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Tamil Nadu News Papers

Ripon Buildings celebrates 100th birthday today

Tuesday, 26 November 2013 04:43
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The Hindu             26.11.2013

Ripon Buildings celebrates 100th birthday today

Many happy returns:The structure is a fine example of the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture. A project to strengthen and restore the building is currently on —Photo: V. Ganesan
Many happy returns:The structure is a fine example of the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture. A project to strengthen and restore the building is currently on —Photo: V. Ganesan

Ripon Buildings, the seat of the 426 sq. km. of the Chennai Corporation, will turn 100 on Tuesday.

The heritage building was inaugurated on November 26, 1913 by Viceroy and Governor General Charles Baron Hardinge of Penshurst.

The structure is a fine example of the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture, with a combination of Gothic, Ionic and Corinthian styles.

However, several parts of the building had fallen into disrepair over the years, and in 2009, the Corporation began a strengthening and restoration project.

Project delayed

While a chunk of this work has been completed, and the civic body was hoping to hold a centenary celebration on Tuesday, this plan had to be shelved as some work is still not finished.

Officials said a lack skilled stapathis had led to the work being delayed.

Many labourers left midway after developing skin allergies, and the civic body has been carrying out the work with assistance from a limited number of skilled persons from Panruti.

“Over 80 per cent of the restoration work on Ripon Buildings has been completed. The remainder of the work will be completed in six months. The annexe will also be ready in six months,” said a Corporation official.

Interior work pending

“Another reason for the delay is that lime plastering requires one and a half months to set. We mix lime and sand in a 1:1.125 ratio, with galnut (kadukkai) water and jaggery, for plastering. The work on the northern side of the compound, in the open-to-sky area and some interior work is pending,” said an official.

The ground floor of the building will be converted into a museum after the restoration is complete.

 

Master plan for river restoration in Tamil Nadu

Monday, 25 November 2013 11:58
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The Times of India            25.11.2013

Master plan for river restoration in Tamil Nadu

CHENNAI: While a shortage of drinking water continues to be a problem for Tamil Nadu, the state government is planning a major restoration of rivers with the future needs of the ever-growing population in mind.

Amaster plan is likely to be drafted by a consultant and the project will be funded by the government of the Federal Republic of Germany through KfW Development Bank and the Union government under Sustainable Municipal Infrastructure Financing. Tamil Nadu Urban Infrastructure Financial Services Limited is the nodal agency that will execute the programme.

"We will identify the consultant soon and then send the proposal to the chosen firm," said a senior government official. The rivers are in a terrible state in most districts, with no system in place to keep sewage and garbage from being dumped in them. A feasibility study for integrated solid waste management and a detailed project report for providing storm water drains in various municipalities have been planned to provide a holistic approach to river management.

A Latha of Kerala-based River Research Centre said the government should think of ecological restoration to strengthen river banks and catchments besides regulating sand mining and improving the downstream flow of dams. "River restoration does not mean concretising the banks," she said.

Tamil Nadu, which has 17 river basins, has a total water potential of 1,682tmcft/year, including contribution from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala. The state's demand for water by various sectors is expected to go up to 1,965tmcft by 2045, according to a government study. Experts say the rivers are in this condition because of the utter disregard for the environment.

If Vaigai carries the sewage of Madurai, then Amaravathi bears the tannery effluents of Udumalapet, Tarapuram and Karur.

The over-exploitation of Palar, which runs through Vellore, for high deposit sand and pollution by tanneries of Ambur and Vanniyambadi are responsible for the river going dry.

"A proper vision from all stakeholders will help preserve our rivers," said K Kalidas, president of Osai, an environmental NGO. 

 

Corporation selects Pune firm to set up bio plant

Monday, 25 November 2013 11:56
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The Times of India            25.11.2013

Corporation selects Pune firm to set up bio plant

COIMBATORE: The city municipal corporation has decided to tread cautiously in its ambitious project to set up bio methanation plants to generate biogas and power from organic and vegetable waste generated within city limits. The civic body has decided to rope in a Pune based private firm to set up the first bio methanation unit at the new vegetable market complex being set up at Kavundampalayam here in the city.

The construction and installation costs for a bio methanation unit with a five tonne capacity at Kavundampalayam market complex would be Rs89.75lakh. The operation and maintenance of the unit for the next seven years for processing 5 tonnes of organic waste is expected to be around Rs72.11 lakh. Additional bio methanation units would be set up in corporation limits based on the performance and utilisation of this unit to process organic waste to energy.

According to corporation sources, the civic body was initially planning to set up biomethanation units with a daily processing capacity ranging from three to 10 tonnes of organic waste materials to generate bio gas and power. The corporation had decided to set up the unit at the three major vegetable and grocery markets, Thyagi Kumaran market, Anna market and MGR whole sale vegetable markets.

"The bio gas plant would be set up at the proposed new market complex at Kavundampalayam where the old wholesale market is expected to be relocated in the coming weeks," said a corporation official.

The civic body had to cancel the first round of receiving online tenders for the project as only one firm participated in the process on July 18, 2013. The exercise was carried out again on September 18 and after scrutiny by the expert technical committee, a Pune based firm, Mailhem Engineers Private Limited, has been selected for the construction and maintenance of the project. The firm has already set up similar plants for various public sector and private institutions across the country including Hindustan Aeronautics Limited in Bangalore. The municipal administration has already instructed various local bodies across the state including Coimbatore city corporation to opt for alternate methods like treating organic municipal waste to generating power or natural gas in the beginning of 2013 itself.

"It is being recommended to ease the daily burden of waste disposal on the municipal corporation. We should try to reduce the total quantity of garbage directed to the dump yard by adopting various sustainable methods of processing and recycling," a corporation official said. The bio gas generated from the unit is expected to be used as an effective substitute for LPG in community kitchen centres and also diverted to power up streetlights in the vicinity of bio gas plants.

 
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