The Hindu Business Line : TNAU crop testing programme

COIMBATORE: In its bid to resolve issues that could arise with the implementation of the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Bill (2001), the Government of India has sanctioned the DUS (Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability) testing programme to the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU).

The DUS testing programme, which is to be implemented nationwide, is aimed at developing DUS characteristics for designated crops such as sunflower, groundnut, pigeonpea and blackgram. According to a TNAU release, the four-year project would also aim to strengthen the DUS testing laboratory and field facilities and in digitalisation of the database for all these crops.

Pvt participation in tourism

VELLORE: The private sector would be included in the Tamil Nadu Government's efforts to develop tourism in the State, according to Minister for Tourism, Mr A. Miller.

Speaking at a function, got up on the occasion of the two-day summer festival here on Sunday, he said the State Government would allot funds each year to improve tourism facilities at Yelagiri hills. A `Yatri Nivas' would be built at a cost of Rs 40 lakh in the hills for tourists, he said. New boats would be purchased for use in the artificial Punganur lake in the hills, he said.

The Minister for Village Industries, Mr K. Pandurangan, who also spoke, requested tribals in Yelagiri hills to take to bee keeping by forming cooperative societies. The products could then be sold in khadi and village industries outlets.

The District Collector, S Gopalakrishnan, also spoke.

Online collection of taxes

MADURAI: The Madurai city corporation today launched online collection of Property Tax and water charges at 16 centres.

Apart from property tax and water charges, people would also be able to receive birth and death certificates. The corporation haw tied up with 16 banks, where its data base was available, for collecting charges, Mr C. Ramachandran, City Mayor, told presspersons here after launching the online connection.

He said the Government would bear 80 per cent of the total computerisation and development cost of Rs 1.20 crore, since the programme was on line with its Information Technology and transparency policies.

Consumers could pay their dues with credit cards at http://ww.maduraicorporation.com. Payments made in this form, facilitation counters, zonal offices and banks would immediately be updated to consumers accounts through on-line system payments and their accounts updated at once.

There was also a proposal for online collection of professional tax, vacant land tax, D and O trade licence and PFA Trade tax, he said. Details of defaulters would also be available, he said.

Water level in Periyar dam up

MADURAI: The water level in the Periyar dam has risen by eight feet in the last two days, holding out hope for the farmers of the Periyar canal irrigation area in Madurai and Theni districts for cultivating paddy.

According to officials, the water level in the Periyar dam, which was 112 ft on June 12, has risen to 120.10ft (max.136ft) today. Inflow of water into the dam was 10,747 cusecs, and discharge 1020 cusecs.

The Vaigai dam level stood at 23.53ft (max 71ft) with no inflow. The discharge from the dam was maintained at 30 cusecs for drinking water purposes. Meanwhile, bathing was banned in the Coutrallam falls, near Tenkasi in Tirunelveli district, for a short period on Sunday as the water was gushing in torrents, officials said. — Agencies