Traffic hit as students block Hosur-Krishnagiri highway

against apathy:Students blocking the Hosur - Krishnagiri National Highway,
near Sappadi village, on Friday

Over 300 students, including 200 girls, resorted to a road blockade on the Hosur-Krishnagiri National Highway, near Sappadi village, on Friday morning demanding that the authorities increase the frequency of town buses during peak hours.

Due to the agitation, traffic on the busy route was affected for over three hours from 8.30 a.m.

Traffic was diverted to Royakottai from Hosur and Krishnagiri towns.

This resulted in traffic jam on the Royakottai Road. Container lorries were seen lined up on the Royakottai State Highway up to the District Court in Krishnagiri.

Students studying in Government Higher Secondary Schools in Hosur from Sappadi, Kundukurikki and Attakurikki villages said they couldn't get into the crowded town buses during peak hours from Shoolagiri.

Pleas

As their repeated pleas fell on deaf ears, the students were forced to stage a blockade two days ago. However, it was thwarted by the officials.

This is the third time students squatted on the National Highway demanding increase in the frequency of town buses between Shoolagiri and Hosur and vice versa.

R.V. Ramya Bharati, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Hosur, and R. Mahendran, Divisional Manager, TNSTC, Krishnagiri rushed to the spot and assured the students that they would look into the issue.

The students dispersed after the officials gave an assurance on finding a solution to the issue.

Milk procurement increases

Even though the indefinite strike by the milk producers entered fifth day on Friday, the procurement of milk from the Primary Milk Cooperative Societies increased by 22,828 litres than Thursday.

G. Nainappan, General Manager, Aavin, told The Hindu on Friday that the situation had improved.

Meeting

Meanwhile, the office-bearers of the farmers' associations and milk manufacturers will meet on Saturday morning to chalk out next course of agitation.

World Bank team inspects various projects in Krishnagiri

A team of agriculture experts from World Bank - Edward Cook and Ben Oberiyan – inspected various projects being undertaken under the Irrigated Agriculture Modernisation and Water-Bodies Restoration and Management (IAMWARM) projects through various departments connected with the agriculture in the district recently, says a release from N. Nachiappan, Personal Assistant to Collector (Agriculture) here on Wednesday.

Apprised

The team was apprised about various projects being implemented under the IAMWARM plan.

K. Rajan, Joint Director, Agriculture, Dr. Thangavel, Additional Director, Animal Husbandry, Dr. Mani, Head and Professor, Regional Research Station of TNAU at Paiyur among others accompanied World Bank team, the release added.

Arignar Anna Arts & Science College to be shifted to new campus

Students should become entrepreneurs, not job seekers, said M. Thambidurai, MP, here on Saturday.

Speaking at the college and sports day celebrations at the Arignar Anna Arts & Science College in Krishnagiri, Dr. Thambidurai called upon the students to come out with good performance and serve society.

He urged the students to start own business, as the region has abundant natural resources unlike in other parts of the state. It would be helpful for them to become entrepreneurs on their own and need not expect some one for job to earn money.

He also announced that the college would be shifted to a new campus with all the facilities for sports, fully-equipped libraries from the next academic year.

Principal P. Ponramu read the annual report of the college. He said that campus recruitment would be held during the second week of March. The college would be introducing PG courses from the next academic year. The new courses would be M.Sc., Mathematics and M.A. English. He said that the institution would also offer dual degree programme from the next academic year in association with the deemed-to be university St. Peter's University, Chennai.

During the academic year 2009-10, the college achieved cent per cent results in four undergraduates' streams such as BBA, Physics, B.Com. (Computer Applications) and BCA. Besides academic activities, the college also rendered various social service activities such as imparting vocational qualification programme for hair dressers on the campus. Through this programme as many as 205 hair dress workers from rural areas benefited. K. Mangayarkarasi, Faculty, Department of English, welcomed the gathering. M. Manimadhu, Faculty, Department of Tamil, proposed a vote of thanks.

Jolarpet - Hosur rail line project sent for Centre's clearance

Building of the Krishnagiri railway station
presently occupied by Cooperative Ration Shop No. 2 at Oldpet.

The long-pending rail link project between Jolarpet and Hosur has been sent to the Central Government for clearance, it was confirmed by a Railway Board official recently.

Anisur Rehman, Director, Works I, Railway Board in his letter dated June 6 addressed to D. Chandrasekaran, Secretary, Krishnagiri District Tamil Nadu Electricity Board Pensioners' Association, said that “as per the announcement of Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee, the board has taken necessary action to update the survey for Jolarpettai-Hosur via Krishnagiri.” Mr. Rehman also noted that the suggested alignment area and updating survey for the new line had already been completed in May, 2008. As per its report, the proposed new line would take off from Tirupattur and pass through Kandili, Bargur, Krishnagiri and Shoolagiri. The cost of 101- km line was put at Rs. 558.24 crore. As it was non-remunerative, the board had decided to shelve the proposal during October 2009.

The budget announcement regarding the updating of survey on laying of new rail line was welcomed by Hosur Small and Tiny Industries Association (HOSTIA).

Another survey was conducted for a new rail link between Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri in 2004-05 at an estimated cost of Rs. 410.71 crore. Finally, a new survey was conducted to lay rail line from Tiruppathur to Hosur via Bargur, Krishnagiri and Shoolagiri for a length of 101 km at an estimated cost of Rs. 558.24 crore during May 2008 and sent to the Railway Board for approval.

Convener of Rail Passengers Association E.N. Mani told ‘The Hindu' that his father E.R. Nagarajan served as the last station master just before the Krishnagiri railway station in Oldpet was closed in 1936 during the Second World War by the British Government.

More than 150 acres of Railway land had been occupied by the people.

E.G. Sugavanam, Krishnagiri MP, said that the process of getting clearance for the project was going on at a fast pace.