Newsletter - March 2017
The town that disappeared – Dhanushkodi - a Case Study
Ar. Rajshekhar Raoa
Associate Professor, M.S.Ramaiah Institute of Technology, Bangalore, India
Abstract: Danushkodi was a small town at the southern tip of the Rameswaram island, at the eastern coast of theTamil Nadu state of India. Danushkodi island is about 29 km West of Talaimannar in Sri Lanka. It was in December 1964 a cyclone wiped out the town of Dhanushkodi , the sea also took away 2000 lives and crippling power supply and communications .Before the 1964 cyclone, Dhanushkodi was a flourishing tourist and pilgrimage town. Since Sri Lanka is just 31 km away, there were many ferry services between Dhanushkodi and Talaimannar of Srilanka , transporting travelers and goods across the sea. There were hotels, textile shops and dharmashalas catering to these pilgrims and travelers. From temples to churches, houses, dharmashalas, roads and railway station, all were destroyed leaving no signs of life. Once upon a time Dhanushkodi was full of flourishing tourist but now it has become Ghost town. However the remains of this town still exist recalling the old memories of the town attracting many tourists, but the remaining structures are currently threatened by erosion and negligence in restoration.
The paper reviews the history of the town that disappeared and recalls the memory of the town and also discuss about potential of developing the remains of Dhanushkodi Island as tourist place. Key Words: Erosion, Island, Pilgrimage town, Restoration, Tourist
Renewable Energy – Hydel and Bio Energy
By Dr.Ramaratnam
Basil Energetics, Chennai
PICO Hydel Generation Systems:
Very small water turbine systems can be deployed in places where a steady stream of water in available in rivulets. Either the available head or the discharge can be made use of to run a turbine. Depending on the terrain, head & discharge available different types of turbines can be deployed to run a generator to get electricity. These are run of the river systems, which does not need elaborate storage dams or penstocks. Water from the rivulet is run through the turbine and let off back to the turbine in the same stream. Thus there is no potential dislocation of the ecosystem or families/ villages which have to relocate. The latter is often the major factor in determining issue in the site selection of major hydro electric project. Also the dam and the associated construction work could be a major obstacle in such projects.
Nakshatra Vanam
Arjuna Tree
Habitat:
The tree is native to India, and it attracts a lot of attention because of its association with mythology and its many uses. Arjuna is a large, evergreen tree with a spreading crown and drooping branches.
It grows up to a height of 25 m and the bark is grey and smooth. The leaves are sub-opposite, 5-14 × 2-4.5 cm in size, oblong or elliptic oblong. The flowers are small, white and occur on long hanging racemes. The fruit is 2.3-3.5 cm long, fibrous woody, glabrous and has five hard wings, striated with numerous curved veins. The flowering time of the tree is April – July in Indian conditions. It is a suitable plant to grow in alkaline soil.
Medicinal uses and benefits
The tree contains many useful properties. For example, the bark of the tree contains calcium salts, magnesium salts and lycosides which have many uses in Ayurvedic medicine. The juice of the leaf is useful in the treatment of dysentery and earache.
The bark of the tree is helpful in maintaining cholesterol level at the normal. This is because it contains antioxidant properties which are similar to Vitamin E. It also acts to strengthen the heart muscles and thus maintains the functioning of the heart at the normal level. It is also used in the treatment of heart disease, heart failure, angina and hypercholesterolemia.
Renovation of Traditional Water bodies (Teerthams)
By
Vivekananda Kendra – Nardep
Revival and Renovation of Virega Teertham
City Union Bank, Kumbakonam have given grant under CSR to clean the Virega Traditional water body. Vivekananda Kendra – Nardep took up the work of renovation in March, 2017. The work will complete in the month of April.