TAMILNADU

Chennai and its surrounding areas are expected to experience heavy rainfall until Friday, November 15, 2024, due to the active northeast monsoon and a low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal. The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has issued an orange alert for Chennai, Tiruvallur, and Chengalpattu districts, predicting very heavy rainfall (up to 20.4 cm) until Wednesday morning. Ten other districts in north Tamil Nadu and the delta region are also expected to receive heavy rainfall. The wet spell, punctuated by heavy showers, is likely to continue until November 16, with scattered rainfall expected on Wednesday. The RMC forecasts heavy rainfall in 12 districts, including Chennai and surrounding areas, as well as districts like Madurai and Tirunelveli. While the rainfall may cover more places on November 14 and 15, isolated areas in 27 districts could experience intense rainfall. The city is expected to experience a maximum temperature of 30 degrees Celsius for the next two days.

The Zoo Outreach Organisation (Zooreach) celebrated World Tiger Beetle Day with a virtual event honoring renowned entomologist Dr. David Pearson. The day, celebrated on Dr. Pearson’s birthday, aimed to raise awareness about these colorful predators and their importance in the ecosystem. Zooreach, along with the South Asian Invertebrate Specialist Group, organized the event to highlight the diversity of tiger beetles in India, which boasts the third highest number of species globally. The event included a talk by Dr. Pearson about his research and a discussion on the conservation efforts needed to protect these fascinating insects. Zooreach emphasized the crucial role tiger beetles play in managing insect populations, including those considered pests to crops. The organization also highlighted the discovery of rare tiger beetle species in Tamil Nadu, underscoring the need for continued research and conservation efforts to protect these “six-legged tigers.”

The Tamil Nadu Forest Department is establishing a Crocodile Conservation Centre at Anaikarai near Kumbakonam to address the growing human-crocodile conflict in the Kollidam River. The ₹2.5 crore project aims to mitigate conflicts, educate local communities about crocodile conservation and human safety, and conduct research on the Mugger crocodile population and its habitat. The centre will include a nature park, a watch tower, and GI chain link mesh fencing in vulnerable areas. The project will also involve awareness campaigns through meetings, street plays, and other publicity modes to educate communities about safe practices and the importance of crocodile conservation. The initiative comes in response to increasing reports of crocodiles preying on livestock and occasionally attacking humans, highlighting the need for a comprehensive approach to managing the conflict and ensuring the safety of both humans and crocodiles.

Perumal Murugan’s acclaimed novel “Maadhorupaagan,” known in English as “One Part Woman,” has been translated into French by Léticia Ibanez and will be published by Gallimard, a prestigious French publishing house, on January 16, 2025. Ibanez, who holds a PhD in Tamil literature, faced several challenges in translating the novel, including the repetition of pronouns and the extensive use of flashbacks in the original Tamil text. She relied on the English translation by Aniruddhan Vasudevan for guidance but ultimately made her own choices, particularly in translating dialogues into colloquial French with a touch of Kongu Tamil dialect. Ibanez also worked closely with Perumal Murugan and other translators to ensure the accuracy and quality of the translation, highlighting the collaborative nature of the process. She expressed her hope that the French translation will be well-received by readers and do justice to the work of all involved in its publication.

Tirunelveli, a region known for its caste issues, is now gaining recognition for its burgeoning start-up ecosystem. Driven by factors like the influence of Zoho Corporation, the inherent entrepreneurial spirit of the local population, the presence of large companies like Tata Power and Bosch, and support from StartupTN, Tirunelveli has witnessed a significant rise in start-ups, particularly those founded by women. While the region boasts a thriving start-up scene, entrepreneurs face challenges in securing investments, particularly micro-investments from venture capitalists. To address this, entrepreneurs suggest government investment in research and development in local colleges.

The 150th birth anniversary of Pammal Sambandha Mudaliar was commemorated with a seminar at SASTRA University in Thanjavur. The event highlighted his multifaceted contributions to Tamil theatre, including his pioneering work as a playwright, actor, director, and researcher. Experts discussed his dramatic techniques, characterization, and innovation, emphasizing his role in transforming the Tamil theatre landscape in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His prolific writing, encompassing 97 dramas and over a hundred short stories, explored diverse themes ranging from mythology and history to social commentary and comedy. His translations and adaptations of English and French dramas into Tamil further enriched the Tamil theatre repertoire.

The Tamil Nadu government has announced the establishment of a small-scale handloom park in Sengunthapuram, Ariyalur district, as part of its initiative to boost the handloom sector. The park, to be set up on land owned by the Tamil Nadu Cotton Corporation, will initially house 50 handlooms, with plans to expand to 100 looms in the future. The park aims to provide support to local handloom weavers and is part of the Chief Minister’s announcement to establish 10 such parks across the state in 2023-24. The government has allocated 13,205 sq. ft. of land for the park and plans to refurbish an existing building to accommodate the looms. The project is expected to be completed within two to three months.

The Madras High Court has expressed serious concerns about the accuracy of the e-pass system implemented in the Nilgiris and Kodaikanal hill stations, questioning the reported low number of vehicles entering during the Deepavali holidays. The court believes the inaccurate data could hinder efforts to determine the carrying capacity of the ghat roads. To address this, the court has directed the district administrations to implement stricter measures, including installing ANPR cameras and touchscreen kiosks at entry points to ensure all vehicles obtain e-passes. The court also suggested incorporating a drop-down menu with licensed accommodations on the e-pass portal to prevent false information and identify illegal establishments. The judges emphasized that the e-pass system is intended for data collection, not to restrict tourist movement. In a separate case, the court urged the State government to set a deadline for eradicating Prosopis juliflora (seemai karuvelam) trees from forest areas, similar to the deadline set for Senna spectabilis trees. The court believes eradicating this invasive species would be a significant environmental achievement.

The Election Commission of India has appointed IAS officer Archana Patnaik as the new Chief Electoral Officer of Tamil Nadu, replacing Satyabrata Sahoo. Ms. Patnaik, currently serving as the Secretary of the MSME Department, will assume her new role immediately. Mr. Sahoo has been transferred to the Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Dairy Development Department as Secretary. This appointment comes ahead of any upcoming elections in the state, ensuring a smooth transition of leadership within the Election Commission.

Tamil Nadu has witnessed a dramatic increase in extreme weather events in 2024, with 67 days of extreme weather recorded, nearly double the number from 2023. This surge, highlighted in the Climate India 2024 report, has resulted in rising temperatures, heavy rainfall, and cyclonic storms, causing significant damage to agriculture, infrastructure, and communities. The report, based on IMD data, reveals that India has experienced extreme weather on 255 out of 274 days in the first nine months of 2024, making it the most extreme year in the last three. The impact on agriculture has been particularly severe, with over 1,000 hectares of crops damaged in Tamil Nadu alone, leading to food security concerns and straining farmer livelihoods. While Tamil Nadu is one of the worst-hit states, Kerala and Karnataka have also experienced frequent and intense weather disruptions.