Dalits from Adi Dravidar Colony, Avadanapatti village, near Krishnagiri have accused three caste Hindu families of encroaching upon a vacant land meant for public purpose in their colony for the last eight years.

Over 50 persons thronged the Collectorate and submitted a petition to District Revenue Officer, C. Prakasam here on Monday demanding that the encroachments be removed.

The Dalits alleged that caste Hindus had erected two flag posts and hoisted a PMK flag and a Vanniyar Sangam flag and fear that it will flare up community clash.

In a petition, they alleged that three persons had encroached upon the land meant for a school and built houses and shops. Besides, the caste Hindu families blocked the flow of sewage into the main outlet from the Dalit colony.

This resulted in stagnation of sewage for more than a year posing serious health hazard to the residents.

Receiving the petition, Mr. Prakasam assured the Dalits to take action with the consultation of District Collector V. Arun Roy, who is away in Chennai on an official visit.

Rally on energy conservation held in Krishnagiri

Employees of the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO) and school students took out a rally here on Monday to spread awareness among people on the importance of energy conservation.

The rally was flagged off by Mr. S.K. Perumal, Executive Engineer, TANGEDCO near the R.C. Fathima Church in Bangalore Road.

The rally passed through the main thoroughfares such as Telephone Exchange Road, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Round Tanna, Old Bangalore Road and K. Theatre road before culminating at the TANGEDCO office.

The rally was organised by the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO) in association to mark the National Energy Conservation Week from December 14 to 20.

Flagging off the rally, Mr. S.K. Perumal appeals the consumers to replace the incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps and to use the energy-efficient electrical appliances and install solar water heaters.

Students and employees raised slogans urging people to save energy and use energy efficient appliances at their home and work place. Energy conservation should begin at home.

“Everyone should take precautions to ensure that the electrical appliances are used only when it was absolutely necessary,” the participants stressed.

The employees and students holding the placards that bore the message about ``fast depleting conventional sources of energy and also the growing demand for energy across the world, They also stressed that the increased energy consumption had caused huge damage to the environment. Conserving energy would help protect the Mother Nature.

Pamphlets on energy conservation were also distributed to the public during the rally.

Hogenekkal project will be completed before scheduled time: Stalin

Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister M K Stalin today expressed confidence of completing the Hogenekkal Integrated Drinking water project before the scheduled time of December 2012.

Talking to newspersons after launching the fourth phase of the project to be carried out at a cost of Rs 475 crore, he said the prject, which was scheduled to be completed in December 2012, could be completed before the schedule time.

Mr Stalin, after launching the fourth phase at Thinoor, near here, held discussions with officials and instructed them to speed up the work and complete the project well ahead of the time schedule.

The drinking water project, being implemented at a total cost of Rs 1928.80 crore, would benefit people in 6,755 habitations in Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts.

After the completion of the fourth phase, the fifth and final phase would be taken up at a cost of Rs 360 crore, he said.

Cabinet grants concessions to set up automobile battery unit

Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi chairing a Cabinet meeting at the new Secretariat on Monday.

The State Cabinet on Monday decided to provide concessions for Base Corporation to set up a Rs.350-crore plant in Krishnagiri district for manufacturing batteries for automobiles.

The proposed plant will come up in Anekollu village of Denkanikottai taluk and provide direct employment to 400 persons, according to an official release.

The 49th meeting of the Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi and held in the new cabinet chamber at the new Secretariat (Omandurar Government Estate), directed Collectors to carry out quick and proper assessment of human and cattle losses caused by the latest spell of cyclone. The Cabinet also gave its nod for the proposal to reduce stamp duty for purchase of land [in the Guindy Industrial Estate] belonging to the Tamil Nadu Small Industries Corporation (TANSI) to house the office of the Cooperative Sugar Federation. Approval was accorded to the merger of TANSI's subsidiary, State Engineering and Servicing Company of Tamil Nadu, with the parent firm.

The meeting ratified the reduction in qualifying marks for admission to engineering colleges.

At the beginning of the meeting, Law Minister Durai Murugan commended the Chief Minister for the construction of the new Assembly complex.

Wanted naxal arrested by 'Q' Branch police

A wanted naxalite, eluding the police net for more than 30 years, was arrested by the 'Q' Branch police, dealing with cases of terrorism and extremism.

'Q' Branch sources said the naxalite, Jeeva, was arrested at Thirunindravur in adjoining Tiruvallur district.

Acting on a tip off, a special team raided his hideout and arrested him.

Several cases had been pending against him.

He was one of the key accused in the murder of one Appasamy in Krishnagiri district, who was killed in a bomb attack several years ago.

He was produced before a Magistrate and remanded in judicial custody. He was later lodged in Puzhal Central prison.

Describing it as a prize catch, the sources said Jeeva was one of the key members of the naxal movement when it was active in Krishnagiri district about three decades ago.