JUNE , 2006

NEWS BRIEFS

NEWS HEADLINES

Power from the Wind!
Get electricity at lower rates?! Sounds like a dream wish? If the scientists at the Centre for Wind energy Technology (C-WET) are to be believed, the day is not far off for such an event to happen. This autonomous R&D institution under the Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy sources is situated on the Velachery - Tambaram main road at Pallikaranai. The lone windmill is its identification mark. Established in 1999, its Executive Director Mr.M.Pramesh spoke to Reach Velachery on the power of Wind and its uses.Mr. Pramesh is not only involved in turning wind into electricity, but also is a passionate enviromentalist. Sitting in the middle of the worst polluted surroundings (- in the front Alandur Municipality garbage dumpyard and in the rear Chennai corporation garbage dumpyard at Perungudi), his concern spreads to prevention of such pollution. Even the most jaded flat promotor would be convinced not to destroy the marshland by building high rise buildings by him.
Speaking on the inroads made by W-CET to convert wind energy into electricity he says," At present Tamilnadu is leading in the production of electricity from wind energy. We have a Wind Turbine Test Station at Kayathar, Kanyakumari district. This station has been set up with technical and partial funding from Danida, Govt. of Denmark. Windmills have been installed at Sengottai, Palgat, Coimbatore and Thirunelveli districts. These windmills when connected to wind turbines produce electircity upto 2500 mega watts per hour. This electricity is sold to the State Electrcity Board."
On the question of commercial viabilty of such an unconventional energy form he stated that anybody could purchase a windmill and install in any of their recommemeded sites. The W-CET was the prime body in identifying sites for installation of windmills, as they have a seperate division to carry out various tests to determine wind speeds and the amount of electricity that could be generated. More and more industries in Tamilnadu are now investing in windmills as bank loans and subsidies are available to them.
Mr. Pramesh stated that W-CET was the only institution authorised to test wind turbines and issue certification for private windmill manufacturers who sell windmills.
Mr.P.Kanagavel, Scientist, W-CET, explains," Wind is one part of the nature that is always available for free. A windmill can generate from 250 kilo watts to 2000 kilo watts of electricity. Approximately Rs.1 crore would be needed to invest in one windmill to generate 250KW. This investment can be taken back by 6years, as the consumer would be paying nearly half the price for the electricity bills. Moreover maintenence cost of the windmill is minimal. This means apartment blocks having more than 400 flats can invest in a windmill collectively and purchase electricity at low cost from the Government. There are other states like Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka where windmills have been set up to generate electricity. But Tamilnadu is the leading state today in power generation from wind. Around 60% power is now generated and sold to the State Electricity Board. Wind speed or velocity should be 3mts/sec for the windmill to generate electricity. Such wind speeds are there in plenty in our state.
Now more and more film actors, sports persons and other individuals are investing in windmills. Our research department is also involved in building small wind turbines that could be bought by small investors. This pollution free, source free and economically viable system of power generation will be there long after all other conventional sources of fuel dry up." He concluded.For details Ph: 2246 3982, 2246 3983.
report : S.Kumara Raja,B.Vimala

Service Road - Will it be Laid?
The road overbridge at Velachery MRTS Station was completed quite some time back and is in use now. New colonies like Nathan Subramaiyam colony have sprung up along the Velachery station. The approach road to these colonies is only under the ROB. The Velachery- Tambaram main road is yet to be laid to its specified width from Vijaynagar junction to the ROB. The State Highways has not started any road expansion work on this stretch. With the vehicular volume increasing daily, traffic jams are regular here. School children, senior citizens find it very difficult to cross this section of road.
Service roads were supposed to have been laid on either side of the main road. Till date the State Highways has not taken any action. One side of the ROB is now being used by residents. This service road is filled with potholes, has no street lights and lined with garbage and debris on one side. The other side if the ROB is filled with thorny bushes and reeds. How many more years should the residents suffer fpr the State Highways to act and lay the roads.
b.vimala

DMK Candidate S.R.Raja Elected as MLA of Tambaram Constituency
More than 5.61 lakhs voters on May 8th this year decided who would be elected as MLA to represent the second largest constituency- that is Tambaram. DMK candidate Mr.S.R.Raja polled 2,69,717 votes with a very comfortable lead of nearly 49,000 votes. This lead is said to be highest margin polled among the DMK candidates who contested for the 2006 Legislative Assembly elections. Mr.Raja's rival MDMK candidate Mr.K.Somu polled 2,20,965 votes.
The virtually unknown face of Actor Vijayakanth's party DMDK candidate Mr.K.Dharma polled 48,522 votes! Six recognised political parties had candidates contesting for the Tambaram constituency, for which 10 independant candidates were also in the fray.
Mr.S.R.Raja thanked the residents of Velachery for voting him and has promised to full fill his electoral promises.
b.vimala

2006 Assembly Polls Conducted Peacefully in Velachery!
Two MP elections, One Municipal Councillor election and now an MLA election! Reach Velachery newspaper as part of your neighbourhood has given you reports on all the poll happenings. Right from rude politicians to polite ones, we have seen them all campaigning for votes here. Over the years the polling day scene has also changed a lot. Earlier there were fights between rival political party cadres over who would cast more bogus votes. Ballot papers were torn, disfigured and strewn around the poll booths.Re-polling was also held in some of the booths in Velachery.The last MP elections had left many residents angry and sore at being deleted or not included in the electoral rolls. Many did not recieve their voters identity cards.
Covering these various elections polling day had always been filled with a sense of urgency, as one never knew when a polling booth venue would turn ugly!
In contrast to the previous years elections, this year's Legislative Assembly elections got of with a smooth start. For, one, the Election Commission ensured that getting a voters identity card was made easy. Those who missed out on specified dates were given a second chance to get them.
When poll campaign started off, there was a visible difference in the city. There were no huge banners or cut outs and especially no poll graffitti on walls!
The 10pm cut off time for campaigning meant no loud speakers to keep you awake. All these rules and more kept electioneering campaign on a low key. On polling day i.e. May 8th, it was very peaceful in Velachery.
Early morning had huge crowds to cast their votes and beat the summer sun. This poll saw a very good turn out of women voters, which could not be seen previously. 2004 MP election had only 40% voter turnout in Velachery. This year the voter turnout crossed 65%.
Mr.Purushottam, Inspector, L&O, Velachery Police Station stated that there were no untoward incidents reported on poll day. Police personnel were posted in all booths to ensure safe and peaceful voting for the public.
Youngsters turned up in large numbers as for many of them it was first experience in voting. The electronic voting machine made casting of votes simple and easy. Only a few booths had starting problems. The EVM's could not be operated and had to be rectified. This caused nearly half an hour late start. But the public were not deterred. They came back to cast their votes.
text and all photos: b.vimala

Assembly Elections 2006
Candidates for Tambaram Constituency
Tambaram constitiuency is considered to be the second largest after Villivakkam. 9lakhs voters will decide the winner of the Assembly elections to be held on May 8th. Tambaram contituency is large, extending from Tambaram upto Velachery and covers 23 village panchayats, 4 Municipalities, 9 special village Panchayats and 3 divisions of Chennai Corporation - Thiruvanmiyur, Taramani and Velachery. Of the 8.5 lakhs voters, Velachery with its increased population now holds one third of the voting numbers. There are now 93,736 voters in Velachery comprising 47,943 men voters and 45,793 women voters. There are 94 polling booths, an increase after the previous polls. This year polls voter turnout in Velachery is expected to reach atleast 60% attendence as there is a new set of young generation ready to vote for the first time.
The main candidates contesting against each other are MDMK's candidate K.Somu and DMK's candidate S.R.Raja. Other contesting candidates are V.R.Sivaraman of BJP, and K.Dharma of DMDK. A brief profile of the candidates follows.
Candidate Name: K.Somu
Party : MDMK, Party Symbol: Top (Pambaram)
Mr.K.Somu is a resident of Palavakkam. He has been the President of Palavakkam Panchayat for the past 10 years. This elections is his third attempt to win the Tambaram contituency seat.With his party MDMK now forming poll alliance with the AIADMK, he is sure of making it this time round. For Velachery his special assurances are funds for building additional classrooms for Govt. Schools, development of parks and playgrounds, building an indoor stadium, and development of flood containing measures for Velachery and Madipakkam.
Candidate Name: S.R.Raja
Party : DMK, Party Symbol: Rising Sun (Udaya Suriyan)
Mr.S.R.Raja is a resident of Tambaram. He has been the chairman of Tambaram Municipality for the past 10years. This is the first time he is contesting for the Tambaram constituency seat.If elected his promises to the people of Velachery are building a library in Vijayanagar, developing of storm water drainage system for Vijayanagar, following up on the completion of the MRTS project.
Other than these special assurances, all the candidates have promised to follow up on developments of roads, street lights, water and sewage problems and other civic amenities.
b.vimala

The Next Generation
Voters!
The coming Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) elections to be held on May 8th has a sizeable chunk of young voters.As the process of obtaining a voters identity card has been made easier the next generation have acquired it. How will they vote? Shiva a final year student of a professional college in the city echoes the prevalent mood of the youngsters. He says," I grew up hearing about DMK and ADMK. Only these two parties seem to form governments in the state. This time it is my first chance to vote otherwise. I am going to vote for Vijaykanth. Never mind if he does'nt win. Atleast there would be one vote less for the other two parties." Iyammal, another student said that she would vote for Amma! Some students said they would cast their votes definitely but preferred not to say for whom. Most of the women students while saying that they would cast their votes also said that they would vote according to their parent's directions. They were for the most part not aware of who the candidate was in their area! Boys on the other hand seemed better informed and sure for whom to vote for.
Similarly youngsters working in BPO's and call centres were asked about their opinion on elections and voting. Women said they did not know who the candidate was in the areas where they lived. Most of them also said that they would cast their votes according to their parent's advice. A few said they would not cast their votes and also discussed the means available to exercise their no option vote. Will the election commission provide a button in the voting machine to exercise the 'no vote' option in secrecy? they asked. The men on their part were aware who the candidate was and also had heated discussions on the merits of the candidates.
With parents being looked up to for guidance, it is now all the more important for the salaried middle class to go to the polling booth and cast their votes. Voter apathy is more prominent among this class of society. By not exercising our birth right to vote we are doing a disservice to our country. We are also setting a bad example for our children to follow. So this election all parents with their children should make it to the polling booth on May 8th and cast their votes.
b.vimala

Residents Protest against
Illegal Tapping of Ground water!
Residents of S.Kolathur are holding a meeting on April 29th at Viduthalai nagar playground in which representatives of all political parties are expected to participate. This meeting is to highlight their grievances and protest against the illegal tapping of ground water for commercial purposes in Sunambu Kolathur villlage under the Kovilanbakkam Panchayat.
For the past 9 years the residents have been fighting for the stoppage of illegal tapping of groundwater. Residents allege that farmers in the area sell water from their wells to private companies through lorry tankers. This has led to water table going down, resulting in wells also drying up. Nearby lakes and ponds have also become nearly dry, inspite of the recent floods of 2005.
Mr.R.Roy, convenor of the meeting committee said that representations had been given to various government departments. Though the Madras High Court had passed orders directing the RDO, Chengalpet to consider the residents representations, no action has been taken so far.
Selling of water is more lucrative than farming, as most of the farmers get free electricity to run their pumpsets. These farmers earn upto Rs.1000/- per day by selling ground water. So fields in these areas are barren and dry. Now the residents hope that political parties would take interest and act to prevent the ground water level from going down.Will this be done can be known only after the elections!
b.vimala