Project to generate power from waste in Coimbatore city likely

Coimbatore Corporation is going to replicate a Singapore power project that utilises domestic waste to generate electricity.

Mayor S.M. Velusamy told journalists here on Thursday that half the 800 tonnes of waste generated every day in the city was disposed of through landfills at Vellalore, and the rest could be used to generate electricity.

Official visit

A three-member team from the civic body comprising Mr. Velusamy, Corporation Commissioner G. Latha and S. Baskar, Coordinator of IC Centre for Governance — the anchor non-governmental organisation that oversaw Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) projects — undertook an official visit to Singapore from May 26 to 31 as part of a delegation comprising representatives from 11 cities across India.

The trip was undertaken after an invitation from the Government of Singapore.

Officials from various departments explained to the Indian delegates how the infrastructure was developed in Singapore and the execution of different projects.

The Mayor said that the visit proved useful in studying the reasons that powered the extraordinary growth of Singapore from a colony of the erstwhile British emprise to a global economic power house.

Another initiative that would be adopted here was increasing the number of trees as Singapore had nearly 40 per cent green cover.

In the first phase, saplings would be planted at ideal locations on Avinashi Road and Tiruchi Road.

Mr. Velusamy said that in order to make the city completely free from garbage, non-governmental organisations would be given the task of creating awareness among the public on proper waste disposal.

Survey

The civic body was also contemplating the launch of a survey with feedback forms distributed to the residents of the city on the ongoing projects and ascertain future requirements.

A plan was also afoot to completely revamp VOC Park and add more recreational facilities. Non-governmental organisations would be given the task of maintaining other parks, he added.

City welcomes new Rail Over Bridges announced by CM

The announcement of four new rail over bridges (ROBs) in Irugur, Karamadai, Pollachi and Podanur by chief minister J Jayalalithaa has received wide-spread appreciation among commuters in the district.

The chief minister has allocated Rs 26.70 crore for the construction of a new ROB in Coimbatore-Irigur Road, while setting aside Rs 30.70 crore for a ROB on Coimbatore-Mettupalayam Road in Karamadai, Rs 20.42 crore for ROB in Pollachi-Annamali Road and Rs 22.60 for ROB on Podanur-Chettipalayam railway crossing. Construction of ROBs is fast progressing at eight locations in the district and the four newly-sanctioned projects are expected to decongest roads to a great extend.

"Coimbatore city is fast expanding its limits and adjoining towns are also developing. Vehicular traffic has increased many-fold and more ROBs are inevitable,'' said K Kathirmathiyon, secretary, Coimbatore Consumer Cause. "Most rail crossings within the city and adjacent areas are facing severe congestion during peak hours. Number of vehicles has increased and only ROBs can ensure free flow of traffic,'' he said.

"Construction of ROBs is a welcome step but its implementation depends on acquisition of land. The district administration has to work in tandem with highway authorities to evacuate settlements near railway crossings,'' said R Raveendran, honorary secretary, Residents Awareness Association of Coimbatore.

"Most of the on going ROB works inside the city and the outskirts are stopped due to problem related to land acquisition.The district administration should take active measures involving the corporation and other official bodies to execute the projects. Only if it is done, such projects would be completed on time,'' he said.

"It is necessary to build bridges at all level crossings as roads are getting congested everyday," said V Balachandran, a resident of Nanjundapuram. Motorists have to wait long hours when gates are closed for passing trains, he said.

But the government has to ensure the works are completed at the earliest. Citing the example of rail overbridge at Nanjundapuram, he said the work is moving at a snail's pace for the past two years.

"People are suffering the most due to this. The delay is always followed by excuses. The officials should ensure that the project is well planned and executed," he said adding that the past experience has been bad for the people and the administration should ensure that it is not repeated again.

Codissia to explore biz opportunities with Austria, Switzerland

The possibility of importing raw material from Austria and Switzerland, for manufacture of components meeting the design and quality requirements of those countries for exporting back to them, would be explored during the visit of the Indian business delegation accompanying the President of India to those countries from October 3, according to the President of the Coimbatore District Small Industries Association, Mr M.Kandhaswami.

He would also look at the opportunity of using the two European countries as the launch pad for reaching out to the Euro Zone market as some of the industries in Coimbatore region have clients there .

The Codissia President, who is a member of the CII business delegation accompanying the President, Ms Pratibha Patil, during her visit to Austria and Switzerland from October 3-6, told Business Line the main aim of the visit was to promote business relationship between India and the two European nations. The delegation was going with an open mind as `we have to find market’ for our products.

Mr Kandhaswami said the European countries, because of environmental concerns, were phasing out foundries, spinning units and paper mills and he sensed business opportunities in these sectors for the region.

He said during his discussions with the industrialists in the Coimbatore region, he found that many companies here were being supplied with raw materials like steel alloys by European nations for manufacturing finished products on a job work basis since they were able to source the raw materials cheaper elsewhere whereas the labour and processing were cost competitive in India. Mainly auto and textile components and general engineering goods were produced on a job work basis in the region for export meeting the design and quality parameters of their raw material suppliers. He said he would like to take this process forward.

The Codissia President said the two nations have also expressed interest in investing in Indian companies and to become partners. He felt that while the MSMEs in the region may not be keen to allow foreign equity in their companies, they would be ready to have technological tie-ups and buy back arrangements with Austrian and Swiss companies.

Conceding that the potential of Austria and Switzerland was limited because of their size, he said that he would like to enquire whether these countries could be utilised as storage hubs for supplying products to the European countries just as Dubai or Bangladesh are used for reaching out to markets in the neighbouring regions. Already many Coimbatore engineering companies were exporting to countries like Germany and this possibility merited consideration.

He said he would also invite the Swiss companies, some of which supply precision machines to Coimbatore companies, to participate in the forthcoming INTEC exhibition organised by Codissia. Apart from him, the five-member CII business delegation has members from Kolkata, Delhi and Bangalore.

More news about "TIDEL Park Coimbatore Ltd (TPCL)"

TIDEL Park Coimbatore Ltd (TPCL), spread over 9.5 acre in Coimbatore SEZ and is now ready in terms of infrastructure. Anand Purusothaman, CEO of Payoda which is the first company to move in, said, it was one of the best decisions to move to TPCL and that it has payed off really well in the 3-4 months they have stayed there.

"Coimbatore is a Tier II city with Tier I capabilities," he said. His company has taken up 17,000 square feet in the park and plans to buy more space as they are happy with the facilities and the advantages of the location. "It's right next to major educational institutions and we just walk to these campuses for recruitment," he added.

Susan Mathew, chairperson and MD, (Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) and chairperson, TIDEL Park Coimbatore said that Coimbatore has been doing really well and now accounts for 30% share (in revenue terms) of the engineering sector from the state.

"In the park, the space for IT companies is 9.14 lakh square feet. It was built at a cost of Rs 407 crore. All approvals have been received and it is ready. Located at just 2 KM from the with Airport and 7 KM from the railway station," she said.

The promoters of TPCL are TIDEL (52.5%), Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu Limited - ELCOT (25%), TIDCO (20%) and Software Technology Parks of India-STPI(2.5%). "Coimbatore was declared the fourth best city in India in terms of investment by a study conducted by CII," said N Sundaradevan, principal secretary (industries) highlighting the advantages of Coimbatore.

"It's cost advantage is 34% compared to Chennai, 21% compared to Madurai, 35% compared to Trichy and 36% compared to Salem." Coimbatore is fast emerging as an IT hub mainly for the talent pool it pos-sesses. According to Nasscom, 40% of the fresher hiring in the Indian IT in-dustry happens in the 9 districts in and around Coimbatore.

Bhamathi Prakash, MD of Merrill technology services which will be moving into the park in November and has taken up 18,000 square feet, said that Coimbatore was a great location because of weather and talent pool. "We plan to recruit 300 people by the end of this year," she said. "Overall, the exports from Indian IT industry currently stand at Rs 48,000 crore and will reach Rs 70,000 crore by the end of this year," said K Purushothaman, regional director of Nasscom.

Coimbatore firm builds 'longest' periscope for Kalpakkam plant

A 10-metre long periscope manufactured by a city-based firm for a nuclear reactor at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) in Kalpakkam was dedicated to the nation on Monday. The manufacturers claimed that the periscope was the longest in the world.

Manufactured at a cost of Rs 3.9 crore by Coimbatore-based Visual Education Aids (P) Ltd (VEA) in collaboration with IGCAR and others, the periscope was handed over to Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam (Bhavini), Kalpakkam, by IGCAR director S C Chetal here.

Built with specification from Bhavini and Bhabha Atomic Research Centre over a period of two-and-half years, the periscope can function under high temperature and radiation. This periscope has facilities for scanning the area of interest, image zooming, image relay, image focusing and image rotation, which are motorised and can be remotely operated by an operator with a remote control panel.

Chetal claimed that developing the periscope was a major step's in the country's goal to become self-sufficient in technology and is a good example of public-private partnership to produce world class quality equipment.

He said except two reactors in Tarapur and another two in Tamil Nadu all the other eight nuclear reactors have been indigenously built. India plans to generate 20,000 MW of power through nuclear reactor in the next two decades. More reactors would come up in next decade, he added.

It is no more a metro for Coimbatore, Luckly we will have monorail

The mention in the Governor's address to the state assembly on Friday that the government plans to explore the prospect of building a mono rail in Coimbatore has been welcomed by city residents. Majority of them claimed that the monorail would ease the traffic burden, besides considerably reducing pollution levels in the city.

"It is very heartening to know that the government has addressed our transport problems. Even Mumbai does not have monorail. This is an indication that Coimbatore is being recognised as one of the major cities in the country," said M Krishnan, President, Chamber of Commerce.


With Coimbatore all set to become a major IT hub in the coming years, the vehicle and resident population is expected to increase substantially. However, some residents were concerned that since monorail is a long term project, the government should ensure its completion as per schedule.

"The monorail will help a great deal to ease traffic congestion but then, the project implementation might prove tricky for the government," said R Hariharamoorthy, a city based businessman. A few residents believe that the monorail will help curb accidents. "Surface accidents will be reduced as there will be less vehicles on the roads," said R Kalaiarasu, advocate.

The former DMK government had announced a metro rail project for Coimbatore. Residents have for long demanded that the public transport infrastructure in the city needed to be improved by taking into account the economic potential of the region.

Coimbatore is the urban hub for people of western Tamil Nadu as well as Palakkad district in Kerala. As one of the fastest growing tier-II cities in the country, the city needs better rail connectivity with neighbouring towns, as well as more comfortable travelling options within the city. The attention now shifts from a metro for the city to a mono rail. The point is to build it fast so that the city doesn't get bogged down by a crumbling public transport system.