History of Javadi Hills

Spread across an area starting from Vellore to Singarapettai in length and from Polur to Alangayam in breadth, Javadi Hills is located in the border regions of Tiruvannamalai and Vellore Districts. Nowadays one particular place at Javadi Hills which is ever-increasing in fame and spiritual significance is the great monolith Parvathamalai. To learn more about this Hill (which is less than 25 kms from our own Arunachala), go to this link here.

Arunachala in distance from summit of Parvathamalai

Of late, a number of stone inscriptions, artefacts and rock structures, believed to be dating back to ancient civilizations, have been found at Javadi Hills by archaeologists and academics. Some of these relics are believed to have belonged to the periods of the Cholas, Sambuvarayar and Vijayanagara Rayars, making the hills a glimpse into the ancient past.

Javadi Hills

Unspoilt Javadi Hills

Dusk at Javadi Hills

The belief that part of the present day Javadi hills, could have been previously known as ‘Navira Malai’ during the ancient Sangam period is supported by the recent discovery of the below stone inscription at Pudur Nadu village (near Tirupattur) in Javadi Hills. The inscription contains a reference to Navira Malai, indicating these Hills could have been known by this name over 2000 years ago. 

  

Recently found stone with historic inscription

India Census 2011

The India population census is now online at this link here:


For specific information about Tamil Nadu, go to this link here.


And for those wondering about the population of Tiruvannamalai District, the current figures are:

Population 2011: 2,468,965

Population Growth 2001: 7.01%
Population Growth 2011: 12.94%

Density/km2 2001: 353
Density/km2 2011: 399

Iron Ore Project Rejected

For the lovers of the environment and the sanctity of this vicinity the good news is that a proposed mining project that would have adversely affected the Arunachala area has been summarily rejected. For earlier information on this venture check an earlier posting on Arunachala Grace here.

A Supreme Court panel (CEC) rejected the proposed joint venture iron ore mining venture submitted by JVSL (Jindal Vijayanagar Steel Ltd) and Tidco (Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corp Ltd). The joint venture was to sell iron ore produced at reserved forests in Tiruvannamalai and Salem Districts to Southern Iron and Steel Co. Ltd (Siscol), to manufacture pig iron and coke.

CEC said in its report:

“…the permission sought for the felling of 222,397 trees of spontaneous growth in 325 hectares of reserved forest in district Thiruvannamalai for the implementation of the iron ore mining and pelletization project by Tamil Nadu Iron Ore Mining Corp. Ltd or Timco may not be granted.”

The Supreme Court panel also pointed out that the regional office of the Ministry of Environment and Forests too had recommended that the project not be cleared. In terms of environmental impact, CEC said implementation of the project could affect water and air quality in Salem. And in Tiruvannamalai, it noted that the forest area has

“several species of endangered flora and fauna” and “the use of 325 hectares of undisturbed reserved forest for iron ore mining and pelletization project far outweighs the financial benefits that may accrue by way of reduced cost of raw material for Tamil Nadu...”

The Ministry of Environment and Forests cannot give any clearances in relation to the project unless approved by the Supreme Court so now the only option remaining for the joint venture group is that they file an appeal with the Supreme Court against the recommendations of the CEC.

Its too earlier for us to open the champagne bottles in victory but perhaps not too early to bring them up from the cellar in preparation . . .

For a fuller newspaper report check this link here.

Elections

On my way home early afternoon, passed the Arts College on Chengam Road. On adjacent empty land, workers for the Jayalalitha political campaign are preparing for tomorrow’s rally at which former Chief Minister Jayalalitha will be giving a speech. Jayalalitha is currently leader of the opposition however elections are due mid May.

Being that Jayalalitha has shown herself to be a friend of Temple Elephants, in Tamil Nadu during her tenure as Chief Minister, she totally has my best wishes.

To read more about this fascinating ‘self-made’ woman and politician, go to this link here.

Arunachala Grace News, April 2009

The current issue of Arunachala Grace News, will be sent out tomorrow direct to subscribers email inbox. If you wish to receive this bi-monthly Newsletter please fill out the subscribe facility at the left column of this page.


This month's Newsletter has narratives about; Mahashivaratri, the Athi Rudra Maha Yajnam recently performed at Ramana Ashram, the visit of Joyce Meyers (a licensed psychotherapist from the U.S.) to Tiruvannamalai, news of the Shanthimalai Trust education sponsorship programme, a news round up under 'Arunachala Tidbits', stories and anecdotes, and Sri Ramana's answer to the question, 'Is everything ordained?' As well as the above, the featured bird in this current Newsletter is the migratory Grey Heron, and the herb, the indispensable Coriander (Cilantro -- as is more commonly known in the Americas).


In addition to the above there is also information about a large agricultural parcel of land for sale a short distance south of Arunachala.

Land for Industrialization

Land for Industrialization

A 2,300-acre land parcel has been identified for acquisition by the State Industries Promotion Corp. of Tamil Nadu Ltd, or Sipcot, a government-owned entity. But Sipcot is now facing problems with some villagers protesting the proposed acquisition. Purchasing land for industrialization is not a problem limited to Tamil Nadu and in this respect there have been protests by farmers across the country in the past couple of years against setting up of industries on farm land.

The current dispute concerns land in nine villages of Tiruvannamalai and Kancheepuram Districts, at which place land owners are still protesting even as Sipcot has started surveys marking the land for acquisition. The nine villages are Chellaperumbulimedu, Kunnavakkam, Ayinjalpattu, Perumbulimedu, Mangal, Akoor, Karanai, Ukkamperumbakkam and Mathur.

An excellent article regarding SEZs and compulsory land purchase for industrialization was posted in the New Indian Express on January 24th, 2009 -- it states:

"Special economic zones are touted as the new engines of growth, but they are also where the law seems to be suspended.

. . . . . The village of Mathur (150 acres) in Tamil Nadu is in mourning. Under a colourful pandal, over blaring loudspeakers, local leaders are organising a Black Pongal. Nearly three-fourths of ten villages in this neighbourhood will be swallowed up by a 2,300 acre SEZ, but none of the panchayat members were consulted. All ten presidents sent their written objections to the collector. Nothing came of it."

To read the whole article go to this link here

Ore Mining, Tiruvannamalai District

A newspaper report today stated that:

“Thousands of farmers in 10 villages around Kavuthi Malai and Vediappan Malai in Tiruvannamalai District are determined not to let the government give the go-ahead for the proposal for mining of iron ore in the hills. They are not ready to lose their idyllic lifestyle and be uprooted from the land to which they have a cultural mooring. “One needs to know the significance of the hills and its role in shaping the lives of the farmers to understand our anger’, says a farmer from Andiyur. “Vediappan (after whom one of the hills is named) is our ‘kuladeivam’ (family deity).”

The collective anger was palpable when over 1,000 villagers attended the public hearing conducted by the District Administration on December 27th last, to elicit the local community’s views on the proposal for mining in 325 hectares of forestland (a hectare is 2.27 acres). “These two hills have provided us the sustenance when the rest of the District was reeling under famine,” says a resident of Ponakkadu. ‘During droughts, we collect ‘kolakattis’ (stone pounded to make kolam powder) from the hills and sell them in Thiruvannamalai town’ say a group of farmers.

In the District that does not have a perennial river, it is the water from the hills that is harnessed by farmers for irrigation and domestic use. “All irrigation ponds in the 10 villages are at the foot of these hills and they serve as catchment areas, helping us to cultivate cash crops like kanagambaram, marigold, jathimalli and other flowers, besides two crops of paddy a year,’ says a panchayat official. A government officer at the collectorate confirms it, saying that water supply from the Sathanur dam is only for 90 days a year.

The effects of iron ore mining

Stating that a farmer cultivating 50 acres of land makes, on an average, Rs 1.20 lakh, an official from Periyapalayapattu village panchayat, asks: “Do you want us to give up all this and migrate to some parched land elsewhere and suffer?” The hills, with expansive grazing space, also provide fodder for the cattle and the forests are a source for firewood. “Women in Andiyur village sustain themselves by collecting firewood from Kavuthi Malai and selling a bundle for Rs 150,” says a woman of the village. The government officer also fears that Thiruvannamalai would turn into a desert if miners use water from Sathanur dam.”

Map of iron ore mining India

Well and good if thousands of understandably irate farmers are able to prevent ore mining in the Tiruvannamalai Hills. However, one wonders how the situation has been allowed to come to this point particularly as Tiruvannamalai is a famous pilgrimage spot, developing tourist area and currently involved in huge reforestation programmes that are financed by foreign countries and domestic and overseas NGOs.

“JWS Steel plans to tap 41.78 percent low-grade magnetite quartz ore by putting up mining facilities and beneficiation and pelletization plants. One million tonnes of iron ore will be tapped per annum after ‘clearing’ 2.20 lakh trees of 15 girths.

This apart, lakhs of other trees, including those grown under a Japanese government-funded project in the last four years, would be felled, a forest official said. The forest is home for indigenous flora and fauna and endangered species like Monitor Lizard, Pangolin, Deer and Porcupine, he added.

Since the mining involves drilling and blasting, as mentioned in the Rapid Environment Impact Assessment (REIA) report, it would cause air and water pollution too. Though the report specifies pollution abatement measures, it is impossible to prevent the iron ore dust from polluting the air in a minimum of eight-km radius, posing a threat to the Girivalam around the Thiruvannamalai hills, said an officer at the Collectorate. He added that tippers would be used to transport the pelletization materials, disrupting the tranquility of the hills.

The project would bring no jobs for the locals but would displace lakhs of farmers in the 10 villages around the two hills, said an environment activist.”

I recently visited an area about 10 miles south of the Hill which is being heavily mined for granite – it was not a pretty site as surrounding farms are gray from granite dust and the pretty rustic area is severely scarred by granite extraction. Iron ore mining is far more intrusive – the whole situation beggars belief and makes one wonder, ‘What are they thinking?’

As well as the hazards and consequences of ‘authorized’ iron ore mining, places such as Goa also suffer from illegal iron ore activity:

“. . .connivance of forest and mines departments in allowing such illegal extraction accused forest department officials of protecting illegal mines in the reserve forests and wild life sanctuaries of the State.”

Lets hope the farmers and activists win – otherwise the area has a dusty and ‘dry’ future to look forward to!

Chatting Macaques

Reading an online International Newspaper, I found this light-hearted, amusing article about the macaque monkey. The macaques constitute a genus of Old World monkeys, of which there are twenty-two macaque species currently recognised, of which our own Bonnet Macaque, found extensively throughout this area, is one.

The article reads thus:

‘Why females love a good gossip ... even if they're macaque monkeys.’

“Female macaque monkeys love a good gossip as much as their chatty human counterparts, research has shown.

Scientists spent three months listening to a mixed group of macaques living on Cayo Santiago island off Puerto Rico. They discovered that, just as with humans, the female of the species was more talkative than the male.

The experts counted the grunts, coos and 'girneys' - friendly chit-chat between two individuals - while ignoring calls specifically used when in the presence of food or a predator. Female macaques were found to make 13 times as many friendly noises as males. They were also much more likely to chat to other females than males.

The scientists believe this is because female macaques form solid, long-lasting bonds. They stay in the same group for life, and rely on their female friends to help them look after offspring. In contrast males, who rove between groups throughout their life, chatted to both sexes equally.

Researcher Nathalie Greeno, from the University of Roehampton in London, told New Scientist magazine: 'The results suggest that females rely on vocal communication more than males due to their need to maintain the larger networks.' This is said to be the first time communication sex differences have been identified in non-human primates.

Primate expert Professor Klaus Zuberbuhler, from the University of St Andrews in Scotland, agreed that the findings had a bearing on language development. In all social species, communication helped individuals 'navigate their daily social lives, usually by influencing the minds and behaviour of group members,' he said. He added that communication helped resolve tension between the opposite forces of competition and cooperation.”

The Ubiquitous Crow!

One of the most common and to some definitely the most annoying bird to be found throughout Tiruvannamalai District is the ubiquitous crow. Of which the most usual varieties seen are the house crow and the jungle crow. The crow has lately been in the headlines as its being proclaimed, in some scientific circles, to be even more intelligent than the ape.

the jungle crow

To read more about the differences between the house crow and jungle crow check out my Tiruvannamalai bird blog at this link And to find out more about the intelligence of crows go this link here.

Dancing Bear

Local animal officials here at Tiruvannamalai were recently notified that two sloth dancing bears are currently performing for the public in a village about 20 kms distant. It is expected that local animal officials from Tiruvannamalai with the appropriate organisation will work to rescue the bears and transport them to the nearest bear rescue facility.

As well as an inhumane barbaric custom, bear dancing is also illegal and if you ever see a 'dancing bear' while travelling in India, please get in touch with Wildlife SOS, the India Bear Rescue Organisation at:

email wsos@vsnl.com or phone : 09837042266

To get full information about the rescue facilities that are now home to the bears and where you will be able to visit and spend time with some of these beautiful creatures. Check out Wildlife SOS's link at:

http://www.wildlifesos.org/IBR/bearhome.htm

Thus far 491 bears have been rescued from a life of suffering and torture.

undisturbed sloth bear

The Cruelty Behind The Dancing Bear Spectacle

“Qalandars, a nomadic gipsy tribe date themselves and the origin of bear dancing back to the 13th century and the pre- Mughal era. Qalandars gained prominence as the royal entertainers in the courts of the Mughal emperors where they also performed magic tricks and staged wrestling bouts. Once the emperors and kingdoms became history, they started to perform 'Bear dancing' for the general public.

Domestic and international visitors to India would often see these bear dancers on the highway between Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. Today, about 800 dancing bears are performing on the streets across the country. In India, bear dancing is banned by the Wildlife Protection act 1972. But various socio-economic and political factors have made it a difficult task to implement this law.

Qalandars purchase the sloth bear cubs from tribal poachers/traders and then train them to dance and respond to commands using the crude tools of pain and fear. At the tender age of just six months, a crude iron needle is heated and driven through their muzzle without anesthesia or any other antibiotic, and a rough rope is pulled through the sensitive swollen muzzle. This agony of grossly swollen muzzles and torn tissues together with a fair amount of beating and systematic starvation usually teaches the bears who the master is. The bears live the rest of their lives at the end of a four foot long rope and with no stimulation at all, thus causing several mental and stereotypical symptoms. Male cubs are also castrated at a very young age to keep their owners safe, again crudely by use of a razor, without anesthesia or antibiotics. Canine teeth are removed when one year old, by knocking them out with a metal rod.

For the rest of its life, the bear will dance on the road to earn money for the Qalandar. The wound on the muzzle will never heal and often be infested with maggots. Most of the bears will "bear" the suffering only for a few years since they will die due to Tuberculosis, Leptrospirosis or Rabies. We have noted that a large number of dancing bears are blind due to malnutrition but were still being used by the Qalandars for dancing.”

[Taken from the Wildlife S.O.S Website]

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For more information of the Dancing Bear please check out the excellent organisation International Animal Rescue which is dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of suffering animals. You can read a full PDF report of the Dancing Bear and watch a video of its sad life at this link here.

Tiruvannamalai District Forests

Many who visit Tiruvannamalai, are concerned when they see the rapid urbanisation of the area - something which will probably continue in the foreseeable future. However, in spite of the large population of Tamil Nadu, it is very encouraging to see the forest statistics of the State. In the below diagram, Tiruvannamalai District is in the top right of the photograph - with lots of good, green forest cover.

The next diagram is of the Forest Cover of Tiruvannamalai District.

Monkey Business

Some weeks ago it was reported in State newspapers that politicians are beginning to turn a very serious gaze on the subject of monkeys and the possibility of developing certain programmes to send straying monkey groups back into the wilderness. When I hear these sorts of things, it makes me very nervous, because remembering the horrific dog round-ups of yesteryear, one wonders exactly how such monkey programmes would be conducted and monitored.

Apparently the Forest Minister for Tamil Nadu recently announced to the Assembly that residents of urban areas in the State, 'need not worry as his Department was working on a plan to ensure the animals didn’t get too close to people and homes.'

Langur Monkey

As an example, he cited Tiruvannamalai District, saying that hordes of monkeys constantly make their way into neighbouring towns and settlements. He believes the situation is being created by the 'superstitious belief of people who worship the monkey as Hanuman, offering it food and thereby encouraging the monkeys to leave their forests and head for nearby towns.'

Opposition DMK leader Pannerselvam interrupted the speech, saying: “Monkeys are our ancestors and we worship them only to ensure no harm is done to them.”

Bonnet Macaque Monkey

Good for him and glad that the monkeys are getting some kind of support in the Assembly. As for Tiruvannamalai there are two resident species common to the town and area, the Bonnet Macaque Monkey and the Langur (Hanuman) Monkey. The Langur is very shy and mostly seen on the east side of Arunachala Hill and the Bonnet Macaque is an absolute rascal and definitely not shy or retiring. I have already made lots of postings about my little friend the Macaque – what a naughty one!

Yummy Sapota

Recently found out that Papaya is not indigenous to India and is an import from Mexico, but was even more surprised to learn that lovely, delicious Sapota is also not native to this country and hails from Central America. The Sapota tree is commonly cultivated throughout Thiruvannamalai District and can often be seen in gardens and compounds. I even planted some sapota seeds a few weeks ago, and eventually hope to have my own fully grown fruit-bearing trees – yummy!

The tree grows to 60 ft and yields large quantities of fruit twice a year. The Sapota has a high latex content and does not ripen until picked. The fruit is about the size of a potato, greenish-brown in colour, and rough-skinned, the seeds are black and resemble beans, with a hook at one end that can catch in the throat if swallowed. Inside, the pulp is sweet, tasty and soft and been compared to caramel.

As well as fruit, the tree produces strong, long-lasting timber which is often used for cabinet making. Its sap, which becomes solid when boiled, provides a type of non-elastic rubber used for making shoe soles. It is also used as chewing gum (chicle) and in fact Chicle gum was even known to the Aztecs.

You couldn’t make it up!

A State Government official who tried to get a transfer through the backdoor was conned by officials in Coimbatore.

The lady wanted a transfer to her native Tiruvannamalai District, but couldn’t get it as there was a ‘price tag' for transfers in the Department. A temporary staff member working under this lady happened to be a politician's daughter and thus volunteered to help -- but for a price. The lady desperate to move back to Tiruvannamalai District, paid Rs.30,000 to the temporary worker to arrange the transfer –- but it did not materialize. Amazingly the lady asked for a refund in lieu of the failed transfer, and in fact was reimbursed Rs.20,000. Only in India would a Government official ask for reimbursement of a failed bribe – you couldn’t make it up!

Tiruvanamalai and Salem Districts Mining

Farmers and environmentalists are fighting an iron-ore mining project at Kanchamalai in Salem. Farmers with their families converged on the District Forest Office at Salem yesterday (Tuesday, June 17th, 2008) to file individual applications, seeking details of the proposed project to mine iron-ore from the pristine surroundings of the Kanchamalai hills by a joint venture company floated by Tamil Nadu Industrial Minerals Corporation Ltd (TIMCO) and the private steel major Jindals.

The magnetite ore to be mined is to be used for manufacturing iron ingots at the Mecheri plant of the South India Iron and Steel Co Ltd (SISCOL), a Lakshmi Mills-TN government JV taken over by the Jindals.

The applications contained five questions pertinent to the project and the Forest Department’s response to the forest clearance petitions filed by the company, besides the department’s EPA (Environmental Impact Assessment) documents.

The ravages of iron ore mining

According to official sources, TIMCO and SISCOL joint venture wants 1,000 acres of mineral-rich hills in two places in Tamil Nadu. While 638 acres is sought at Kanchamalai, revered for the indigenous medical practitioners and rich herbs, 330 acres has been asked for at Tiruvannamalai District (Vediappanmalai/Kauthimalai). Around 90,000 trees at Kanchamalai and 200,000 trees in Tiruvannamalai District will be felled if the project is cleared by the Forest Department.

Indicating that the Forest department has given its green signal for the project (which it rejected earlier), officials said, “Things are no more in our hands but with the Supreme Court, which sent a Committee on May 29th and 20th to Kanchamalai to make a report.”

Eucalyptus Cultivation

I have recently made several postings on the Eucalyptus Tree and its cultivation in the Tiruvannamalai District. There is no doubt that the Eucalyptus is a fantastic tree with a host of ayurvedic properties and benefits – but perhaps it would have been better to have left the tree in its native Australia and Tasmania. Already there are several Eucalyptus plantations around Samudram Lake, (south of the Hill) which is probably not a good decision considering severe water shortages often experienced in this area.

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"The recent move of the Tamil Nadu Forest Department to reintroduce large-scale cultivation of Eucalyptus trees in the State invites stiff resistance from environmentalists on the ground it would create ecological imbalance.

Experts have raised concern over the extensive cultivation of this species. “Monoculture of Eucalyptus cannot be recommended. If the intention of the Forest Department is to increase forest cover in the State, it should plant indigenous species of trees and herbs and maintain the bio-diversity of the region,” said a representative of the Tree Foundation. In a study on ‘Eucalyptus in India,’ it was pointed out that extensive cultivation of Eucalyptus was introduced in the country in the 1960’s. Since then some of the States took advantage of the centrally sponsored scheme and raised Eucalyptus plantations by felling even moist deciduous forests.

The Forest Department wants to increase the forest cover in Tamil Nadu from the present 23,023 sq km (21.25%) to 33%. To achieve this target, it will have to promote social forestry on at least 20% of the total 75 Lakh hectares owned by them. “This project is to be carried out on privately owned land and trees will be grown like any other cash crop. Earlier the mass cultivation, was carried out on land possessed by the Government and hence there was an uproar against it,” said a representative of World Wide Fund for Nature.

Others believe that growing Eucalyptus in ‘vulnerable zones’ like arid areas, will destroy the hydrological balance of the region. The tree is water intensive and reduces water available for other species, effectively out-competing them. Particularly vulnerable are arid areas with annual rates of precipitation that correspond to the lower range of eucalyptus demand at about 700 mm.

Studies have revealed that in arid areas, the consequent suppression of other plant life, coupled with a high water demand, reduces soil moisture, preventing the recharge of groundwater and can reduce local water tables. This is exacerbated by a high transpiration rate indicative of the inefficient use of water. Being nutrient intensive, it creates deficits for other plant life, a process that is exacerbated by the low returns in leaf litter to the soil. It does not contribute to the long-term fertility of the soil, as other species might, resulting in an overall nutrient impoverishment of the soil.

Eucalyptus is toxic, due to allelopathic properties which inhibit the growth of other plants due to bimolecules released by it. The plant also is detrimental to soil micro and macro fauna."

[With thanks to G.G. Jens]

Agriculture and Water, Tiruvannamalai

Really interesting information about a new rice cultivation method (SRI) being tested in selected Districts in Tamil Nadu (including Tiruvannanamali District). However instead of trying to be more successful with intensive farming, I think what needs to be considered is crop suitability for water stressed areas. In this respect Tamil Nadu depending on the severity of the summer, often suffers from scarity of water supply. To read more about the water problem in Tamil Nadu go to this previous posting and to an indepth article entitled ‘Tamil Nadu Will Face Crisis, Warn Experts’ at this link.

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System Rice Intensification
Farmers are beginning to reap benefits of System Rice Intensification (SRI), a rice cultivation method that requires less nursery area, water and labour and fewer seeds and tests show that the yield is more than with conventional systems.

Alternate wetting and drying of fields, use of rolling markers and mechanical weeders and transplanting seedlings less than 15 days old are some of the characteristics of SRI. Currently farmers using the paddy variety BPT5204, achieve a yield of 7.6 tonnes per hectare using compared to 5.6 tonnes per hectare through conventional methods.
Current test areas covered by the Irrigated Agriculture Modernisation and Water Bodies Restoration and Management Project include Mathur Thirukkai near Gingee in Tiruvannamalai District.

About 1,250 hectares (one hectare = 2.27 acres) have been marked out as SRI demonstration area which motivated farmers to adopt SRI for a total of 2,595 hectares, for which there is no financial support. The Government is providing a subsidy of Rs.10,000 a hectare for the demonstration area to raise paddy and pulses. The administration plans to follow the success of rice tests by following the broad principles of SRI for cultivating pulses and oilseeds.

Further local government seeks to bring the roles of agriculture, agricultural engineering, horticulture, fisheries and animal husbandry departments under the Water Resources Organisation of the Public Works Department. TNAU’s Water Technology Centre is the nodal agency for dissemination and implementation of better farm technologies.

The six-year project, estimated to cost Rs.2,547 crore, covers 63 sub-basins. Of the total cost, Rs.1,500 crore is meant for the Water Resources Organisation to improve irrigation infrastructure and revive 5,760 tanks, and Rs.300 crore for enhancing agricultural productivity through better seeds, production technology and high-value crops and providing marketing support.

The Agricultural Engineering Department has been charged with increasing farm water use efficiency, and Rs.350 crore has been allocated for this purpose.

Torrential Rains

Rain storms continue throughout Tamil Nadu. Currently the toll of various rain-related incidents in the State is thirty-four people. The weather office predicts more rains throughout Tamil Nadu over the next two days with downpours expected under the influence of a trough of low pressure, extending from the Commeron area to the South-West Coast of Tamil Nadu.

The State Government is geared to initiate emergency relief measures in rain-affected areas. It has already been announced that compensation of Rs.100,000 will be awarded to families of each rain-related fatality

Torrential rains have disrupted normal life; closing Educational Institutions on Thursday and also flooding several low-lying areas. Rough weather conditions and strong winds have kept fishermen away from the sea. Several reservoirs were filled to the brim following copious inflow, caused by incessant rain in catchment areas. Sattanur Dam (Tiruvannamalai District) has recorded a rainfall of 21 cm in the last 24 hours.

If you plan on travelling to Tiruvannamalai District or anywhere in Tamil Nadu, probably best to wait for a few days and let things settle down. Definitely anticipate a sunny Christmas!

Investment in Tamil Nadu

The below report does not specify the location of the intended mining operation in Tiruvannamalai District. Taking into consideration the scarring of the land, contamination of the water supply and disturbance of the eco-system, one would wish that the operation does not take place in Tiruvannamalai District or anywhere else. From the report it certainly sounds like objections are expected.

Indian Press News Report
Monday, 26 November, 2007

The Sajjan Jindal-owned JSW group, with interests in steel, power and industrial gases, has chalked out an ambitious plan to expand its steel plant capacity and also start a power plant in Tamil Nadu at a total outlay of Rs.7,500 crore.

Addressing a press conference in Chennai, JSW Steel Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, Sajjan Jindal, said the Company proposed to double the capacity of its Salem-based Southern Iron and Steel Company (Siscol) from the present one million tonne at a total investment of Rs.3,000 crore*. Siscol, which produces round and long products for construction and engineering applications, was recently merged with JSW Steel. The company was acquired by JSW Steel in 2004.

The Company's plant at Mecheri in Salem would become the largest integrated steel facility in South India once the capacity was expanded. The expansion would be taken up involving an investment of Rs 3,000 crore.

However, the total investment of Rs.7,500 crore depended on Tamil Nadu Government's permission to grant iron-ore mining rights in Salem and Tiruvannamalai Districts in the State and approval for setting up a 1,000 MW power plant. The Company had announced its intention to invest Rs.700 crore in this project and start mining operations after two years recently.

Sajjan Jindal plans to meet Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi later on Monday evening to finalise mining rights in the Districts where 640 hectares* and 340 hectares of land had been identified respectively. If the state government allowed mining, the Company would set up a Rs.400-crore plant for segregating low-grade iron ore that remained unexplored in these Districts.

The Company would also seek approval from the Chief Minister for building a 1,000 MW coal-based power plant, to be set up preferably near the Ennore Port in North Chennai with an investment of Rs.4,000 crore.

* A hectare is 2.471 acres
* One Crore Rupees is U.S.$ 251,290
* Rs.3,000 Crore = U.S.754 Million

Jewellery Maker, Designer

The below photograph is of Ramesh, a local man, who as well as having a small jewellers shop in Tiruvannamalai, also makes jewellery for the idols of many of the Temples at Tiruvannamalai, including Arunachaleswarar Temple.

The below photographs are examples of his work, which include ornaments he has made of both precious stones set in gold or silver, and also costume jewellery.

Ramesh concentrates mostly on making jewellery for Amman Idols and decorating the Goddess and Her Shrines, but occasionally he decorates other Gods. The below photograph is of Sri Venkateshwarar (Balaji). Ramesh made alot of the ornaments, and also dressed and displayed the idol.

The next series of photographs are of Amman, which seems very appropriate at this Diwali time of year!

Ramesh also designs themes for the Gods, as in the below forest scene.

I will be writing more about Ramesh in the upcoming Arunachala Grace News, December issue, which will be sent out at the end of this month. So if you don't already have a free subscription of the Newsletter, please sign up at the left hand margin of this Blog.