Tomato prices tumbles to Rs. 3-4 per kg due to bumper crop

Tomoto prices touch Rs. 3 to 4 a kg, all-time low in the recent past in the wholesale markets in Hosur, Royakottai, Krishnagiri and Shoolagiri in Krishnagiri district.

The prices were plummeted between Rs. 3 and 4 because of the bumper crop in this season. This affected the tomato farmers badly. They incur heavy loss due to increase in the prices of inputs, seeds, manpower and other costs for producing the tomatoes.

Due salubrious weather condition prevailed in Hosur, it is one of the prime agricultural belts in the State. Tomato, cabbage and potatoes produced in this region enjoy a premium price in all markets.

As tomato is a major revenue earner when compared with other crops is cultivated in more than 3,000 hectares in and around Hosur, Denkanikottai, Anchetti and Royakottai with an annual production of over 50,000 metric tonnes.

Tomatoes produced here are transported to wholesale markets at Rayakottai, Krishnagiri, Shoolagiri and Hosur in the district and sold to consumers in Palani, Dindigul, Trichy, Chennai, Bangalore and other cities.

Traffic violations on NH will be strictly dealt with: Collector

Traffic violations on the National Highways in the district will be dealt with seriously, warned Collector C.N. Maheshwaran here on Monday.

He told reporters that the four-lane National Highways was formed for the smooth flow of traffic. The roads in the district had many ups and downs due to its geographic nature. Vehicles to western and northern States were passing through Krishnagiri. In spite of repeated advices, the drivers of heavy vehicles continued to violate traffic rules.

Heavy vehicles should operate only on the left side of the road to give way to the emergency vehicles, Light Motor Vehicles and Sport Utility Vehicles on the right side.

Under the Motor Vehicles Act 118 (2), vehicles should always be kept on the left side of the road giving way to the vehicles coming in the opposite direction. Moreover, vehicles should not take sudden left or right. Violating this would lead to fatal accidents.

With a view to regulating the traffic on the National Highways, high-speed police patrol vehicles were being kept ready to book the violators. It had also been decided to install cameras at important points on the NH to monitor violations, Mr. Maheshwaran added.

He said that special squads would patrol the NH from the Karnataka border to Sappanipatti bordering Dharmapuri district and up to Velakalnatham bordering Vellore district on Chennai road.

If any heavy vehicle was found violating the rules, it would be fined a maximum of Rs. 1,000 or six months imprisonment for the driver if it was the first time. If the driver committed the offence for the second time, the punishment and fine would be doubled, the Collector added.

N. Palanivelu, Regional Transport Officer, was present during the press briefing at the Collectorate.

A small population of grizzled giant squirrel, a rare and endangered species, has been sighted in the forest areas of Hosur and Krishnagiri.

Sighting of this arboreal species came to light during a recent survey conducted by a team of scientists from Bangalore. Headed by N. Baskaran and two other scientists from the Asian Nature Conservation Foundation, Bangalore, it conducted the year-long survey on vertebrates in the forest areas.

Until now, there were no records of the squirrels being sighted in Hosur and Krishnagiri, even though the species is known to exist in the Western Ghats. With the researchers sighting them in this part of the Eastern Ghats, more studies have to be taken on their habitat, vegetation and other related aspects. Similarly, efforts should be made to protect them also, say naturalists.

Dr. Baskaran said the squirrels were found in seven ranges – Anchetti, Denganikotta, Hosur, Javalagiri, Krishnagiri, Royakottai and Urigam in both the Krishnagiri and Hosur areas. They were sighted in eight different locations in these forest areas.

Medical college for Krishnagiri district soon

A medical college will be established in Krishnagiri district as promised by Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa during her election campaign, K.P. Munusamy, Minister for Municipal Administration and Rural Development, said here on Saturday.

Addressing after honouring the toppers in the Plus Two and SSLC examinations from government and private schools on behalf of the Hosur Lions Club, Mr. Munusamy said that it was during her earlier regime that two Government Arts Colleges, two Polytechnic Colleges and one Engineering College were established. It helped the rural students to continue higher studies in their native district.

Basic infrastructural facilities in schools were developed on a par with the private schools during this period. Because of this, rural students from the district were achieving State-level ranks.

With a view to help the children of migrant labourers in the district, the government had established many Residential Bridge Course (RBC) schools in the district. The dropout students were identified by the school authorities and admitted in these schools, the Minister said.

He also welcomed the initiatives and social services of the NGOs such as Lions Clubs, Rotary Clubs and other voluntary organisations in the region. The Minister thanked Y.V.S. Reddy, Chairman, Hosur Lions Club, for announcing donation for the development of education in Hosur and surrounding areas.

Mr. Munusamy appealed to the students to work hard and perform well in the public examinations and make the nation and their parents proud.

As many as 423 student toppers were given prizes at the function. Collector C.N. Maheshwaran participated.

Sub-Inspector killed by a granite lorry knocks him down

A traffic Sub-Inspector was killed when a granite laden lorry which he tried to intercept, knocked him down near the tollgate in Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu on July 3.

Reports received here said Sub-Inspector Sivakumar (52), was on night duty at the tollgate.

In the wee hours of today, he intercepted a lorry which was illegally carrying granite slabs.

Despite repeated signals, lorry driver Sivappa hailing from Kuppam in Andhra Pradesh, did not stop the vehicle and knocked the man down.

Sivakumar died on the spot.

The lorry driver abandoned the vehicle and tried to flee the scene.

However, fellow personnel who were on duty, chased him some distance, overpowered him and arrested him. The lorry was impounded.