munnar, Idukki district, on Saturday evening after evading arrest for several months

Coimbatore police to open fire at notorious rowdy Varichiyur Selvam

Pastor John Jebaraj arrested in Munnar after months in hiding for sexually assaulting two minor girls

COIMBATORE: Coimbatore city police on Saturday evening arrested Pastor D John Jebaraj (37), accused of sexually assaulting two minor girls last year, while he was hiding in Munnar, Kerala. The special team from the Central All Women Police Station in Coimbatore tracked down and apprehended Jebaraj, who was evading arrest for several months. He was brought to Coimbatore on Sunday morning and produced before the POCSO special court, following which he was remanded in judicial custody. Earlier, Coimbatore City Police Commissioner A Saravana Sundar had formed special teams to trace the accused and a lookout notice had been issued at all airports and ports to prevent him from fleeing the country. Jebaraj is a pastor of Kings Generation Church on Cross Cut Road and has a large following on social media for his Christian devotional songs. According to police sources, Jebaraj has been booked under Sections 9(1)(m) (aggravated sexual harassment) and 10 (punishment for aggravated sexual assault) of the POCSO Act. The alleged incident occurred on 21 May 2024 at Jebarajs residence at GN Mills in the city, where he had hosted a party. The two minors, aged 17 and 14, had attended the gathering. One of the victims recently informed a relative about the incident, following which the matter came to light and a complaint was lodged with the Central All Women Police Station, police sources said.

Coimbatore pastor wanted in POCSO case arrested at Munnar

Jebaraj is accused of having sexually assaulted two girls aged 17 and 14 at a party at his residence in Coimbatore in May last year

Orissa HC warns DMET of initiating contempt proceedings

CUTTACK: Taking strong exception to the continued inaction of the director of medical education and training (DMET), Odisha, in providing no objection certificate (NOC) to a doctor in government service for pursuing a fellowship despite its orders, the Orissa High Court has warned of initiating contempt of court proceedings against him. Dr Smruti Snigdha Sahoo, presently serving as senior resident in the department of radiology at SCB Medical College and Hospital, had applied for NOC to enable her to pursue a super specialisation fellowship programme. She was selected for the fellowship programme in Musculoskeletal Radiology of one-year duration at Ganga Hospital in Coimbatore. The course was scheduled to start from April 1, 2025. However, the DMET kept the application pending without assigning any reason. She had then approached the high court. On March 20, the single judge bench of Justice AK Mohapatra disposed of the petition with a direction to the DMET to consider Dr Sahoos case within 10 days. But Dr Sahoo returned to the high court with a petition for initiation of proceedings under the Contempt of Courts Act against the DMET when the order was not complied. Acting on it, Justice A K Mohapatra on Friday said, In such view of the matter, Dr Santosh Kumar Mishra (DMET) is directed to implement the HC order issued on Dr Smruti Snigdha Sahoos petition on March 20, 2025 within a period of seven days, failing which he shall be asked to appear before this court and explain as to why proceedings shall not be initiated against him under the Contempt of Courts Act. Justice Mohapatra has posted the matter for April 25. Odisha government seeks report from DMET over health university gold medals

Woman amputee gets customised prosthetic hands at CMCH

COIMBATORE: A 32-year-old woman from Kotagiri in Nilgiris district, who had lost both her arms due to electrocution was treated at the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH) and provided with customised prosthetic hands. Thanks to physiotherapy training provided by the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR) department, Rukmani can now write and perform household tasks. In September 2024, Rukmani was playing with her two sons on the terrace when the accident occurred. She attempted to pick up a ball using an iron rod, which came into contact with a live electric line. She was electrocuted and both her hands has severe burn injuries up to the elbows. After receiving first aid, she was admitted to CMCH, where her hands were amputated in an effort to save her life. In February 2025, after recovering from her injuries, Rukmani was referred for prosthetic hands through the Chief Minister's Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme. The PMR department provided her with pre-prosthetic training to help prepare her body for using prosthetic arms. This training focused on strengthening her muscles, improving her range of motion, and aiding her in performing daily tasks with the support of her new prosthetic hands. On Saturday, CMCH dean A Nirmala released a video of Rukmani doing household chores with the prosthetic hands at her residence. The lightweight prosthetic arms suitable for her elbows were manufactured at the prosthetic limb production centre within the Institute of Orthopaedics and Traumatology at CMCH, under the ambit of Chief Minister's Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme. She underwent training along with the procedures to fit prosthetic limbs. She was recently discharged and has since been able to perform basic household tasks and even begun writing with her new hands, said Nirmala. She added that over 200 people have benefitted from the provision of prosthetic limbs at the hospital.

Coimbatore pastor John Jebaraj arrested in Kerala for sexually assaulting 2 minors

D John Jebaraj, a pastor known for Christian concerts, was arrested in Munnar, Kerala, for sexually assaulting two minor girls at his Coimbatore residence on May 21, 2024. The Central All Women Police acted on a complaint filed under the POCSO Act after the incident came to light recently. He will be produced before the POCSO special court judge soon.

AIADMK mortgaged itself after two raids, BJP tie doomed to fail: CM Stalin

CHENNAI: DMK president and Chief Minister M K Stalin on Saturday said the alliance between the AIADMK and the BJP is against ideals such as protection of state rights and it is doomed to fail. Reacting to Union Home Minister and BJPs chief strategist Amit Shahs announcement that the AIADMK is rejoining the NDA to fight the 2026 Assembly election together, Stalin, in a statement on Saturday, said, Tamil people are aware of the developments that followed the raids by the central investigative agencies in the cases against AIADMK leaders and their relatives. They ran to the BJP leadership for sparing them. The alliance was confirmed based on this compromise. They have mortgaged the AIADMK following those two raids and now they are desperate to mortgage Tamil Nadu. He added: The AIADMK-BJP alliance is doomed to fail. It was the people of Tamil Nadu who handed repeated defeats to this coalition. Now, Shah has reconstituted the same failed alliance. It is a failure alliance and the tie-up is a corruption, by itself. Stalin also questioned the basis of the alliance. On what ideological basis the alliance was formed. Shah said a common minimum programme (CMP) will be drafted. AIADMK claims to oppose NEET, Hindi imposition, three-language policy, Waqf Act and unfair delimitation. Are all these mentioned in their CMP? Shah did not speak about it but only criticised the DMK government. He did not even allow the AIADMK leadership to speak. He also alleged the NDA alliance is against state rights, linguistic rights and Tamil culture. Shah simply downplayed the opposition to NEET as a diversionary tactic. About 20 students in TN and also a few students in Bihar died by suicide. Did all of them die for the same reason as Shah alleges? asked Stalin. 'Kneels without self-respect, traitorous': Stalin slams AIADMK alliance with BJP, says it is doomed to fail The DMKs allies have also slammed the tie-up. TNCC president K Selvaperunthagai said, For the last three years, former TN BJP chief K Annamalai had consistently spoken against the Dravidian movement and targeted the AIADMK. It remains to be seen whether he will continue levelling the same charges now. The TNCC chief said the alliance has no ideological foundation and questioned whether the AIADMK would now accept the BJPs policy positions. VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan asked who was leading the alliance? If the alliance is under the leadership of the AIADMK, then its general secretary should be the one to declare it. Talking to reporters in Coimbatore, he said the same alliance was defeated by the people in 2019 Lok Sabha election and the 2021 Assembly election. Therefore, I believe this alliance will not have any significant impact against the DMK-led front, he added. Earlier, EPSs stand was to form an alliance in the state without the BJP, and this was known to everyone. He has been forced to tie up with the BJP, considering the recent development wherein former education minister K A Sengottaiyan met Shah personally, despite it being unclear what the agenda behind their meeting was. In fact, the BJP forged the alliance after threatening the AIADMK, as it was clearly visible when the tie-up was announced by Shah in Chennai on Friday. However, there is still suspicion about whether the alliance is under the BJP or the AIADMK in the state, he said. Stalin will counter Shahs political strategies in the state: TN law minister slams AIADMK-BJP alliance

Copra procurement price at record high Rs 188 per kilogram in Erode

ERODE/TIRUPPUR: The copra procurement price in Erode markets is on an upswing, touching a record Rs 188 per kilogram. The price has increased significantly and gone past the previous highest level of Rs 147 reached in 2018. Officials attributed the price surge to the decline in arrival of copra due to the impact of whitefly on coconut plantations in western Tamil Nadu and wilt disease in Kerala. In Erode, copra auctions are being held in 20 regulated markets under the Department of Agricultural Marketing and Agri Business. On Friday, copra price rose to Rs 188 per kg at the Gobichettipalayam regulated market. Farmers said they have never seen such a spike in copra procurement prices before. A senior official of the Agricultural Marketing and Agri Business Department of Erode said, Coconut cultivation was affected by severe drought in 2018. At that time, the arrival of copra decreased, and the price went up. Similarly, the price is increasing this year. Coconut is widely cultivated in the Erode, Tiruppur, and Coimbatore districts but the crop has been affected there due to attacks by whitefly. Also, wilt disease has affected cultivation in Kerala. Whitefly infestation is widespread in the Erode district. But in Kerala wilting has been widespread in areas close to the Tamil Nadu border. The copra yield and arrival in the markets have decreased due to diseases of coconut palms but the demand has not decreased. This is the reason copra prices continue to rise. The increase in procurement price is beneficial for farmers. The government departments are actively working to control diseases and restore coconut cultivation, the official added. S Paramasivam, Tiruppur District President of Tamil Nadu Coconut Farmers Association, said, Even though the procurement price of copra has increased, farmers are not benefiting from this. Because the yield has completely decreased due to crop diseases. Before the disease, a coconut tree yielded 150 to 170 coconuts. At present, the yield is only 30 coconuts per tree. A certain percentage of trees do not bear fruit due to diseases. The central and state governments should take serious measures to control the diseases. Merely giving advice to farmers is not helpful as most people engaged in coconut cultivation are small and micro-farmers. The government should help them. On Friday, the procurement price of copra in Tiruppur markets was Rs 178 per kg.

Storm water drain work hits sewage flow in Coimbatores ward 27

Coimbatore city police gear up for coral jubilee celebrations

Four Coimbatore residents lose Rs38.7 lakh to cyber fraudsters; probe on

Coimbatore Corporations multi-level parking projects on Cross Cut Road and Raja Street remain on paper

Brain-dead youths organs harvested in Coimbatore

Police busts cricket betting racket in Coimbatore, over one crore rupees seized

COIMBATORE: In a major breakthrough, the city police arrested a seven-member gang for being involved in IPL cricket betting on April 12. The special team has seized 1.09 crore along with the two cars, 12 mobile phones and two bikes. This is a major seizure involved in cricket betting in Tamil Nadu. Based on the direction of Coimbatore City Police A. Saravana Sundar, a special team searched the house at Ram Nagar in the city on April 12 morning. During the investigation, it was found that the seven members were involved in betting using various illegal mobile apps such as Lotus Mango, Ten10 and JD. Kattoor Police registered a case against R Rajesh (35) of RS Puram, R Soundar (29) of Katoor, M Arunkumar of (37) R Nandakumar (32) of Chokkampudur, I Jidendra (41) RS Puram and V Vibul Sardhana of Anuparpalayam under sections 8 and 9 of the Tamil Nadu Gaming Act and section 66 of the Information Technology Act. The gang were produced before a Judicial Magistrate in the early hours on Saturday, and the magistrate released them on bail. According to a police official, in an attempt to earn more money, a lot of people invested. The suspects were involved in betting starting from the toss and against the runs scored by well-known players and winning chances for both teams during the ongoing IPL matches, the official said. They are conducting betting not only for the IPL but also for The Big Bash League held in Australia. If anyone interested in taking part in betting, the gang will provide points after getting cash, and Vibul Sardhana worked as a collection agent in this regard, the official added.

Chocko Choza opens a new resto-cafe serving global and South Indian food in Coimbatore

Tamil Nadu police bust IPL cricket gambling racket in Coimbatore, seize over Rs 1 crore

Coimbatore police busted an IPL cricket gambling operation, seizing 1.09 crores from seven individuals in Ram Nagar. Authorities confiscated two cars, two motorcycles, and 12 mobile phones. The arrested individuals, booked under the Tamil Nadu Gaming Act and the Information Technology Act, were later released on bail by a Judicial Magistrate.

Measures needed to help kids who have witnessed grave crimes: Madras HC

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court stressed the need to bring in remedial measures to help children who have witnessed grave crimes to overcome the mental agony. A division bench of Justices MS Ramesh and N Senthilkumar while hearing an appeal filed by a murder convict who killed his own sister in front of her eight-year-old daughter, noted that while the Pocso Act provides remedial measures for child sexual assault victims, no such mechanism is available for the children who have witnessed grave crimes. The appellant, P Saravanakumar of Coimbatore, murdered his sister on April 7, 2018, over a quarrel in the family and mutilated the body in front of the deceaseds daughter. He was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Principal Sessions and District Court in Coimbatore on April 22, 2022. Praying for setting aside the conviction and sentence, he filed the appeal. Senior counsel Abudukumar Rajarathnam, appearing for Saravanakumar, informed the court that as he has been suffering from schizophrenia, his psychological conditions have to be evaluated and due remedial measures be taken. At the same time, he noted that the deceaseds daughter would have undergone severe trauma, and the incident might have left a psychological scar on her future. He suggested that the government establish a mechanism to conduct psychological evaluation of children who have witnessed violent crimes and provide them counselling to overcome the impact of the chilling incidents. The bench concurred with these submissions, saying that it has no words to express the agony and anguish which the child would have undergone and the subsequent trauma in the following years. The bench suo motu impleaded top officials of the centre and the state, including the Secretaries of Union Ministry of Women and Child Development and TN Social Welfare and Women Empowerment Department. It also directed the Additional Solicitor General (ASG) ARL Sundaresan and Additional Advocate General (AAG) J Ravindran to file a preliminary report in the court on the views of these departments to bring in remedial measures to children who are witness to grave crime. Stating that it was informed that there is no policy or programme to ensure these child victims become physically fit, mentally alert and morally healthy, the bench noted that the National Policy for Children was also not being implemented.

Southern Railway announces special trains between SMVT Bengaluru and Kerala, Tamil Nadu for festivals

COIMBATORE: In view of the spurt in passenger traffic during the Tamil New Year and Vishu festivals, the Southern Railway has announced special train services between SMVT Bengaluru and key destinations in Kerala and Tamil Nadu via Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Erode and Salem junctions. SMVT Bengaluru-Kannur special. Train No. 06573 will depart from SMVT Bengaluru at 11:55 pm on April 11, 2025, and reach Kannur at 1:30 pm the next day. In the return direction, Train No. 06574 will leave Kannur at 6:25 pm on April 14 and arrive at SMVT Bengaluru at 8:00 am on April 15. These trains will stop at Krishnarajapuram, Bangarapet, Kuppam, Salem, Erode, Tiruppur, Coimbatore, Palakkad, Shoranur, Tirur, Kozhikode, Vadakara, and Thalassery. The timings for Train 06573 on April 12 include Salem at 5:05/5:10 am, Erode at 6:10/6:20 am, Tiruppur at 7:03/7:05 am, and Coimbatore at 8:12/8:15 am. The timings for Train 06574 on April 15 at Coimbatore are 12:27/12:30 am, Tiruppur at 1:18/1:20 am, Erode at 2:10/2:20 am, and Salem at 3:17/3:20 am. SMVT Bengaluru-Ernakulam Jn special Train No. 06575 will leave SMVT Bengaluru at 4:35 pm on April 12 and reach Ernakulam Jn at 3:00 am the next day. The return Train No. 06576 will depart Ernakulam at 10:00 pm on April 14 and arrive at SMVT Bengaluru at 10:55 am on April 15. Stops include Krishnarajapuram, Bangarapet, Salem, Erode, Tiruppur, Podanur, Palakkad, Thrissur, and Aluva. All trains will offer a mix of AC First Class, AC 2-tier, AC 3-tier, Sleeper Class, General Second Class, and coaches with facilities for the differently abled.

CCMC launches Rs 6.63 crore drive to rejuvenate 376 parks across Coimbatore

COIMBATORE: In a move to rejuvenate green spaces across the city, the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation (CCMC) has rolled out an ambitious maintenance drive covering public parks in all 100 wards across five zones. Of the 412 parks under its ambit, 376 are being prioritised in the project's first phase, which comes at a total estimated cost of Rs 6.63 crore. Officials said the North Zone tops the list with 81 parks earmarked for maintenance at a cost of Rs 1.37 crore. The West Zone has 92 parks at Rs 1.29 crore, while the East Zone will see upgrades in 72 parks at Rs 1.08 crore. In the South Zone, 67 parks are set to be improved at a cost of Rs 91.36 lakh, and the Central Zone will receive the highest investment - Rs 1.96 crore for 61 parks. The scope of work includes cleaning park areas, watering and nurturing plants, and ensuring proper lighting, making parks inviting and safe for public use. Out of 376 parks in phase one, contracts have already been awarded for 324 parks, with work orders totalling Rs 5.71 crore. Works have commenced and the civic body is set to finalise work orders for the remaining 52 parks. Under the AMRUT scheme, 11 parks have been maintained over the last year and an additional 10 parks are being maintained this year by local women's self-help groups - a move that also empowers community participation. In a bid to make the city greener, the town planning department is preparing to plant around one lakh saplings across 1,000 open sites and waterbodies like ponds and lakes. The entire project is being tracked through the 'Green Kovai App', developed by the corporation to bring in transparency. CCMC Commissioner M Sivaguru Prabakaran said the initiative is part of a broader vision to make public spaces greener, cleaner, and accessible for the city's residents.

TN Highways Department proposes Rs 102.5 crore widening for Coimbatore's Palakkad Main Road

COIMBATORE: State Highways Department officials in the Coimbatore division sent a proposal to the state government requesting Administrative Sanction (AS) for widening the Palakkad Main Road near the Marappalam railway bridge at a cost of Rs 102.5 crore. The existing single-lane road near the railway bridge will be widened into four-lane roads (16.2 m wide). The historic Marppalam at Madukkarai on the Coimbatore-Palakkad Road was built during the British rule. With a narrow tunnel-like structure, the bridge only allows one-way traffic at a time often causing long delays. The proposal includes land acquisition on both sides of the road and expansion to a four-lane stretch over a distance of 800 m. An 82.7 m long and 21.9 m wide concrete box tunnel will be constructed by the Palakkad Railway Division where the road intersects the railway track. This subway will accommodate the four-lane traffic. Speaking to TNIE, a senior official from State Highways Department (projects wing) said, The expanded road will be 16.2 m wide with 7.5 m allocated for the main carriageway on either side and a 1.2 m wide centre median. Additionally, 5.5 m wide service road will be developed on both sides of the railway bridge along with a stormwater drainage system. The DPR is currently being prepared and the department has submitted its proposal for the four-lane widening project which works at the cost of Rs 102.5 crore to the state government for administrative sanction, he said. The state government had announced the project during the budget session this year. Once the AS is sanctioned, the road-widening will begin and development works along with the railway bridge works will be carried out simultaneously, and completed within a year, the official added. The official also revealed that they had identified two alternate routes for motorists. Those plying from Coimbatore towards Kerala on vehicles like buses and light vehicles will have to take a left at Madukkarai junction and can get connectivity through Quarry Office Road, Kurumbapalayam Road, Madukkarai Market Road, and Chettipalayam Road. Vehicles heading to Coimbatore from Kerala will be allowed through Chettipalayam Pirivu, Viragukadai Bridge, and ACC Cement Factory Road. However, heavy vehicles are prohibited on these routes, and they are diverted on the L&T Bypass road.

Bhavani River activists urge TN government to form panel to monitor pollution

ERODE: The Bhavani River Protection Joint Movement has urged the state government to set up a panel to monitor pollution in the Bhavani River. It cited the adverse impact on health due to the rising pollution of the river depended on by people in four districts and urged action against polluters/ The members of the association met state Housing and Urban Development Minister S Muthusamy and District Collector Raja Gopal Sunkara on Friday and submitted a petition in this regard. PL Sundaram, Ex-MLA and chief coordinator of the Movement, in his letter to the minister and collector, stated, The Bhavani River is the main source of drinking water for Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Erode, and Karur districts. Millions of people use this river water for drinking, agriculture and livestock. As the river is continuously polluted by industrial sewage and by local bodies, Bhavani water consumers arre prone to various diseases. Erode has become one of the districts with the highest number of cancer patients in the state. Bhavani river water has been changing colour for the past few days. Also, the water has a bad smell.. Appropriate action should be taken against factories and local bodies that pollute river water. In addition, the state government should constitute a Bhavani River Pollution Monitoring Committee comprising representatives from the Water Resources Department, Revenue Department, Pollution Control Board, and public welfare outfits to monitor the pollution of the Bhavani River, he added. The Bhavani River Protection Joint Movement includes various political parties, farmers' associations and voluntary organisations. It has been fighting against the pollution of the Bhavani River for the last two years.ions. It has been fighting against the pollution of the Bhavani River for the last two years.

TNSTC probes staffer for forcing ITI intern to paint toilet at Ukkadam depot

COIMBATORE: The TNSTC, Coimbatore region, launched an investigation on Friday following an allegation that a technician at its Ukkadam branch-1 depot forced an ITI student on internship to paint the toilet on the premises. The matter came to light after a video of the incident spread on social media. The student in the video belonged to a group of around 25 students from ITIs in different districts who had come to the Ukkadam branch-1 recently as part of a six-month internship. The TNSTC technical staff impart students with knowledge on bus repair, said sources at the Ukkadam unit. A technician allegedly forced a student to paint the toilet recently. Someone took a video of this and spread it on social media. Some technical staff and Assistant Engineers (AEs) use the students for their personal work. This is a violation of norms. Such practice exists in all TNSTC branches in the state, the sources added. A top officer from the TNSTC, Coimbatore region, told TNIE that they have started an inquiry, and departmental action would be taken against any staff who forced the student to do work at the branch.

Elderly couple dies as ambulance crashes into parked lorry in TN's Tiruppur district

TIRUPPUR: A couple died as the ambulance in which they were heading to a hospital in Coimbatore collided with a lorry parked on the roadside near Palladam in the Tiruppur district in the wee hours of Friday. The deceased were K Murugan (65) and wife Kalyani (60) of Pattukkottai in Thanjavur. Their daughter Babitha (33) who was injured has been admitted to the Coimbatore Government Medical College Hospital. Two other injured ambulance driver Mathiazhagan (21) and ambulance attendant Vijay (20) were also admitted to the same hospital. The accident occurred around 4.30 am on Friday near Perumpali in Palladam on the NH 81. The ambulance driver lost control and rammed the rear of a lorry parked on the roadside, said police. Murugan died on the spot and Kalyani died at the Palladam Government Hospital, police added. Murugan was running a coir rope factory. He had fractured his hip after falling from a truck a few days ago. While undergoing treatment at Pattukkottai, he was referred to a private hospital in Coimbatore for further treatment. The family had left for Coimbatore in a private ambulance on Thursday night, police explained. A police officer said the accident happened as the driver was drowsy. A case will be registered against him.

Revised 90% fingerprint match rule at PDS shops causes delays, hardship for elderly cardholders in Tamil Nadu

VIRUDHUNAGAR: Elderly beneficiaries seated on steps, customers pacing impatiently and ration cardholders shielding themselves from the heat as they await their turn - this has become a common scene outside many PDS shops in several districts ever since the fingerprint match threshold for biometric authentication was revised from 40% to 90%. The new rule, implemented last month to improve authenticity, has left cardholders, particularly the elderly, struggling with longer queues and repeated verification failures. Theres chaos. Each person waits for at least 30 minutes for verification and even then, the fingerprint often doesnt match, said S Balasubramanian (74), a resident of Soolakarai in Virudhunagar district. The salesperson suggested using my wifes fingerprint, but shes 72 and unable to walk to the outlet, he said. According to officials, the district has 6,13,349 PDS cardholders who purchase essentials from 1,041 shops. K Jayakumar, councillor of Ward 24 in Virudhunagar municipality, said the PDS outlet in Fathima Nagar serves more than 1,000 customers, most of whom are facing difficulty under the new system. Even my fingerprints and iris scans failed to register, he said. A salesman at a PDS shop in Sivakasi said operations have slowed significantly since the rule came into effect. Earlier, a 40% match was enough. Now, with the 90% requirement, each transaction takes longer. We have raised complaints, but the issue hasnt been addressed, he said. Another salesperson said the beneficiaries were advised to update their Aadhaar-linked fingerprints at enrolment centres. However, many said they are unable to travel or afford the update and have urged the state government to step in. Earlier, a cardholders entry took 2 to 3 minutes. Now it takes 8 to 10 minutes. For PCH cards, fingerprints must be scanned twice, causing further delay, a supervisor in Pollachi taluk, Coimbatore, said. T Sakthivel (48), a resident of Woraiyur in Tiruchy, said the Point of Sale (PoS) device failed to detect his fingerprint several times. This happens often. The salespersons say its a technical issue, he said. Responding to concerns, officials from the food and civil supplies department said the 90% threshold aims to prevent misuse. As per government instructions, field inspections were conducted at PDS outlets across districts, including Virudhunagar. Kalimuthu, a district supply officer (in-charge), said sales staff and the public need to be guided on how to use the fingerprint scanner. With adequate training these issues can be resolved. D Mohan, commissioner of civil supplies and consumer protection department, said 90% of the fingerprint verification threshold was implemented nationwide by UIDAI. Currently, fingerprint verification delays are rare. In case of failure, the public can be assisted through iris scanning, he said. (With inputs from D Vincent Arockiaraj @ Tiruchy and M Saravanan @ Coimbatore)

Powerloom weavers in Coimbatore, Tiruppur begin hunger strike; demand wage hike implementation

COIMBATORE: Powerloom weavers engaged in job-work in Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts began their hunger strike at Somanur on Friday, demanding the implementation of the wage increase as promised by master weavers three years ago. Hundreds of weavers participated in the five-day hunger strike that commenced on Friday. The weavers have been already on strike for 22 days since March 19. According to officials, about 1.25 crore fabric is produced every day through over 2.5 lakh powerlooms being operated in Tiruppur and Coimbatore districts. The weavers taking up piecework (job-work) from master weavers have been demanding a hike in wages every three years since 1991. In February 2022, 15% wage hike was agreed upon in the talks held between master weavers and powerloom weavers in the presence of district collectors of Coimbatore and Tiruppur. However, a few months later, master weavers allegedly stopped paying the increased wages. On March 19, powerloom weavers started an indefinite strike demanding the increased wage as agreed upon in 2022. They decided to start a hunger strike on Friday as there was no breakthrough. SE Boopathy, president of Coimbatore and Tiruppur Powerloom Weavers Association, said, The last wage hike of 20 to 23 % was decided in 2021. Later, it was reduced to 15% in 2022 and given for only three months. Earlier, the wage agreement was made in 2014. The number of powerloom units in operation has declined due to increase in power tariff, building rent, prices of spare parts and wages of workers. The weavers will not call off the strike until the old wage agreement is implemented, he added.

Three minors among four killed in bike-auto collision near Sirumugai in Coimbatore

COIMBATORE: Four, including three minor boys, were killed after a motorcycle they were riding on collided head-on with an autorickshaw near Alankombu at Sirumugai in Coimbatore, late on Thursday night. The deceased were identified as R Nagulan (17) from Periya Thottipalayam, V Vidhun (16) from Gandhi Nagar, P Niju (22), and Vineeth (16), all from Karamadai. Police said that Niju had bought a used motorcycle. On Thursday, he decided to treat his friends to dinner. Niju rode his bike while the other three were riding pillion. None were wearing helmets. While travelling along Alankombu-Karamadai road around 10.30 pm on Thursday, Niju lost control of the bike and rammed into a autorickshaw coming from the opposite side, carrying five women including a pregnant woman. Niju and two pillion riders, Nagulan and Vidhun, sustained severe head injuries. Nagulan and Vidhun died on the spot and Niju was rushed to Mettupalayam GH, where he was declared dead. Vineeth, the other pillion rider, was referred to the CMCH, where he succumbed on Friday morning, police added. The autorickshaw driver, G Lingeswaran (32) from Kumarapuram in Mettupalayam, suffered a fracture on his right leg. Of the five women passengers, K Pettathammal (40) sustained a fracture on her right shoulder, while the pregnant woman S Poovizhi (24), R Mangammal (75), S Soundarya (25) and R Ramathal (55) all from Jadaiyampalayam, escaped with minor injuries. Sirumugai police have registered a case.

Tick fever cases soar by 200% in Coimbatore city

Residents urge Coimbatore corporation to demolish three buildings on encroached land

Three killed as speeding motorcycle collides with auto in Coimbatore

Coimbatore Corporation proposes street improvement plan to ensure safe commute for pedestrians

The initiative focuses on creating student-friendly infrastructure along school and college routes, with provisions for walking, cycling, and better traffic regulation

Coimbatore Corporation rolls out Namma Kovai App, users seek more features

Mass protest against Waqf reforms in Coimbatore

Monkey found trapped in check dam near Coimbatore rescued

ED alleges 'deep-rooted' corruption in TN MAWS department headed by Minister KN Nehru

CHENNAI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) alleged that evidences recovered during recent searches against the relatives of Minister KN Nehru pointed to a 'deep-rooted' and 'systemic corruption network' within the Municipal Administration, Urban and Water Supply department. The ED has also alleged that the illicit funds were layered and siphoned through interconnected entities using several hawala transactions. The agency had conducted searches across Chennai, Tiruchy and Coimbatore on April 7 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in 15 premises associated with Truedom EPC India Pvt Ltd and its key personnel. Explained | The CBI case that led to ED searches against TN minister KN Nehru's family members These searches were not based on any predicate offence case filed in relation to alleged corruption in the MAWS department. Instead, it was based on an ECIR that ED has filed based on a 2021 CBI FIR alleging that Rs 30 crore of loan taken by the firm for a 100 MW power project had been diverted through shell entities to the True Value Home (TVH) group owned by Nehrus brother, KN Ravichandran. However, Minister Nehru was not included in this case. ED said its investigations revealed that Truedom was a shell entity with no wind energy experience and was created solely to divert loan funds under the guise of the windmill project. It also said that the funds were immediately routed through associated shell entities with 'no real' activity, and following layering, substantial amounts were transferred to TVH Homes Pvt Ltd and TVH Energy Resources Pvt Ltd to settle their existing liabilities. ED raids TN minister KN Nehrus properties; DMK supporters allege political vendetta The setup, including fake project agreements and paper entities, was designed to mask the diversion, with no repayment effort made before the loan was declared fraudulent, ED said. During the search operations, various incriminating documents, digital records, and property documents were seized, indicating the layering and siphoning-off of funds. Notably, evidence suggests the involvement of key individuals, including Ravichandran and Arun Nehru, DMK MP and Nehrus son, in orchestrating the diversion of funds. ED probe on TN Minister KN Nehru's kin linked to alleged diversion of Rs 30 crore loan to TVH Additional evidence unearthed by ED also indicated alleged corruption in the MAWS department. The ED contended that the findings revealed pre-fixed commissions for awarding tenders, rigged procurement processes, and a well-organised nexus of officials, middlemen, and politically linked individuals. The investigation has also uncovered a pattern of illegitimate funds being layered and siphoned through interconnected entities, suggesting the existence of a broader financial and administrative cartel operating across the state, ED had alleged. Evidence of bribe collection for transfer/posting of officials of the MAWS department have also been found, ED said in its statement. Further investigation is underway to trace the full scope of this web and to quantify the loss incurred to the public exchequer, the agency added. ED said that it has also identified assets and properties acquired using the Proceeds of Crime (POC) and is in the process of quantifying and attaching them under the provisions of PMLA, 2002. However, the release did not explicitly say wether the POC mentioned in the statement referred to the POC from the predicate offence case filed by the CBI or it included POC from the alleged corruption the agency has unearthed in MAWS department as well.

Three die, five injured in accident near Sirumugai in Coimbatore

Man arrested for duping job seekers of 46 lakh in Coimbatore

Dalit girl made to sit outside her classroom during exams as she was menstruating

In Coimbatore, a Dalit eighth-grader was allegedly barred from her classroom during her period and forced to take her annual exam on the staircase. Following a departmental inquiry, the school principal has been suspended.

DMK sacks TN Minister Ponmudy from party post after crass remarks on Hindu sects

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M.K. Stalin on Friday removed senior party leader and minister K. Ponmudy from the post of Deputy General Secretary after a video clip of a controversial speech he made at an event organized by the Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam (TPDK) in Chennai on April 6 surfaced online. The DMK minister recalled a crass joke that was made in the past in some meetings organised by the Dravidian movement, linking Saivite and Vaishnavite symbols to sexual positions. Stalin appointed Rajya Sabha MP Tiruchy Siva to the post instead. Meanwhile, the partys senior-most leader, General Secretary, and Water Resources Minister Duraimurugan issued an apology for the insensitive words he recently used to refer to people with disabilities. #DMK president and Chief Minister MK Stalin relieves Minister for Forests and Khadi K Ponmudy from the post of Deputy General Secretary. Earlier, DMK MP Kanimozhi condemned Ponmudy's recent speech as 'unacceptable'. @xpresstn @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/vjHGmQUfq5 S Mannar Mannan (@mannar_mannan) April 11, 2025 The action from the DMK president came after the video clip of Ponmudy went viral on social media, attracting criticism from several quarters, especially the BJP. Notably, DMK Deputy General Secretary and Parliamentary Party Leader Kanimozhi Karunanidhi also condemned the remarks. She said, The recent speech of minister Ponmudy is not acceptable. For whatever reason he had spoken, such vulgar words are condemnable, she said in a post on 'X. . . Kanimozhi () (@KanimozhiDMK) April 11, 2025 The video surfaced on social media and went viral on Thursday night, coinciding with Union Home Minister Amit Shahs arrival in Chennai. Shah is scheduled to meet the media on Friday, during which an announcement regarding the alliance for the 2026 Assembly elections is expected. BJP state president K. Annamalai, in a post on X, said, This is DMKs standard of political discourse in Tamil Nadu. Thiru Ponmudy was once the Higher Education Minister of Tamil Nadu and is now the Minister for Forests and Khadi, and the youth of Tamil Nadu are expected to tolerate this filth? DMKs relentless attacks on the pillars of Hindu Dharma (Saivam & Vainavam) wont go unanswered forever, he added, tagging Chief Minister Stalin in the post. This is DMKs standard of political discourse in Tamil Nadu. Thiru Ponmudi was once the Higher Education Minister of Tamil Nadu & now Minister for Forests and Khadi, and the youth of Tamil Nadu are expected to tolerate this filth? Not just this Minister, the entire DMK ecosystem pic.twitter.com/ENMq47hiPf K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) April 11, 2025 The event where Ponmudy made the remarks was organized by TPDK to commemorate the centenary year of popular orator of the Dravidian movement, Tiruvarur K. Thangarasu, who wrote the story and dialogues for the M.R. Radha-starrer superhit film Ratha Kanneer, known for its biting atheist and rationalist commentary by the anti-hero protagonist. Addressing the event, Ponmudy recalled how orators of those years spoke about obscenities in Hindu religious texts through pattimandram a format of public debate. He recounted one such pattimandram held in Coimbatore many decades ago, which was advertised as adults only and for which entry tickets were sold. Despite TPDK leader Kovai Ramakrishnan, who was on the dais, suggesting that he avoid the topic, Ponmudy went on to recollect a crass joke involving the distinct ways Saivites and Vaishnavites apply religious marks on their foreheads. He also addressed the women in attendance, asking them not to misunderstand his remarks. TPDKs propaganda secretary Viduthalai Arasu told TNIE that Ponmudys remarks were taken out of context. He didnt say anything new but merely recalled what had been said in the past, he contended. An organization named Saiva Chithantha Kazhagam released a statement on Thursday strongly condemning Ponmudys speech. It is worth noting that this is not the first time Ponmudy has made a controversial remark. His earlier comment belittling women who used the ticket-less bus rides introduced by the Tamil Nadu government also attracted widespread criticism and censure from the party. Meanwhile, Senior party leader Duraimurugan expressed unconditional regret for hurting the sentiments of people with disabilities, recalling that it was the late CM and party leader M. Karunanidhi who coined the term differently-abled to refer to people with disabilities in a more dignified manner.

Vulture safety: Farmers urged to adopt traditional cattle treatment practices

COIMBATORE: It is well known veterinary medicines used to treat cattle prove toxic and even fatal to vultures. As part of the conservation efforts, farmers who are living in vulture-populated areas in Tamil Nadu are being trained about the traditional safe ethnoveterinary practices to treat their sick cows. Members of Arulagam, an NGO working in vulture conservation for over a decade, have started imparting this training. Speaking after the inauguration of the two-day annual vulture sprint meet at Hassanur in Erode district on Thursday, Arulagam secretary S Bharathidasan told TNIE they are giving practical training to the farmers to adopt traditional methods of healing cowpox and mastitis, which are the most common diseases, using pepper, betelnut, neem leaves, turmeric, etc. Often the drugs for relieving pain in cattle pose dangers for vultures when the latter feed on the cattle carcass left by owners near their agricultural fields. The NGO members appealed to pharmacy owners to clear Nimesulide drug stock to protect the vulture population. Though the drugs were banned by the central government three months ago, a few stores were found selling Nimesulide and other banned harmful drugs like diclofenac, aceclofenac and ketoprofen. At a time when the vulture population in the southern states touched 380 in the recent survey, the population will increase further if the pharmacy owners clear the drug stocks harmful to vulture, said Bharathidasan. The team led by Jabaz John, who is the coordinator of Arulagam, carried out a two-and-a-half-month survey in pharmacies in Erode and Nilgiris districts to check the availability of the banned drugs and realised most pharmacy owners are already aware of the ban. We need to create more awareness among the new pharmacies, John said. A survey was conducted in 45 pharmacies in Thalavadi, Sathyamangalam, Puliyampatti, and Gobi in Erode district and Masinagudi, Coonoor, Kotagiri, Gudalur, and Nilakottai in the Nilgiris district. Out of the total, 22 pharmacy owners stated that the drugs are not sourced, and 11 pharmacy owners stated they did not have stock, and eight pharmacies were found selling the banned drugs when the team enquired about the banned drugs to check the availability. During the study, we have found that veterinarians in Masinagudi in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) have also instructed pharmacy owners not to sell the banned drugs to farmers. The pharmacy owners are cooperating with us, said John.