Eye Camp @ Mettupalayam

Saturday, 04 February 2012 13:50

Mettupalayam Jain Sangh is organising a free eye camp at Jain Bhavan, Mettupalayam in association with Aravind eye hospital, Coimbatore. The camp going to held on 05.02.2012 (Sunday) between 08:00 am to 01:00 pm with more than 150 people expected for this monthly event. After testing, glasses are available from Rs.200 to 300 in  the camp itself.

Fourth phase of intensive tiger monitoring programme begins

Saturday, 04 February 2012 09:21

The fourth phase of the intensive ‘Tiger Monitoring Programme,' envisaged by the Tiger Task Force of the Union Government, began at the Kalakkad - Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR) in Tirunelveli on Friday.

Giving details about the programme H. Malleshappa, Chief Conservator of Forests and Field Director, KMTR told The Hindu that the work on three phases had been completed. In the fourth phase, the setting up of 100 cameras in every four sq.km. area had begun.

In the first phase determining occupancy and mapping relative abundance of the carnivores was done. In the second phase the work on remotely sensed spatial and attribute covariates was done and in the third phase camera-trap based mark recapture was carried out, Mr. Malleshappa said.

The camera trapping will cover 400 sq.km. area in the 890 sq.km. spread of KMTR. The 400 sq.km. area has been identified as important tiger habitat. Already the KMTR officials have 20 cameras and the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has provided funds to buy 60 cameras. Besides these, the World Wide Fund for Nature – India (WWF-I) has provided another 20 cameras.

Team India finally on top down under

Saturday, 04 February 2012 09:12

A victory would have seldom tasted sweeter. A sense of relief in skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and opener Gautam Gambhir — the two men in the middle — and the rest of the team in the dugout was palpable.

When Gambhir whipped paceman Clint McKay through widish mid-on in the final over, India had won its first game overseas in 16 matches (including all formats) after suffering defeats in 13 of them. The Indians, lifting their game and successfully chasing 132, had finally broken a spell of setbacks.

Vibrant fielding

Vibrant fielding — the mercurial Ravindra Jadeja was adjudged Man-of-the- Match — and steady bowling set up India's convincing eight-wicket win in the second KFC Twenty20 international at the MCG here on Friday before a mammoth crowd. The two-match series ended in a 1-1 draw.

The left-handed Gambhir made the right moves with his unbeaten 60-ball 56. He worked the ball around, found the gaps, and displayed the footwork and finesse of an accomplished stroke-maker.

He was also involved in partnerships.

Help revive growth, Pranab to India Inc

Saturday, 04 February 2012 09:07

The forthcoming Budget will focus on higher growth and keeping inflation, fiscal and revenue deficits to manageable levels, said Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee here on Friday.

Outlining his objectives, Mr. Mukherjee appealed for cooperation from industry captains, who called on him seeking earnest initiatives from the government to prop up investment and usher in new reforms to energise the growth mechanism.

A 9 per cent plus growth rate over a sustained period and inclusive growth would be possible only with the cooperation of industry and trade, Mr. Mukherjee said.

FICCI President R. V. Kanoria urged the government to contain the fiscal deficit by widening the direct tax base, privatising coal mines, building inventory of government assets and bringing back black money from foreign banks through a one time amnesty.