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With the ongoing works for laying underground drainage going on in many parts of Cuddalore, the slow progress of the work is bringing much hardship to the residents of Srinivasa Pillai Street situated in Thirupadhiripuliyur.

Above is the rough map of the street which is situated near the Thirupadhiripuliyur Police station. For the residents of Srinivasa Pillai Street to move out, there are four exit points. With the drainage canal laying work being done in Bodi Chetty street and Sanjeevi Naidu street, the exit points 2, 3 and 4 are blocked and people find it difficult to move out only through the point 1. More than 5 weeks have passed since these ways were cut off for regular vehicular movement and the laying of culvert at these three points are yet to start.

This is the exit point 2, which connects to the Bodi Chetty street. The passage was disconnected 5 weeks back and the culvert construction is yet to start.
Elderly people and school children are the most affected and there has been many instances where children have fallen into this sewerage while crossing on the temporary narrow slab.
The exit points 3 & 4 have been disconnected for the past five weeks.

Underground Drainage work in Srinivasa Pillai Street

The work for under ground drainage at Srinivasa Pillai street was started four weeks back. So far the initial stage of constructing the manhole is completed for half of the street on the Northern side.
The mud taken out from these pits had not been cleared for the past four weeks and during rains it makes the little existing passage more slippery with two wheeler riders losing control and falling down and four wheelers getting struck up in the mud.

As the drainage is not being cleared in a regular manner for long time the level of drain water has come up resulting in sewage flowing into drainage line of one of the houses. The above picture shows mud removed from the sewerage by the resident.

A pit for constructing manhole was dug up and two cart loads of the mud dumped at this private place. Since it was not cleared and the place is needed for parking vehicles, the people themselves have taken the task of levelling the mud.

With the materials required for laying drainage pits lying haphazardly for more than a month, people are finding it difficult to use the road.

Timely intervention is needed for building these three culverts, removal of debris and moving out the mud promptly once it is dug up is highly required to avoid hindrance to the residents and users of the Srinvasa Pillai Street.

Silver Beach losing its sheen

A.V. Ragunathan

Steps will be taken to clean up the beach, says official

CUDDALORE: The Silver Beach here is losing its charm and shrinking in dimension. By its soft and white sands and easy accessibility, the beach used to be a major attraction. But of late it has become a victim of neglect and vandalism.

During monsoon the Gedilam and the Pennaiyar are in spate and drain the surpluses into the sea. In the lean season, these rivers carry mostly sullage and industrial effluents. The telltale marks of the polluted seawater can now be witnessed on the Silver Beach. The sands have turned revoltingly black and with garbage strewn all over the beach is not any better than a dumping yard.

After the dredging of the backwater, the sand expanse has been minimised, just leaving narrow space for the tourists. The row of colourful benches on the sea front was now dislodged. The swings and slides in the children’s park were all in poor shape.

The stray dog menace is quite frightening. The leftovers such as carry bags, paper plates and other sundry items on the beach remained uncleared for days together.

A makeshift road leading to an adjoining coastal hamlet cuts into the beach and commutation through this stretch is barred with a rope. The high-mast lamps are malfunctioning and the man-made fountain has fallen into disuse.

As the sordid happenings such as drowning occur periodically the beach has become less attractive than ever.

The beautification of the beach done at huge expenditure was a short-lived affair as the tsunami washed away every thing.

Therefore, to erase the bitter memories, the then district administration acted in good time to reconstruct the whole thing with huge outlay. But now, sheer negligence and lack of civic sense have disfigured the beach.

When contacted Cuddalore Municipal commissioner Liaqath Ahmed Papa said the role of the local people was also important in the upkeep of the beach. He said steps would be taken to clean up the beach.

Full resolution version of this image can be found at Cuddalore Online group under Photos>Cuddalore Wallpapers

I have added Silver Beach label to all old articles related to Silver Beach. So by clicking on the Silver Beach label (like the one below) will fetch you all articles having info about the beach.

To my knowledge, first large scale project on beautification of Silver Beach was carried out by then District Collector Sandeep Saxena. In an attempt to prevent the beach from erosion, district administration planted coconut and palm trees throughout Silver Beach. I wonder how many of you can picturise ‘that’ beach.

Our beach is undergoing a constant change due to both natural and human induced factors, which is very well visible. The river Gedilam to the south of the beach engulfs a good portion of the beach whenever there is a flood. It forms mouth joining sea almost every year which brings about a drastic change in the shape of the beach. Tsunami has brought in major changes. Many agree the beach was far more beautiful before tsunami.

Next major beautification attempt was made by Gagandeep Singh Bedi. His initiative can roughly be divided as re-tsunami beautification and post-tsunami beautification. I could remember, before tsunami, the beach had chairs laid in beautiful arrangement, were two bamboo watch towers, couple of shops which were entirely made of bamboo and a beautiful boat house. Tsunami. Devastation.

Silver Beach then saw around of beautification. New chairs, new dustbin, new boards requesting visitors to use dust bins and keep the beach clean. Some used dust bin, but beach never was clean.

The dredging activity carried out (probably to accommodate more boats which were donated by aid agencies from around the world. After tsunami, I guess the number of boats now increased by as much as three times) on the southern end of the beach, along the bank of Gedilam. This has brought in a permanent change (if anything can be permanent) in the shape of the beach. The sand scape shrunk dramatically.

Then, the 2005 flood. It is usual that Gedilam breaks into sea whenever there is flood. But this time the river the largest mouth ever seen and the flood water washed away more than half of the beach (probably the dredging activity carried out changed the regular course of the river, and facilitated the water to flow more towards north).

Then came yet another round of beautification by Gagandeep Singh Bedi. New chairs, new dustbins, new boat house and new play materials for children. The chairs and the play materials which we have in the beach today were brought up in this around of beautification.

As days pass by, these facilities becomes unusable due to constant mishandling by public. Adults use swings and multiaction play systems which supposed only for children. A broad in front of this play area reads that the facility is only for children. Not many bothers. The result is what you see in the photos below.

Multiaction play system

Photographs: Shantha Kumar

This article is contributed to Cuddalore Online by Ramkumar.

Ramkumar who is a regular contributor to Cuddalore Online, has written a letter to Southern Railways requesting new services to be introduced in Cuddalore-Salem section. He wishes to publish the letter in this blog, so that others can also write similar letters to Southern Railways (ddpg@sr.railnet.gov.in).

Dear Sir,

As you may be aware, the Virudhachalam-Salem BG section has been opened for passenger traffic recently on 18th Nov. But to the disappointment of people of Cuddalore and Neyveli, not even a single Cuddalore-Salem passenger service has been introduced.

The people of the Cuddalore-Virudhachalam section were highly hopeful that atleast one Cuddalore-Salem Passenger service would be introduced. But Southern Railways have disappointed them and also have let them down.

Already, this Cuddalore-Virudhachalam section is found wanting in adequate number of services. Only one service - worth the name and also highly useful - the Cuddalore-Tiruchirappalli passenger service is running in this section presently. The people of this section were highly hopeful that they will be getting more new trains and more new connections once the Virudhachalam-Salem BG section is thrown open for traffic.

But now and even after the inauguration of Virudhachalam-Salem BG section, no new train services have been introduced in this section. There seems to be no increase in the number of train services plying in this section. Very unfortunate thing to have happened for this section.

This section is lying completely idle for most part of the day and night. Only one passenger service is running in this section. What is the point in making so much expenditure to convert the section from MG to BG and keeping it idle without operating adequate number of passenger services ?

We humbly request SR with folded hands to utilise this section more effeciently by introducing and operating more number of train services. The present Cuddalore-Trichy passenger is highly/heavily patronised by the people of this section.

One more Cuddalore-Salem Passenger should be introduced. After all, was not there a Cuddalore-Salem passenger service running when the Cuddalore-Salem section was in Metre Gauge ? That being the case, why is SR so much reluctant/hesitant to restore the Cuddalore-Salem passenger service in Broad Gauge ?

Why is not SR showing any interest in running more trains in this Cuddalore-Virudhachalam section. SR is originating many services from all nearby towns like Villupuram, Pondicherry,Virudhachalam and Mayiladuthurai. SR is not able to start services only from Cuddalore; clear neglect of cuddalore and also partisan attitude towards Cuddalore.

Again, we humbly request SR with folded hands to kindly consider our this request. Please give a favourable reply and also please take steps to add more new services to the Cuddalore-Virudhachalam section like outlined above. This section carries only one passenger service currently and this section is found wanting in adequate number of passenger services.

Hope SR will pay serious attention to our request and also to the Cuddalore-Virudhachalam section.

Eagerly Awaiting SR’s positive reply.

Many Thanks and Humble Regards,

Ramkumar.

Most parts of Cuddalore was without any drainage facility for all these years. But all in a sudden drainage construction on either side of the roads has begun, while the underground drainage construction work is already in progress.

During the drainage line construction municipal water pipe lines are badly damaged, and no proper replacements are made in most cases. As a result water keeps leaking for for months and sometimes year together. In even worser cases drainage mixes with the drinking water.

The picture below shows the drainage construction work at Bodi Chetty Street in Thirupadhiripuliyur. Just two years back a drainage line constructed in this place. Now a new line is being built demolishing the old one. I don’t understand the purpose behind this. I fact none of the residents of the street does.

This street is one of the oldest streets in the town. The drainage level is raised (probably because the road level is going to be raised). Old houses in this street will go below the road level. When there is a rain, water from road will flow into drainage line and from drainage lines into these houses.

Broken municipal water pipes leaking

Related link:
Drinking water in Cuddalore - Cuddalore Online

CUSECS leaks once again - SIPCOTCuddalore.com

Cuddalore, February 14, 2008 — Living up to its reputation of being a repeat environmental offender, the common effluent collection and forwarding facility CUSECS sprung a leak near the Thamaraikulam (Lotus Pond) of Karaikadu. The leak occurred within an inspection tank built over CUSECS pipelines. The inspection tank was filled to overflowing with toxic effluents that entered the pond and enclosed the area where a public drinking water tap is located.

The District Environmental Engineer of Tamilnadu Pollution Control Board was available on site. He left after a septic tank cleaning tanker truck pumped in the effluents and carried it to an undisclosed location, and after fresh earth was spread over the flooded area. No clean-up was conducted and no information is available as to where the tanker truck disposed of the effluents. CUSECS officials said the effluents had spilled from an old pipe that is currently not being used full story>>

Shasun Suffers Tummy Upset; Spews Bad Odour, Black Smoke - SIPCOTCuddalore.com

Cuddalore, February 25, 2008 — At 3 p.m. on 24 February, and 4 a.m. on 25 February, SACEM recorded incidents of serious air pollution by Shasun Chemicals. SACEM observers photographed black smoke emanating from Shasun, accompanied by an intense smell of pesticides in the air. Early on 25 February, SACEM monitors also observed black smoke from Tantech and SPIC full story>>

District Rural Sports meet conducted under Anaithu Grama Anna Marumalarchi Thittam (All Villages Anna. Renaissance Scheme) has ended on Feb 24 at Anna Stadium, Cuddalore. Competitions were held under two categories - for school children and for the community members .

Earlier competitions were held at panchayat level, then at block level. The winners at block level are made to participate in district level meet. Athletes and teams which won at district level will make into the State Level competitions.

At district level Parangipattai Block won the the overall championship. And this is the only block which participated the events with proper sports wear.

March past on the final day of the event

Players taking oath

Let us hopes these event will be conducted every year without any break.

Related links:
District-level sports meet - The Hindu

District-level sports contests held - The Hindu

Rural talents come to fore at sports competitions - The Hindu

Barricades are used to regulate traffic and are usually placed in a direction across the traffic flow. In the above picture the barricades are clearly visible since it is seen from the side.

But for the road users it will not be clearly visible as seen in the picture below.
In Cuddalore at most of the places, these barricades are used for lane separation and are seen placed in parallel direction to the traffic. Since it is of poor visibility to the oncoming vehicle traffic, the probability of head on collision with these iron barricades are imminent. This unsafe practice is bound to endanger the life of the vehicle users especially the two wheelers.

To avoid any untoward incident these suggestions can be considered
1. The width of the barricade can be increased.
2. Reflector boards can be fixed so the visibility is increased.
3. Barricades can be replaced with horizontal reflector boards.
4. Bright coloured cones can be used.
5. Concrete lane dividers can be laid.