The garden is part of a Rs 32 crore project to set up five genetic garden across the state, representing the five different eco-systems described in the Tamil Sangam literature.

According to Sangam literature, the state has five categories of habitat hills (kurinji), forest (mullai), plains (marudham), coastal area (neythal) and desert (palai). The Kurinji garden is being laid in a 78-acre area near the Deer Park in the hill retreat of Yercaud at a cost of Rs eight crore. Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS) in Chennai had drawn up a list of zone-specific animals including the cattle, goats and sheep, which will reside in the gardens. Tamil Nadu Agriculture University in Coimbatore has been entrusted with the job of finding and raising the plants described in Sangam literature.

Source: Times of India

The special exhibition showcased important tourism centres in Tamil Nadu. Curator J. Mullai Arasu said that the exhibition would be held till September 30. Selvamaligai S. Manickam presided over the inaugural function in which N. Asoka (Rotary District Governor -2011-12) was the chief guest.

Source: THE HINDU

Laying foundation stone for the Rs. 11.26-crore 40-acre botanical garden at the hill station on Wednesday, the Minister, responding to appeals that a separate university for horticulture should be formed, said that he would discuss the issue with the Chief Minister. “Like the Veterinary University, a university for horticulture also could be formed,” he said.

Saying that the State Government had undertaken various welfare works, including new parks for the benefit of people who would wish to spend their time amidst Nature peacefully, the Minister pointed out that works to form new and upgrade the existing parks all over the State were being undertaken at a cost of Rs. 47.20 crore.

A new park at Courtallam at a cost of Rs. 5.92 crore would be set up for which the foundation stone had been laid. A park at a cost of Rs. 5.93 crore was being set up at Madavaram at Chennai while a sum of Rs. 1.59 crore was being spent to upgrade the one at Kodaikanal and Rs. 1.50 crore at Ooty. A world standard park was coming up near Anna overbridge in Chennai. “These works, on instructions from the Chief Minister, are being undertaken all over Tamil Nadu,” he added.

On the tourism front, 10.67 lakhs besides 7,476 foreign tourists visited Tamil Nadu in 2009 while in 2005 a mere 2.25 lakh and 240 foreign nationals came to the State.

The foreign exchange earnings for the State also had recorded a steep hike of Rs. 6,796 crore in 2009. “The robust growth in tourism is due to various development works being undertaken all over the State, including places of tourist interest,” he said.

He urged the officials concerned to complete the works in Botanical Garden here within eight months so that it could attract more number of tourists to Yercaud from the neighbouring states of Karnataka, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh.

He also distributed welfare assistance to 755 beneficiaries at a cost of Rs. 23.45 lakh. Principal Secretary P. Rama Mohana Rao presided.

Commissioners C. Kosalraman and Atul Anand, Director of Horticulture B. Chandra Mohan, Salem Collector J. Chandrakumar, MPs K.P. Ramalingam and Adi Shankar, MLA C. Tamilselvan, Salem Mayor J. Rekha Priyadarshini and Deputy Director E. Kakkan spoke.

Source: THE HINDU

A press release says that Agriculture Minister Veerapandi S.Arumugam will lay the foundation stone. Principal Secretary P Rammohan Rao and other senior officials will participate.

The special job fair for the differently-abled scheduled to be held on September 24 here at the District Employment Office has been postponed. The fresh date for the same will be announced later.

Source: THE HINDU

The daily boat ride across River Cauvery in picturesque Poolampatti in Salem district throws safety to the winds.

These rides have never conformed to the laid-down safety rules, which the government has recently prescribed.

The people in Poolampatti and its neighbouring villages cross the river in mechanized wooden boats to Nerinjipettai in Erode on the other side of the bank and Mettur for their routine and daily work.

While many work as daily labourers on the other side, a few others have their business interests on both sides of the river. Hence the frequent ‘commuting’ in boats has come to stay.

For them a journey by road will be a tortuous and roundabout way. The fare also is not economical when compared to the charges for a boat ride across the river.

Moreover it is an enormous time saver. Hence locals prefer boat rides instead of road travel.

This has prompted a few to undertake the ferrying across the river, which has been going on for years now.

Poolamapatti draws droves of tourists who love to have a ride across the river.

The local panchayats hold the right to lease the right to ferry boats in the river.

This has been a practice for years now in almost all the village panchayats in the districts of Salem and Dharmapuri where coracles and boats ferry regularly the passengers from one side to the other.

But after the tragic boat tragedy at Thekkadi in Kerala, the Tamil Nadu government had issued charter safety guidelines to boat operators including to its Boat Clubs in hill stations.

Wearing life jackets had become mandatory. But the native boat operators such as the ones in Poolampatti have their own problems.

“We have not been asked to provide life jackets to our passengers. Where can we go for money to procure them? We transport them for cheap tariff of Rs. 3 for a distance a bus operator will charge Rs. 15,” a mechanised boat operator said.

But the fact remains that many in the past had met watery graves due to leaking boats and capsizing coracles.

But still the people of this region are taking a ride across the river – blissfully unaware of the lurking dangers.

Source: THE HINDU

The mud road leading to Sri Kumaragiri Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple on Kumaragiri Hills, will be tar-topped for the benefit of devotees and tourists.

Devotees and members of the Temple’s Trustees’ Board under the guidance of its Chairman A.A. Arumugam contributed Rs. 28.27 lakhs while government through Salem Corporation contributed Rs. 56.63 lakhs under the ‘Namakkau Naame’ scheme for the project for which works had begun.

Mr. Arumugam said that with the help of devotees and members of Trustee Board, a mud road at a cost of Rs. 26 lakhs was laid in the hills in 2000. Later they formed Arulmigu Kumaragiri Dhandayuthapani Swamy Narpani Mandram for providing facilities to devotees who visit temple located inside the city limits. The mud road also was maintained by the Small Hill Roads Committee.

Later it was decided to convert the same into a pucca road for which the District administration also extended assistance.

The works at the total cost of Rs. 84.80 lakhs would be taken up in three phases. Bhoomi poojas were performed for the same on Wednesday in which Panamarathupatti MLA A. Rajendran and others took part.

Source: THE HINDU

— Photo: P. Goutham

The ISKCON organised Lord Jagannath’s Ratha Yatra in Salem on Tuesday.

The Salem unit of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) organised a ‘Rath Yatra’ of Puri’s Lord Jagannath here for the first time on Tuesday.

The colourfully decorated car carrying Lord Jagannath with Lord Baldeva and goddess Subhadra was taken through important thoroughfares of the city.

The Yatra began near the Collectorate complex.

After covering important places, it culminated near Sri Sugavaneshwarar Temple.

Bhajans and hymns were sung. Large number of devotees took part.

Later in the evening devotees and religious heads took part in bhajans and special poojas at AVR Kalyana Mandap to mark the car festival.

SOURCE: The Hindu

A press release says that to create awareness among the public, the Rath Yatra is being celebrated. Police Commissioner Sunil Kumar Singh will flag off the yatra. The ISKCON is also planning a series of programmes on that day.

SOURCE: The Hindu

The architecturally-rich temple of Sri Kothandaramaswamy at Ayothiapattinam, near Salem has been taken up for renovation. The temple, built during the Nayak dynasty and maintained by the Hindu and Religious and Charitable Endowment (HR and CE) Board of the Tamil Nadu Government, is a treasure-trove with its intricately carved sculptures and excellent paintings that depict the life of Lord Rama.

Its ‘sthala puranam’ says that Rama on his way back from Lanka, stayed a day at the request of sage Bharathvaja in the Salem jungles, which later came to be known as `Ayothiapattinam.’ There He reenacted the coronation ceremony to the delight of the sage and Vibhishana. The Lord is seen seated on the throne with his consort.

The sage erected a small temple at the site where Rama stayed, which remained in the deep woods for long. After the 16{+t}{+h} century the first human settlement was formed around the temple during the Nayak rule in Madurai. Villagers approached the local chieftain Masinaicker, who on instructions from King Tirumalai Naik, built the temple.

The temple’s `maha mandap’ has 28 ornate pillars with exquisite statues depicting the life of Rama. One of them has the Ayodhya king looking majestic with the royal dagger on his left.

The mantap has also four musical pillars similar to the ones in the Madurai Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple. Horsemen and hunters chasing wild animals look life-like. The Dasavatharam on one pillar is unique. The ceiling looks vibrant with beautiful paintings of `Gajendra Moksham, Krishna Leela, etc.

Consecration was last performed a century ago and the temple, including the 150-ft and five-storeyed tower, fortress like wall and wooden car with carvings, is in a dilapidated condition. The Tamil Nadu Government has formed the Temple Renovation Committee to carry out the repair works at a cost of over Rs. 30 lakhs.

According to the committee chairman, ‘Selvamaligai’ S. Manickam, contributions are welcome and cheques and demand drafts should be drawn in favour of the Tirupanikkuzhu, Arulmigu Kothandaramaswamy Tirukkoil payable at Ayothiapattinam, Salem district. The Savings Account number at Indian Bank is 887459599.

Further details can be had either from Mr. Manickam, Chairman, Temple Renovation Committee, (94432 44567) or from P. Chandraprakash, Executive Officer and Secretary cum Treasurer, Temple Committee, (94435 60839).

Source: THE HINDU

Likewise Salem also hosted some events conducted during this day by various forums.  Like,

Planting saplings at Govt Mens Arts College by Isha Foundation, Distributing free saplings by District Forest Dept. Etc,

In such way SalemJilla team also giving its World Environmental Day contribution to its viewers by providing the  updates on Mookaneri lake project with its exclusive coverage as follows,

For More News on this Project Click Here

Long shot of the islands in the lake

Shot taken between two rows of islands.

Close up shot of an island which has been planted with 'Veti vearu' for strengthen the foundation of the islands and prevent Island from the soil erosion during heavy rainy season.

Newly planted saplings on the top of the island

Islands & tunnel back grounded with yercaud hills

Naama Mallai Hills view from the lake.

Close up shot of one of the tunnel and each tunnel has the capacity of storing 10,000 liters of water.

Small birds started coming to the lake

Workers busy with planting saplings and veti vearu in an island

Close up view of Yercuad hills from the lake

A bird in the water

A bird in the water

Highlights of  the Project…

• The lake consists of 24 islands.
• Each island built in the cost of Rs.15,000/-
• Total project cost is Rs.20 lakhs.
• One dedicated excavator has been working for two weeks in part of building the island & tunnel.
• 2 barrels of diesel spent every day for the excavator.
• 95 active members of Salem Citizens Forum are joined hands in cleaning and restructuring this lake.
• They cleared around one ton of plastic and other waste which was dumped in this lake.
• They worked on 4 continuous Sundays and cleaned this lake.
• The tunnels surrounded by the islands each have capacity of storing 10,000 liters of water.
• The work expected to complete in next 6 months.
• No funds were provided by Government for this lake cleaning activity, all the efforts and equipments are brought by the public and the members of the Salem Citizens Forum.

A exclusive coverage by SalemJilla Team